Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-17

OF brIskly. taking with him Quin'l
rifle. sun helmet and tweed coat. III,
plunged into the forest and was lost Il
sight.
Here's a nice hxy' Quin reflected
ruefully. II can't get Through tn,
thorny Jungle In my shirt and trousers
that's certain. Well, l must mako ths
best OF It."
He put on the strangers tunic and
broad hat, picked up the spear. which
Its owner had discarded or forgotten
and started on his way. For an hour
as he marched through the silent for
est, the thrilling news he had recently
heard filed his mind to the exclusion
Of everything else. But presently, wher
II occurred TO him that he was proba
bly, wearing part Of q hunted rebels
clothing. he felt serious misgiving.
"If run into the Spaniards." he said
to HIMSELF ut won't be easy to prove
my Identity. The risk II too great
It's better to tackle the thorns bare.
headed and coatless."
But his resolution was made too late
At that instant a sentry stepped out
from behind a tree on the left and
challenged him at the point Of rife,
There was no chance Of escape. He
was quickly surrounded by half a doz.
en- Spanish soldiers. who led him for.
ward few yards to camp In the for.
est where 10 or II more soldiers. In.
fantry. were lounging by rude huts.
All crowded about the prisoner.
"who are you" fercely demanded
the officer In command, who wore q
captains uniform.
IL know him. Captain vlllarr cried
another officer. HE Is the very fellow
We are looking for Francisco Perez
and he Is trying to get through TO the
American feet. He had the daring to
address me ut General Augustlne's ball
last January. and by accident his mask
slipped OF. 30 that saw his face dis
tinctly He Ia Perez himself"
"Are you certain Of this. Lieutenant
Uriosto?" the captain asked.
II will swear to IT," was the reply.
rs Il not enough that his hat and tunIc
are such as Perez always wearsY' He
turned to the prisoner. "Do you deny
that we met In Manila r. he added.
Quin made no answer. For a mo-
ment he was stunned as be realized
that the man who had saved him from
the boar and then played him such a
scuryy trick was none other than the
ipsurgent leader.
'It Is n mistake. I am not Perez"
be finally said. do any here speak
EngltshY
Officers and men shook their heads.
"It Is useless to try to deceive u.s."
growled Captain Villar.
The situation was serious. and Quin
rallied all his composure TO give an ac-
count Of himself. He insisted that he
was an Engllshman and described his
expedition TO the interior, concluding
his story with the adventure with the
boar and the forcible exchange Of cloth
Ing. But the narrative was received
incredulously. with anger and derision,
and Quin's heart sank.
"You are cunning liar. but you are
Francisco Perez" said Captain Nillar.
'Yor must die. Those are our orders.
Jusv then voices were heard at little
distance. and a moment later -four
Spanish soldiers appeared from one
side OF the camp. leading between them
q prisoner. and Quln, as be saw his
own coat and helmet, uttered q cry OF
Joy.
THAT Is the man." he cried excitedly,
''who compelled me to change clothing
at the point Of n pistol. He Is Francis
CO Perez, not |"
The prisoner when brought forward
and confronted with Quin fiatly denied
the latter's assertion.
IL never saw the fellow before he
said calmly. 'He lies, senor captain.
II Is who am an Englisbman. return.
Ing alone from disastrous expedition
to the Interior Of the island. | was on
my way to Manila when your soldiers
arrested me. demand my liberty"
Captain viliar shrugged bis shoulders
and looked puzzled.
zone Of you" he replied, "is undoubt.
edly Perez"
"There be stands, wearing my cloth.
ingw Quin cried In ringing voice.
"Liarv' replied the impostor. "You
are the rebel leader. am the English
man. Matthew Quin."
THAT is my name, you scoundrel?'
Quin roared.
Captain villar exchanged a meaning
glance with his lieutenant.
"It is the first time the name has
been mentioned" be said eagerly. II
now know how to act. Several months
ago. owing TO a report from Spanish
spy In London. ! was instructed to
watch for an Englishman. Matthew
QuIn. who ostensibly left Manila on a
hunting expedition, but whose real
purpose was to convey arms to the In
surgents."
"Then you were wrongly Informed.
cried Quin. MY expedition had moth.
ing to do with the rebels. and I can
prove It II you send me to Manila"
THAT Is quite unnecessary" said
Captain vlllar. Zone Of you Is certain.
~ Francisco Perez, and the other is an
English filibuster. It makes no differ.
ence which rs which. My orders are
plain. and You will die together.
give you ten minutes grace"
Both prisoners began to protest, but
they were silenced by brutal blows on
the face. Then their wrists were tied
behind them. and they were led apart
under strong guard. Perez-there was
no doubt Of his identity--accepted the
situation with apparent fortitude. Quin
also realized that there was no hope,
and he bore up as well as he could un-
der this terrible stroke Of fate. He felt
less resentment toward his fellow cap
tive since he now knew that the false
denunciation from the Spanish spy In
London would by itself have doomed
him to death. He could understand
the temper Of the Spaniards with the
American feet lying OF Manila.
The ten minutes Of grace sped quick
ly by. Captain villar. who had been
comforting quietly with his officers.
suddenly lifted his hand and gave an
order. Quin and Perez were placed
side by side against one OF the huts