"These men were undoubtedly recent fighters, too," remarked Lieutenant Prescott. "However, we'll look them over to make sure that they have no weapons now."
Hardly had the two sergeants started on their tour of inspection when one man leaped suddenly from his seat on the ground and made off on a run.
"There's the man we want!" yelled Hal. "Vicente Tomba, I call upon you to halt and surrender!"
But Tomba, for it was he, continued to run fleetly.
"Bring that man down, if he won't stop!" commanded Lieutenant Prescott sternly.
"Halt, Tomba, or we fire!" shouted Hal. "Ready, men! Aim! fire!"
Seven rifles spoke, almost in unison. Vicente Tomba pitched forward, then fell. When examined he was found to have received four bullet wounds. As he was dead, the soldiers buried him then and there.
"Men who are found in Tomba's company are subjects for suspicion," remarked Lieutenant Prescott dryly. "Though we've found no weapons with this crowd we'll round 'em up and take 'em in."
This was done. Captain Freeman decided to read these natives a lesson and then let them go.
"Why not make the rascals most humbly salute the Flag, sir?" suggested Sergeant Overton respectfully. "I still have the Flag that the Moros insulted."