Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/119

 "Nor I," answered Si. "I reckon that's as bad as the storm Larry and that Luke Striker encountered."

"Just about. But we can be happy that we didn't go overboard as they did."

"These storms seem to be so much worse than those we have on the Atlantic."

"Well, I don't know about that, Si. They have 'em pretty rough around the West Indies and off the coast of Hatteras."

Toward nightfall the transport came in sight of Luzon, at a point not far distant from the cape they were expecting to round. Here there was a beautiful little bay, with water as clear as crystal.

"That is pretty, isn't it?" observed Walter, and then, as he gazed at the hill beyond, covered with its tropical growth of many colors, he added: "I'd like to take a run ashore there, if only for quarter of an hour."

"So would I," answered his chum. "But what's the use o' wishing, Walter?" he went on. "We're booked for Manila, and we won't stop anywhere else."

But Si was mistaken. The ship's carpenter had now announced to the captain that the damage done was growing greater, and that the transport had better