Page:The Campaign of the Jungle.djvu/205

Rh Morris still held "the drop" upon them, and the commander of the first battalion looked as if he would stand no nonsense.

"These men came here to rob me," said the woman, slowly. "They are of your kind, but they are not honest."

"Then they are not of our kind," answered Ben, promptly. "We do not allow our soldiers to rob anybody."

"We didn't come to steal—" began the older regular, when Major Morris stopped him.

"Silence!" Not another word until the lady has finished her story."

There was a second of painful silence, and the lady continued: "I am staying at the mill alone, for my husband has gone to the Laguna de Bay on business. Several hours ago, these two soldiers came in and demanded that I serve them with a hot supper. Not wishing to have trouble I gave them the best I had. But they were not satisfied, and broke into my husband's wine closet and drank two bottles of his choicest wine, and smoked his best cigarettes, package after package. Then, after drinking much wine, they demanded that I give them money, and that man," pointing to the older