of
his lanky limbs.

It was pitch dark in the jungle, and the pair had not advanced more
than a hundred yards when they found themselves going down into a
hollow which both felt must lead to a dangerous swamp, or morass, for
the island of Luzon is full of such fever-breeding places.

"Go slow, lad," whispered Luke, as he caught Larry by the hand. "We
don't want to land out o' the fryin'-pan into the fire."

They both became silent and listened attentively. At a distance they
heard the insurgents coming on slowly and cautiously, spreading out as
they advanced. Probably they knew the topography of the country and
meant to surround the hollow completely.

"They are coming, that's sure," whispered Larry, and clutched his
pistol. "I wonder if we can't get away from them by climbing a tree."

"We can--if they ain't a-followin' the trail putty close," answered
his companion.

They began to search around for a tree, and in doing so came to
several large rocks, much over-grown with trailing vines. There was an
opening between two of the rocks, and Luke slipped into this, hauling
Larry after him.

"Jest as good as a tree, an' mebbe better," he whispered, as he
rearranged the vines over the opening.

The hiding-place was not a large one, and Larry felt very much like a
sardine in a box as he crouched close to his Yankee friend. The vines
covered the opening completely, yet they remained on guard, each with
his finger on the trigger of his weapon, resolved, if the worst came
to the worst, to fight the best they knew how before surrendering.

The Filipinos were evidently puzzled, for they had come to a halt and
made not the slightest noise. Possibly they were listening for some
sound from those they were pursuing, but if so, none came, for Luke
clapped his hand warningly over Larry's mouth, and the youth
understood and remained as motionless as a statue.

Five minutes went by--to the boy they seemed an age--and then the
rebels came on again, halting every few steps to make sure of their
ground. Three passed close to the rocks, so close in fact that Larry
and Luke could have shot them down without trouble. But this would
have given the alarm to the entire party, and neither the boy nor the
man wanted to shed blood unless it became absolutely necessary.

At last the Filipinos had left the rocks behind and were circling
around the swamp at the bottom of the hollow. "Now is the time to give
'em the slip," whispered Luke, a