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</pre>

<h1>The Adventures of a Boy Reporter</h1>

<h2>by Harry Steele Morrison, 1900</h2>

<h4>THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO.</h4>

<h4>CLEVELAND, O.                 NEW YORK, N.Y.</h4>

<h4>Printed in the United States of America</h4>

<hr>
<center>
<table summary="boy" cellpadding="2" width="40%">
<tr>
<td>
<h2>CONTENTS.</h2>

<h4>CHAPTER I.</h4>

<h5>LIVING IN THE COUNTRY&#151; LIFE AT SCHOOL&#151; THE HUT CLUB
IS FORMED&#151; THE COMING OF THE CIRCUS</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER II.</h4>

<h5>ARCHIE LONGS FOR A CHANGE IN SURROUNDINGS&#151; A TRIP TO NEW
YORK WITH UNCLE HENRY</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER III.</h4>

<h5>ARCHIE DETERMINES TO GO TO THE CITY TO WORK&#151; LEAVING
HOME AT NIGHT</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER IV.</h4>

<h5>WORKING ON A FARM TO EARN SOME MONEY&#151; CRUEL
TREATMENT</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER V.</h4>

<h5>THE NIGHT AMONG THE RUINS&#151; THE CAMP-FIRE OF THE
TRAMPS</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER VI.</h4>

<h5>STEALING A RIDE&#151; KICKED OUT BY THE BRAKEMAN</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER VII.</h4>

<h5>ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK&#151; A NIGHT IN A LODGING-HOUSE</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER VIII.</h4>

<h5>LOOKING FOR WORK&#151; WASHING DISHES IN A BOWERY
RESTAURANT</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER IX.</h4>

<h5>IN THE STREET AGAIN&#151; THE POLICE STATION&#151; VISITS THE
NEWSPAPER OFFICE, AND IS KINDLY RECEIVED BY THE EDITOR</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER X.</h4>

<h5>LIVING IN COMFORT AGAIN&#151; FEATURED AS "THE BOY
REPORTER"</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XI.</h4>

<h5>A DAY AND A NIGHT IN CONEY ISLAND&#151; RAIDING A GAMBLING
DEN</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XII.</h4>

<h5>A SUCCESSFUL REPORTER&#151; THE EDITOR DECIDES TO SEND HIM AS
CORRESPONDENT TO THE PHILIPPINES&#151; LEAVING NEW YORK&#151; IN
CHICAGO</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XIII.</h4>

<h5>SAN FRANCISCO&#151; THE TRANSPORT GONE&#151; WORKING HIS WAY
TO HONOLULU BY PEELING VEGETABLES ON A PACIFIC LINER&#151; THE
CAPITAL OF HAWAII</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XIV.</h4>

<h5>THE VOYAGE ON THE TRANSPORT&#151; A STORM AT SEA&#151;
ARRIVAL IN MANILA</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XV.</h4>

<h5>ARCHIE STARTS OUT ON AN EXPLORING TOUR, AND HAS SOME STRANGE
ADVENTURES AMONG THE NATIVES&#151; SEIZED BY THE REBELS</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XVI.</h4>

<h5>A PLEASANT CAPTOR&#151; BRAVE BILL HICKSON ALLOWS ARCHIE TO
ESCAPE&#151; FIRST GLIMPSE OF AGUINALDO</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XVII.</h4>

<h5>ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICAN TROOPS&#151; ARCHIE THE HERO OF THE
REGIMENT</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XVIII.</h4>

<h5>THE MARCH AFTER THE REBELS&#151; THE FIRST BATTLE&#151;
ARCHIE WOUNDED</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XIX.</h4>

<h5>RETURN TO MANILA&#151; IN THE HOSPITAL&#151; CONGRATULATED BY
ALL&#151; WRITING TO THE PAPER OF HIS EXPERIENCES</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XX.</h4>

<h5>AROUND THE ISLAND ON A WAR-SHIP&#151; BOMBARDING A FILIPINO
TOWN</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XXI.</h4>

<h5>CONTINUING THE CRUISE&#151; ANOTHER VILLAGE CAPTURED&#151;
THE ADMIRAL ARCHIE'S FRIEND&#151; A GREAT BATTLE AND AN
UNEXPECTED VICTORY&#151; LONGING TO BE HOME AGAIN</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XXII.</h4>

<h5>RETURN TO HEADQUARTERS&#151; A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR, WITH
PERMISSION TO RETURN TO NEW YORK&#151; BILL HICKSON GOES,
TOO</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XXIII.</h4>

<h5>HONG KONG&#151; A HAPPY TIME IN TOKIO&#151; HONOLULU
AGAIN&#151; ARRIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND A GREAT RECEPTION BY
THE PRESS&#151; ARCHIE AND BILL ARRIVE IN NEW YORK, AND ARE THE
HEROES OF THE HOUR</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XXIV.</h4>

<h5>DOING "SPECIAL" WORK UPON THE EVENING PAPER&#151; INTERVIEWS
WITH FAMOUS MEN&#151; CALLS UPON OLD FRIENDS</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XXV.</h4>

<h5>PRIVATE SECRETARY TO A MILLIONAIRE&#151; STUDYING AT EVENING
SCHOOL&#151; LIVING AMID ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS</h5>

<h4>CHAPTER XXVI.</h4>

<h5>DECIDES TO VISIT HOME&#151; A GREAT RECEPTION IN THE
TOWN&#151; A PUBLIC CHARACTER NOW&#151; DINNER TO THE HUT
CLUB&#151; DEMONSTRATION AT THE TOWN HALL&#151; A TELEGRAM FROM
HIS EMPLOYER LEAVING FOR EUROPE</h5>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>

<hr>
<h3>THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER.</h3>

<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>LIVING IN THE COUNTRY&#151; LIFE AT SCHOOL&#151; THE HUT CLUB
IS FORMED&#151; THE COMING OF THE CIRCUS.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>"Y<small>ES</small>," said Mrs. Dunn to her neighbour, Mrs.
Sullivan, "we are expecting great things of Archie, and yet we
sometimes hardly know what to think of the boy. He has the most
remarkable ideas of things, and there seems to be absolutely no
limit to his ambition. He has long since determined that he will
some day be President, and he expects to enter politics the day
he is twenty-one."</p>

<p>"Is that so, indeed," said Mrs. Sullivan. "Well, we can never
tell what is going to come of our boys. As I says to Dannie
to-day, says I, 'Dannie, you must do your best to be somebody and
make something of yourself, for you and Jack bees all that I has
to depend upon now.' But Dannie pays no attention to my
entreaties, and somehow it seems to me that since Mr. Sullivan
died the boys are gettin' worse and worse. It's beyond me to
control them, anyhow."</p>

<p>"Oh, take heart, Mrs. Sullivan," said Mrs. Dunn, "our boys
will all turn out well in the end, and all we can do is to bring
them up in the best way we know, and trust to them to take care
of themselves after they leave home. Now Dannie is certainly an
industrious lad. I hear him pounding nails all day long in the
back yard, and he made a good job of shingling the woodshed the
other day. He seems made to be a carpenter."</p>

<p>"Yes, I think so myself," said the Widow Sullivan. "The whole
lot of them is out by the railroad now, building a hut. They've
organised a 'Hut Club' to-day, and never a lick of work have I
had out of them boys since mornin'. They've always got something
going on, and when I want a bit of water from the well, or a
little wood from the shed, they're never around."</p>

<p>"Yes, but boys will be boys, Mrs. Sullivan, and we'd better
keep them contented at home as long as we can. They'll be leaving
us soon enough. It seems that no boys are content to stay in town
any longer; they're all anxious to be off to the city."</p>

<p>"That's true, that's true, Mrs. Dunn," said Mrs. Sullivan. "I
must be going now. I'm much obliged for the rain-water, and
whenever you want a bit of milk call over the fence, and I'll
bring it to you with pleasure. It's a good neighbour you are,
Mrs. Dunn."</p>

<p>And Mrs. Sullivan went slowly around the house and out at the
front gate, while good Mrs. Dunn returned to her ironing, a few
clothes having to be ready for Sunday.</p>

<p>While these mothers were discussing their boys, the youngsters
themselves were busy behind the barn, building a hut down near
the railway track. There were six of them altogether, the three
extra ones, besides Archie Dunn and the Sullivan boys, having
come from across the railway to play for the day. Two hours
before they had solemnly organised themselves into the "Hut
Club," each boy walking three times around the block blindfolded,
and swearing upon his return to be true to all the rules and
regulations of the organisation, which had been written with
chalk on the side of the barn. The regulations were numerous, but
the most important one was that no East Side boys were to be
allowed within the club-room when it was built, and that the
club's policy should be one of warfare against the East Siders on
every occasion when they met. This fight against the East Side
was, indeed, responsible for the organisation of the club. It was
felt necessary to have some head to their forces, and some means
of holding together. So the club was organised, and now the next
thing on the programme was the erection of a hut to serve as a
club-house. Archie Dunn, who had been elected president,
volunteered to get three boards and a hammer if the other boys
would each get two boards and some nails. This proposition was
agreed to, and when the boys returned from their foraging
expeditions it was found that there were more than enough boards
to build the hut, so the work began at once. Holes were dug in
the ground, and some posts planted as supports for the structure,
and then the boards were hastily nailed together from post to
post. In three hours the hut was practically completed, and it
remained only to lay a floor until they could hold their first
meeting in the new club-house. The floor itself was down by noon,
and the club then served a memorable dinner to mark the
completion of the structure.</p>

<p>A hole was dug in the ground outside the door, and a furnace
made. A skillet was brought from Archie's house, together with
some dishes and a coffee-pot, and Dan Sullivan brought some more
dishes, and six eggs from his nests under the barn. The boys were
obliged to make several trips to and from the houses, but finally
nearly everything was ready, and the eggs were carefully cooked
by Archie, who was really a good housekeeper, from long
experience in the kitchen with his mother. Some potatoes were
fried in the grease remaining in the skillet after the eggs were
cooked, and then the feast began. The eggs may have been rather
black with grease, and the potatoes were certainly not done, but
the boys all pronounced it the finest meal of their lives,
notwithstanding the bitter coffee, and the dirty bread, which had
been allowed to fall into the gutter beside the railway track.
They were eating in their own house, and they had cooked in the
open air, "just like tramps," Harry Rafe said, and it was little
wonder that they enjoyed the novel experience.</p>

<p>The only trouble came when the meal was finished. No one
wanted to wash the dishes, and, finally, it was decided to return
them to their respective kitchens just as they were, and to let
them be washed with the rest of the dinner dishes at home. And
this decision came near putting an end to Hut Club dinners, for
both Mrs. Dunn and the Widow Sullivan were determined not to wash
any more dirty dishes from the hut.</p>

<p>When the meal was over, the boys lounged about the hut, and
Dan Sullivan brought a lot of things from his sister's playhouse
with which to furnish it more suitably. Archie Dunn brought a lot
of hay from the loft in his mother's barn, and when a piece of
old carpet was spread upon it it made an acceptable couch. A
piece of old carpet was laid in front of the hut, too, where the
boys could sit and watch the trains switching back and forth on
the railway, and the tramps who were heating coffee in cans over
by the cattle-pen.</p>

<p>Finally, some cattle arrived in the pen to be loaded into cars
for the city, and the boys had just decided to go and watch the
men loading them, when an engine came up the side-track with the
most beautiful car they had ever seen, behind it. The car was
painted in all colours of the rainbow, and in giant letters was
printed the magic name of "The World's Greatest Show."</p>

<p>The boys lost no time in getting down from the cattle-pen
fence, and the car had barely stopped when they were aboard.
"Hooray," shouted Charlie Huffman, "we'll all get jobs of passin'
bills." And it was with this end in view that they sought the
advertising manager in the car, who promised to give them all
jobs when the circus came in two weeks. The boys deluged him with
questions of every sort. "Will there be any elephants?" "Is there
goin' to be a parade?" and "Will there be any trapeze
performances?" The poor man was finally obliged to lock the door
to keep them out, and the boys stood about the car until nearly
six o'clock, admiring the paintings, and speculating as to
whether they would be able to work their way into the circus or
not, when it finally came. Their speculations were interrupted by
the appearance on the scene of the Widow Sullivan with a
good-sized maple switch, which she used to good effect in getting
the two Sullivans and Archie Dunn home for supper. For Mrs. Dunn
had given Mrs. Sullivan instructions before she started, so that
when Archie complained that he had been whipped by "that woman
next door," he received no sympathy whatever.</p>

<p>And when he went to bed at nine o'clock, he could hardly sleep
for thinking of the wonderful things which had happened this day.
The coming circus and the great Hut Club kept him awake until far
after ten, so that he got up too late for Sunday school the next
morning, and was punished accordingly.</p>

<p>The next week was a hard one at school, and the boys had but
little time to devote to the club. But after four o'clock in the
afternoon they sometimes got together and did various things
which improved their club-house. Some very fair chairs were
constructed from empty soap boxes, and various contrivances were
put together to guard against the intrusion of any East Siders or
tramps while they were away at school. There was no padlock used,
and any one coming up to the hut would imagine it a simple thing
to enter&#151; until he tried. But the boys had fixed a secret
cord which, when pulled, shifted the bar inside, and every boy
was sworn not to betray the existence of the cord.</p>

<p>The day set for the circus came nearer and nearer, and the
boys began to be anxious for fear the schools would not close, so
that they could attend. But the superintendent finally announced
that they would; so early on the eventful day the entire club was
on the grounds, waiting to get some work to do. Archie Dunn got
the first job, being selected to carry water for the elephant
because he was stronger than any of the others. But the rest were
given something to do, and when the day was over they had all
seen the circus, and went to bed happy, to dream of the great
trip to be taken by the Hut Club on the next Saturday.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>ARCHIE LONGS FOR A CHANGE IN SURROUNDINGS&#151; A TRIP TO NEW
YORK WITH UNCLE HENRY.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>T<small>HE</small> Hut Club went out on a picnic the next
Saturday, and had a jolly time. They camped upon an island in the
middle of a shallow stream, and while there made coffee and
cooked their dinner, having brought most of the necessary
apparatus from the Hut. They fished a little, and hunted for
turtles in the water, and altogether had a good time, if nothing
exciting did occur. It was after nine o'clock at night when they
reached town again, footsore and weary, and Archie Dunn had
hardly entered the house before he was on the dining-room lounge,
half-asleep. His mother seemed to be out, and as he lay there he
wondered how long it would be before she came back. Archie truly
loved his mother, but of late he had often thought that he would
like to leave home and go to the famous city, where he felt sure
he could get something to do. But he disliked the idea of leaving
his mother.</p>

<p>"I'm getting to be a big boy, now," he often said to himself,
"and it's time that I began to look out for myself. I'm nearly
seventeen, and I think I ought to be earning some money. This
thing of belonging to Hut Clubs and spending my time in going to
picnics and to circuses ought to stop. It's all right for boys,
but I'm getting to be a man, now."</p>

<p>All these thoughts were flying through his mind when his
mother came in. "Oh, Archie," she exclaimed, "I've been so
worried about you. I've just been over to Mrs. Sullivan's to see
if Dannie had come home, and whether he had seen you. Wherever
have you been?"</p>

<p>"We didn't think it would take so long to walk home," said
Archie, jumping up from the sofa, "but we were awfully tired, and
we didn't come very fast. I'm so sorry you were worried.</p>

<p>"And I'm as hungry as a bear, mother. Can't you find me
something to eat?"</p>

<p>"Yes, dear," said Mrs. Dunn, softly, "and when you've finished
your supper I have something for you. I won't give it to you now
for fear you won't be able to eat, but as soon as you have
finished your meal, you shall have it."</p>

<p>So Archie was obliged to eat his baked beans and brown bread
and drink his milk without knowing what was in store for him, and
he hurried as fast as he could, so that he could learn. When he
had finished he went into the sitting-room, and found his mother
sitting with a letter spread open upon her lap. "Uncle Henry has
written me asking if you cannot go with him to New York on
Monday, for a couple of days. He is obliged to go down there on
business, and says he will be glad to take you along and show you
something of the wonderful city, for he knows you won't be any
trouble to him. Now I hardly know what to say, Archie. If I can
feel that you are behaving yourself properly, and are doing your
best to be as little trouble as possible, I am willing that you
shall go."</p>

<p><i>"Oh,</i> mother," cried Archie, "I'll promise anything.
Only let me go this once, and I'll promise to stay at home all
the rest of the summer."</p>

<p>"All right, then," said Mrs. Dunn. "You shall go on the first
train Monday morning, and Uncle Henry will join you at Heddens
Corner. Run along to bed now."</p>

<p>Archie went up-stairs almost dumb with delight Was it really
true that he was to see the great city at last? He had heard some
of the boys at school telling what their fathers saw there, but
he had never even hoped that he would see it for himself so soon.
Of course he had determined to see it all some day, but that was
to be far in the future. The lad could hardly sleep for the joy
of it all, and when he did finally lose consciousness, it was
only to dream of streets of gold, and great buildings reaching to
the skies.</p>

<p>Sunday passed slowly by. At Sunday school, Archie told the
boys that be was going to New York on the morrow, and from that
moment he was the hero of the class. The boys looked at him with
wondering admiration, and seemed scarcely able to realise that
one of their number was to go so far from home. The city was in
reality little more than a hundred miles, but to their boyish
minds this distance seemed wonderfully great.</p>

<p>Early on Monday morning Archie was at the depot waiting for
the train. His mother was there to see him off, and there were
tears in her eyes at the thought of parting with her only child,
if only for a day or two. And Archie was radiant with delight at
the glorious prospect ahead of him. He walked nervously up and
down the platform, and wished frequently that it were not so
early in the morning, so that some of the boys might be there to
see him off. Finally, the great hissing locomotive drew up, with
its long train of coaches, and Archie was soon aboard, hurrying
off to Heddens Corner and the city. In a few minutes Uncle Henry
was with him, a tall, fine-looking man, with an air of business.
Uncle Henry kept the general store at the Corner, and was an
important person in the neighbourhood. He was of some importance
in the city, too, for his name was known in politics, and his
custom was always desired at the wholesale stores. So Archie was
going to see the city under good auspices, if his uncle would
only have time to take him about with him.</p>

<p>After a couple of hours, during which Archie kept his face
glued to the window-pane, watching the flying landscape, the
great train pulled through a long, dark tunnel, and finally
entered an immense shed, covered with glass where it came to a
final stop. Crowds left the coaches, and passed out of the
station, where they were swallowed up in the great rush of
traffic. Some drove away in cabs and carriages. Some entered the
street-cars, and some went up a stairway and entered what seemed
to Archie a railway train in the air.</p>

<p>Uncle Henry told Archie to follow him carefully, and they,
too, were soon flying away from the neighbourhood of the
terminal, past hotels, stores, and dwellings, until they finally
left the trolley-car, and passed through a cross street into a
long, quiet thoroughfare which looked old enough to have been
there for a hundred years. The houses were built far back from
the street, with pillars in front, and into one of these quaint
old dwellings went Archie and his uncle.</p>

<p>"I always stop down-town," explained Uncle Henry, "because I
am near to the great wholesale establishments. It is central to
the retail stores, too, and to many of the places of
interest."</p>

<p>When they were settled in their room, Uncle Henry explained
that he would have to be away most of this first day, but that
to-morrow he would take Archie out and show him the sights. So
Archie expected to remain indoors all day; but when his uncle had
left the house he decided that he couldn't possibly remain in
this close room when so many wonderful things were taking place
outside. So he decided to walk up and down the street, anyhow,
and when he went out he felt like a prisoner just escaped from a
cell. But the noise was terrible, and there were a great many
wagons and trucks passing through the street. The greatest crowd
seemed to be on that cross street about two blocks away, so
Archie decided to go there, and see if there was anything new on
that street.</p>

<p>He saw many wonderful things. There were cars running along
without any apparent motive power, there were thousands and
thousands of people in the streets, and the stores looked so
handsome and interesting that he simply couldn't resist going
into one or two of them, just to see what they were like. And
when he had finished with one or two he could think of no reason
why he shouldn't go on up the street, where he was sure he would
find a great many more interesting things to see. So on and on he
went, until at last he was tired and hungry, and then, for the
first time, he was a little frightened, because he thought of all
he had read about people losing their way in the city, and not
being able to find their relatives again. But he was a brave boy,
so he determined to make an effort to find his way back without
appealing to a policeman. And after a time he was successful, and
entered the queer old house in the ancient street at just three
o'clock in the afternoon. His uncle was there waiting for him,
and was nearly beside himself with apprehension.</p>

<p>"I was about to send out a general alarm for you, at the
police station," he said. "How did you happen to go away?"</p>

<p>"Oh, I was so very tired of staying in the house," said
Archie, "and I felt sure that I could find my way back without
getting lost at all. And to-morrow I'm sure I can get along all
right, Uncle Henry, so you needn't bother with me at all, unless
you want to."</p>

<p>And it so happened that Mr. Kirk was very busy the next day,
and would have found it quite impossible to show Archie about. So
it was fortunate that he was able to go everywhere alone, or he
would have had to return home without seeing anything at all of
the city.</p>

<p>As it was, he went here, there, and everywhere, and saw a
great deal of the city, the people, and the way in which they
lived. The entire place had a strange fascination for him, and
all the time he was thinking how glad he would be to live where
he could see all this rush of business, this varied life, every
<i>day.</i> And he fully determined to return some day and get
something to do, so that he might work himself up, and come to
own one of the handsome houses on the avenues, or drive one of
the elegant carriages on the boulevard. And he observed every boy
who passed him, and talked with several of them, trying to find
out whether positions were easy to secure, and whether they paid
much when they were secured.</p>

<p>So when they took the four o'clock train for home, and arrived
at Archie's house in time for supper, he told more about the city
boys and their work than about the tall buildings, the Brooklyn
Bridge, or the Central Park. He talked so much, in fact, about
the delights of the city boy, and the money he earned, that after
he had gone to bed Mrs. Dunn took her brother aside and talked
with him concerning Archie's future. And between them they
definitely decided that Archie must not go to the city to
work.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>ARCHIE DETERMINES TO GO TO THE CITY TO WORK&#151; LEAVING
HOME AT NIGHT.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> D<small>UNN</small> was not more
ambitious than many other boys of his age, but he possessed one
quality which is not developed in every boy, determination. Once
Archie decided upon doing a thing, once he had made up his mind
that it was truly a good thing to do, nothing could keep him from
putting his plans into action, and making an effort, at least, to
accomplish his ends. Most boys of seventeen have not decided what
they want to become when they are men, and, until his visit to
the city, Archie was equally at sea concerning his future. He
knew, of course, that he wanted to be rich and famous, but when
he tried to think up some suitable profession which would bring
him these possessions, he was never able to decide.</p>

<p>The two days in the city with Uncle Henry had opened to his
boyish mind a new world, and when he returned to the humble home
surrounded by gardens, he felt that he would never be satisfied
to live and work in this small town. There was now no question in
his mind but what the city was the place for any one who wished
to become either rich or famous. It would certainly be impossible
for him to make a name for himself in this village, while in the
city he would have every opportunity for improving himself, and
advancing himself in every way. He wondered, indeed, that he had
never thought of going to New York before, and was disgusted with
himself when he thought of the time he had wasted here at
home.</p>

<p>But there was no use in thinking of the past. The thing to do
now was to get to the city as quickly as possible, for to Archie
every day seemed precious, and each delay kept him further from
the consummation of his hopes. It never occurred to the boy that
his mother might have objections to his leaving home. She had
always been very ambitious for his future, and he supposed that
she would be delighted at the idea of having her boy in the great
city, where he would have innumerable chances for improving
himself. So when they sat on the front porch, one evening, and he
told her of his plan, he was surprised to hear his mother
pleading with him to remain at home. "Archie," she said, "I am
almost sure you will come to some bad end in the city. You really
must not go, for my sake, if for no other reason."</p>

<p>"But, mother, I can't remain here in town always. I must go
out into the world some time to earn a living and make a place
for myself, and I think the sooner I go the better, don't
you?"</p>

<p>"Yes, Archie, but you're so young, and you've had no
experience. You have no idea of the things there are in great
cities to drag young men down. I don't think I could stand it to
have you so far away from home and in such danger."</p>

<p>"Well, mother," said Archie, "there isn't much use in arguing
about it. I have reached a point where I don't think I can be any
longer satisfied at home. I have been here seventeen years, and I
think I can remain here that much longer without improving
myself. In the city I am sure I can make rapid progress, and in a
year or two you can come there and live with me."</p>

<p>Archie got up from the porch and went down the street, while
poor Mrs. Dunn ran over next door to see her neighbour, Mrs.
Sullivan. When she had entered the disorderly kitchen, and seated
herself on one of the home-made chairs, the anxious mother burst
into tears. "I don't know what to think of Archie, Mrs.
Sullivan," she said. "He is determined, now, to go to New York,
and I know that if he goes I will never be able to see him again.
I am nigh distracted with worrying over it. I have talked with
him, but he seems determined, and I know I can never hold out
against his entreaties and arguments."</p>

<p>"Sure, now, Mrs. Dunn," said the Widow Sullivan, "don't yez be
a worryin' about 'im at all. That Archie is a smart boy, he is,
and if he goes to New York he'll come out all right, never fear,
I only wish my Dannie had as much get-up about him as your
boy."</p>

<p>"Yes, yes, Archie is very ambitious for his age," said Mrs.
Dunn, "but I sometimes wish he were less so. I know I could keep
him at home longer if he wasn't so anxious to be at work. I don't
believe I can let him go, Mrs. Sullivan, not yet. I want him to
stay in school another year, and then I'll think about it."</p>

<p>"Well, ye're wise, Mrs. Dunn, ye're a wise woman," said the
Widow Sullivan. "Since yer husband died ye've been a good mother
to the lad, and have brought 'im up well. And now, how is yer
chickens, Mrs. Dunn? Have ye got that cochin hen a 'settin''
yit?"</p>

<p>And the two women began to discuss their various fowls, and
the conversation was so interesting that Mrs. Dunn remained late,
and found Archie in bed when she went home. "Ah, well, poor boy,
I'll have to tell him of my decision in the morning. He'll be
terribly disappointed, and I hate to do it I'm afraid it's
selfishness that makes me want to keep him with me. I almost wish
he would take things into his own hands, and start for the city
himself. I would be rid then of the responsibility of sending
him, and the question would be settled for me. Boys sometimes
know best how to settle their own difficulties, anyhow."</p>

<p>Mrs. Dunn kneaded the bread before retiring, for to-morrow was
Saturday, and, therefore, baking-day, and then she went into her
little room off the kitchen, and prayed earnestly for her boy
before sleeping. She prayed that she might be helped in advising
him, and that he might always do what was best for himself and
for his mother.</p>

<p>The next day was Saturday, and in the morning the Hut Club
met, as usual, and prepared to have an open-air dinner for this
day. The furnace, which had been knocked down during the week by
the East Siders, was rebuilt, and the skillet and other utensils
were brought from the nearest kitchens. Archie went to the
grocery around the corner and bought five cents' worth of cakes,
and then the six boys sat down in a circle and prepared to devour
their home-made feast. But before they began Archie stood up. "I
want to say that this will probably be my farewell dinner with
the club," he said, in a low tone, "and I hope that you will
appoint another president in my place."</p>

<p>The boys were horror-struck, but Archie refused to explain
where and when he was going. Finally, they refused to appoint
another president, all agreeing that Archie should hold that
office for ever, wherever he was. And the meal was eaten in
silence, for the announcement had thrown a sort of chill over the
proceedings. When they had finished, Archie silently shook hands
with each of the boys, who were dumb with amazement, gathered up
his skillet and coffee-pot, and went home through the gate to the
chicken-lot.</p>

<p>"I wonder what he's goin' to do," they all said, as in one
breath, and as there was seldom much fun in the club when Archie
was absent, they all went home in a few minutes, or down-town to
watch the farmers, who were in town to do their weekly
buying.</p>

<p>When Archie reached home he went up-stairs to his little room,
and began to lay out a few things which he wanted to take with
him, for he had determined to start for New York this very night.
Then he tied the things up in a small bundle, and sat down to
write a note to his mother. When he had finished it, he pinned it
up at the head of his cot, and this is what it said:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>"M<small>Y</small> D<small>ARLING</small>
M<small>OTHER</small>:&#151; Please don't worry about me, I'm
bound to come through all right, and if anything happens to me, I
promise that I will write to you immediately and let you know. I
have the ten dollars which I have saved, and if I don't get work
at once I will write to you for some more. Now, I am not doing
this thing for the sake of adventure, but because I am sure it is
the best thing for me, and I don't want you to worry at all. I
shall write to you often and let you know just what I'm doing, so
don't worry, but be a brave mother. I'm not going off this way as
a sneak, but because I want to avoid a 'scene.'</p>

<p class="center" align="center">"Your loving</p>

<p align="Right" class="right">"A<small>RCHIE."</small></p>
</blockquote>

<p>And at three o'clock the next morning Archie Dunn got out of
bed, shouldered his bundle, and started off for the great city,
which seemed to be drawing him like a magnet.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>WORKING ON A FARM TO EARN SOME MONEY&#151; CRUEL
TREATMENT.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>W<small>HEN</small> daylight came, Archie was far out of the
town walking quickly along the southern road. He figured that he
had walked nearly six miles in the two hours since he had let
himself out of the back door at home, and, as he looked ahead, he
planned that he would walk at least thirty miles every day. Of
course, he had never done much walking before, or he would have
known better than to have expected to accomplish so much in
twelve hours, but he felt fresh and full of strength this
morning, and nothing seemed too hard to accomplish. As yet he had
not regretted his departure from home. The excitement of it all,
and the adventurous side of his exploit, had kept him interested,
and made him feel that he was a real hero. But he was not so
foolish as to imagine that there would not be times when he would
regret having set out for New York. He was too old and too
sensible for his age to allow his ambition to run away with him
entirely, and he fully expected to meet with many great
discouragements. "But I'm sure of one thing," he said to himself,
as he walked along, "I never will return home until I have
something to show for the trip. I won't have the club boys and
the neighbours saying that Archie Dunn had to come home
discouraged. If I return without accomplishing anything, I will
be held up to the whole town as a boy who made a fool of himself
by not taking his friends' advice, and I never will be made an
example of if I can help it." And Archie walked faster as he
thought of the possibility of failure.</p>

<p>When seven o'clock came he was passing through the
county-seat, but though there were many interesting things to
look at in the town, Archie determined not to stop. He was afraid
he might meet some one he knew, who would be sure to ask him
where he was going with his bundle, and what he was doing out so
early. And anyhow he was very hungry, and decided to get out of
the town and to the farmhouses as soon as possible. "I can work
for my meal at a farmhouse," he said to himself, "but in the town
they'll take me for a regular tramp."</p>

<p>So poor Archie walked quickly through the town, still keeping
to the southern road, and saying to himself, as he passed every
milestone, "So much nearer New York." About a mile out in the
country he came to a large farmhouse, and he determined to enter
and ask for a meal. He had hard work to muster up enough courage
to go in and ask for anything, but finally he knocked timidly at
the kitchen door, and was frightened by a large dog which came
barking around the corner. It seemed to him that the animal would
surely bite, but a large fat woman opened the door just in time
to let him in. "Hurry in, boy," she said, "fer there's no tellin'
what Tige might do ef he once gets a hold of ye." So Archie
stepped into the large kitchen, with its rafters overhead, and
its dining-table in the corner. "Sit down, boy," said the woman.
"I reckon you's thet new lad thet's come ter work over at
Mullins's, ain't ye?"</p>

<p>"No'm," said Archie, "I don't work anywhere. I'm on my way to
New York, where I expect to find a position, and I thought
perhaps you'd allow me to do a little work here this morning to
earn my breakfast."</p>

<p>Good Mrs. Lane, for that was the woman's name, was horrified
to think that any one was alive and without breakfast at eight
o'clock in the morning. "Goodness me!" said she. "Why, you must
be half-famished fer want of food, ain't ye?" And she bustled
about the kitchen, putting the kettle on to boil, and stirring up
the fire. "You'll have some nice ham and eggs, my boy, and then I
have somethin' in mind fer you. I reckon yer ain't in no hurry
ter get ter the city, be ye? Well, even if ye do be in a hurry, I
reckon you'll be glad of the chance to earn four dollars. I ain't
goin' to ask ye no questions about how ye come to be walkin' to
New York, because I never wuz no hand ter meddle in other folkses
affairs, but ye look to be a likely lad, and a strong un, and ez
my sister's husband, what lives two miles down the pike, needs a
boy to drive a plough fer a week, I b'lieve ye'll suit 'im
first-rate. So ez soon ez ye have finished yer vittles, I'll walk
down there with ye, and we'll see the old man."</p>

<p>Archie hardly knew whether to be delighted with the prospect
or not. Of course four dollars would be nice to have, but he was
anxious to get to the city as soon as possible, and every day
counted. But perhaps it would be wrong, he thought, to throw away
such a good chance to earn some money, and he had decided to
accept any offer the farmer made him, long before he finished his
breakfast. When he got up from the straight-backed chair, he felt
that he had never eaten a better meal in his life, and when Mrs.
Lane started off down the road, he gladly followed her. A week on
such a farm as this would be no unpleasant experience. Such food
was not to be had every day, he knew, and he of course would have
precious little that was good to eat when he reached the
city.</p>

<p>They soon covered the two miles, Mrs. Lane getting along very
fast for such a large woman, and at last they stood before Hiram
Tinch, who owned the farm. Archie was made to describe his
intentions, and was thoroughly examined by Mr. Tinch. He told the
farmer that he knew nothing about farm work, but Mr. Tinch said
he would soon teach him, and it was settled that Archie was to
remain on the farm a week. Mrs. Lane went inside the house to see
her sister, who looked sick with too much work, and the farmer
told Archie that he might as well start in, as there was no
object in waiting. So the boy donned a pair of "blue jean"
trousers, and was taken into a field, where a one-horse plough
was standing. Archie knew how to hitch a horse, so he went to the
stable and secured his steed, and then harnessed him to the
plough. The farmer didn't see fit to give him any instructions
about ploughing, and the poor boy hardly knew what to do, but
rather than ask he started off, and tried to guide the animal in
the right direction, as far as he knew it. Of course the horse
went wrong, and the plough refused to stay in the earth, and
altogether the attempt was a miserable failure. The farmer leaned
against the fence, picking his teeth with a pin, but when he saw
the horse going crooked, and the plough bounding along over the
earth, his face grew livid with anger. For a minute he seemed
unable to speak, but strode toward Archie with a fierce look in
his eyes. Then he found his tongue, and opened such a tirade of
vile words that the poor boy shrank from him in terror. He was in
mortal fear lest the man should lay hands on him and commit some
crime, so intense was his rage, but Hiram Tinch seemed to know
how far to go, and after five minutes of cursing and swearing he
took the plough in his own hands, and guided it through the
earth. "Now take it," he growled at Archie, when he had gone a
furrow's length, "and see ef ye can do better this time.
Remember, not a bite of dinner do ye get until this field is
ploughed."</p>

<p>Poor Archie was weak from fright, but there was nothing to do
but to obey. He looked at the vast field before him, and made up
his mind that he would get nothing to eat until night, anyhow,
for it was already nearly noon. He felt very much like bursting
into tears, but he was too proud to give way to his feelings. But
he couldn't help wishing that he were at home, playing with the
members of the Hut Club. "Those boys are much better off than I
am," he said, over and over, "though they have made no effort to
improve themselves." After a time, however, his ambition
returned, and as he looked ahead into the future, and remembered
the wonderful things he was going to accomplish, he felt more
like working.</p>

<p>He finished the field at five o'clock in the afternoon, and
was almost fainting from hunger and from the hard work. The
ploughing was fairly well done, but Hiram Tinch could see no
merit in the work. He swore at Archie again, and gave him a
supper of mush and milk. Mrs. Tinch sat by, and Archie could see
that she did not approve of his treatment. The poor woman seemed
afraid to speak, almost, but it was plain that she had a good
heart. So when Archie heard a noise in his garret room that
night, he was not surprised to see Mrs. Tinch at the window,
placing some doughnuts and sandwiches there for him to eat.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>THE NIGHT AMONG THE RUINS&#151; THE CAMP-FIRE OF THE
TRAMPS.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>I<small>T</small> seemed to Archie that he had just fallen
asleep when old Hiram Tinch was shaking him awake. "Git up out o'
here now, ye lazy beggar, and git to the field and finish that
there ploughin'," he growled, and the frightened lad awakened
from a horrible nightmare, only to find a worse experience
awaiting him in the light of day. He hastily drew on his
trousers, and didn't wait to don either shoes or stockings, for
if he was to spend the day ploughing in a field, he knew he would
be more comfortable in his bare feet. When he reached the
kitchen, he found that Farmer Tinch had already eaten his
breakfast, though it was not daylight. Archie was glad that he
was out of the way, and good Mrs. Tinch was glad of it, too, for
she was able to give the boy a good breakfast, and some good
advice with it. "Don't you pay no attention to what my man says,
laddie. He's a powerful man to swear and carry on, but I don't
think he'll have the meanness to strike you. Ef he does, ye must
come to me, and I'll see thet he doesn't do it no more."</p>

<p>Archie was grateful for this spirit of friendliness, but in
his heart he thought that cruel words were often more painful
than lashes, and he heartily wished that his week was over.</p>

<p>All this day he spent on the farm, without once going into the
road. Farmer Tinch had warned him that if he saw him making for
the road at any time, he could go and never come back, and he
would forfeit what money he had already earned. So Archie
ploughed the field from daylight till dark, with a half hour at
noon for a hurried dinner. He was glad when darkness came, and
after another supper of mush and milk he was thankful to have a
corn-husk bed to sleep on, and was soon in a stupor which was so
sound as to be almost like death.</p>

<p>Again the next morning he was awakened at daylight, and he was
made to work even harder than on the second day. He had by this
time become somewhat used to the labour, however, and stood it
better. He was more successful in his work, too, and Farmer Tinch
had less opportunity for cursing him. But at night he seemed more
tired, even, than before, and he longed for his home again. He
thought of the cosy bed he would now be enjoying if he had only
taken his mother's advice, and he felt almost like getting up in
the night and stealing away on the road to the north. But, always
a sensible lad, Archie realised that this discouragement could
not last, and he lost himself in sleep, looking forward three
days, when his week should be up, and he would be on his way to
the city, with four dollars more to add to his slender store.</p>

<p>The three days passed slowly, but at length the Saturday night
came, and he prepared to be off. But good Mrs. Tinch entreated
him to remain with them over Sunday, and, as Archie wasn't sure
that it would be quite right for him to travel on Sunday, he
decided to do so. So the next day he brushed his only suit of
clothes, and drove with his late employer to church, where Farmer
Tinch sat in a front seat and passed the bread and wine at
communion. Archie's heart rose to his throat as he saw this
paragon so devout in church. He felt like rising in his seat and
denouncing him before all the people as a tyrant and a
hard-hearted wretch. But he kept quiet, though he found it
impossible to partake of the communion under such
circumstances.</p>

<p>The Tinches had brought their dinner with them, and at noon
they all sat on one of the grassy mounds in the churchyard, to
take some refreshment before the afternoon service began. When
they had finished, Archie wandered off, and came to a crowd of
boys who were romping behind the church. When they saw him
approach, they all stopped their noise, and looked at him
wonderingly. Evidently they were not used to seeing strange boys.
The silence was soon broken, however, by one of the boys calling
out, "Why, fellers, thet's the chap what's been workin' fer Hiram
Tinch." This announcement was enough to make Archie an even
greater object of interest than before, for the boys seemed to
think that any person who could work for Farmer Tinch, and come
out of the ordeal none the worse for wear, must be something
wonderful. Archie was soon on good terms with them all, however,
and told them of his plan of going to New York. The boys were all
attention, and soon he was the hero of the occasion. When the
bell rung for the afternoon service he was still telling them of
the things he was going to do, and none of them wanted to go into
the church. Archie persuaded them to enter, however, but he was
not surprised to meet them all along the road when he left
Tinch's early Monday morning.</p>

<p>It was almost time to go to bed when they reached the
farmhouse that night, so Archie went at once to his attic, being
anxious to start fresh on his journey the next day. He was now
determined to push on as rapidly as possible, hoping to reach the
city within three or four days. He was somewhat afraid that he
wouldn't be able to do this, but he was going to try, anyhow.</p>

<p>At daylight Monday morning he was on the way, and when the
various boys he met the day before said good-bye to him and
wished him good luck, he felt that his stay at Tinch's had not
been without benefits of some sort. He had made some boy friends,
and he was four dollars richer, Archie was sensible enough, too,
to realise that his experience would be a valuable one to him in
the future. He knew now what hard work was, at any rate.</p>

<p>The morning walk was delightful. The September weather was
perfect, and all along the road were fruit-trees laden with every
sort of good thing to eat a boy could wish for. And as the trees
were on the public thoroughfare, Archie did net hesitate to help
himself freely as he went along, so that he didn't require any
meal at noon.</p>

<p>As night drew near, however, he began to wonder what he would
do for a bed, and the question became more important with every
hour. He had come to no towns since morning, and knew that he
couldn't expect to reach one of any size until the next day,
anyhow. There were farmhouses, of course, but after his
experience of the past week the lad felt that he would rather
remain outdoors all night than risk being thrown in with another
Hiram Tinch. He didn't know enough of farmers to know that few of
them resemble Mr. Tinch in nature, and he did what he thought was
best in keeping away from farmhouses after this.</p>

<p>It was five o'clock in the evening, and Archie was beginning
to feel very tired and hungry, when he came to the ruins of an
old colonial mansion, which lay far back from the road,
surrounded by trees, and almost hid with shrubbery. "How
interesting," he thought to himself. "It looks just like the
pictures of old ruins we see in geographies. I think I must go up
and see what they look like at close range." And, fired with a
spirit of adventure, and making believe that he was an explorer
in an ancient country, the boy made his way through the trees and
shrubbery. The ruins looked more and more interesting as he
advanced. This had evidently been a magnificent estate at one
time. There were massive pillars which had once supported a
stately portico at the front of the house, and above all there
rose a massive chimney, which seemed to be exceedingly well
preserved. As Archie came nearer, he was surprised to notice a
thin column of smoke rising from the top of the chimney, and for
a moment he stood still with fright. What could this mean? Who
could be building a fire in the midst of these ruins. It was
almost like what one reads about in books, he thought.</p>

<p>For some time he could not decide what to do, whether he had
better keep on, or whether the wisest policy would be to get back
to the road as quickly as possible. Finally, his curiosity and
thirst for adventure persuaded him to go on, and he continued to
push his way through the shrubbery until he stood before the
ruins. He then climbed a flight of steps, and stood in what had
once been the main entrance to this massive palace. Before him he
saw a scene which was almost weird in its unusualness. A fire of
pine-knots was blazing in the ruins of the great fireplace, and
seated in a semicircle around the fire were several men of
picturesque appearance, whose faces looked up angrily when they
were disturbed.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>STEALING A RIDE&#151; KICKED OUT BY THE BRAKEMAN.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> was dumbfounded. Never before had he
been among such a motley crowd, and his first impulse was to turn
and run. But on second thought he decided that it would be best
to put on a bold face and walk up to the men. This he did, and
when he reached the fire the men jumped up and asked him who he
was. In a few words he told them his simple story, and they all
laughed and sat down again about the fire, making a place for
him. "You're one of us, then, laddie," said the leader of the
gang. "We're all soldiers of fortune, all dependent upon the
generous public for our livelihood. But we're not goin' to the
city. There's nothin' there for us, and our advice to you is for
you to steer clear of the place, too. Them police takes ye and
throws ye into jail as quick as a wink, and there's no chance of
gettin' anythink to eat at basement doors, neither. They're all
on to us, there, laddie, and ye'd better stick to the
country."</p>

<p>This bit of advice was endorsed by the entire company, and it
was in vain that Archie tried to make them understand that he was
no ordinary tramp, walking about the country in search of an easy
time. He tried to tell them that he was going to the city to
work, not to beg; but the leader, a big, dirty fellow, weighing
two hundred pounds or over, said, "Never mind, laddie, we knows
you've run away from home to get away from the folks, and we
appreciates yer position. If yer a mind to stand by us, we'll
stand by you, and see thet ye comes to no harm."</p>

<p>On thinking things over, Archie decided that it was perhaps
the wisest thing for him to appear to sympathise with the tramps,
and make himself agreeable while with them. He had undoubtedly
run into a gang of the worst sort of vagabonds, and there was no
way of getting away from there without arousing their suspicions.
So he partook of their slender meal, and joined in the general
laughter when the leader, "Fattie Foy," made some crude attempt
at punning. The meal was one to be remembered. The coffee had
been heated in an empty tomato can over the fire, and from its
taste was evidently a combination of various collections made
from the farmhouses round about. Besides the coffee there was a
various collection of sandwiches and bread and butter, and two
pieces of cake. One man had succeeded in striking a good house,
and came back laden with pickles and crackers and cheese, which
were probably the remains of some picnic basket. Another fellow
had brought some pieces of cold bacon, and these were warmed on
sticks over the fire until they looked really appetising. From
some barn had come a half-dozen fresh eggs, and these were
quickly boiled in a can of hot water, and made a very fair
showing on the slab of granite which served as a table.</p>

<p>When everything was ready the provisions were equally divided
among the crowd, and every one shared alike. It made no
difference how much more one man collected than another, it was
always shared with the entire crowd. Poor Archie found it almost
impossible to eat, but the men insisted that he take something,
so he did manage to swallow a few sips of coffee and eat a slice
of bread and butter. But as he looked about him at the dirty
hands and faces, and the filthy garments of the tramps, he
determined not to eat again while with them.</p>

<p>When the meal was over the two tin cans were washed at a
spring of water, and as it was now quite dark, they all sat close
to the fire, in order to see. Some one produced a pack of dirty
cards, and they began a game of some kind. Archie was asked to
join, but he told them he didn't know anything about
card-playing. The poor lad was beginning to wish he had never
left home, and felt more miserable than at any other period of
the journey. He walked over to a corner of the ruins where the
light from the fire did not penetrate, and, once there, he sat
down and sobbed bitterly for a time. When he had finished crying
it seemed impossible for him to sleep. The scene about the fire
fascinated him. The men were seated in every sort of picturesque
attitude, and as the flickering light fell upon their dark faces
it wasn't hard for the poor lad to imagine that he had fallen
among a crowd of brigands. He watched them as they played until
he could see no longer, and then he fell into a sound sleep.</p>

<p>When Archie woke it was still dark, but the moon was shining
brightly overhead, making everything as light as day. He rubbed
his eyes and sat up, and it was some time before he could realise
where he was. Then, as he saw the tramps lying about the ground,
he remembered his adventures of the night before, and, horrified
that he had allowed himself to sleep, he hastily jumped up, and
determined to get away from the ruins as quickly as possible. The
tramps were all sleeping soundly, and the only noises to be heard
were the sound of their breathing and the blood-curdling hoot of
some owl perched on the pillars of the old portico. The boy
picked his way carefully between the bodies of the sleeping men,
and in a minute stood once more on the grand flight of steps
outside. He was trembling for fear some tramp would awake and
prevent his going, and when a bat brushed him in its flight he
almost screamed with terror. Far out beyond the trees and the
shrubby he could see the road glistening in the moonlight, and he
made his way as rapidly as possible out of the grounds, and was
once more on his way to the city.</p>

<p>It was lonesome work, walking along a country road at night,
and Archie remembered with longing his cosy bed at home. The
feeling of homesickness kept growing within him, despite his
efforts to down it, and when at last the glorious autumn sun rose
over the eastern horizon he was miserable with longing for mother
and for home. But he was too proud to even think of turning back.
He must reach the city at all hazards, homesick or not.</p>

<p>Archie did not think of breakfast this morning. His experience
of the night before seemed to have taken away his appetite
entirely, and his only thought was to walk as fast as possible,
so that he could reach the city soon. About nine o'clock he
entered the outskirts of a busy town, and while there he observed
that the railroad going to the city passed through the place. All
at once a new idea occurred to him. He had so often heard men and
boys tell of how they had stolen a ride from one town to another.
Why shouldn't he be able to get a ride on a freight train to the
city. Would it be wrong? Archie thought not, since so many men
did it. And anyhow it didn't seem a wicked thing to cheat the
railroad. He had heard people say that the company ought to be
cheated whenever possible, since it cheated so many others. So,
from being so tired and so anxious to reach New York, Archie
decided to try and steal a ride. He entered the yards, where a
train was being made up for the south, and there he saw a
cattle-car with an open door. He immediately jumped inside and
shut the door, squeezing himself into the farthest corner, hoping
that he wouldn't be discovered. He soon found that he wasn't
alone, for a couple of tramps were in the opposite corner, and
they whispered to him not to make any noise. "The brakie," they
said, "will soon be 'round, and if he finds ye he'll put us all
in jail."</p>

<p>Poor Archie grew pale at the thought of being put in jail, and
huddled himself closer in the corner. After a time the train
started, and the tramps, he noticed, climbed up into some sort of
compartment under the roof of the car, where they wouldn't be
observed, leaving Archie alone down-stairs. Things went smoothly
for a time. The train went flying along, and Archie counted every
mile which brought him nearer to the city. Finally the train
pulled up at a crossing, and a brakeman came along and threw open
the door of the car. He was not long in discovering the cowering
figure in the corner, and his wrath was dreadful to look upon.
"So, ye cussed vagabond," he growled, "ye thought ye'd steal a
ride, did ye? Get out o' this now. Quick, out with ye." Archie
could have fainted, and, as it was, he almost fell out of the
car, propelled by the brakeman's boot. For awhile he stood dazed
beside the track, and finally moved on. "I'll keep a 'stiff upper
lip,'" he said, "whatever happens." But this was by far the most
discouraging adventure yet.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK&#151; A NIGHT IN A LODGING-HOUSE.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>O<small>N</small> and on for the rest of the day walked
Archie. His feet were sore, he was weak from hunger, and he was
made miserable with being homesick. People who met him on the
road turned around to look at the slender lad with the pale face
and the weary step, but he kept walking on, stopping for nothing,
and noticing no one. At noon he picked some apples in an orchard,
and these appeased his hunger. When evening drew near, however,
he felt that he could go without food no longer, so he didn't
hesitate to stop at a house and ask for food. "I know mother
would give a boy food if one should come to our door," he said to
himself, "so I do not think it wrong for me to ask for food
here." He was fortunate enough to strike a pleasant housewife,
who took him in and made him sit down at the kitchen table, which
she covered with good things to eat. There was cold roast beef,
some fried potatoes and a glass of good fresh milk. And then she
gave him some apple pie, so that when he had finished Archie felt
better than for many a day. While he ate he told the good woman
why he was going to New York, and her sympathy was enlisted at
once. "Why, you poor lad," she exclaimed, "just to think of your
being in the city all alone. And what will your mother
think?"</p>

<p>Archie couldn't imagine what his mother did think. He had
remembered her every minute during the last few days, and was
anxious to write her, so he decided to ask the woman for some
paper and a pencil. These were gladly given him, and he sat down
and told his mother that he was almost to New York and that he
had been having a splendid time. He was careful not to say
anything about his experience with Farmer Tinch, or the night he
spent with the tramps. He knew these things would only make her
unhappy, and it was just as well that she should think everything
was smooth sailing for him. His letter was filled with his
enthusiasm and his hope for the morrow, so that when good Mrs.
Dunn received it she was overjoyed, and hurried over to show it
to the Widow Sullivan, who enjoyed it thoroughly and said "I told
you so." Poor Mrs. Dunn had been having a very miserable time of
it. She was hardly surprised that morning when she awoke and
found Archie gone, but she was naturally much worried for fear
some accident would happen to him before he reached New York.
Once there, she felt that she needn't worry much about him, for,
strange to say, Mrs. Dunn had a firm belief in the ability of
city policemen to take care of every one, and she knew that
Archie would not be allowed to suffer for want of food and a
place to sleep. And when she received this letter, saying that
Archie was nearly to New York, and had even been so successful as
to earn some money, she felt more comfortable than for some time,
Of course she supposed that he would be home before long. She was
positive that he wouldn't be able to get any work in the city,
and knew that as soon as his money gave out he would return.
"It's all for the best," she said to Mrs. Sullivan. "The habit of
running away from home was born in the boy. His father left home
when he was no older than Archie, and no harm ever came to him.
So I'm not going to worry, Mrs. Sullivan." And then Mrs. Dunn
would go back to her home, and at sight of Archie's old hat or
some of his football paraphernalia, would burst into tears.</p>

<p>The good woman who gave Archie his supper refused to let him
start out again on the road that night. She told him that he must
remain with them, for they had an extra bed up over the kitchen
which was never needed, and that he might just as well sleep
there as not. So for the first time in nearly a week Archie slept
comfortably, and, as he heard the familiar sounds in the kitchen
below him in the morning, it was hard for him to make up his mind
that he was not at home, and that it was not his mother who was
grinding the coffee in the kitchen below. He heard the ham frying
in the skillet, and the rattle of the dishes as his hostess set
the table, and then he dressed himself and hastened downstairs,
feeling ready for a good day's walking.</p>

<p>When he had eaten his breakfast he started out again. The
woman told him that it was only about fifteen miles to New York,
and that after he had walked about six of them he could take a
trolley-car and ride the remainder of the distance for five
cents. So he thanked her for her kindness, and promised to let
her know how he succeeded in the city, for the woman was much
interested in his future. He felt almost sorry to leave the
home-like place, but the prospect of reaching the city this very
day was enough to make him anxious to be off. He covered the six
miles to the trolley-car before eleven o'clock in the morning,
and then in an hour and a quarter more the trolley landed him in
lower New York.</p>

<p>His sensations as he was whirled along the smooth pavements,
past beautiful buildings and handsome residences, may be better
imagined than described. After looking forward to this day for so
long, he was almost overcome at the realisation of his hopes, and
took the utmost delight in everything about him. When the car
stopped at the terminus of the line, he got out and walked up the
busiest street in the neighbourhood. He hardly knew what to do
first, but continued walking until he came to the New York end of
the great Brooklyn Bridge. Then he couldn't resist the desire to
walk across the bridge, and he started out upon the journey. Up
the steps he walked, and soon he had climbed as far as the middle
of the magnificent structure. There he stood for some time,
looking out over Governor's Island, nestled like a green egg in a
nest of red buildings, and past Staten Island to the open sea
beyond It was all grander, more beautiful than anything he had
ever seen before, and he felt glad that he had come. Then in
another direction he saw the never-ending succession of
buildings, some tall, some low ones, but all inhabited with
swarms of people. "There are three million people in this great
city," he said to himself, "and over them in New Jersey, in those
cities I see, there are a million more, and I am one of four
million." The thought was too much for the boy, and he continued
his walk across the bridge. Once across, he came back again, for
Brooklyn was a strange place to him. In New York City he felt
more at home, for he had at least spent two days within its
limits.</p>

<p>Once back in the busy streets, he decided to look about for a
cheap place to stay for the night. It was the middle of the
afternoon now, and he felt that he ought to make some
preparation. He knew better than to apply at the police station
for lodging, for he knew they would probably turn him over to the
famous Gerry Society, which would send him back home before a day
had passed, and then where would his ambitions be?</p>

<p>He remembered the place where he had stayed with Uncle Henry,
but he knew that this would be too high-priced for his
pocketbook, so he started up the Bowery, where he expected to
find some very cheap places. He didn't like the looks of the
people he met in the street, but his experiences on the way to
New York had taught him not to be too particular about a little
dirt. So when he came to a rickety building with a sign up,
"Beds, ten and fifteen cents," he immediately went up the dark,
filthy stairway, and found himself in a large room at the top
which served as the "hotel" office. There were rows of chairs in
front of the windows and along the walls, and in the chairs were
the queerest-looking lot of men he had ever seen. He didn't pay
any attention to them, though, but went up to the seedy
individual behind the desk, and asked him if he could get a bed
for the night. "Sure, Mike," the man replied, and Archie signed
his name in a dirty book with torn pages. He paid the man ten
cents, and asked if he could leave his bundle while he went
outside. "Sure, Mike," was again his answer, and the man took his
little bundle of necessities and threw them on the floor behind
the counter. When Archie had gone out, a fat man with a baby face
came up and whispered to the clerk. "Anything in the bloke?" he
inquired. "Nit," said the clerk, "don't yer see his baggage? Does
it look like there's anything in it?" And the mysterious
conversation closed, to be continued later in the evening.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>LOOKING FOR WORK&#151; WASHING DISHES IN A BOWERY
RESTAURANT.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>FTER</small> a couple of hours spent in going about
the streets, Archie went into a place where he bought some coffee
and rolls for his supper. He paid only five cents for three sweet
rolls and a large cup of coffee which was not at all bad to
taste, and he returned to the lodging-house on the Bowery feeling
better than he had expected to feel when he started out from the
homestead where he spent the previous night, If he could get a
good meal for five or ten cents, and could sleep for ten cents
more, he would have enough to keep him going for some time.</p>

<p>The Bowery at night presented a wonderful appearance to
Archie's mind. The brilliantly lighted shops, the cheap theatres
with their bands of musicians on the sidewalk in front of the
entrance, were all attractive to his boyish eyes, but he was wise
enough to pass them all by, and to make his way as quickly as
possible to the cheap lodging-house. The street was jammed with
persons of every description. He was surprised particularly at
the number of Chinamen he met, for he didn't know that a block or
two away was the centre of the Chinese population of New York,
where the Celestials have their theatre, their hotels, their
great stores, and their joss-house. There were many Italians in
the street, too, and Polish Jews, to say nothing of Frenchmen and
Germans. Then there was the typical Bowery "tough," who swaggered
up and down, looking for trouble, which he usually finds before
an evening passes. Archie was not afraid in this cosmopolitan
crowd. No one seemed to notice him, and, anyhow, there were a
great many policemen about, who seemed to keep a sharp lookout
all the time. And as Archie shared his mother's faith in the city
policeman, he felt no fear.</p>

<p>In the lodging-house everything looked very much as before.
The chairs were still occupied with filthy-looking men, who
smoked and spat and talked in undertones among themselves. The
boy paid no attention to any of them, but, walking up to the
seedy individual behind the counter, asked him if he could go to
bed now. The man answered, "Certainly," and sent a fellow with
Archie to show him his bed. It was in a long, narrow room, which
was poorly lighted with a few gas-jets here and there, and which
was filled with about thirty beds, all narrow, and all dirty. One
of these was pointed out to Archie, and then the man left him.
The poor lad felt more homesick than ever, and had it not been
that he had a glorious to-morrow to look forward to, he would
have been very miserable indeed. As it was, he undressed and got
between the chilly sheets, when he remembered that he hadn't
looked after his little roll of bills for a long time, and that
some of them might be missing. He crawled out of bed again, and
felt inside the lining of his coat for the purse. He had sewed it
there for safe-keeping until he reached the city, for he had some
little change in his pocket, which he knew would last him for
several days.</p>

<p>The poor boy's hand felt nothing but a cut in the lining,
where the roll of bills had been, and all at once he realised
that the money must have been stolen from him. And he at once
thought of the night in the ruins, when he fell asleep among the
tramps, and there was no doubt in his mind but that they had
taken his money from him. This was a terrible blow. Here he was,
with just a few cents in his pocket, and no one to whom he could
appeal for aid. It was the worst predicament Archie had ever been
in, and he hardly knew what to do. He sat on the side of his
dirty little bed for awhile, and then he snuggled under the
covers and was soon asleep again. For a boy who has been walking
all day seldom stays awake from worry.</p>

<p>But when he awoke in the morning, it was to realise the fact
that he must get some money this very day or go to the police
station. The few cents he had remaining were only enough to buy
some coffee and bread for breakfast, and the poor lad didn't know
where his next meal would come from. As he went out, the clerk in
the filthy office of the lodging-house told him that he needn't
come back any more.</p>

<p>"Why did you tell him that?" asked the fat man with a sly
face.</p>

<p>"Because I went through his clothes last night when he was
asleep, and he had only six cents in his pocket. We don't want no
starvin' brats around here, to bring the Gerry Society down upon
us."</p>

<p>It was well that Archie didn't know his pockets had been
searched while he was asleep, or his faith in human nature would
have been more shaken than ever before. He had not suspected that
the men in this lodging-house might be dishonest.</p>

<p>"They are poor," he said to himself when he saw them first,
"but they may be good men for all that."</p>

<p>After a slender meal, Archie found a library where he looked
over the advertising columns of the morning papers, trying to
find some position open which he thought he might fill. There
were several advertisements calling for office boys, and all
these he made note of, and then as he looked down the page he
noticed that a boy was wanted in a restaurant to wash dishes. He
decided that if he didn't succeed in getting a place as office
boy, he might get the restaurant place. He knew that in a
restaurant he would be likely at least to get enough to eat.</p>

<p>For two hours he called at addresses of men who wanted office
boys, but at every place he was turned away. "We have already
hired one," some of them said, and others told him that they
never took any boys in the office who were living away from home.
Some asked him for recommendations, and when he had none, they
looked at him and told him "good morning." It was all terribly
discouraging, and with every minute Archie was wishing more and
more that he were back home again. Somehow the city seemed
different now from what it had been when Uncle Henry was with
him. Everything was less bright, and the things he had been
delighted with before were less interesting now.</p>

<p>Finally, he entered a large, handsome suite of rooms, in one
of the great sky-scrapers, and was shown into a very elegant
private office. There he found an old gentleman seated in a great
easy chair, looking over papers, and keeping one eye upon a
buzzing instrument at his side which seemed to be spitting out
long strips of paper, like a magician in a side-show. The man
looked up as he entered, and cleared his throat. "Ahem," he said,
"you look as if you were from the country. I wonder, now, if you
have came to the city to seek your fortune."</p>

<p>Archie was embarrassed. "Yes, sir, I suppose you might put it
that way," he replied.</p>

<p>"Well," continued the old gentleman, "my advice to you is to
go back where you came from as quickly as you can. Not one boy in
a thousand will gain either fame or fortune in New York, and you
stand a wonderful chance of sinking lower every year. And even if
you do succeed, you will miss many beautiful things in your life
which may come to you in the country. You can have a pleasant
home there, and live an easy, natural life, while here it will be
years before you can expect to accomplish much, and you will
spend your life in a nervous strain. Think well, young man,
before choosing the great city as your sphere of usefulness."</p>

<p>"I've made up my mind, sir," said Archie. "I have quite
decided to remain in the city."</p>

<p>"Very well," said the old gentleman, "I hope you may never
regret it. But we have already hired an office boy. Good
morning."</p>

<p>Archie walked out, more discouraged than ever. Perhaps, after
all, a country life was not to be so much despised. This man
ought to know what he was talking about. But once outside, in the
Broadway crowd, Archie forgot everything about the country, and
was lost in the delight of being one of four million.</p>

<p>He now decided to accept the place in the restaurant, if it
were not taken, and, fortunately for him, it was not. So he
rolled up his sleeves, and began to wash dishes as if he had done
nothing else in all his life before.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>IN THE STREET AGAIN&#151; THE POLICE STATION&#151; VISITS THE
NEWSPAPER OFFICE, AND IS KINDLY RECEIVED BY THE EDITOR.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>LL</small> day long Archie washed dishes, and before
night came he decided that he had never before had such
discouraging work. The restaurant was a popular one, and there
were very many dishes to be washed, to say nothing of the pots
and pans which were always dirty. Archie no sooner finished one
sink full of dishes than another large pile was waiting to be put
through the same operation, and there was no time at all for
looking about him. There was hardly time for eating, even, and at
noon he was only able to snatch a few mouthfuls. The work was not
interesting, and it was a new sort of labour to Archie, so that
altogether he did not get on as well as he might have wished. The
cook was constantly nagging him, and telling him to hurry up, and
the poor lad tried his best to please him. But somehow everything
went wrong, and he was hardly surprised when the proprietor came
in at six o'clock with a new man for the place. "Come around in
the morning," he said to Archie, "and I'll pay your day's
wages."</p>

<p>So the boy was in the street once more, with no money, and no
place to sleep. He wasn't hungry, that was one thing, for he had
been allowed to eat a good meal before leaving the restaurant.
But where was he to sleep, and what was he to do on the morrow,
when he would surely be hungry? His experience at looking for
work had not been encouraging, and he began to have serious
doubts as to whether he would ever get a place. Certainly he
would starve if he waited around New York long without anything
to do.</p>

<p>It was quite dark at seven o'clock, and Archie walked over to
the brilliantly lighted street which ran north and south through
the city. He had never failed to find something interesting to
look at there, and he felt now that he would like to see the
bright side of city life, even if he couldn't enjoy it himself.
So all the evening he walked up and down the street, watching the
well-dressed crowds hurrying into the theatres and the other
almost innumerable places of amusement. He stared in open-mouthed
amazement at some of the costumes of the women he saw alighting
from carriages. Never before had he seen anything half so
beautiful, and if any one had told him that there were such
dresses he would have told them he didn't believe it. Some of
them, he thought, must cost hundreds of dollars, and the jewels
worn with them many hundreds more. How interesting, how new, it
all was to him! Once he thought of the little home in the
village, and at first wished that his mother might be there to
enjoy the sights with him. "But I wouldn't want her to see me,"
he thought, "not while I am so miserable, and feeling so
discouraged." For Archie was beginning to wonder if he hadn't
made a mistake in leaving home, whether he had not been
overconfident and hot-headed. But he decided to try it a few days
more, that is, if he could manage to live for that length of time
in the city.</p>

<p>At twelve o'clock he was walking up and down the street, which
was still bright with millions of lights, though the crowds had
gone home from the theatres, and the restaurants were beginning
to be less popular. He was still wondering how he was going to
find a place to sleep, when he was accosted by a policeman, and
taken into a doorway. "I've been watching you," said the officer,
"and I want to know why you are walking up and down the street at
this time of night."</p>

<p>Archie could have cried from fright, but he remembered that he
was under suspicion, so decided to tell the policeman his whole
story, and perhaps he could help him out in some way. So he
described his experiences during the day, and was surprised at
the interest shown by the officer in the recital. When he had
finished he was told that he would be taken to the police
station. "You needn't be afraid, my lad," said the policeman.
"I'll see that the Gerry Society doesn't get you and send you
home, that is, if you think you want to try it here a few days
longer. You can sleep at the station to-night, and the next
morning you can try it again." So to the station they went, and
Archie was, naturally, a little frightened when he saw, for the
first time, the cells, and the terribly severe appearance of all
his surroundings. But he was given a good bed in which to sleep,
and he passed a delightful night, dreaming of the wonderful
adventures which befell him in the city.</p>

<p>He was not awakened until eight o'clock, and then he found the
good policeman waiting to take him out to breakfast, He expressed
surprise that he should be so kind to him.</p>

<p>"I always thought that officers were cross and unpleasant," he
said, "but you're not that kind, anyhow."</p>

<p>"Well," laughed the officer, "we have to be cross very often,
though we're sometimes sorry to be so. But I've taken a fancy to
you, my lad. I like to see a boy who does things. When a boy of
seventeen is willing to come to New York alone, and make his own
way, without friends or influence of any kind, it shows a proper
spirit, and he ought to succeed. I know you'll get along if you
only persevere. I'd advise you to keep on trying."</p>

<p>"Oh, I'm going to, now," said Archie. "I was very homesick and
discouraged last night, but since I've met you I seem to have
received a new impetus, and I'm ready to make a new
beginning."</p>

<p>So Archie and the policeman parted friends.</p>

<p>"Come around to the station to-night if you want a bed, and
you shall be cared for," said the officer, as he turned around
the corner into the busy street, where he was lost in the
crowd.</p>

<p>Archie walked down the street, hardly knowing what to do
first. He didn't feel like answering any more advertisements in
the newspapers, and he decided to go into a few stores and ask
for work. He was about to do this when he saw before him the
magnificent building of the New York <i>Enterprise.</i> It was a
truly beautiful structure, rising fifteen stories above the
ground, and surmounted with an artistic tower, which could be
seen from almost any part of the city. The home of the city's
greatest daily, it looked as if it were always welcoming
strangers to the metropolis, and Archie felt an irresistible
impulse to enter. Everything connected with a newspaper had for
him the greatest fascination, and he knew he would enjoy seeing
through this wonderful building, which was almost wholly occupied
by the departments of the <i>Enterprise.</i> So he entered the
door, and passed from one floor to another, finally arriving at
the highest floor of all, where were located the editorial rooms
of the <i>Evening Enterprise.</i> All at once a new plan entered
Archie's fertile brain. Why shouldn't he be able to get something
to do on a newspaper? It had always been his greatest ambition to
become a reporter, and here, although he didn't think the editor
would take him in that capacity, he thought he might get some
sort of work. in which he could work himself up.</p>

<p>There upon the door were the magic words: "Editor of the
<i>Evening enterprise.</i> No Admittance." Archie opened the door
and entered. He knew it would be useless to send in his name. It
was best to see the editor at once, and without ceremony. He was
seated before a large desk, which was littered with papers of
every description, and he was a very pleasant person in
appearance. Archie stood hesitating near the door, and remained
there a minute or two before the editor looked up.</p>

<p>"Well, my boy, what is it?"</p>

<p>Archie took courage.</p>

<p>"I&#151; I want to be a reporter, sir, and I thought it would
do no harm to ask you for such a position, anyhow."</p>

<p>The distinguished journalist wheeled about in his chair.</p>

<p>"What!" he exclaimed, "you want to be a reporter. Why, my dear
boy, how old are you?"</p>

<p>"I'll be eighteen my next birthday," said Archie, "and, sir,
I've had some experiences in the last two weeks, which make me
feel as if I were about five years older than I really am. I've
been through some very trying experiences, sir."</p>

<p>The editor was interested at once. "Tell me what your
experiences have been," he said, and Archie began, and told him
his whole story; how he had left home to win fame and fortune,
and how he had worked on the farm for a week with Farmer Tinch;
how he had been robbed the night he stayed with the tramps in the
ancient ruins, and how he had finally reached the city. Then he
told him of the night in the lodging-house, of his dish-washing
experience in the restaurant, and how he had been taken from the
street by a policeman the night before, and allowed to sleep in
the station-house. When he had finished the editor had a broad
grin upon his face.</p>

<p>"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "this is certainly rich stuff.
There's a good story in it, I'll be bound."</p>

<p>Then, speaking to Archie, he said:</p>

<p>"Just wait here a minute, my boy, and I'll see if we can't put
some money in your way."</p>

<p>He pressed a button at the side of his desk, and when a boy
appeared, he told him to bring "Mr. Jones, please, or one of the
other reporters. And tell Jones to bring an artist with him."</p>

<p>The reporter and the artist soon stood before the editor, who
told them, with great glee, that he had a leading feature for the
next evening edition of the <i>Enterprise.</i> "Just talk to this
boy, Jones, and see if you can't make two good columns on the
front page and two for the inside from his story. I think it's
great, myself. And you Cash," he said, turning to the artist,
"you make a good sketch of the boy."</p>

<p>Archie could hardly believe his eyes and ears. Just to think
that he was being interviewed, and that his picture was to be in
the paper. It seemed almost too good to be true.</p>

<p>When the reporter had finished with him, he was taken
down-stairs to the cashier's office and given thirty dollars in
bills. "This will pay you for the interview," said the editor,
"and give you enough to fix up with. Now, to-morrow, you come in
again, and I think I can give you steady employment."</p>

<p>Oh, how happy Archie was! He went out into the street, and
seemed to fairly walk on air. Then he heard the newsboys crying,
"Extra paper, read about the <i>Enterprise's</i> Boy Reporter."
And when Archie saw the paper, there on the front page was his
picture, together with the story of his "startling
adventures."</p>

<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>LIVING IN COMFORT AGAIN&#151; FEATURED AS "THE BOY
REPORTER."</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> often speaks of the day when he visited
the newspaper office for the first time as the happiest day in
all his life. The change from despair and homesickness to the joy
of being appreciated by some one was so rapid that it made his
head fairly swim with the exhilaration of success. With thirty
dollars in his pocket, and the knowledge that he would have
steady employment of the kind he desired on the morrow, he walked
up the Bowery feeling like a prince. He entered the lodging-house
where he had left his bundle of clothing, and so surprised the
clerk by his new appearance that he was invited to remain there
for another night. The shrewd man guessed that some good fortune
must have befallen Archie, or he wouldn't be so happy. But the
one night of misery which he had spent in the squalid hotel was
enough for Archie, and he walked hastily up-town with his bundle,
keeping a sharp lookout for a pleasant place where he might get a
room. In his previous wanderings he had seen several nice houses
with rooms to rent, but now that he wanted a room he found it
difficult to find any of these neighbourhoods. He was anxious to
get settled as quickly as possible, for he wanted to get
everything done to-day, so that to-morrow he could have time to
do anything required of him by the editor of the
<i>Enterprise.</i> He must get a new suit of clothes, be must get
his hair cut, and last, but not least, he must write home to
mother and tell her of his great good fortune.</p>

<p>Finally, in his wanderings, Archie came to a beautiful square
which was surrounded on every side by business houses and
tenements. But the square itself and the houses on it were very
quaint and very handsome, so that it seemed to be a very oasis in
the desert. The green trees, just a little tinged with the brown
and gold of autumn, reminded Archie of the front yard at home,
and he decided to get a room in one of the houses here if he
could possibly do so.</p>

<p>It so happened that there was a hall bedroom empty in one of
the best-looking places, and Archie at once engaged it. The price
was more reasonable than he had hoped for, even, and this made
him happy, for as yet he had no idea how much his earnings would
be, and he was anxious to be able to save something to send home,
if he possibly could. The room was nicely furnished, and looked
out upon the fountain, with the green trees, so that it was
highly satisfactory in every respect. It didn't take Archie long
to undo his bundle, and it was a pitiful display that greeted him
when it was opened. The little comb and brush, a piece of soap, a
Testament given him last Christmas by the teacher at Sunday
school, a suit of underwear, and a couple of handkerchiefs. The
whole lot of things hardly filled a corner in one of the bureau
drawers, and Archie realised that he must buy a great many things
within a week or two.</p>

<p>But before going out to do any shopping, he sat down and wrote
a long letter home, describing his success of the morning, and
telling his mother of the editor's promise to give him regular
employment. He enclosed a copy of the paper with his picture and
the story of his adventures, and it made him very happy to think
of his mother's feelings when she read it all. Then, when he had
finished, he went out to a post-office, and bought a money-order
for ten dollars, which he also enclosed. "I know I can spare it,"
he said to himself, "and it will gratify her so much." Then, when
the letter with its contents was safely mailed, he bought himself
a new suit of clothing, and renovated himself in many ways, so
that when he returned to his room in the square it was nearly
dark, and he looked a different boy entirely.</p>

<p>Before going to bed, he determined to see his policeman
friend, and tell him of his good fortune. "He is probably
expecting me to sleep in the station," Archie thought, "and it
will be a great surprise to him." But when he met the good man,
he found that he had already heard of his success.</p>

<p>"I bought the <i>Enterprise,</i> and could hardly believe my
eyes," said he, "but I always thought you would find some one to
appreciate your pluck. I'm mighty glad for you, my lad, and you
must always let me know how you are getting along." This Archie
promised to do, and returned to his lodging to sleep.</p>

<p>The next morning he was on hand at the <i>Enterprise</i>
office before the editor himself was down. The place was quite as
fascinating as it had been on the preceding day, and he found
something new to look at every minute. The reporters at their
desks, several of whom introduced themselves and congratulated
Archie on his perseverance, were a source of great interest to
him, and the copy-boys, running here and there with special copy
for the first edition, gave an air of hustling activity to the
place that was very attractive to this new reporter.</p>

<p>When the editor came he had already thought of something for
Archie to do. "Now you've been introduced to the public," he
said, "and we want to feature you for a few days. Every one will
be interested in knowing what you are doing, and what is going to
become of you. You must write us an article for the paper to-day,
telling about your experiences since yesterday, about getting a
new suit, and about hunting for a room. And you can tell about
your policeman friend, too."</p>

<p>This was surprising. Archie couldn't imagine why any one
should be interested in knowing about his daily life, but he sat
down and succeeded in writing a very interesting two columns
about it. He was much surprised that he should be able to write
so easily and so well. Of course he knew that composition and
rhetoric had been his two strongest studies at school, but he had
never realised before that he had any great talent for writing.
When he had finished this article, the editor looked it over, and
said, "That's great. You're all right, my boy. We'll make a great
journalist of you yet," and of course this made Archie very
happy. "Wait until this story is set up," said Mr. Jennings, the
editor, "and I'll see what you can do in the way of correcting
proofs."</p>

<p>When the proofs came, in a very short time, he hardly knew
what to do with them. But in reading them he discovered several
mistakes, which he lost no time in correcting, and Mr. Jennings
said that he had done very well indeed. "Now you can spend the
day in doing what you please. I would suggest that you go about
New York and have as many strange experiences as possible, so
that to-morrow you can write them up for us. And it will pay you,
by the way, to go out to Coney Island, which is a different place
from any you have seen before. You are sure to see some unusual
things, and in the morning you can bring me in two columns about
it."</p>

<p>Before leaving, Archie was asked if he needed any money. "You
mustn't hesitate to ask for it, because you can have it as well
to-day as on Saturday." But as he had left several dollars of the
thirty he had received the day before, Archie didn't draw any
more, and he thought it most remarkable that the editor should
have so much money to pay out.</p>

<p>He had no difficulty in getting a trolley-car to Coney Island,
and, after an hour's riding through Brooklyn streets, he found
himself in the most unique and most delightful place imaginable,
It was a queer-looking town, with great wheels in the air, high
towers, with elevators and innumerable merry-go-rounds, and other
sources of amusement. The noise was something terrific.
Hand-organs, street-pianos, and German bands were all playing at
the same time, while people hurried about from one place to
another, enjoying the hundreds of games and riding the various
scenic railways and carrousels. Archie stood mute with delight at
it all, but before five minutes had passed he had shot the
chutes, and had ridden over a steeplechase which took him through
dark caverns, where dragons glared at him and where electrical
sparks were constantly flying through the air. It was all so new,
so different from anything he had seen before, that he was simply
lost in admiration. He was standing near a theatre, when a short,
dark man touched him on the arm, and said, "Come this way, young
man, and I'll teach you the best game of all."</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>A DAY AND A NIGHT IN CONEY ISLAND&#151; RAIDING A GAMBLING
DEN.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> was at first too much surprised to
answer the man at all, but in a few moments he remembered that he
was now a reporter, and that it was his duty to see all that he
could, and have all the new experiences possible. So he decided
to follow the man, and find out what "the best thing of all" in
Coney Island was like. He was taken through several narrow
alleyways, and finally he found himself in front of a tumble-down
structure, built out directly over the water. It was very modest
in appearance, and everything seemed quiet about the place. The
shades were carefully drawn, and the dark man had to knock three
times before the door was opened and they were permitted to
enter. Inside, Archie found himself in a handsomely furnished
apartment which differed greatly in appearance from the exterior
of the building. There was a rich velvet carpet, mahogany
furniture, and a great many small tables standing about the room.
The place was filled with men, mostly well-dressed, who were
playing various games. Some were dealing cards, others were
twirling wheels with numbers on them, and some were playing games
with chips. It didn't take Archie long to realise that he had
been steered into a gambling den of the worst kind, and he was
immediately on the alert for future developments. He watched
every movement of his new friend, and noticed that he found it
necessary to speak to several of those present in a low
undertone. This didn't worry Archie, because he knew that he was
in no danger except of losing money, and he felt that he could
afford to lose some money, since he was sure to earn more by
writing about the experience for the newspaper.</p>

<p>So he carefully observed all that was going on, making mental
notes of the peculiarities of the place and the people. When at
last the dark man came up and inquired if he wouldn't like a
chance to earn some money easily, he very readily answered yes,
and the man was overjoyed to find so willing a victim. Then, of
course, Archie was introduced to the mysteries of the famous
roulette wheel, of which he had read so much. Archie was
interested in everything, and didn't mind losing four dollars in
learning so much that was new. He succeeded in getting away when
he had lost this sum, though the man assured him that he couldn't
help winning back all he had lost, and much more, too, if he
would but remain awhile longer. Archie was firm, however, and
passed out into the narrow alleyways again, feeling that he had
learned a great deal through a very small expenditure of money.
He gradually found his way back into the crowded Surf Avenue,
where there were hundreds of things, evidently, which he had not
yet seen. The crowds, too, seemed greater even than before, and
there seemed to be thousands of people arriving every hour from
New York and Brooklyn, over the various street-car and railway
lines, and by the excursion boats landing at the great iron pier.
The noise was still deafening, and every one seemed to be having
a splendid time in every way. "Surely," said Archie to himself,
"no one can feel blue or despondent in such a place as this,
where every one is full of fun, and apparently determined to have
a good time while here." And he felt that he would like to remain
longer, but he knew he should go back again to the city, so that
he might see the editor, and tell him something about what he had
seen and done.</p>

<p>So again he rode over the great Brooklyn bridge, and stopped
on the other side at the handsome building of the
<i>Enterprise.</i> It made Archie very happy to feel that he was
now a reporter on such a great paper, and he found it hard to
realise that so much good fortune had come to him in such a short
time. He met reporters in the various hallways, and all of them
spoke to him pleasantly, so that he began to feel that he had
never been thrown with such pleasant men before.</p>

<p>He had no difficulty in seeing the editor this time, and found
him a ready listener to the story of his Coney Island
experiences. He insisted on Archie's describing all the men he
had seen in the gambling den, and then asked him if he could
identify them, if necessary, and also if he would be able to find
the place again. Archie gave good descriptions of most of the
men, and said that he could take any one to the place at any
time. The editor lost himself in thought for a few minutes, and
at the end of that time he rang for a copy-boy. "Ring for a
messenger boy," he said, "and when he arrives come for a note
which I want him to take to Mr. Pultzer's house." Archie stared
with amazement at Mr. Jennings, and waited for further
information. He wondered what was going to be done. He knew that
Mr. Pultzer owned the newspaper, and he knew that it must be
something important that Mr. Jennings wanted to write him about.
He wasn't long left in the dark, and he felt very proud that Mr.
Jennings should have confidence enough in him to tell him about
his plans. "I think you have discovered something which will
prove very important to the paper and the public," he said to
Archie. "We have suspected for a long time that gambling dens
have been flourishing in Coney Island, but up to now we have not
been able to locate any of them. Now that you have found one, we
hope to arouse public opinion to the danger there is in such
places, and we hope to inspire a reform movement which will be
strong enough to wipe them out entirely. I will hear from Mr.
Pultzer in a short time, and then I want you to go down to the
Island with some plain-clothes detectives and two other
reporters. And I don't mind telling you now that there will be a
good sum in it for you if you succeed in arresting any of the
leaders of this gang. You can be excused for an hour now, if
there's anything you want to do."</p>

<p>Full of enthusiasm over the coming adventure and his part in
it, Archie hurried out to a quick-lunch counter and bought
himself a light meal, for he feared that he would have to remain
at Coney Island through the evening. Then, when he had finished,
he returned to the newspaper office, where he spent some time in
getting acquainted with some of the reporters who were working on
the <i>Morning Enterprise.</i> He found them all very pleasant to
meet, and he learned a great many helpful things from their
conversation. The older men were able to give him many pointers
concerning things that he should, and should not, do. While he
was in the office of the <i>Morning Enterprise</i> Mr. Jennings
came in, and, taking him along into the private room of the
managing editor, introduced him to Mr. Van Bunting, who was the
editorial head of the morning edition. Then Mr. Jennings told of
the new scheme, and Mr. Van Bunting entered into it so thoroughly
that before an hour three detectives, two reporters, and Archie
were on their way to the Island.</p>

<p>Once arrived in the resort, which was as noisy and bright as
in the afternoon, they all made a bee-line for the gambling den,
headed by Archie, who surprised the others with his certainty and
confidence as to which was the right direction. In a very few
minutes they all stood in front of the dilapidated structure
built out over tide-water, and Archie heard one of the detectives
say that the place looked "mighty suspicious like." He gave three
knocks just as the dark man had done in the afternoon, and in a
few minutes the door was cautiously opened and a head made its
appearance. The detectives lost no time in pushing their way in,
amid great confusion and cries of fear, and it seemed only a few
seconds until all the inmates were huddled in a corner, covered
with pistols, and wailing in fear, when they weren't cursing
through anger. Then they were all arrested and taken to the
police station, where they were all refused bail, and placed in
cells overnight. Then the reporters returned to the office of the
<i>Enterprise,</i> where Archie was told by Mr. Van Bunting to
write the story of his experience for the morning paper. This was
his first work for the morning edition, and he took great pains
to make his descriptions as complete as possible, and the details
as accurate as he knew how to make them. And his hard work was
rewarded by words of praise from the managing editor when he
turned the copy in for editing.</p>

<p>Tired from his hard day's work, Archie then went up-town to
the quiet square in which he had his home, and he was glad to get
to bed. He had been nervous and excited all day, and found it
difficult to sleep, but finally the tired eyelids lay quietly
over the tired eyes, and Archie was dreaming of the cool and
pleasant arbour of grapes at home, and of how the Hut Club was
holding a special meeting there to devise ways and means of
welcoming home their distinguished fellow member, Mr. Archie
Dunn, who had achieved such great success in the city.</p>

<p>Notwithstanding his tired feeling, Archie was up early the
next morning, and out at the corner to buy an <i>Enterprise.</i>
He hastily turned the pages, trying to find the story of his
Coney Island adventures, but he looked in vain. It wasn't visible
anywhere. He was about to think that it had not been thought
worth while printing when he noticed on the front page, in large
letters, "The Boy Reporter's Great Discovery," and then followed
the complete account, just as he had written it. This was the
best thing yet. Just to think that his story had been considered
important enough to print upon the front page! He could hardly
believe it. Surely he had made great strides, and Archie began to
realise that it is not experience that is most needed in
journalism, but something to write about. "I have simply been
fortunate in finding some interesting things," he said, to
himself, and then, after a light breakfast in a quaint Italian
restaurant around the corner, he hurried down-town to the office
of the newspaper.</p>

<p>Archie was beginning to feel, by now, that he had worked for a
long time upon the paper, and as he had become acquainted with
almost every one connected with it, this wasn't a strange feeling
for him to have. And it was evident, too, that the editors
intended to keep him busy for some time to come, and Archie
realised that he was in newspaper work to stay, for a time, at
least. And he was overjoyed at the prospect, for he found the
whole business as fascinating and as interesting as he had
expected it would be.</p>

<p>Mr. Jennings, of the evening edition, was at the office when
Archie arrived, and sent for him to come in. "Here is fifty
dollars," he said, "for your work of yesterday, and you will have
more coming to you if these men are convicted. I want to
congratulate you on what you have done so far. Come in this
afternoon, and I think Mr. Van Bunting will have a new plan for
you."</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>A SUCCESSFUL REPORTER&#151; THE EDITOR DECIDES TO SEND HIM AS
CORRESPONDENT TO THE PHILIPPINES&#151; LEAVING NEW YORK&#151; IN
CHICAGO.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>T</small> three o'clock in the afternoon Archie was
seated in Mr. Van Bunting's office, together with Mr. Jennings
and several of the chief members of the editorial staffs of both
editions of the paper. The editors had spread out before them, on
the large table, several maps, and most of them were busily
engaged in making notes on little paper pads. All the time,
however, an excited conversation was being carried on, for some
editors wanted Archie to proceed to the Philippines one way, and
some thought that the better plan would be for him to go by some
other route. But the important fact with Archie was that he was
really going to be sent to the Philippines as a war
correspondent, and that he was going to start very shortly. He
had called on Mr. Van Bunting early in the afternoon, and had
then learned for the first time what the new plan was to be. When
the managing editor asked him how he would like to go to the
Philippines, Archie could scarcely reply, so delighted was he
with the brilliant prospect before him. He managed to stammer out
a few words, though, in spite of his surprise. "I always thought
war correspondents were selected from the most experienced men in
journalism," he said, but Mr. Van Bunting only laughed. "That's
what we have already done, my boy," he said, "and so far none of
our distinguished correspondents have sent us a thing worth
printing that we didn't already know. You see they can't send any
more to us in the way of news than we can get from the War
Department in Washington, and most of these men are too old fogy
to send us anything out of the ordinary line of war
correspondence. Now, what we want is for you to go over there and
have some adventures, and write us something which will be
different from what we have had before from the Philippines. We
are sending you, because you have had no experience at such work,
and will be sure to send us something unusual, and that is what
we want. If you can only do as well in the tropics as you have
done here in New York, we shall be more than satisfied with your
work. I am sorry that I won't have time to give you very complete
instructions, but perhaps it will be as well. And now some of the
men are waiting outside to come in and talk this matter over, so
we'll have them in now."</p>

<p>And Archie found himself in the midst of an editorial
conference, during which many things were discussed. The meeting
lasted more than two hours, and finally it was decided that
Archie should travel from New York to San Francisco, and go from
there to Manila on the army transport which was to sail on the
twenty-fifth of the month. This meant that he would have to leave
the city in two days' time, and Archie announced himself as quite
willing to do this, as he had few preparations to make. The
editors gave him many instructions about how he was to address
his correspondence, and how he should proceed in the event of
finding it necessary to send despatches by cable. And at the end
of the conference he felt that he knew all that he would need to
know, so that he could start off without fear of not being able
to fulfil his mission. As far as Archie could understand it, his
chief instructions as to duty were to the effect that he must
have as many experiences as possible of as many different kinds,
and that he must write about them in a perfectly natural way,
just as if he were writing a letter to the folks at home. And he
thought, of course, that this would be very easy to do.</p>

<p>Mr. Van Bunting gave him a letter of credit for six hundred
dollars, which amount, he said, would probably be sufficient to
pay his expenses while he was in the Philippines, and he also
gave him a cheque for three hundred dollars, which was intended
to pay the expense of getting to Manila. "Of course," said Mr.
Van Bunting, "you can spend as much or as little of this as you
please, and if you need more, and we find that the venture is
paying us, why, we will send it on demand." Archie was so
overcome with the knowledge that he possessed nine hundred
dollars, that he could hardly thank the editor enough, and he
made up his mind that he would spend as little as possible of the
sum, and bring back part of it to Mr. Van Bunting upon his
return. He couldn't imagine how it would be possible for him to
spend so much money, and he felt that, after some of his
experiences since he left home, he ought to be able to economise
in many ways where other reporters wouldn't know how to save at
all.</p>

<p>When the two days were up Archie had made all his preparation,
and was ready to leave New York for Manila. He had sent a long
letter home to his mother, telling her of his great good fortune,
and enclosing a cheque for a hundred dollars, which she was to
spend while he was gone. He told her that he would send her more
money from time to time, and felt very proud as he mailed the
letter. He told her, too, that if at any time she didn't hear
from him on time, she could write to Mr. Van Bunting, and he
would let her know of his whereabouts. This was something which
Mr. Van Bunting had very thoughtfully advised him to do. "Your
mother is sure to worry if the mails are overdue," he had said,
"and if she writes to me, I will always be able to tell her of
your whereabouts, for we can hear of you through our other
correspondents, if not from your own despatches." So Archie felt
that his mother shouldn't worry, since he was such a fortunate
boy in so many ways.</p>

<p>The night before leaving he took a long farewell walk up
Broadway. Everything was bright with light, and there was, as
usual, a great crowd of pleasure-seekers on the sidewalks. It was
all as fascinating as ever to Archie, and he felt sorry that he
was to leave it so soon. New York had begun to grow on him, as it
grows on any one living there for any length of time, who is in a
position to appreciate the city's attractions. He felt that he
would almost rather be on Broadway than in the Philippines, but
of course he forgot this feeling when he remembered the
confidence which Mr. Van Bunting had reposed in him by sending
him upon such an important mission. So, after he had passed all
the bright theatres and restaurants, he turned down a quiet side
street and returned to his lodging, so that he might have a good
night's rest before starting on his long journey.</p>

<p>At seven in the morning he was up again, and at nine o'clock
he was bidding farewell to his many friends in the editorial
rooms of the <i>Evening Enterprise.</i> Every one congratulated
him upon his great good luck in getting such a chance to
distinguish himself, and when they had done telling him that he
had a great future before him, Archie felt happier than ever
before in all his life.</p>

<p>The train left the Grand Central Station at one o'clock, and
Mr. Jennings went with him to the station to see him well started
upon the journey. "You may be sure we are all much interested in
you, Archie," he said, as the train was leaving, "and we shall
look forward anxiously to your safe return." These words made
Archie very glad, for it cheered him to know that at least one of
the editors liked him for himself as well as for what he could
do.</p>

<p>The Southwestern Limited seemed to fairly fly along the banks
of the beautiful Hudson, and everything was so delightful that
Archie could scarcely believe that only a week or two before he
had been walking along country roads, anxious to reach New York,
that he might become an office boy. Every thing in this train was
as perfect as modern ingenuity could make it, and there was no
lack of interesting things to be examined, when Archie tired of
the landscape. Then, when the train had been two hours out of New
York, he discovered that the famous president of this great
railway system was aboard, and, mustering up his courage, he
determined to introduce himself. He had long been anxious to see
this famous after-dinner orator and statesman, and here was a
chance which might not come soon again. So he went back to the
drawing-room, and found the great man to be quite as pleasant as
he was interesting, and Archie was asked to seat himself and tell
something about his experiences since leaving home. Everything he
said was listened to with great interest, and this distinguished
wit seemed to find many of the adventures very funny indeed. "You
have certainly had some wonderful experiences," he said, when
Archie had finished, "and I can appreciate your anxiety to leave
school. I had that desire myself when I was a boy of about
fifteen, but my father succeeded in making me change my opinion
on the subject, and without much argument, unless you can call an
ox-team and a stony pasture an argument. I had been asking to
stay at home from school for a long time. I said that I was too
old to be sitting there with a lot of girls and some younger
boys, and that I wanted to work. Finally, my father said that I
could stay at home if I cared to, and that he would let me work
on the farm for a time. I was overjoyed, of course, at the
prospect of staying out of school.</p>

<p>"The next morning I was awakened at four o'clock, and had to
swallow my breakfast in a hurry, because I was late, my father
said. Then he took me out to the barn and ordered me to hitch up
the ox-team, and when this was done he took me out to a pasture
lot and told me to pick up all the boulders there. Well, I picked
up boulders all day long, and by evening my back and arms were so
sore I could hardly move them. I was too tired to eat supper, and
was soon asleep in bed. When my father awoke me at four the next
morning, I told him to let me alone and that I was going back to
school. After that I was content to stay in school, and said
nothing more about leaving until I had finished the course and
was ready to go to college."</p>

<p>And Archie thought it very queer that such a famous man should
have had such experiences when a boy. He remained in the
drawing-room for more than an hour, and when he left he felt
perfectly sure that he had been talking with the most charming
man in the world.</p>

<p>The train sped on and on, and when daylight came the next
morning they were passing through Northern Ohio. Early in the
afternoon they reached a great smoky metropolis, spread out for
miles over the plains. Archie knew that this must be Chicago, and
he decided, as this was Saturday, and the steamer wouldn't leave
San Francisco until the next Friday, that he would have time to
remain here over Sunday. So he left the train at the station in
Pacific Avenue, and, Finding a hotel near the station, he started
out to see something of the city famous for its dirt and for the
World's Fair, two widely different things.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>SAN FRANCISCO&#151; THE TRANSPORT GONE&#151; WORKING HIS WAY
TO HONOLULU BY PEELING VEGETABLES ON A PACIFIC LINER&#151; THE
CAPITAL OF HAWAII.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> found Chicago to be so widely different
from New York that everything he saw was new and interesting to
him. In the afternoon he managed to see something of the
congested business section of the city, the tall office
buildings, the great stores, and the famous Board of Trade. It
was all very fine, he thought, but still it wasn't nearly so
fascinating to him as New York had been on the first day he
visited it. "Chicago seems so very much like some great town," he
explained to the hotel clerk in the evening. "I feel as if I were
not in a great city at all, because there are not the evidences
of a large and wealthy population that we have everywhere in New
York." Archie spoke of New York as if he had lived there always,
and found much to criticise in Chicago. But toward evening he
went up to Lincoln Park and the beautiful North Shore, and he
felt that there was nothing more beautiful in New York than this
magnificent park, and this handsome Lake Shore Drive, with its
great houses whose lawns reached down almost to the lake itself.
On the South Side of the city, too, he found some handsome
streets and residences, but there was always that feeling of
being in some rapidly growing town. It wasn't hard for Archie to
realise that there were older houses in his native town than
could be found anywhere in the great city of Chicago.</p>

<p>The greatest difference between Chicago and New York was to be
noticed in the evening. Instead of the brilliantly lighted
thoroughfares of upper Broadway and Twenty-third and
Thirty-fourth Streets, he found but one street in Chicago which
was at all illuminated, and the illuminations there were chiefly
signs in front of dime museums. The streets, too, were not so
crowded, and Archie almost longed that he could be back on
Broadway, if only for a little while.</p>

<p>On Sunday he found Chicago to be a more noisy city than he had
ever been in before on that day, and he found that the people
made good use of their one weekly holiday. All places of
amusement were open, and everything was running in "full
blast."</p>

<p>The parks seemed to be very popular, indeed, and there were
numerous water excursions upon Lake Michigan, to Milwaukee, St.
Joe, and various other neighbouring cities. The street-cars were
crowded all day long, many of them taking people to a Sunday game
of baseball at the Athletic Park. All of this was very
interesting and very new to Archie, but it didn't make him
anxious to remain in Chicago any longer than Monday morning, so
on that day he took the limited train for the Pacific Coast, for
he had determined not to stop off again until he reached
Denver.</p>

<p>Days of weary travel over a level, uninteresting stretch of
ground followed the departure of the train from Chicago, and had
not Archie found some interesting persons to talk with he would
have been very weary long before reaching Denver. As it was, he
managed to pass the time very pleasantly until the train entered
Colorado, and after that he found much that was new to look at
until he reached Denver. Here he remained for half a day, just
long enough to see something of the city and a little of the
neighbouring country. Then, taking a train for San Francisco, he
reached that city on Thursday afternoon, and immediately began to
make arrangements for sailing. He found, to his great
disappointment, that the army transport had sailed the previous
day, contrary to the expectations of the editors, and of the War
Department itself, until the arrival of important despatches from
Manila, which made it necessary to start the transport at once
with supplies of ammunition. Archie hardly knew what to do. He
had not anticipated anything like this, and could scarcely think
of any plan for a time, but, finally, he proved himself equal to
the emergency. He went to the naval agent and asked him when the
transport would be due at Honolulu, and then he ascertained that
a passenger steamer sailing for that port on Saturday would reach
the destination three days sooner than the transport, so that by
taking the liner he would have three extra days in Honolulu, and
would be able to reach Manila on schedule time, after all. He at
once decided that this was the thing for him to do, and as soon
as he thought of taking the steamer it occurred to him that he
might possibly be able to work his way to Honolulu, instead of
paying the regular passenger fare, which he knew was high. So he
went down to the great docks, and, after interviewing the second
steward, he approached the chief steward himself, and asked if
there wasn't something that he could do aboard the ship to earn
his passage. The chief steward was thoughtful for a time, and
finally said, "Well, yes, I believe there is. We haven't any one
to peel vegetables yet, and if you think you care to do that work
I guess we can fix you up all right." Archie didn't wait to
consider whether peeling vegetables was hard work or not. He was
too glad to have a position of any kind aboard ship to be
particular about what his work was like, so he told the steward
that he was willing to take the place. "Well, be on hand at about
eight in the morning, and we'll see that you get to
Honolulu."</p>

<p>Archie was overjoyed at his good management. "I am going to
save about a hundred dollars," he said to himself, "and I will
have this money to send home to mother." The rest of the
afternoon and the evening he spent in going about San Francisco,
and he found it to be more like New York than any city he had yet
seen. There was the same cosmopolitan crowd on the main
thoroughfares, and the same foreign districts here and there
throughout the city. He found a great deal to interest him,
especially at the Presidio, where everything connected with the
army monopolised his attention. He made friends with many of the
soldiers who were waiting to be sent to the Philippines, and
hoped, on leaving, that he would meet some of them there, but he
hardly expected that he would meet some of them in such a strange
manner as it was his fate to do in Luzon.</p>

<p>After a good night's rest he was on hand early at the great
steamer, where there was such a scene of bustle and confusion as
he had never seen before, not even in New York. There was a
throng of men with trucks who were loading the late freight, and
there was a constant din of noisy voices, which, combined with
the shrieks of escaping steam, made it impossible to carry on a
conversation. Archie hurried aboard to find the steward, who
immediately took him into the galley and introduced him to the
cook, a large, fat Frenchman, with small, blue eyes set far back
in his head. He seemed to be a pleasant man, and Archie thought
that he would like him very much.</p>

<p>"Well, does ze youngster vant to vork, eh! Eef he do, I say
you pare zis potate for dinee as quick you can." And the fellow
pointed to a great bag of potatoes and a paring-knife. "Now you
sit zere in da corner," continued the cook, "and keep out uf my
vay." Archie found a stool and sat down, and, having brought an
apron with him, he put it on and began work. The cook watched him
closely, so that Archie soon learned to pare the potatoes very
nicely, and of course he was able to get along faster and faster
as he became more and more experienced. He managed, through great
effort, to get the bag finished in time for dinner, or luncheon,
as it was called on the bill of fare, and then he soon had to
begin on other vegetables, which were to be served at the more
complete evening meal. There were more potatoes, and some turnips
and apples as well, to be prepared, and it kept the boy busy all
the afternoon, cleaning as hard as he could, and never seeming to
get done. The cook urged him always to hurry, and seemed
determined to have everything ready on time. And Archie began to
realise that he was working under a rather severe master.</p>

<p>He was again successful in getting the vegetables finished in
time for the evening meal, and then he had an idea that he might
be allowed to rest for awhile, but he soon realised his mistake.
He was advised to begin work on the potatoes for breakfast if he
didn't want to get up at two o'clock in the morning and pare
them, so once more he took up the knife and began to clean and
scrape. It was ten o'clock before he had finished, and he found
himself too tired to spend any time on the after-deck with the
crew, but went at once down into the small, stuffy room where he
was to sleep with some of the stewards. His back ached from
bending over, and his hands were all sore from being scraped.</p>

<p>Things were not very pleasant in this bedroom, but poor Archie
was glad enough to be able to lie down on the hard straw tick and
go to sleep. He slept soundly until he was awakened at four
o'clock in the morning by the second cook, who ordered him
up-stairs to work. There was no time to wash, and no place where
he could wash, so the boy was obliged to go up just as he was,
much as he disliked doing so. And once up-stairs there were
various chores which were waiting for him in the galley, so that
he was kept running until breakfast was served. And then it was
time to begin paring vegetables again. This turned out to be the
invariable daily programme, and Archie became rather discouraged.
Had it not been for the thought that by doing this he was saving
money to send home, he would have been miserable indeed, but this
idea kept him hopeful. He was seasick, too, for a time, and was
obliged to keep cleaning vegetables in the galley during the
whole period of his suffering. The days when he was ill in this
way were the most disagreeable ones of the voyage, and Archie
often described afterward his feelings as he sat peeling potatoes
with a bucket standing beside him. Each night he slept like a
log, and each morning he was obliged to get up at four o'clock
and start work again. It was the same thing day after day,
tiresome and monotonous, so that Archie wasn't sorry when the
beautiful island hove in sight, and they anchored in the
picturesque bay of Honolulu.</p>

<p>Once at Honolulu, Archie's term of service on board the liner
was over, and he was glad, indeed, to get ashore, where he
learned that the transport had not yet arrived, but was expected
in two or three days' time. These two or three days Archie
determined to spend in sightseeing, and he spent his time to
excellent advantage in visiting every quarter of Honolulu and
seeing every side of life in the Hawaiian capital. He found it a
delightful place. There was much that was interesting to see, the
people were pleasant to meet, and the climate was perfect. He was
almost sorry when he learned that the transport had anchored in
the bay!</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>THE VOYAGE ON THE TRANSPORT&#151; A STORM AT SEA&#151;
ARRIVAL IN MANILA.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>T<small>HE</small> transport did not remain long at Honolulu,
and before leaving Archie had several things which he wanted to
do. In the first place, he felt that he ought to write the story
of his experiences so far, and send it to Mr. Van Bunting; so he
did sit down and describe in detail his experiences at cleaning
vegetables on board the Pacific liner. He wasn't sure whether
this was anything that Mr. Van Bunting would care to print, but
he decided to send it on, anyhow. He would have been surprised
had he observed the enthusiasm with which this letter was read in
the <i>Enterprise</i> office a month later. He would have been no
longer in any doubt as to whether it was anything worth printing
had he read the <i>Enterprise</i> of the following day, when the
letter appeared on the second page as one of the chief features
of the paper.</p>

<p>Before leaving, too, Archie sent a long, cheerful letter home,
saying nothing of his being seasick on board the liner, or of his
having had to work so hard. He devoted his letter to telling of
the many interesting things he had seen, and of his bright
prospects for becoming a successful newspaper man. He wrote a
shorter letter to Jack Sullivan, which was intended to be read to
all the members of the Hut Club, for Archie felt that it was no
more than right that they should know something of his success.
He found it very hard to realise, away off here in Honolulu, that
he had ever been a member of the club, and that he had ever lived
in tents behind the barn. He felt very manly now, and his boyhood
seemed far away behind him, so far away that he now felt like a
man of twenty-five rather than like a boy of eighteen. He was
beginning to realise that age is not always governed by years
alone, but that experience does much to make one old.</p>

<p>As soon as the transport had anchored in the bay, Archie went
aboard to present his credentials to the commanding officer. He
found the general very pleasant to meet, and a very appreciative
listener as he told of his scheme for overtaking the transport.
The officer was surprised, of course, that such a young fellow
should be going to the islands as correspondent, but the things
he said were very encouraging to Archie, "I tell you what," the
general remarked, at one time during the conversation, "I believe
that a young fellow like Dunn, here, can find out a great many
more interesting things than an older man could ever discover.
You see the youngster has ambition and energy on his side, and
ambition and energy are two mighty powerful things when they're
combined. I'd hate to buck up against 'em myself." The other
officers agreed with the general in this remark, and Archie began
to feel that, after all, he might not have such a hard time
finding interesting things to write about as he had expected.</p>

<p>The transport remained in port but one day, and in thirty
hours after her arrival Archie found himself sailing again over
the blue Pacific. The weather, for a few days, was almost
perfect. A cloudless sky overhead, a warm breeze from the west,
and a smooth sea made things very pleasant aboard ship, and
Archie began to realise that there are times when it is
delightful to be at sea. The vessel was very much overcrowded
with troops, and the sleeping quarters were but little more
pleasant than aboard the liner. Archie shared a stateroom with
three sergeants, and they managed to have a lively time during
the voyage. They played games, told stories, and slept in the
afternoons, but all this, of course, grew rather tiresome after a
time, and the voyage was becoming monotonous, when there came a
severe storm which kept things moving for three days.</p>

<p>None of the navigating officers had expected a gale, so that
when it came every one was taken wholly by surprise, and it came
so suddenly that there was no time at all for preparation. The
sky became quickly dark one afternoon about three o'clock, and
soon the whole horizon was a mass of great black clouds, which
every moment seemed to come lower and lower until they directly
overhung the ship. There was great excitement aboard the ship.
Officers hurried here and there shouting orders to their men, and
the cavalrymen rushed about in a frenzy of haste, trying to
devise means to save their horses, most of which were stabled
upon the deck. Archie looked on in breathless interest, and was
surprised to find that he wasn't at all frightened. He even found
himself making mental notes of the scene, so that he could send
the story of it all to Mr. Van Bunting when he reached
Manila.</p>

<p>There was but little time for rushing about, and it was soon
evident that the horses would many of them be lost, because there
seemed to be absolutely no way of saving them if the waves were
high enough to break over the bulwarks. The storm soon broke in
great fury, beginning with a fierce wind which swept the waves
before it. There was but little rain, and the waves rose higher
and higher with every minute, until the heavy ship began to roll
and pitch in a frightful way, so that the soldiers began to
think, some of them, that she would certainly sink. Finally the
waves were so high they dashed themselves over the decks, and no
one was allowed above the gangways. The cries of the poor horses,
as they felt themselves being washed overboard, were frightful to
hear, and many a trooper cried himself as he thought of his horse
foundering in the raging sea without. Before many minutes all was
as dark as night, though the watch pointed to but four o'clock,
and all lights were burning below deck. It was impossible to keep
a light above, for no lantern could burn in such a storm.</p>

<p>The waves began gradually to subside at ten o'clock at night,
and a slow steady rain came, which soon calmed the sea to a great
extent. As soon as it was safe to go above deck, it was found
that more than a hundred horses had been lost overboard, and that
one mast had been carried away. Down below nearly every man was
in his bunk, for there was scarcely a person who was not seasick,
and most of them wouldn't have cared if the ship had gone down
with all aboard, such was their feeling of despondency. Archie
was as sick as any of the others, but was able to make notes of
occurrences just the same. And when he grew better the next day,
he wrote an excellent account of the storm to send to the
<i>Enterprise</i> on his arrival in Manila.</p>

<p>After this rough weather experience, every man aboard was
anxious to reach port, and when, after many more days, the Bay of
Cavit&eacute; was reached, a great cheer went up from a thousand
throats, for everyone was overjoyed at the sight of land.</p>

<p>The transport came to anchor off the forts which had once been
Spain's, and it was announced that no one would be allowed to
land for two days, until advices could be had from Manila and the
interior of the island. This was very trying for Archie, being
obliged to sit on deck for two whole days, looking at a shore
which seemed very inviting, in spite of the general dilapidated
appearance of the various buildings and docks. Everything looked
different from anything he had seen before, and the boy felt that
he could hardly wait to be allowed to explore some of those
streets which were so narrow, and those houses which were built
in such a peculiar fashion.</p>

<p>Finally, the permission came for the troops to land, and
Archie received the permission of the general to remain with them
as long as he wanted to do so. And as he had no other plans, the
young correspondent decided that it would be a good plan for him
to stay right with one of these regiments, for the time being at
any rate. He knew that they would be likely to be sent to the
front immediately, and the front seemed the place for him to
be.</p>

<p>And then he was already acquainted with many of the men, and
with the colonel, and he realised that this would be an advantage
to him in his work. So he made his plans to keep with them.</p>

<p>First they went to Manila, where they remained for a week. The
quaint old city was a veritable fairy-land of wonders to Archie,
who had never before been in a city so ancient, and here there
were so many unusual things to be seen. There seemed to be
absolutely no end to the winding streets, delightful old houses,
and interesting churches, and the boy spent many days in
exploring every corner of the island capital. The colonel warned
him several times that he must look out for robbers and other
suspicious characters, but Archie laughed at his fears. But the
colonel was right, as he found later on.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>ARCHIE STARTS OUT ON AN EXPLORING TOUR AND HAS SOME STRANGE
ADVENTURES AMONG THE NATIVES&#151; SEIZED BY THE REBELS.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>T<small>HE</small> days passed very quickly in Manila. the
regiment was quartered in an old palace which had once been used
as a residence by the Spanish governors of the islands, and
Archie remained in the palace with them. There was very little to
do while they were there. Each morning there were anxious
inquiries for news from the front, but there was always the same
discouraging reply that no trace had yet been found of the
fleeing Aguinaldo. The men were gradually becoming disheartened
at the long wait, and there were frequent statements by the
officers that Aguinaldo would soon be caught if they were sent
out after him. The dissatisfaction with the general in command
grew stronger every day, and at last things reached a point where
there was very little loyalty and patriotism displayed among the
troops.</p>

<p>The drilling was continued, however, by order of the colonel,
and every morning the troops marched out to a public square near
the palace, and went through the same old manoeuvres which they
had practised for months past. And it was harder for them to
drill each week. At first they were willing enough to work, for
there was then some prospect of their being able to use their
knowledge in a fight, but now it was beginning to seem that they
would simply remain in this old palace for a few months longer,
and then go back again to San Francisco. With this opinion in
their hearts, it is not to be wondered at that most of the men
became slouchy and careless in their manners and dress, or that
even the officers themselves became disgusted at the long wait
for marching orders.</p>

<p>Things had been going on in this way for a long time, when
Archie made up his mind that it was time he was hustling about
and finding something to write about which would be interesting
to readers of the <i>Enterprise.</i> He had sent two articles
describing his life with the soldiers in the old palace, but he
knew that he ought to find something more exciting, and more like
his first articles. So, after much thought, he decided that a
good plan would be for him to take a little trip into the
interior of the island, to see whether he could find any traces
of the insurgents. The colonel had held all along for a month,
now, that the Filipinos were probably all about Manila, and still
he couldn't get the permission of the general in command to go
out and investigate the matter. The colonel figured that it would
be an easy thing for the insurgents to come as near to the city
as they cared to now, for Lawton and Wheeler were far away in the
interior after Aguinaldo, and the troops in Manila were quietly
drilling, and eating, and sleeping, with no thought of doing
anything else. This line of argument seemed very reasonable to
Archie, and he volunteered to go out and see if he could make any
discoveries. The colonel assured him that he would be in no
danger, even if he were caught by the rebels, for they would
never suspect a boy of Archie's age and size of being a spy. So
the lad felt no fear at all, and made what few preparations there
were to be made before starting. He secured a knapsack from the
commissary officer, and in this he placed what few belongings he
wanted to take with him, together with his note-books and some
provisions for the trip. Then he secured a small pistol, which he
carried in his hip pocket, and he was disappointed because the
colonel would not allow him to carry a rifle. And when he had
everything ready he said good-bye to his friends in the regiment,
and departed from the palace amid a multitude of cheers. At the
last moment the colonel tried to dissuade him from starting, for
fear he might meet with some accident, but Archie was determined
to make the attempt.</p>

<p>It was his plan not to go farther than fifty miles in the
interior, for he thought that if he found no traces of the rebels
in that distance there would be little use in going farther into
the forest, for, it would be almost impossible to find them
there. So he set out gaily upon his trip of exploration, and
Archie couldn't remember when he had been so happy before, save
on that day when he first visited the office of the
<i>Enterprise.</i> This adventure was exciting enough to please
the wildest boy in America, and Archie could imagine how envious
the other boys would be if they could but know the trip he was
having. It had an official air to it, too, for had not the
colonel been most anxious, in the beginning, that he should go,
and did he not say that he would reward him handsomely if he were
successful in locating any of the insurgents, or in proving that
he had been right when he said they were near Manila? It was all
as perfect an adventure as Archie could have imagined. He could
not have planned a better one if he had been able to select any
trip he could think of.</p>

<p>He planned that it would take him at least three days to walk
fifty miles, and perhaps longer, for the roads were not very good
in some places. He knew that he would find many villages and
towns along the way, too, for the island was thinly settled in
this neighbourhood. So if he were obliged to rest, he would never
be at a loss for a place to get a bed. Archie couldn't help
thinking, as he walked along the road outside Manila, this first
morning, that he might find a body of the insurgents in
possession of one of these towns. They were very bold, he had
heard, and they probably knew that there were no American troops
anywhere in the neighbourhood, outside the city of Manila itself.
And, knowing this, he knew they wouldn't hesitate to camp at the
very gates of the city, for they were marvellously successful in
getting away into the interior whenever an American force made
its appearance.</p>

<p>As he thought of this possibility, Archie couldn't help being
a little fearful of what might happen to him should he fall into
the hands of the insurgents, and he began to wonder if he had not
been a little foolhardy, after all, in starting off on such a
wild-goose chase. "But I will have something new to send Mr. Van
Bunting about the interior towns," he said to himself, "and if I
am captured, why, I will have a great deal to write about when I
am released." This thought made the lad happy again, and he
trudged along the road with as much vim and energy as he had
displayed during those weary days when he was walking to New York
to make his fortune. And it was a much more interesting country
in which to walk than the New York State counties had been. The
vegetation was rich and luxuriant everywhere, palm-trees, vines,
and flowers growing in profusion all along the road. In every
dooryard, in front of every hut, there grew what seemed to Archie
a veritable fairy bower of the most richly coloured flowers in
existence. And they were growing, apparently, without
cultivation. He had seen nothing like them before, even in
California, and he longed to pluck some of them to send home, if
they had only been wax instead of nature's blossoms. As it was,
he kept his arms filled with them for awhile, but after a time he
grew tired carrying them, and was obliged to drop them by the
roadside.</p>

<p>The country looked as if it might have been very prosperous at
one time. There were plantations laid out in excellent fashion,
and the soil seemed rich and fertile. But instead of growing
crops, and storehouses filled with spices and coffee, there was
desolation everywhere, and it was easy to see that the Spaniards
had determined to leave but little behind them for the Yankees.
Every other farmhouse and wayside hut was deserted, their
occupants having gone, apparently, to join Aguinaldo, and the
whole country, outside the towns, seemed to be wholly deserted
and left to grow up in weeds and tangled vines.</p>

<p>The sun was warm, the sky was a perfect blue, and it seemed a
delightful day in every way. But it made Archie sad to walk
through a district which had been made so desolate, and he hadn't
walked many hours before he wished that he might soon reach a
town, where he could find some life, and where he could remain
overnight. For by the middle of the afternoon he was tired
walking, and made up his mind that fifteen miles was enough for
any one to do in one day. But he was obliged to keep on walking
for two hours longer before he reached a village, and the great
sun was just sinking behind the blue hills in the distance when
he entered the one main village street, which was long and
narrow, winding in and out among the cabins and huts, as if it
had been laid out after the houses were built, for the
convenience of the people. It was a poor excuse for a public
thoroughfare. There had probably been a pavement of some sort at
one time, but now the street was a mass of rubbish of every sort,
straw, dust, old bricks, and bits of stone being thrown together
in every rut, so that it was exceedingly difficult to walk along
with any comfort.</p>

<p>There was no life visible in the settlement. Almost every hut
had its shades drawn at the windows, and there was absolutely no
one to be seen in the street. As he passed down the road, Archie
could catch occasional glimpses of black eyes staring at him
through a lattice, or he could hear some muttered word as he
walked close to a window. From these signs he knew that he was
observed, and he felt very much embarrassed as he continued his
walk down this deserted lane, for he felt instinctively now that
hundreds of eyes were watching his every movement.</p>

<p>Finally, he came to the public square, and he sat down here to
look about him. From general appearances, he judged this to be a
town of some two thousand inhabitants, for there was a very
respectable administration building, and a good-sized church.
There were but two streets of any consequence, the one by which
he had entered the town, and another running at right angles in
the opposite direction. In this latter street, as he stood in the
square, he noticed a three-story structure with a sign outside,
and he decided to go there and make inquiries as to where he
might be able to secure a lodging for the night. It looked as if
it might be an inn of some sort, or at least a store, so he
walked rapidly up to the entrance and knocked twice upon the
door. This place, in spite of its sign, looked more deserted and
shut-up than any other building he had yet seen in the town, and
he wondered whether he would receive any answer to his knocks. It
was indeed a long time before he heard a sound within, but at
last there was some muttering inside, the door flew open, and
Archie found himself in the arms of three Filipinos, who threw
him upon the floor and bound him, hands and feet. It was all so
sudden that he had no time to cry out, and before he could say
anything at all he was thrown into a dark room, and the door shut
behind him.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>A PLEASANT CAPTOR&#151; BRAVE BILL HICKSON ALLOWS ARCHIE TO
ESCAPE&#151; FIRST GLIMPSE OF AGUINALDO.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>F<small>OR</small> a long time Archie lay still upon the
floor, being unable to move a muscle from the shock of his
encounter with the men, and because he was tightly bound with
ropes. And then he at last went off to sleep, feeling frightened
because he was in the hands of strange men, and a little
satisfied, too, because he was the victim of some adventure which
might turn out in a very interesting way.</p>

<p>When he awoke, it was morning, and the light came into the
room through two small square windows, set high up in the wall.
Archie looked about the room with great curiosity, but found
little there to interest him. There was nothing to be seen but an
old bed without spring or mattress, and a rickety chair with but
three legs, which stood in one corner. The walls, he was
surprised to observe, were handsomely decorated with tapestries,
and Archie at once made up his mind that this had at one time
been a private dwelling-house, and had probably been owned by
some rich Spaniard who kept a store on the ground floor, and
lived in these rooms. The insurgents had probably driven the
family out of the country and had taken possession of the house,
which they had stripped of everything useful, leaving the
tapestries and works of art behind them.</p>

<p>These suppositions were cut short by the entrance of a man who
appeared to be a half-breed, and who immediately began to speak
to Archie in broken English. The fellow had a pleasant face, and
presented a fairly good appearance, and Archie wondered how he
could have come to this place. "I suppose you have been
wondering," said the man, "why you have been thrown into this
room, and it won't take me long to explain things. You see this
town belongs to us just now, and we don't propose to have any
Yankee spies around here to tell Otis of our whereabouts. There
ain't no troops in this town now, but there's likely to be any
minute, and we patriots was sent here to take possession of
things and arrange quarters for our army. Let me tell you that
the Filipino army will be in this town to-day, and if you don't
look sharp you'll be the first prisoner to be shot. Aguinaldo
isn't a man to deal easily with spies, and if he thought you was
out here for that purpose he'd have you riddled with bullets in a
minute." The man came up to Archie and began to undo the ropes.
"I reckon I can trust you free for awhile, for there's no use in
your trying to get away, with the Filipino army all around the
town. Sit down there now, and I'll see that you get some
breakfast. You can tell, perhaps, that I ain't no Filipino, nor
never was one. I'm from Arizona, U. S. A., and I'm fightin' with
these rebels for what there is in it just now. I'm mighty curious
to find out how you come to be out in these diggin's,
youngster."</p>

<p>Archie was willing enough to tell all about himself. He liked
this man, in spite of his being with the rebels, and he felt that
he would be able to make friends with him if he were careful to
do so. And the best plan seemed to be for him to tell all about
himself, how he happened to go to New York, and how he had been
sent out here as a boy correspondent for the <i>Enterprise.</i>
The man from Arizona listened to the recital with open mouth and
eyes, and he frequently laughed outright at some of the
experiences Archie described. When the narrative was finished, he
seized Archie's hand, and said, "My name's Bill Hickson, and you
can count on me after this fer a friend, youngster. I'll swan if
I ever heard tell of sich nerve in my life. I'll see that you get
out of this scrape all right, but you must be careful to keep up
appearances of being under guard. I'm a big-bug in this Filipino
shack, but I wouldn't dare to let you out openly. So you jist
kind of lay around and look despondent, and depend on me to make
things as easy for you as I can. You kin come down-stairs now, if
you like, and I'll present you to my friends. There don't none of
'em speak no English but me, and all I can do is to interduce
you, and tell 'em that you ain't no spy, and that you are very
sorry you ever ran up agin this here town. And I guess I'll be
expressin' your sentiments exactly, won't I?" Archie nodded, but
in his heart he felt that he wasn't sorry he had run up against
the town. This Bill Hickson, in himself, was a character worth
going miles to meet, and if what he said was true, Archie stood a
good chance of seeing the notorious Aguinaldo, with his army of
Filipinos, before the day was over.</p>

<p>When he reached the lower floor, he found several men lounging
about in another poorly furnished room, and they were all similar
in appearance to the men he had seen at the door the night
before. They looked at him in an indifferent way, and didn't seem
surprised that he should be walking about without restraint. Bill
Hickson stepped up to some of them, and, after a few words in
some language Archie didn't understand, motioned for the boy to
step up. He was told to shake hands with "all the gents," and
after he had done so he was offered a cigar, and Archie began to
realise that it was a very good thing that he had a friend at the
Filipino court. He thought, too, that if these men were samples,
Aguinaldo had a very poor lot of retainers, and later on he
perceived the real cause for the failure of the rebels to do
anything more than keep up a constant retreat. It was plain to
see that the followers of the rebel leader were "in it for what
it was worth." They had no difficulty, any of them, in getting
enough to eat, and often they had opportunities to enjoy
themselves in great fashion by taking possession of some Filipino
village and ejecting the inmates of some particularly fine house,
with a well-stocked wine-cellar.</p>

<p>In looking out of the window Archie perceived that the town
looked very different this morning than when he saw it the
evening before. Instead of drawn blinds and shuttered windows,
there was everywhere an evident attempt at decoration in honour
of the coming army. The streets were crowded with a throng in
holiday garb, and some of the soldiers of the rebel army had
already arrived, as they could be easily distinguished by their
ragged dress and ridiculous airs, walking up and down the street.
It was all such a scene as Archie had never seen before, and
would have made a great success as the scenario for a comic
opera. But as a welcome to an army, supposedly victorious, it was
a dismal failure, and Archie wondered what General Aguinaldo
would think when he entered the town and saw such shoddy
patriotism everywhere. He hadn't long to wait, however, before
seeing the famous rebel and the effect upon him of the
celebration in his honour. It was about ten o'clock in the
morning when he rode into the public square, followed by about
two hundred ragged Filipinos, armed with all sorts of guns and
pistols. Archie saw the arrival from the roof of the building
which was his mock prison, and he could scarcely refrain from
laughing outright when he saw the boasted Filipino "army." It was
the poorest excuse for a body of troops that he could
imagine.</p>

<p>Aguinaldo rode a fine bay horse, as did several of his
followers, but by far the majority of the regiment, if such it
could be called, was afoot, and most of them were barefooted,
too. The rebel leader looked very much like most of his pictures,
with the exception that he had an older look, and some gray hairs
about the temples. He was attired in a gaudy uniform of some
sort, with epaulets and a Spanish general's hat, and he carried
himself with great dignity of manner. Dismounting from his horse,
he entered the administration building, where he held a
conference with the town officials, and probably made them pay
over whatever money was in the treasury "for the cause." He
remained within for two hours or more, and all this time Archie
stood upon the roof and watched the remarkable scene in the
streets below. The troops had scattered, and were engaged in
robbing the housewives of whatever they had in their houses to
eat. And the women seemed willing to provide them with whatever
they could afford, and there was much enthusiasm evident
everywhere. But the celebration was very quiet, in spite of the
friendly reception, There were no bands of music, no cheering,
and no singing of battle-hymns. The whole affair reminded Archie
of some camp of a section of the famous Coxey army, when he had
seen it long ago. The soldiers were no better dressed than
tramps, and there was but little more discipline among them.</p>

<p>And the celebration and occupation of the town came to a
sudden end. While Archie stood upon the roof at noontime, he saw
a runner enter the administration building in great haste, and in
a minute Aguinaldo came hurrying down the steps. Then there was a
great commotion in the streets, and the two hundred followers of
the chief were seen assembled in the square, and before they were
all there the general was riding out of the town toward the
interior of the island. There was no noise, and the inhabitants
stood about apparently speechless, and wondering what had
happened. Their reception had come to an untimely end, and their
hero had left them unceremoniously. Soon the last of the
straggling troops were out of the town, and just as Archie was
beginning to think of going down from the roof Bill Hickson stuck
his head up and gave him some astonishing news. "Stay where
you're at, young feller, till these fool Filipinos gits away from
here. You saw how they skedaddled, didn't ye? Well, Uncle Sam is
comin' after 'em with shot-guns, and old Aggy heard the news just
in time. He is bound for the jungle, about forty miles southeast,
and he won't reach it until to-morrow night, anyhow, and if the
officers are quick they may be able to catch him. Now you stay
here, lad, and give 'em the news when they git here. They'll
thank you for it, and you may be the means of gittin' this fool
of an Aguinaldo captured. If you does, why, your future's all
right. And ye can tell the colonel, or whoever's in command, that
Bill Hickson is still with 'em, and that he's doin' his best fer
Uncle Sam, and tell 'em that Aggy has got about three thousand
troops altogether, but only about a thousand with him. Now,
good-bye, lad, and I hope I'll see ye again."</p>

<p>And Archie saw brave Bill Hickson get down from the roof. He
brushed some tears from his eyes as he realised that here was a
brave soldier doing good work for his country. A moment later he
saw him running across the square with four of the Filipinos, and
waving his hat to the "youngster" as he went. He followed him
with his eyes as long as he could, and then he sat down and made
a solemn vow that Bill Hickson should be named among the heroes
of the war.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICAN TROOPS&#151; ARCHIE THE HERO OF THE
REGIMENT.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> descended from the roof, and found
everything below in a state of wild disorder. The fleeing rebels
had taken with them all they had time to get together, but in
their haste they had left behind many of their most useful
belongings. In a cupboard of the dining-room Archie found a
supply of food and wines sufficient to feed several people for a
week, so he supposed that it had been the intention of the
occupants of the house to remain for some days. The news that the
Americans were coming upset all their plans, however, and now, as
often before, they were obliged to flee before them, leaving
behind most of their creature comforts in the way of food and
furniture.</p>

<p>"What a life they must be leading," thought Archie to himself,
"going from one place to another, constantly endeavouring to hide
from the Americans. Now in some town, now in the wilderness, and
again venturing as near as possible to the boundaries of Manila."
And he could scarcely help admiring their courage, or
recklessness, rather, in camping so near the head of the American
government, where they might expect to be caught in a trap at any
moment. But Archie realised, too, that such an army can get away
in a very short time, and he began to have serious doubts as to
whether the Americans would ever be able to capture Aguinaldo and
his men. For knowing the islands perfectly, and being able to get
from one point to another in the easiest and quickest way, the
rebels have a great deal in their favour.</p>

<p>Selecting some canned beef and some native bread and cheese,
Archie managed to make a very good meal for himself, though he
ate hurriedly for fear some of the rebels might return. As soon
as he had finished he returned to his position on the roof, for
there he knew that he would be safe in case the building was
entered by the townspeople. From his high perch he looked down
into the streets, and was surprised to find them as quiet and as
much deserted as they had been the night before. The news of the
coming of the Americans had been effective in quieting the
enthusiasm of the morning, and all the townsfolk had again
entered their homes and put the shutters up before their windows.
One would have taken the place for a deserted village, judging
from appearances. But Archie knew that within the shuttered
windows and barred doors there were hundreds of people waiting
anxiously for the arrival of the American troops, and making
ready to come out, when required to do so, and again declare
their allegiance to the stars and stripes. The cowardly wretches
were diplomatic enough to be always on the side of the
victorious. When the rebels occupied the town they were loyal to
them, and when the Americans came, as they often did, they came
out into the square and cheered loudly for Uncle Sam. But of
course the Americans knew very well that their sympathies were
with the rebels, and the rebels knew it, too, or they would never
have dared to venture so near Manila.</p>

<p>About five in the afternoon, there was a sound of many men
marching along the road, and in a little while Archie was able to
see the Americans coming down the street. It was a sight to cheer
his heart after all his experiences of the last day and night.
The column was marching at double-quick, and the handsome colonel
rode a great gray horse at the head of the regiment. Archie saw
that they would reach the square in two or three minutes, and,
throwing discretion to the winds, he descended from the roof,
almost fell down the stairways in his haste, and was soon running
toward the administration building. He mounted the great steps
leading up to the portico, just as the colonel rode into the
square, and the expression of surprise on the faces of all the
men was funny to see. In a minute every hat was off, and the
regiment was giving "three cheers for the boy reporter," while
the colonel, rapidly dismounting, hurried up to speak with
Archie.</p>

<p>"Why, how did you come here?" he demanded. "Haven't the rebels
been here, and how did you escape them? Which way did they go,
and was Aguinaldo with them? For pity's sake, say something."</p>

<p>Archie wasn't long explaining things, and his news was so
explicit and so valuable that the colonel grasped his hand and
said, almost with tears in his eyes, "God bless you, lad. You may
have aided us to catch the gang, and anyhow you've proved your
bravery."</p>

<p>By this time the regiment was standing at ease, and all the
men were watching Archie and the colonel with great interest.
Knowing that they were all curious to learn how the lad happened
to have escaped the rebels, the good colonel made a short speech
in which he explained everything. He dwelt particularly upon the
bravery of Bill Hickson, and held him up as a model for all the
men to follow. "And now three cheers for Bill Hickson and our boy
reporter again," he cried, when he had finished, and they were
given with a will by all the men.</p>

<p>The regimental officers held a short consultation, and it was
decided, on the strength of the news brought by Archie, to push
on after the rebels as fast as was possible. But it was now
sunset, and there was no use trying to go farther to-night, so it
was agreed that the best plan would be to give the men a good
rest overnight, as they had made the entire march from Manila
since five o'clock in the morning. "They will do all the better
to-morrow for the rest," said the colonel. Archie was valuable in
being able to guide the officers to the building where he had
been confined, assuring them that they would find everything
needful there in the way of food, and a place to sleep. Some of
the soldiers were quartered in various houses of the town, for
the people had soon turned out into the street again, and had
expressed their friendship for their "masters," as they called
them. Archie could hardly refrain from laughing as he saw some of
those who in the morning had bowed down to Aguinaldo vowing
everlasting allegiance to our flag, and he assured the colonel
that he couldn't be too careful while in the town to guard
against surprises. "No one knows the beasts better than I do,"
was the answer. "I know they can't be trusted."</p>

<p>Archie was invited to remain in the building with the
officers, and while they prepared and ate a lunch he busied
himself in writing a description of his last two days'
experiences. He knew that a messenger would soon start for
Manila, and that a boat would leave that city on the next day for
Hong Kong, so be wanted to get his narrative written in order to
send it to Mr. Van Bunting at once. He felt that he had some very
interesting things to write about, for it wasn't every
correspondent who had seen Aguinaldo, and had been captured by
the rebel army. He knew that most of them were content to remain
in Manila, and send only what they could get from the general in
command, and that this description of the rebels would be
something new, at any rate. So he wrote it very carefully, and
succeeded in getting it ready in time to send, so that it would
be in the office of the <i>Enterprise</i> in less than a month.
As he sat at the table writing, Archie thought of the great
changes which can take place in one's surroundings in a few
weeks. It seemed ages to him since the day when he left home for
the first time, and the experiences he had on his way to New York
seemed now to belong to the far-away period of his boyhood. He
was beginning to feel very old now, because he had been through
so much of late, and he could hardly realise that he was still
eighteen.</p>

<p>He wrote a short note to his mother at home, telling her not
to worry, and assuring her that he was in good health and in no
danger whatever of being captured by the rebels, for Archie felt
quite safe after his experience with the insurgent leaders. He
knew that no one of their prisoners was ever likely to come to a
very bad end. They were far too slipshod in their methods of
holding prisoners. He was sorry not to be able to send a longer
letter home, but he knew that this note was much better than
sending nothing at all, and that it would make his mother very
happy to hear from him at all.</p>

<p>The officers, when Archie returned to the dining-room, if such
it could be called, were engaged in making a very good meal from
the provisions in the cupboard, and they thanked Archie warmly
for leading them to such a good place. "By Jove," said one of the
captains, "we sha'n't want to return to Manila at all, when we
can get such grub as this is outside." But the colonel assured
them all that they needn't expect to find such accommodations
everywhere in the interior of the country. "No doubt we'll all be
living on plantains in a day or two, if we don't catch that fox
of an Aguinaldo. And I'm willin' to bet now that we won't find
him. That feller's too slick for us. He's proved it many a time
before."</p>

<p>"And to think that he was here only this morning! The nerve of
him, to come within twenty-five miles of Manila!" said
another.</p>

<p>"I'll be mighty well satisfied if we can catch a few of his
ragged men," continued the colonel. "That will be something to
have accomplished, anyhow, and more than some other regiments
have done, when they were sent after him. He's the cutest feller
I've heard of in a long while. If it wasn't for Bill Hickson we'd
never hear tell of him, even. He could enter Manila, I believe,
and go out again without us ever knowin' it at all."</p>

<p>Archie was now called on to tell something of the rebel
leader's appearance, and how he had acted while in the town.</p>

<p>"I didn't see very much of him," said Archie, "because he
spent most of the morning with the big-bugs of the town, over in
the administration building. But when he rode into town on his
horse he looked mighty dignified, though he fell some in my
estimation when I saw him standing up. He looked rather dumpy
then. He carried himself with a lot of dignity, a little more
than was becoming, I thought, and he received the cheers of the
people as a matter of course, and hardly took the trouble to
acknowledge them, even by a bow. The officers of the town treated
him with great deference, and I guess there's no doubt but what
the Filipinos look upon him as their leader."</p>

<p>"Oh, there's no doubt of that," said the colonel. "We've
learned that long ago. They stand up for him whenever he needs
them, and they give him all they've got to help carry on the
war."</p>

<p>The meal finished, the officers smoked awhile, and then went
to bed, for they were to be up at four in the morning.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>THE MARCH AFTER THE REBELS&#151; THE FIRST BATTLE&#151;
ARCHIE WOUNDED.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> was awakened at four the next morning by
the sound of the bugle, and, hastily dressing, he hurried
down-stairs to learn the plans of the officers. He found that
they were going to start on the march as soon as the men had
drunk their morning coffee, and Archie immediately made
preparations to go with them. The colonel looked on in amazement.
"Why are you packing your knapsack!" he asked. "You surely don't
think you're going with us? You never in the world can stand this
hard march in the hot sun."</p>

<p>"Oh, yes, I think I can," said Archie. "You see I have walked
a great deal in these last two months, and I don't think I will
have any difficulty in keeping up with the troops. And I do so
want to see some fighting, and to learn whether you capture
Aguinaldo. You don't object to my going, now, do you?"</p>

<p>"No," said the colonel. "If you think you can stand the
marching, and are so anxious to come, why, I suppose you can do
so. But you mustn't blame me if anything should happen to
you."</p>

<p>Archie was ready enough to promise this, for he had no idea
that he would meet with an accident of any kind, and so he
continued to pack his things in the knapsack. The rebels had
emptied everything in a corner, and had evidently intended taking
the knapsack with them when they went; but they left so hurriedly
they couldn't possibly think of everything, and so had left it
behind, much to Archie's relief, for he would have been unable to
secure another one anywhere outside Manila. In a very short time
the regiment gathered in the streets immediately about the
square, and soon the men were marching out of the town, much to
the gratification of the residents, who watched them from their
roofs and windows. Archie fell in at the head of the column, and
found no difficulty in keeping up with the soldiers near him,
though they were marching at a rapid rate.</p>

<p>The town limits were soon passed, and they swung into the
white country road, which presented the same scene of desolation
which had been everywhere visible to Archie on his way from
Manila. The farm-houses were nearly all deserted, and there was
but little attempt at cultivating the soil, which would have been
productive enough had it not been overgrown with tangled vines
and weeds. And as they went farther into the country the
wilderness increased, until at last the road itself was filled
with growing vines, and the men had difficulty in walking. Every
little while some trooper would fall headlong, tripped by some
vine, and the others would laughingly help him up before passing
on. These little incidents did much to enliven the march, which
became monotonous after the first six or seven hours, and Archie
appreciated the mishaps very much until he took a few tumbles
himself. He was usually, much to the amusement of the officers,
marching at the very head of the regiment, and "setting the
pace," he said, so that he was more likely to trip than any of
the others. He was always the first to discover a snake in the
road, too, and kept a great stick with which to kill them. He
seemed to have no fear of them, but walked up to lay them out,
and on one occasion the colonel warned him just in time or he
would certainly have been bitten by a snake whose bite is certain
death. This experience made him more careful, but he still kept
his place at the head of the regiment, and came to be called the
mascot by the men.</p>

<p>At noon the regiment halted at a grassy spot, where there were
trees, and made their dinners from their knapsacks. The officers
warned them to go carefully, or they would find themselves
without provisions before returning to Manila, for they had been
so sure of catching the rebels at the town behind that they had
neglected to bring along many supplies. Now, of course, they
didn't know how long it would take them to find them,&#151; two
days at least, and probably longer.</p>

<p>Archie had stocked his knapsack with some food from the old
headquarters in the town, so that he felt safe for a few days, at
any rate. He ate carefully, however, and was careful not to waste
anything, for he realised that he might be called upon to aid
some of the soldiers before long,</p>

<p>Dinner over, the regiment marched on again, for the officers
now began to think that they had made a mistake in not pursuing
the fleeing rebels the night before. They met several Spaniards,
who told them that Aguinaldo had marched all night long without
stopping, so that he was now at least thirty-six hours ahead of
them, and some of the men began to be discouraged, saying that it
was no use following him up with such a small force. "Other
regiments have tried to find him in this way, and none of them
have succeeded," said one of the privates to Archie. "They keep
us marching for three or four days, and finally they decide to
return to Manila, without having found any trace of the rascal
beyond hearing that he had passed this way or that."</p>

<p>The officers couldn't depend upon what the natives told them
of Aguinaldo's movements, for, almost without exception, they
were in his favour, and always lied to the Americans to try to
throw them off the track. It was due to this that they proceeded
very cautiously, and still, notwithstanding their extreme care,
they found themselves, when night came on this first day, in a
small village where no one had seen anything of the rebel army.
There was no denying the fact that they were off the trail, and
the colonel stormed about in a terrible way when he learned of
their mistake. There was no use going back in the dark to hunt
for a trail they had mistaken in the daylight, so the regiment
remained in the village overnight. They were a lot of very
discouraged men, and the officers were enraged at the mistake,
for which there was no one but themselves to blame.</p>

<p>Early in the morning they retraced their way, and started off
in an opposite direction to the one taken yesterday. It seemed
that this must certainly be the path taken by the rebels, but the
regiment marched until nearly noon without seeing any signs of
them. Then, when they had halted for dinner, the colonel decided
to let the men rest while two companies were sent ahead to
reconnoitre, and report as to whether there were any signs of men
having passed this way. He was beginning to think that the whole
affair would be a wild-goose chase, and he decided that, if these
companies found nothing, the whole regiment would return to
Manila forthwith, probably to be the laughing-stock of the army
there.</p>

<p>The remaining companies had nothing to do now but lay about on
the soft grass, and rest. They were encamped in a stretch of
grassy loam in the midst of what appeared to be a dense forest,
and all about were evidences of the great fertility of the soil.
The vegetation was so dense that one could scarcely see through
it, and the glade was cool and pleasant, though overhead the sun
was shining as warm as ever. It was a lovely oasis in a
wilderness of undergrowth, and the men enjoyed it to the
utmost.</p>

<p>About three in the afternoon the sound of firing was heard in
the distance. First there was one shot, then another, and several
more at rapid intervals. Archie was one of the first to jump to
his feet, but in a second every man was at attention, with his
musket in his hands. The colonel listened closely for two
minutes, and then the firing began once more, and this time it
seemed nearer. He hesitated no longer, but gave the order to
march ahead. "They've evidently found the cowards at last," he
muttered to Archie. "You stay here, where you will be out of
danger." But Archie was determined to do nothing of the kind. He
felt his pistol safe in his hip pocket, and when the companies
swung out of the forest and into the road he was marching in his
old place at the head of the column. Again the colonel ordered
him to remain behind, but Archie insisted that he would not,
"Then go to the rear," cried the colonel, angry for the moment.
"I will not have you shot down by a rebel sharpshooter the very
first one." And Archie knew that he would have to obey.</p>

<p>The column went ahead at double-quick, and finally broke into
a steady run. Every minute the noise of rifle-shots sounded
nearer, and it seemed probable that the two companies were
retreating before the insurgents. The men were wild to reach the
scene of the firing, and the officers had all they could do to
keep them in line. All the time they were running hardly a sound
was heard save the noise of their boots upon the soft earth, and
they all knew that they could probably take the insurgents by
surprise.</p>

<p>Archie's heart was beating very hard as they drew nearer and
nearer to the scene. He felt that he was about to see his first
fighting, and he determined not to miss any part of it. So he
gradually ran ahead until finally he was almost at the head of
the column again.</p>

<p>The troops made so little noise that the two companies,
retreating slowly, were upon them without knowing it. But when
they discovered that their comrades had come to their aid they
set up such a cheering as Archie had never heard before, and
immediately faced about and went ahead again. The rebels were
about a quarter of a mile behind, marching rapidly forward, and
firing as they came. Some of them were running among the trees at
the roadside, firing incessantly, and hitting some poor soldier
almost every time they fired. They were the famous sharpshooters,
of whom the soldiers in Manila had heard so much.</p>

<p>When the rebels observed that the Americans had received
reinforcements, they halted suddenly, and before they could turn
about the Yankees were almost upon them, firing volleys into them
as they came. Many of the insurgents fell in the roadway, and the
others fled wildly in every direction. Most of them entered the
dense forest, where the Americans captured nearly a hundred of
them after the others had surrendered, and some were such good
runners that they escaped down the roadway. The whole rebel army
presented a scene of wild confusion. Some of the men knelt and
begged for mercy, and some cried out in a horrible way as they
saw the dreaded Yankees advancing. But it was all over very soon.
The prisoners were placed in line, and marched back along the
road, and the dead, of which there were about fifty, were soon
buried. Aguinaldo had escaped in the forest, and no one suggested
that he should be followed. All the officers knew that such a
course would be useless, and most of them were very well
satisfied with what had already been accomplished. The prisoners
numbered more than six hundred, and the dead a hundred more,
while there were about seventy-five wounded. So if what Bill
Hickson said were true, not more than two hundred insurgents
could have escaped.</p>

<p>Among the seriously wounded was a man whom Archie recognised
immediately as one of his captors of two days previous, and while
he was looking over the bodies for the other men, he came
suddenly to brave Bill Hickson, lying face downward in the road.
He almost screamed with fear that he might be dead, and when one
of the men hurried up to him he told him who the man was. The
colonel was soon on hand, and it was found that the brave spy was
not seriously wounded, and would recover soon under proper
treatment.</p>

<p>When the insurgent wounded were cared for, it was discovered
that the two companies sent out to reconnoitre had also suffered
losses, and when they marched back along the line of their
retreat no less than five dead and about twenty wounded were
found. This sad news threw a gloom over the entire regiment, and
when they started back to Manila they marched in quiet, and
without rejoicing over their victory, which had proved so
costly.</p>

<p>Poor Archie, when they started to march, found, to his great
disgust, that he was so weak he couldn't walk far, and he thought
this must be due to the fright he had received. He was very angry
with himself, until the surgeon examined him and announced that
he had a bullet in his arm. And then Archie confessed that he had
felt a stinging sensation at one time during the firing, but had
thought nothing of it. Now his disgust was turned to great
delight, for the idea of being wounded in battle was glorious to
his mind. "I'll bet I wounded more than one insurgent," he told
the surgeon, "for I discharged every barrel of my revolver." The
wound was not at all serious, but he was told to be quiet for a
few days. He was given one of the rebel horses to ride back to
Manila, and he felt like a real hero in many ways.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>RETURN TO MANILA&#151; IN THE HOSPITAL&#151; CONGRATULATED BY
ALL&#151; WRITING TO THE PAPER OF HIS EXPERIENCES.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>I<small>T</small> took the regiment much longer to march back
to Manila than it had taken it to follow the rebels, for the
wounded of both sides had to be carried, and the arrangements for
carrying them were very imperfect. Fortunately, most of them were
able to ride horses, and the officers were successful in securing
wagons enough to carry most of the others, but there were about a
dozen who could neither ride horses or lie in wagons, but had to
be carried on stretchers all the time. Of course this was slow
work, and the officers were glad enough when they reached the
town with the three-story building. Here they found things very
much as they had left them, two days before, save that the
inhabitants were more abject than ever to them, now that they had
captured most of the rebel force.</p>

<p>It wasn't an easy matter to find quarters for so many men, and
some of the Filipinos were obliged to camp in the public square
overnight, while the wounded and ill were given beds in the
various houses of the town. The inhabitants were required to
furnish food, too, for the Americans were entirely out of almost
everything. They still had some hardtack, but of meat and coffee
there was none. The people of the town pretended to be very glad
to serve their "masters," but every one knew that the natives
would be only too glad of a chance to cut the throat of every
Yankee soldier.</p>

<p>The officers again occupied the old building which they had
used during their former stay, and Archie was invited to share it
with them, for they expected to rest in this town over the next
day, before proceeding to Manila. The men's uniforms and
equipment generally needed cleaning and repairing, and the
colonel was anxious for them all to appear as well as possible
when they returned victorious to the island capital. So the next
day was spent in cleaning and washing, and by evening most of the
soldiers looked as if they had never left Manila. Then came a
surprise for every one, for into the town marched a regiment of
militia from Manila, sent out to see whether the first regiment
needed reinforcements. They set up a great cheer when they
learned that most of the rebel force had been captured, and the
night was spent in a celebration of the great event. A band was
scraped up in the town, the great hall of the administration
building was thrown open, and there was dancing and music until
an early hour in the morning. All the belles of the town turned
out to welcome the soldiers, hypocrites that they were, and they
danced with their enemies as readily as they would waltz with
their own dear Filipinos. Every one seemed to have a good time,
and the soldiers went to bed just in time to get three hours'
sleep before starting for Manila in the morning.</p>

<p>It was a great sight to see the two regiments, with the
prisoners, march out of the town at five the next morning. They
made a fine appearance in their well-brushed uniforms and bright
equipment. The townsfolk watched them out of sight, and then most
likely cursed them for a lot of vagabonds, but the soldiers
didn't mind their curses. They were all very happy at the
prospect of getting back to Manila again, and no one was more
glad than Archie. He had somewhat recovered from his wound now,
and rode in his old place at the head of the column, where he was
the centre of interest to every one. The men congratulated him on
having proved such an excellent mascot, and he laughed and talked
with them until he was tired.</p>

<p>The outskirts of the city were reached about five in the
afternoon, and as they marched through the streets to
headquarters a band of music preceded them, playing popular and
patriotic airs. The sidewalks were crowded with people, and
Archie felt happier than for a long time, because every one was
curious to know who that boy could be riding at the head of the
troops, alongside the colonel. He was known to most of the other
troops in Manila, and received many a cheer from them as they saw
his arm in a sling, and when they finally reached the general's
headquarters, he was honoured with a handshake and the
congratulations of the commander himself. This was the climax to
a very happy day, and Archie went to bed in his little old bunk
feeling that he was a very lucky boy for having been wounded in
battle.</p>

<p>Of course the next few days were very busy ones for all the
men, and for Archie, too. He was obliged to tell, over and over,
the story of his experiences, and how he had managed to escape
from the rebels when they had him. This story always made the men
roar with laughter, and increased their already strong contempt
for the Filipino army. He told, too, about brave Bill Hickson,
and that gentleman's cot was always the centre of an admiring
throng of visitors, who shook his hand and told him how proud
they were of what he had accomplished. And all the poor hero
could do was to smile feebly, for he was still too ill to talk
much.</p>

<p>Archie felt that he had almost volumes to write about his
experiences in battle, and he did send a very long account of
this encounter to Mr. Van Bunting. It was written in his boyish
way, but one of the officers who read it said that it was the
best thing of its kind he had ever read, so he wasn't at all
backward about mailing it. All the other newspaper correspondents
in Manila were wishing they had gone with the regiment and
witnessed the battle, but they had stayed in Manila, thinking
that this would be like the other expeditions of the kind, a mere
wild-goose chase, which wouldn't amount to anything at all. They
were all very anxious to get the details of the affair from
Archie, but he was shrewd enough not to tell them anything of
value. And the other correspondent of the <i>Enterprise</i> in
Manila insisted that Archie should send a cable message
describing the affair, as well as a written account, and this he
finally consented to do. The correspondent added a long account
of Archie's personal bravery, how he had been wounded, and how he
had ridden back to Manila at the head of the column. Archie would
have been very much embarrassed had he known this, for he was
still modest, but the first thing he knew of it was from a letter
he received a few weeks later from Mr. Van Bunting,
congratulating him on what he had accomplished, and telling him
that he had long since more than earned his six hundred dollars.
But for weeks he was ignorant that any one in New York knew of
his being wounded.</p>

<p>The days now began to pass as before in the camp at Manila.
The wound in Archie's arm was healing slowly, but he was hardly
able to use that member for a month or six weeks. Bill Hickson
did not fare so well. He lay for weeks on his cot in the hospital
building, and was hardly strong enough, for awhile, to talk. He
was improving slowly, but the doctors said it might be two months
before he was able to walk about and take his former active part
in the campaign against the insurgents. This enforced quiet was
very trying to the brave man, and Archie spent many hours reading
to him, and telling of various things he had learned at school
and elsewhere. This constant companionship served to strengthen
their already close friendship, and it was soon known among all
the troops that Bill Hickson and the boy reporter were
inseparable. And every one who knew the story of their
experiences looked upon them as the two chief heroes of the war
so far, because as yet there had been few feats of bravery in the
desultory campaigning against the rebels. General Funston had
swum the river, of course, but many held that not even that feat
compared with the bravery of Bill Hickson in serving as a spy
under Aguinaldo's very nose. The more people heard about his
experiences, the more remarkable they thought him to be, until at
last he was by far the most popular man in the army at
Manila.</p>

<p>Archie sent many interesting letters to Mr. Van Bunting,
telling of the adventures of the brave spy, and one day he
received a cablegram telling him to send at least one of these
letters by every steamer, for people had become interested in
hearing about him. So for some time Archie wrote about Bill
Hickson rather than about himself, and was glad of the
opportunity to do so. He knew that if a letter were published
every week or two in the <i>Enterprise</i> Bill Hickson would
soon be famous, and this was something he was very anxious to
accomplish. He felt that no fame could be too great for such a
man, and no praise too strong.</p>

<p>The commanding general decided, about this time, to begin a
more active campaign against the insurgents. It was now the month
of December, and with the beginning of the new year he wanted to
inaugurate a series of attacks against them in every part of the
islands. He was beginning to feel the criticisms of the papers at
home, and of the newspaper men at Manila, and he felt that
something must be done immediately to retrieve his lost
reputation for active fighting. Every one, as soon as this
announcement was made, wondered what plan would be pursued to
worry the rebels into submission, for it was now generally agreed
that the Americans would hardly be able to capture the whole
rebel army. It was too evident that they were familiar with
numerous hiding-places in the islands. The only thing to do
seemed to be to prevent their getting supplies, and to drive them
from one point to another, hoping that they would become
discouraged in the end and submit to the inevitable.</p>

<p>So far the campaigning had consisted chiefly of such
expeditions as that accompanied by Archie, and most of these had
returned to Manila without having even seen a rebel soldier. It
was not surprising, then, that the general was becoming
discouraged, and that he was anxious to try a new policy.</p>

<p>No one knew what the new plan would be until one day several
cruisers and gunboats made their appearance in the harbour. There
had been no war-ships at Manila for several weeks, and every one
was surprised that so many should arrive at once. There were
rumours of a German onslaught, and also gossip saying that Japan
had decided to interfere, but all these were set at naught when
the general announced that the war-ships were to be sent around
the islands to bombard the rebel villages, and to drive the rebel
troops to the interior of the islands, where it would be hard for
them to receive supplies.</p>

<p>This news made Archie very happy, and a plan at once occurred
to him. Why shouldn't he and Bill Hickson be allowed aboard a
cruiser? It would be the best thing possible for their health,
and he set about getting the necessary permit from the
admiral.</p>

<p>Bill Hickson was able to be about now, and he was overjoyed
when Archie said he thought they could arrange to go. "I'd like
nothing better than a voyage in the good salt air. I believe it
will do me more good than a month in the hospital," he said.
Archie secured a very strong letter from the general, and one day
he stepped aboard the flag-ship in the harbour. He had no
difficulty in seeing the admiral, and found him to be a very
pleasant man to talk with. He read the letter carefully, and then
shook Archie cordially by the hand. "Yes," he said, "I've heard
of you, and of your friend, too. Every one in Hong Kong knows how
you two together bearded old Aguinaldo in his den, and robbed him
of most of his troops. It did me good to read about it in the New
York papers, too, and to know that you are both getting your just
measure of credit for the achievement."</p>

<p>Archie blushed, and assured the admiral that he didn't do very
much, that it was all owing to Bill Hickson's bravery. "Oh, yes,
I know," laughed the admiral, "you lay it to him, and he will
most likely give you the credit. I've seen your kind before. But
I like you all the better for your modesty, lad. Of course you
and your friend can have a berth aboard ship, and aboard the
flag-ship, too, where I can see you both very often. You can come
aboard whenever you wish, and stay as long as you like."</p>

<p>Archie could hardly thank the good officer for his kindness,
and hurried back to Manila. He found Bill Hickson waiting for him
at the wharf, and they rejoiced together over the good news.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>AROUND THE ISLAND ON A WAR-SHIP&#151; BOMBARDING A FILIPINO
TOWN.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>I<small>T</small> was early one morning that Bill Hickson and
Archie went aboard the flag-ship, but all hands were on duty
there, and the gallant cruiser was raising anchor preparatory to
sailing off on her errand of pacification by means of shell and
shot, The two newcomers were assigned a pleasant stateroom where
they would not be far from the cabin of the admiral himself, and
where they could step out of their door upon the quarter-deck,
and get all the fresh air they needed. It was a very comfortable
place, with two soft bunks, and every convenience usually found
aboard the fastest ocean liner. When the fellows saw it first,
they could hardly believe it could all be for them, but the
officer assured them that it had been given them by the admiral's
own orders. So there was nothing for them to do but accept the
kindness, and to settle themselves down to having just as
pleasant a time as possible during the coming weeks at sea.</p>

<p>It was generally understood that the cruiser was to make a
complete tour around the island of Luzon, investigating every
suspicious port, and shelling towns when such action proved
necessary to convince the rebels of Uncle Sam's superiority. The
voyage was expected to occupy nearly a month, for there was no
reason for them to hurry, and the admiral said he would like to
take things easy.</p>

<p>Neither Hickson nor Archie had ever before been aboard a
war-ship, and they both found much to interest them during the
first few days at sea. Every movement of the crew, every action
of the ship, was of great moment to them, and they found no lack
of entertainment in examining the great guns and the equipment of
the vessel in the way of firearms and ammunition. Archie became
much interested, too, in the science of navigation, and spent
much time with the captain on the bridge, or with the pilot in
the lookout, learning as much as possible about how the movement
of the vessel is controlled. Before long he had mastered the
rudiments of the art, and the captain told him that he might some
day make an excellent navigator if he continued to take as much
interest in the charts as he did now. And Archie told him that he
was determined to master as much as possible of the business
during the voyage. Before he returned to Manila he knew more
about it all than even the captain would believe he knew, and the
knowledge was very valuable to him in days to come.</p>

<p>The two visitors aboard took their meals at the officers'
table, and they kept the whole party interested for many days,
with their stories of the war in Luzon and of their very unusual
adventures both at home and in the Philippines. For it turned out
that Bill Hickson had visited almost every part of the United
States, and had lived in all sorts of places. He had been a
cowboy in Texas, and a miner in the Klondike, and he had also
been a policeman in Chicago. He knew more stories to tell than
any other man at the table could think of, and he told them in a
way that was wholly charming.</p>

<p>Archie found that every one was very much interested in
hearing about his leaving home, and how he had happened to become
a reporter on the New York <i>Enterprise.</i> No one seemed to
tire of listening to his stories of his adventures in the great
American city, and many of the officers told him that they would
give a good deal to have had his experiences in life.</p>

<p>And so it wasn't long until the two chums were friendly with
all on board, and after awhile things went along as though Archie
and Bill had never lived elsewhere than aboard ship. There was
nothing exciting for nearly a week. The cruiser steamed slowly
along the shore, sometimes stopping entirely, while the officers
levelled their glasses upon the beach, to see whether there were
any signs of the rebels being there. Sometimes, if things looked
suspicious, parties were sent ashore to reconnoitre, but they
seldom returned with news that would encourage the admiral to
investigate further. The days passed quietly, and the two
convalescents enjoyed themselves well enough. They were both much
improved already by the trip, and felt almost as well as ever.
They each had a steamer chair, and hour after hour they sat upon
the deck and watched the ever-changing panorama of the tropical
shore. Now the beach would descend slowly to the sea, and there
would be numerous palm-trees and luxuriant vegetation growing
close within view, but again there would be steep clips, which
looked menacing to a ship in the dark. But it was all beautiful,
cliffs or sandy beach, and Archie thought he had seldom passed
such a wholly delightful week.</p>

<p>But, of course, it all became monotonous in time, and every
one, even the officers, longed for a change. The reconnoitring
parties were sent out more frequently now, and every one hoped
each time that they would return with news of the rebels, but
they were always disappointed. The admiral now determined to
steam ahead more rapidly, so that they might get around the
western end of the island. It was evident that there were no
insurgents along this shore, and as there were no villages of any
consequence, either, he was anxious to reach the southern shore,
where it was known the rebels had recently been gathering. The
towns, too, were very numerous here on account of the excellent
fishing, and it was hoped that some good work might be
accomplished for Uncle Sam before another week passed.</p>

<p>Subsequent events soon proved the wisdom of the admiral's
plan. The cruiser, it seemed, had no sooner rounded the western
point than signs were visible of rebel activity ashore. It was
one Tuesday morning that a village was sighted, built around a
narrow inlet of the sea. When the binoculars were levelled upon
this harmless-appearing settlement, it was soon perceived by the
admiral that there were soldiers in the streets with the rebel
uniform, and that the insurgent flag was flying from the
administration building in the village square. All this was just
what had been expected, and there was great rejoicing aboard the
cruiser. Every man, without exception, almost, was anxious to be
one of a party to be sent ashore to attack the rebels, but the
admiral hesitated before sending any one at all. "It is
impossible to tell from here," he said, "how numerous the rebels
are, and it is quite possible that they may have a large force of
men in the village. If the appearance of the streets is any sign,
there must be quite a force of them in the place." But every one
laughed at the very idea of there being a rebel company of any
consequence in the place, and the admiral was finally prevailed
upon to send a boat ashore, armed with thirty men.</p>

<p>"Remember," he said, "if you come to grief, that I advised
against this venture. Don't be too bold, or risk too much, for
though I can shell the place, that won't help you any, once you
are captives."</p>

<p>But every one was anxious to be one of the party in the boat,
and the officers had a hard time making selections. "You can go,
Archie, because you're a correspondent," said the captain, "and
you can go, Mr. Hickson, because you're a brave man," and then he
continued to pick out men until the required number was secured.
Of course there were many disappointed ones left aboard the
cruiser, but the captain assured them that they might have their
chance yet.</p>

<p>The boat was soon off, and it was noticed that there was great
excitement ashore as soon as the departure was observed. All the
inhabitants, it seemed, were gathered upon the beach, anxiously
awaiting developments. They seemed to be absolutely ignorant of
what the presence of a war-ship in their harbour meant, and were
apparently not at all anxious as to the outcome of this visit.
One of the men told Archie that they had probably never seen a
war-ship before, and that they wouldn't know a cannon at all.
"But we'll let them know the meaning of our presence," declared
the sailor, "if they shoot at us." The boat drew every minute
nearer the shore, and it was soon perceived that there were many
soldiers among the crowd on the beach. Every one thought it
remarkable that they should be so quiet, but not one of the
natives made a move until the boat was within two hundred feet of
the shore. Then one of the rebel soldiers suddenly raised his
rifle and fired at the boat. The lieutenant in command stood up
in the boat and gave the order to return the fire, and a perfect
volley of shot was poured into the crowd, which immediately
scattered in every direction. The rebel soldiers, however, seemed
determined to stand their ground, and they were so numerous, and
kept up such a steady fire, that it was deemed best to return to
the cruiser, which was signalling for this action on their part.
So the boat was turned about as quickly as possible, and the
sailors pulled for the cruiser, amid the derisive yells of the
Filipinos, who had gathered again upon the beach. The rebel
soldiers continued their firing, but were such poor marksmen that
but three of their shots took effect. One sailor was shot in the
arm, another in the side, and still another was shot in the leg
as he stood up to take aim at the rebels. None of these wounds,
it was afterward discovered, were at all serious, though they
were enough to arouse the anger of the entire crew.</p>

<p>When the boat reached the cruiser again, preparations were at
once begun for bombarding the town. The natives still stood upon
the shore, and it could be seen that they were immensely proud of
their present victory. It was amusing, then, to see the change in
their behaviour when the great six-inch gun of the cruiser
belched forth a cloud of fire and smoke, and a burning shell
landed in the village street, apparently just in front of the
administration building, which was soon afire. The poor natives
fled in every direction, and the rebel soldiers followed their
noble example, and took to their heels, too. Another shell
followed the first, and soon several buildings were burning in
the village. The admiral watched developments carefully, and
finally he decided that they would be glad to surrender the
village if another boat was sent ashore.</p>

<p>Accordingly, the same boat started out again, with three new
men in place of those who were wounded, and for sake of effect
the cruiser steamed farther in toward shore. This time there were
no crowds upon the beach, and the thirty men marched to the
burning buildings, where the natives fell before them, begging
for mercy. The soldiers were nowhere to be seen, so the crew took
possession of the town and slept there, in company with thirty
more sailors, that night.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>CONTINUING THE CRUISE&#151; ANOTHER VILLAGE CAPTURED&#151;
THE ADMIRAL ARCHIE'S FRIEND&#151; A GREAT BATTLE AND AN
UNEXPECTED VICTORY&#151; LONGING TO BE HOME AGAIN.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>I<small>T</small> may go without saying that the sixty men
from the cruiser had a very interesting time before the night was
over. The entire village was in a constant uproar; the poor
natives, horrified by what they had witnessed during the
afternoon, ran hither and thither, some even leaving the place
entirely and starting for the interior with their goods and
families. The rebel soldiers had evidently gone for good, and a
small party sent out to look for traces of them returned without
learning anything of their whereabouts. The bombardment of the
village had certainly had great effect.</p>

<p>It was only a tiny place, with possibly not more than a
thousand inhabitants, but there were evidences that it had been
formerly a flourishing town. There were fine residences in some
of the streets, which were now quite deserted, and there were
some very respectable business houses in the village square. All
these had once been occupied by Spanish traders, who had been
driven away when the rebels came, and if the insurgents had never
come the town might now have been a booming place. But the rebels
were lazy, as usual, and did no work, so that now the fine
residences were vacant, and the business blocks stood empty.</p>

<p>Some of the sailors looked about for a casino, where they
might be able to find entertainment of some kind for the evening,
but every place of amusement was closed, and the streets were
deserted. Since the occurrences of the afternoon all the people
had locked themselves into their houses, to await the departure
of the Americans. But, even though the casino was closed, the
Yankees managed to have a good time. They sang and danced and
played the banjo until an early hour in the morning, when they
finally went to sleep, leaving only two for a night watch, for
there was no danger that the insurgents would return, after their
engagement, in which they had lost six men.</p>

<p>When morning came, some officers landed from the cruiser, and
all the villagers were summoned to the public square and made to
swear allegiance to the American flag.</p>

<p>In the afternoon the cruiser steamed away again on her errand
of forcible pacification, and more days of quiet watchfulness
followed, as the vessel steamed along near the shore. There were
many small villages along this coast, but all of them seemed
peaceful and free of insurgents. The captain even said that some
of the people in them probably didn't know that there had ever
been a war between Spain and the United States. Archie, who had
enjoyed his experiences during the occupation of the last
village, now began to be impatient again at the long quiet. The
day when the cruiser bombarded the administration building would
be a memorable one to him, and the succeeding events were just
such as he had been longing to see for months. And then to think
that he had taken part in the occupation of the village. It was
all very wonderful, but very real, too, and for several days he
took much pains in writing an article for the paper describing
the events leading up to and including the capture of the
village. And in the narration Bill Hickson was an important
character. He had again proved himself a hero of the first water
by insisting that the boat proceed when the first attempt was
made to land, and by being the first man ashore when a landing
was finally effected. He was a leader in everything that was
done. He marched at the head of the squad when they marched
through the streets of the village, calling all the people to
assemble in the public square, and be stood beside the officers
with his rifle handy when the ceremony of swearing allegiance was
gone through with. When it was all over he was called to the
admiral's cabin aboard the cruiser and congratulated for being so
brave and so ever-ready to lead in any dangerous undertaking; but
Bill Hickson simply blushed and said he hadn't done "anything
worth mentionin'." The men aboard thought differently, however,
and he was even a greater hero after this adventure than he had
been before.</p>

<p>Archie, too, received the congratulations of the admiral. "You
have been a brave boy," he said, "and deserve much credit for
showing so little fear in the face of danger. I hope you will be
rewarded upon your return to New York for your bravery while with
us here." Archie, too, blushed, and said that he had no doubt
that Mr. Van Bunting would treat him fairly when he reached New
York again.</p>

<p>And Archie was now beginning to wish that the time for his
return would soon arrive. It was the month of February, and he
had been away from America an age, it seemed to him. He felt that
he had seen most of what there was to be seen in the Philippines,
and when this naval tour was over with, the active campaigning
would no doubt cease until the rainy season was over. So for many
reasons the boy wished he might be able to start home soon, and
as the days passed he became more and more anxious to receive
word from the <i>Enterprise</i> that he might return. He had sent
many interesting articles to the paper, and would be able to
write many more just as interesting upon his return, so he felt
that the editors wouldn't object to his early return.</p>

<p>For an entire week the cruiser found no signs of the rebels,
but at last there came a day when they were steaming slowly along
near the shore, and saw, back among the trees, some specks of
white resembling tents in shape. Immediately the whole vessel was
excited, and there was much gossip and wonder as to what the
tents could be doing there. The admiral at last decided to send
two boats ashore to investigate, and gave strict orders that the
men should be cautious and not allow themselves to be ambushed or
caught in a trap of any kind. Of course Archie and Bill Hickson
were among the crew of the first boat, and each was as fully
armed as any of the sailors.</p>

<p>The two boats pulled quietly for the shore, keeping close
together, and they were beached at the same time. The natives, or
whoever occupied the tents, had evidently not yet discovered
them, and the men halted upon landing to decide what they had
better do. The tents could be plainly seen through the trees, and
there was smoke rising from a fire somewhere in the
neighbourhood, but there were no noises which could be heard so
far away. It was decided to march up to the tents and find out
who occupied them, and the column kept close together as they
advanced, for things were so quiet it was feared the rebels, if
such they were, might be in ambush.</p>

<p>The men got within a hundred feet of the camp, when they heard
several terrible yells in succession, and several natives ran out
from behind one of the tents, screaming at the top of their
voices, and not pausing to look around at all. The officer in
command of the company of men was much disturbed by this
demonstration, and, without pausing a moment, gave the order to
fire. Five of the natives fell immediately, but the other six
kept running, and soon disappeared among the trees on the other
side of the clearing. The men stood still awaiting developments,
but though they waited several minutes nothing more was heard,
and it was decided that the camp must be deserted. So they
marched up to the tents, and then the officer almost fainted, for
inside the first one he entered was standing an American flag,
and scattered about were the accoutrements and camp equipment
belonging to an American force in the field. There was now no
doubt but what the tents belonged to an American regiment, and
that the fleeing natives were either servants or prisoners, more
likely the former. The men were all much excited at this
discovery, and the officer ordered the natives to be looked after
at once. It was found, however, that all but one were dead, and
he expired within an hour, so that the men felt that they had
killed five innocent men, a thought which made some of them weep,
hardened though they were.</p>

<p>It was now decided to await the return of the regiment, which
was out, the officer thought, on a practice march, and could not
possibly be gone much longer. So the men lounged about on the
grass for more than an hour. Then, about three in the afternoon,
a rifle-shot was heard in the near distance, and instantly every
man was on his feet, rifle in hand. "They must have found the
rebels," said the officer; "so be ready, men, to help them out,
should they be retreating to the camp." This supposition turned
out to be correct, for a few minutes later some members of the
regiment came running into camp and announced that a large body
of insurgents was after them. Later the remainder of the regiment
followed, and the joy of the colonel when he found these
unexpected reinforcements was very great. "There must be more
than fifteen hundred rebels," he said, "and they will all be on
us here in less than an hour, for their sharpshooters have been
following us up for a long time. I was beginning to think that we
would be unable to fight them, for they seem to be well equipped,
but with the cruiser to kelp us we can whip them at once. The
thing to do will be to let them come on without suspecting that
we have received any help, and then, when the fight is getting a
little warm, or they are about to charge us, let the cruiser fire
a few shells into the air, and it will all be over. Most of them
are country troops, and have never seen a cruiser, so they will
be too much frightened to speak when they hear the thunder of the
guns, and see the shells explode in the air. And then they have a
village about three miles back from the coast, and if you can
send a few shells into that village it will simply ruin the
insurgents.</p>

<p>"I had no idea of meeting these rebels," the colonel then
explained. "I took the men out for a little practice marching,
but before we had gone far we encountered these sharpshooters,
and later discovered that they had all these men about a mile and
a half away. Then we decided to return to camp as quickly as
possible, to get more ammunition, and we felt, too, that we would
stand a better chance of resisting them here among the trees. But
now we will soon finish them up, if you will just send a man out
to tell the admiral of our plans." Archie immediately volunteered
to carry the information, and as he could be spared better than
one of the soldiers or sailors, he was permitted to undertake the
mission. So he started out, and was on board the cruiser in a
very short time. The admiral was dumbfounded to learn that
American troops were encamped on the shore, and in imminent
danger of being defeated, and he at once set about giving orders
with great vigour. "We will show them how they can attack a small
regiment of Americans with their ridiculous army," he declared,
and at once gave orders for the vessel to move inshore. "But
wait," he cried, a minute later, "I see by my chart that there is
a deep stream about a mile up the coast, and if I am not mistaken
we can enter this stream and perhaps get very near the advancing
rebels. We may even be able to destroy them before they have a
chance at our soldiers," and the old admiral almost danced in the
enthusiasm of this idea. So the cruiser steamed rapidly up the
coast, and was soon at the mouth of the stream, which seemed to
be the estuary of some great river. Then she steamed up-stream,
and, sure enough, the admiral soon discovered the rebels marching
rapidly along the road, about half a mile away. They had
evidently not perceived the cruiser, on account of the high reeds
growing along the banks, and the admiral gave orders to begin
firing.</p>

<p>The first shell rose high in the air and exploded with a
deafening thunder, and when the smoke cleared away it was seen
that the insurgents were almost paralysed with fright, and had
just discovered the cruiser in the river. But this first shell
had not hurt any one, and another was immediately ignited. This
one exploded over the very heads of the troops, and many of them
must have been killed. Those who were not either killed or
wounded turned about and began to run, and their leaders were
powerless to make them stand their ground. One shell followed
another from the cruiser, and hundreds must have been killed
outright among the insurgents. Finally they were all running, and
it was soon perceived that the Americans had advanced, and were
now pursuing them with great energy. So the cruiser could fire no
more shells, and the admiral ordered her about and back to the
anchorage onshore.</p>

<p>It would take many pages to describe in detail the events of
the remainder of that afternoon, as Archie witnessed them from
the deck of the cruiser, and learned of them later from Bill
Hickson. The insurgents were nearly all killed or taken
prisoners, and it was found that they numbered nearly two
thousand. So it was a great achievement to have vanquished them
all. The affair turned out to have been the greatest victory of
the war, so far.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XXII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>RETURN TO HEADQUARTERS&#151; A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR, WITH
PERMISSION TO RETURN TO NEW YORK&#151; BILL HICKSON GOES,
TOO.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>RCHIE</small> left the cruiser when she was once more
at anchor, and, going ashore to the American camp, he found
things in a very lively condition at the close of the afternoon's
battle. Every man was very jubilant over the retreat which had
been turned into a great victory, and Archie was congratulated on
having been the lucky man to carry the news of the coming of the
rebels to the admiral. The officers were all in the best of
humour, except the colonel, who felt somewhat sad on account of
the death of his five faithful servants, as the men first shot
turned out to have been.</p>

<p>"There were never any better men than they," said the colonel,
"and I would almost as soon my own men had been shot." But he
bore the ship's company no malice for their mistake, which he
said was a very natural one.</p>

<p>After the capture of so many rebels, and the killing of so
many others, it was felt that the rebel army in this part of the
island was pretty well disbanded, and that it would soon
disappear altogether. It had been known, from the very beginning
of hostilities, that there was a large force of insurgents
somewhere in this neighbourhood, but not until to-day had the
colonel seen anything of them. But it was impossible, all the
officers said, that there could be any more troops about, for
these two thousand represented a very considerable portion of the
entire rebel army. And now that these were done away with, the
colonel said there was no need of his remaining any longer in
this place, and that he would like to get back to Manila as
quickly as possible. Hearing this, the admiral said he thought
room could be made for all the men aboard the cruiser, and that
they could all return at once if they so desired. This generous
offer was at once accepted by the colonel, and the next day the
work of embarkation began. By night every man was aboard, and a
place of some kind had been found where he could sleep, but of
course, every portion of the vessel was much overcrowded. This
only made things all the more lively, however, and Archie, as
well as all the others, thought he had never enjoyed any trip so
much as these three days spent in getting back again to Manila.
There was always fun of some sort going on. If some one wasn't
dancing, there was sure to be singing. And then there were
several ingenious games which were invented for the occasion, so
that time never passed slowly. Indeed, there were many who were
sorry when the capital was finally reached, but Archie was not
among these, for he expected some mail to be awaiting him from
the editor of the <i>Enterprise.</i> And he hoped that in this
mail he would find permission to return to New York.</p>

<p>All officials were very much surprised when the cruiser
anchored off Cavit&eacute;, but the admiral explained that he
thought it no use to spend more time in touring the island, even
though the month which it was supposed to take him had not yet
expired. He said that he felt sure there were no more insurgent
villages along the coast, because it was perfectly evident, from
all signs, that the rebels were all in one division. And this
division, of course, had been vanquished four days
previously.</p>

<p>When the report of the engagement went the rounds there was
much enthusiasm, for it was felt that at last some progress was
being made against the insurgents. The admiral was a popular hero
at once, and Archie, with Bill Hickson, was again the centre of
admiration and interest in the old palace, where they both
returned.</p>

<p>Archie was surprised to find no mail awaiting him, but he was
not discouraged, and wrote two long articles to send to the
<i>Enterprise.</i> One described the great engagement, and the
other was descriptive of the daily life aboard ship upon the
return to Manila. These articles, with the others he had written
during the latter part of the cruise, were sent off at once, and
Archie felt confident that they would be read with great interest
by Mr. Van Bunting. And now the days passed very pleasantly in
Manila. He had a great deal to tell his comrades in the old
regiment, for none of them had been out of Manila since he left,
and were very anxious indeed to hear about the events of the
round-the-island tour. And Archie was very willing to tell them
all he could, for he had been much interested in the entire
voyage, and never tired of talking about it.</p>

<p>Still, while things were very pleasant, and he was having a
good time in many ways, Archie was very anxious to see New York
again and to get back to America. And then, what was even more
important with him, was the knowledge that he would certainly be
allowed to visit his mother upon his return. Therefore he was a
very happy boy when he one day received two letters from the
<i>Enterprise</i> office, one from Mr. Van Bunting, and one from
Mr. Jennings. They were both very encouraging and very friendly.
Mr. Van Bunting wrote to tell Archie how delighted they all had
been with his success in finding interesting things to write
about, and he enclosed a check for three hundred dollars, which
he thought "would come in handy now." The letter from Mr.
Jennings was of later date, and stated that he had prevailed upon
Mr. Van Bunting to allow Archie to return to New York, to work
upon the <i>Evening Enterprise.</i> It was a very delightful
letter, Archie thought. "We believe," wrote Mr. Jennings, "that
we can use you here to very good advantage, and we will be glad
to have you return as soon as possible. I enclose two hundred
dollars to pay your expenses home again."</p>

<p>So now it was all settled that Archie was to leave Manila for
New York, and, now that it was sure he was going, he felt
somewhat reluctant to leave the soldiers with whom he had become
friendly, and to get away from all this life of adventure which
had been so interesting and so delightful in many ways. It was
hard, too, to leave the dear old palace in Manila, through which
he had wandered so often, and every room of which had for him
some story of a Spanish prince or a great governor-general,
wealthy and wise. There would be none of all this at home or in
New York, but then there would be something better; there would
be mother, and the old grape arbour, and the Hut Club.</p>

<p>On investigation, Archie found that the quickest way to get
home would be to travel by way of Hong Kong and Yokohama, taking
the steamer from there to San Francisco. It would take him more
than a month to make the trip, and, as it was now the second week
in March, he could hardly expect to reach New York before the
first of May. He at once cabled Mr. Jennings that he would leave
at once for Hong Kong, and received an answer telling him to do
so by all means, and to continue to write letters describing his
trip. Archie knew that these letters would probably not reach New
York any sooner than he would, but he did write them, anyhow, and
he did see some of them appear in the paper after his
arrival.</p>

<p>Archie was overjoyed to learn one day that Bill Hickson had
received permission from the commanding general to return to the
United States, and he at once hunted up the bashful hero, and
insisted that he leave at once, and make the trip with him. This
was finally agreed to, and when it was settled that the two old
chums were to travel homeward together the whole camp in Manila
was interested in the news. They were both very popular, and
almost every night before their departure there was a pleasure
party of some kind arranged for them. One night they would give a
regular "stag," as they called them, and then again they would
arrange a sort of musicale, at which there would be clog-dancing,
banjo music, and various games to increase the fun.</p>

<p>The four days passed very quickly indeed, and at last the day
for sailing arrived. There was a great throng at the pier to see
them off, and there was no end of good wishes and stories of the
good times now gone by. When the steamer finally moved out into
the open, there were three cheers each for Archie and "brave Bill
Hickson," in which every man appeared to join with all his heart
and voice. And there were tears in Archie's eyes at having to
part from such true friends. It was hard to tell, too, when he
would ever see any of them again. He realised that hereafter his
path and theirs would probably lie in different directions. He
was going to New York to work as a reporter, and they, if they
were not killed in battle, would be scattered in all parts of the
great United States, at the mustering out of the troops. It was
all very sad, and even Bill Hickson seemed to feel the solemnity
of the occasion, for he had nothing to say for many hours after
the vessel had started on its journey.</p>

<p>Archie, too, felt homesick at having to leave, and they went
to bed very early, apparently feeling that the best thing under
such circumstances was to be asleep. And when morning came they
both felt somewhat better, for Archie arose filled with hope for
the future, and more anxious than ever to reach home. Bill
Hickson, too, was not loath to return to the United States, even
though he had no relatives waiting there to welcome him. The poor
fellow had been through a great deal while in the Philippines,
and his constitution was almost wrecked by the constant strain to
which he was subjected. He had never fully recovered from his
accident of several weeks before, and he felt that he needed a
rest from the constant excitement and worry of life in the army.
He was tired, too, of being a spy. He had never relished the
work, but he had realised how necessary it was for the Americans
to have some one to follow up Aguinaldo and let the general know
of his movements. "They'll be a long time catching him now," he
said, time and again, to Archie. "He's a much shrewder man than
they think, and he knows his Philippine Islands like a book. He
can go from one place to another without the Americans ever
knowing where he disappeared to, and without some one to follow
him they will never be able to learn anything of his
movements."</p>

<p>Bill had received nearly two hundred dollars in back pay, so
he felt quite rich, and Archie told him that if he should happen
to run out, and need more money, he would be very glad to furnish
it to him, For Archie was now determined to take Bill Hickson to
New York, and introduce him to Mr. Van Bunting, feeling sure that
the wise editor would thank him for bringing to his attention a
man at once so interesting and so worthy as this hero of the war
had proved himself to be. But for the present Bill would discuss
nothing of the kind. He was thoroughly content to sit beside
Archie on the warm steamer deck, and watch the ever varied
surface of the Indian Ocean.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>HONG KONG&#151; A HAPPY TIME IN TOKIO&#151; HONOLULU
AGAIN&#151; ARRIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND A GREAT RECEPTION BY
THE PRESS&#151; ARCHIE AND BILL ARRIVE IN NEW YORK, AND ARE THE
HEROES OF THE HOUR.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>A<small>FTER</small> a short and pleasant voyage they reached
Hong Kong, and Archie found this city to be much more interesting
than he had expected to find it. It was charming, he thought, to
run across a place which combined the conveniences of England and
America with the picturesque oddities of China and Japan, and he
enjoyed himself to the utmost during the two days they spent
there. Bill Hickson enjoyed the place, too, and they would both
have liked to remain longer had it been possible for them to do
so, but they were anxious to see something of Japan before
sailing for San Francisco, and their steamer was due to leave
Yokohama in eleven days.</p>

<p>But they did enjoy Hong Kong to the utmost while they were
there. They called first, of course, upon the American consul,
whom they found to be an exceedingly pleasant man. They learned,
to their great surprise, that he had read of Archie Dunn, and of
Bill Hickson, too, in the <i>Enterprise,</i> and Archie began to
think that his paper had a much wider circulation than even the
editors claimed for it. He thought it very remarkable, at first,
that a man living in Hong Kong should have read about his
Philippine experiences in a New York paper, but of course, after
he thought of it awhile, it didn't seem such a very remarkable
thing, after all. And after this, when they heard of people
having read of them, they weren't so much surprised, having come
to realise the tremendous circulation of this paper.</p>

<p>The consul did all in his power to make their stay in Hong
Kong pleasant. He was anxious to have a formal dinner for them,
but Bill Hickson said that he would much prefer not having to
dress up, and Archie was willing for Bill's sake to forego the
honour. So they spent their two days in going about the city,
visiting the quaint Chinese shops, and seeing everything of
particular interest. They found many wonderful things to look at,
and Archie said that he couldn't imagine any more delightful
place; but Bill told him to wait until they reached Japan, for
he'd find that much more charming than Hong Kong. "I've been
there before," said Bill, "and I know what I'm talkin' about, and
I say there ain't no such place on earth as Japan for interestin'
things to look at, and pleasant things to do." And when, a few
days later, Archie was initiated into some of the mysteries of
Japanese life by his experienced friend, he was willing to admit
the truth of all he had heard concerning the land of the
chrysanthemum. He found everything quite beyond his expectations.
The people themselves were more quaint in their dress and manners
than he had expected to find them, and the houses and the pagodas
were much more picturesque than he had imagined they would be.
And the whole atmosphere of the country seemed filled with
romance and history, and it wasn't at all hard to believe that
the Japanese have longer family trees than any other nation on
earth.</p>

<p>They spent a few days travelling through the provincial
districts of the little kingdom, and then they reached Tokio,
where Bill was anxious to spend several days. "I know some folks
here who can take us around and show us everything that's worth
seeing," he said, "and we can spend our time to better advantage
here than anywhere else I know of." And sure enough, Bill did
know some people in the capital city, some pleasant English
people, who had met the open-hearted Westerner when he was in the
city years before, and who had at once appreciated the true
nobility of his character. They were very kind to Archie,&#151;
so kind that the lad thought he had never before met such
pleasant people. And they were thoroughly interested in all his
adventures, from the time he left home late in the preceding
summer until now. He had to tell them all about his New York
adventures, and also about their experiences together in the
Philippines, and his new friends showed the greatest interest in
all he had to say, and seemed to find it all vastly entertaining.
They were anxious, Archie thought, to make him have a very good
time in Tokio, to make up for some of his hard experiences, and
if this were indeed their object, they succeeded admirably in
accomplishing it. Every day was filled with surprises, and every
night Archie thought he had enjoyed himself more this day than
the day before. They travelled about the city so persistently, on
foot and in the quaint jinrikishas, that he felt that he knew
almost every part of Tokio, and he witnessed every side of native
existence, as well as the life in the foreign quarter. It was all
charmingly new and interesting, and, as in Hong Kong, they were
both sorry when the day for their sailing came around. And always
since Archie has declared that no one can be more kindly
hospitable than the English.</p>

<p>The voyage from Yokohama to San Francisco was slow and
monotonous, Archie thought, for he was now very impatient to
reach the United States, and he had also grown very tired of
travel by water. There were some very pleasant passengers, but
Archie couldn't see that he had a much better time than when he
was peeling potatoes corning over. That was interesting enough,
anyhow. The only break in the monotony was the day they were
enabled to spend in Honolulu, and on that day Archie went again
to some of the places he had seen during his first visit to the
attractive city. And he called again upon some of the friends of
his first visit, and found that most of them had read of his
great success as a war correspondent, and of his many exciting
experiences in the Philippines. They were all profuse in
congratulating him upon what he had accomplished, and every one
seemed to think he had been very successful indeed.</p>

<p>While they were in Honolulu a vessel arrived, bound for Japan,
and Archie was delighted to find it was the same vessel upon
which he had worked his passage from San Francisco on his way to
Manila. He went aboard and met some of the friends he had made
there, and found that they all knew now who it was they had
carried as chore-boy in the galley. They all seemed glad to hear
of his success, and to know that he was coming home as a
first-class passenger. The cook treated him with much deference,
and started to apologise for his treatment of Archie on the way
over; but the boy stopped him, and told him that no apology was
necessary. "I think I may have been an unwilling worker," he
said, "because of course I didn't like the work at all, and it
was hard for me to take an interest in peeling potatoes when I
was looking forward to accomplishing such great things in the
Philippines."</p>

<p>"Oh," said the cook, "you was a fine worker. Sure, I ain't had
so good a boy since." And Archie laughed to see the change in
opinion which is sometimes brought about by a change in
circumstances.</p>

<p>Archie enjoyed the city quite as much as before, but he was
glad, nevertheless, when the steamer continued her voyage east.
And then he began to count the days until they should arrive in
San Francisco, and of course these last days seemed the longest
ones of the voyage. But they gradually passed away, and as they
steamed ahead, coming nearer every hour to that dear land called
"home," both Archie and Bill began to wonder how they would like
it all, after their adventurous life in the Philippines. Bill, in
particular, was doubtful whether he would again be able to settle
down to a quiet existence in some small place, and Archie assured
him that he must live in New York, where he would be sure to find
things lively enough to suit him.</p>

<p>At last came the eventful day when the great steamer threaded
her way through the beautiful Golden Gate, and discharged her
passengers at the pier. As Archie and Bill had but little
baggage, they were almost the first ones to leave the vessel, and
were hurrying away to find a hotel where they could remain
overnight when Archie felt some one touch him on the shoulder,
and, turning about and seeing no one he knew, was about to go on,
when a man introduced himself as being the San Francisco
correspondent of the <i>Enterprise.</i> "And these gentlemen
here," said he, "are reporters from the newspapers here. They
would be glad to have you say a few words about your experiences
during the last few months." Archie was quite dumbfounded. It had
never occurred to him that he was a person so important as to be
interviewed, but he was willing and glad to accommodate the
reporters, and told them to accompany him to his hotel. Once
there, he answered all their questions, and didn't find it hard
at all to give them his opinion of the situation in the
Philippines, and what he thought should be done by the government
to stop the rebellion. "The President will soon put an end to
it," he said, "if he can only have the support of Congress. But
as long as there are members of Congress fighting his policy, the
insurgents are going to continue their insane efforts to
establish an independent government." And some of the reporters
smiled to hear so young a fellow talking about the policy in the
Philippines. They felt that he was well-informed, however, and
put down every word he said.</p>

<p>The interviews over, Archie and Bill went early to bed. The
<i>Enterprise</i> correspondent had telegraphed the news of their
arrival to New York, and had received word from Mr. Van Bunting
to send them on to New York at once. So, early in the morning,
the two started for the East, and the train seemed to travel
quite as slowly as the steamer. "It does seem good to be in our
own country again," they said a hundred times during the days
that followed, and when they reached the Empire State and began
their journey down the Hudson River, Archie could hardly restrain
his enthusiasm at being again in his native commonwealth.</p>

<p>There was quite a delegation at the Grand Central Station to
meet them. Mr. Jennings was there in person, and he explained
that Mr. Van Bunting was waiting anxiously at the office to see
him. Then there were reporters from the various other city
papers, who wanted interviews, but Archie was told to say
whatever he had to say in the columns of the <i>Enterprise,</i>
so he had to deny the reporters for the first time. Bill Hickson
was introduced at once, and became the lion of the hour. Every
one had read of him, and was glad to shake his hand, and poor
Bill was quite bewildered by so much attention. They didn't
linger long at the station, however, but hurried down to the
<i>Enterprise</i> office, where Mr. Van Bunting was awaiting
them. He grasped Archie's hand in his as they entered, and cried,
"Well done, my boy, well done." And Archie felt as if he had
grown three feet that instant.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>DOING "SPECIAL" WORK UPON THE EVENING PAPER&#151; INTERVIEWS
WITH FAMOUS MEN&#151; CALLS UPON OLD FRIENDS.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>T<small>HERE</small> was so much to tell Mr. Jennings and Mr.
Van Bunting, that Archie didn't get away from the
<i>Enterprise</i> office until seven o'clock in the evening. And
what a lot they did say to each other during the afternoon!
Archie told of all his experiences, and found them all anxious to
hear about them. He learned, to his joy, that everything he had
sent had been printed, and that the articles had made a great hit
with the public. "We would have liked to keep you there longer,
but we knew you must be worn out, and then we want you to stay
right here, now, and see if you cannot get us some good
interviews and articles of various kinds for the <i>Evening
Enterprise.</i> The paper has been losing ground somewhat, of
late, and we need some new life for its pages. Of course the
morning paper profited greatly by your articles, but the evening
edition seemed very weak in comparison, and we think it only fair
to Mr. Jennings to let him have you on his staff for awhile now.
So if you are willing, you can start in to-morrow as a member of
the staff. We will see that you are well paid for what you write,
or we will put you on salary, whichever you like. You can think
it over, and in the morning you can tell us which plan you like
best."</p>

<p>Archie wanted to ask for a few days' absence to return home,
but he felt, somehow, that he ought not to ask it just now. So he
contented himself with writing a long letter to his mother, in
which he enclosed a very large check, money which he had not used
on his return to New York. He told her that he would be home just
as soon as he could get off for any length of time, and he knew
that she would now be looking forward to the visit every day. She
had written him about the enthusiasm displayed by every one over
his achievements, and how proud she was of what he had
accomplished. "I think I am the proudest mother in the country,"
she wrote one day, and this sentence made Archie very happy, of
course, and more anxious than ever to return home. He received a
letter, too, from Jack Sullivan, telling him how much the boys
all thought of his success, and how every member of the Hut Club
had longed time and again to be with him. "It all reads just like
some book," Jack wrote, "and we are dying to have you come home
and tell us all about it." Then his mother sent him clippings
from the town papers, eulogising his efforts, and calling him the
"coming man of the State." All this was very pleasant and very
encouraging, and Archie couldn't help having a kindly feeling for
the townsfolk who thought so much of him.</p>

<p>New York was as delightful as ever. It was now the last of
April, and the trees were all green with fresh leaves, and the
numerous little parks scattered over the city were looking their
very best. The asphalt pavements looked clean and elegant when
Archie thought of some other streets he had seen, and the tall
office buildings lifted their ornate domes and cupolas into a sky
of clear blue. "Surely," he thought to himself, "this is the most
charming city in all the world." Fifth Avenue, with its crowds of
fashionable folk, and its throng of vehicles, was a delight of
which he never tired, and when he went into the Bowery, just to
see how things were looking now, he found it quite as interesting
and as dirty as in the fall.</p>

<p>But the first place he visited was the dear little square away
down-town, where he had lived during those few happy days spent
in New York. It, too, looked the same, only the flowers and grass
were fresher now, and the fountain seemed to flow more joyously,
now that spring was here. The house where he had lodged was as
clean as ever, and Archie at once decided to engage a room here,
where he could have his New York home. So he called upon the
motherly landlady, and was glad to learn that the room he had
first was still vacant, and that he could take possession at
once.</p>

<p>As before, when he came to this house, Archie was almost out
of clothing, so he went out and fitted himself with everything he
needed. And this time he felt able to buy the best to be had, for
he thought he had now earned the privilege to dress well if he
liked. And then, when he had everything he needed to wear, he
went out and bought many pretty things for his room, for he felt
that he would like to have it just as cosy and home-like as
possible. He wasn't able to do much at it this first night, but
in the succeeding days he furnished the place in a charming way,
so that the landlady said it was the "handsomest room in the
house, sir." The dear old lady could hardly understand this great
change in her lodger's circumstances. She worried about it very
often, and discussed the question with many of the neighbours.
"He come here last fall looking mighty poor-like, but, lawsy me,
he's as fine now as any man on the avenue." And she never did
understand it until one day she learned that her lodger was the
"very young man who had been to the war in the Philippines, and
writ about his battles in the <i>Enterprise."</i></p>

<p>There was no ceremony when Archie began work on the evening
paper. Mr. Jennings told him that he thought they understood each
other pretty well, and that he could use his own discretion, very
often, about getting articles. "You can be as independent as you
like, Archie," he said, "and use your own ideas as much as you
like." This pleased the boy very much indeed. He was beginning to
feel now that he had really won his spurs, and that he was a
full-fledged journalist. It seemed scarcely possible that it had
taken him little more than six months to make this great advance
in circumstances, and yet he could see himself a few months
previous, sleeping in the station-house. Now his days of poverty
were surely over, and he would have a clear path ahead of him to
accomplish his great ambition to be a successful author and
writer of books. For the present, it was good experience for him
to be working upon the <i>Enterprise,</i> and he felt that he
ought to be very much contented, since there were men old enough
to be his father who were not earning as much money.</p>

<p>He liked the work upon the evening paper very much. He didn't
have to get down early in the morning, and at three o'clock in
the afternoon he was always through. He was very glad indeed that
there was no night work, for he now spent his evenings in
studying shorthand, which he thought might be helpful to him in
many ways. He didn't have much routine work to do upon the paper
in the beginning, but he told Mr. Jennings that he would like to
get as much experience as possible, so the good editor gave him a
lot of regular reporting to do, as well as the special work which
was daily featured in the paper. This special work consisted of
interviews with various successful men. Archie had always felt a
great admiration for men who had "done something," and as New
York was simply filled with wealthy and successful men, who had
started as poor boys, he found a wide field for work. He found it
very interesting to meet these men of affairs, and have them tell
him of their early struggles, how they had begun on the farm or
in the factory, and had worked themselves up through industry and
perseverance to the high places they now occupied. He found it
very easy to get access to most of them, for they had all read of
his experiences in the <i>Enterprise,</i> and Archie found that
his fame as the "Boy Reporter" was quite general and widespread.
Some of the great men were quite as much determined to interview
him as he was anxious to interview them, so that he usually got
along very well by telling them first of his own experiences, and
then asking them about their own boyhood days. It was work that
never became monotonous, for each day he saw a man quite
different in most respects from the man he had interviewed the
day before, and of course every one had something different to
say.</p>

<p>These interviews proved very successful when published in the
<i>Evening Enterprise,</i> and Mr. Jennings had him continue them
during all the weeks Archie was connected with the paper. And of
course he did other things, too, work which took him into every
part of the great city, looking up this event, or investigating
this reported disappearance or murder. Archie was quite
successful in this line, too, and, as he was being paid by the
column, his weekly income was something larger than he had ever
dared to hope for in all his life. He was now enabled to study
his stenography at the best school, and to indulge himself in
many things which had been denied him before. He could, for
instance, attend the performances of grand opera, and hear the
great musical artists of the world. He was able, too, to read the
best literature, and he gradually learned to appreciate all the
many good things in life. He was very glad to find himself
broadening in such a way, for he realised that he would not
always want to be a "Boy Reporter," and that he had better be
developing his mind in every possible way.</p>

<p>He had not been back long in New York before he met all his
old friends. One of the first upon whom he called was the good
policeman who had been so very kind to him when he had no place
to sleep. The large-hearted man was as enthusiastic over his
success as if he had been his own son, and Archie felt that here
was one true friend upon whom he could always depend. The
policeman never tired of telling about that first night when he
found Archie walking up and down Broadway, and he always spoke of
him to the other officers as "that boy of mine." So the boy, who
was now a full-fledged reporter, spent as much time with this
friend as possible, and many a time he sat at the station-house
telling them all of his adventures in the Orient.</p>

<p>Another friend whom he met was the great railway president
with whom he had travelled to Chicago on his way to San
Francisco. Archie had liked this man from the very first, and he
felt that in him he would always find a friend, because he had
shown such interest in his first undertaking. And when he called
upon him in his elegant office, he received a very cordial
greeting.</p>

<p>"No, indeed," said the great man of affairs, "I have never
forgotten our trip West together, and I have followed you with
much interest through the columns of the <i>Enterprise.</i> And I
am glad that you are back again in New York, for I hope to see a
great deal of you. You must come up to my house some evening and
tell us all about yourself."</p>

<p>Archie was naturally much surprised to receive an invitation
of this kind, but he resolved to accept it, nevertheless.</p>

<p>Bill Hickson was now employed in the Brooklyn navy yard. He
had been featured for several days in the <i>Enterprise,</i> and
had enjoyed the excitement of New York for awhile, but he decided
he would like to be at work. So one day Archie learned that he
was working at the navy yard.</p>

<p>"I've got to be with Uncle Sam," was all the reason Bill would
give for his action.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XXV.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>PRIVATE SECRETARY TO A MILLIONAIRE&#151; STUDYING AT EVENING
SCHOOL&#151; LIVING AMID ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>I<small>T</small> was now September. Archie had been in New
York the whole summer through, attending carefully to his work on
the <i>Evening Enterprise,</i> and continuing his study of
stenography. He had taken occasional trips to Long Branch and
Asbury Park on Saturday afternoons, but every other day he spent
in working up ideas for the paper, and each evening he devoted to
the shorthand school. By this time, though, he felt that he knew
all that was necessary of shorthand, and found himself more free
to go about in the evenings. He visited his friends more
frequently, and sometimes spent whole evenings in studying works
on English literature, for he was ambitious to know more of the
great work he had decided to make his own. This study was not
really work to him, for his interest in everything connected with
literature was so great that he found a pleasure in reading even
the most classical books on the subject, and of course so much
reading of this sort did a great deal to educate his mind along
this line of work.</p>

<p>One evening in the early fall, Archie decided to accept the
invitation of Mr. Depaw, the railway president, to call. So he
carefully dressed himself in the best he had, and walked up Fifth
Avenue and into the side street where the great man had his home.
He rang the bell and presented his card, and waited in the
drawing-room for an answer. The footman was gone but a moment,
and returning, announced that the family would be down directly.
Archie was very much pleased that he was to meet the entire
family, and looked about him with great interest at the elegant
furnishings of the room in which he sat. He couldn't help
thinking how lovely it must be to have so many books, so many
pictures, and so many works of art of every kind. The boy thought
then that he would like to be a wealthy man, just to be able to
gratify his desires for beautiful things.</p>

<p>He had to wait only a short time before the genial Mr. Depaw
entered the room, accompanied by several members of the family.
Archie was greeted very warmly, and introduced to every one, and
then they immediately began an animated conversation, in which
Archie soon found himself taking an active part, much to his
surprise. He felt that he had never before realised what a great
gift it is to be able to talk entertainingly, and this evening
was a revelation to him in the ways of good society. He found
that every one was much interested in the story of his
adventures, and he talked more about them than for a long time
past. He was now beginning to feel that his Philippine
experiences were an old story, but he learned that they were
quite as entertaining as ever to these people. But they did not
talk entirely about Archie. They realised that this would be
embarrassing to him, and they were careful to guide the
conversation into a discussion of music and literature, and
whatever else they imagined him to like. And so it was that the
evening passed very quickly, and it was time to leave before he
knew it. Then he was asked to be sure to call again, and Mr.
Depaw, as he accompanied him to the door, requested him to call
at his office on the following Wednesday, if possible. Archie
promised, and walked home down the avenue, wondering what it
could be that Mr. Depaw wanted to talk to him about. He didn't
worry long about it, however, but went home and to bed as quickly
as possible, for he had formed a habit of rising at six o'clock
in the morning to study.</p>

<p>The days passed quickly until Wednesday, and the afternoon of
that day found Archie in the waiting-room of Mr. Depaw's office.
He had not long to sit there after sending in his card, for the
busy man received him as soon as he could get rid of his present
visitor. He shook Archie warmly by the hand as he entered, and
then, pulling two chairs together, they sat down. "I have been
thinking for some time," said Mr. Depaw, "that I need a sort of
private secretary. Of course I have men here at the office who
take dictation from me, and who fulfil the duties of a secretary
to a certain extent, but I want a young man who can attend
somewhat to my personal affairs; I want one whom I can trust, and
one who is likely to grow as he works along, so that eventually
he may be able to fill any place I may have open for him." Then
he stopped a moment, and Archie felt his heart beating very fast
beneath his coat. He waited almost breathlessly to hear what Mr.
Depaw would say next.</p>

<p>"Ever since I met you first," he at last went on, "I have
somehow thought that you are the kind of a young fellow I would
like. You are ambitious, you are persevering, and you are willing
to learn. You say, too, that you know shorthand, and I know that
you are a good penman. You have seen quite a little of the world,
I am sure, and I think you can prove yourself equal to almost any
occasion. The only question is whether you will care to give up
reporting for a position of this kind. I can assure you that I
will pay you as much as you are earning now, and I shall be glad
to offer you a home at my house, because I shall want you at my
right hand all the time. Do you think you will care to take the
place?"</p>

<p>Archie could hardly speak, it was all so wonderful, but
finally he recovered himself sufficiently to explain his
hesitancy in accepting the position. "I would like just one day,"
he said, "to consult with my friends on the newspaper. You see
Mr. Jennings and Mr. Van Bunting have been very good to me, and I
shouldn't care to leave them now if they object very
strongly."</p>

<p>"That's quite right, quite right," said Mr. Depaw. "I can
appreciate your feelings, and you can tell the editor that you
will have some time for writing, and that you will contribute
occasional articles to his paper." Archie was now delighted. "Oh,
thank you," he cried. "I am sure I can come now."</p>

<p>"Well, come in at this time to-morrow," said Mr. Depaw, "and
let me know what you have decided to do."</p>

<p>Archie hurried at once to Mr. Jennings's office to tell him
the good news. He wondered how his friend would take it, but all
his fears were soon put at rest. "Archie," said Mr. Jennings,
"this is the best opportunity you can ever have to improve
yourself in every way. Mr. Depaw is a man highly respected all
over the country, and a man who is known to be extraordinary in
many ways. Association with such a man will do more for you than
four years in college, and you will make a mistake if you do not
accept his offer. Of course we shall all be sorry to lose you
here, but, as Mr. Depaw says, you will have some time for
writing, and we hope you will always continue to do some work for
us."</p>

<p>Archie could almost have thrown his arms about Mr. Jennings's
neck to hug him for his splendid feeling, and when, a little
later, Mr. Van Bunting said practically the same thing, he felt
that he had never known two such men. He assured them both that
he would never forget them, but would try and spend as much time
as possible in the <i>Enterprise</i> office.</p>

<p>The next day he called again on Mr. Depaw, and told him of his
decision to accept the place, and the good man seemed overjoyed.
"I will see that you never forget it, Archie," he said. It was
arranged for him to begin work the very next day. "You can
transfer your things to my house as soon as you like, for your
room is waiting for you, and I will begin to-morrow to teach you
how to do things."</p>

<p>And now Archie found it hard to leave the dear little room in
the quaint old square, which was looking now just as when he saw
it first. The leaves in the trees were turning brown and gold,
and Archie realised that he had been away from home more than a
year. "Oh, I must go back soon," he said to himself, "or I shall
simply die of homesickness."</p>

<p>In a couple of days he was installed as a member of the Depaw
household, and he soon felt at home there. Every one was very
kind to him, he was given a handsome room, and everything seemed
almost perfect. One of the best things about it all was that he
had access to the fine library, and he longed for the long winter
evenings when he could devour the many interesting books he saw
there. He was soon initiated into his work, and it was much
easier than he had expected. Mr. Depaw, of course, started him
very gradually, so that he learned as he went along. Every
morning at eight o'clock he was in the library with Mr. Depaw,
taking dictation, and receiving instructions for the day. They
remained together here until ten o'clock, when Mr. Depaw either
walked or drove to his office. Archie always accompanied him, and
took charge of some of the mail there, attending to it during the
morning. Then at noon he returned to the house, where he spent
the afternoon in writing the letters which had been dictated in
the morning, and in doing various things for Mr. Depaw. The
evenings he always had to himself, and he had no difficulty in
finding enough to do at home without going out. He almost
invariably passed the evenings in reading, but occasionally he
was asked to accompany the family to some musical event at the
opera house, for they had soon learned of his love for music.</p>

<p>In work and study the winter passed quickly and happily for
Archie, who now felt quite at ease amid his elegant surroundings.
His only wish was that he might go home, and as spring approached
Mr. Depaw promised him that he should have a short vacation. The
suggestion of Mr. Depaw that Archie's mother come to New York for
a week was heartily accepted by Archie, but when he wrote home
Mrs. Dunn replied that she would rather wait for Archie at home.
She had never visited New York, and felt that she wouldn't like
it.</p>

<p>Bill Hickson came over very often from the navy yard, and was
always a welcome visitor at Mr. Depaw's office. He didn't seem to
care for his work in Brooklyn, however, and Archie finally
requested a place for him about the elegant new station which the
road had just constructed in the city. Mr. Depaw very readily
gave him an excellent position, one which he could keep always if
he so desired. And Bill was highly pleased with his new work, so
much so that he surprised them all one day in the spring by
leading into the once a young lady whom he introduced as his
wife. Of course Archie was very much pleased at this new
development, for he had often thought that his friend must be
very lonely, living in a boarding-house.</p>

<p>The days were all busy ones for Archie now. He had learned the
work so thoroughly that he was given more than ever to do, and he
still continued to write, too, for the <i>Enterprise.</i> He
worked too hard, however, and in April he looked so thin that Mr.
Depaw sent him home for a week's rest.</p>

<h3>CHAPTER XXVI.</h3>

<blockquote>
<h5>DECIDES TO VISIT HOME&#151; A GREAT RECEPTION IN THE
TOWN&#151; A PUBLIC CHARACTER NOW&#151; DINNER TO THE HUT
CLUB&#151; DEMONSTRATION AT THE TOWN HALL&#151; A TELEGRAM FROM
HIS EMPLOYER LEAVING FOR EUROPE.</h5>
</blockquote>

<p>I<small>T</small> was a beautiful April day. There had been a
light shower in the morning, and now everything looked as fresh
and green as possible all along the railway. Archie lay back in
his comfortable Wagner seat, admiring the beauties of spring, and
thinking, too, of the days he spent in walking along this very
road. It seemed hard to believe that he was now secretary to the
president of this railroad, and that he was returning home, after
a year and a half, a very successful young man. He had much to
think of in the hours it would take him to reach the little town.
He tried to remember everything about the place, and his mother
as he saw her last, and it wasn't at all difficult for him to do
so. But, oh, how he hoped that things had not changed! He almost
dreaded going home for fear he would find things different.</p>

<p>He had changed, that much was sure. He knew that he had grown
to look much older than his years, and he knew that he was not
looking particularly strong. He used to be so sturdy, and he had
such a splendid colour in his cheeks. Mother would be sorry to
see him now, but of course he would be sure to improve very much
during the week he was to remain among old friends.</p>

<p>He was very anxious to see his boy friends, the members of the
Hut Club, and the boys and girls who were in his class at school.
He had telegraphed his mother that he was coming, so she would
probably tell the boys about it. He was sure they would be
there.</p>

<p>Now the stations looked more familiar. This one just passed
was near the Tinch farm, and Archie remembered the days he spent
working for old Hiram, and how he had suffered. He wondered if
the farmer had ever seen any copies of the <i>Enterprise.</i> It
would be very interesting to him to know that his chore-boy was
now a secretary to a millionaire. This next station he remembered
very well indeed, because he used to come here every fall to
visit the county fair, where he marvelled at the wonderful things
he saw in the side-shows.</p>

<p>And now the train was entering the limits of his own town.
Here was the old elevator, and the machine shop near the railway
track. And, oh, there was his own home, looking green and
pleasant as the train sped by. It almost brought tears to
Archie's eyes to think that he was so soon to see his mother. Now
they had reached the station, and he stood upon the car platform
ready to alight. My, what a crowd there was! and why did they
cheer as he made his appearance? All at once it dawned upon him
that all these people were here to meet him, and to bid him
welcome home. He could hardly speak as he found himself in his
mother's arms, and then he began to shake the hands of the big
crowd. They were all old friends, and then there was the mayor,
and the superintendent of schools, and quite a delegation of
leading citizens. How nice it was of them to welcome him in this
way!</p>

<p>After awhile the handshaking was over, and the mayor was able
to get a few minutes with Archie. "We are all very proud of what
you have accomplished," he said, "and we want to give you a
public reception to-morrow night in the town hall, if you don't
object." Archie stared blankly at the mayor, and it was several
moments before he realised the meaning of the words. Then he was
almost overcome. It was almost too good to be true, it seemed,
but he warmly thanked the mayor, and told him how he appreciated
the honour which they had done him. He said that he would be glad
to attend the reception.</p>

<p>The crowd was scattering now, and Archie, wild to reach home,
took his mother to a carriage, in which they drove rapidly out to
the little house among the trees and arbours. The old town looked
beautiful in every way. The great maple and oak trees along the
road were green with new leaves, and every dooryard was bright
with snowballs and yellow roses. "This is the very best time of
the year," he said to his mother, "and I am the very happiest boy
in all the world."</p>

<p>"And I am the happiest mother," was the answer. Then they sat
in silence until they reached the old home. They entered by the
kitchen door, and, once inside, and seated in the old cane
rocking-chair, Archie bowed his head in tears of joy at being
home with mother once again.</p>

<p>The hours which followed were sweet with joy. Mrs. Dunn busied
herself in preparing the supper, and Archie hung around the
kitchen, telling some of the many things he had planned to tell.
Mrs. Dunn was smiling, and Archie thought her the sweetest mother
any boy could have. She was changed somewhat, but she looked very
young to-day.</p>

<p>Supper over, Archie went over the fence to see the Sullivan
boys, and he found them looking much the same. He was truly glad
to see them, and they, of course, were glad to see him, too,
though at first they were just a little bashful, remembering, no
doubt, all the things which had happened to Archie since they saw
him last. The boys were soon telling all about the Hut Club,
though, and Archie learned to his joy that it was still a
flourishing organisation. "We spoke of you every time we were
together," said Jack, "and we always wished you were back again."
Archie was delighted to hear that he had been missed, and all at
once an idea came to him which he put into execution three days
later. He determined to give an elegant dinner to this club of
boys, and the very next day he sent to New York for a caterer to
arrange it. He wanted it to be something finer than any of the
boys had ever seen, and it certainly turned out to be so. The
caterer did his best, and when, three days later, the Hut Club
sat down together for the first time in more than eighteen
months, they partook of a dinner which would have done credit to
Mr. Depaw's table. It was a memorable night for them all, and
every boy enjoyed himself.</p>

<p>Archie enjoyed this Hut Club dinner more than anything else
while he was at home, though of course the great event of his
stay was the public reception at the Town Hall on the second
evening after his arrival. This was a truly grand affair. The
town authorities hired a brass band, which played inside the hall
and out, and there was such a crowd in attendance that many were
turned away from the doors. It was a night that Archie will never
be able to forget. He sat on the platform, in company with the
mayor and other town officials, and he listened to several
speeches congratulating him on what he had accomplished since
leaving the town. Then he had to get up and tell them all of his
experiences, from the time he left until now. He told it in a
simple manner, but from the close attention he received it was
evident his audience was deeply interested. When he had finished,
there were calls for "three cheers for Archie Dunn," and they
were given with a will. Then Archie, rising from his seat, called
for "three cheers for the President of the United States," and
they, too, were given, for Archie had told them all his feelings
on the subject of the President's policy in the war. After this
there were three cheers for Mr. Depaw, whom one man said would be
the next United States Senator from the State. The meeting closed
with some cheers for the New York <i>Enterprise,</i> and then
followed a long siege of handshaking for Archie, who stood beside
his mother on the floor in front of the platform. It was a happy
night for them both, and Mrs. Dunn said afterward that she could
never wish for anything more the rest of her life.</p>

<p>The fourth day of his visit was a Sunday, and, to Archie's
joy, brave Bill Hickson and his wife came up from the city to
spend the day. What a jolly time they had, all day long! They
went to church in the morning, where they saw all the people, it
seemed, whom they hadn't seen before, and in the afternoon there
were many callers at the little house. The evening was spent
quietly by the happy four, talking of old times and plans for the
future. The town authorities were anxious to give Bill Hickson a
reception while he was in town, but the bashful hero declined the
honour, and returned with his wife to New York by the midnight
train.</p>

<p>During the two succeeding days Archie talked a great deal with
his mother, and finally gained her consent to come to New York to
live in a year's time. Mrs. Dunn had never really understood that
Archie had so good a position, but now that she realised what a
splendid beginning he had made, she was very willing to come and
keep house for him. This question settled, everything seemed
wholly delightful in the cosy home, and Archie settled down to
enjoy the two remaining days of his visit in quiet rest. He had
already much improved during his stay, and was sure of going back
to the city feeling much better than for a long time past, and
this made Mrs. Dunn very happy.</p>

<p>But Archie didn't stay his week out at home. On the fifth
night he attended a reception in his honour at one of the
neighbours' houses, and he was just in the midst of a description
of Tokio when a messenger boy entered with a telegram for him. He
opened it at once, and read it aloud to the company:</p>

<p>"Dear Archie," it said, "return as soon as possible. I sail
for Europe on Saturday's steamer to remain six months, and wish
you to accompany me." It was signed by Mr. Depaw, and there was
great applause from the crowd when he finished reading it. But
Archie's face was a study. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to go
to Europe or not, but of course there was no question about what
he should do. He at once telegraphed a reply, saying that he
would reach the city to-morrow at noon, leaving home on the early
morning train.</p>

<p>Of course the reception soon broke up, and Archie walked
quietly home with his mother, who was saddened at the prospect of
losing him so soon again. She soon brightened, however, and began
to plan things for him to do abroad, and soon she entered into
the preparation for his departure with all her heart. But Archie
was not so soon made glad, and he didn't rest until he made his
mother promise to accompany him to the city on the morrow to
spend the two days previous to his departure in helping him get
ready. Mrs. Dunn wasn't anxious to make the trip, but for
Archie's sake she consented.</p>

<p>And early the next morning they left for the city, where the
time passed rapidly until the hour of the steamer's sailing. At
the pier they said good-bye. Archie could hardly speak, but Mrs.
Dunn was brave. "Archie," she said, "God has been with you so far
and he will keep you yet. And remember that a boy with honest
ambition will always get along. You are sure to have friends
about you always, for you have proved that you possess energy,
perseverance and a good heart." She said good-bye without a tear,
but as the steamer left the pier Archie saw, on looking back, a
sweet mother seated on a coil of rope, with her handkerchief to
her eyes.</p>

<h4>THE END.</h4>

<pre>
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