of any natives, hostile or otherwise, so the brief outing was considered absolutely safe. The men were told not to go out of sight or hearing of each other and to keep within gun sound of the ship.
"I don't believe we'll see any of the rebels away up here," said Walter, as he and Si ran along the beach and to the nearest patch of grass. "We are miles and miles away from where they have been battling, and the chances are the natives in this neighborhood know little or nothing of the war."
"Well, I wouldn't be too sure o' thet, Walter. These Filipinos have good runners, even if they ain't got telegraph lines, and the word is bound to be passed around sooner or later. We had better keep our eyes peeled."
"Oh, of course we'll watch out, Si, and I intend to keep my pistol where it will be handy."
The two walked along the beach in company with a number of others, and then began to ascend the hill leading up from the water. Here the rocks were numerous and the shrubbery thick, but the exertion seemed to do them good. At last they stood on the top of the hill and from this point could obtain a view of several miles around.
"What a beautiful island!" was Walter's com-
