rge an
answer from Baluna to Gomaldo and send the first reenforcements
ourselves? He wants a 'undred men at a time. And then we could capture
Gomaldo as easy as can be. We could find him in the mountains. I know a
lot of these natives 'ere who would go with us if we paid them well."

"We should have to dress them up in the native uniform," said Sam. "I
don't know whether that would be quite honorable."

The sergeant smiled knowingly, but said nothing.

"Do you think we could get native officers to do such a thing?" Sam
asked.

"Oh, yes! Plenty of them. I know one or two. At first they wouldn't
like it. But give them money enough and commissions in our army, and
they'd do it."

"How different they are from us!" mused Sam. "Nobody in our army,
officer or man, could ever be approached in that way."

"It seems to me I've read somewhere of one of our principal
generals--Maledict Donald, wasn't it?"

Sam thought best not to hear this.

"But we would have to send some of our own officers on such an
expedition," he said. "We couldn't disguise them as natives."

"That wouldn't be necessary. They can go as if they were prisoners--you
and two or three others you could pick out. I'd like to go too. And
then I'd expect good pay if the thing went through, and a commission as
lieutenant."

"There'd be no trouble about that," answered Sam. "I'll think it over,
and perhaps consult the general about it and let you know by
to-morrow."

"Very good, sir. I'm Sergeant Keene of the 5th Company, 39th Infantry."

As the sergeant went out Cleary came in, and Sam laid the matter before
him.

"I know that fellow by sight," said Cleary. "They say he's served
several terms for forgery and counterfeiting. I don't like his looks.
That's a great scheme tho, if it does seem a little like
bunco-steering. It's all right in war perhaps."

"Yes," said Sam. "We have a higher standard of honor than civilians.
I'll go and see the general about it now."

After some consultation the general approved the plan and authorized
Sam to carry it out. The latter set Keene to work at once at forging a
letter from Baluna acknowledging receipt of the orders for
reenforcements and informing Gomaldo that he was sending him the first
company of one hundred troops. Meanwhile he selected three officers of
the Regular Army to accompany him besides Keene, and through the
latter approached three native officers who had