g like a madman

ike one," returned Tomba, with

start of terror. Cold sweat wa

ys ago," continued Tomba. "You did

scoundrel like you ever b

t would be worth a lit

, when you sought my acq

desire to prolong the talk with thi

you could have done for

ipino knew that he had the whole situation in his hands. With the cruelty of a cat, To

me to do?" Hal as

d your s

hat kind of

use of tell

e thing, th

hy

al, and he spoke slowly while his eyes watched those

e Flag

st my comrades-to serve you and your friends a

ceive me. It is too late now to save yourself

price-at least, I haven't yet come to that decision," Hal

now," retorted Tomba softly,

y playing with you

his shoulders, this

e same cause that I do,

t cause

pur

ot even a Filipino patriot. You are mer

," replied Tomba, in

his right hand explored his pockets. He soon brought to light a pack

rgente?" inquired the Filipino with mocki

Hal answered, but he said it good-naturedly, for

all smokin

lared Hal, but again he

king a match and holding it to the end of the cigarette

nk y

fore the Filipino the young soldier had at last employed his fingers in a way that he hoped wou

uddenly summoned all the muscles in his body to ob

nd feet kicking Vicente Tomba and bowli

nish of that general movement found Sergeant Hal Overton sitti

ng interval Vicente Tomba, uttering a wild c

wn man in a desperate struggle. Over and over they rolled, the Army boy controlling the

ight hand, clenched his fist and struck

a few moments, he found the youth in U

on. "You can guess what a sound or a mov

l justice, Tomba show

d, Se?or Sergente. But

ncle Sam's young s

ut one way

d t

a dozen of my men, and you can judg

idea," nodded

folly of thinkin

that your men will

be s

ey can finish me, I shall have settle

n away you

hat it will be worth even my own life to make sure that you are

n life, Se?o

I may be permitted to lose it in doing one

e boast

arn you that the slightest sign of treachery on your part will be m

little brown man. "I see and I admit that

. "Come, get upon your feet and obey every order of mine the instant that you receive it. In another minute or two

the mastery of this young w

tand right before me, your back to me.

a low voice, though the

o do with this wavy-bladed creese. If you make a move to spring away from me, I shall show you ho

, Now,

rn with his left hand so that the

derground room. As far as young Overton's eyes

ded the young

a ob

ing me to a

so, s

now how to

it is

o the door.

se?

l open the door suddenly, bolt through it and close it in my

up the idea, for Sergeant Hal's tone and manner made it very

t when I open the door there is no

t will be the end of the world for yo

plied Tomba in a voice well ni

. In the seemingly solid stone wall a large block of stone sw

, now,

he lantern's rays over the

that the light of the lantern

e eight, if Hal's hurried count was correct. Moreover, he believ

ve of the men wore revolvers at their belts, an

r any move of theirs to help you, will be expensive for you. Warn them, for I am watching all

ly in the Moro dialect. Sergeant Hal listened, watched, wa