Part 26 (2/2)
”I don't think I shall Thet hole-- What's that?”
A sound had reached the old sailor's ears, co from so
”So!” whispered Larry, and crouched down Then afroeway
He was an American soldier, hatless and al up ”Oh, but I'lad you came!”
At the cry the soldier stopped short in ahout the passage He looked toward the pair at the chas the torch which Leroy was holding
”Who calls?” he asked at last
”I called,” answered the boy ”Can't you see us? We are two lost sailors, and we can't get over this beastly hole Come this way, but be careful of where you step”
”You ht?”
”Yes; and you are an American, too,” said Larry, as the soldier ca them, with a look of wonder on his bronzed features
”How did you get here?” he de story,” answered Leroy ”We escaped from some rebels at the other end of this cave, and we've been wandering around since last night Are you alone, or are our forces outside of this hole?”
”General Lawton's troops are a good many miles from here,” answered the soldier ”I am one of his scouts, and I beca hunted down by the crowd of Filipinos that was after me They are in the woods just outside of this hole”
”Then you are all alone?” said Larry, his face falling a little
”Yes, although I think a couple of ourthe rebels pretty hard, you know”
The scout's nae Boxer, and he was one of the best 's comreed to do what he could for them They noted with satisfaction that he was provided with both a rifle and a pistol, and also a belt well filled with ammunition
It was an easy matter for Boxer to make his way into the open air and find a fallen tree limb of sufficient thickness to throw over the chase As soon as the limb was secure, Larry and Leroy came over, and then the party of three made their way to the ht to see the sky again and the sunshi+ne, and Larry's eyes sparkled as he gazed down the mountain-side and at the vast panorale, and beyond a plain and a s
”It's good to be in the fresh air again, eh, lad?” observed Leroy
”But I'ettin' past theet past them in the daytime,” answered the scout; ”but I think we can oes down And it will take us till sundown to get to the bottom of this mountain, if I am not mistaken”
Now they were in the open, it was decided to discard the kettle; and the three ate up what rele ration which Boxer carried Then they began the descent of theover rocks and dirt as best they could, and finding their way around ly pitfall
”I suppose you think it's queer I came up so far,” said Boxer, as they hurried doard ”The truth is I was so closely pursued I didn't realize how far I was going Those rebels can climb the mountains like so many wildcats I'm afraid we'll never clean them out if they take a stand up here”
It was hot, and now Leroy gazed fro,” he said