“I will do what I can for you, señor,” he said, on parting. “I do not believe you will be kept a prisoner long.” And the young captain was right on this score; the Spanish gentleman was released inside of forty-eight hours, and journeyed to Manila in company with a detachment bound for the capital of Luzon.
The two talks made Ben do a good deal of sober thinking. He now knew to a certainty that Larry was alive and well, and he knew also that Benedicto Lupez was at or near San Isidro, and more than likely had the stolen money on his person. “I wish we could push ahead without delay,” he muttered. “I might make a splendid 265 strike all around. I know Larry is just aching to be at liberty once more.”
But supplies were again slow in coming to the front, and General Lawton did not feel like risking his men when the Filipinos might surrender at any moment. So a delay of several days occurred, with only a little skirmish here and there to break the monotony.
“Hullo, here’s news!” cried Major Morris, as he rushed up to Ben’s quarters one morning. “Dewey is going to sail for the United States.”
“With the Olympia?” queried the young captain.
“Yes. The warship leaves next Saturday, with all on board. Won’t he get a rousing reception when he arrives home?”
“Larry won’t be with him,” said Ben.
“By Jove, captain, that’s so. It’s too bad, isn’t it? I suppose he would like to go, too.”
“I can’t say as to that. Perhaps he would just as lief stay here and join some command on land, or some other ship, especially if he knew that my brother Walter was coming on. But I am sure he would like to see his old messmates off,” concluded Ben.