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.

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 Enterprise.  “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.

The interviews over, Archie and Bill went early to bed.  The Enterprise 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.