However, the datto made no move to attack, though Captain Freeman believed that the rebel, by this time, must have twelve hundred fighting men, at least, in the forests below. "Hakkut may realize the difficulty of assaulting us here, and may be waiting for huge reinforcements," Captain Freeman confided to his two lieutenants. "Moreover, I think it extremely likely that we have been caught underestimating the force of the enemy." "There's one good thing about this style of campaigning, sir," smiled Prescott, "It isn't eating up any more men in casualties." "No; but the datto is figuring that he's letting us eat up our rations." There were no attacks that afternoon or evening. The next morning Captain Freeman hesitated as to whether or not he should send out a party in force to "locate and develop" the enemy. But he decided not to do so. "To-morrow, though," declared the captain to his lieutenants, "we'll break through the line somewhere." That third night Sergeant Hal was placed in charge of the guard, with Lieutenant Greg Holmes as his direct superior. On the side of camp where the commanding officer thought the enemy most numerous, Hal placed Corporal Duxbridge in charge. "Don't close your eyes to-night, Corporal," warned the young sergeant. "You can get your sleep in the daytime. This is the point where the greatest vigilance is needed. This point is really the key to the camp, and every man who lies down to sleep to-night leaves his life in your hands." "All right," replied Corporal Duxbridge in a voice that sounded weary. "You'll be sure to keep awake?" "I know my business, Sergeant." Hal Overton did not particularly like Duxbridge. He belonged to C Company, and was a man subject to occasional fits of crankiness. But Duxbridge, as well as the others, had his share of duty to perform. Late that night one of the men of the guard, stationed not far from Duxbridge, thought that he heard a slight noise down the slope. He listened only a moment, then felt sure that he had espied a figure crawling along further down the slope. "Halt!" called the soldier. "Halt or I'll fire. Who's there?" "A friend," came the answer in perfectly good English. "For Heaven's sake don't fire. We've had enough of horrors with the fiends below. Where's Corporal Duxbridge? He knows me." "Corporal Duxbridge is on duty at this point," returned the soldier. "How many of you are there?" "Seven; but I will come up alone first and speak with the corporal." Duxbridge was called quietly. The corporal had been dozing for twenty minutes, and he awoke with mind somewhat befogged. The stranger below, who had been allowed to advance, now stepped up to where the corporal could scrutinize him. "Why, I know this man," declared the corporal. "His name's Eusebio Davo. He's a wealthy Tagalo, loyal to the government and a good man. What's the trouble, Senor Davo?"