The boys looked at each other in wonder for a moment and then Ned answered:
"Be prepared!"
"Now, what do you think of that?" Pat demanded. "What do you think of meeting a Boy Scout out here?"
"What patrol?" asked Frank, half doubting whether the person in the tree would find the correct answer.
"Wild Cat, Manila!" came the reply.
"Then come out of the tree, Wild Cat," Ned laughed, "and tell us how you came to be here."
There was a great rustling of foliage, and then a Filipino boy not more than fourteen years of age appeared on the trunk. He worked his way down and disappeared in the jungle. In a moment, however, he made his appearance on the margin of the little stream and was on board.
He was a rather good looking young fellow, with keen eyes and a lithe, muscular figure. He was well dressed in a suit of light material, and wore a Boy Scout badge on the lapel of his coat.
"We're gettin so we find 'em in the woods!" Frank said, as the boy stepped on the bridge deck. "Did you come to the island on the steamer which just passed here?" he added, as the lad looked about him with a grin.
"Yes," was the reply. "Come as servant."