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252 the rice scattered in all directions and trampled in the mud.

"They don't want us to get hold of any of their stores," said Gilbert to Ben.

"I don't blame them," answered the captain. "They are playing the game of war to the best of their ability."

On the day following, the column under General MacArthur moved along the railroad to Malabacat. Here the rebels were intrenched just outside of, the town, but showed only a slight resistance. Colonel Darcy's command was sent to the right wing, which brought the first battalion on a small hill overlooking a fertile valley eastward, backed up by tall mountains. In the valley rested a collection of houses by the side of a winding stream, and after the fighting Ben learned that the hamlet was Desdenas.

"I would like to pay the village a visit," said the captain of Company D to his major.

"For what reason?"

"I would like to meet a friar named Alfredo Ponprè and have a talk with him." And then Ben told Major Morris of what Inez Garabella and Friar Monclova had said.