“I cannot allow you to take this risk,” he said kindly, a light of admiration in his eyes. “Why should two American lives be jeopardized to save one? And perhaps some will say that Lieutenant Tillotson does not deserve such a sacrifice at your hands.”
“That makes me more anxious to take the risk,” Phil urged. “We did not part friends, and I can’t help feeling that our quarrel has had some part in his misfortune.”
Under the confiding influence of the general’s manner, Phil told of his affair with Tillotson, doing his best to make a good case for his one time enemy.
The general shook his head thoughtfully.
“It is very hard for me to allow you to undertake such a rash adventure,” he answered, putting his hand affectionately on the midshipman’s shoulder, “but war is war, and if pluck will bring success, Tillotson’s life will be saved. Tell me now,” he added, seating himself and motioning Phil to a chair, “how far you have worked out the details of your plan, for every point must be covered; there must be no loophole for failure. Can you expect that each of your twenty-five men will keep the secret after they have mixed with the enemy?”
Phil outlined each step as he had thought it out during the last anxious twenty-four hours, while the general listened, his face grave and thoughtful.
They would start after nightfall, and by sending men ahead to announce their coming would be received by the insurgents with acclamation. They would spend the next day at the camp and Lopez would endeavor to keep his men from mixing with the enemy, and the next night the gunboat and as many troops as the general could muster would lay siege to the stronghold. The remainder Phil had not thought out. Chance alone must decide the outcome, but he hoped to save Lieutenant Tillotson’s life and their own, and maybe by Lopez and his men commanding the top of the trail they could aid the American troops in their fight for the stronghold. When the attack was made he would use Lopez’s men to prevent Espinosa from carrying out his threat against Tillotson’s life. The gunboat must use its fire against the fortifications, but be careful to direct its shell to the left of the stronghold, for he hoped that his own men would be at the right near the trail leading down the precipice.
“There are a great many chances for failure,” the general said thoughtfully as Phil finished, “but with your energy and perseverance I believe you will win.” He shook the lad’s hand warmly in parting.
“I wish I could go with you,” Maria said sadly as Phil bade her good-bye; “but you can put your full trust in Lopez. It was he who betrayed the Katipunan society to me to save my father’s life. How he got the information I do not know, but if his act were known his life would be forfeited.”
Without ceremony Phil and O’Neil, their hands tied securely with ropes made fast to their bodies and held in the hands of the make-believe deserting natives, filed along the narrow trail leading parallel to the fast flowing river. Two messengers had been sent ahead to notify the insurgent leader of the joyful tidings of the important captures. Their progress was rapid, and inside of three hours the house which had been the scene of Phil’s and Maria’s strategy was reached. There the party waited.