outing came from
overhead, followed by a storm of words from both rebels and deserters,
and also from the Spanish woman. Fortunately for the woman, among the
rebels was a nephew, who at once came to her aid, and had the two
deserters from the American army made prisoners.

"We had better put a little distance between ourselves and that mill,"
suggested Major Morris, as all three shook the water from their lower
garments.

"How is it? are you badly wounded?" asked Ben, turning to their newly
made companion.

"Oh, I can go ahead," said the soldier. "It's rather painful,
though."

"We'll take care of it for you at the first chance we get," added Ben;
and then the three set off at a brisk pace along the stream and over
the rocks to a grove in which they felt they would be comparatively
safe until daylight, if no longer.

As the mill-house was left behind, all became quiet, and in the grove
nothing disturbed them but the hum of the insects and the occasional
cry of some night bird.

Lighting a match, Ben examined the man's wound and bound it up with
the major's handkerchief, his own having been left behind with the
Spanish woman. The stranger said that his name was Barton Brownell.

"I have been a prisoner of the insurgents for some time," he said,
when asked to tell his story. "I was captured just before our troops
took Malolos. They had six prisoners all told, and they took us to a
place called Guinalo, which is probably forty miles from here, and up
in the mountains."

"While you were a prisoner did you see or hear anything of a
Lieutenant Caspard?" asked Major Morris, quickly.

"To be sure I did!" burst out Barton Brownell. "He came to see me
several times. He has joined hands with the insurgents, and he wanted
me to join them, too. But I told him I would rot first," added the
wounded man, and his firmness showed that he meant what he said.

"And was Caspard in the field with the rebels?"

"Yes. He was hand in glove with General Luna and the other rebel
leaders, and I think he had turned over some messages from General
Otis's headquarters to the rebels. But, candidly speaking, I think
Lieutenant Caspard is somewhat off in his head. Once he came to me and
said that if only I and the other prisoners would join him, we could
end this shedding of blood inside of a week."

"He must be crazy, to join the rebels," put in Ben. "Does he hold any
position under them?"

"They call him _capitan_, but if he has such