erly enjoyed at Manila,
"unless I go with the messenger and receive my instructions verbally."

"And in the meantime--"

Captain Godwin was about to protest against being left alone there under
such tragic circumstances, but Ned caught his eyes and stopped him. He
had no idea what the boy had in mind in checking his expression of
regret at the proposed departure of the Major, but he liked the
appearance of the lad and closed his teeth on the words he was about to
say.

"And in the meantime," he repeated, "we can look about for some traces
of the missing man," the Captain completed the sentence.

"Exactly," replied the Major. "I regret exceedingly the peril of the
situation so far as Lieutenant Rowe and his companions are concerned,
and sincerely hope that they are all alive and not in serious trouble,
but it appears to me that my place is at Manila at this time, and not
here. We must start in on this remarkable case right, and I must confer
with my superior officers."

"We can put in the time very well, looking up clues in the vicinity,"
said Ned. He wanted to handle the matter in his own way, knowing that
while Major Ross might be an expert in military matters, he did not
possess a particle of the detective instinct so necessary at that time.

"Yes," the Major replied, with his mind fixed on a few days of lazy
routine at Manila, with all the comforts of civilization within reach of
his hand, "yes, you may be able to accomplish a great deal in the way of
discovering clues, and may even be able to locate the missing men--I
have no idea that they have been murdered, but understand this: You are
not to take any important action without consulting with me."

"Of course not," Ned replied, chuckling in his sleeves at the thought of
waiting in an emergency for instructions from Manila. "I hope we shall
be able to report good progress upon your return. Shall you go in the
launch?" he added, hoping with all his strength that the officer would
not take the motor boat with him.

"Certainly," was the quick reply. "I must make progress, you know!"

Jimmie and Jack, who had followed their chum to the nipa hut, now
entered and stood by the door. Ned saw them winking knowingly at each
other when the Major spoke of going away in the motor boat, and decided
to prod their inclinations a bit.

"I shall be sorry to have the _Manhattan_ away just now," he said, "for
we might use her to good advantage during your absence. However,