Page:A Sailor Boy with Dewey.djvu/119

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MY FIRST ADVENTURE IN MANILA.
105

noted that a villainous-looking Spaniard was following us and drinking in every word we said. His face showed that he understood English and now he clung to us closer than ever, as we turned a corner and came to the long, low building in which were situated the offices of Raymond, Holbrook & Smith.

"Dan Holbrook, how do you do!" cried a tall young man as he rushed forward and caught my companion by the hand. "Why, I thought you had gone down with the wreck of the Dart."

The clerk of our firm, for such he proved to be, was named Harry Longley, and I was speedily introduced to him, and both Dan and I told our stories. Longley had heard of the wrecking of the Dart twenty-four hours before.

"It's too bad you lost your money and those documents," he said to me. "We ought to have those papers, they will settle a case over some land which has been in litigation here for two years. You see, these Spaniards are trying to squeeze us out if they possibly can."

"But what of this rebellion here?" I questioned.

"We haven't felt much of it so far, but I expect we will before long. All of our time has been taken up in our difficulties with the Spaniards, who are trying to force us out of business. They are taxing us in a way that is outrageous."