Part 7 (1/2)
”He has betrayed us into the hands of the _Americanos_! If he--”
The rest of the sentence was drown out in a volley of musketry, and two rebels were seen to fall. Some started to run, but others held their ground.
Larry listened in amazement. He had heard the names Jose Lupez and Benedicto, and knew that the two Spaniards were brothers. Could this Spaniard, Benedicto Lupez, be the man who had made off with the money Braxton Bogg had stolen from the Hearthstone Saving Inst.i.tution?
CHAPTER VIII
A PRISONER OF THE FILIPINOS
Larry had retreated to a small nipa hut standing close to the roadway, feeling that if the Americans were coming in that direction, they would soon be at hand to give Luke and himself aid.
While the insurgents and the Spaniards were conversing, the latter had approached the hut, and now both followed the young sailor inside.
”Is your name Benedicto Lupez?” demanded Larry, approaching the taller of the pair.
”Yes,” was the short response.
”Then you are from Manila--you ran away from there about two weeks ago?”
”Ha! what do you know of that?” demanded the Spaniard, eying Larry darkly.
”I know a good deal about you,” answered the youth, boldly. ”After Braxton Bogg was arrested you made off with the money he had left at your residence.”
”'Tis false!” roared the Spaniard, but his face blanched even as he spoke. ”I know nothing of that man or his money. I--I was deceived in him.”
”If that is so, why did you leave Manila in such a hurry?”
”I--I wanted to help my brother, who was in trouble. I have not seen a dollar of Bogg's money. 'Tis he who still owes me for his board, black wretch that he was!” roared Benedicto Lupez, savagely.
At these words Larry was startled. Was Lupez really telling the truth, and if so, where was the money that had wrecked the saving inst.i.tution?
”He didn't even pay his board?”
”Not one piaster, boy,--nothing. And I thought him honest, or I would not have taken him in.”
”But his valise is gone, and the bands around the money--”
”Were as he left them. I can swear I touched absolutely nothing,”
answered Benedicto Lupez, earnestly.
Larry was nonplussed. Had the Spaniard looked less of a villain, the young sailor would have been inclined to believe him. But that face was so crafty and calculating that he still hesitated.
”Well, if you are innocent, you will not object to helping me rejoin our soldiers,” he ventured.
”I want nothing to do with the _Americanos_,--they mean to get me into trouble, even though I am innocent,” growled Benedicto Lupez. ”Come, Jose, we will go,” he added to his brother, in their native language.
His brother was already at the doorway. The shouting and firing outside was increasing. Leaping forward, Larry caught Benedicto Lupez by the arm.
”You'll stay here,” he began, when the Spaniard let out a heavy blow which hurled the young sailor flat.