Part 28 (2/2)
”Land schemes and loan companies. He once got me interested in a land scheme, and his rascality cost me many dollars, and I came pretty near to going to prison in the bargain.” Senor Romano paused a moment. ”If your troops take San Isidro, you will have a good chance to catch both of the brothers.”
”What! do you mean to say they are at San Isidro?” exclaimed the young captain.
”They are, or, at least, they were two or three days ago. How long they will stay there, I cannot say. They were at the council of war held by Aguinaldo's followers.”
”I see.” Ben mused for a moment. ”Of course you do not know if they had the stolen money with them?”
”They appeared to have some money, for both were offered positions in the army, and that would not have happened had not they had funds to buy the offices with. They appeared to be very thick with a general named Porlar,--a tricky fellow of French-Malay blood. I believe the three had some scheme they wished to put through.”
”Well, I'd like to catch the pair. I wonder if Aguinaldo would keep them around him, if he knew their real characters?”
At this Senor Romano laughed outright. ”You do not know how bad are some of the men around the arch rebel, _capitan_. He has some bad advisers, I can tell you that. To some of the worst of the crowd, Aguinaldo is but a figurehead.”
The pair discussed the matter for half an hour; and during that time Ben became convinced that Senor Romano had small sympathy for the insurgents, and was certainly not of their number.
”I will do what I can for you, senor,” he said, on parting. ”I do not believe you will be kept a prisoner long.” And the young captain was right on this score; the Spanish gentleman was released inside of forty-eight hours, and journeyed to Manila in company with a detachment bound for the capital of Luzon.
The two talks made Ben do a good deal of sober thinking. He now knew to a certainty that Larry was alive and well, and he knew also that Benedicto Lupez was at or near San Isidro, and more than likely had the stolen money on his person. ”I wish we could push ahead without delay,” he muttered. ”I might make a splendid strike all around. I know Larry is just aching to be at liberty once more.”
But supplies were again slow in coming to the front, and General Lawton did not feel like risking his men when the Filipinos might surrender at any moment. So a delay of several days occurred, with only a little skirmish here and there to break the monotony.
”Hullo, here's news!” cried Major Morris, as he rushed up to Ben's quarters one morning. ”Dewey is going to sail for the United States.”
”With the _Olympia_?” queried the young captain.
”Yes. The wars.h.i.+p leaves next Sat.u.r.day, with all on board. Won't he get a rousing reception when he arrives home?”
”Larry won't be with him,” said Ben.
”By Jove, captain, that's so. It's too bad, isn't it? I suppose he would like to go, too.”
”I can't say as to that. Perhaps he would just as lief stay here and join some command on land, or some other s.h.i.+p, especially if he knew that my brother Walter was coming on. But I am sure he would like to see his old messmates off,” concluded Ben.
Admiral Dewey started for the United States at four o'clock in the afternoon of Sat.u.r.day, May 20. The departure proved a gala time, the harbor and s.h.i.+pping being decorated, and the other wars.h.i.+ps firing a salute. The bands played ”Auld Lang Syne,” ”Home, Sweet Home,” and ”America,” and the jackies crowded the tops to get a last look at the n.o.ble flags.h.i.+p as she slipped down the bay toward the China Sea, with the admiral standing on the bridge, hat in hand, and waving them a final adieu. In all the time he had been at Manila, Admiral Dewey had served his country well, and his home-coming was indeed to be one of grand triumph.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE ADVANCE UPON SAN ISIDRO
”Why, Luke Striker, is it possible! I thought you had sailed for the United States on the _Olympia_.”
”Well, ye hadn't no right to think that, captain,” responded the old gunner, as he shook hands warmly. ”It might be that the others could go away and leave Larry behind, but he's too much my boy for me to do that--yes, sirree. When I hears as we were to set sail for the States, I goes up to the admiral himself, an' says I: 'Admiral,' says I, 'do you remember how Larry Russell an' yer humble servant comes on board of the _Olympia_?' says I. 'Yes,' says he. 'I remember it well,' says he. 'Well,' says I, 'Larry is ash.o.r.e, a prisoner of the enemy,' says I. 'I don't want to go for to leave him, nohow. Can't you leave me behind,' says I. And he laughs and asks me all about Larry, and finally says I can go ash.o.r.e and report to Rear Admiral Watson--who is comin' on--sometime later. And here I am, come to the front, to find Larry, ef sech a thing is possible.”
The old sailor's honest speech went straight to Ben's heart, and he saw very plainly how deep was Luke's affection for his younger brother. ”You're a messmate worth having, Luke!” he exclaimed. ”I don't wonder Larry thought so much of you.”
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