e far side of the river
valley, yonder?"

"No, I do not," she declared with an emphatic swing of her head.

But she was lying. It was Colonel Miguel, her own uncle. She knew about
it. He had secretly informed her that he was preparing to attack the
city and burn it and that he was going to exterminate the American
army of occupation and all foreign residents that fell into the hands
of his mighty army. He told her that he had chosen the east side of
the city as his main point of attack, so that Dewey could not reach
his troops with the shells from his gun boats in case he tried to
assist the American army, without elevating his guns and shooting
completely over the city--a thing wholly impractical within itself,
as Dewey could not determine whether his shells would be falling
among the Filipino or the American troops. It was he who advised her
to take her mother and flee to the hills for refuge.

Colonel Stotsenberg then asked Marie if she knew anything about the
proposed attack on the city by her people. This, she denied also. The
colonel's face flushed. Pulling back the flap of his tent, he said
emphatically: "Do you see that gun, Marie? Tell those fellows over
there when you pass their lines that I said they could have trouble
whenever they want it."

Marie drove on.

Inside the colonel's tent stood a large gun from the Utah battery,
mounted, loaded, ready for action; its threatening nose was
pointed directly at the line of little brown men assembled across
the valley. The Filipinos were smarting for trouble. They wanted it
badly. Wherever and whenever possible they improved every opportunity
to bring it about. The trouble came. Colonel Stotsenberg that night
used the cannon he had pointed out to Marie. A long pile of mangled
forms lying at the base of the river hills on the opposite of the
valley next morning told the results.

CHAPTER VI.

AS A SPY

Marie was well equipped by instinct and experience for a spy. The
tragic nature of such work was exceptionally inviting to her. When
a chance came to undertake it, she lost no time in embracing the
opportunity.

After passing out through the American lines, she drove on down the
slope of the hill and crossed the San Juan River on the old stone
bridge where the fighting was begun that night by young Grayson of
the Nebraska regiment. After reaching the Filipinos' lines she at once
reported to her uncle, Colonel Miguel, and had an extended interview