With a graceful wave of his thin hands Colonel Salas made a sign for all to be seated and took, himself, the place beside Maria. Phil sat on the other side of Maria, while Sydney and little Juan were placed opposite. Their brisk ride had given them all an appetite, but the terrible predicament in which they now found themselves had quite taken away their relish for food. The lads did their best to appear undisturbed, but any one with half an eye could have seen the restlessness behind their forced tranquillity. It is not the Filipino custom to talk while eating, and it was not until his dish was emptied that Colonel Salas broke the awkward silence. “Your English friends are very fond of adventure,” he said suddenly. “Our camp is only a league up the river, and would be well worth a visit. I did not intend to return so soon, but I shall be glad to take you there. You can return to-day or remain until to-morrow morning. It is the strongest fortified camp in the islands, and has never been successfully attacked. You can see where three Spanish regiments were annihilated by having rocks rolled down upon them.” Phil’s heart beat faster. Here was the very opportunity he had wished for. If they could only see this camp with their own eyes; photograph the surroundings in their minds; test the depth of the water and the width of the channel, would it not be worth the fearful risk they would run? Then the thought of Espinosa drove the possibility of such a hazardous undertaking from his mind. They would then surely be recognized even if they had not been already, and he shuddered to think of the penalty. What was his astonishment when Maria agreed gladly to the plan. “That would be fun, wouldn’t it?” she cried in English, appealing to the utterly bewildered lads. “Bueno! We can ride to ‘El Salto de Diablo’ (the devil’s leap), and there I shall have ‘bankas’ ready to take us to the foot of the trail,” Salas returned delightedly as he left them to instruct his men sleeping on the shady porch at the back of the house. “Do you realize what you are doing?” Phil muttered excitedly. “At any moment he may discover who we really are. Suppose word should come to him from the city? We must not accept his invitation,” he ended hurriedly. “I fear,” Maria whispered, “that he already suspects who you are, and for that reason I have accepted. If I refused we are already in his hands, and what can we do against his twenty rifles? “We must act it out, and, if opportunity offers, escape. Above all, don’t show by sign or word that you suspect him and don’t show how much Spanish you know,” she ended fearfully, as she saw Salas approaching with several of his men. Phil’s heart beat like a trip-hammer at this disquieting belief of Maria. She was certainly keen. By what system of argument had she arrived at such a conclusion? To Phil Salas had appeared to believe the story told by the girl. Sydney and Juan had listened attentively to her words.