“The worst of it is,” Phil replied gravely, “Tillotson is the son of an influential man in the Philippine government, and if he takes our part the general will incur the father’s displeasure, for a father will never believe wrong of a son. A general has been suspended for less, and that would ruin his army career. I think our best plan is to try to compromise with Tillotson, and if he won’t listen to reason then ask the general to send us to another part of the island.” Major Marble, as much as he disliked the task, was in duty bound to hand this report to the general through his judge-advocate general. Captain Blynn believed he was a fair man and was proud of his reputation of being scrupulously honest, yet when he read this arraignment of the young midshipman, a smile, almost of pleasure, passed over his face. Here was a case in which he took the greatest delight. The captain instinctively disliked Tillotson. He saw that he did not have the making of a soldier, and this expedition had been one of the few with which he had been entrusted. On another occasion his command had suffered severely from an ambush of bolo-men, and there had been vague rumors that Tillotson had not behaved as it was traditional a ----th Infantry officer should, but there had been nothing official, thanks doubtless to his father’s influence. As Captain Blynn read he recognized the work of a law graduate. Each charge was described at length in an enclosed letter. Undoubtedly the circumstances were true. “Queer youngster, that fellow Perry,” Captain Blynn exclaimed almost in admiration as he finished and folded the communication preparatory to laying it before his chief. “He’s got grit, but I fear bad judgment. I could never see why he allowed that Martinez to escape. Espinosa says it was deliberate. Well, he must pay for his ill-judged acts. I don’t want any one about here who’s going to have qualms of conscience about killing a Filipino who won’t surrender. He handled that attack at Binalbagan splendidly, though,” he thought. “But I am afraid we’ve got to make an example of him.” As Captain Blynn approached the general’s office, he caught the sound of voices from within, and soon saw that the midshipman himself was talking earnestly with the general. Captain Blynn was not deterred; with him business was business and here was the officer charged with a grave offense. “I have a letter here, sir,” he said in his cold, official voice addressing his chief, “written by Lieutenant Tillotson, making very serious charges of misconduct against Midshipman Perry.” “Captain Perry has just told me that he had heard of these charges,” the general replied in an annoyed voice. “It seems to me, Perry, you have stirred up quite a hornet’s nest in the few days you have been in Kapay.” Phil blushed furiously, and his eyes flared forth his indignation at such an unfair remark. Especially as he could make no answer to an officer of such rank.