Part 30 (1/2)

”Certainly--but--but--it'sabout”

”Never mind--I must find Larry, alive or dead Take me to him, and I'll pay you well for your services”

”I ain't asking a cent, cap'n--that ain't my style”

”Then you will take me?”

”I will,” said Boxer, proet official pere that for you, I feel certain,” answered Ben, turning to thein the conversation

”Yes, I'll arrange that,” said theto do without you, captain”

”Would you keep o ahead, and Giled; and inside of quarter of an hour Ben and Boxer were ready to depart

”Captain, can't I go with ye?” It was Luke Striker who asked the question The anxious look on his face spoke ument

And so the three set off on the search for Larry, little dreas in store for them

CHAPTER XXIX

LARRY IS SENTENCED TO BE SHOT

To go back to Larry, at the ti the old sailor and the scout along the cliff overlooking the valley in which both the Filipino and the American troops were encaly tiring, and the youth could scarcely drag one foot after the other, as the party of three hurried along over rocks and through thickets which at certain points seelad when this day's traht ”I wonder how far the American camp is from here?”

He tried to look across the valley, but there was a bluish vapor hanging over trees and brush which shut off a larger portion of the view The party had been walking over a trail which now brought thee of the cliff Here the footpath was scarcely two feet wide, and was backed up by high rocks and thorn bushes, around which it was difficult to climb without injury

The men were as tired as the boy, and it must be confessed that for a half hour or more they paid little attention to Larry Gradually the youth lagged behind, until those ahead were lost to view around a sharp turn of the cliff

And it was then that an accident happened which put Larry in great peril all in an instant In trying to ot hold of a slender tree by which to support hirasped the sa around had loosened its frail hold on the rocks, and as Larry grasped it, doent the sapling over the edge of the cliff, carrying the youth with it

[Illustration: Doent the sapling over the edge of the cliff--_Page 281_]

The boy had no ti what else to do, until the tree landed with a hty crash on the top of another tree at the foot of the cliff The sudden stoppage caused Larry to loose his hold, and he buround with a dull thud; and then for the ti he knew no more