"No, they know better than to follow us into the jungles and mountains," said the leader, Fipile. "If they did that, we could shoot them down like so many monkeys." They had still to learn the true character of the tireless general who had now taken up their trail, and who knew no such words as fear or failure. It was well toward noon of the day following when Captain Fipile came in to have a talk with Larry. He spoke English remarkably well, for he had spent several years of his life in San Francisco, and in Hong Kong among the English located at that port. "Your name, my boy," he said, sitting down beside the young tar. And when Larry had given it, he continued, "You were with the American troops who carried Santa Cruz?" "I was, sir, although I got into the city before they did." "Indeed, and how was that?" questioned the Filipino leader, and Larry told as much of his story as he deemed necessary. To the tale Captain Fipile listened with interest, even smiling when Larry told how he had broken out of the prison. "You did wonderfully well for a boy," he remarked. "A man could not have done more. What became of your friend?" "I left him at the warehouse. I hope he rejoined the soldiers." "And what of Senors Benedicto and Jose Lupez?" "I don't know what became of them." "I know this Jose Lupez fairly well, and I always thought him an honest man." Captain Fipile stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We are fighting you Americans, it is true, but we would not wish to shelter a thief who had run away from among you. We are above that, even though a good many of your countrymen will not give us credit for it." "We know that some of the Filipinos are honest enough," said Larry, hesitatingly. "What do you intend to do with me?" he went on, after a pause. "That remains to be seen. Would you like to join our army?" "Me? No, sir!" cried the youth, promptly. Captain Fipile laughed outright. "You are honest enough about it, I must say. How about giving us a little information? Will you object to that?" "I have given you considerable information already." "I mean military information." "I haven't anything to say on that point." "Can't I persuade you to tell me what you may happen to know?" "No, sir." "If I can get you to talk, it may go much easier with you while you remain our prisoner," went on the captain, suggestively. "I'm sorry, but I haven't anything to say." "Very well, then, Master Russell, if you are rather harshly treated in the future, remember you have only yourself to blame. As a general rule, we take prisoners only for the purpose of squeezing what information we can out of them." And thus speaking, Captain Fipile arose and quitted the cave, leaving Larry to his own reflections, which were more dismal than they were encouraging. CHAPTER IX THE ADVANCE INTO THE JUNGLE