"A surgeon will probably be with us before long," was the sergeant's
evasive reply.

Bansemer looked searchingly at Connell. What he saw in the other's
eyes caused him a sharp pang of grief. Both men turned their faces
away for a moment and it was with a gulp that Connell continued:

"Your brother will have the best of care if we get out of this
mess. You are both safe. We are not fighting the Spaniards;" and
then, pertinently: "So these were Aguinaldo's men?"

"Yes, he was here directing the fight," the boy answered.

"Aguinaldo here!" This and other ejaculations of surprise and
anger burst in chorus from every throat; but as suddenly they were
followed by expressions of chagrin. For, by contrasting the present
situation with that which they had anticipated, this information
had succeeded in intensifying their mortification.

But notwithstanding his share of the universal disappointment,
a hasty reflection of preceding events convinced Graydon that
personally he had little ground for complaint against the late
occupants of the convent. For unintentional as undoubtedly had
been the act through which at the very point of death his existence
had been preserved, there was no evidence to refute the hypothesis
that the shot which had killed his assailant in the plaza had been
fired by one of the insurgents under cover.

"Great Scott!" was the exclamation to which he gave utterance. "Once