Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/149

Rh to an opening overgrown with coarse Philippine "cow" grass, three to four feet high and as tough as cornstalks. Beyond this field was the wood skirting the beach of the bay where the Central was riding at anchor.

"Let us go around this field," suggested Walter. "We can then come up in an opposite direction to that from which the natives appeared." And Si agreed. But the going around took time, the sun blazed down more fiercely than ever, and both were all but sunstruck in consequence. At the edge of the wood they had to sit down to rest.

Presently a shouting reached their ears, coming from the end of the wood, where one of the mountain streams emptied itself into the bay. To find out what new movement was on foot, they climbed a tall tree growing near, and made out a long canoe, which the Negritos had brought forth from the bushes beside the stream. The canoe was launched in the stream, and fully a score of natives began to push the craft toward the bay.

"They haven't given up the fight yet," whispered Walter. " I believe they are really going to row over to the transport."

"Well, if they do, they'll be blown sky-high,"