Part 32 (1/2)
”I will try to be careful,” was the ansith an effort ”But what are they going to do with hi him over to yonder tent”
Soon Larry disappeared inside the tent, and they crouched behind the bushes to await develop, Ben made a mental calculation of the number of the enemy
”A battalion, orso far from thebadly scattered, cap'n General Lawton has 'eets through with 'em”
As we know, the scene in the tent was a short one, and soon they saw Larry coain, and saw hiuard him sat on either side of their prisoner, on rocks about six or eight yards from the tree
”He seems to be the only prisoner in the camp,” whispered Ben ”I wonder if I can't crawl up and cut hiton”
”No, no!” interposed Boxer ”Those guards are wide awake and will shoot you in a et a chance to do so then”
Slowly theLarry every instant He saw that his younger brother was exceedingly tired and held one foot up as if in pain The young sailor had asked if he ht not lie down, but this couards were puffing vigorously on their cigarettes, when one chanced to thron a lightedIt set fire to souard watched the tiny conflagration grow stronger
”Playing with fire, eh?” said his htly
”Yes,” was the sloer ”Hoould like to see Manila go up like that!”
”Yes, I would like to see that, too, Carlos, and the Americans in the flames Ah, but the day e are to take the capital seeuinaldo says he is soon to have reenforces beware!”
The talk was carried on in the Tagalog dialect, so Larry understood not a word In thebut comfortable
”That's toothe fire out with his foot, when of a sudden he uttered a wild yell that startled everybody near hi creature!”
For frolided, roused up by the heat It was a snake peculiar to thoseand as thick as a uard in the knee, and then whipped around in increased anger, for its tail had come in contact with the fire
”A snake!” echoed the second guard, and fired his Mauser at the reptile But he was too excited to shoot straight, and the bullet glanced along the rock and struck the first guard in the cheek, inflicting a fairly serious wound
The cries of the two guards' were taken up on all sides of the camp, and especially in the vicinity of the rock fronized the snake as a dangerous enemy; and as the reptile et out of its way, several in theto do any serious daotten
It was Ben who saw the opportunity,--Ben and the ever-faithful Luke,--and rushi+ng up, they cut Larry's bonds and fairly hustled hile behind the enca sailor could hardly understand as taking place, but when he recognized his brother and his old ave a shout of joy
”You, Ben! and Luke! Oh, I , Larry We've been watching you for a long while, trying to do so Can you run?”
”No; I sprained my ankle, and it is still sore”
”I'll carry him,” said Luke ”You lead the way, cap'n And Boxer had better bring up the rear guard”
”Right you are,” came from the scout ”Have your weapons ready, cap'n
We may catch it hot, in spite of the alarm over the snake Those rebs will be as ”