returned to the dining-room, if such it could
be called, were engaged in making a very good meal from the provisions
in the cupboard, and they thanked Archie warmly for leading them to such
a good place. "By Jove," said one of the captains, "we sha'n't want to
return to Manila at all, when we can get such grub as this is outside."
But the colonel assured them all that they needn't expect to find such
accommodations everywhere in the interior of the country. "No doubt
we'll all be living on plantains in a day or two, if we don't catch that
fox of an Aguinaldo. And I'm willin' to bet now that we won't find him.
That feller's too slick for us. He's proved it many a time before."

"And to think that he was here only this morning! The nerve of him, to
come within twenty-five miles of Manila!" said another.

"I'll be mighty well satisfied if we can catch a few of his ragged men,"
continued the colonel. "That will be something to have accomplished,
anyhow, and more than some other regiments have done, when they were
sent after him. He's the cutest feller I've heard of in a long while. If
it wasn't for Bill Hickson we'd never hear tell of him, even. He could
enter Manila, I believe, and go out again without us ever knowin' it at
all."

Archie was now called on to tell something of the rebel leader's
appearance, and how he had acted while in the town.

"I didn't see very much of him," said Archie, "because he spent most of
the morning with the big-bugs of the town, over in the administration
building. But when he rode into town on his horse he looked mighty
dignified, though he fell some in my estimation when I saw him standing
up. He looked rather dumpy then. He carried himself with a lot of
dignity, a little more than was becoming, I thought, and he received the
cheers of the people as a matter of course, and hardly took the trouble
to acknowledge them, even by a bow. The officers of the town treated
him with great deference, and I guess there's no doubt but what the
Filipinos look upon him as their leader."

"Oh, there's no doubt of that," said the colonel. "We've learned that
long ago. They stand up for him whenever he needs them, and they give
him all they've got to help carry on the war."

The meal finished, the officers smoked awhile, and then went to bed, for
they were to be up at four in the morning.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE MARCH AFTER THE REBELS--THE FIRST BATTLE--ARCHIE WOUNDED.

ARCHIE was awakened at f