out with me. Possibly we can again get on
the track of that Bogg fortune;" and he smiled faintly, for he had
been with Ben on the night Braxton Bogg had been first made a
prisoner.

"I'll go out with you gladly," answered the young captain, promptly.
"But I doubt if that money is ever found--or my brother Larry,
either," he added, with bitterness.

"Oh, cheer up, captain, you are blue to-night. Come, a little danger
will put you on your mettle once more, and you'll forget all about
this thing--although I'll allow it's enough to make anybody
heart-sick."

Supper was served, and the sun had long since sunk to rest over the
vast plain and ocean to the westward, when Ben and Major Morris set
out, taking with them an ample supply of ammunition and likewise a
day's rations, for they were to move directly into the heart of the
enemy's country and might be absent for a day or longer. The object
of their going was to find out if a certain Lieutenant Caspard, who
had deserted the American ranks, was with the rebels now gathering at
Maasin, and if so, whether or not he was acting as an officer of the
Filipino forces. If they could catch the deserter and bring him back,
they were to be well rewarded. Strange to say, the orders were not to
shoot him if it could be avoided.

"It's a strange mission," said Major Morris, as they set out. "But
such are Colonel Darcy's orders, and he is backed up in them by the
general. Between you and me, I think this Caspard has been playing a
double game between our forces and those of the Filipinos, and those
at headquarters want to find out just what it means. One man told me
that this Caspard was out of his head, and had an idea that he could
stop the war by telling the rebels we would grant them everything they
want if only they would throw down their arms."

"Would the rebels swallow such a yarn?"

"Some of the more ignorant might. But that isn't the point; Caspard
may have given them some military information of vast importance. You
must remember we are in a territory that may be full of pitfalls for
us," concluded the major.

Ben thought but little of the ending of this speech at the time, but
had good cause to remember it before midnight. On they pushed past the
picket guard and on to a side road which it was said would bring them
around to the north side of Maasin. Both were in fairly good humor by
this time, and the major told many an anecdote of army life which made
Ben laugh out