Manila conspiracy. He is a very bad man—he robbed my house of a good deal."
"And who else were in the party?"
"A Spaniard named José Lupez, who came up from the lake to meet his brother, a fugitive from the capital."
"And did he meet his brother?"
"I believe he did. At least, I saw him with another Spaniard, and the two looked somewhat alike."
"It was undoubtedly Benedicto Lupez. Did the rebels have a prisoner with them, a young American sailor?"
"I saw no prisoners. We had a great dispute, which ended in a fight. Then our homes were robbed and set on fire, and the rascals departed in all haste on the road to Batangas."
"How many were there in the party?"
"About a hundred came first. Just before the others left, over a hundred more came up."
"And they marched on the highway?"
"Yes."
Ben said no more, but with all speed gathered his battalion together, and in a few minutes more the soldiers were on the highway in pursuit of the
