?" observed Leroy.
"But I'm afraid we'll have a good bit o' trouble gettin' past them
rebels," he added to George Boxer.

"We can't get past them in the daytime," answered the scout; "but I
think we can make it after the sun goes down. And it will take us till
sundown to get to the bottom of this mountain, if I am not mistaken."

Now they were in the open, it was decided to discard the kettle; and
the three ate up what remained of the stew, along with the single
ration which Boxer carried. Then they began the descent of the
mountain-side, slipping over rocks and dirt as best they could, and
finding their way around many an ugly pitfall.

"I suppose you think it's queer I came up so far," said Boxer, as they
hurried downward. "The truth is I was so closely pursued I didn't
realize how far I was going. Those rebels can climb the mountains like
so many wildcats. I'm afraid we'll never clean them out if they take a
stand up here."

It was hot, and now Leroy gazed from time to time at the sky. "A storm
or something is coming," he said.

"Yes, something is coming," added Boxer. "I can tell it by the way the
birds are flying about. They seem to be troubled."

"I see a cloud away off to the southward," put in Larry. "It's not
large, but it's mighty black."

No more was said just then upon the subject; and they continued their
journey down the mountain-side until they came to a fair-sized stream,
where they quenched their thirst and took a wash. They were about to
go on again when Boxer held up his hand as a warning.

"Great gophers, boys, we are running right into a nest of the
rebels!" he whispered. "Back with you, before it is too late."

They looked ahead and saw that the scout was right. They started to go
back; and as they turned, a Mauser rang out and a bullet clipped the
bushes beside them.

"Discovered!" came from Leroy's lips. "Larry, I'm afraid the jig is
up. Those Filipi--"

Crack! It was Boxer's rifle that rang out, and as the scout was a
sharpshooter, it may be taken for granted that he brought down his
man. Then the three set off on a run along the side of the mountain to
where a slight rise of ground promised better hiding.

"We can't do much against such a crowd," said the scout. "But in a
good spot we can hold out awhile, provided one of you can use my
pistol."

"I can fire tolerably straight," answered Leroy, and took the weapon.
Soon the rise was gained, and they plunged in behind a tangle of