“Have you never suspected Espinosa?” Phil asked quietly.
“Yes, once,” the captain answered, after a moment’s hesitation, “but I found I was mistaken. He would not have led us against this fellow Martinez if he had been a traitor. I have the note here which I took from Espinosa that gives the information. It is in Visayan but I have translated it.” He handed the scrap of paper to Phil, who read it and passed it back.
“Colonel Martinez and two hundred men encamp to-night at Barotoc Hill near Banate en route to join Diocno.”
Phil pondered over the words of the message. Then he remembered the terrible personal attack of Espinosa against Martinez. Was this a clue to his betrayal? Were Martinez and Espinosa personal enemies?
“No,” the captain continued assuredly. “Espinosa has aided us in every way. It was through him that we sent Captain Gordon to the north to prevent more of these deserters from Aguinaldo’s army landing. He has kept us well posted on the movements of our enemy.”
“But still,” Phil insisted, “there have been no big fights and we’ve lost a number of men cut up through surprise.”
“That’s due in a great measure to the country and the inexperience of our volunteer officers,” the captain explained readily.
“Are you so sure of the honesty of Rodriguez?” he asked suddenly. “I have heard it insinuated that he aspires to the leadership if Diocno were removed.”
Phil was about to cry out his assured belief that Rodriguez was sincere, but with the words on his lips he hesitated. He had seen Rodriguez but once, and to be convinced of his honesty after such a short acquaintance would sound ridiculous. He saw that Maria’s part would have to be told if Captain Blynn was to be convinced.
“I have every reason to believe in his sincerity,” Phil said instead. “I can understand Spanish and I heard the leader denounce him as a traitor to the natives. Then I heard Rodriguez’s eloquent appeal to the men against their two-faced dealings. He surely had the courage of his convictions, for every hand there was against him.”