e shore.

"Jimmie is in there!" Ned exclaimed. "I wish I could chloroform the
little pests. They will betray the presence of the lad."

While the boys waited, wondering what was to be the outcome of the
dangerous situation, the sharp whistle of a launch came from the
opposite side of the island. The first blast was followed by three
others, in quick succession, and then a shot was heard from the
interior.

"This must be receiving day for the little brown men!" said Jack.
"There's a boat over there talking to them. What about it, Ned?"

"If you boys will promise not to leave the boat," Ned said, "I'll go
ashore and try to find out what is going on. This island lies on the rim
of the China Sea, and that boat may be from the land of the Celestials!"

"Bringing arms to put Uncle Sam to the bad!" exclaimed Frank. "I'd like
to pull their pigtails!"

The boys promised not to leave the _Manhattan_, and Ned rowed ashore and
struck into the jungle. There was now an uproar of chattering all over
the island, it seemed, and he walked swiftly under cover of the racket.
In half an hour he was on an elevation which gave him a view of the
China Sea. What he saw caused him to drop suddenly to the ground.

CHAPTER VI.

THE LOW CALL OF A WOLF.

When Jimmie left the _Manhattan_ he thought it would be perfectly easy
to follow Ned into the jungle. Before leaving Captain Godwin's charge
the boys had been provided with bolos, and the youngster slipped one
under his jacket before leaving the motor boat. This he used to good
purpose, though with great caution, as he crept through the thickets.

As is well known, it is almost impossible to make headway in a
Philippine forest without chopping down creepers and tangled vines. The
bolo is always in use by parties hunting or exploring. It is a short,
heavy sword, or knife, similar to the machete of Cuba, and is frequently
used in warfare. In the hands of an expert it becomes a very effective
weapon.

Gaining the thicket, Jimmie stood still and listened for some indication
of the presence of his patrol leader. But the patter of the rain, the
rustling of the great leaves, the scolding of the wet and alarmed
monkeys in the trees about him, served to shut out any other sounds.

He walked as fast as he could through the jungle toward the center of
the island, or in the direction which he believed to be the center.
Always his way was uphill, and now and then he was obliged to draw
him