night might help to clear the
case," he added.

Captain Godwin beckoned to a short, squatty Filipino who stood leaning
against a tree not far away and the fellow advanced deferentially up the
bamboo stairs, evidently much in awe of the Americanos.

"Tag," the Captain said to him, as he stood with one brown hand clinging
to one of the roof supports, "this gentleman wants to ask you a few
questions about what took place last night."

"Yes; I have been waiting."

The English was almost perfect, and the fellow's appreciation of the
gravity of the situation was apparent. It was later explained to Ned
that Tag, as he was called by the Captain, had been educated in an
English school at Manila, and had lived in army circles nearly all his
life until he had taken service with Captain Godwin.

"First," the Captain put in, "I want to say that it was not my fault
that Lieutenant Rowe did not lodge in my own quarters last night. I
proposed that to him, and he said that he had a great deal of work to
do, should be moving about more or less during the night, might be
detained here several weeks, and so preferred to set up a small
establishment of his own. This was the best that could be provided on a
moment's notice."

"He was served with supper at your house?" asked Ned.

"Yes; and he was to have _desayuno_ there this morning. That is, he was
to have his first breakfast with me. Later he was to arrange for a table
of his own."

"You came here with them?" asked Ned of the Filipino.

"I came on in advance to clear up the place."

"I see. Who came with you?"

"Two servants."

"Did they come into this room--the room occupied by the Lieutenant and
his companions, I mean?"

"No; they were working the fan from the porch."

"Are those men in the place to-day?"

"Yes; but they know nothing."

"But they were to remain here during the night?"

"They did, but they slept."

"Drugged?"

"I don't know. From the complaints they have of their heads I suspect
that they were."

"And you were to remain here during the night?"

"Yes, that was the understanding, but I was sent away about midnight."

"By whom?"

"By Lieutenant Rowe."

"Did he give any reason for sending you away?"

"He said they were going to bed and would not need me."

"And did they go to bed as soon as you left? You, of course, remained
about the hut for a short time?"

"Yes, I remained about the hut for half an hour. They did not go to
bed."

"W