CHAPTER VII
THE KIND OF MAN WHO MASTERS OTHERS
Every one of the eight sullen fellows stood as though rooted in histracks.
While Tomba spoke none answered, but many baleful glances were cast atSergeant Hal Overton of the Thirty-fourth Infantry.
When Tomba had ceased speaking two or three of the rascals spoke,slowly, briefly.
"What do the scoundrels say?" demanded the Army boy.
"They do not like the situation, senor."
"Can you blame them? Or can they help the situation in the new turn thatit has taken?"
The Filipino shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, ask the brown pirates what they intend to do?"
Tomba spoke as though translating the question into the two tongues thatthese surly fellows understood.
"They say that they do not know," replied Vicente Tomba presently.
"Can't make up their minds, eh?" jeered Hal. "Then I'll form theirdecisions for them. There's a further way out of this place?"
Vicente Tomba hesitated, muttering.
"Now, don't you try my old trick of trying to gain time," warned theboyish sergeant crisply. "I know all about that little trick and I don'tintend to put up with it in the enemy. Tomba, tell your fellows to openthe way out of here, and to get out as quickly as they know how. Tellthem that, as soon as you stop talking, I'm going to begin to count tenin English, and that the instant I count ten I shall drive this creesedeep into the back of your neck. Tell them that I know how to handle aweapon like this, and that I'll finish you with one blow."
As he spoke, Sergeant Hal dropped the lantern that he had been holdingwith his left hand. It fell with a crash, and the light went out, but heneeded it no longer, for there were two other lighted lanterns in theroom.
"Go on, Tomba! Tell them just what I told you to say. Be sure you get itstraight, too. Remember how much hangs in the balance for you!"
Tomba began speaking, his voice wonderfully steady. Sergeant Hal couldnot help admiring the evident courage of this little Filipino, who knewwell enough that his life was hanging on a thread from second to second.
Hal's left hand now rested tightly on the little brown man's shoulder.Tomba's body was no slight protection against the pistols of these surlyfellows in case they evidenced a disposition to shoot. And the Army boydid not intend to let this human bulwark get away from him.
"You have told them, Tomba?" queried Hal Overton, as soon as theFilipino's voice ceased.
"Even so, senor."
"They understand?"
"If they do not, then they are idiots, Senor Sergente."
"Then tell them I am going to begin to count."
Again Tomba spoke, this time briefly.
The grip of young Overton's hand on the Filipino's shoulder tightened. Aslight shudder ran through the brown man's frame, but otherwise heshowed no fear.
"One!" began Hal.
From the surly ones beyond an angry babel of protest went up.
But Hal coolly disregarding the clamor, merely raised his own voiceenough to make it heard:
"Two!"
Sergeant Overton now let go of the Filipino's shoulder, but only tothrow his arm around the fellow's neck. Tomba's head was drawn back,almost chokingly, against the boyish sergeant's shoulder.
"Three!"
Still no motion among the dark-skinned eight.
"Four!"
And then:
"Five! Tomba, your friends are cheerful about your fate, aren't they?Six!"
Vicente Tomba spoke, sharply, hissingly. Now some stir was noticeableamong the wretches, though whether they meant to obey or to try to rushthe lone soldier was more than Overton could guess.
"Seven!"
Hal's voice, as steady as ever, must have carried conviction with it.Certainly Tomba's shuddering had increased, though the little brown man,no match in muscle for the white soldier, made not the least effort towrest himself away from that dangerous grip.
"Eight!" announced Hal Overton, his voice on the verge of absolutecheeriness.
Again Tomba spoke, this time still more angrily.
There was a shuffling of feet, as the men moved further away. Then oneof the wretches stepped forward and threw open a door, just as Hal camecalmly out with:
"Nine!"
"Stop counting, senor," urged Vicente Tomba quite coolly. "These menhave yielded and are going. They will open the other door, pass throughit hurriedly, and leave the way open for you."
"Lucky for you, if they do, my Tagalo friend! I will suspend the countfor an instant only."
Another stone door was suddenly swung open, by one of the surly fellows,revealing a passage beyond. Into this the eight fairly raced.
"Do not follow too quickly, senor, or one of the rascals may forgethimself and turn to fight," declared Tomba.
"It will be bad for you if it happens!"
"It is of myself that I am thinking, senor!" returned the Filipinodryly. Then, after a pause:
"Come, senor. Surely we can pass out safely now."
"Then we'll do so," agreed Sergeant Hal, "and your life be upon oursuccess! Don't try to go more quickly than I move, or I shall suspectyou, and with me to suspect is to----"
"Say no more, senor," interrupted the little Filipino. "I understand youbetter than I did, and I am taking no chances."
Sergeant Overton still retained his left-handed hold on Tomba as thepair passed out to what might mean safety.
Through this second doorway they passed, to find themselves ascending aslope paved only with tightly packed dirt. Glancing up the slopeSergeant Hal made out three or four stars low down in the sky beyond.
"Night time?" he queried in mild astonishment.
"Yes, senor, and you will even believe that it is the night of anotherday," laughed Vicente Tomba, "for you must have lived ages in the lastfew hours."
"It wasn't quite as bad as that," the Army boy returned graciously. "Inyour way, Tomba, you helped excellently to pass the time for me."
At the top of this interior slope the pair passed out through a doorwayordinarily closed by means of a stout wooden door. The pair foundthemselves in the yard back of Cerverra's house. At one side was analley way leading to the street.
"I will leave you here, senor, with your gracious permission."
"Oh, no, no, Tomba! You will go with me, and still held by me, at leastas far as the middle of the street."
With sullen assent the Filipino consented to this. On theirway through the alley they encountered no one.
But, just as they reached the sidewalk, they were met with a sharp hailof:
"Halt!"