"But you are not going with me, after——"
"Nothing was said about that," Hal answered, "and we have other plans. Good-bye."
As the Filipino dandy once more tried to place himself in front of the young sergeant, Hal gently but firmly thrust the insistent fellow aside.
The Filipino stood glaring after them until the two Army boys were out of sight. The glint in his eyes was far from pleasant.
"Now, what on earth did that fellow want of us?" demanded Noll wonderingly.
"Nothing good, anyway," returned Hal Overton. "Intending benefactors don't act in that fashion. He may represent a bad phase of life out here. Let's forget him. Say, here's a store we must have overlooked on our way up here. Let's go in."
Half an hour later the Army boys came out of the store, each carrying a small parcel. For his first present home each young soldier had bought for his mother a small assortment of the wonderfully filmy pina lace handkerchiefs made by the native women.
"No quilez around here for hire," said Hal, after looking up and down the Escolta. "Let's walk across the bridge over the Pasig. We'll be more likely to find an idle cochero on the other side of the river."
As they started the sky was darkening, and the lightning beginning to flash, for this was in early July, at the height of the rainy season.
"I hope we find a cochero soon," muttered Noll, looking up at the dark sky. "I don't fancy the idea of walking all the way out to Malate in a downpour."