AN^^ 
 
 BOY"'fAe 
 
 PHlUPPiES 
 
 
 CAPTAIN C.E 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PZ 7.K48A7 
 
 An army boy in the Philippines,,./ 
 
 3 1924 024 011 755 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024011755 
 
A S'l'REAK FLASHHD ACROSS -I'MK TRAIL 
 
AN ARMY BOY 
 IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 By 
 
 Captain C. E. Kilbourne, U. S. Army 
 
 Author of 
 AN ARMY BOY IN PEKIN 
 
 Illustrated by R. L. Boyer 
 
 THE PENN PUBLISHING 
 COMPANY PHILADELPHIA 
 
 MCMXIII 
 
COPYKIGHr 
 1913 BY 
 THEPENN 
 PUBUSHMG 
 COMPANY 
 
To 
 
 Major Ralph Jones, Philippines 
 Constabulary, formerly Senior In- 
 spector of Samar, this story, some 
 of the events of which may be 
 familiar to him, is respectfully 
 dedicated 
 
Introduction 
 
 Probably no branch of the government of the 
 United States has been more ably administered 
 than that pertaining to the Philippine Islands. 
 From outlawry, murder and rapine a few short 
 years have brought us to peace and good feeling. 
 From poverty, pestilence and famine they have 
 brought us to comparative affluence and comfort. 
 History will do credit to the men whose executive 
 genius and unselfish devotion to duty have made 
 so great a success in a system of government which 
 other nations predicted was certain to fail when at- 
 tempted with Orientals. 
 
 A considerable part of the American success has 
 been due to the officers and men of the insular 
 constabulary. The present tale deals with the 
 difficulties met by them in the early days of the 
 civil government, difficulties and dangers all met 
 cheerfully and surmounted. 
 
 In this story two young Americans are prominent. 
 Those who are interested in them may read of 
 them also in " An Army Boy in Pekin." 
 
Contents 
 
 I. 
 
 In the Heart of Samar . . . . 
 
 II 
 
 II. 
 
 The Results of the Raid 
 
 25 
 
 III. 
 
 Don Outlines a Daring Plan . 
 
 41 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Constabulary Scores 
 
 52 
 
 V. 
 
 Don Ramon Sanchez, Presidente Municipal 
 
 68 
 
 VI. 
 
 In Doubt and Danger . . . . 
 
 81 
 
 VII. 
 
 Cameron Sees Something of Philippine 
 
 
 
 Life 
 
 95 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Massacre 
 
 109 
 
 IX. 
 
 Martial Law 
 
 124 
 
 X. 
 
 Atta Scores Again .... 
 
 138 
 
 XI. 
 
 Don's Company Disintegrates . 
 
 151 
 
 XII. 
 
 An Offer to Surrender . 
 
 i6s 
 
 XIII. 
 
 The Second Stroke .... 
 
 178 
 
 XIV. 
 
 A Struggle in the Mountains . 
 
 193 
 
 XV. 
 
 Trapped 
 
 205 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Inez Intervenes .... 
 
 220 
 
 XVII. 
 
 An Exciting Chase .... 
 
 235 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 The Ant-Hill 
 
 247 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Captain Halstead, Senior Inspector 
 
 259 
 
 XX. 
 
 A Strenuous Night .... 
 
 270 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Don Sees a Way .... 
 
 . 281 
 
 XXII. 
 
 The Dumb Healer Comes to Samar 
 
 293 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 In the Lion's Den .... 
 
 • 305 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Events Hasten to a Crisis 
 
 • 317 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Saxon Against Malay 
 
 • 327 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 After War, Peace .... 
 7 
 
 ■ 340 
 
Illustrations 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A Streak Flashed Across the Trail . . Frontispiece 
 
 He Made It By a Bare Margin . . . .61 
 
 " Some Rifles Were Stolen From My Barrack " . 141 
 
 " I Lay My Weapon at Your Feet " . . .186 
 
 There Came the Shot of a Rifle . . . .241 
 
 Bright Sabers Flashed High . . . . .278 
 
 " I AM Suspicious of Miracles " . . . . 306 
 
 An Army Boy in the Philippines. 
 
An Army Boy in the Philippines 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 IN THE HEAET OP SAMAK 
 
 The rain fell unceasingly in a dismal drizzle. 
 The sodden ground, refusing to absorb more, shed 
 it into the hollows, and, seeping along these, the 
 tiny rivulets united to form streams, and the 
 streams to form creeks which became raging tor- 
 rents as the sea was approached. The drenched 
 atmosphere was torrid, and the tropical vegetation 
 luxuriated in all its beauty. Huge hardwood- 
 trees rose at intervals above the lesser growths. 
 Vines twisted, snake-like, from tree to tree ; palms 
 forced their way upward, while flowering orchids 
 circled their trunks or hung pendant from the 
 fronds of great tree ferns. 
 
 Through the dense jungle ran an occasional 
 trail. Most of these twisted and turned aimlessly, 
 seeking the easiest way through the matted vines 
 and shrubbery ; they were merely the paths of the 
 animals of the wilderness. Intersecting them, 
 however, was a comparatively straight opening, 
 the severed vines and dead branches that bordered 
 
 II 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 it showing that the bolo,^ wielded by hand, had 
 been used to cut the way and maintain it. 
 
 From one of the side paths trotted a small wild 
 hog. His long snout indicated his descent from 
 generations of forebears whose lives had been dif- 
 ficult ; his razor back and sunken flanks proved 
 that existence was equally a struggle for him. 
 With hungry grunts he rooted for grubs and worms 
 in the rotting leaf mould, and snatched eagerly at 
 such flowers as were in reach. The small lizards 
 scurried to the trees at his approach. 
 
 Entering the broad trail, he turned downward, 
 passing beneath a great tree, one limb of which 
 stretched across the path. Some instinct made 
 him crouch to the ground just in time to avoid 
 the swinging blow of his worst enemy. As the 
 shadow passed over him, he sprang up with a 
 frightened squeal and dashed into the jungle. 
 
 The gigantic python swung slowly back. His 
 bead-like eyes flashed in disappointment as he saw 
 the escape of his prey. His forked tongue ran out 
 of his mouth as he turned to the right and left, 
 then sullenly twisting, he raised his heavy body to 
 the limb above, to which a few turns of his tail had 
 held during the sudden swoop. Soon he was 
 again lying along the limb, his cruel, soulless eyes 
 watching the path for the next comer. 
 
 ' Bolo — a long heavy knife used both for work and for fighting, 
 
 12 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Suddenly the head was raised a foot. Again 
 the tongue flickered and a faint hiss escaped him. 
 The eyes reddened, flashing with hatred and fear. 
 Then the long body turned. Gliding silently 
 down the tree the great reptile slipped away into 
 the jungle. 
 
 A minute later a man appeared around a turn in 
 the trail, making his way rapidly downward. A 
 glance would have told any resident of the 
 Philippines that he was a mestizo, one of those 
 half-bloods who were at once the hope and the 
 despair of those who were endeavoring to restore 
 peace to the distracted islands. Their hope, be- 
 cause the energy imparted by Caucasian blood was 
 necessary to the advancement of the people ; their 
 despair, because of the shrewdness exhibited by 
 these mixed bloods in their resistance to the es- 
 tablishment of a stable government, when they 
 took the other side. 
 
 The wayfarer was dressed in a drenched and 
 dirty suit of white clothing, its cut, however, 
 marking him as being above the tao ^ class. Across 
 his shoulder was swung a pair of shoes — these he 
 would wear when he reached a settlement, his 
 position and pretensions demanded it, but here in 
 the forest his feet must be free. His race was too 
 new to the ways of civilization for him to have 
 
 ' Tao — one of the ignorant laboring class of the Philippine Islands. 
 
 13 
 
JN ARMT BOr 
 
 lost the use of his toes, and the path he was travel- 
 ing was one that required every faculty if he were 
 to make quick progress. 
 
 And speed was necessary. He had covered six 
 miles already, and fully thirty more intervened be- 
 tween him and the nearest settlement. He must 
 reach shelter before night, not that he feared the 
 beasts or the reptiles of the jungle so much — it 
 was the ground leeches that made a night in the 
 woods alone a thing to be dreaded. Of these there 
 were millions. They squirmed in the mud be- 
 neath his feet ; they clung to the leaves of bushes 
 and vines and reached out as he passed. In his 
 free hand he had a piece of split bamboo, the 
 edges whittled sharp. Every few minutes he 
 would scrape the bloodsuckers from his legs with- 
 out halting his stride. A man attempting to 
 sleep without a fire, and a comrade to share watch, 
 might well be drained of his blood and never 
 awaken, for the bite of these pests is painless. 
 
 In spite of his surroundings and the task ahead 
 the traveler's face was cheerful. Coming to a 
 stream, he crossed it by springing from boulder to 
 boulder, his toes clutching the slippery surfaces. 
 Under the wet, clinging pantaloons the muscles of 
 calf and thigh swelled and subsided as he made 
 the leaps. He was a powerful man and possessed 
 of unusual activity. 
 
 H 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " I think I can count success mine," he said, 
 aloud. " One more raid from Mendoya will delay 
 the order opening the ports to trade. A pinch of 
 hunger and the last of*^ the hemp holders will be 
 glad to come to terms. Then with the market 
 cornered I shall be rich — richer than ever before, 
 and powerful in the cause. Mendoya was a find, 
 sufficiently brave to serve well, and sufficiently 
 stupid to serve me blindly. And these simple 
 Americans — how easy it is for a man of brain to 
 outwit them ! " 
 
 Aiding himself with his hands, he climbed the 
 bank beyond the stream. Just as he was about to 
 cross the little divide that topped the bank and 
 start downward again, he halted. For an instant 
 he stood, listening intently, and into his eyes 
 came an expression not unlike that which had 
 appeared in the eyes of the great python when his 
 own approach was discovered. The man caught 
 his breath, also, with a soft hiss. 
 
 " Soldiers ! " he exclaimed. Then muttering a 
 Spanish oath, he turned and retraced his steps. 
 
 Rapid as had been his passage of the stream be- 
 fore, it was leisurely compared to his present gait. 
 There was fear in his eyes as he dashed up the trail 
 beyond, and he glanced rapidly from right to left 
 as one seeking a sign. With a little sob of relief 
 he noted a small sapling, the top cut off and but 
 
 IS 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 one branch remaining. Turning into the jungle, 
 in the direction indicated by the branch, he forced 
 his way under and through the dense growth until 
 he reached a large tree. ' A look showed him a 
 large conch shell fastened to a limb above, and, 
 with an exclamation of satisfaction, he made his 
 way back to the trail. He halted, however, about 
 a yard from it, and lying prone, drew the vines 
 about him until just one eye could see through to 
 the path. 
 
 "How did they pass the traps?" he muttered. 
 " None but the initiated know the secret. It seems 
 impossible that any would dare it, but apparently 
 some one has betrayed us." 
 
 Now the sound of approaching men could be 
 heard, the tramping of many feet — the occasional 
 jingle of accouterments. From his concealment 
 the watcher saw a column of soldiers approach. 
 In the van was a young American, the insignia on 
 his rolling shirt collar showing him to be a lieu- 
 tenant of the newly-formed constabulary. Briskly 
 he walked, his brown eyes fixed ahead. His uni- 
 form was splattered with mud. On his right hip 
 hung a heavy Colt's forty-five, supported by a belt 
 filled with cartridges. 
 
 Following were half a hundred barefoot natives 
 in nondescript costumes. The only pretense of 
 uniform was the chevron on the arms of a few. 
 
 i6 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 In one respect, however, all were alike. Each car- 
 ried a Springfield carbine of the old type, and a 
 blue web belt stuffed with the two-ounce cartridges 
 used by the American Volunteers in the Spanish 
 War and in the earlier days of the insurrection. 
 
 They were a wild-looking crew. Savagery and 
 animal ferocity were the dominating features. 
 Some faces showed intelligence, a few traces of re- 
 finement and good nature ; but with the majority 
 an alertness of eye common to all beings, both hu- 
 man and animal, whose daily life depends upon 
 detecting the danger before it falls, was the only 
 sign that a mind governed the short heavy body. 
 
 Immediately following the oflBcer, and linked 
 by a handcuff to a burly Tagalog^ wearing the 
 chevron of a first sergeant of constabulary, was an 
 unarmed native. Of all the party he alone showed 
 fatigue, and that this was due to fear as well as to 
 exertion was indicated by the starting eyes and 
 quivering lips. As this man passed, the watcher 
 gave a start and his eyes narrowed. 
 
 "Jose Valdezl" he muttered. "Traidorl^ 
 You'll rue the day, and soon, that you took their 
 money or yielded to their tortures. You shall 
 wish you had borne all their minds could devise 
 before you betrayed your oath." 
 
 ' Tagalog — a tribe in the Philippine Islands. 
 ' Traidor — traitor. 
 
 17 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 He lay quietly for a while after the last of the 
 band had passed him, to assure himself that there 
 was no rear guard or stragglers. Not that there 
 was much chance of either. In the character of 
 warfare then racking the island of Samar, no com- 
 mander would risk sending out advance or rear 
 guards, unless he could spare a large force ; a small 
 force needs must be kept closed up to be prepared 
 to repulse the sudden rush of the bolomen from 
 the jungle. And there were no stragglers — to 
 straggle was equivalent to suicide. 
 
 When assured that the road was clear, the mes- 
 tizo drew back quietly, then crept to the tree and 
 climbed to the limb where the conch shell was 
 attached. A few seconds later a deep, clear note, 
 strong and penetrating, broke the silence. Listen- 
 ing, he heard after a minute what might be an 
 echo, then after a somewhat longer interval, faint 
 in the distance, a third blast. Smiling with satis- 
 faction, he descended, regained the trail and dashed 
 down it at full speed, halting at the turns to look 
 both ways and listen with keen ears to the noises 
 of the wilderness. 
 
 The column had advanced a scant two hundred 
 yards when the blast from the conch sounded be- 
 hind them. Instantly the officer halted, and half 
 crouching, drew his revolver, his eyes searching the 
 jungle to either side. He gave no command by 
 
 i8 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 word or siga, confident that his followers knew 
 what to do. With a rush the men closed upon 
 him, alternately turning to the right and left till 
 the little force showed a hedge of bayonets^ to 
 either side of the trail. The locks clicked as the 
 pieces were cocked. The bared teeth and flashing 
 eyes of the men showed them ready, even anxious, 
 for the expected attack. 
 
 But it did not come. Instead there sounded 
 another conch from far ahead, and then the third. 
 The tension relaxed. Hammers were lowered to 
 the safety and the butts of the pieces dropped to 
 the ground. 
 
 On the young officer's face was an expression of 
 anger and disappointment. He shook his fist in 
 the direction of the sound and started to order the 
 company back. A squad he dare not risk alone, 
 for he knew not what ambush might have been 
 prepared. His first sergeant, anticipating his 
 thought, shook his head. 
 
 " Useless, senor teiiiente," ^ he said, in Spanish. 
 " It would be like chasing a sunbeam. We are 
 discovered and might as well accept the situation." 
 
 " But the sound was very near." 
 
 " It may have been or it may not. There is lit- 
 
 > The Filipino soldier needs ,a short rifle ; the oharaoter of his work 
 requires a bayonet. The constabulary chiefs solved the problem by 
 modifying the carbine to hold a bayonet. 
 
 ' Tefiiente — lientenant. 
 
 19 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 tie difference between a few meters and a kilometer 
 with a practiced conch blower. I have seen too 
 many heartbreaking chases, all for nothing, not to 
 urge against the useless attempt. 
 
 " But you," he added, turning to his captive, 
 " you false-mouthed taker of money — I'll teach 
 you to make fools of the constabulary ! " 
 
 As he spoke he grasped the chain near the wrist 
 of the prisoner and, with a wrench, brought the 
 trembling man to his knees groaning in pain. To 
 his wild protests of innocence the sergeant paid no 
 attention. His face was convulsed with rage, and 
 his eyes gleamed red. 
 
 " Sergeant I " the lieutenant's voice was calm 
 though sharp. " Release the man." 
 
 The sergeant hesitated and turned. His wild 
 eyes met thoseof his officer with an expression of 
 rebellion which quickly died out as the haughty 
 confidence of the latter mastered him. 
 
 " I have told you that I can do my own pun- 
 ishing, and that there will be no torture by those 
 under my command. You forget that you now 
 serve the American government and are no longer 
 a follower of the Chinomestizo Paua." -^ 
 
 " Pardon, senor teniente, I forgot myself in my 
 anger. So much depended on our surprising them 
 
 • Fana, a half-blood Chinese and Filipino, was ^one of the cruelest 
 leaders of the insnrreotion. 
 
 20 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 in their cuartel.^ Now they know of our coming, 
 and I believe this dog of a Pulujane has taken our 
 money and then betrayed our plans." 
 
 " What say you, Valdez ? " 
 
 " Senor, I swear on my father's grave that I have 
 betrayed nothing. I am as innocent as yourselves 
 of any knowledge as to how our march was dis- 
 covered." 
 
 " Enough — I believe you. Now forward ! " 
 
 " Oh, senor, I beg of you to let me begone ! The 
 trail is now clear — there are no more traps. The 
 cuartel lies a scant eight kilometers ahead and you 
 cannot miss your way. But for me — the alarm is 
 given, senor, and soon there will be eyes at every 
 opening in the jungle. If I am discovered in your 
 company the brotherhood will wreak a fearful 
 vengeance. Let me go while I have yet a chance 
 of not being identified I " 
 
 The young American hesitated ; the piteous ap- 
 peal of the terror-stricken wretch wrung his heart, 
 and he knew the man had cause for his fear. Still 
 he could not afford to risk his men in the jungle 
 without a guide, and he, himself, was too new to 
 his task to feel sure that his instinctive belief in 
 the honesty of the man was justified. 
 
 He saw his sergeant watching his face narrowly, 
 awaiting his decision, and appreciated that he 
 
 > Cuartel — Spanish for barraok. 
 21 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 would weaken his control over his men if he 
 showed mercy at this time. So he hardened his 
 heart by the thought that many had died, both in 
 open fight and secret torture, in this war, and 
 turned an unrelenting gaze on his prisoner. 
 
 " You'll prove your faith by fulfilling your bar- 
 gain. You'll guide us to the cuartel where you 
 say the outlaw, Mendoya, has his rendezvous, and 
 beyond, if necessary. Forward 1 " 
 
 Again the column took up the march, the lieu- 
 tenant leading at an accelerated pace. He was 
 about to brush aside a vine that hung across the 
 trail when he was suddenly jerked back by the 
 sergeant. 
 
 " Do not touch it, senor teniente. Let me try it 
 first." 
 
 He stretched out his rifle, and, hooking the 
 shank of his bayonet in the vine, gave it a jerk. 
 There was a whang, and a streak flashed across the 
 trail a few feet ahead of them. A thud followed, 
 and when the men recovered from the start the 
 sudden noise had caused, they saw a long spear, 
 its steel point buried several inches in a tree, still 
 quivering with the force of the impact. Had the 
 sergeant not pulled the officer back, the latter 
 would have been transfixed. 
 
 " So there are no more traps, you double traitor !" 
 he said, bitterly, then speaking in the native tongue, 
 
 22 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " if it were not for the Americano, I'd strap you to 
 that tree and spring the trap again." 
 
 " I did not know — I did not know," protested 
 the prisoner. " It was the bogs and the pitfalls I 
 referred to, and they, at least, all lie behind us." 
 
 " Here, sergeant, send this man ahead. Secure 
 his hands with a piece of bejuco, and give him five 
 yard' lead. If his friends have prepared any more 
 traps, he can spring them himself" 
 
 The sergeant grunted his satisfaction, and, un- 
 locking the handcuff from his own wrist, drew the 
 prisoner's hands behind him and snapped the lock. 
 A soldier cut a bejuco vine, long, flexible as rope 
 and having the strength of a cable, passed one 
 end through a link in the chain and knotted it 
 securely. A touch with a bayonet started Valdez 
 ahead, and continual threats made him keep his 
 distance. 
 
 Seven of the eight kilometers had been covered 
 when once again the blast of a conch shell rang 
 through the forest. This time it was more than a 
 warning. Long and short blasts showed that the 
 blower was signaling a definite message. 
 
 " Where is that conch ? " asked the officer. 
 
 " Quien sabe, senor ? " ^ responded the sergeant. 
 " In this fog it is impossible to judge of direction. 
 We may be sure that it is in our rear, since some 
 
 • Who knows, sir. 
 23 
 
AN ARMr Bor 
 
 watcher by the trail has counted our numbers and 
 is communicating with those in the cuartel." 
 " I hope they will stop and give us a fight." 
 " No chance of that, mi teniente,^ unless they are 
 in force. They are more likely to slip around and 
 ambush us on our return." 
 
 The trail ended at the edge of a mountain stream, 
 or rather torrent. On the other side, seen dimly 
 through the fog, was a group of houses having grass 
 roofs and sides. Trailing down the stream was the 
 remains of a suspension bridge of strong bejuco vine 
 which had evidently been cut on the other side. 
 The men were crowding forward, and half of them 
 had reached the water's edge, when a ragged volley 
 whistling over their heads caused all to fall prone, 
 and to seek the shelter of the boulders that lined 
 the stream. 
 
 ' Mi tefiiente — my lientenant. The Filipinos have the Spanish onstom 
 of addressing their snperiors in this manner: my lieutenant or sir lien- 
 tenant, my captain, etc. 
 
 24 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 THE EESULTS OP THE RAID 
 
 There was a clicking of locks as the constab- 
 ulary men cocked their carbines, but a sharp com- 
 mand from their officer stopped the return fire. 
 Ammunition was precious, and his experience had 
 left the lieutenant with much less confidence in his 
 followers' marksmanship than in their courage. 
 Besides, there was no sign of the enemy, and a gen- 
 eral fusillade against the opposite bank of the stream 
 would advance them not a step toward their ob- 
 jective, and his men might get entirely out of 
 hand. 
 
 " Is there any way of crossing the stream ? " he 
 asked the prisoner. 
 
 " None near at hand," was the reply. " About 
 one kilometer above there is a crossing, difiicult but 
 possible, and a similar one the same distance 
 below." 
 
 " We'll try it. Sergeant Ferrandez, do you take 
 half the company and go to the southward, cross to 
 the other side and attack the camp from that direc- 
 tion. I will go to the north. Use your bayonets 
 — we must not fire into each other." 
 
 25 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 " 'Sta bueno,^ senor. But what is that ? " 
 
 Faint and distant, but still distinctly audible, 
 was the sound of a conch. A long blast, then four 
 short ones — a pause, then two short blasts, followed 
 by a single long one. 
 
 " Signaling again," said the lieutenant, " and 
 this time not for us. It may be Captain Andrews 
 and his party." 
 
 " Are the American soldiers out also ? " asked the 
 sergeant. 
 
 " Yes, Captain Andrews with his company from 
 Maling on the north coast, guided by Lieutenant 
 Kearny and a squad of our men, were to start from 
 their station a day before we started. It was in- 
 tended that we should unite here at dawn to-day, 
 but you know our delays. Theirs appear to have 
 been as bad, if not worse." 
 
 "Then that is why Lieutenant Kearny left 
 Katubig last week ? " 
 
 " Yes, but we must take steps to prevent these 
 fellows from crossing to this side. I'll remain here 
 to observe. Leave Sergeant Dominguez and two 
 men to act as messengers. Divide the balance of 
 the company into two parts and send them to the 
 fords. Have them drop a man every hundred 
 meters so that orders may be passed along the line. 
 It's the best we can do under the circumstances." 
 
 * 'Sta bneno — an abbreviation of esta hyigno, it is well. 
 26 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 These arrangements were rapidly carried out, 
 and soon the message was shouted along the line 
 that the fords had been reached, and that the out- 
 laws could not cross without a fight. 
 
 From the other side there had been no sign 
 since the first volley, and the lieutenant was un- 
 able to imagine what the enemy were doing. He 
 felt certain, however, that their well laid plan to 
 surprise Juan Mendoya's band of outlaws had mis- 
 carried. 
 
 This noted insurgent leader, escaping from the 
 American forces which had defeated and scattered 
 his band in Luzon, had crossed to Samar about 
 two months before, where he had rallied under his 
 command some two hundred renegades. With 
 these he had terrorized the interior barrios and the 
 smaller coast towns. That the man had spies every- 
 where was certain ; he seemed able to anticipate 
 the movements of the troops, and to be on hand to 
 take advantage of their absence from any place 
 where a raid would be profitable. Expeditions to 
 surprise and capture him had uniformly failed — 
 the only parties to come in contact with his force 
 were small ones, and, in general, it was they who 
 were surprised and cut to pieces. 
 
 It had been evident, also, that Mendoya had 
 support from unknown sources, as his men seemed 
 never to lack for food or ammunition. The ac- 
 
 27 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 tivity of this band alone prevented the full grant 
 of civil government to the island, which grant 
 would carry with it the opening of the ports to 
 trade. This would relieve at once the distress 
 among the poorer classes, who would then be able 
 to sell the hemp which now crowded the ware- 
 houses of the coast towns and hung from the raft- 
 ers of the wretched dwellings of the barrio folk. 
 
 These thoughts followed each other through the 
 young man's mind as he watched the stream and 
 listened for some sign of movement on the oppo- 
 site bank. The first sound, however, was a ring- 
 ing cheer, evidently American, and a minute later 
 the khaki-clad soldiers could be seen among the 
 buildings. In advance was a white-haired ofl&cer 
 in the uniform of a captain of regular infantry, 
 and with him a tall, slender young fellow with 
 blue eyes and curling blond hair. 
 
 The lieutenant arose. 
 
 " Hello, Harry ! " he called. 
 
 " How goes it, Don ? " was the answer. " Where 
 is Mendoya's gang?" 
 
 " They have given us the slip again, I fear." 
 
 Captain Andrews stood watching his men close 
 in from all sides without developing any sign of 
 their quarry. When the last panting, perspiring 
 squad had entered the clearing, tearing the leeches 
 from every exposed portion of their persons, he 
 
 28 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 took off his hat and threw it to the ground in dis- 
 gust. 
 
 " Of all the abominable luck ! " he exclaimed. 
 " Three days of the hardest kind of hiking and 
 not a thing to show for it. Search the houses, 
 men. Go over them with a fine tooth comb, and 
 see that nothing, not even a cartridge, escapes your 
 notice." 
 
 He turned across the river. 
 
 " Bring your men over, Mr. Page. I must hear 
 your report and decide our future movements." 
 
 " Very well, sir. And, captain, will you please 
 warn your men to preserve every scrap of paper 
 they may find. There may be something to show 
 who is backing these fellows." 
 
 " I'll see to it." 
 
 Half an hour later the two constabulary ofl&cers 
 were shaking hands, then Page made his report to 
 the captain. 
 
 " We left Katubig day before yesterday at dawn, 
 guided by the man Valdez. I am sure that no one 
 knew of our departure or suspected our destina- 
 tion. It was a frightful trip, and we could never 
 have found our way without a man who knew 
 every foot of the trail. There were traps and 
 pitfalls, and several times the trail apparently ran 
 straight ahead, when really we had to turn and 
 climb along a fallen tree twenty or thirty feet to 
 
 29 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 the side. To have gone straight on would have 
 meant getting into a deep bog, or stepping into a 
 covered pit with sharpened bamboo stakes in the 
 bottom. No one could suspect the existence of 
 these traps, so cleverly was the trail laid out and 
 the pits covered. We met with no interruption, 
 however, and were about five miles from here 
 when discovered. Until then I had been confident 
 of success." 
 
 " Can you find your way back ? " 
 
 "I believe so. At any rate I have still my 
 guide." 
 
 "I think I'll return with you. My men are 
 about all in — I never had a worse trip. Sleep was 
 almost impossible on account of the ground leeches 
 that infest this accursed island. But sit down — 
 you two youngsters must be pretty well played 
 out. You may trust my men to make a thorough 
 search." 
 
 " Just a minute, sir, until I notify my men to 
 prepare their dinner and to repair the bridge over 
 the river." 
 
 This duty attended to, Page returned to where 
 the others were resting. 
 
 " Handy fellows, those men of yours. Page," said 
 the captain. " Can you trust them ? " 
 
 " Well, sir, I do trust them — have to, in fact. 
 They are a queer crowd. Three-fourths of them 
 
 30 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 are fresh from the insurgent ranks. My first ser- 
 geant was a major under Paua — that half-breed 
 Chinaman and Filipino, who has ruled Southern 
 Luzon with fire and bolo for the past two years. 
 The sergeant controls the men with a heavy hand, 
 and so far I have controlled him." 
 
 " Pretty shaky discipline." 
 
 " Then I am gradually trying to attach some of 
 the men to me personally so as to lessen the first 
 sergeant's influence somewhat. One of them, Ser- 
 geant Dominguez, I already feel sure of — I think 
 he'd cut the first sergeant's throat if I gave the 
 word." 
 
 " Why don't you make Dominguez first ser- 
 geant?" 
 
 Page smiled. 
 
 " Why, captain, if I did that. First Sergeant 
 Ferrandez, and probably nine-tenths of the com- 
 pany would take to the hills with their rifles. 
 Then we'd have a second Mendoya, or worse, to 
 run down." 
 
 " Don't these fellows understand that they have 
 taken an oath to serve the American govern- 
 ment?" 
 
 " Probably not one in ten gives it a thought. 
 Remember the black ignorance the Spaniards kept 
 them in — little enough they were taught of the 
 sanctity of an oath." 
 
 31 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Yes, I suppose we cannot expect much at this 
 time." 
 
 "Why, sir, when I asked Dominguez why he 
 entered the constabulary service his answer was 
 characteristic and illuminating. ' Senor,' he said, 
 ' in the constabulary I have a good rifle, plenty 
 of ammunition and a chance to use both.' The 
 cause, you see, is nothing to him — he loves fight- 
 ing, authority and a soldier's life. But I see signs 
 of a big nature in him, and, as I said before, have 
 gained his personal affection and loyalty." 
 
 " Well, we old fellows are willing to let you 
 youngsters do that kind of work. I prefer to have 
 a hundred solid American soldiers at my back. I 
 wouldn't relish the idea of ranging this jungle, a 
 lone American in a crowd of ex-cutthroats." 
 
 " Still, captain, you must acknowledge that the 
 time has come when we must use these people if 
 we are to finish the insurrection. It has been 
 nearly a year since the enemy has made any effort 
 to stand and fight an American force. The present 
 situation might well last forever if we continued 
 our past policy." 
 
 " There's something in that — but have your men 
 discovered the identity of the mysterious ' Papa 
 Atta'^ as yet?" 
 
 ' Papa Atta — Pope Atta. It was customary for the insurgent leaders 
 and otheia to assume high religious titles to impress the ignorant natives. 
 
 32 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " No, they haven't, but I think they will in 
 time." 
 
 " I doubt it. That man, whoever he is, has a 
 wonderful influence over the poorer classes. He 
 has convinced them that he is a prophet and has 
 held direct communication with the Almighty. 
 Have you ever spoken to any of the principales^ 
 of Katubig about him ? " 
 
 " Yes, and among them, the presidente, Senor 
 Sanchez." 
 
 " Don Ramon ? There's a good man. What did 
 he say ? " 
 
 " Well, he didn't want to say anything, but 
 when I pressed him and asked if he honestly 
 believed this Atta had been in the presence of the 
 Divine Power, and had been ordained by Him as 
 pope of a new religion, he said that, while he 
 didn't really believe, nevertheless it might be true, 
 and that it was much safer not to commit oneself 
 to anything like an expression of disbelief. ' You 
 see,' he explained, ' if it turned out that he really 
 does come with a mission from God, I should be 
 forever lost if I set myself against him.' " 
 
 " There you are. If an enlightened man like 
 Ramon Sanchez is taken in how can you expect 
 the ignorantes to dare give information ? " 
 
 ' Frinoipales — what might be called the higher olaases among the 
 Filipinos. 
 
 33 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " We'll win them over by patience and hard 
 work. We know that Mendoya wouldn't last long 
 without Atta's moral support. I have explained 
 to the people that Mendoya's continued activity is 
 the reason of their inability to sell their hemp, 
 and their consequent poverty. And they are starv- 
 ing, captain ; only last week a crowd from the 
 barrios were in Katubig oifering hemp at a ridicu- 
 lous price. Don Ramon stopped some traders who 
 tried to take advantage of their distress, and made 
 them take it back. He told them that he hoped 
 to see the ports opened within a month, and in the 
 meantime gave them orders on the storekeepers 
 for the necessities of life, making himself respon- 
 sible for payment." 
 
 " The same condition exists on our side of 
 the island, only we have no such man as 
 Sanchez. Most of the hemp has been sold 
 at starvation prices,^ and we cannot find to 
 whom. The whole sit^ation leads me to suspect 
 that there is some clever brain directing the whole 
 a£fair." 
 
 " What do you mean, captain ? " 
 
 " I mean that some one is working to keep alive 
 the insurrection, and to maintain closed ports till 
 he has cornered the entire crop. Then he'll with- 
 draw his support from these poor ignorant chaps 
 who are fighting us, they will be forced to surren- 
 
 34 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 der, the ports will open, and he will make a thou- 
 sand per cent, on his investment." 
 
 " Hanging's too good for a man who would do 
 that," young Kearny broke in, indignantly. " I'd 
 give a month's pay to lay the rascal by the heels." 
 
 " Lots of us feel the same, but we regulars have 
 about given up hope. I'm curious to see if your 
 constabulary can do any better." 
 
 " So far our only success has been in getting this 
 man Valdez to guide us here. And he did it know- 
 ing the risk he was running. He was terrified 
 when he found our march had been discovered." 
 
 " How did you gain him over ? " 
 
 "Sergeant Ferrandez brought him to me. I 
 didn't investigate too closely into the sergeant's 
 methods. The man expressed his willingness to 
 come for a certain bribe, and the intolerable state 
 of affairs requires that we close our eyes to some 
 things in order to break the dead-lock." 
 
 " Had we captured Mendoya's band, I think the 
 American garrisons would have been withdrawn 
 at once. This fiasco will delay matters. But here 
 come my men with their finds. Not much, I 
 fear." 
 
 The capture was, indeed, a small one. Two rust- 
 eaten rifles, a revolver with a broken spring, a few 
 bolos and some loose ammunition. 
 
 " That outhouse is full of rice, sir," the sergeant 
 
 35 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 reported. " There's nothing else worth mention- 
 ing." 
 
 At this juncture the constabulary sergeant, Fer- 
 randez, approached and asked to speak with his 
 lieutenant. 
 
 " What is it, sergeant ? " 
 
 " Seiior teniente, these American soldiers are 
 great fighters, but they do not know the ways of 
 my people. I think your own men can find more 
 than they have." 
 
 " Captain Andrews, may I try a search with my 
 men ? " 
 
 " To be sure — and I'll come along myself to see 
 their methods. Sergeant, have the men prepare 
 their dinner and tell the cook to arrange a place 
 for the two constabulary officers to dine with me." 
 
 Kearny joined them, and Sergeant Ferrandez 
 called a dozen unoccupied men. The Filipinos 
 went about their task with a confidence that 
 promised some results. While the soldiers had de- 
 voted their time to the houses, these others started 
 at once toward a small banana grove, and scattered 
 through it, carefully examining each plant. 
 
 " See, senores," cried Ferrandez, laying his hand 
 on one of them. " This plant leans to the north 
 like all the rest, under influence of the winds we 
 have been having, but observe that the leaves grow 
 higher on the east side of this one, while with the 
 
 36 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 others they grow higher on the west. Careless 
 work — General Paua would have impaled one of 
 his soldiers who was guilty of so bungling a job. 
 We'll find something buried here." 
 
 Turning to two of the men he gave a guttural 
 order. They grasped the plant and drew it from 
 the ground with a slight effort ; it was plain that 
 it had been recently dug up and replanted. With 
 some scoops of split bamboo the hole left by the 
 trunk of the plant was enlarged, and, after a depth 
 of about two feet had been reached, a hollow sound 
 rewarded their efforts. A little more work served 
 to uncover a strong chest which required the com- 
 bined efforts of four men to lift. It was carried to 
 one of the houses. 
 
 " A clever trick and cleverly discovered ! " cried 
 the captain. 
 
 Encouraged by this success the men worked over 
 the entire grove but failed to find anything further. 
 After this they turned their attention to the houses. 
 The bamboo joists and supports of the roof were all 
 examined. Many were found with the webbing 
 knocked from between the sections, but nothing 
 was concealed within. 
 
 " A favorite place to hide rifles," commented the 
 sergeant. " Apparently they have carried theirs 
 all away. We'll try underneath — their ammuni- 
 tion will be there." 
 
 37 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Under his direction the natives systematically 
 went over the ground beneath the houses, thrust- 
 ing their long, pointed bolos into the soil. Every 
 now and then there would be a grunt of satisfac- 
 tion, and the sergeant would set a few men to work 
 at the point indicated. In this way eight ollas 
 (hand-made earthenware jars holding each about 
 four gallons) were uncovered. Inspection showed 
 them to be filled with cartridges. 
 
 " We always kept our ammunition so," re- 
 marked the sergeant. " They are protected from 
 the wet and, if the house is burned, come to no 
 harm." 
 
 " Things are looking up," said the gratified cap- 
 tain. " There must be sixteen or eighteen thou- 
 sand rounds there — probably all they had except 
 the little they carried away on their persons." 
 
 " Anything else, sergeant ? " 
 
 " Si, senor, they should have a large store of 
 canned goods, fish and dulces ^ mostly. Ah-h, in 
 the well, possibly." 
 
 Again the sergeant was correct in his surmise. 
 A constabulary man was lowered into the well, 
 and bucket after bucket load of tinned foods was 
 passed up. Finally the man called up that there 
 was nothing more. 
 
 "Rice, fish, dulces and ammunition; that will 
 
 ' Dnloes — sweets, usually preserved fruit. 
 38 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 be all, mi teiiiente, if, as I believe, you find money 
 in the chest." 
 
 " You have done very well, sergeant," said Page. 
 " Thank you." 
 
 The sergeant, puffed with pride over having 
 proved his value, saluted and retired. The officers 
 entered the building where the chest had been 
 taken. It was padlocked, but a few minutes only 
 were required to break the lock, and the lid was 
 thrown back. 
 
 A handsome uniform was first removed, the sun 
 and bar on the shoulder straps marking it as that 
 of a captain-general of the defunct Filipino Repub- 
 lic. Next there were some priest's robes, richly 
 embroidered. 
 
 " General Mendoya and Papa Atta," said Page. 
 " There can no longer be any doubt of their being 
 associated. Here are some papers." 
 
 There were several packages wrapped in oiled 
 silk. These he oflfered to Captain Andrews, who 
 directed him to open them. They were varied in 
 character, ranging from gaudy commissions in the 
 Filipino army and proclamations to the people, to 
 lists of names signed to agreements of some kind. 
 Being in the native dialect, no officer present 
 was able to read them. One form was followed 
 on many of the papers, and the word " abaca " ap- 
 peared on each. 
 
 39 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " ' Abaca ' is Spanish for hemp — the natives use 
 it as they do other Spanish words for which they 
 have no equivalent. These must be hemp con- 
 tracts ; will you take them, captain ? " 
 
 " No, Page, keep them for your senior inspector 
 — that hemp situation is one that peculiarly be- 
 longs to the civil government. What else have 
 we?" 
 
 " Money — there's a score of bags here." 
 
 It was not all money, however. One sack was 
 found to be jBlled with watches, bracelets, rings 
 and other trinkets. Several of the watches were 
 found to be marked with the names or initials of 
 officers of the American army. 
 
 " Stolen by house servants and turned in to the 
 ' cause,' " remarked Captain Andrews. " Well, my 
 boys, while I am sorry we didn't catch them nap- 
 ping, I no longer regret the hardships of the trip. 
 It would have been a great thing to have obliter- 
 ated the band, but, failing that, we have drawn 
 their teeth for a while, thanks to the shrewdness of 
 your men. Hereafter, in any discussion, I'll be 
 found arguing on the side of the constabulary." 
 
 40 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 DON OUTLINES A DARING PLAN 
 
 " How does it come that you two are not in the 
 regular army ? " 
 
 The speaker was Captain Andrews. He and the 
 two constabulary lieutenants were seated around a 
 blazing fire. The night had fallen with clearing 
 weather, and a long afternoon of rest, together with 
 two good meals from the captured stores, had done 
 much toward restoring them. 
 
 The captain had decided that the men should 
 have a good night's sleep under cover, and that 
 the following morning they would destroy the in- 
 surgents' cuartel and such stores as could not be 
 removed, then return to the coast. Sentinels had 
 been posted at all approaches to guard their camp 
 from possible attack, and the remaining men left 
 free to follow their own devices. 
 
 The constabulary soldiers to a man had retired 
 to the building set aside for their use, and, after 
 the native custom, had lowered the swinging 
 shutters of the windows and closed all the doors. 
 The American soldiers had built a large camp-fire 
 
 41 
 
AN ARMr Bor 
 
 near the river, and the sounds of their voices in 
 talk and laughter, varied by a good quartette sing- 
 ing " Sweet Rosie O'Grady," " Where my Sweet- 
 heart Lies in Sunny Tennessee," and other popular 
 favorites of the day, penetrated to where the offi- 
 cers sat. 
 
 " We are not of age yet," responded Don, to 
 whom the captain's question had been addressed. 
 " We did enlist for commissions, and were working 
 our way through the ranks, but when this oppor- 
 tunity for broader responsibilities was offered to us, 
 we took our discharges." 
 
 " You haven't given up the idea of the regular 
 service, have you ? " 
 
 " Not at all — our colonel gave us to understand 
 that we should rather help our chances if we made 
 good records here." 
 
 " What was your regiment ? " 
 
 " The Fourteenth Infantry." 
 
 " Are you the Page of whose exploits in China 
 we have heard so much ? " 
 
 "Well, sir, I didn't know that my reputation 
 was such that it had passed beyond my regiment. 
 I was Corporal Donald Page of Company ' H.' " 
 
 There was a subdued chuckle from Kearny. 
 
 " Such modesty ! " he mocked. " Why, captain, 
 he was hobnobbing with generals and colonels all 
 the time. I'm thinking that he was a much more 
 
 42 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 important personage as Corporal Page than he is 
 as a teniente in the constabulary." 
 
 " Seems to me you made something of a ' rep ' 
 yourself, my lad," said the captain, turning to 
 Harry. " Are you the famous Corporal Kearny 
 who led the foraging expedition from Yangtsun 
 and turned in a drove of camels to aid in the 
 transportation of army supplies ? " 
 
 Don burst into a laugh. His chum was silent 
 for a minute, then joined in. 
 
 " Guilty," he said. " Gee, I was a green one in 
 those days ! But, captain, honestly there was 
 only one camel, and I had picked up eleven mule 
 carts." 
 
 " I am glad I have met you boys ; I feel sure 
 that you'll do good work here. Do you like it? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, it is interesting and exciting, and the 
 pay enables a chap to send a little home each 
 month. The sight of your men, though, and the 
 songs that come to us from that camp-fire, bring up 
 memories that make me a bit homesick. Our 
 fellows in the ranks have a good time." 
 
 " Yes, I love the spirit of our men. They 
 grumble a bit at times, but are always ready for a 
 hike or a fight and a song when it is over. The 
 civil government people will find that they are tak- 
 ing out the backbone when they withdraw the 
 American soldiers." 
 
 43 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " True enough, captain," said Don. " But 
 there's another thing to consider. No one learns 
 anything by having another do his work for him. 
 The boy who uses a crib while studying Latin or 
 Greek may make better recitations for a while, but 
 it's the lad who digs down and hunts up the words 
 in the dictionary and the construction in the 
 grammar who really masters the subject." 
 
 " That's well put. Page. Is that your idea of 
 the experiment our government is making in these 
 islands ? " 
 
 " Not mine, sir. It is the view of the governor- 
 general and the other higher oflScials who are 
 making this up-hill fight, and I'mwilling to throw 
 my feeble efforts in with theirs. Certainly the 
 people can learn self-government only by trying 
 it." 
 
 " Then you think the time is ripe for the with- 
 drawal of military control ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, I think the sooner we make these 
 people stand on their own feet the better." 
 
 " What do you say to the return of the troops 
 to so many of the provinces from which they had 
 been taken? It looks like failure to me." 
 
 " There never was a baby who learned to walk 
 without a lot of tumbles, and many Teachings 
 out of the arms to the parents. Don't be dis- 
 couraged." 
 
 44 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " You argue well, my boy, and if we succeed, it 
 will be due to men like you. But how about 
 Spain and England and the other nations who 
 have tried to govern Orientals ? They found any 
 system of government, other than the strong hand, 
 a failure, and they have been at it for centuries." 
 
 " Because they failed is no reason why America 
 should. No, captain, as an ex-soldier I appreciate 
 the army view-point, and can understand the dis- 
 gust they feel when they see a province they have 
 pacified go into turmoil under the rule of their 
 citizen successors. Still, it's an episode that must 
 be passed through before we can arrive at greater 
 things." 
 
 " What do you think, Kearny ? " 
 
 "I think Page has the best of it, sir. And, 
 though his head is a little in the clouds on the 
 subject, in the main he is right. To be successful 
 our government must be altruistic, and, having put 
 our shoulders to the wheel, I say don't let's be 
 quitters. It's going to be a rough voyage for the 
 ship of state here, but I believe it will pay in the 
 end." 
 
 " In money ? " 
 
 " No, sir, in national honor ; I doubt if we ever 
 make many dollars out of the islands." 
 
 "Well, if I were a youngster I suppose I'd share 
 your enthusiasm, but a man nearing fifty is be- 
 
 45 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 yond the age to change his ways. Are you all 
 ready for the start at dawn ? " 
 
 " Yes, captain," replied Don. " But I have a 
 plan I'd like to propose." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " I'd like to remain behind with half a dozen of 
 my men, lie concealed until the return of the 
 band, and then surprise them." 
 
 " Why, my boy, Mendoya must have over a 
 hundred men." 
 
 " Yes, sir, but they'll probably drift back a few 
 at a time, and my hope is that he himself may re- 
 turn among the first. I do not like to return leav- 
 ing him at large." 
 
 The captain turned and looked at the young 
 man to see if his calm were assumed. It seemed 
 incredible that a man would volunteer in cold 
 blood for such an enterprise. But the youngster's 
 eyes met his frankly and seriously. 
 
 " Your plan is reckless in the extreme. It 
 would depend first on their not discovering that 
 you had not left with the column. Doubtless we 
 shall be watched." 
 
 " I have thought of that. We'll change shirts 
 with two of your men and they can march out at 
 the head of the constabulary men." 
 
 " We ? Have you two made this up between 
 you?" 
 
 46 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " No, sir, the plaa developed in my mind while 
 we have been talking. But I know Kearny — his 
 Irish blood is always aching for a Donnybrook 
 Fair." 
 
 " Go on with you, Don. I'm pure American. 
 But I acknowledge that the scheme commends it- 
 self to me." 
 
 "But suppose they should happen to return 
 from the direction you were concealed," objected 
 the captain. " They might discover you first." 
 
 " We'd have to chance that, sir. And since we 
 should be quiet and they moving through the 
 brush we could hear them approach and be pre- 
 pared." 
 
 " Even allowing that you surprised them, man, 
 you'd have to scatter them sufficiently to clear the 
 way to the bridge and across it, and then you 
 would have two days to travel through the jungle, 
 with all its traps, before you could reach safety. 
 And you are none too sure of the trail." 
 
 " I had counted on you for that. You can blaze 
 the way for us and leave signs at all doubtful 
 turns. Besides I depend on overtaking you at 
 your first camp, if not before. And, as to getting 
 through them, the surprise will assure that. I 
 and one other once started some two hundred 
 Chinamen on the run by taking them unexpect- 
 edly in rear." 
 
 47 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Well, have your own way about it. I am in 
 no sense your commanding officer ; if I were I'd 
 not authorize it. The risk is too great." 
 
 " You are my commanding officer as long as we 
 are together, captain. I want you to feel that, sir. 
 But there are two reasons for us trying this plan. 
 In the first place Mendoya and Atta must die before 
 we can hope to gain any hold over these people." 
 
 " That is certainly true." 
 
 " And the second reason is that a constabulary 
 officer cannot affiard to turn back unsuccessful at 
 this time. Our control of our men is too new — we 
 have not the iron-clad discipline of long custom. 
 They are a reckless gang, and must think their 
 leaders are even more so. General Allen, our 
 chief, told us when we came down here that our 
 play was to undertake any task that appeared, and 
 once started to hold on like bulldogs." 
 
 " Well, he certainly sowed in fertile soil. Young 
 men, you have my respect and best wishes. You'll 
 win your commissions — if you live — and you de- 
 serve them. I think I'll turn in and let you work 
 out the details of your scheme." 
 
 The captain walked over to the men's camp-fire 
 and gave his instructions for the night, and his 
 orders for reveille to be sounded at four. Then 
 saying good-night to the young lieutenants he re- 
 tired to the little house set aside for the officers. 
 
 48 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Have you picked your men yet, Don ? " asked 
 Harry. 
 
 " No — that is, not all qf them. I'll keep First 
 Sergeant Ferrandez ; he is a cool hand and is 
 strong as a bull. Dominguez is the best sergeant 
 to leave in charge of the company, but it would 
 break his heart to be left out of the fight. I'll 
 take those two, and also Corporal Nabato, who 
 seems a powerful and a resourceful man. We can 
 leave it to Ferrandez to select the other three. 
 We'll need sprinters, all right." 
 
 " Yes, I reckon the retreat from Bull Run was a 
 leisurely jaunt compared to what we'll do to-mor- 
 row. How about some sleep ? " 
 
 " I hate to turn in while the men are singing — 
 it brings back the old life. I seem to have been in 
 a dream since we struck this island." 
 
 " I know what you mean — a sense of unreality, 
 as though it were a stage play we were in. But I 
 wouldn't go back." 
 
 " Nor I. And I believe we shall grow fond of 
 these little chaps of ours. They need taming 
 badly, but with discipline, combined with strict 
 justice, they'll develop." 
 
 " The senior inspector is talking of organizing 
 another company and giving me charge of it. I'll 
 like that, but it'll be lonely, old timer, when we 
 have to live apart." 
 
 49 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 " I wonder when he'll be back from Manila. 
 These papers we have found will put him on the 
 track of this Papa Atta, I am sure. He's a wonder 
 with the natives." 
 
 " Yes, Captain Halstead is a good one. I heard 
 you spring some of his ideas on Captain Andrews 
 to-night — the old man was impressed." 
 
 " I did it on purpose. The army naturally feels 
 sore." 
 
 " Maybe we'll get rid of Mendoya, and Captain 
 Halstead will pick up a clue from these papers 
 that will enable him to lay Atta by the heels. 
 That would strengthen your arguments." 
 
 " It would, indeed. Well, the soldiei's have 
 gotten around to ' Good-Night, Ladies.' That 
 shows that they are at the end of their string. I 
 am rather drowsy myself." 
 
 " A year ago, Don, we'd not have been able to 
 sleep with such a job as to-morrow's ahead of us." 
 
 " Right you are. We are getting toughened,, all 
 right, compadre mio. But there's really very 
 little risk if we have any luck. They'll scatter 
 like sheep at our first volley, then we'll make a 
 dash for it. They'll follow, to be sure, but in that 
 dense jungle with only one trail we should be able 
 to hold them back. The real danger, of course, 
 is that some of them will be following our main 
 body and we'll be in between two fires." 
 
 SO 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Cracky ! I hadn't thought of that — we are 
 taking some chances." 
 
 " Well, the government is paying us a hundred 
 good dollars a month for doing that." 
 
 Half an hour later Captain Andrews, who had 
 been unable to sleep on account of thinking of the 
 risks his young friends were to run the next day, 
 stepped over and looked down upon them. 
 
 " Both sound asleep," he said softly. " Youth 
 and Courage clasped hands centuries ago and the 
 grip has never relaxed. Had my boy lived he 
 would have been like one of these. Heaven 
 guard them and grant that they come safely 
 through." 
 
 51 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE CONSTABULAEY SCOEES 
 
 The red dawn was illuminating the east as the 
 willing soldiers set fire to the houses that had 
 sheltered them for one night and their enemies for 
 many. The wet grass sides and roofs steamed and 
 smoked as the inflammable interiors blazed up. 
 Rapidly drying under the heat, soon all parts of 
 the flimsy structures were ablaze. The companies 
 formed, two sheepish looking soldiers taking the 
 places of the constabulary officers amid the jokes 
 of their comrades. The captain stood with his 
 back to the jungle near the point where the two 
 young Americans, with their half dozen native 
 companions, had concealed themselves prior to the 
 firing of the houses. He spoke his farewell in a 
 low tone. 
 
 " I'll go slowly, Page. Not so slowly as to 
 excite suspicion in the minds of any of the out- 
 laws who may be watching, but we will not cover 
 any more ground than we have to. I wish you 
 would give up this desperate venture." 
 
 " Don't worry about us, captain. Is all their 
 food destroyed ? " 
 
 52 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Yes. Rice thrown overboard and canned goods 
 into the fire." 
 
 " That's right. Good-bye, sir." 
 
 The column moved out. Laughing and joking 
 the American soldiers passed over the crazy bridge 
 that whipped and swung as they crossed it. 
 Silently their native allies followed them. Soon 
 the sounds were dimmed by the distance, then 
 died away. A total silence settled over the wilder- 
 ness as the rising sun looked down into the little 
 clearing, where a dozen piles of smoking ashes and 
 a withered banana grove marked what had been 
 the rendezvous of Mendoya's band. 
 
 Don lay on the damp ground, the moisture grad- 
 ually working its way through his clothing. He 
 had wormed his way backward feet first so as to 
 disturb the vines and branches around him as lit- 
 tle as possible, and had then carefully drawn the 
 brush together over the opening he had made. 
 Between the leaves he could command a view of 
 the clearing while no one in the open could have 
 detected his presence. 
 
 To his right lay Harry and three of the constab- 
 ulary men, to his left Sergeant Ferrandez and two 
 others, similarly concealed. Each man was alert 
 with ears strained to catch the first evidence of 
 movement within the forest though they expected 
 nothing for hours. 
 
 53 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 A rustling to their right made all turn in that 
 direction. A large lizard of the iguana species crept 
 from the brush and waddled awkwardly toward 
 what had been the company kitchen fire. Soon he 
 was joined by others, some of them four feet long. 
 They thrust their snake-like heads into the piles of 
 refuse in search of abandoned scraps of food. 
 Their presence gave the soldiers something to dis- 
 tract their minds and relieved the tension ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 " Drat the leeches I " muttered Harry, after half 
 an hour had passed. 
 
 " Hush ! " whispered Don. 
 
 " The blamed things are worming their way down 
 my neck," was the whispered excuse. 
 
 " We are all in the same boat, and must stand it. 
 I hope it will not be much longer." 
 
 Silence again save when one of the men, unable 
 to stand the pest longer, rustled the leaves slightly 
 as he rubbed his feet over his bare legs to rid them 
 of the blood suckers. Suddenly all were startled 
 by the sound of a conch blown near at hand. 
 
 " They are coming," thought Don, " and sooner 
 than I had dared hope." 
 
 The sound was repeated again and again from 
 various directions. The watchers forgot their dis- 
 comforts in the interest and excitement of the mo- 
 ment. Don could see the eyesof Ferrandezgleam- 
 
 54 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 ing red, as those of a wild beast about to spring 
 upon its prey ; the sergeant's breath came in little 
 gasps, and the powerful shoulders quivered in his 
 eagerness. The young officer was especially struck 
 by the contrast between the Filipino and the 
 American who lay on his other side. Kearny's 
 eyes had narrowed, his lips were pressed together, 
 and the suspense had paled his cheek slightly ; 
 otherwise he showed no evidences of excitement. 
 In the one was physical courage and an almost 
 animal lust for combat, in the other equal courage 
 perfectly controlled. 
 
 Don touched his lieutenant's shoulder. 
 
 " Watch the man next you," he whispered, " and 
 see that he does not fire without command. I'll 
 attend to Ferrandez. We'll have to trust to luck 
 with the others." 
 
 Harry nodded, and Don turned his attention 
 again to the clearing. After an appreciable in- 
 terval he saw the leaves of the jungle opposite him 
 open and a wild face appeared. The eyes turned 
 from one side to the other and then stopped as they 
 saw the feasting iguanas. Apparently satisfied that 
 no one was present, the newcomer parted the bushes 
 without further caution and forced his way 
 through. The lizards scurried for cover. 
 
 The man turned and called something in a gut- 
 tural tone. The jungle awoke to life. Chattering 
 
 55 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 carelessly a dozen other outlaws entered the 
 clearing. 
 
 A sound to his left attracted Don's attention. 
 Sergeant Ferrandez was advancing his rifle prepar- 
 atory to opening fire. Don grasped the lock 
 of the piece and sternly shook his head. He 
 was sure that none of the party was the leader, 
 Mendoya. 
 
 A second squad of insurgents appeared, and then 
 their numbers were continually increased by other 
 arrivals, singly or in small groups, until fully fifty 
 had collected. All were in a state of high excite- 
 ment in which rage was the most prominent fea- 
 ture. They ran from ash pile to ash pile, and more 
 than one was burned while endeavoring to pull 
 some of the cans from the embers. 
 
 Don maintained his grasp upon his sergeant's 
 rifle while he watched their movements. When 
 they found a few grains of rice scattered along the 
 river bank their transports of rage convinced him 
 that his men had, indeed, found and destroyed all 
 the food of their enemies. 
 
 By this time the number of the outlaws had in- 
 creased to seventy-five, about one-half being armed 
 with rifles or revolvers. One descended into the 
 well, and after a minute climbed out clutching a 
 single can of sardines. It was promptly snatched 
 from his hand and soon a fight was in progress be- 
 
 S6 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 tween half a dozen of them over the much desired 
 article. 
 
 A shout stilled the confusion as a half-blood, in 
 a gaudy but tarnished and dirty uniform, appeared 
 accompanied by a dozen followers better armed and 
 dressed than the mass. The respect, and even fear, 
 with which he was received marked him as their 
 leader. Don had no doubt that here, finally, was 
 the will-o'-the-wisp, Mendoya, and realized that his 
 moment had come. 
 
 The mestizo hurried at once to the banana grove, 
 and the way in which his hands opened and closed 
 as he noted the cavity where he had buried the 
 chest told of the importance of his loss. Thrusting 
 aside the men who had gathered around him, he 
 strode to one of the ash piles, which his heavy boots 
 enabled him to enter with impunity. He kicked 
 the ashes aside till he came to one of the holes 
 from which the cartridges had been dug. 
 
 With a bitter imprecation he turned to continue 
 the search. But his position, no longer surrounded 
 by his men, gave Don the chance for which he was 
 watching. Releasing his grip on Ferrandez' piece, 
 the young man advanced his revolver, and, clutch- 
 ing the barrel in his left hand to ensure the aim, 
 sighted carefully and pulled the trigger. 
 
 The insurgent leader staggered forward three 
 paces, then fell prone. From their concealment 
 
 57 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 the little band of constabulary men poured in a 
 rapid and effective short-range fire upon the de- 
 moralized ladrones, who, taken utterly by surprise, 
 scattered in all directions. The greater number 
 sought cover by plunging headlong into the jungle 
 from which they had just emerged ; a few, how- 
 ever, rushed to where their chief lay, and into 
 these Don and Harry emptied their revolvers. 
 
 " Now, men, to the bridge," shouted Don, as 
 they struggled into the open. " For your lives, 
 run!" 
 
 But the incident was not finished. A revolver 
 shot rang out when they were half-way to the 
 bridge, and Harry, looking over his shoulder, saw 
 that the ladrone chief had staggered to his feet. 
 Around him had rallied half a dozen of his fol- 
 lowers. Harry, who was leading the retreat, 
 halted and checked the rest. 
 
 " We must finish him," he gasped. " No use 
 leaving our work half done." 
 
 Led by the two Americans, the constabulary men 
 charged. Now shots began to be heard in the 
 brush as the outlaws, recovering from their sur- 
 prise, rallied. But they could not save their chief. 
 Ferrandez surged to the front in great leaps, hold- 
 ing his empty carbine in his left hand and a long 
 sharp bolo in his right. Warding a blow aimed at 
 him, he sprang in and buried the bolo in the chest 
 
 58 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 of the mestizo. His outlaw body-guard broke and 
 ran. 
 
 With the bullets whizzing around them the con- 
 stabulary men turned and fled. Harry entered 
 upon the bridge first, and it swayed wildly under 
 him. By now the firing of the enemy had become 
 heavy, though wild, and they dared not wait to 
 pass one at a time. Soon the whole party was on 
 the rickety structure, staggering as it shook be- 
 neath them. As Don left the bank a glance behind 
 him showed the outlaws breaking through the for- 
 est in pursuit. 
 
 Harry and Ferrandez had gained the opposite 
 bank, and the latter stood with his blood-stained 
 bolo ready to cut the supporting bejuco vines as 
 soon as the entire party crossed. Suddenly Do- 
 minguez, who was immediately in front of Don, 
 gave a cry, dropped his carbine, and fell. He 
 clutched wildly at the bridge, and his eyes, ap- 
 pealing, caught Don's for a second, then his hands 
 slipped and he dropped into the swirl below. 
 
 "Join Captain Andrews — don't wait for us — I 
 order it ! " shouted Don, and before Harry could 
 protest he had made a clean dive into the torrent. 
 Swimming with powerful strokes he remained be- 
 neath the water as long as possible. 
 
 When he came to the surface a look showed him 
 Sergeant Ferrandez and another of his men hack- 
 
 59 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 ing away at the supports of the bridge. It fell 
 with a splash just as a number of the insurgents 
 came to the opposite bank. 
 
 Dominguez was struggling weakly in the cur- 
 rent when Don, by overhand strokes, came up 
 with him. 
 
 " Senor," he said as the lieutenant grasped his 
 collar to support him, " senor, you should have let 
 me go." 
 
 " Nonsense," said the officer. " Here — have you 
 strength enough to hold on to my collar?" 
 
 " Si, senor teniente ; it was my leg that was 
 struck." 
 
 " Well, take hold, and help all you can. Valdez 
 said there's a ford below." 
 
 It was a wild swim. A dozen times they barely 
 avoided great boulders over which the water shot 
 in white foam. Twice they were sucked under by 
 whirlpools, and in one of these were separated, but 
 the gritty young American shook the water from 
 his eyes on regaining the surface and soon had 
 hold of his sergeant again. When the ford ap- 
 peared it turned out to be a number of great rocks 
 with intervals an active man might jump, and 
 through these the water rushed with frightful 
 speed. 
 
 Madly Don struck out to gain the bank. By 
 this time Dominguez was so exhausted that he 
 
 60 
 
HE MADE IT BY A BARE MARGIN 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 could barely hold on by using both hands. His in- 
 ert weight became more and more of a drag, and in 
 the wildness of his eyes Don saw the dawn of that 
 unreasoning fear that has caused so many times 
 the drowning of those attempting to save others. 
 He redoubled his efforts, calling up all his reserve 
 strength. Unless he could gain close enough to 
 clutch one of the vines that trailed into the water 
 from the bank, it would all be over. Once caught 
 in the torrent at the ford there would be no hope. 
 
 He made it by a bare margin. As he seized the 
 vine the current swung them to the shore. His 
 arms were wrenched by the strain, but soon he 
 could feel the ground under his feet, and, aiding 
 himself with the vines, he was able to drag him- 
 self and Dominguez to the shore, where both fell 
 gasping. 
 
 But it was no time for resting, and soon Don 
 rose to his knees. He leaned over Dominguez 
 to examine the injury. The blood ran from a 
 perforating wound in the lower leg, and a mo- 
 ment's inspection showed one of the two bones 
 had been broken by the shot. 
 
 " Chut ! " muttered Don. " This is a to-do." 
 
 " Leave me, teniente ; it is impossible that you 
 can carry me to the coast — it is impossible that 
 both of us can be saved, while alone you stand a 
 chance. Leave me, I beg you." 
 
 6i 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " No, sergeant, we don't do things that way in 
 the constabulary." 
 
 While speaking Don had taken out his first aid 
 package^ and torn off" the waterproof covering. 
 Using the antiseptic pads and bandages he dressed 
 the wound, then pressing the ends of the broken 
 bones into line, he made splints of some young 
 bamboo and bound them securely, tearing the heavy 
 triangular bandage into strips for the purpose. 
 
 This done he had a moment for thought, and 
 the need for thought dawned upon him for the 
 first time. His rescue of the sergeant had been 
 instinctive, and since his dive from the bridge 
 every moment had had its own call for action. 
 
 He realized that he was at least thirty miles 
 from the coast, in a mountainous country so 
 densely overgrown as to be almost impenetrable, 
 that the beasts and reptiles of the jungle were in 
 themselves a danger to a lone man, and that 
 within a mile were over a hundred blood-thirsty 
 outlaws who knew every foot of the country of 
 which he himself was ignorant. And in addition 
 he had a helpless comrade, whom his whole nature 
 made it impossible for him to abandon. 
 
 * First aid package — this is carried by each soldier in the field. It 
 consists of a heavy triangular bandage, two ordinary bandages and two 
 pads of gauze with safety pins for fastening. It is estimated that since 
 these have been supplied, deaths from wounds due to gangrene have been 
 redaced over fifty per cent. 
 
 62 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 His revolver he still had ; even in the struggle 
 with the current of the mountain stream he had 
 resisted the temptation to throw that off. But 
 they were without food. 
 
 As these thoughts were passing through his 
 mind he finished dressing the wounded limb, and 
 in spite of the sergeant's protests, swung him over 
 his shoulder and started along the poorly defined 
 path that led from the ford to the trail. While it 
 was easy to follow, as it had been kept more or 
 less open by occasional use, there were many places 
 where the vines had overgrown it, and to force his 
 way through them, burdened as he was, was a 
 difficult task. 
 
 But Don was naturally strong, and constant out- 
 door work had hardened his muscles and de- 
 veloped his endurance. Familiarity with hard- 
 ship and physical suffering had given to him a 
 spirit that would struggle on when many a man, 
 equally strong and capable, would have given up 
 thinking that the limit had been reached and that 
 further effort was useless. He appreciated the 
 difficulties of what he had undertaken to do and 
 realized that the chances were all against him, but 
 he was in no way daunted and his strength was 
 not sapped by indecision. 
 
 A third of the distance had been covered when 
 he heard a sound as of some one plunging through 
 
 63 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 the jungle ahead. Quickly he drew back into the 
 brush and crouched, drawing his revolver. A 
 minute later Harry, followed by three of the con- 
 stabulary men, appeared. 
 
 Don rose and stopped them. Ordering the men 
 to take turns carrying Dominguez he resumed the 
 route. 
 
 " Why did you not hurry on ? " he asked. 
 
 " I had no intention of abandoning you two," 
 answered Harry. 
 
 " It was my positive order that you should re- 
 join the main body," said Don. " Our chance of 
 gaining the shore was almost negligible, and that 
 we made it was a miracle. You had no right 
 to jeopardize the safety of the rest on such a 
 chance. Had we been drowned and your party 
 cut off and massacred, our triumph over the in- 
 surgents would have been reversed, as may yet be 
 the case." 
 
 Harry's eyes began to twinkle. 
 
 " Now, honest, Don, wouldn't you have done 
 the same ? " 
 
 " Oh, go on with you," said Don, his serious ex- 
 pression giving way to a laugh. " That's the worst 
 of having a friend for a lieutenant, especially when 
 he's a wheedling Irishman. We'll call it square 
 and say no more about it." 
 
 They were making rapid progress now and were 
 
 64 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 almost to the trail when a number of shots told 
 them that the crisis was at hand. Shouts in their 
 rear showed also that the pursuit by way of the 
 lower ford was being pressed. As they emerged 
 into the open they saw Ferrandez and Nabato 
 delaying the advance of a party of insurgents who 
 had crossed above. 
 
 " Take a guu and cartridge belt from one of the 
 men, Harry," cried Don. " We are rear guard. 
 Sergeant Ferrandez, take charge of the men and 
 carry Dominguez ; get along as promptly as pos- 
 sible. We will hold them." 
 
 Don and Harry knelt, facing in opposite direc- 
 tions and firing every time they had a fair shot. 
 When their men had reached the first turn in the 
 trail they fell back at a run to that point, and, 
 lying down, waited for the enemy to debouch into 
 the open. As the first of them appeared and 
 started in pursuit a well directed shot brought 
 him down, causing those in rear to hesitate. Two 
 more shots drove them into cover of the brush and 
 in a few moments the retreating constabulary men 
 had reached the next bend in the trail. 
 
 " We have them, Harry," said Don, with an ex- 
 cited laugh. " We are retreating much faster than 
 they can travel through the jungle, and can easily 
 keep them from rushing us down this narrow 
 trail." 
 
 65 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " A cinch I " was the answer. 
 
 All the morning and into the afternoon the run- 
 ning fight continued. Sergeant Ferrandez and his 
 men kept in the path beaten down by the passage 
 of the troops, thus avoiding the danger of impaling 
 a foot on the sharp pointed sugas. Used to bear- 
 ing heavy burdens, and relieving each other at 
 frequent intervals, the wounded man delayed them 
 very little. 
 
 The insurgents, punished at every attempt to 
 overtake them, soon became wary of the open trail. 
 That they still followed, however, was proved by 
 the occasional blast of a conch. Doubtless they 
 hoped that some sympathizers might be within 
 reach who would cut oflf the retreat. 
 
 But they were doomed to disappointment. For 
 just as the two lieutenants reached the last turn 
 before the stream mentioned in the opening chap- 
 ter of this story, there was a shout froija the party 
 whose retreat they were covering, followed by three 
 hearty American cheers. A minute later they were 
 in the midst of their friends who had halted here 
 for the noon meal. 
 
 " My dear boys," cried Captain Andrews, wring- 
 ing their hands, " I cannot tell you how glad I 
 am to see you. I had decided to retrace our steps 
 this afternoon and insist on your giving up your 
 wild plan." 
 
 66 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Not so wild, after all, captain," replied Don, 
 " All's well that ends well. For our one casualty 
 they must have a dozen, and Mendoya's race is 
 run." 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 DON RAMON SANCHEZ, PEESIDENTE MUNICIPAL^ 
 
 " There is Katubig, captain." 
 
 " So ? Well, I'm glad to see it, and I guess the 
 men are equally so." 
 
 It was two days after Don and his little party 
 had rejoined the main column. They stood at the 
 edge of a steep hill, looking down on the narrow 
 strip of level land that separated the mountains of 
 the interior from the sea. Around a small bay 
 that afforded the boats some shelter from the 
 storms clustered the dwellings of a small town. 
 They could see the massive stone church and con- 
 vent facing on the little plaza, and opposite it 
 the tribunal municipal and constabulary barracks 
 with the stars and stripes waving from each. At 
 one end were a number of shops, in the second 
 story of which the owners usually lived and one 
 of which Don and Harry had rented as quarters. 
 The other end was taken up entirely by a more 
 pretentious dwelling and its surrounding grounds. 
 Here lived Don Ramon Sanchez, municipal presi- 
 
 1 Eaoh nmiiicipality in the Philippines has a. preaideate (president), vioe- 
 Diesidente and the oousejales (town connoilois). 
 
 68 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 dente, and his only child, a daughter of eighteen. 
 She was renowned for her beauty and sprightly 
 wit, he for his wealth, his devotion to the Amer- 
 ican cause and his open hospitality to rich and 
 poor alike. Though rated as Filipinos, and all 
 Filipino in feeling and ideas, their appearance 
 indicated a preponderance of Spanish blood. 
 
 " The place looks clean and well kept," said the 
 captain. " Sanchez makes a good presidente, I 
 have heard." 
 
 " Yes, he labors all the time for the welfare of the 
 people ; his election was practically unanimous." 
 
 " Have you any accommodations for my men ? " 
 
 " I had thought of that," answered Don. " I do 
 not suppose they would care to go in with my 
 men, though they would be welcome. But I know 
 the presidente will give them the use of one of his 
 warehouses, and you must make your home with 
 us, captain, till the boat comes for you, that is, if 
 Don Ramon doesn't carry you off." 
 
 " I'd prefer to stay with you." 
 
 " And we to have you. But he considers it his 
 prerogative to entertain all visitors of note, and I 
 must confess you'll be more comfortable there. 
 Wait until you see him, then decide as suits you." 
 
 The captain gave the signal and the column 
 started down the hill. As they became exposed 
 to view from below they were evidently sighted, 
 
 69 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 for there was a stir in the town and people could 
 be seen running to and fro. Soon they saw a 
 party emerge from the presidencia^ and hurry 
 down the main street toward the point at which 
 they must enter the town. 
 
 As they approached the outskirts a band struck 
 up, making up in individual effort what they 
 lacked in numbers. A band, if there be only six 
 musicians, is an invariable appendage to every 
 town in the Philippines. Katubig, having eleven 
 pieces, was justly proud of hers. 
 
 When the head of the column halted at the edge 
 of the town it was met by a party of natives all 
 clad in immaculate white. Don did the honors, 
 introducing the captain to the presidente, the 
 vice-presidente and the town council. 
 
 " I welcome you to our little city, captain," said 
 the presidente, removing his hat and bowing low 
 as he offered his hand. " And you, my two good 
 friends, I welcome back to our midst after your 
 daring and successful exploit." 
 
 The three Americans exchanged glances. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked Don. 
 
 " Modesty is becoming both to courage and to 
 youth," answered Don Ramon, smiling. " But to 
 lie concealed with less than a dozen men in Men- 
 doya's stronghold, and to attack him when he had 
 
 ' Presidencia — office of the municipal presidente. 
 70 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 a hundred against you was little, if anything, lees 
 than heroic." 
 
 " By Jove ! How did you learn this ? " 
 
 " Do not ask me the source. It was told me by 
 a policeman, who had it from his wife, who states 
 that a market woman from one of the barrios told 
 her this morning. We have not been able to 
 identify the market woman as yet." 
 
 " That's going some," said Harry. " I thought we 
 had traveled fairly well and by the only good trail." 
 
 The presidente's face grew grave. 
 
 " Gentlemen, my people's underground method 
 of communication is a system I myself am unable 
 to understand. But in this case it has been a re- 
 versal of the adage that ' bad news travels fast,' so 
 we must not complain. What think you, captain, 
 have we the right to hope that this will open our 
 ports for trade ? " 
 
 " I shall recommend it, senor presidente, and 
 believe that if we can maintain peace for a few 
 weeks, your troubles will be at an end." 
 
 " Heaven grant it ! The poor are becoming 
 poorer every day, and no man of heart can view a 
 continuance of the present condition without grave 
 dread of the future. But enough of the unpleas- 
 ant things. Katubig is en fiesta."^ 
 
 " You are very kind in your welcome." 
 
 ' En fiesta— literally in feast, equivalent to "this day we celebrate." 
 
 71 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " It is a pleasure, seiior. I have taken the 
 liberty of ordering a warehouse to be put in readi- 
 ness for your troops, captain, and have instructed 
 such refreshment as our poor town aiFords to be 
 prepared for them. And you, captain, will do me 
 the honor of being my guest." 
 
 " I thank you, Don Ramon, for your thought of 
 my men, but for myself I have already accepted 
 the invitation of my friends here." 
 
 " But I cannot permit that, sefior, and I am sure 
 they will not insist — to them the society of an 
 American oflBcer is no rare thing, while to me it is 
 an event always treasured in memory, Consejal 
 Mandoc, here, will lead your troops to the ware- 
 house — he will have charge of their entertainment, 
 and I have all prepared for you." 
 
 " But my condition, seiior presidente ; I have not 
 a stitch of clothing except what I stand in." 
 
 " All thought of, captain. I have, in fact, white 
 uniforms of various sizes always on hand for such 
 emergencies, and if you will accept the use of them, 
 can have your present garments washed and ready 
 for the morning." 
 
 " After so much thought of me I cannot but ac- 
 cept. First, hoAvever, I must go to the telegraph 
 oflBce and report." 
 
 " As to that there is a message now awaiting you 
 at my house." 
 
 72 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " No one knew I was to be here." 
 
 " I telegraphed myself this morning when news 
 was received of your successful expedition and that 
 you were all coming here. Doubtless the telegram 
 at the house is the result of that." 
 
 " You have thought of everything, senor. You 
 would make a great general. Well, good-bye for 
 the present, youngsters." 
 
 " The young men must dine with us to-night, 
 captain. My daughter will wish to see them to 
 arrange a baile ^ in your honor." 
 
 " Thank you, Don Ramon ; we shall be glad to 
 come." 
 
 Leaving the captain with the hospitable official, 
 Don and Harry marched their men to the cuartel. 
 The former made a short address, complimenting 
 the men on their behavior throughout and stating 
 that the expedition would bring honor and prestige 
 to the constabulary. The men broke ranks with 
 cries of " Viva la constabularia 1 " " Viva los ten- 
 ientes ! " 
 
 "Hello, Juan!" "Hello, Felipe!" said the 
 young officers as they were greeted by their smil- 
 ing muchachos.* " Get these clothes off us and 
 prepare the baths." 
 
 It was luxury to settle into the long cane chairs 
 while the servants removed their leggings and 
 
 1 Baile — a danoe, ' Mnohsushos — boys, bonse servants, 
 
 73 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 heavy boots and put slippers on their feet. It was 
 even pleasanter when they emerged, dressed in 
 light wrappers and glowing from their cold baths 
 and rub-downs. They were thoroughly tired, 
 however, and after notifying their muchachos to 
 prepare white uniforms for the evening each 
 sought his bunk. 
 
 " Say, Don," said Harry, as he stretched out 
 with a sigh, " you have surely got this company 
 in the hollow of your hand." 
 
 " Think so ? " 
 
 " Sure, and you know it. That Sergeant 
 Dominguez follows you with his eyes as a dog 
 does his master. He has cause to, of course, but 
 he'd lay down his life for you smiling. And the 
 others are almost the same. You needn't fear 
 Ferrandez' influence any more." 
 
 " Never did fear it," said Don, drowsily ; " let's 
 snooze." 
 
 Four hours later two dandies, little resembling 
 the mud-stained, ragged officers who had entered 
 the town that afternoon, emerged from their house 
 and started across the plaza. Dressed in spotless 
 white from head to foot, clean shaven, each grasp- 
 ing in white gloved hand a little " swagger-stick," 
 they were the American officer par excellence. 
 Harry was the taller, Don somewhat broader in 
 shoulder and deeper in chest. Both were in the 
 
 74 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 pink of condition and moved with a grace and 
 ease that spoke of perfectly balanced muscles and 
 great reserve force. 
 
 So thought the young woman who observed 
 their approach through the sliding blinds of the 
 presidente's residence and who hastened to put the 
 finishing touches to her toilet. 
 
 " Come in, friends, come right in," said their 
 host, welcoming them at the stairs leading up to 
 the broad veranda. 
 
 " You look very fit, young men," said Captain 
 Andrews, who reclined in a long easy chair. " You 
 will excuse my getting up. Don Ramon has 
 made me so comfortable that I feel like never mov- 
 ing again." 
 
 Sanchez clapped his hands. 
 
 " Limonada," he called to the servant who ap- 
 peared. And when the lemonade had been brought 
 he added — " It is a most refreshing and harmless 
 drink. I wonder that so many prefer the alcoholic 
 drinks in our hot climate. The young men, cap- 
 tain, I have noted, never take anything containing 
 alcohol, nor do they use tobacco. Unless," and he 
 ofiered a box of cigars, " they have learned since 
 they last honored my poor house." 
 
 " No, thank you, Don Ramon. We have no desire 
 to learn the love of tobacco, then suffer the lack of 
 it out on the trail." 
 
 75 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Wise young men. But 1 have a disappoint- 
 ment which I know you will share. There will be 
 no baile on this visit of the captain," 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " He leaves us to-morrow." 
 
 " So soon, captain ? " 
 
 " Yes. The presidente's message brought prompt 
 action. I am ordered to close up my station at 
 Maling and move to Balika. We shall organize a 
 municipal government there — the one at Maling 
 is in fair running condition. The boat will be here 
 to-morrow morning." 
 
 " I am sorry to see you going so soon, but we shall 
 be nearer neighbors." 
 
 " Yes. Balika is only about eight hours by the 
 trail." 
 
 " Here comes my daughter Inez," said the presi- 
 dente, a note of pride in his voice. 
 
 And it was justifiable. In her brilliantly colored 
 costume, her beautifully rounded neck and arms, 
 her smooth skin not too dark to show the blood in 
 her cheeks, with dark soft eyes and a wealth of 
 black hair in which nestled an orchid, she was a 
 sight to gratify a parent's eye. The captain rose 
 and bowed over the little hand she gave him and 
 expressed his pleasure in the meeting. Then he 
 stood back with twinkling eyes to watch the young 
 men. 
 
 76 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Harry was first to claim her attention. 
 
 " A los pies de usted, senorita," ^ he said with an 
 extravagant bow. 
 
 " Besa usted la mano, caballero," ^ she replied, 
 bowing even lower and with exceeding grace. 
 
 Then when the young scamp started to take her 
 at her word she drew back with a little shriek and 
 took refuge behind a chair. 
 
 " Welcome, Don Don," she said laughing at the 
 play on his name, a joke that was as old as their 
 acquaintance. " Welcome again to our midst. 
 My father has told me of your deeds. Father loves a 
 brave man, and," with an arch look, "it was always 
 said his daughter resembled him in character." 
 
 Don sprang forward at the challenge, but the 
 little coquette rushed into her father's arms, from 
 which point of vantage her eyes still dared him. 
 
 " Little daughter, little daughter," he said, 
 fondly stroking her hair, " I fear me you are 
 over bold. I miss your mother's care of you more 
 now than I did even in your childhood." 
 
 " But, father, how can either of them take what 
 I say to himself? Are they not both brave? 
 Many a girl has looked toward one man while 
 hoping her words would reach another," and she 
 turned her dark eyes on Harry. 
 
 * The Spanish form of greeting — " At your feet, yonng lady." 
 s " You may kiss my hand, sir." 
 
 7? 
 
AN ARMY BOY 
 
 The captain thoroughly enjoyed the little play. 
 Deep chuckles of appreciation at the evident em- 
 barrassment of his two young friends shook his 
 frame. Don Ramon also had to laugh at the ease 
 with which his daughter remained mistress of the 
 situation. 
 
 " Incorrigible," he said pinching her ear. 
 " Run along now and see that the dinner is 
 served." 
 
 A long pleasant evening followed. After dinner 
 they assembled on the porch and Inez had her 
 harp brought out into the moonlight. She sang 
 them the songs of Spain and the Philippines. 
 Harry, who had a sweet tenor voice, catching the 
 refrain now and then accompanied her. About 
 nine o'clock they were surprised by a quartette 
 starting up in the garden. The American soldiers, 
 grateful for the hospitality shown them, were of- 
 fering them a serenade. With ready skill Inez 
 followed the tunes with an accompaniment on her 
 harp, and would alternate with them in the sing- 
 ing. 
 
 Refreshments were sent out to the soldiers. 
 The presidente and the captain, seated in their 
 easy chairs, were enjoying the entertainment 
 thoroughly. Suddenly in the midst of one of the 
 songs it abruptly ceased, and a soldier was heard to 
 cry out : 
 
 78 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Here, come back here, hombre.^ I don't want 
 your blooming box." 
 
 " What is it ? " called Captain Andrews. 
 
 " Why, sir, while we were singing, a native 
 stepped out from behind a bush, dumped a box 
 about a foot square at my feet, then ducked." 
 
 " Bring it here." 
 
 The soldier complied. The box was as described, 
 and was securely wrapped in heavy paper and tied 
 with twisted hemp. 
 
 Sanchez struck a match. 
 
 " Why, it is addressed to you, Captain Andrews," 
 he said. " Let us take it inside and open it. 
 Some gift, I presume." 
 
 " I don't know who could be sending me a gift, 
 but we'll soon see." 
 
 They entered the sala ^ and placed the box on a 
 table in the light of a strong lamp. 
 
 " See here," cried Don. " Look in the corner ! " 
 
 All read the words " With the compliments of 
 Papa Atta." 
 
 " Retire to your room, Inez," said the presidente. 
 
 With a hasty good-night his daughter obeyed him. 
 
 " Do you fear an infernal machine ? " asked 
 Captain Andrews. 
 
 ' Hombre — man. 
 
 * Sala — a large hall and reception room combined ; every house of any 
 size iu the Philippines has one. 
 
 79 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " No," replied Sanchez, his voice trembling 
 slightly and his face ghastly in the lamplight. 
 " Papa Atta's enemies, and he probably counts you 
 all among them after your recent work, do not die 
 sudden deaths. I do not know what to fear, but 
 thought a woman should not be present when this 
 was opened." 
 
 All stood hesitating. Finally Captain Andrews 
 drew his knife and, with a quick motion, cut the 
 cord. A minute more served to remove the paper 
 and the cover. A pile of hemp, on which some 
 red stains were visible, appeared. Captain An- 
 drews raised the box and inverted it. The con- 
 tents fell on the table and from the hemp rolled a 
 human head, stopping face upward. 
 
 On the forehead of the distorted face the word 
 Traidor had been branded with a hot iron, the 
 letters going through the flesh to the skull. In 
 spite of the disfigurement Don recognized it in- 
 stantly. 
 
 " The guide ! " he gasped. " Jose Valdez I " 
 
 80 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 IN DOUBT AND DANGER 
 
 The little steamer tied up at the shaky wharf, 
 and the mate, a bundle of papers in hand, stood 
 at her side checking the freight as the Filipino 
 crew landed it. 
 
 " Eighteen boxes of clothing, seven of rations, 
 four of ammunition and 'one of equipments for the 
 first company, constabulary of Samar. Sign the 
 manifest, lieutenant, if you please." 
 
 " Right," said Don. " And I'm glad to get 
 them, especially the uniforms for the men. Is 
 there anything else ? " 
 
 " Yes, a sack of mail and three packages for 
 the presidente." 
 
 " I'll sign for them. Seiior Sanchez left town 
 early this morning on pressing business." 
 
 " O. K. Now, Captain Andrews, if you'll get 
 your men aboard. The boat is under your orders, 
 I believe, after we clear from here." 
 
 The captain gave the necessary orders for the 
 embarkation of his company, then he and Don 
 strolled out of ear-shot. 
 
 8i 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " I leave here with a distinct feeling of forebod- 
 ing, Page," he said. " The prompt and horrible 
 vengeance of the man Atta takes from me all sat- 
 isfaction in our successful expedition." 
 
 " It certainly shows that he has a powerful or- 
 ganization, and that his power extends even into 
 our garrisoned posts. It was two o'clock when I 
 dismissed Jose Valdez, and it was not eight hours 
 later that the package was delivered to an Amer- 
 ican soldier in the presence of three American offi- 
 cers and the presidente of this town." 
 
 " We evidently have our work cut out for us ; but 
 some time that fellow Atta will make a slip. Are 
 you taking any steps ? " 
 
 " Yes, I have two of my men tracing Valdez' 
 movements after he left us. Presidente Sanchez 
 intimated that his own sudden departure was con- 
 nected with the crime, but I have little hope as 
 far as he is concerned. He is as afraid of Atta as 
 any ignorant tao." 
 
 " Stay with it, my boy ; it's you and your men 
 who must solve this mystery. I'll be within reach 
 by this time next week, and we will keep in touch." 
 
 " Yes, I'll visit you as soon as I learn that you 
 are settled. It is my intention to start an expe- 
 dition to Balika to-morrow, clearing the trail, 
 which used to be well traveled." 
 
 " My men are aboard and I must go. Good-bye." 
 
 82 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Good-bye, captain. Kearny is away on a 
 patrol of the barrios, or he would have been down 
 to see you off." 
 
 The days that followed were busy ones for the 
 two young officers. They issued the uniforms to 
 the men, and the local tailors had a burst of pros- 
 perity in altering them to fit. Taking advantage 
 of the new spirit which animated the company, 
 the officers drilled the men several hours a day, and 
 a marked increase in military bearing and soldierly 
 alertness rewarded their efforts. They were hand- 
 icapped by the necessity for constant patrolling and 
 the work of trail clearing, which took a large num- 
 ber of their men daily, but the progress was none 
 the less gratifying. 
 
 Don had received a letter from the senior in- 
 spector of the province. Captain Halstead, which 
 disappointed him greatly. The captain had been 
 retained in Manila on organization work, and 
 wrote that Page and Kearny would have to carry 
 on the details in Samar for some time longer. On 
 his return, he added, there would be some new 
 companies formed, and Kearny would be placed in 
 command of one of them. 
 
 Don felt the responsibility of his present position. 
 He knew that he lacked his senior's experience 
 and judgment. He felt sure that the death of 
 Mendoya and the scattering of his band (for lack- 
 
 83 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 ing food and ammunition, they must have scat- 
 tered) was an opportunity to put an end to the or- 
 ganized outlawry in the island. But what to do 
 he could not decide. Aimless expeditions into 
 the wilderness had been tried, and had resulted in 
 wearing the men out with no return. He believed 
 that the only way was to capture the guiding 
 spirit of the insurrection, and he had a feeling that 
 somewhere among the captured papers could be 
 found the clue. 
 
 But his careful study of them brought no light. 
 Such as were in Spanish he understood, but they 
 were unimportant. Some of the other papers were 
 signed by natives known to him, but the meaning 
 of the text he was unable to fathom. Several times 
 he started to call in the men of his company enlisted 
 in Samar and have them translate the papers for 
 him, but decided that it was too grave a responsibil- 
 ity for him to take ; he believed his men faithful, 
 but dared not take the chance of even one of them 
 being under Atta's influence. No, the matter 
 must await the senior inspector's return. In the 
 meantime he would get his company in as perfect 
 condition as possible, and maintain law and order 
 within the radius his strength of command per- 
 mitted. In this decision Harry's judgment con- 
 firmed him. 
 
 On the fourth day after the departure of the 
 
 84. 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 American company Presidente Sanchez returned to 
 town. He was worn out and looked more worried 
 than Don could remember having seen him in 
 their acquaintance. Of the details of his trip he 
 had little to say, except that it was a failure. The 
 morning following his return he came to Don's 
 office. 
 
 " Captain Andrews told me that you had cap- 
 tured some papers," he said, " and advised me that 
 I might be of some assistance in their translation. 
 I have called to place myself at your service." 
 
 " Thank you, Don Ramon. We have some in 
 the safe that I should be glad to know the mean- 
 ing of, and there can be no harm in my letting you 
 see them." 
 
 " Surely not. We are all working for the same 
 end. You may trust my discretion." 
 
 Don opened the safe and handed the bundles to 
 Sanchez, who opened them eagerly. For an hour 
 he studied them carefully, going over some several 
 times. The American sat and studied his face as 
 he read. Finally Sanchez leaned back in his chair 
 and wiped his forehead. 
 
 " Many are in a language unknown to me, though 
 there are some words in common with my own 
 dialect that give me an idea of their drift. There 
 are many hemp contracts, but the exact agreement 
 I cannot determine. Then there are some I can- 
 
 85 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 not understand at all. They may be pledges to the 
 insurgent cause, but some of the signatures are of 
 men I have always trusted. Wheels within wheels 
 — who is one to trust in Samar now ? " 
 
 " I had thought of bringing in some of my 
 men " 
 
 " Do not, senor teniente, I beg of you. There 
 may be an important secret here, and a soldier 
 could not be trusted not to breathe it in his sweet- 
 heart's ear just to prove to her what a great man 
 he is. It would be most unwise." 
 
 " So I decided." 
 
 " When will Captain Halstead return ? " 
 
 " Not for a month." 
 
 " It is a long time. I suggest that you let me 
 take these papers with me. I think I can have 
 them translated by a trustworthy man." 
 
 " Impossible, Don Ramon. I could not let them 
 leave my charge." 
 
 The presidente looked deeply offended. 
 
 " Why, teniente, I will guarantee the man I pro- 
 pose to employ." 
 
 " No, my friend, I thank you and know you 
 mean for the best, but this responsibility is mine, 
 and I cannot share it." 
 
 " This looks as though you lacked confidence in 
 me," and the presidente rose. 
 
 " No — no. Not in your intent. But how can I 
 
 86 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 tell that this Papa Atta might not get wind of the 
 fact that these papers are in your hands, and serve 
 you as he did Valdez?" 
 
 "There is little danger of that, teniente, and 
 what there is I, as a public official, must take." 
 
 " But I shall not permit you to. You must not 
 be offended, Don Ramon. Here these papers are 
 in a strong safe heavily guarded at all times. Here 
 they remain till their contents are known." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right." 
 
 "I knowl am. Why not bring your friend here?" 
 
 " He would not come. I am sure the man I 
 have in mind would not dare come. He is affiliated 
 with Papa Atta, but I believe is devoted to me ; it 
 would, however, be asking too much of him to risk 
 having his visit to your office reported to Atta." 
 
 " Well, try it at night. Ask him to come 
 secretly." 
 
 " I'll try it, teniente. Well, good-day." 
 
 " You are not offended, Don Ramon ? " 
 
 " Not at all. A little hurt for the minute, but it 
 has passed. Pray visit us frequently. " 
 
 And with his usual cordial smile he departed, 
 leaving Don decidedly uncomfortable. He was on 
 the safe side, but was he not missing an excellent 
 chance to get at the bottom of the situation ? 
 
 That evening he called at the house across the 
 plaza, and was so pleasantly received that all idea 
 
 87 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 of his friend having taken offense passed from his 
 mind. Don Ramon told him that he had a serv- 
 ant out looking for the man he had in mind 
 to translate the papers, and hoped to be able to re- 
 port results the following day. 
 
 " I wish the senior inspector were here," said the 
 presidente as Don was leaving. " If those papers 
 prove that the men who signed them have been 
 supporting Mendoya, we shall confront a serious 
 problem. I should like his judgment on the 
 matter." 
 
 " I shall cable him in such event, and delay ac- 
 tion till advised by him. Probably he will hurry 
 back." 
 
 Don strolled slowly back to his quarters. The 
 night was calm, and he could hear Harry strum- 
 ming away on a guitar. As he entered the door 
 opening upon the steps leading to the floor above 
 something flashed by his head, struck the wall a 
 ringing blow, glanced, and brought up against the 
 stairs with a thud. 
 
 Instinctively he ducked and sprang forward. 
 In the dim light that filtered down from above he 
 could see a steel-pointed arrow quivering in the 
 step. He pulled it out and mounted the stairs. 
 Harry was still playing softly. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " asked the latter at the 
 sight of Don's face. 
 
 88 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Some one has just tried to murder me," replied 
 Don, holding out the arrow. " Get out of line with 
 the windows, and I'll tell you about it." 
 
 Harry's indignation when he heard what had 
 happened was beyond bounds. 
 
 " Whoever it was feared to use a rifle on account 
 of the report," he said. " A bow is silent. But I 
 dp not think there is any further danger. The 
 man is probably running yet." 
 
 " I don't think so — the arrow came from the 
 direction of our barrack." 
 
 The two young men's eyes met for a full minute 
 in silence, then Harry drew a deep breath. 
 
 "Are you sure?" 
 
 "Positive. You see it came through the door 
 and struck against the wall. There's no other 
 place for it to come from except the presidencia, 
 and that is locked at dark each day." 
 
 " Well, get into khaki — you make too good a 
 mark in that white — and let's investigate." 
 
 Sergeant Nabato was on guard at the barrack, 
 and when questioned said he had seen no one 
 prowling around. The men, he said, were asleep 
 up-stairs and the windows had been closed for over 
 an hour. No, he had heard no noise such as a 
 window sliding. The sentinel also was able to give 
 no information. 
 
 Leaving them without explanation of the reason 
 
 89 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 for their questions the young men passed around 
 the cuartel. It was as the sergeant had stated, no 
 one could have shot the arrow from the barrack 
 without opening a window. 
 
 They reconnoitered the municipal building. 
 There, too, all windows were closed save one at 
 the rear. Removing his shoes, Don got Harry to 
 give him a leg up and slipped through the win- 
 dow silently. He went carefully over every room 
 of the house, but could find no one. 
 
 No wiser than when they left they returned to 
 their quarters, closed and bolted the doors, and 
 after undressing extinguished the lights. To close 
 the windows, native fashion, was out of the ques- 
 tion for an American, so they had to content them- 
 selves with putting various obstacles on the sills 
 so that any one entering would knock something 
 down and awaken them. 
 
 " What do you propose to do about this, Don ? " 
 asked Harry when their precautions had been 
 completed. " We can't live like this with murder 
 stalking freely among us." 
 
 " Looks as though we'd have to. Dominguez 
 will be able to get around in a few days more, and 
 I'll put him on the case. I am sure of him, and 
 he is the only one I propose to tell about this 
 incident." 
 
 " You think it is Atta?" 
 
 90 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Undoubtedly at his instigation. It is hard to 
 believe that any of our men are mixed up in this." 
 
 " More probably some one in the municipal gov- 
 ernment, though Don Ramon has been careful in 
 selecting his assistants. It's a lovely government 
 we are running here. Smooth as a summer sea 
 on top, but boiling underneath." 
 
 After a rather sleepless night the young men 
 resumed their work. They observed their men 
 more closely than usual at the drill, but there was 
 nothing unusual, nothing to excite suspicion. The 
 same eagerness to please was as apparent as ever. 
 After the drill Don went to the room set aside as 
 a hospital ward and talked earnestly with Do- 
 minguez. The sergeant was badly shaken at what 
 he heard and desired to get up at once and start 
 on the case, but Don told him to wait till he had 
 some crutches made. 
 
 " Set your mind at rest, mi teniente, about the 
 soldiers. Not one of them but would lay down 
 his life for you. And were there one who would 
 seek to injure you he would not dare. The men 
 would tear him limb from limb. Nor is there any 
 reason to suspect Don Ramon's force. It was some 
 prowling fellow from the barrios, urged on by this 
 Papa Atta. I shall run him down, never fear. 
 It is through the women I'll get my information." 
 
 " No one else must know." 
 
 91 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " I understand, seiior. And I beg of you to 
 have a sentinel put at your house during the 
 night. This will not be the only attempt." 
 
 Don agreed to this and descended to the ground 
 floor, where he found Presidente Sanchez awaiting 
 him. The latter was eager and excited. 
 
 " Senor Page," he said, "it was as I thought. My 
 man was unwilling to take the risk of coming to 
 your cuartel, but he has consented to let me bring 
 you, and, if you desire, the lieutenant Kearny, 
 with me to guard the papers, provided you will 
 promise that you will never betray his identity." 
 
 " Where will he meet us ? " 
 
 " We shall have to go to his house, and in the 
 night." 
 
 " I dare not risk it, Don Ramon. It's not our 
 lives I am thinking of, but the safety of these 
 records. We might fall into a trap." 
 
 " There is no chance of that — I am sure of my 
 man." 
 
 " I know you are, but, as you said yourself the 
 other day, it is hard to tell now who to trust, and 
 you know there are names signed to those papers 
 of men you have considered above suspicion." 
 
 " True enough — true enough. In my eagerness 
 I may have forgotten my caution. But I'd like 
 to test my man. Suppose you two come with me 
 to-night without the papers. Then if we find no 
 
 92 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 treachery intended we shall know he is to be 
 trusted." 
 
 Don hesitated for a while. 
 
 "No, Don Ramon, the adventure attracts me, 
 and I would do a great deal to learn the contents 
 of those papers. In fact, I am more anxious to-day 
 than I was yesterday, and I have an excellent 
 reason to be, but nothing will cause me to risk 
 them out of this safe till Captain Halstead returns. 
 Nor do I think that I am justified in risking the 
 safety of the only two American ofi&cers in this 
 part of Samar." 
 
 " Well, we must await the senior inspector's, re- 
 turn, or possibly Captain Andrews may find some 
 way out. A runner from Balika to-day states that 
 he and his company have arrived there." 
 
 " That's good. I'll visit him shortly." 
 
 A soldier entered and saluted. 
 
 " A telegram, senor teniente." 
 
 Don took the message and opened it. His face 
 brightened as he read it. 
 
 " From an old friend, Don Ramon, an English 
 newspaper correspondent named Cameron, with 
 whom I had some adventures in China. A shrewd 
 brain and good company. He may be able to help 
 us when he understands the situation." 
 
 " He is coming here, then ? " 
 
 " Yes, on the boat due to arrive Friday." 
 
 93 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " We shall make him welcome. We must have 
 the captain over from Balika, if he will leave his 
 work, and arrange that delayed baile. Well, busi- 
 ness will take me out of town for several days, 
 since there is nothing to be done about those 
 papers. If I am not back in time pray greet your 
 friend for me." 
 
 94 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 CAMERON SEES SOMETHING OF PHILIPPINE LIFE 
 
 " Hello, Page ! " 
 
 The speaker, unmistakably an Englishman, 
 leaned over the rail of a dilapidated steamer 
 which, wheezing and panting like an asthmatic 
 octogenarian, came alongside the wharf with a 
 bump that threatened to wreck both ship and 
 dock. 
 
 " Hello yourself, Cameron. It's good to see your 
 cheerful face again." 
 
 " And glad I am to be here. Three days late, 
 and such food — I fairly ooze garlic at every pore." 
 
 " Well, turn over your luggage to these two 
 boys to take up to our quarters and come along. 
 We'll give you some real American chow." 
 
 Cameron gave the necessary instructions and 
 joined the two lieutenants on the wharf. 
 
 " This doesn't look much like war," he said, in- 
 dicating the gay bunting and the bamboo arches 
 that decorated the town. 
 
 " No — you strike us in the midst of the fiesta — 
 the annual town holiday. There's a baile this 
 
 95 
 
AN ARMY BOY 
 
 afternoon at the presidente's. Captain Andrews, 
 the American in command at Balika, was to have 
 come over, but I suppose he was unable to. We'll 
 ride over there to-morrow, if you care to." 
 
 " Sure — I am at your service. I'm here to 
 gather news for my paper, and I know that if I 
 keep company with you there'll be plenty. The 
 Manila papers are full of your latest exploit, and 
 it is said that it will result in the declaration that 
 Samar is pacified and ready for civil government, 
 I wish I had been here." 
 
 " I wish you had, but I'm not too sure of the 
 pacification. We got the figurehead, all right, but 
 the real leader is still at large." 
 
 " So? Then maybe I'm not too late, after all." 
 
 " You are not. I'll tell you the whole thing to- 
 night after the festivities are over. Now we must 
 hurry over to Don Ramon's." 
 
 " But I have no invitation, old chap." 
 
 " You haven't? Indeed you have. He hurried 
 back from a trip into the interior more to greet 
 you than to be present on the occasion of the 
 town's festivity, and only by telling him that we 
 were almost blood brothers was I able to prevent 
 him from insisting that you should live in his 
 house while here." 
 
 " Hospitable beggars, aren't they ? " 
 
 " The Filipinos ? Yes, more so than any people 
 
 96 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 I have known. Always willing to share and share 
 alike with friend or stranger." 
 
 They entered the large living-room and Cameron 
 looked around with interest. 
 
 " You seem very comfortable here. I see you 
 have the usual pet monkey." 
 
 " Yes, Harry and I each had one, but his died. 
 We must get another, for poor Perrico is lonesome 
 without company." 
 
 Half an hour later Don and Cameron made 
 their way across the plaza, now crowded with 
 natives dressed in their best, and lined with booths 
 where those licensed were selling refreshments. 
 Cameron was pleased and interested, especially in 
 the children, and his scattering of centavos soon 
 gathered around him a crowd of boys who accom- 
 panied him to the gate of Don Ramon's residence. 
 Here the elite of the town and its barrios were 
 gathered, and the Englishman was greeted warmly 
 by all as Don introduced him. 
 
 Sefiorita Inez left Harry, who had preceded 
 them and who was endeavoring to monopolize her, 
 and took charge of Cameron. 
 
 " We have been awaiting you," she said in 
 Spanish, which Don translated. " And I have held 
 the opening rigodon that I might dance it with 
 the friend of whom Don Don has told me so 
 much." 
 
 97 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " I am charmed, senorita," said Cameron. 
 
 The rigodon was the beginning of a long pleas- 
 ant afternoon, in which feasting, singing and 
 dancing alternated. Don Ramon and his daughter 
 exerted themselves for the entertainment of their 
 guests with great success. The Englishman was 
 charmed by the beauty and cordiality of Inez, and 
 was deeply interested in his host, from whom he 
 learned something of the situation in the island 
 and the hopes those in authority held for better 
 things. 
 
 The sun was setting when the party broke up 
 with the understanding that all were to gather at 
 the municipal building at nine o'clock for the ball 
 which would end the fiesta. 
 
 " I'm pleased to have had the experience. Page," 
 said Cameron. " I had thought that you, as a 
 Southern man, might have some prejudice against 
 these people on account of their color." 
 
 " None at all. I think some racial feeling exists 
 in Manila and some of the other larger cities. But 
 there's none of it in the outlying districts where 
 we really are able to know each other." 
 
 " I can well understand it. The people are so 
 earnest in their effort to make the stranger at 
 home. But what are these ? " he added, indicat- 
 ing some large yellow fruit on the center table 
 as they entered Don's house. 
 
 98 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " They are mangoes, considered by many the 
 most delicious fruit in the world. Will you try 
 one ? " 
 
 " Glad to, if you'll show me how to manage it." 
 
 Don sliced a mango and put it on a plate for 
 Cameron, who carried it over to the window. As 
 he placed it on the sill something fell beside the 
 plate, and he started back with a yell which 
 changed to a laugh as the monkey, Perrico, with 
 one piece of mango in his mouth and the other 
 clutched in a paw, climbed back up his chain to 
 the ledge above the window, chattering as well as 
 he could with his mouth full. 
 
 " I should have warned you," laughed Don. 
 " Mangoes are his special adoration. Fortunately 
 we have plenty, and he has enough to hold him 
 for a while." 
 
 He sliced two more, and Harry, entering at the 
 moment, called for a third. Perrico, finishing the 
 first half of the one he had stolen, threw the peel 
 at them and started in on the remainder. As they 
 drew up their chairs to the window a little moan 
 above them attracted their attention. All looked 
 up. The monkey had settled into a heap, his 
 mouth was open and quivering. The hand hold- 
 ing the mango relaxed and it fell with a thud to 
 the floor. The little animal rocked back and 
 forward a few times, then fell headlong from the 
 
 99 
 
AN ARMT BOT 
 
 ledge, the chain around his waist bringing him up 
 with a jerk a foot above the floor. 
 
 Don sprang forward and took him in his arms. 
 The monkey gave him one piteous look, then 
 quivered for a minute and relaxed. He was dead. 
 
 " By Jove ! " cried Cameron. " What is this ? 
 It looks like poison." 
 
 " It was poison," replied Don. " Thank heaven 
 poor little Perrico snatched it from you." 
 
 He unbuckled the chain from his little pet 
 and carried him to another room. Returning he 
 found Cameron still sitting with wondering eyes, 
 while Harry was carefully inspecting the mangoes 
 on the table. 
 
 " Look here, Don," said the latter. " Every 
 one of them has been punctured on both sides. 
 It looks as though a hypodermic had been used 
 and the poison injected." 
 
 " You are right," said Don. " Cameron," he 
 added rather bitterly, " you have seen something 
 of the way the warfare in Samar is being con- 
 ducted. Wait till I question the servants and 
 then I'll tell you of the situation existing here, 
 of which this incident is a part." 
 
 They called in the two muchachos and Don told 
 them bluntly what had happened, then asked 
 them how the mangoes had been placed on the 
 table. Both denied any knowledge ; they had 
 
 100 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 been out of the house all the afternoon among 
 their friends and knew nothing. They were not 
 only horror-stricken at the danger to their masters 
 but were thoroughly frightened on their own ac- 
 count. It took only a few minutes to convince 
 Don of their innocence and he dismissed them, 
 ordering that all food supplies in the house, ex- 
 cepting the canned goods, be thrown away and a 
 new lot purchased. 
 
 " You agree with me, Harry, that they are 
 ignorant of complicity ? " asked Don when they 
 left. 
 
 " Yes. With the house open all afternoon there 
 would be no trouble for any one to slip up here 
 with the mangoes. Our boys, being from Manila, 
 would scarcely have fallen under Papa Atta's in- 
 fluence. It's another attempt from the same 
 source that prompted the arrow shooting a few 
 nights ago." 
 
 " Papa Atta — arrow shooting ? " said Cameron. 
 " Tell me what's going on here." 
 
 Don complied, outlining the situation in Samar, 
 their expeditions against the organized bands, the 
 death of Mendoya, Atta's prompt vengeance on 
 their guide, his quandary about the papers he was 
 unable to translate, and the two attempts on his 
 life. Cameron listened breathlessly, and when all 
 was completed remained silent, thinking deeply. 
 
 lOI 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " You are in a bad way here," he said, finally. 
 " There is one fact plain to be seen — either you 
 get this Atta and do it quickly or he'll get you. 
 Have you written the senior inspector about the 
 papers ? " 
 
 " Yes, and told him my opinion of their im- 
 portance." 
 
 " Tell him about the attempt to murder you ? " 
 
 " No — a constabulary officer is supposed to take 
 those chances as a matter of course." 
 
 " H-m-m, maybe so. But this is a little more 
 than an ordinary case. But for your poor monkey, 
 this station would now be without an American 
 officer at a time when things need the most careful 
 watching. Better write the whole case to him." 
 
 The gaiety of the three friends at the ball that 
 night was rather forced. The cloud of danger 
 that hung over them was accentuated rather than 
 dimmed by the music, the dancing and the happy 
 conversation of their Filipino friends. These latter 
 had followed their natures in throwing aside all 
 care and enjoying the moment to the utmost. No 
 one could have believed that anything but peace 
 and good-will existed in the island of Samar. 
 
 It was after midnight when the ball ended, and 
 all gathered around Don Ramon to congratulate 
 him upon the success of the fiesta. 
 
 " You and Seiior Cameron will ride to Balika 
 
 1 02 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 to-morrow ? " he asked as Don bade him good- 
 night. 
 
 " Yes, we start at sunrise." 
 
 " Do you take an escort ? " 
 
 " Yes, I'll take a good number of men till we 
 meet the Balika patrok I wish you would ac- 
 company us, Don Ramon." 
 
 " I should like to, but dysentery has broken out 
 in the barrio of Binan, and I must go there to- 
 morrow with our practicante^ and take steps to 
 abate it." 
 
 " Always working for your people, I see." 
 
 "What would you have? They elected me 
 more to look out for them than to govern them 
 — they are practically children. My respects to 
 Captain Andrews." 
 
 The sun was rising the following morning as 
 Don and Cameron rode out of Katubig followed 
 by a score of constabulary men. 
 
 " I'm glad to leave the place for a day or so," 
 remarked Don. " This business of uncertainty is 
 a severe strain." 
 
 " Yes, you look more worried than you did in 
 China when the enemy had us surrounded in that 
 never-to-be-forgotten little house in the hollow." 
 
 They rode on chatting of past and present, their 
 
 * Practioante — a man having some knowledge of medicine, authorized 
 to prescribe when no regular physician is present, 
 
 103 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 spirits rising as the day advanced. Don's men had 
 two days' rations with them, and were carefully 
 instructed in the work they were to do on their 
 return trip. By nine o'clock half the distance was 
 covered, and they rested an hour until a patrol 
 of four American soldiers from Balika came up. 
 These reporting the trail clear, and all quiet, Don 
 and Cameron rode on ahead into Balika, which 
 they reached in time for the noon meal with Cap- 
 tain Andrews. 
 
 The latter welcomed them with joy, having been 
 alone since his arrival. His only lieutenant had 
 been left at their last station with a couple of 
 squads to close out affairs there and stiffen the 
 municipal government till it could stand alone. 
 
 " After lunch," said the captain, " I must show 
 you my town. We held an election last week, and 
 I think the people did well in their selection of 
 officials. The town is filling up rapidly, and we 
 are doing great work in clearing out the street 
 drains." 
 
 He was very enthusiastic, and they spent the 
 entire afternoon going from place to place accom- 
 panied by the town president. Balika was one of 
 the old towns which had been abandoned by its 
 populace from fear of raids. Many of the houses 
 had fallen into disrepair, but there were evidences 
 everywhere of renewed activity in building new 
 
 104 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 and patching old dwellings. The gutters had been 
 choked by a growth of grass and weeds, but a 
 score of working parties of natives, each under 
 direction of an American soldier, were clearing 
 them out. 
 
 " Where do you get all your workmen ? " asked 
 Don. 
 
 " It's the presidente, here," answered the captain. 
 " He is a hustler, and has runners out all over the 
 country bringing in the people. We have a hun- 
 dred and sixty to-day and he promises two hundred 
 to-morrow." 
 
 " Women and children seem mighty scarce," re- 
 marked Cameron. 
 
 " Yes, I am a little anxious about it, too. The 
 presidente tells me, however, that many of the men 
 are waiting only till they accumulate a little money 
 to send for their families." 
 
 The town presidente joined them at dinner, which 
 was so excellent that Don complimented the cap- 
 tain upon his cook. 
 
 " Has he been with you long ? " he asked. 
 
 " No, the presidente here recommended him to 
 me, and he is the best servant I have had in the 
 islands." 
 
 " Page is interested in food and its preparation 
 these days," said Cameron. " Some one tried to 
 feed him a dose of poison yesterday," 
 
 105 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 " How is that? " asked Captain Andrews. 
 
 Don then told his trials to the captain, while 
 Cameron practiced his newly-acquired Spanish 
 with the presidente. When Don came to the offer 
 of Presidente Sanchez to have the papers translated 
 Captain Andrews interrupted him. 
 
 " How did he learn of them ? " he asked. 
 
 " Why, he said you had told him," answered Don. 
 
 " Are you sure of that ? " 
 
 " Positive." 
 
 " I suppose I did mention it then, though I have 
 no recollection of doing so. We had many talks 
 together." 
 
 Don continued his relation and the two became 
 so engrossed in their conversation that, when the 
 presidente bade them good-night, their replies were 
 almost mechanical, and it fell to Cameron to see 
 the guest to the head of the stairs. 
 
 Returning to the living-room and noting the 
 two officers with their heads still together, he en- 
 tered the room set aside for him and Don, and 
 seated himself in the window, turning over in his 
 mind all he had seen and heard and outlining an 
 article for his paper. His two days in Samar had 
 been crowded with sensations. 
 
 The sound of voices below him attracted his at- 
 tention, and in the dim starlight he could make 
 out two figures near the side entrance to the lower 
 
 1 06 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 floor. Soon a third joined them, coming from the 
 house. One of the speakers talked in a low stern 
 voice, and the last comer repeatedly answered " Si, 
 senor," in tones Cameron recognized as that of 
 the house servant. Finally there was a sound of 
 money chinking and the servant reentered. The 
 two others then walked quietly away. 
 
 Cameron followed them with his eyes, wonder- 
 ing, when one of them struck a match and lighted 
 a cigarette. For an instant his face was illumined 
 and the watcher thought he recognized the presi- 
 dente. The other leaned forward and blew out 
 the match, but Cameron was able to see nothing of 
 him except that he wore long hair. 
 
 "Queer," thought the Englishman, "that the 
 presidente, if it really were he, should be giving 
 money to Captain Andrews' servant. Still, it's no 
 business of mine." 
 
 The moving of chairs in the living-room told 
 him that the two Americans had finished their 
 consultation. He rejoined them as they were 
 about to separate for the night. 
 
 " I'll sleep over what you have told me. Page," 
 the captain was saying. " Don't worry — there's 
 some way out, and we'll find it." 
 
 " Just telling you has given ine considerable 
 relief," Don answered. " I'll sleep more soundly 
 to-night than I have for ten days." 
 
 107 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 An hour later all Americans except the few sen- 
 tinels were sound asleep. But in the native 
 houses the buzz of voices continued long into the 
 night, and there were many runners on the trails 
 leading from the newly reestablished town. 
 
 io8 
 
CHAPTEE VIII 
 
 THE MASSACRE 
 
 The events of the past two weeks had worked 
 upon Don's nerves to such an extent that, after his 
 first fatigue had worn off, he slept but lightly. In 
 consequence the notes of reveille at the barrack, 
 though some two hundred yards distant, awakened 
 him. He dozed ^off again, but was brought to full 
 consciousness by the sound of a muffled groan. 
 He sat up in bed, listening intently for a repeti- 
 tion, but heard nothing. 
 
 " Imagination, probably," he muttered ; " my 
 nerves are running away with me. I dreamed it, 
 or perhaps Cameron or the captain moaned in his 
 sleep." 
 
 He glanced at Cameron, who was sleeping deeply. 
 Then deciding that he might as well try for an- 
 other nap himself, he settled back upon his pillow. 
 But he knew at once that it was impossible, and 
 arose, intending to glance in at the captain to 
 assure himself that all was well. As he reached 
 out his hand to grasp the knob of the door be- 
 tween the rooms, he was startled to see it turn, 
 slowly, gently and noiselessly. He halted and 
 
 109 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 crouched instinctively, ready to spring forward or 
 to the rear. 
 
 The door opened slowly, and at the crack a face 
 appeared — that of Captain Andrews' servant. His 
 eyes started from their sockets as he saw Don's 
 crouching figure, and he turned as if to flee. 
 Don, not knowing why he did so, knocked the 
 door open and seized the fellow. The next instant 
 he was engaged in a struggle for his life. 
 
 The Filipino raised his right hand, in which he 
 grasped a bolo. In the flash Don could see the 
 blade was already stained with blood. He caught 
 the descending arm by the wrist and his right hand 
 closed on his opponent's throat in time to reduce 
 to a raucous croak the shout that he tried to utter. 
 For half a minute they struggled, the Filipino 
 tearing with his left hand at the hand that 
 clutched his throat, and twisting the knife in his 
 right to cut Don's wrist so as to force his grip to 
 relax. While the issue was still in doubt Cameron 
 sprang through the door, and wasting no time in 
 questions, stunned the Filipino by a powerful blow 
 in the temple with his bare fist. 
 
 Don sprang at once to the bed where, during the 
 struggle, he had caught glimpses of a still figure. 
 One look told him the truth — Captain Andrews 
 had been knifed in his sleep. Another noble, true- 
 hearted American ofiicer had yielded up his life in 
 
 no 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 the midst of his labors to elevate a race debased by 
 centuries of tyranny. 
 
 " Call the sentinel stationed below," he said to 
 Cameron, " while I tie up this murderer." 
 
 As Cameron left the room he ripped the sheet in 
 strips and securely bound the hands of the uncon- 
 scious Filipino behind his back. He was starting 
 on the legs when Cameron returned. The Eng- 
 lishman was white. 
 
 " The sentinel is dead, also," he said. " Head 
 crushed in by a heavy blow delivered from the 
 rear." 
 
 " But what on earth actuated the man ? But 
 for my chance awakening he'd have killed us, 
 too, for he was opening the door to steal in upon 
 us when I discovered him." 
 
 " Page, I think I know who is at the bottom of 
 this. Last night I saw two men come to the side 
 door, and after giving this man some orders 
 they paid him money. I cannot swear it, but I 
 am almost positive that the town presidente was one 
 of them." 
 
 Don caught his breath. 
 
 " Quick ! " he said. " Into your clothes ! We 
 must get to the barrack at once." 
 
 " What do you expect ? " 
 
 " I don't know, but there is need for haste." 
 
 He finished tying up the murderer, then rapidly 
 
 III 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 searched him. There was a paper in the pocket of 
 the man's white blouse, which he took. Then he 
 hastily threw on his clothing. Cameron was 
 somewhat slower, and Don slid a blind for an inch 
 and glanced toward the barrack. Its front could 
 be seen from the window. 
 
 " All quiet so far," he said to Cameron. " The 
 soldiers are just crossing the street to their dining 
 hall for breakfast. There are a large number of 
 Filipinos with picks and shovels assembled for the 
 day's work." 
 
 " Do you see the presidente ? " 
 
 " Yes, he and a man in priests' robes are talking 
 with the sentinel." 
 
 " Has the priest long hair ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Then he is the man who was here last night 
 and gave the orders to the servant." 
 
 " Are you ready ? " 
 
 " In a minute. I must fix my Mauser pistol." 
 
 Don fidgeted, while Cameron transformed his 
 Mauser pistol into a short rifle by attaching the 
 handle to the wooden case he usually carried it in. 
 Once before Don had seen him do the same, and 
 knew the deadly accuracy with which the English- 
 man could use it. 
 
 " Come along — we are in time to block part of 
 their game, I hope." 
 
 112 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 They left the dwelling at a run and turned 
 toward the barrack, which lay at the edge of 
 town. They could see that the presidente had 
 made good his word. Fully two hundred laborers 
 were lined up in front of the barrack. They could 
 not see the soldiers, as the mess hall lay in a 
 banana grove across the street from the barrack. 
 The presidente and the priest were still talking with 
 the sentinel, and their backs were toward Don and 
 Cameron. 
 
 It struck Don as sinister that the street was 
 deserted, though the sun had already risen above 
 the distant mountains. Normally a Filipino town 
 is teeming with life by sunrise. They had covered 
 half the distance when they saw the priest raise 
 one arm. Immediately the bell in the tower of the 
 church near the barrack rang out. 
 
 Simultaneously with the ringing of the bell the 
 presidente snatched the gun from the sentinel's 
 hands and with a powerful blow in the face 
 knocked him down. The crowd of Filipino labor- 
 ers turned and swarmed into the barrack. They 
 saw the priest kick the sentinel in the face as he 
 endeavored to rise. Don caught his breath with a 
 sob as the presidente beat out the prostrate soldier's 
 brains with the rifle butt. 
 
 By this time they were within fifty yards. Don 
 had drawn his revolver. Cameron halted long 
 
 113 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 enough to fire one shot, which brought down the 
 presidente. At the sound the priest turned. Don 
 caught one glimpse of a low forehead and slanting 
 eyebrows, with deep lines between the eyes and 
 furrowed cheeks. Then as their eyes met the 
 priest ducked his head and dashed into the mass 
 of small buildings bordering on the barrack. 
 
 " Papa Atta ! " Don shouted, and hurried in 
 pursuit. To his left and behind him he could 
 hear shouts, shrieks and gun-shots. He had not 
 gone twenty paces, however, when he was halted. 
 From the little shacks came dozens of Filipinos 
 armed with bolos. Papa Atta had escaped. 
 
 Firing his revolver at the nearest man Don 
 turned back. The street swarmed with natives. 
 From the barrack windows a few belated soldiers 
 were leaping. They were butchered as they 
 reached the ground. 
 
 The mass of the company had been caught at 
 breakfast. Don could see some of them still 
 struggling to get free from the long table, which 
 had a wooden seat fast along each side. It was an 
 awkward arrangement to get into or away from, 
 improvised as a temporary expedient till the reg- 
 ular equipment was received. These men were 
 being struck down by half a hundred Filipinos 
 who had been concealed in the banana grove. 
 Over half the company lay dead, some fallen back- 
 
 114 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 ward, their legs still caught between table and 
 bench, others with their arms and shoulders rest- 
 ing on the table. 
 
 Don saw Cameron with his back to the barrack 
 wall, firing rapidly. He fought his way in that 
 direction, shooting down two natives en route. 
 With so many unarmed Americans to attack the 
 natives avoided the revolver, and he gained 
 Cameron's side with only one wound ; a slash at 
 his head had been warded with his left forearm. 
 
 They were joined by a soldier clutching a bolo 
 with his right hand and holding his left over a 
 gaping wound in his breast. 
 
 " It was the chief of police," he gasped. " Him 
 an' me has been great friends — I et dinner with 
 him last night. When this started I ran to him 
 for protection an' he boloed me. But I got him — 
 killed him with his own knife." 
 
 Another soldier, also wounded, fought his way 
 through with a baseball bat. 
 
 " Ain't it awful ! " he said. " And we with 
 nothin' but our spoons — had slum ^ for breakfast." 
 
 In the middle of the road three Americans stood 
 on a pile of rock gathered for use on the streets. 
 A swarm of natives surrounded them snarling, but 
 the soldiers stood at bay, heaving great stones at 
 them. 
 
 ' Slum — soldier slaug lor stew. 
 "5 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 Cameron and Don had all they could do holding 
 back the continual rushes that were made at their 
 little party, but occasionally were able to spare a 
 shot where they saw some especially atrocious 
 murder taking place. 
 
 And now the natives began to swarm from the 
 barrack, armed with the Krag rifles they had torn 
 from the racks. With their advent it seemed that 
 the end had come. But as they brought the rifles 
 to their shoulders and worked the mechanism only 
 fatile " clicks " resulted. 
 
 " They don't know how to work the cut-off," 
 said a soldier, hysterically laughing. " The idiots 
 are trying to work Krags as if they were Mausers." 
 
 But the end seemed inevitable. Don and Cam- 
 eron were almost out of ammunition, and the rock 
 pile which was the last hope of the three un- 
 wounded soldiers in the middle of the road was 
 almost gone. Suddenly there was a rapid fire from 
 the left, and the Filipinos began to fall. They 
 gave back before it, turning to meet this new foe. 
 
 " It's from the quartermaster sergeant's shack," 
 shouted the soldier with the wound in the chest. 
 " Him an' the comp'ny clerk sleeps there." 
 
 Under this flanking fire the three soldiers at the 
 rock pile made a dash, snatching up rifles that had 
 been dropped by the natives who had been shot 
 down. In their hands the rifles woke to life. 
 
 ii6 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Throwing the cut-off so as to operate the magazine 
 they began to fire into the demoralized natives. 
 Half a dozen other soldiers, who had been simu- 
 lating death, rose and joined them, also securing 
 rifles. All were wounded, some seriously, but 
 when the quartermaster sergeant, the company 
 clerk, and one of the cooks who had escaped to 
 the shack at the first attack, joined them with 
 several belts of ammunition, there were a round 
 dozen of Americans fully armed and concentrated, 
 opposed to the three hundred natives armed with 
 bolos and with rifles they could not use. The 
 soldiers joined Don's party and formed a half circle, 
 backs to the wall. 
 
 The blood of all was up. The Americans, wild 
 with the slaughter of their comrades, were reckless 
 of death and did not feel their wounds. The Fili- 
 pinos were like wild beasts who had tasted blood 
 and were not disposed to give way till the last 
 American had been killed. But lacking organiza- 
 tion and a leader, none cared to be flrst to charge 
 against the little circle where the rifles rattled in a 
 continuous fire. 
 
 Then a figure, dressed in a long robe, darted 
 from the corner of the barrack into the thickest 
 mass of the natives. His presence spurred them 
 to a rush and they came with wild yells, brandish- 
 ing their bloody bolos. 
 
 117 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 With the appearance of the priest the soldiers 
 had ceased firing and filled their magazines. They 
 were thus able to meet the rush with a withering 
 fire. Don's eyes were fixed on the priest and he 
 sent three shots at him, the third bringing him 
 down. But neither his fall nor the death of many 
 of their number could check the desperate charge. 
 On they came till only ten feet intervened, then 
 shrinking from actual contact, they swerved and 
 passed, many of them hurling their knives into 
 the crowd of soldiers now flattened against the 
 wall. 
 
 The din was frightful. A few of the natives 
 tried to close, springing under the rifles and slash- 
 ing at the soldiers' legs. They were kicked back 
 or beaten down by rifle butts. After one wild min- 
 ute the street was deserted save for the few Amer- 
 icans and the dead and wounded. 
 
 As the press melted away Don saw three natives 
 disappearing around a turn in the trail leading 
 from town bearing the priest in their arms. 
 
 "It's Papa Attal" he shouted. "After him, 
 men ! " 
 
 He had gone twenty paces before any followed 
 him, then Cameron sprang forward. 
 
 " Come back. Page ! " he yelled. " You are 
 committing suicide." 
 
 But Don paid no heed. The quartermaster ser- 
 
 ii8 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 geant and one other followed after Cameron, not 
 understanding what was intended, but acting from 
 impulse in their disordered state of mind. The 
 other men were too exhausted and most of them 
 too sorely wounded to move. 
 
 Don quickly gained on the party in front, but, 
 hearing his approach, two of the natives turned 
 back, giving a peculiar cry as they did so. It was 
 answered from the forest, and Cameron arrived 
 just in time to save Don from the results of his 
 rashness, for half a dozen of the enemy were clos- 
 ing in upon him. The soldiers strengthening their 
 party, the natives fled after a short struggle, in 
 which, however, the sergeant was cut across the 
 face and his companion stabbed in the groin. Atta 
 had disappeared. 
 
 " Come on, men ! " cried Don. " Run him 
 down." 
 
 " You are crazy, Page," said Cameron, seizing 
 his arm. " You've gone mad with the blood- 
 shed." 
 
 Don shook him off. 
 
 " That was Papa Atta — the man who has com- 
 mitted all these murders — the man who is re- 
 sponsible for the insurrection. Do not let him 
 escape." 
 
 And he was away again. 
 
 " Give me your gun and cartridge belt, sergeant," 
 
 iig 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 panted Cameron. " I haven't a shot left for my 
 pistol." 
 
 Seizing the weapon and belt, the Englishman 
 ran after his friend. The sergeant hesitated, then 
 shook his head. 
 
 " Heaven help them — I cannot. It's up to me 
 to get what's left of the company out of this before 
 these fellows return." 
 
 Lifting the wounded man in his arms he hurried 
 back to the town. He found eight soldiers bind- 
 ing up their wounds, using the first aid packages. 
 
 " Where are the others, Stafford ? " he asked the 
 soldier who had the frightful cut in the chest. 
 
 " Gone after the captain," said Stafford. " We 
 weren't minded to leave the • old man behind — 
 they'll have enough of ours to mutilate," he added, 
 looking around at his massacred comrades. 
 
 " How are you ? " 
 
 " I've got myself tied together with a sheet, but 
 I don't reckon I can hold out long." 
 
 " Cheer up, my boy. Here come the others with 
 the captain. We get down to the beach." 
 
 Those who were able to walk or drag themselves 
 made their way unassisted. The others were car- 
 ried by their more slightly wounded comrades. 
 The sergeant had pushed two bancas into the water, 
 and was transferring the helpless men into them 
 when the last of the survivors was carried down. 
 
 1 20 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Hurry," said one of the men, " I saw several 
 of them coming. They'll all be back soon." 
 
 Shouts and yells from the village proved him to 
 be right. The men hastily embarked and pushed 
 off just as the leading natives emerged on the water 
 front. In a minute more they too were pushing 
 small boats from the beach into the water, and the 
 soldiers had scarce a hundred yards start when half 
 a dozen crowded bancas were after them. 
 
 With only two men in each boat to paddle es- 
 cape was out of the question. The natives rapidly 
 overtook the Americans. 
 
 " No use, boys," said the sergeant, grimly. " If 
 we can't drive them off Company ' C ' is mustered 
 out complete." 
 
 Dropping his paddle he seized a rifle and opened 
 fire, aiming deliberately. Those of his comrades 
 who were able to did likewise. But the natives 
 pressed on, and new boats continually left the shore 
 in pursuit. When the leading banca was within 
 fifty yards the soldiers concentrated upon those 
 wielding the paddles and threw them into con- 
 fusion with their accurate fire. The sergeant ordered 
 one man to resume paddling, and they were in- 
 creasing their lead slightly when there was a shout 
 from the other boat. 
 
 " We are sinking — the boat leaks." 
 
 " Come alongside, we'll take all we can." 
 
 121 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 The boats drew together. Two men continued 
 to fire on the native boats, which again took up the 
 pursuit, but the rocking of the little craft as the 
 men were transferred from the sinking vinta pre- 
 vented accurate aim, and the distance between them 
 and their enemies, who shouted exultantly as they 
 saw the trouble of their hated victims, rapidly dp- 
 creased. 
 
 " We'll have to leave the old man," said the ser- 
 geant. " One more will sink us." 
 
 " No — he may have my place," said StaJBTord, 
 staggering to his feet. " Good-bye, fellows." 
 
 And the simple-hearted hero dived from the 
 stern of the boat and disappeared. 
 
 " Me, too," said another. " I ain't got much 
 chance to pull through, anyhow." 
 
 " Grab him, fellows," shouted the sergeant. But 
 it was too late. He, too, went overboard, the men 
 having been paralyzed by the heroic self-sacrifice 
 of their comrades. 
 
 But it seemed that the sacrifice was useless. A 
 large vinta containing twenty men, all paddling 
 fiercely with long knives clasped in their teeth, 
 dashed up. The four able-bodied soldiers rose to 
 their feet to make their last fight. 
 
 Then a head arose alongside the vinta, and two 
 hands caught the edge of the unstable craft. 
 
 " Stafford ! " shouted a soldier. 
 
 122 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 With the dragging of Stafford's weight, and the 
 interruption of the paddlers on that side, the vinta 
 began to turn, and lost headway. A native dropped 
 his paddle and grabbed the bolo from between his 
 teeth. As he leaned to strike, Stafford made his 
 final effort. The combined movement of the two 
 accomplished his object, and as the knife penetrated 
 the hero's heart the vinta capsized. 
 
 " He smiled at me as he died, rest his soul ! " 
 cried the sergeant. " Now, boys, give it to them 
 again." 
 
 Again they opened fire, while their boat, now 
 loaded to the water's edge, crept slowly away. But 
 the pursuit was checked, as the natives in the water 
 grasped the sides of the pursuing boats and inter- 
 rupted them while they climbed in. They stopped 
 long enough also to finish the soldier who had fol- 
 lowed Stafford's example of sacrifice. Finally one 
 turned and made for the shore, and the others fol- 
 lowed, leaving the Americans' boat, crowded with 
 its dead and wounded, free to make its fifteen mile 
 trip to Katubig — if it could. 
 
 123 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 MARTIAL LAW 
 
 Three days later a gaunt, haggard wreck of hu- 
 manity, clothing stained with blood, and ragged, 
 bare arms covered with leeches, staggered into 
 Katubig bearing across his shoulder another man, 
 equally wretched as to appearance and raving in 
 delirium. 
 
 The natives shrank back as the man passed, and 
 it was not till the plaza was reached that they were 
 recognized. It was the Seiiorita Inez who rushed 
 from the house crying out to her servants as she 
 ran. 
 
 "Oh, Sefior Cameron," she said, "what has 
 happened ? Is he wounded ? Will he die ? " 
 
 " I don't know," replied Cameron, hoarsely. 
 " He is bad enough. Make some of these fellows 
 help me. I must get him to his house." 
 
 " Bring him in here," she said, pointing to her 
 home — " let me care for him." 
 
 " No — better his own bed. Get me some 
 water." 
 
 She hurried to the house and returned with 
 
 124 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 what he wanted, and as he gulped it down four 
 natives took Don and started across the plaza. 
 Cameron and the young woman followed. 
 
 " Where is Lieutenant Kearny ? " 
 
 " He is in the bosque ^ with the company hunt- 
 ing for you." 
 
 She accompanied them to the door, offering in 
 her broken English and Spanish to assist in any 
 way possible. Cameron could make out all she 
 meant and thanked her warmly. 
 
 The barrack was in charge of a small guard 
 under Sergeant Ferrandez, and he and one other 
 soldier came over. 
 
 Aided by them and the house servants, Cam- 
 eron had Don undressed and bathed. Then, be- 
 fore attending to his own needs, carefully dressed 
 his friend's wounds. 
 
 Sergeant Ferrandez was examining his officer. 
 
 " Dengue fever," he said in Spanish. " How 
 many days ? " 
 
 " Three," said Cameron. 
 
 "Two days more, then better, if wound not 
 bad. How did it happen ? " 
 
 But Cameron lacked sufficient Spanish to ex- 
 plain, and he, himself, was almost on the point of 
 collapse. In turn the natives ministered to him 
 and in a short time he was in bed and asleep. 
 
 ' Bosqne — forest. 
 125 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 His last recollection was seeing the sergeant lay a 
 damp cloth on Don's forehead. 
 
 When he awakened a lamp was burning in the 
 room and there were shouts in the plaza. 
 
 " Viva Teniente Page ! Viva Teniente Kearny ! " 
 
 A minute later heavy steps sounded on the stairs 
 and Kearny entered. His appearance was little 
 better than that Cameron had presented when he 
 entered the town, but his eyes were bright and his 
 expression happy. 
 
 " By Jove ! " he exclaimed. " This is the hap- 
 piest moment of my life. I had returned to renew 
 supplies and take the trail again, when I heard 
 you were here. They say Don is sick — dengue 
 fever. Sergeant Ferrandez calls it. How is the old 
 boy?" 
 
 Cameron arose stiffly. 
 
 " Bad, I'm afraid," he answered. " He has two 
 wounds, neither serious in themselves, but com- 
 bined with the fever and exposure, he certainly is 
 in condition to need a surgeon's care." 
 
 Harry called for a basin, and after thoroughly 
 cleansing his hands made an antiseptic solution 
 by dissolving a couple of bichloride of mercury 
 tablets in a quart of fresh water. He disinfected 
 his own hands in this and then, having the lamp 
 put on a table near Don's bed, carefully removed 
 his friend's clothing. 
 
 126 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Aren't you afraid he'll take cold ? " asked 
 Cameron. 
 
 "Cold? With that fever?" replied Harry. 
 " Man, if I had ice I'd pack him in it." 
 
 " Well, I'll declare — you American soldiers have 
 the most remarkable training. Now I told them 
 to keep him covered," 
 
 " Yoil're only ten or twelve years behind the 
 times, old man. Hold the lamp, please." 
 
 He unwound the bandage from Don's forearm. 
 There had been a deep cut; the bolo had pene- 
 trated to the bone, then deflected, had made a 
 slash for about two inches along it. The wound 
 had closed but was red and angry. 
 
 " Bad," said Harry. " Infection. Felipe, bring 
 me my case." 
 
 Taking the scalpel from the case he made Cam- 
 eron hold the arm still while he reopened the 
 wound ; a quantity of pus came from it. 
 
 " You did your best, Cameron, but you should 
 never let a wound heal till you are sure it is clean. 
 Hold the basin, Felipe." 
 
 Then with the antiseptic solution he washed the 
 
 wound thoroughly. This completed he put a little 
 
 roll of gauze in so that one end was at the bottom 
 
 of the wound and the other outside. Then he 
 
 closed the wound, binding it firmly but not 
 
 tightly. 
 
 127 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 He then examined the other wound, a slash in 
 the thigh. 
 
 " Now, that's O. K.," he said. " It must have 
 bled freely." 
 
 " It did. I was a long time staunching it. I 
 had no water to wash it in." 
 
 " A good thing. Better no water than 
 infected water, which you probably used on 
 the first one. Now watch me bring the old 
 chap to." 
 
 Taking a bottle of alcohol and a fan he bathed 
 Don's head and body, fanning vigorously. After 
 a few minutes Don muttered : 
 
 " That's bully ! " 
 
 Then his eyes opened. 
 
 " Hello, Harry ! Hello, Cameron I " he said, 
 weakly. " How did I get home ? " 
 
 " Don't talk, old man, you are home. Now go 
 to sleep." 
 
 Don closed his eyes again, muttered incoherently 
 and lost consciousness. Harry left a servant to 
 fan him and went for a bath. 
 
 " I've a thousand questions to ask," he said. 
 " But my curiosity must wait till I'm clean Set 
 your mind at rest about Don. He's strong as a 
 horse and will be better to-morrow. Give him a 
 little water every time he stirs." 
 
 He returned in half an hour robed in a kimono, 
 
 128 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 and seated himself in one of their long rattan 
 chairs with a sigh. 
 
 "It's eleven o'clock," he said. "I have told 
 the other boy to bring us some fruit and sand- 
 wiches. We'll lie here and eat while we talk. 
 Tell me what happened and where you two have 
 been." 
 
 " You learned of the massacre ? " 
 
 " Yes— a horrible thing. The survivors arrived 
 here at sunset. Two died en route. Three others 
 were delirious." And Harry related the story of 
 Stafford's heroism to Cameron and told of the long 
 trip in the broiling sun that followed. 
 
 " How was it that the attackers had no rifles ? " 
 asked Cameron when he had finished. " Page 
 told me the insurgents in Samar were fairly well 
 equipped." 
 
 "They were. But this is a new situation. 
 These fellows are fanatical Pulujanes — they are 
 not pretending to struggle for independence ; they 
 merely kill when Papa Atta orders. Sort of a 
 holy war." 
 
 " These Pulujanes, as you call them, don't seem 
 to know much about firearms. Every one of us 
 would have been killed had they understood how 
 to fire a gun." 
 
 " They know now," Harry responded, grimly. 
 " I struck a band of them yesterday, and but for 
 
 129 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 our superior discipline tiiey'd have given us a 
 hard fight with their Krags against our old 
 Springfields. They have about a hundred Krags, 
 now, and some twenty thousand rounds of ammu- 
 nition. We have a mighty hard task ahead of 
 us." 
 
 " Tell me the difference between a Krag and a 
 Mauser." 
 
 " Well, a Mauser rifle is like your pistol, only it 
 loads five cartridges at a clip instead of ten. It 
 may be used as a single loader, but it is not as 
 easily done and the customary thing is to fire from 
 the magazine. Now a Krag is primarily a single 
 loader. The magazine holds five cartridges, but 
 there is a cut-off that keeps them from coming 
 into the chamber unless it is set for magazine fire. 
 Our men are trained to keep the magazine as a 
 reserve." 
 
 " That accounts for everything. Those fellows 
 tired a few shots from the windows, but when 
 they got down-stairs none of them could use the 
 guns." 
 
 " Exactly so. They could fire the one shot that 
 was in the chamber, but not understanding the 
 mechanism had to stop there." 
 
 " Where are the soldiers ? " 
 
 " The presidente emptied one end of a ware- 
 house, dumping his hemp outdoors. There 
 
 130 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 should be a surgeon down from Manila in a few 
 days. We wired the news. I imagine Samar will 
 receive a heavy reinforcement of troops." 
 
 " I should think so." 
 
 " Now tell me about your adventures." 
 
 " There isn't much to tell. I had no idea that 
 Page was in a fever — thought he had gone blood- 
 mad with the horrors of that massacre, and it was 
 enough to drive one crazy. I overtook him and 
 begged him to desist — even tried to force him, but 
 I believe he would have turned his gun on me 
 had I persisted. He had seen this Papa Atta, and 
 meant to kill him or die trying. The numbers 
 opposing him and the difiBculties had no effect 
 upon him. We hurried down the trail, tracking 
 the enemy by occasional blood stains. 
 
 " When we overtook them again they made off 
 in the brush, though there were eight or ten of 
 them carrying their chief. Page went after them 
 like a whirlwind and they turned at bay. I 
 thought it was all off with both of us, and it was 
 a nasty fight. Our friend was what the Moros 
 call juramentado, running amuck, you know. I 
 was not much better myself, for I had accepted 
 death as a foregone conclusion and without effort 
 to defend myself went in to punish them as much 
 as I could. 
 
 " Page got knocked over the head in the scrim- 
 
 131 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 mage, and had been knifed in the leg. I stood 
 over him to defend him to the last, but they had 
 had enough and retreated. I could hear the priest 
 rating them angrily as they made off, and knew 
 he was urging them to finish us up, but they had 
 had all they wanted." 
 
 " What did you do then ? " 
 
 " Well, the first thing was to bind up Page's 
 wounds. I took a canteen off one of the dead 
 natives and used the water on Page's arm — I was 
 wrong to do so, as you proved to-night. There 
 wasn't enough, or I'd have infected his leg, too, I 
 suppose. Then I picked him up and got back to 
 the trail, but was soon forced to hide to avoid a 
 party of natives passing by. Page came to and 
 took the lead again. He was pretty weak and 
 groggy, but seemed to know what he was about 
 and I foolishly followed him. 
 
 " When I came to the conclusion that he was 
 off his head we were hopelessly lost. Suddenly 
 he collapsed, and in a short time was delirious. 
 From that time till this noon I have been carry- 
 ing him, hiding from time to time to avoid dis- 
 covery and fighting leeches. I had a general idea 
 of the proper direction, but what with detours to 
 avoid hills and swamps, I didn't get on to the 
 trail again till about ten this morning." 
 
 " You did nobly by him, Cameron." 
 
 132 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Bosh ! No real man would have done other- 
 wise. Let's turn in." 
 
 For the next few days they worked over Don 
 almost continually. The inflammation disap- 
 peared from his wound and the fever abated. In 
 the morning he would be rational ; in the after- 
 noon his temperature would mount and his mind 
 wander. 
 
 Senorita Inez spent most of her days in the 
 darkened room in attendance upon him, and her 
 cheerful presence did much to hasten his recovery. 
 Harry was in and out of the house with Cameron. 
 They had decided that it was no time to risk 
 leaving the town unguarded for fear that the 
 Pulujanes might attempt another stroke. Strong 
 pickets were posted on all trails leading into the 
 town, and the streets were constantly patrolled to 
 prevent assembling of the inhabitants. While he 
 believed the town people to be unaffected by the 
 recent triumph of their fellow islanders, and still 
 friendly, Harry did not dare trust them. Cameron 
 had volunteered his services and he and Harry 
 went from picket to picket and from patrol to 
 patrol urging the men to vigilance day and night. 
 
 " I miss your father's presence and advice," said 
 Harry to Inez one morning. " He could tell defi- 
 nitely which of the people we may trust and 
 which it might be wise to put in confinement." 
 
 133 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " He hopes to be able to visit Don Don to-mor- 
 row," she replied. " He has felt badly at being 
 disabled at this time." 
 
 " Your father ill ? " asked Don. 
 
 " No. His horse fell with him on his way back 
 from Binan and sprained his knee. Some of the 
 people brought him home the night that horrible 
 thing happened at Balika and he has been con- 
 fined to his bed ever since. When I think that, 
 but for the sickness in Binan, he might have ac- 
 companied you and Senor Cameron that day, I 
 shudder." 
 
 " Yes, Papa Atta would not have permitted the 
 best friend of the government to escape him. I 
 fear for your father, senorita." 
 
 " I, too, live in constant dread. When will 
 more troops come ? " 
 
 " To-morrow, I hope." 
 
 He was not disappointed, for on the following 
 day a transport dropped anchor in the bay. Boats 
 were lowered and troops began to disembark. In 
 the first boat came a general officer, a grizzled old 
 veteran of many campaigns. 
 
 Presidente Sanchez left his bed to meet him and 
 hobbled to the wharf with the aid of a crutch. To 
 his welcome the general paid scant attention. 
 
 " Where are the wounded ? " he asked Harry. 
 
 " Presidente Sanchez has made them comfortable 
 
 134 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 in one of his warehouses," replied Harry, hoping 
 that this evidence of interest might cause the 
 general to relax his manner somewhat toward the 
 humiliated ofl&cial. 
 
 " Get them aboard the transport," ordered the 
 general, turning to a surgeon who accompanied 
 him. " Are you the constabulary officer in com- 
 mand ? " he added, turning to Harry again, 
 
 " Temporarily, sir. Our senior inspector, Cap- 
 tain Halstead, is in Manila, and my company com- 
 mander, Lieutenant Page, is ill." 
 
 " Does he need a doctor ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; he is convalescent." 
 
 " Well, Lieutenant Harris, who is landing that 
 company of scouts, will be in command here from 
 now on. You'll take orders from him." 
 
 " We expect Captain Halstead back at any time, 
 sir." 
 
 " The matter of command after he returns will 
 be decided then. He is a civil government official, 
 and Samar returns to-day to martial law. Hal- 
 stead's ill, anyway — isn't he, doctor?" 
 
 " Yes, sir. He was coming back with us, but 
 was knocked over by pernicious malaria the day 
 before we embarked. It will be a month or more 
 before he will be able to do any duty." 
 
 " In the meantime, young man, I want you and 
 your troops to give Lieutenant Harris the most 
 
 135 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 loyal support. And tell this presidente to clear 
 out that big warehouse for his company." 
 
 Harry translated this to Sanchez, who bowed. 
 
 " Tell the general that he may count on me to 
 aid in every way." 
 
 " H-m-m," said the general, when the presi- 
 dente's meaning had been made clear to him. " I 
 hope so — he'll be unique in Samar if he's a trust- 
 worthy native official. Personally I'll trust them 
 when they are all dead. Tell him to notify his 
 people to stay in town, and if any are wandering 
 around the island he had better send for them. 
 One week from to-day I propose to start in and 
 give these people reason to remember the massacre 
 at Balika. Anything, man, woman, child or ani- 
 mal not reconcentrated by then remains at large 
 at its own risk. Everything moving beyond the 
 lines established will be killed." 
 
 Harry translated this to Sanchez, whose face fell. 
 
 " Are you the newspaper correspondent who 
 was present at the massacre ? " the general asked 
 Cameron. 
 
 " Yes, general." 
 
 " I'd be glad if you'd accompany me to Balika." 
 
 " Pleased to, sir," said Cameron. " Here, 
 Kearny, take this paper. I found it in Page's 
 blouse — don't know what it is and haven't dared 
 to give it to him for fear it might excite him." 
 
 136 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 They entered the boat and started for the trans- 
 port to which the wounded had already preceded 
 them, leaving Harry and Sanchez on the wharf 
 with the company of scouts. 
 
 " Heaven help Samar, teiiiente," said Sanchez, 
 shaking his head. " She is about to pay in blood 
 and tears for the act of those misguided men." 
 
 137 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 ATTA SCORES AGAIN 
 
 With the advent of the company of Philippine 
 scouts there was a change in the spirit of Katubig. 
 Where all before had been cooperation and cour- 
 tesy, the new commanding officer left no doubt in 
 any one's mind that there was to be a one man 
 government and that, as he tersely put it, " he was 
 It." Harry had asked him to join their mess, and 
 he had assented with an air of condescension that 
 made the constabulary officer regret his politeness. 
 After their first meal Harry went to Don, who by 
 this time was able to sit up in bed, and voiced his 
 disgust. 
 
 " The man has the swelled head so badly that 
 he's likely to explode. And if he doesn't, I shall. 
 It was all I could do to hold myself in to-day." 
 
 " His first command, probably," said Don. 
 " And he may get over it when the responsibility 
 gets to worrying him." 
 
 " I doubt it." 
 
 Harris had ordered his men to clear out the 
 warehouse designated by the general, and the 
 
 138 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 soldiers had promptly rounded up a number of the 
 town people to do the work. The presidente went 
 to the commanding ofi&cer and protested against 
 this action, but was received with rudeness. 
 
 " I'd have you on the job, too, if it were not for 
 your game leg. The less we hear of you presi- 
 dentes in Samar for the next few months the hap- 
 pier it will be for all concerned. Your colleague 
 in Balika has shown the metal of which you are 
 made." 
 
 About four that afternoon he sent for Harry, 
 and ordered that he accompany him on an inspec- 
 tion of the towh and the outposts. He criticized 
 the arrangements freely, stating that the men on 
 guard were too numerous, and the result would be 
 to wear them out. 
 
 " The men should have four nights' sleep to one 
 on guard," he said. 
 
 " So the ' Guard Manual ' says," replied Harry. 
 " But I do not think it can always be followed." 
 
 " You think the constabulary know better than 
 the army ? " asked Harris, with a suspicion of a 
 sneer. 
 
 " Sure of it," answered Harry, cheerfully. 
 " That is, I shall be if you alter my details here. 
 I have been in the army myself, Mr. Harris." 
 
 " Lieutenant Harris, if you please." 
 
 " Very good. Lieutenant Harris, if you wish it 
 
 139 
 
AN ARMY BOY 
 
 so. Possibly you have not been an ofl&cer long 
 enough to realize that the title ' lieutenant ' is used 
 only in official communications." 
 
 Harris flushed and looked at Harry, who met 
 his eye with so cheerful a look that he did not 
 know just what reply to make. He preferred to 
 remain silent, but revenged himself by ordering 
 every outpost changed and the strength reduced. 
 
 The constabulary soldiers looked doubtfully at 
 their officer as they heard the commands given, 
 but at a nod from him abandoned their posts to the 
 Visayan soldiers ordered to relieve them. 
 
 " Your fellows are a sort of police force, any- 
 way," said Harris. " They can do the interior 
 patrol work." 
 
 " Don't underestimate the men who are now 
 part of your command, Lieutenant Harris," said 
 Harry with just enough emphasis on the title as to 
 make it noticeable. " These constabulary men are 
 trained soldiers — have been fighting for years." 
 
 " Against us, I suppose," said Harris. 
 
 " Touchy," said Harry, laughing, and touching 
 his chest as a fencer does when touched by his op- 
 ponent. " Yes, they are recently from the insur- 
 gent ranks, but are loyal now." 
 
 " I'd a little rather have my own men on out- 
 post. I don't trust these recent converts." 
 
 " As you please. Lieutenant Harris. But I sug- 
 
 140 
 
SOME RIFLES WERE STOLEN FROM MY BARRACK 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 gest that you give these outposts orders to alter 
 their positions after dark. They are too weak to 
 defend themselves, and if you wish to go by the 
 book in the matter read up Wagner's ' Security and 
 Information,' chapter on Outposts — it's considered 
 as good an authority as the ' Guard Manual.' " 
 
 Harris reddened angrily at the sarcasm. 
 
 " When I want your advice I'll ask for it. 
 These outposts stay where I please." 
 
 That night a few shots alarmed the interior 
 guards, and when Harris at the head of his com- 
 pany reached the outpost which had fired he found 
 the sentinels butchered to a man, their rifles and 
 ammunition gone and the bodies stripped of cloth- 
 ing. Raging, he returned to town, after leaving a 
 stronger guard at the threatened point, only to 
 find that his barrack had been raided in his absence, 
 and several rifles taken. He went over to the 
 constabulary cuartel and found Harry standing at 
 the head of his company, which was formed in line. 
 
 " Can't you keep guard while I am out of 
 town ? " he stormed. 
 
 " The town has been perfectly quiet," said Harry. 
 " My patrols are out." 
 
 " Some rifles were stolen from my barrack while 
 my company was away." 
 
 " I'm sorry, Harris," replied Harry, earnestly. 
 " But you cannot hold me responsible. It would 
 
 141 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 have been presumptuous of me to send a guard for 
 your barrack without orders." 
 
 This was so true that Harris had no reply. 
 Ordering Harry to have his company prepared to 
 take the field at dawn he retired. 
 
 Don was awakened the following day by Harris' 
 noisy entrance. Harry, who had dressed quietly 
 so as to avoid disturbing his friend, voiced his im- 
 patience, and Harris was decent enough to apologize 
 for his thoughtlessness. Feeling somewhat kinder 
 toward him after this Harry led the way to break- 
 fast and endeavored by a cordial agreement with 
 the plan outlined by his senior officer to show that 
 he was willing to make a new start in their rela- 
 tions toward each other. 
 
 Don stopped them as they were leaving the 
 house. 
 
 " Leave two squads behind, Harry," he said, " to 
 guard the cuartel. Put Dominguez in charge." 
 
 " Hold on a minute," said Harris, sensitive to 
 any exercise of authority by another. " I'll decide 
 who stays behind." 
 
 "Certainly, sir," said Don, quietly. "But I 
 have some important papers in the safe in my 
 office — papers which may prove who is stirring up 
 all this trouble. For them I am responsible, and 
 must decide the minimum number of men neces- 
 sary to protect them." 
 
 142 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " You can turn them over to me. Anything of 
 that kind should be kept by the commanding 
 officer." 
 
 " I do not agree with you, sir. Captain An- 
 drews, when I offered them to him, declined to 
 receive them, saying that the responsibility of 
 making the proper use of them belonged entirely 
 and peculiarly to the constabulary." 
 
 " Do you mean that you decline ? " 
 
 " Exactly, sir. My records remain my records 
 until my senior inspector returns." 
 
 Harris opened his mouth to speak again, but 
 could not find the right words. Something in the 
 quiet eyes, deep sunken in the emaciated face as 
 they were, stopped him. The young man's ex- 
 pression was perfectly respectful, his words while 
 positive had been equally without insubordination. 
 Harris realized,'in his heart, that the younger man, 
 sick as he was and weak physically, was his master 
 in will, and with a curt, " we'll speak more of this 
 when I return," left the room. 
 
 Don sank back exhausted by his effort. 
 
 " I'm sorry to bother you any more just now, old 
 timer," said Harry. " But goodness knows what 
 this new Napoleon may do with us, and this thing 
 may be of importance." At this he handed Don 
 the paper given him by Cameron and with a fare- 
 well clasp of the hand hurried after Harris. 
 
 143 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Don heard the noise of the departure while eat- 
 ing the light breakfast a servant brought him. 
 He smiled at the enthusiastic, " Viva Teiiiente 
 -Kearny ! " with which the company assembled. 
 
 " Fine spirit ! " he muttered, " and I wish we 
 had been left free to develop it. I'm afraid Harris 
 will spoil things for us." 
 
 After breakfast he lay quietly for a while, then 
 picked up the paper Harry had given him. It was 
 in three folds and sealed with a red wafer. 
 
 " There's something familiar about it, but I can- 
 not remember where I saw it before." 
 
 He opened it — there were four lines of writing in 
 some native dialect and another red seal was in the 
 place of the signature. 
 
 " Felipe," he said to his servant, " go over to 
 the cuartel and if Sergeant Dominguez is there tell 
 him to come to me." 
 
 A few minutes later the sergeant stood before 
 the officer he worshiped. His first words were to 
 express pleasure at the lieutenant's recovery. 
 
 " And yourself, sergeant, how is the leg ? " 
 
 " A little weak still, but I am able to use it." 
 
 " Can you read this? " and Don handed him the 
 paper. 
 
 " Si, senor, it is Visayan." 
 
 " Translate it." 
 
 " It seems only foolishness, seiior teniente. It 
 
 144 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 is an order that the council of seven assemble at 
 the rendezvous of the five forks at moonrise the 
 tenth night after the first stroke in order that 
 plans for the second stroke may be revealed. 
 There is no signature except this red seal." 
 
 " What do you make of it ? " 
 
 " Nothing, seiior. It is an order of some secret 
 society — there are many such in the Islas Filipi- 
 nas." 
 
 Don thought deeply, and a light dawned on him. 
 His eyes brightened. 
 
 " I remember now. I took that paper from the 
 native who masqueraded as a servant so as to kill 
 Captain Andrews — and it was given him by Atta." 
 
 The two men exchanged glances — the same 
 thought had struck them both. 
 
 " ' The first stroke,' senor," said the sergeant, al- 
 most whispering. " * The first stroke ' — the words 
 undoubtedly refer to the massacre at Balika, the 
 first stroke of the Pulujanes, and a second is to 
 come." 
 
 " I agree with you, sergeant, and what day is to- 
 day?" 
 
 The sergeant's eyes grew big. He counted on 
 his fingers. 
 
 " The tenth, senor. Atta's council meets to- 
 night, but where ? " 
 
 " At the rendezvous of the five forks, sergeant," 
 
 145 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 said Don smiling. " Does it mean nothing to 
 you?" 
 
 " Nothing, mi teniente." 
 
 " Do you not remember that little clearing with 
 the great tree in its center that we passed about 
 two kilometers on the secret trail to Mendoya's 
 stronghold?" 
 
 " Si, senor." 
 
 " Do you not remember the tree — you yourself 
 called my attention to it." 
 
 A light broke on the sergeant's face. 
 
 "The great trunk forking into five equal 
 branches at four meters' height. Teniente, you 
 have solved it, you are a leader a man can follow, 
 you have the brain and the courage and the heart," 
 and the impulsive native seized Don's hand and 
 carried it to his lips. 
 
 Don smiled kindly upon him. 
 
 " I know your loyalty, sergeant. I wish I were 
 as sure of all the men." 
 
 " You may be, mi teniente, you may be. That 
 is," and his face clouded, " if these scouts do not 
 go too far in their insolence. They say that our 
 officers are not real officers and that they will not 
 salute you. Some of our men are very angry, and 
 I fear we are too newly formed to hold together 
 well. Some of them would rather fight the scouts 
 now than the Pulujanes." 
 
 146 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " I must get out the sooner then, sergeant. But 
 we'll climb that wall when we reach it. Are you 
 able to go to the rendezvous to-night ? " 
 
 "Si, senor. I'll take one squad — it will be 
 enough." 
 
 " No, I dare not leave so few at barracks. You 
 must go alone. Conceal yourself in the fork of 
 the tree and endeavor to learn their plans. Learn 
 also the identity of the members of this secret 
 council. I wish them to carry out their plan 
 and we, knowing it, will be prepared to cut 
 them up — I must recover those rifles taken from 
 Balika." 
 
 " But the leaders, sefior — are they to be left at 
 large ? " 
 
 " Yes, till afterward. Then we'll arrest them all 
 some night and thus strike terror to the people. 
 Not knowing how we got our information they 
 will begin to suspect each other of being traitors 
 to the cause, and by questioning them separately 
 we'll get the whole plot." 
 
 " Senor, you have it right. We cannot fail." 
 
 " Now leave me. I am very tired." 
 
 He dozed for a while and was awakened by steps 
 ascending the stairway. Don Ramon hobbled in, 
 followed by his daughter. Don was glad to see 
 them and congratulated the presidente on being 
 about again. 
 
 147 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " I trust you may join us soon, amigo mio," ^ re- 
 plied Sanchez. " Katubig needs all her friends 
 now. These new troops will drive our people into 
 the enemy's ranks." 
 
 " Kindness failed at Balika, Don Ramon," said 
 Don quietly. 
 
 The presidente's eyes fell. 
 
 " True enough, true enough. But it is different 
 with my people. They have accepted your rule, 
 and ask only to market their hemp in peace." 
 
 " I fear they will suffer with the rest. And 
 you, my friend, should urge upon them the im- 
 portance of giving the troops information so that 
 this new insurrection may be crushed." 
 
 " I shall do so — I shall use all my influence." 
 
 They remained the better part of the day with 
 Don, the presidente reading or chatting with him 
 when he indicated a desire to talk while Inez 
 busied herself in ministering to his wants and 
 tidying the room. 
 
 At an unusually early hour the next day the 
 presidente limped into Don's room again. He 
 was plainly excited. 
 
 " Is there news from the troops ? " asked Don 
 eagerly. 
 
 "There are rumors in the town — but who is 
 this?" 
 
 ' Amigo mio — my friend. 
 148 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Some one stumbled up the steps and then stag- 
 gered along the hall to the door. Sanchez had 
 risen and Don sat up in bed. Then through the 
 door tottered a soldier, his eyes starting from his 
 head, his body writhing in pain. 
 
 " Dominguez ! " cried Don. " What is the mat- 
 ter?" 
 
 The sergeant grasped the foot of the bed with 
 both hands and strove to speak. His swollen and 
 blackened tongue protruded between his teeth, but 
 with a great effort he caught his breath and croaked 
 the words " Papa Atta is " 
 
 The presidente had seized a glass of water from 
 the table and sprang forward, holding it to the 
 man's mouth. He choked and was unable to 
 proceed. 
 
 " Drink, man, drink — then you can tell us. 
 Drink," and Sanchez pressed the glass to his lips. 
 
 There was a look of horror in Dominguez' eyes ; 
 his form collapsed. He made a vain effort to 
 gather himself and gasped out the one word " cui- 
 dado ! " ^ then fell forward on the bed. 
 
 Sanchez raised him and again held the glass to 
 his lips. Dominguez shuddered, then relaxed. 
 
 " Too late," said the presidente. " The man is 
 dead — he has been poisoned." 
 
 " He was my best man, and loved me person- 
 
 ' Cnidado — beware. 
 149 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 ally," said Don, making no effort to control the 
 tears that ran down his cheeks. " He died trying 
 to tell me of an important mission I had entrusted 
 to him. Don Ramon, will you take charge of his 
 funeral? Spare no expense and do him all the 
 honor our poor means permit." 
 
 150 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 don's company disintegrates 
 
 Three days passed and Don was able to leave 
 his bed when Harris and his company returned. 
 They were worn out with hard " hiking " and had 
 not had a sight of the enemy. Harris railed at 
 the country. 
 
 " And those conches," he said, bitterly. " They 
 seemed to follow our movements everywhere. We 
 wore ourselves out endeavoring to find who was 
 making the signals." 
 
 " I know how you feel," Don replied. " I have 
 been through the same thing myself. The only 
 success we ever had was when we induced one of 
 their own men to betray a rendezvous," 
 
 " Can't we work it again ? " 
 
 " I am continually trying, but Atta's vengeance 
 was so prompt and so terrible that it is doubtful. 
 I know they contemplate a second stroke similar 
 to that at Balika, but my man who discovered the 
 details was poisoned and died while trying to 
 make his report." And Don briefly related the 
 tragedy. 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Harris listened breathlessly. 
 
 " And what do you propose ? " 
 
 " I have no plans. We must take extra precau- 
 tions to safeguard our little town." 
 
 " Well, I am not going to sit supinely and let 
 these fellows plot at their own sweet will. They'll 
 be trying to murder us next." 
 
 " They already have — twice with me." 
 
 " All the more reason to run them down." 
 
 But nevertheless he remained in town two days. 
 As the second night came and Kearny's column 
 had not returned Harris began to get uneasy. 
 
 " He took only two days' rations and has been 
 gone five," he said. 
 
 " Then he has struck some trail," replied Don. 
 " Don't worry about Kearny. He has a long 
 head, and is a born soldier. With his following 
 and experience he'll not be caught napping." 
 
 In spite of his confident words, Don was greatly 
 relieved to hear Harry's voice about midnight giv- 
 ing the necessary commands to dismiss the com- 
 pany. A few minutes later his friend stole quietly 
 up the stairs. 
 
 " I'm awake, Harry. What luck ? " 
 
 " Pretty fair ; we got eight rifles." 
 
 " Harris' ? " 
 
 " I don't know — the men we got them from 
 weren't able to talk or didn't want to." 
 
 152 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Tell me of it." 
 
 " Well, we caught a conch blower — Ferrandez 
 discovered their system. They locate these conches 
 in trees along the trail, and cut a sapling oppo- 
 site the tree within view of the trail, leaving one 
 branch pointing in the direction of the conch. 
 He had noted three of these saplings, and it sud- 
 denly dawned on him that a conch had sounded 
 each time we passed such a sapling. So the next 
 time we saw one he quietly slipped into the brush 
 and after worming his way for about fifty yards 
 caught Mr. Pulujane just preparing to blow." 
 
 " Did he capture him ? " 
 
 " He did, and before bringing him to me I think 
 the sergeant reverted to the primitive insurgent 
 type, for it was a wreck of a man he produced, and 
 such was his fear of Ferrandez that he guided us 
 to a settlement. It was deserted, but we got enough 
 rice to keep us going — our rations were about gone 
 — and we followed the trail that the fellows had 
 left. They rushed us after about a mile, and we 
 repulsed them. Then I started a retreat, but left a 
 dozen men concealed. They took the hook, all 
 right, and soon were swarming after us. My fel- 
 lows came up and we got them between two fires. 
 That was where we got the guns." 
 
 " Any of ours hurt ? " 
 
 " Yes, Martinez and Ramos killed — we buried 
 
 153 
 
AN ARMY BOY 
 
 them where they fell. Garin, Opina and Villa- 
 nueva wounded. That's what made me come back. " 
 
 " How are the men ? " 
 
 " Pretty tired, but cheerful." 
 
 At breakfast the following morning Harry was 
 taken to task by his commanding ofl&cer for not 
 following up his success. 
 
 " Having met those men you should have fol- 
 lowed them till the last one was killed," said Harris. 
 
 " But they scattered." 
 
 " Then you should have scattered also. Your 
 tactics should conform to those of your enemy." 
 
 " Scarcely, since I'd have to leave three wounded 
 men unprotected." 
 
 " Theirs was the chance of war. We cannot 
 consider the individual." 
 
 " Have to with these fellows," said Harry, con- 
 trolling himself with difficulty. " They fight as 
 they do because of their confidence that if a single 
 man falls the rest will stick to him to the last. 
 That's the constabulary principle." 
 
 "•Well, the army is running this now. Have 
 your men ready to take the field again in an hour. 
 We'll try to pick up this trail." 
 
 " But it's too late now." 
 
 " Then it's your fault. I must do mj?^ best to 
 correct your error." And Harris hurried out. 
 
 " We are off again, Don," said Harry, "and it's 
 
 154 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 a wild goose chase. I had hoped the men might 
 have a bit of a rest — they deserve it." 
 
 " Take the two squads that remained behind 
 this last hike and pick the hardiest of the others. 
 Leave me twenty — I'm nervous over this business 
 of leaving the town practically unprotected." 
 
 Harry came back in about half an hour. 
 
 " We are all ready," he said. " Here's a copy 
 of the telegram Harris just sent." 
 
 Don opened the paper. 
 
 " Well, of all the nerve ! " he exclaimed. Then 
 he read the message aloud. " ' Adjutant-General, 
 Catbalogan. Column from this place struck in- 
 surgents in force on fifth instant, routing them 
 with great loss. Eight rifles captured. Harris.' " 
 
 The two friends looked at each other, then 
 laughed. 
 
 " He's a winner, all right," said Harry. " But, 
 Don, just wait till Cameron gets a chance to write 
 him up." 
 
 The following day Don went out for the first 
 time. The town was quiet. Presidente Sanchez 
 was again confined to his room, his efforts to use 
 his leg too soon having caused a relapse. Don 
 used his small force to continue their system of 
 patrols. He called on the scouts to assist with the 
 men who had been left in charge of their barrack, 
 but was told insolently that they took orders only 
 
 155 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 from their own officers. Being temporarily in 
 command, he addressed a letter to the adjutant- 
 general of the forces operating in Samar reporting 
 this fact, and the danger to successful cooperation 
 that would result. 
 
 He transferred his office from the lower to the 
 upper floor of the cuartel, where he felt that the 
 records would be safer in case of a sudden attack. 
 He secured some wire and made a strong grating 
 over all lower windows and arranged a system of 
 wire entanglements for the stairs that could be re- 
 moved at daylight each morning. The doors were 
 strengthened by nailing boards diagonally across 
 them, and he had two heavy bars made for each. 
 At nightfall he withdrew all his men to the bar- 
 rack and closed the lower floor. He, himself, slept 
 in a vacant squad-room and had one sentinel at a 
 window on each of the four sides of the barrack 
 throughout the night. He felt that Papa Atta 
 would scarcely miss so excellent an opportunity 
 for a raid. 
 
 Nevertheless the days passed without event and 
 at noon on the fourth the expedition returned. 
 There was not the usual cheering as the ranks 
 broke, and Don noted with some uneasiness the 
 sullen way in which the men entered their bar- 
 rack. Harry himself had only a forced smile for 
 his friend. 
 
 156 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " I assume you accomplished nothing," remarked 
 Don as Harry sat down dejectedly and called for a 
 servant to remove his leggings. 
 
 " You assume rightly as far as we are concerned. 
 Harris has accomplished something, and that is to 
 drive our men almost to the point of mutiny." 
 
 " How is that ? " 
 
 " Simply by treating them differently from his 
 own men. Apparently he classes the constabulary 
 soldiers in with the cargadores." 
 
 Don related his experience with the scouts left 
 behind, and told Harry of his report to the adju- 
 tant-general. 
 
 " I hope something may be done before the com- 
 pany is ruined," he added. " In the meantime 
 I'll relieve you of the burden of command." 
 
 After lunch that day Don asked Harris for a few 
 minutes' conversation in private. Harry took the 
 hint and announced his intention of calling on 
 Presidente Sanchez. 
 
 " Mr. Harris," said Don, when they were alone, 
 " I wish to report first the insubordination of your 
 men in your absence." 
 
 " Insubordinate ? To whom ? " 
 
 "To me. When I directed them to assist in 
 guarding the town they declined, and declined 
 insolently." 
 
 " By what right did you give them any orders ? " 
 
 iS7 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 " By virtue of being the senior official present." 
 
 " My men are enlisted as a part of the United 
 States Army, in which you hold no commission." 
 
 " Granted, but I belong to an organization 
 formed in accordance with United States law and 
 for the purpose of maintaining the authority of 
 the United States in these islands. The fact that 
 I hold my commission from the governor-general 
 should not prevent your men from obeying my 
 orders." 
 
 " There shouldn't be any civil government 
 here." 
 
 " That opinion is held by many, but the Presi- 
 dent and Congress of the United States hold the 
 opposite, so we need not argue the point. I ask 
 you, Mr. Harris, to instruct your men that, in 
 your absence, they will obey the orders of the 
 officer left in charge of the town." 
 
 " I decline to issue any such order." 
 
 " Please consider the matter. We are here to 
 put down a growing insurrection, and, if you 
 please, to avenge the slaughter of those Americians 
 at Balika. Without cooperation we not only can 
 make no progress but we lay ourselves open to a 
 possible repetition of the disaster." 
 
 " Look here, Mr. Page, I have already told Mr. 
 Kearny that when I want his advice I'll ask it, 
 
 and now I tell you " 
 
 158 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Better not, Mr. Harris. I will not permit you 
 to be insolent to me. Both Kearny and I have 
 done our best to give you loyal support, even 
 when we have known you were wrong. I now 
 warn you that you are driving my company to 
 mutiny." 
 
 " Can't you control your men ? Do you admit 
 that you are unable to control these mobs of ex- 
 cutthroats the civil government is organizing and 
 calling sergeants and corporals just as if they had 
 been loyal from the start, as have the scouts ? " 
 
 " Mr. Harris, I have heard something of this 
 bitterness and prejudice. I have heard also that 
 the ofiScers and men of the regulars do not share 
 it, but that it is the scout organizations who resent 
 the intrusion of the civil government into what 
 they have been pleased to consider their field. It 
 is evident that you represent this prejudice in its 
 highest development. I have already reported 
 the behavior of your men to higher authority." 
 
 " You have ? Well, I shall have some reports 
 to make about yours also." 
 
 " What, for instance ? That they formed the 
 column you reported as having struck the enemy 
 and recaptured eight rifles ? " 
 
 Harris flushed and opened his mouth to reply 
 angrily, but Don interposed. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Harris, I want you to know that 
 
 159 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 this company of constabulary is not without some 
 standing, and that army ofl&cers of long experience 
 have praised its men. I advise that you think 
 over this matter to-night and see if we cannot 
 come to a working agreement. And, in the mean- 
 time, unless you can overcome your feeling of 
 superiority, I'd prefer that you would sever your 
 connection with the constabulary oflScers' mess. 
 It must be trying for you to eat with those you 
 consider beneath you, and I certainly do not desire 
 to associate with anyone on other terms than those 
 of equality." 
 
 Harris attempted to bluster a reply, but he was 
 taken utterly unprepared, and he found it difficult 
 to answer with the eyes of his opponent looking at 
 him so calmly. He had not intended that things 
 should go so far ; in fact he had had no clear in- 
 tention from the start. His contempt for the civil 
 government and for the men employed in it had 
 been fostered by the conversations he had heard 
 among his fellows. When ordered to a station 
 where constabulary were serving he had stated 
 that " he would show those fellows their place," 
 and he had proceeded to do so without any defined 
 plan. 
 
 He was not a bad fellow at heart, simply narrow 
 minded and prejudiced, and, as he left the house, 
 he would have welcomed any suggestion that 
 
 i6o 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 would enable him, without too great a sacrifice 
 of dignity, to start over again. He was humili- 
 ated, however, by a sense of Don's superiority, and 
 determined to make some great stroke that would 
 prove his soldierly ability before making any ad- 
 vances toward a reconciliation. 
 
 That afternoon there was a fight between a con- 
 stabulary man and a scout soldier. Don promptly 
 brought his man to trial and sentenced him to ten 
 days' confinement under guard. When Harry re- 
 turned that night and reported that the scout 
 soldier was not even confined to his quarters, Don 
 shook his head. 
 
 " I shall wire for permission to change our com- 
 pany's station to-morrow," he said. " I can feel 
 trouble coming if we stay here." 
 
 But the harm had already been done. That 
 night about one o'clock the two young officers were 
 aroused by a crashing volley, followed by a rattle 
 of musketry, firing at will. Seizing their revolvers 
 andlthrusting their feet into their shoes they hur- 
 ried to their barracks. The men were already 
 manning the windows in anticipation of an at- 
 tack, but the firing had slackened already. In the 
 direction of the scouts' barracks a red glare ap- 
 peared. 
 
 " Form the company. Sergeant Ferrandez 1 " cried 
 
 Don. 
 
 i6i 
 
AN JRMT BOr 
 
 But there was no answer. 
 
 " Sergeant Ferrandez ! " called Don again. 
 
 " He is not here, senor," was the reply. 
 
 " Who is speaking ? " 
 
 " Sergeant Nabato." 
 
 " Very well. Assemble the men at once." 
 
 The doors were opened and the men filed out. 
 No roll-call being possible in the absence of the 
 first sergeant, Don counted those present. There 
 were forty-two, and there should have been sixty- 
 five. 
 
 " Where are the absentees. Sergeant Nabato ? " 
 
 " I do not know, senor." 
 
 " Where is the guard ? " 
 
 " I have just awakened, senor. I know nothing 
 except that this evening after Private Bacnag was 
 confined I saw the first sergeant talking earnestly 
 with several of the men who served with him under 
 Paua. The guard was all made up of those men, 
 and I believe they have deserted." 
 
 " Take a dozen men, Harry, and remain here on 
 guard. Investigate this affair. I must help Harris 
 out." 
 
 With the remainder of the company he double- 
 timed to the scout barrack. Harris had made a 
 wise arrangement of his men. A strong guard 
 had been thrown out, and under its protection the 
 remainder of the company had formed a bucket 
 
 162 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 line to the beach and were making a gallant strug- 
 gle to extinguish the blazing building. Don 
 threw his men into this line and with their assist- 
 ance the scouts soon had the fire under control. 
 This accomplished Don reformed his company and 
 reported to Harris for further orders. 
 
 " Nothing more to-night," said Harris. " A 
 band of the enemy evidently crept in and set fire 
 to the cuartel, then emptied their rifles at my men 
 as they rushed out to extinguish the flames. For- 
 tunately they hit no one. My guards returned 
 their fire, and I have just sent out a squad to see if 
 we got any of them." 
 
 Don was about to reply when a squad came up 
 bearing a limp form. 
 
 " Why, this man is in uniform ! " cried Harris, 
 swinging a lantern over him. " But he is not of 
 my company." 
 
 " No," said Don, grimly. " That is Bacnag, late 
 private of the First Company, Constabulary of 
 Samar. For your information, I'll report that 
 twenty-two members of my company, led by the 
 first sergeant, deserted to the enemy to-night. This 
 man's presence proves that it was they who at- 
 tacked you." 
 
 " Well, Lieutenant Page, I consider it my duty 
 to put you in arrest pending investigation " 
 
 " Oh, cut out that nonsense I " said Don, savagely. 
 
 I63 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " And rush reinforcements to your outposts. Those 
 fellows may be satisfied to get away or they may 
 try more mischief. An inspector-general will de- 
 cide the case between you and me." 
 
 164 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 AN OFFER TO SURRENDER 
 
 " Lieutenant Harris, I presume." 
 
 Harris looked around from the squad of men 
 who under his direction were repairing the burned 
 corner of his barrack. A tall, muscular man with 
 curling blond hair and kindly blue eyes was look- 
 ing down upon him from the saddle of a large 
 Australian horse. 
 
 " Yes, my name is Harris — and yours ? " 
 
 " I'm Cameron, newspaper correspondent — just 
 rode over from Balika with a patrol. There are 
 lively times in that section, and it looks as though 
 you had your troubles here also." 
 
 " We have. About a third of the constabulary 
 company mutinied and deserted last night. They 
 attacked my barrack in passing." 
 
 " Deserted ! Why, those fellows were devoted to 
 their officers. What is wrong ? " 
 
 " Well, their officers are impertinent enough to 
 blame it on me because I would not run things the 
 way they wished." 
 
 Cameron grew grave. 
 
 " Please do not apply the word ' impertinent ' to 
 
 i6s 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Page and Kearny while speaking to me. They are 
 old friends of mine. Besides, if they think your 
 actions have caused the trouble there will be a good 
 many who will require strong proof from you be- 
 fore deciding against them." 
 
 " We'll find out what the commanding general 
 thinks when he gets my report." 
 
 " You know who the commanding general is 
 now?" 
 
 " Certainly — General Chaffee has relieved Gen- 
 eral MacArthur." 
 
 " And you think General Chaffee will decide 
 against Page on your say-so ? Why, man, he got 
 this position for Page because he couldn't give him 
 any other reward." 
 
 Harris' jaw dropped. 
 
 " Then Page has served in the army ? " he 
 gasped. 
 
 " Man — have you not heard of Page and Kearny 
 of the Fourteenth Infantry, and their exploits in 
 China?" 
 
 " I thought they were commissioned in the 
 regulars." 
 
 " They would have been, had they been of age ; 
 as it was they were given these positions to tide 
 them over. And when I left Manila official circles 
 were so pleased with their work that they were 
 figuring on some way to advance them." 
 
 i66 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " And here I've been thinking they were some 
 fellows run in here by political pull. I remember 
 Kearny mentioning he had been in the army, but 
 it didn't impress me at the time — if I thought at 
 all, I figured he had been in some state volunteer 
 camp in the war. Page and Kearny — no wonder 
 they were so confident of themselves ! " 
 
 Harris presented rather a pathetic figure — all his 
 bravado had gone. The Englishman looked pity- 
 ingly upon him, but said nothing ; he was wonder- 
 ing what sort of metal the man was made of, and 
 determined to let him take his own way out. 
 
 Finally Harris looked up. 
 
 " Mr. Cameron," he said, " I'm afraid I have 
 made an ass of myself" 
 
 " I don't know what you have done, Mr. Harris, 
 but by making that confession you have gone a 
 long way toward righting yourself" 
 
 " Will you act as peacemaker ? " 
 
 " With all my heart I " 
 
 " Then ask Page if he will receive me, with a 
 view to my making an apology." 
 
 " That's bully, Mr. Harris. I'll go right now." 
 
 Ten minutes later Don appeared. Harris 
 watched his approach with uneasiness, but was 
 cheered by the smile with which the other greeted 
 him. 
 
 " Cameron has told me you wished to call on 
 
 167 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 me, but, knowing you were busy, I thought I'd 
 best come over here." 
 
 " Did he tell you how thoroughly I realized I 
 had been wrong in my behavior here ? " 
 
 " He intimated that you had had a change of 
 heart." 
 
 " It's more than that. Page. I have acted the 
 conceited prig, and if you and Kearny will give me 
 a chance to start afresh I'll try to prov% I'm a de- 
 cent enough chap." 
 
 " Don't say another word — you have already 
 proved it. And I tell you, Harris, if we all settle 
 down and pull together, we'll make up for lost time 
 here." 
 
 " You are very generous, but I'm afraid I'll be 
 dismissed when this thing is reported." 
 
 " Not at all. I'll report the desertion, saying 
 that it was due to an ill-feeling between the con- 
 stabulary and scouts, but that steps have been taken 
 to restore harmony, and no further trouble need be 
 feared." 
 
 " Do you think we can bring the men together ? " 
 
 " Surely — give your men a talk and I'll do the 
 same with mine. Then to-night let your men give 
 a banquet to mine and we'll return it to-morrow. 
 When the news of that gets out in the bosque prob- 
 ably most of my deserters will return." 
 
 They shook hands. 
 
 1 68 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " You'll be over to lunch ? " said Don, as he left. 
 
 " With more pleasure than I can say." 
 
 And so harmony was restored. The banquets 
 were great occasions, and the soldiers of the two 
 corps fraternized readily. The scouts became even 
 more punctilious in their respect to the constab- 
 ulary officers than to their own commander. 
 Don and Harris arranged the burdens equitably. 
 The latter was all for going on a raid after the 
 deserters, but readily deferred to Don's judgment 
 when the latter proposed a waiting game. He had 
 spread it broadcast through the barrios of the town 
 that the trouble was all a mistake which had been 
 corrected, and that any of his men who would re- 
 turn would be received as if nothing had happened. 
 And on the fourth day his delay was justified. 
 Fifteen of the men returned. They were received 
 with cheers by their fellows, and though Don 
 talked with them sternly about their having acted 
 without first coming to him with their troubles, 
 he made no objection to their attending a third 
 banquet given by the scouts that night. 
 
 Ferrandez and six others had remained with the 
 insurgents. Don was not surprised, for he knew 
 his control had always irked the first sergeant, who 
 believed in torture to gain information, and to 
 whom a wounded enemy was a man to finish rather 
 than one to save. When one of the men told him 
 
 169 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 that Ferrandez had gotten in touch with the scat- 
 tered band of Mendoya, and was arranging to as- 
 semble them under his own banner, he grew 
 grave. 
 
 He reorganized the company, appointing Nabato 
 first sergeant. He missed Dominguez greatly at 
 this juncture, but Nabato was faithful and devoted ; 
 in fact the late trouble seemed to have bound the 
 men to him more strongly than ever. He was 
 planning a raid based on information gained from 
 the returned deserters when a new development 
 stopped him. 
 
 Word had come to them from time to time of 
 the activity of troops in other portions of tbe 
 island. The peaceable people had been reconcen- 
 trated in the various towns, and columns of troops 
 had penetrated the interior, destroying any settle- 
 ments they might chance upon, and killing ani- 
 mals that might be used as food by the insurgents 
 and Pulujanes. It was rarely that these columns 
 met with any great resistance ; occasionally a rush 
 of bolomen on an encampment at night, and less 
 often still a raid on the garrison left behind. But 
 though the American forces were not able to bring 
 their enemies to a fight they kept them on the 
 move, and continually destroyed the stores accu- 
 mulated and the crops planted in the obscure fields 
 of the mountain valleys. 
 
 170 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Don was not surprised therefore when the presi- 
 dente received a message from a Pulujane chief 
 asking that he be permitted to surrender with his 
 following. The presidente had taken the matter 
 to Harris as commanding oflBcer, and, while the 
 latter was enthusiastic, he advised that Page be 
 consulted. 
 
 " He says that he has two hundred men and 
 a few rifles," said Harris. "And begs the good 
 offices of Presidente Sanchez to secure them pro- 
 tection and a place to settle after their surrender." 
 
 " What do you think of it, Don Ramon ? " asked 
 Don. 
 
 " It seems genuine. And it can do no harm to 
 receive them. There is this great advantage. If 
 we can get even a hundred of them, among them 
 will be found guides who can lead us to their 
 haunts. But you see that he asks that no soldiers 
 be present, as it will frighten his men away. That 
 is the only point which makes me doubt him." 
 
 " It is you who take the main risk, Don Ramon. 
 Dare you trust him ? " 
 
 " I believe so. Between the raids you have led 
 from here and those we learn of in other parts the 
 outlaws must be having a bad time of it. It is 
 not surprising that they want to give up and it is 
 natural that they should want to come here. You 
 notice that this place has never been seriously at- 
 
 171 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 tacked. I think our kindness to all who enter 
 the municipality is responsible for this." 
 
 " Well, you have my consent," said Harris. 
 
 " And you'll withdraw your troops ? " 
 
 " Yes — or rather I'll have them all stay in bar- 
 racks that day — the barrack is half a mile from 
 the plaza and my men will not be seen. The con- 
 stabulary can join my men there. I believe we 
 ofl&cers had better be present with you to receive 
 their surrender." 
 
 " An excellent idea. I shall dispatch a mes- 
 senger at once." 
 
 " What is the name of this Pulujane leader ? " 
 asked Don. 
 
 " Otoy — an old irreconcilable." 
 
 " I know his record — he's on my books." 
 
 Harris and Don left the presidente and went 
 over to the former's quarters. 
 
 " It will be a big feather in our caps and will 
 lead to great results," said Harris, enthusiastically. 
 " If these are well treated others will surrender 
 also." 
 
 " My enthusiasm is somewhat dimmed by learn- 
 ing the name of the chief of the band — he's a 
 treacherous dog. Though he has given no trouble 
 since the American occupation, the Spanish rec- 
 ords are full of his exploits." 
 
 " But what could be his object in this ? " 
 
 172 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " You noted his desire that no troops should be 
 present." 
 
 " Yes — but his reason was good with a wild fol- 
 lowing like his." 
 
 " Granted — it was equally good with such a man 
 as Otoy if he contemplates treachery. I think 
 my men had better stay in barracks." 
 
 " Come, Page. I assented to the presidente's 
 plan. I do not want to insist against your judg- 
 ment, but I'd feel pretty small if I have to go to 
 him and tell him I'd changed my mind." 
 
 " And you needn't. This is what we'll do. I'll 
 have my men keep a careful watch on the people 
 the night before the day appointed for the sur- 
 render. If the women and children begin to clear 
 out of this section of the town we'll know that 
 they have had some underground warning ; if not, 
 then we'll be safe to follow the plan as laid out." 
 
 " Possibly you are right." 
 
 " I'm sure of it. The presidente need never 
 know, nor need the Pulujanes. The night before 
 the surrender let about fifty of your men sleep at 
 my cuartel. They can form at reveille and march 
 down to their own barrack. In the early dawn 
 the slight difference in costume will not be noticed, 
 and the people will think they are my men leav- 
 ing. My men can lie quiet, hidden behind closed 
 blinds. If the thing passes off all right our pre- 
 
 173 
 
AN ARMT BOT 
 
 cautions will not be suspected. If treachery is 
 intended, and something tells me that it is, we'll 
 be prepared to save the town, to say nothing of 
 Don Ramon and you." 
 
 " You will not be with us ? " 
 
 " No, I'll stay with my men to keep them quiet. 
 Harry can drop around at the last minute and ex- 
 plain my absence." 
 
 The second day following Don Ramon notified 
 them that he had received word that Otoy and his 
 men would present themselves early the following 
 morning. He was happily excited at the prospect, 
 as he saw the means of impressing his influence 
 on the general commanding the troops operating 
 in Samar. Harry smiled in his sleeve at this 
 frank admission, for he remembered the snub the 
 presidente had received at that general's hands 
 some three weeks before. 
 
 When he had left, Don called half a dozen of 
 his most trusted men to him and told them what 
 he wished them to do. The officers retired at the 
 usual hour, that is, their lights were extinguished, 
 but all awaited the report with an intensity of 
 suspense. The first soldier crept up the stairs 
 about midnight. 
 
 " They are moving, mi teniente. The houses 
 back of our cuartel are being deserted quietly." 
 
 " Rats leaving the ship," chuckled Cameron. 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " You Americans lead a most restful life in the 
 Philippines I " 
 
 "How about the English in India?" queried 
 Harry. 
 
 " Haven't had any such excitement as this since 
 the mutiny." 
 
 " Well, give us a show. We've been at it only a 
 couple of years. We'll show you Englishmen a 
 real colony in half a decade." 
 
 " If any of you live that long. Arrows, poison, 
 ambushes, treachery — it looks to a rank outsider 
 as though America has bitten oiF more than she 
 can chew." 
 
 " You don't know the development of the 
 American jaw muscles." 
 
 Another soldier reported. There was a quiet 
 exodus from the section of the city he had been 
 detailed to watch. 
 
 " Harris," said Page, " it may be that they are 
 merely timid, or it may be that they have re- 
 ceived a warning. You'd better take steps to 
 have your men slip quietly into my barrack, as 
 planned." 
 
 The scout oflScer assented and left the building. 
 It was significant that Don had instinctively taken 
 command and the other had obeyed without realiz- 
 ing the fact. 
 
 Two more men reported, giving the same re- 
 
 175 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 suit of their observations. There was no doubt 
 now that the people were leaving the sections of 
 the town that surrounded the plaza. When the 
 last soldier reported his statement was anticipated, 
 but he sprang a surprise on them before leav- 
 ing. 
 
 " There is one more fact, senor, that may be of 
 interest." 
 
 " What is it ? " 
 
 " The Senorita Inez left for the barrio of Binan 
 this afternoon." 
 
 " Now what do you make of that ? " asked 
 Cameron. 
 
 " Possibly coincidence," replied Don, " More 
 probably Don Ramon, while willing to risk his 
 own skin on the issue, is not willing to risk his 
 daughter's safety. I don't blame him at all, but 
 it shows he has less confidence than he led us to 
 believe." 
 
 " All set," whispered Harris, entering quietly. 
 " About forty of my men are in your barrack." 
 
 " Good," said Don. " I'll go into retirement 
 myself. Will you join me at the barrack till the 
 incident is over, Cameron ? " 
 
 " Thank you, no," replied the Englishman. 
 " There's a knot-hole about fourteen inches above 
 the floor near one of your windows. It makes a 
 most beautiful point of observation, and I find by 
 
 176 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 test that it seems designed for my Mauser pistol. 
 I think I'll form a flanking party, and inciden- 
 tally watch over the safety of our friend Harris 
 here and your worthy municipal president." 
 
 177 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE SECOND STROKE 
 
 With the first streaks of dawn the ringing 
 bugles at the constabulary cuartel sounded the 
 reveille, and like an echo came the same notes 
 from the scout barrack on the beach, a scant half 
 mile away. 
 
 Presidente Sanchez, stepping on to the broad 
 veranda that surrounded his house, saw the sol- 
 diers assemble and answer to the roll-call, and then 
 face and march away across the plaza. 
 
 " They are making an early start," he said to 
 himself. " So much the better. It will be a fine 
 day — I hope an augury of success." 
 
 He made his way back to the house and sat 
 down to an early breakfast. But he found him- 
 self too excited to eat, and it was with difficulty 
 that he forced down a little fruit and a cup of 
 black coffee. Then nervously lighting a cigarette, 
 he left the house and stood at his gate. 
 
 " Six-forty," he muttered, looking at his watch. 
 " And Otoy will scarcely be here before eight. I 
 wish I had made it earlier." 
 
 A few minutes later he observed two men come 
 
 178 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 from the house in which the officers lived. They 
 stood talking for a while, then one of them disap- 
 peared around a corner, going in the direction of 
 the scout barrack. The other came slowly across 
 the plaza. As he approached Sanchez recognized 
 Harris. 
 
 " Buenos dias, senor teniente," said the presi- 
 dente, smiling pleasantly, for Harris had included 
 him in his changed treatment of the civil govern- 
 ment officials and had made amends for his rude- 
 ness in their earlier intercourse. 
 
 " Buenos dias, Don Ramon," was the answer. 
 " You are early abroad." 
 
 " Yes, I confess that I have slept but little, and 
 am nervously anxious to have the day's event over 
 with. And you ? " 
 
 " I feel very much the same. It's like a man 
 who has invested his all in a doubtful enterprise," 
 
 The presidente nodded. 
 
 " Your outposts ? " he questioned. " You have 
 withdrawn them ? " 
 
 " Only those to the east. The trails to Balika 
 and Binan are still guarded. I understood that 
 your party would come down from the hills." 
 
 " Will not the other officers and Seiior Cameron 
 join us?" 
 
 " One of the officers will — the other will prob- 
 ably remain with the soldiers to keep them quiet. 
 
 179 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 As for Cameron, he will probably take station 
 somewhere to observe the event. He looks on 
 everything as food for newspapers." 
 
 They strolled out upon the plaza. It was de- 
 serted, save for a few men. The contrast was so 
 marked to its usual animated appearance at that 
 hour as to excite remark. 
 
 " Your people seem to have little curiosity to ob- 
 serve the surrender, Don Ramon," said Harris. 
 
 " You have noticed it? I, also, but it is no sur- 
 prise to me. They fear the mountain people, and 
 have cause to. In the time of the Spaniard there 
 was a continual feud." 
 
 " Then you see nothing sinister in this exodus of 
 people from the center of the town ? " 
 
 " No, seiior, it is natural." 
 
 In the officers' quarters Cameron lay at length 
 on the floor. He had leaned a couple of flag- 
 stones against the wooden wall on either side of the 
 knot-hole through which he proposed to watch the 
 event, thus strengthening the resistance against a 
 chance bullet. He was alone in the house, the 
 servants having been sent to the scout barrack im- 
 mediately after breakfast. He observed the two 
 men pacing back and forth on the plaza. 
 
 " Both unarmed," he muttered. " They have 
 plenty of nerve, or confidence, or both. Well, it's 
 hardly proper for an Englishman, and a non-com- 
 
 i8o 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 batant at that, to fire on the subjects of a friendly 
 nation. But if this thing comes to a scrimmage, 
 and something tells me it will, my little Mauser 
 here will do some talking. I needn't mention my 
 part in the affair in my dispatches." 
 
 For the tenth time he examined the little ma- 
 chine gun to make sure it was in perfect order, and 
 rearranged the clips, each containing ten car- 
 tridges. 
 
 " What a stormy petrel Page is I " he said with a 
 little laugh. " He is always in the midst of some- 
 thing. I should think the authorities, desiring 
 peace, would pay him to stay at home." 
 
 In the constabulary barrack, with its drawn 
 blinds, all was silent. But it was the silence of 
 suspense. The men crouched or lay upon the 
 floors, all save four who were posted at the win- 
 dows commanding a view to each of the four di- 
 rections. Through the slats of the blinds they 
 kept watch. 
 
 Don sat quietly in the largest squad-room await- 
 ing the signal. His heart was beating rapidly, his 
 late illness having weakened him so that he had 
 not his usual self-control. But he gave no out- 
 ward sign of his intense excitement. He knew 
 that his men were taking their cue from him, and 
 if he showed any nervousness it would quickly be 
 communicated to them. 
 
 i8i 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 His preparations were completed. Everything 
 of value had been carried to the upper floor. The 
 doors and windows below were as secure as he 
 could make them. The stairs were covered with a 
 network of wire entanglements that would delay 
 any rush. Every vessel that would hold water 
 had been filled, and they were distributed for in- 
 stant use in case of fire. His men held their 
 loaded pieces in hand and each one had a full belt 
 of ammunition. 
 
 "I hope the presidente is right," he thought, 
 " and that this is the beginning of the disintegra- 
 tion of the enemy's forces. If not — if treachery is 
 intended — they'll get a lively welcome." 
 
 Eight o'clock came and passed and still the 
 same tense silence in the barrack, still the two 
 men walked the plaza and still the Englishman 
 watched from his point of vantage. Half-past eight 
 came, and Harry joined the presidente and Harris. 
 
 " Think they have changed their minds, Don 
 Ramon ? " 
 
 " No — they would have sent word. Where is 
 Senor Page ? " 
 
 " He is remaining with the men." 
 
 " Better so, probably, though I could wish to 
 have you all here. But here is news, I think." 
 
 A young Filipino came running down one of the 
 streets leading into the plaza. 
 
 182 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " They come 1 They come 1 " he shouted, and 
 without halting passed them and continued his 
 way toward the opposite end of town. 
 
 Harry laughed nervously. 
 
 " Doesn't envy us our task of welcoming them," 
 he said. 
 
 One of the lookouts had reported the approach 
 of the band to Don. Warning his men to remain 
 silent, he passed to the other rooms with the same 
 order, then went to the window commanding a 
 view of the trail leading from the hills. 
 
 Otoy and his followers had left the brush and 
 were approaching the town so as to enter the plaza 
 between the presidente's residence and the munic- 
 ipal building. They formed a long column, and 
 the rising sun was reflected from the heads of their 
 spears and their polished fighting knives. Now 
 the head of the column disappeared among the 
 houses, and in a few minutes swung around the 
 corner and started toward the center of the plaza, 
 where the presidente and the two officers stood 
 awaiting them. 
 
 " Two hundred ! " muttered Don. " Why, there 
 are certainly over two hundred there, and still they 
 come. Otoy has a large following — too large to 
 suit my taste." 
 
 He looked at the leader to see if he could rec- 
 ognize him as one of their assailants at Balika, but 
 
 183 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 was unable to. Otoy was a wiry man, of medium 
 size and apparently about forty years of age. He 
 wore his hair long behind and clipped in a bang 
 reaching his eyebrows in front. His arms were un- 
 naturally developed and hung nearly to his knees. 
 His head was carried permanently to one side, the 
 result of the failure of an enemy, long since dead, 
 to sever it. He moved with a springing step that 
 told of a life of hill climbing. His head and feet 
 were bare, but his body was completely clothed. A 
 gaudy sash completed his costume. 
 
 His followers were worthy of their leader. Few 
 were large men, but all were muscular and plainly 
 capable of great endurance. Many were naked 
 from the waist up. They were darker in color 
 than the average Filipino of the coast town, and 
 their flashing black eyes, as they glanced suspi- 
 ciously from right to left, indicated that they would 
 be hard converts to civilization of even the most 
 primitive type. 
 
 All were armed. The majorit}' carried spears. 
 All had knives and a few bore rifles. Otoy himself 
 had only a dagger. 
 
 " Senor teniente 1 " whispered the soldier, watch- 
 ing near Don. 
 
 " Yes ? " 
 
 " Notice those men who wear shirts as well as 
 trousers. See how stiffly they walk. Seiior, they 
 
 184 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 are concealing something, probably rifles. They 
 mean treachery." 
 
 " Very well," replied Don. " Notify the men to 
 take their posts quietly." 
 
 Otoy had advanced to within ten paces of the 
 presidente. There he halted and motioned his 
 men to pass him. They swarmed by and Don, 
 watching from above, estimated their number at 
 fully five hundred. Their leader by shouted com- 
 mand finally had them marshaled to his taste, and 
 when he turned again to face the presidente his fol- 
 lowers were massed in front of the constabulary 
 cuartel, the rear line not over ten feet from its 
 wall. He raised his hand, and immediately silence 
 fell among his followers. 
 
 Then he started to speak, slowly and seeking his 
 words, for his knowledge of Spanish was small and 
 his Visayan not much greater. The American 
 officers, however, were able to gather his meaning. 
 
 " We have come, Senor Sanchez, in response to 
 your message. If we disarm do you promise us the 
 protection of your government ? " 
 
 Presidente Sanchez looked at Harris, who nodded. 
 
 " I do," he replied, " and the American officer in 
 command assents." 
 
 " Will you promise that we shall have the same 
 rights under your government that Filipinos of the 
 coast enjoy ? " 
 
 185 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " I will." 
 
 " Will you promise that we shall not be punished 
 for our acts in the past ? " 
 
 " For your acts against the government — yes. 
 For his personal actions each man who has com- 
 mitted crime must be held responsible." 
 
 Otoy hesitated at this answer, then spoke ag-'in, 
 
 " Will such men be given a fair trial, and their 
 ignorance of the law be considered ? " 
 
 "I promise that strict justice shall be meted out 
 and wherever possible it shall be tempered with 
 mercy." 
 
 " Then I, in behalf of those who accompany me, 
 accept your terms and submit to your government. 
 In token of which I lay my weapon at your feet." 
 
 He advanced and, drawing his dagger from its 
 sheath, laid it upon the ground. Then turning 
 he shouted a command to his men. 
 
 There was a stir among his followers ; those 
 bearing rifles advanced to the front, the others 
 giving way. When all had extricated themselves 
 from the mass they approached the presidente and 
 laid the rifles on the ground before him. 
 
 " It looks as though all were going well," Harry 
 whispered to the scout officer. 
 
 " Not much of an assortment of rifles, however," 
 responded the latter. " The only modern guns 
 among them have the bolts missing." 
 
 1 86 
 
I LAY MY WEAPON AT YOUR FEET 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 One of the Pulujanes was whispering to his 
 leader, who turned a suspicious gaze on the two 
 officers. Then he spoke to the presidente. 
 
 " My men report that there are soldiers in the 
 cuartel watching them through the blinds." 
 
 Sanchez turned pale, and questioned Harry with 
 a look. 
 
 "We have left a guard there," said Harry. 
 " But not with any intent to harm these people. 
 He may proceed with confidence." 
 
 Sanchez translated this reply to Otoy, whom it 
 seemed to satisfy, though Harry thought his fierce 
 eyes grew brighter. 
 
 Again he faced his men and shouted a command. 
 This time the fighting knives were drawn and the 
 crowd started forward. Instinctively the two 
 Americans stepped back. Harry noted that the 
 natives who had just laid down their arms were 
 edging around to the rear. He dashed away just 
 as Otoy sprang upon the presidente and bore him 
 to the ground. As he ran he heard a wild yell, 
 and glancing over his shoulder saw that the 
 Pulujanes had faced about and were swarming in 
 mass against the cuartel. 
 
 Cameron had been observing the surrender with 
 his Mauser pistol cocked and aimed at the natives 
 nearest the presidente's party. Seeing Harry mak- 
 ing good his escape, the Englishman directed his 
 
 187 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 first two shots on those who sprang for the scout 
 officer. His aim was good and both men fell, 
 giving Harris opportunity to draw his revolver 
 from his trouser leg, where he had concealed it. 
 Harris at once opened fire, and succeeded in hold- 
 ing the Pulujanes away long enough to free the 
 presidente. Sanchez gained his feet and made off 
 at a swift run. Harris followed, circling so as to 
 gain his barracks. Cameron's fire soon checked 
 his pursuers. 
 
 Don and his men, while not unprepared, were 
 surprised by the suddenness of the attack. They 
 threw open the blinds and opened fire on the fierce 
 fanatics below them. To miss was impossible, but 
 the natives were not repulsed. Don saw the wires 
 with which he had barred the windows give way 
 under the heavy knives and the enemy swarmed 
 into the lower floor. As he hurried to the head 
 of the stairs shots from the sides and rear of the 
 building told him that it had been completely 
 enveloped. 
 
 He was just in time to direct the defense of the 
 stairway. The first of the charging enemy were 
 tripped by the wires and fell easy victims to those 
 above. But others took their places, climbing over 
 their bodies and hacking at the wires impeding 
 their progress. Spears were hurled and more than 
 one of Don's men fell wounded. 
 
 i88 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 The rooms filled with the smoke from the pieces. 
 More and more of the soldiers left the windows to 
 unite in the defense of the stairs. Don encouraged 
 them by example and by shouts. 
 
 " Hold them, men ! " he cried. " The scouts 
 will be here soon." 
 
 But at this juncture Otoy darted through the 
 press below, followed by a number of natives 
 armed with rifles. They disappeared from view, 
 but their object was soon apparent. The defenders 
 of the stairway began to fall. In the din it was 
 impossible to hear the rifle shots of the enemy, but 
 splinters of wood flying from the floor told of the 
 passage of the bullets from below. 
 
 In the confusion caused by this diversion the 
 enemy charged the stairs and carried them. On 
 even ground and at close quarters, the rifles of the 
 soldiers were no match for the long spears of the 
 Pulujanes and in spite of all he could do Don saw 
 his men giving way before their assailants. They 
 were forced slowly back from the stair into the 
 rooms on either side. A few, cornered in the 
 office, a small room in the front of the building 
 over the entrance, sprang from the windows. 
 
 Then again Don saw Otoy. The Pulujane leader 
 stood for an instant at the head of the stairs glanc- 
 ing right and left through the dense smoke. 
 Seizing two of his followers he entered the office 
 
 189 
 
AN ARMr Bor 
 
 to return in a few seconds with the small safe 
 which contained the company's more important 
 records and funds. Don saw them cast the safe from 
 the rear window and spring after it. Otoy, with a 
 shout to his followers, also leaped to the ground. 
 
 At once the pressure of the attack lessened and 
 the Pulujanes scattered to the windows and rushed 
 down the stairs. The object of the attack was now 
 plain. It was Atta's " second stroke." The first 
 had been designed to prevent the grant of civil 
 government and had succeeded ; the second was to 
 recover the papers captured from Mendoya's camp. 
 
 Shouting to his men Don rushed to a window. 
 The Pulujanes had scattered and were making off 
 in every direction. Some two hundred of them 
 were following Otoy in the direction from which 
 they had entered the town. Two of them bore 
 the safe, and it looked as though its rescue were 
 impossible, for only a half dozen men had answered 
 Don's call. 
 
 " Where are the others ? " he asked. 
 
 " Fighting the fire," was the reply. " They set 
 fire to the building below." 
 
 " Come with me," he shouted, mounting the 
 ledge. 
 
 " It is madness, senor teniente," said a soldier, 
 seizing him. 
 
 Don was about to turn on the man when he saw 
 
 190 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 one of the men bearing the safe collapse. Another 
 took his place, but hardly had he raised it when 
 the man at the other end fell. Again the safe was 
 raised and again one of the bearers fell. The 
 Pulujanes shrank away from it, but Otoy himself 
 sprang forward and again they closed upon it. At 
 this instant there was a crashing volley, followed 
 by a second. Three more followed, and with a 
 cheer the scout company charged across the plaza 
 in open order. 
 
 The enemy left the safe and fled. Otoy made a 
 vain effort to rally his men, then joined in the 
 flight. They disappeared among the houses to re- 
 appear again on the hillside beyond. The scouts 
 followed, halting to fire from time to time. To 
 overtake them was impossible ; once in the hills 
 they raced upward like mountain goats, easily dis- 
 tancing their pursuers. 
 
 Don hurried out to recover the safe, and met 
 Harris returning. They seized each other's hands. 
 
 " We gave them an awful drubbing, didn't we ? " 
 cried Harris. 
 
 " Yes. Thank heaven you came so quickly. 
 But for you Atta's ' second stroke ' would have 
 been as successful as his first." 
 
 " ' Second stroke ' — what is that, senor ? " 
 
 Both turned. Senor Sanchez, somewhat dishev- 
 eled, had joined them. Don translated. 
 
 191 
 
AN ARMY BOY 
 
 " It was this attack of which Sergeant Domin- 
 guez had learned the plan and he was trying to re- 
 veal it when he died." 
 
 Sanchez looked at Don intently for a minute 
 before speaking. 
 
 " One of you decided wisely in maintaining the 
 guard at the cuartel," he said. " I have been sadly 
 deceived and have learned a lesson." He turned 
 to Harris and added, " I owe my life to you, teni- 
 ente. But for your assistance those men would 
 have killed me. But what is this ? " 
 
 The Americans looked in the direction he 
 pointed. A small steamer had tied up at the 
 wharf and advancing toward them were two Amer- 
 ican oflBcers. Don and Harris hastened to join 
 them. 
 
 " I am Major Cochran, acting inspector-general 
 of the department," said the elder of the two. 
 " My mission here is to investigate the trouble be- 
 tween the scout and constabulary commanders. 
 As my first glimpse of you showed you wringing 
 hands most enthusiastically I judge the duty will 
 not be onerous." 
 
 " No, siT," said both at once. " That's all over." 
 
 " We saw the wind-up of your fight. Let me 
 introduce Dr. Scott. He'd be glad, I'm sure, to 
 attend any wounded you may have." 
 
 192 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 A STRUGGLE IN THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 "Well, I saved your little iron box for you." 
 
 Cameron was speaking while Don washed and 
 dressed a nasty cut he had received in the hand. 
 
 " Was it you who was doing that sharp-shoot- 
 ing ? " 
 
 " It surely was. Pretty good for that range, 
 eh?" 
 
 " I should say so. Why didn't you get Otoy ? " 
 
 " Couldn't take the time. I knew it was the 
 safe in which you had your records, so I put my 
 shots at the bearers. I did take a crack at him 
 as they scattered, but he was going about as fast as 
 the bullet." 
 
 " The whole attack was with the intention of 
 getting that safe. They could have killed every 
 man of us if they had pressed the attack home." 
 
 " Hardly, with the scouts coming. A minute 
 more and they'd have been between two fires. 
 What's the next move, old chap ? " 
 
 " Nothing in sight now. It looks as though a 
 fellow needn't chase trouble in Samar. It is cer- 
 
 193 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 tainly one of the things that ' comes to him who 
 waits.' " 
 
 Major Cochran came in, accompanied by Presi- 
 dente Sanchez. 
 
 " I have taken an ugly task off your hands, 
 Senor Page," said the presidente. " My people are 
 returning to their houses, and I have instructed 
 the councilors to detail a number from each barrio 
 to bury the dead." 
 
 " Thank you, Don Ramon. My men are not in 
 condition to do anything more just now." 
 
 " Will you not be able to undertake an expedi- 
 tion immediately ? " 
 
 " Nothing extended." 
 
 " I am sorry. I have recognized one of the 
 prisoners as a boy I once knew. If allowed to 
 nurse him in my house I believe I can get him to 
 act as a guide against Ferrandez." 
 
 " In that case, I'll be able to gather a force 
 easily enough by the time your friend is able to 
 travel." 
 
 " He was stunned by a bullet grazing his skull. 
 Two days should make him sound again, and that 
 will suffice for my object if it's possible to gain him 
 over at all." 
 
 " Good enough. While we have not gained the 
 advantage of the surrender we hoped for we have 
 inflicted a heavy loss on them, and if we can fol- 
 
 194 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 low up our success in the way you suggest, I'll not 
 regret the day's work." 
 
 " I think Harris should let you command this 
 expedition if you can arrange it, Page," said Major 
 Cochran. " It will be your last chance as ranking 
 constabulary officer present." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked Don. 
 
 " As I was just telling the. presidente," replied 
 the major, " Captain Halstead, your senior in- 
 spector, will be returning within ten days. He 
 reports that he is still rather weak, but will be 
 able to relieve you of the purely administrative 
 duties." 
 
 " I'm glad to hear it," said Don, " There are 
 matters here which need his clear head. As for 
 the expedition, I believe Harris will consent to my 
 leading it, since it is against my own man, Ferran- 
 dez." 
 
 When the plan was laid before Harris he readily 
 consented. The wounded Pulujane was moved 
 over to Sanchez' house, and the latter reported that 
 kind treatment, and an appeal to old friendship 
 promised to be successful. 
 
 Major Cochran left the following morning,'prom- 
 ising a favorable report on the situation in Katubig. 
 He left the doctor behind, agreeing to pick him up 
 on the return trip. The next two days were filled 
 with the care of the wounded. The constabulary 
 
 195 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 barracks was practically a hospital. Don, Harry 
 and the doctor worked incessantly for the comfort 
 of the men, and the results were gratifying. Many 
 of those with minor wounds were able and more 
 than willing to participate in an expedition prom- 
 ising a chance of revenge, and the more serious 
 cases were making rapid progress toward recovery. 
 
 Don lived in expectancy of a renewed attack on 
 himself personally. He was not able to under- 
 stand why the attempts on his life should stop as 
 they had, nor could he figure out why the town 
 should be the subject of a treacherous attack like 
 Otoy's while his company and the scout company 
 were both present in force. During the week pre- 
 ceding the sham surrender there had been periods 
 when twenty soldiers formed the total force in the 
 town and he, the only oflBcer, was confined to his 
 bed. These facts must have been known to the 
 directing mind of the insurrection — why had he 
 not taken advantage of so obvious a chance ? He 
 discussed the matter with the other Americans and 
 with the presidente, but none was able to suggest 
 a solution. 
 
 On the fourth day after Otoy's attempt Don 
 Ramon came in fairly bursting with enthusiasm. 
 He had been successful. 
 
 " My man has confessed that he knows where 
 Ferrandez, who, by the way, has assumed the title 
 
 196 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 of colonel, is to rendezvous with the remnants of 
 Mendoya's band. He has consented to guide us 
 there." 
 
 " When can he start ? " asked Don eagerly. 
 
 " Any time you are ready." 
 
 " To-night ? " 
 
 " Yes, and I believe it will be well to leave at 
 night so as to lessen the chance of our departure 
 being reported to the enemy." 
 
 " Very well. Arrange with him a place for us 
 to assemble. I'll send my men there a few at a 
 time, and when all have gathered we shall start." 
 
 " A good idea. Let us rendezvous on the trail 
 leading northeast from the Binan road at the 
 outer edge of town. Eleven o'clock would be a 
 good hour." 
 
 Don inspected his company and found between 
 twenty and thirty men capable of hard service. 
 Harris consented to allow a score of his men ac- 
 company them. These with the officers and Pres- 
 idente Sanchez brought the number up to fifty, 
 which they considered ample for the purpose. 
 
 The afternoon passed quickly in preparing for 
 the expedition. Don turned over the keys to the 
 safe to Harris, and explained again the importance 
 of the papers it contained. 
 
 " If Captain Halstead arrives before I return," 
 he said, " see to it that he is acquainted with all 
 
 197 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 the facts. He knows the combination which opens 
 the bar covering the keyhole." 
 
 At half-past ten he and Harry dressed them- 
 selves in field uniform preparatory to the march. 
 Going to Cameron's room to bid him good-bye 
 they found the Englishman, similarly attired, ad- 
 justing his Mauser pistol for use as a rifle. 
 
 " Hello ! " said Harry. " Where are you off to ? " 
 
 " I don't know," said Cameron. " I leave that 
 to you." 
 
 " So you wish to accompany us ? " 
 
 " Surely, if Page doesn't object." 
 
 " Never refused a reinforcement yet," said Don, 
 " especially when it was your kind. Come along." 
 
 They proceeded to the point designated for the 
 meeting, where they found the men waiting in 
 silence. A short time afterward Sanchez arrived 
 with the guide, and the march began. 
 
 For half an hour the trail was fairly open and 
 lay through level rice fields. Then they struck 
 the foot-hills, where the path was rougher and it 
 became necessary for them to proceed single file. 
 Soon a warning was passed back. They were 
 entering the gorge of a mountain stream, and the 
 men must be careful. 
 
 To avoid a chance of misstep in the darkness 
 the guide took Sanchez' hand, Sanchez caught the 
 muzzle of the rifle of the man next him and he 
 
 198 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 did likewise with the man following. In this way 
 the column was linked from head to rear, where 
 Don and Harry marched to prevent straggling. 
 The night was moonless, and they had only the 
 light of the stars and the sense of touch to guide 
 them. As they ascended they could hear the noise 
 of the water far below, and an occasional rock, 
 loosened by the feet of the men and striking the 
 cliff as it fell, told them the penalty of a false 
 step. 
 
 " Must be a goat trail we are on," said Harry. 
 " I'll be glad to see daylight again." 
 
 " Yes, but I hope we are not surprised in a 
 place of this kind when it comes. A few Pulu- 
 janes with rocks on the cliff above could finish us 
 all." 
 
 " Don Ramon seems to know the country pretty 
 well. He wouldn't let us be caught in a trap." 
 
 " Here we are on a hog-back. Pass the word 
 ahead to halt. The climb is rather exhausting." 
 
 They rested a while, then took up the march 
 again. The presidente told Don that by dusk the 
 following day they could gain a position from 
 which the surprise of Ferrandez' rendezvous would 
 be easy. It was proposed to force the march to 
 the limit of endurance so that the attack could be 
 made at dawn. 
 
 " You are sure of your man ? " asked Don. 
 
 199 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 " Yes," replied Sanchez. " And besides I know 
 every foot of this country myself and could gu/de 
 you without his assistance." 
 
 At dawn they halted for a breakfast, each man 
 eating from his own haversack. Water; was 
 plentiful from the mountain streams ; the chance 
 of contracting disease from drinking it unboiled 
 was one they had to accept. 
 
 They had penetrated well into the mountains. 
 The trail passed sometimes over the hills and 
 sometimes around them. Thanks to two weeks 
 of dry weather the ground leeches were much 
 less active. By noon the men were feeling the 
 effect of their march. In spite of all Don could 
 do the column began to lengthen dangerously, 
 and the men's watch upon the country flanking 
 the trail relaxed. Again and again he halted the 
 column to close them up and exhorted the men to 
 be vigilant. But after the noon meal they stum- 
 bled along half asleep and it was in this condition 
 that the event, which he had hoped to avoid by 
 the night march, came upon them. 
 
 They had descended into a hollow and were 
 just about to start up the next rise when a wild 
 yell from all sides electrified them. The yell was 
 followed by the discharge of firearms, and the 
 column had barely time to close when the enemy 
 was upon them. The soldiers fought desperately, 
 
 200 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 working their way slowly forward to a clearing on 
 top of the next hill. The situation was rendered 
 worse by the fact that a number of the enemy 
 had ascended the trees and were firing over their 
 fellows into the column. So dense was the brush 
 at this point that the bolomen could not be seen 
 till the actual moment of attack, and the soldiers 
 dared not raise their rifles to fire at those in the 
 trees for fear of an enemy darting beneath their 
 arms. 
 
 The three white men, Cameron in front, Don 
 in the center and Harry at the rear, held the men 
 together. At every rush of the enemy some of 
 the soldiers would be seized and dragged from the 
 ranks and again and again these were rescued by 
 their ofiicers. In spite of the utmost eifort of the 
 assailants the head of the column gained the open 
 ground, where their rifles could be used to ad- 
 vantage. Under cover of their fire, as they ral- 
 lied into a circle, the rest of the men pressed 
 forward. At this juncture Don heard a shout 
 from the side of the trail. 
 
 " Help, teniente ! In heaven's name, help ! " 
 Recognizing Sanchez' voice Don dashed into the 
 brush, shooting down a man who opposed him 
 with the last cartridge in his revolver. He found 
 Sanchez locked in the embrace of a powerful 
 native, and as they whirled in their struggles, 
 
 20 1 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 recognized Ferrandez. In his haste to rescue his 
 friend Don tripped and fell just as Ferrandpz 
 succeeded in throwing Sanchez heavily to the 
 ground. Quickly as Don gained his feet the 
 Filipino was quicker, and the American fqund 
 himself looking into the barrel of a Springfield, 
 at the other end of which the eyes of Ferralndez 
 gleamed with the ferocity Don had often noted and 
 subdued when the man had been his first sergeant. 
 
 Never had the young man been nearer death, 
 but his predominating feeling was one of indigna- 
 tion — the same sensation of haughty surprise that 
 had always come to him when his subordinate 
 had dared oppose his will. And it was this and 
 this alone that gleamed from his eyes as they met 
 those of his enemy. Had any fear been exhibited, 
 had he shrunk the fraction of an inch he would 
 have been a dead man. 
 
 "Sergeant!" he cried, sternly. "How dare 
 you?" 
 
 Into Ferrandez' eyes crept the old look of doubt. 
 For a few seconds longer he met Don's gaze, then 
 his eyes faltered. 
 
 " No me puede I " ^ he muttered. " No me 
 puede." 
 
 He gave back a step, then another, still keeping 
 Don covered. The latter was wise enough not to 
 
 'Doggerel Spanish — " I cannot." 
 202 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 precipitate a violent act, so stood still, holding the 
 native's eyes with his. At the third step Fer- 
 randez gave a peculiar shout and turning, dashed 
 away into the jungle. The shout was repeated 
 from all sides, growing more distant. A few min- 
 utes later silence fell upon the forest. 
 
 Don leaned over Sanchez, whose eyes were 
 closed and who was breathing heavily. He had 
 evidently struck his head in his fall and was 
 unconscious. Don made shift to raise him in his 
 arms and carry him to a clearing, where he in- 
 structed two of his men to bring him to. 
 
 Then he took stock of his command. Over half 
 were wounded, and four were evidently dying. 
 Harry had escaped, but Cameron had a spear 
 through the fleshy part of the shoulder. When 
 all wounds had been dressed the disappointed 
 young man found his command reduced to barely 
 enough able-bodied men to carry the wounded. 
 The guide had disappeared. 
 
 By this time Sanchez had recovered and was 
 leaning weakly against a tree. 
 
 "You say you know this country well, Don 
 Ramon," said Don. " Do you know where Fer- 
 randez' headquarters are ? " 
 
 " Si, senor." 
 
 " And can guide us there — the Pulujane has 
 made his escape." 
 
 203 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 " Yes, teniente. It is only about ten kilometers 
 further." 
 
 " Good enough — we'll see what can be done." 
 
 But he received little encouragement from 
 Harry. 
 
 " We cannot carry the wounded with us, Don," 
 said the latter. " And it would be criminal to 
 leave them with a smaller guard than ten. That 
 would give us seventeen, including the three of us 
 to assault a stronghold and the enemy fully cogni- 
 zant of our approach. You have often said that I 
 love a fight, but this is one time when I advise 
 dodging the issue." 
 
 " How about you, Cameron ? " 
 
 " I've tackled bigger odds with you before, Page, 
 and won out. I'm game to go on, but I really 
 think on account of these fellows," indicating the 
 wounded, " that Kearny is right." 
 
 " Very well. We'll camp here for the night. 
 It is as good as any place, and they'll scarcely dare 
 rush us again, knowing we are prepared. To-mor- 
 row we start the return trip at dawn." 
 
 " I can lead you to Bifian by a short cut," said 
 Sanchez, " if you are really meaning to give up 
 the expedition." 
 
 " That will be best. We can get mounts for a 
 portion of the wounded there." 
 
 204 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 TRAPPED 
 
 At BOon the next day the column halted on the 
 crest of the hill overlooking the little settlement 
 of Binan. This town, separated from Katubig by 
 twelve miles, had in Spanish days been a munici- 
 pality in itself, but the population had decreased 
 so greatly during the disturbed days under the 
 government of the Filipinos that the Americans, 
 on taking charge, had made it a barrio of the 
 larger town. Don Ramon ruled it through one 
 of the councilors of the municipality who resided 
 in Binan, and he, himself, had a fair house there, 
 kept in readiness for his occupancy on his frequent 
 visits. 
 
 " Hello ! " said Harry. " There's a small steamer 
 off the beach. I wish we could use her." 
 
 " We can if you'll catch her," said Don. " Take 
 a couple of men and hurry ahead. If you get 
 there in time, commandeer her." 
 
 Harry selected his men and started down the 
 hill at a run. The main body came more slowly, 
 and were glad to note that Harry had been suc- 
 
 205 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 cessful. The boat was still there, but had not 
 completed loading. It would be a full half hour 
 before she would depart, and her captain had 
 agreed to transport the company to Katubig free 
 of charge. 
 
 " Come up to my house, Teniente Page," said 
 the presidente. " You are still weakened by your 
 sickness. Come up and rest yourself, and let 
 my daughter mix you a lemonade while Teniente 
 Kearny supervises the loading of the men." 
 
 Don accepted the offer. Cameron looked at 
 Sanchez a little wistfully, but apparently the latter 
 had forgotten him, so the Englishman continued 
 on to the beach with the company. 
 
 " Enter, sefior, the house is yours," said Don 
 Ramon. " Inez," he called, " come here and em- 
 brace your father and exchange greetings with our 
 friend." 
 
 The young woman met them with a warm wel- 
 come. She inquired as to the details of the assault 
 on Katubig, the threat of which had been the cause 
 of her leaving town. 
 
 Don Ramon smiled sheepishly at Don. 
 
 " She has betrayed me," he said, playfully. " I 
 must now own, teniente, that my confidence in 
 Otoy was not so great as to make me risk my only 
 child." 
 
 " I knew that at midnight — also that the people 
 
 206 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 were clearing out. It was that which made us hold 
 the company in barracks." 
 
 " But I saw the larger part of the company leave 
 at dawn." 
 
 " They were not my men — they were scouts who 
 remained over night and left at reveille so as to 
 deceive any watchers." 
 
 "You might have told me, teniente," said 
 Sanchez reproachfully. 
 
 " No — you had told Otoy that the soldiers would 
 be withdrawn, and had he stuck to his bargain 
 neither he nor you would have known that we had 
 not trusted him." 
 
 " Then it was your whole company he fought ? " 
 
 " Every man. Had we had less the safe would 
 have been captured and the barrack would now be 
 a blackened ruin." 
 
 " Well — well, you have a great mind. How did 
 you know my people were leaving ? " 
 
 " I had men on watch for that purpose." 
 
 " While we talk, we thirst. Inez, some lemon- 
 ade. Sit in this easy chair, teniente, and rest. 
 There is ample time. Excuse me while I write a 
 note." 
 
 Don sank back into the chair. The cool dark- 
 ness of the room was grateful to him, and his 
 thoughts wandered. He was conscious of the 
 presidente calling a servant and giving him the 
 
 207 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 note he had written. Later he noted that Don 
 Ramon left the room and could hear his voice in 
 earnest converse with Seiiorita Inez. The two en- 
 tered together, still talking in their native dialect. 
 Don took the glass from Inez' hand with a word 
 of thanks, and it seemed to him that there was an 
 appeal in her eyes, but the presidente speaking to 
 him at the moment, his attention was distracted 
 before he could ask her meaning. 
 
 Don Ramon drew up a chair facing Don and 
 engaged him in conversation. Inez retired behind 
 her father's chair and fixed the young American 
 with her eyes. It seemed to him that they con- 
 tained more than an appeal now. There was also 
 a warning. The girl was plainly nervous, and 
 Don could not give to her father's conversation the 
 attention demanded. Sanchez had caught one of 
 her hands over his shoulder and Don, noting that 
 at times the knuckles on the man's hands whitened, 
 realized that there was more than a caress in the 
 grasp. 
 
 Don Ramon continued to talk slowly and inter- 
 estingly, but gradually it dawned on Don that the 
 man was laboring under an intense excitement. 
 In his eyes also there had come an expression the 
 young officer had never seen there before, and 
 which yet seemed oddly familiar. As the voice ran 
 smoothly on there came over Don a sense of im- 
 
 2Q8 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 pending danger, and a shrinking from the approach 
 of something evil. He siiook his head in an en- 
 deavor to cast off the senseless oppression, and tried 
 to concentrate himself on what the presidente was 
 saying, but the feeling grew stronger. 
 
 At this instant a servant appeared in the door- 
 way. Don followed Sanchez' quick glance of in- 
 terrogation, and saw the native nod and retire. 
 
 " And now, Mr. Page," said Don Ramon, and 
 the American started to hear the words in English 
 without a trace of accent, " I desire that you give 
 me the combination of your office safe." 
 
 For the instant the significance of the request 
 did not penetrate Don's mind, such was his sur- 
 prise at hearing the English words so plainly and 
 easily spoken by one for whom he had so often 
 acted as interpreter. 
 
 " Why, Don Ramon," he exclaimed, " I had no 
 idea that you spoke English." 
 
 Sanchez did not answer. He simply sat and 
 fixed Don with his gaze. Into the eyes had come 
 again that relentless look, so foreign to their usual 
 expression, and yet so elusively familiar. Again 
 the young man felt the chill of impending dan- 
 ger ; he looked wonderingly at the presidente, and 
 failed to notice that Inez had left her father's 
 side, and had gone to a window just behind his 
 own chair. 
 
 209 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " You want the combination of my safe — and 
 why?" 
 
 " There are certain papers there that I need. 
 But my reason is of no especial moment. Sufl&ee 
 it that I must have it." 
 
 The tone of command stung the young man to 
 anger. He rose to his feet. 
 
 " You take the wrong course. There are no 
 papers in my safe you have not seen and could not 
 see again should you request it as a favor. But in 
 no other way can you command my services. 
 And enough has passed to make me loath to re- 
 main longer beneath your roof. I will rejoin my 
 friends." 
 
 Sanchez smiled grimly. 
 
 " You cannot — they are gone." 
 
 It suddenly came over Don that he was trapped. 
 Instinctively his hand sought his revolver, but as 
 his grip closed on the handle he felt a sharp 
 pointed instrument press against the junction of 
 his neck and shoulder, and a soft voice spoke. 
 
 " Do not, senor, or I shall have to press it 
 home." 
 
 A quick glance showed him a long slim stiletto 
 held in Inez' little hand. His eyes sought hers. 
 
 " You too, Inez ! " he said, softly and reproach- 
 fully. And he could see the blood mount to her 
 cheeks, while her eyes fell before his, and her lipa 
 
 2IO 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 quivered. Don Ramon had produced a small 
 pistol, the barrel of which he rested against the 
 table that separated them, the muzzle directed at 
 Don's breast. 
 - " Disarm him, child," he said. 
 
 And Inez' hand sought Don's pistol. His grip 
 reluctantly relaxed, and she drew it from its hol- 
 ster. 
 
 " Leave us now," said her father, and she 
 obeyed. Don thought he heard a muffled sob as 
 she retired. 
 
 " To satisfy yourself you had better look from 
 the window." 
 
 With what calm he could command Don went 
 to the window. And there, already half a mile 
 from the shore, was the steamer, the smoke pour- 
 ing from her funnel as she headed for the sea. 
 Don could just make out the men crowded upon 
 her deck. For a minute he stood, bewildered. 
 What was this thing that had happened so sud- 
 denly ? 
 
 He returned to the center of the room, where 
 the mestizo still sat calmly watching him. The 
 young man's rage was mounting, and he found 
 difficulty in controlling himself. 
 
 " What is the meaning of this, Don Ramon ? 
 Why have my men left without command ? " 
 
 " They did not. Sit down, I will show you." 
 
 211 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 And drawing a sheet of paper toward him 
 Sanchez wrote a few lines and tossed the paper 
 over to Don. The latter picked it up and his be- 
 wilderment increased as he saw that it was appar- 
 ently in his own handwriting. 
 
 " Lieutenant Kearny " (it read): " You will 
 proceed at once, without waiting for me, to Balika, 
 and request the commanding officer there to send 
 a column of not less than a company against Men- 
 doya's old rendezvous. Sergeant Nabato and 
 many others of our company can guide. Leave 
 your wounded in charge of the surgeon at Balika. 
 I will join you at Mendoya's rendezvous with a 
 force of volunteers from Binan. 
 
 "Page, Lieutenant. 
 
 " P. S. It promises to be a big scoop. Hurry 
 things up. Advise Cameron going. 
 
 " D." 
 
 " You see," Sanchez' voice came to him, " he did 
 not leave without orders, nor is it possible that he 
 will return within five days." 
 
 " You speak my language, you write my hand, 
 you decoy me here and send my troops away by a 
 false order. And you demand the combination of 
 my safe. What does it all mean, and who are 
 you ? " 
 
 " And still you do not suspect ? " 
 
 " No — I am at a loss." 
 
 " I am Papa Atta." 
 
 212 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 The cold sweat started out on Don's body, and 
 he fell back in his chair. 
 
 " Impossible 1 " he gasped. " I have seen Papa 
 Atta face to face." 
 
 " Then look at him again." 
 
 With a quick motion Sanchez drew a wig from 
 the breast pocket of his blouse and placed it on his 
 head. The bang fell nearly to his eyebrows, which 
 drew up to meet it. Then as Don looked his ex- 
 pression changed. Two furrows appeared between 
 the eyes and the mouth drew down at the corners 
 while two deep lines were formed in the cheeks. 
 And the face that confronted Don was that of the 
 priest who had directed the massacre of Balika. 
 
 " Ah, you would — would you ? " 
 
 Don had sprung half-way over the table, intent 
 only on closing with the villain. Quick as he was, 
 however, the other was quicker. With a jerk he 
 drew the table toward him, giving back with it. 
 When Don landed, instead of having cleared the 
 obstruction and seizing Sanchez' throat he fell at 
 full length on the table and felt the rim of the re- 
 volver pressed against his temple. 
 
 " Now crawl back and resume your seat. An- 
 other such effort and I shall not be so considerate. 
 Besides, a single shout, or a stamp of my foot 
 would bring a dozen men who would gladly tear 
 you limb from limb." 
 
 213 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Defeated, but with the determination to watch 
 for a better opportunity, Don obeyed. 
 
 " Remove that disguise," he said, a little 
 hoarsely. " I cannot command myself while you 
 wear it." 
 
 Atta removed the wig, and passing his hand 
 across his forehead and cheeks seemed to brush 
 out the wrinkles. The benign Presidente Sanchez 
 again appeared. 
 
 " You are Papa Atta — you, Don Ramon Sanchez, 
 are that subtle fiend." 
 
 " If you are pleased to put it so." 
 
 " You are he who sought my life by secret assassi- 
 nation ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " When we had broken bread together I " 
 
 A flush appeared on Sanchez' cheeks and for an 
 instant he seemed ashamed. 
 
 " There seemed no other way, and I call you to 
 note that since I had to act against you personally 
 never have I eaten your bread nor asked you to 
 sit at my table." 
 
 " I was your guest the day of the fiesta." 
 
 " My ofl&cial guest — I entertained not as Ramon 
 Sanchez but as the Presidente of Katubig." 
 
 " It was you who murdered Jose Valdez ? " 
 
 " It was the society of which I am the head that 
 punished his treachery." 
 
 214 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " It was you who supplied the information and 
 the arms and ammunition to our enemies." 
 
 " Yes, and Binan was the port of entry." 
 
 " It was you who planned the massacre at 
 Balika." 
 
 " Yes, and led it." 
 
 " It was you who planned the treacherous attack 
 of Otoy and his followers, and poisoned Dominguez 
 who discovered the plan." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " And finally this last expedition of ours was a 
 blind, and you led us into a trap." 
 
 " Again yes, and the route was laid so that I 
 could bring you here if it failed. The steamer was 
 waiting by my order." 
 
 " Then, Ramon Sanchez, I tell you to your face 
 and looking into the barrel of your revolver that 
 you are the most unutterable scoundrel unhung ! " 
 
 Sanchez rose to his feet and fixed the young of- 
 ficer with a stern gaze. 
 
 "And why? You say I am a scoundrel. I 
 reply that I have fought with the only weapons 
 that would avail. Who are you to reproach me ? 
 You and yours come here to thrust upon us a 
 government we do not desire. You say it is 
 benevolent — I grant it. You say it is better than 
 we ourselves could establish — I grant that, too. 
 But if a man entered your house and tried to 
 
 215 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 manage your family you'd fight him. If he was 
 too strong and defeated every open attack you 
 would strike him from the rear if he were so fool- 
 ish as to turn his back. You say I am a scoundrel 
 — I say I am a patriot 1 " 
 
 The man was impressive in his dignity and 
 earnestness. Don forgot the danger in which he 
 stood in the breathless interest of the moment. 
 
 " I fought you in the open field until our presi- 
 dente was captured and was induced to sign that 
 letter that resulted in the disintegration of the 
 government we had spent so many lives to es- 
 tablish. But I knew that our cause was not hope- 
 less — I read your newspapers and saw that many 
 of your people favored our independence and was 
 sure, if we continued to resist, that they would 
 help us. I returned to my boyhood's home. In 
 your efforts to make a show of progress you forced 
 upon us a government in which our people were 
 the nominal rulers. I accepted the shameful posi- 
 tion and have done my best by the people. But all 
 the while I kept the embers of the revolution alive. 
 I supervised the movements of those of my people 
 in the field and saw that they were supplied." 
 
 " And the money ? " 
 
 " I got it by smuggling hemp. I have prevented 
 the ports from being opened — there is scarce a 
 picul of hemp in Samar that is not my property. 
 
 3lO 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 When the ports are opened I shall be the richest 
 man in these islands." 
 
 " You have not been so disinterested as you 
 would wish to appear, then." 
 
 " Why should not I restore the fortunes of my 
 house ? I have given one fortune to the cause, 
 and stand ready to give another. But for you, not 
 one-half of what I have done would have been 
 necessary." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " I mean that you were undermining my au- 
 thority. First you made your own men forget 
 their country in their affection for you, then you 
 began to win to you my people. Next you sur- 
 prise and kill my only reliable lieutenant and 
 capture not only my hemp contracts but the oath 
 that binds the leaders among the people to my 
 cause. Those papers I had to have, and I sug- 
 gested a plan that would have appealed to any 
 other man I know. But you were too cautious, 
 or, to be just, too well balanced in mind to fall 
 into the trap. You stood in the way of all I was 
 working for. At the expense of my own feeling, 
 for personally I was fond of you, I had to take 
 steps to put you out of the way. The arrow 
 missed you, though the man who fired it can split a 
 wand at fifty yards. Next the poison failed. I 
 heard through a spy that your servants buried a 
 
 217 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 monkey that night and could guess how it hap- 
 pened. 
 
 " Then you went to Balika. I had already planned 
 to attack that place so as to inject new life into the 
 insurrection which you, by your surprise of Men- 
 doya's band, had shattered. The opportunity to 
 kill you, also, was opportune. I knew if I could 
 ^ut you out of the way, I could outwit Lieutenant 
 Kearny and get the papers, which, if the key to 
 them became known, would definitely cast suspi- 
 cion on me. By some fatality you escaped — but 
 for that the attack would have been less bitter. 
 In th^ effort to strike you down the men became so 
 committed to the struggle that nothing but the death 
 of all would satisfy them. And then, when the op- 
 portunity came and you madly pursued us into 
 the brush, my men's courage failed them and they 
 shrank from you even after you were on the ground." 
 
 " Then your sprained knee ? " 
 
 " Was where your bullet struck me. It lodged 
 against some nerve and paralyzed my leg till it 
 was withdrawn." 
 
 " Did Inez know of this ? " 
 
 " No — until to-day she has known as little as 
 yourself." 
 
 " Why did you not take advantage of my ill- 
 ness ? " 
 
 " I had no desire to take your life unnecessarily, 
 
 218 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 and until you quarreled with Lieutenant Harris 
 I was not sure that you had not entrusted him with 
 the papers. I did not know what kind of a man 
 he was. I know now, and believe I can get them 
 from him before the return of the senior inspector." 
 
 " But how came it that you called in Otoy when 
 all the troops were in town instead of when I had 
 only about fifteen ? " 
 
 " I was in bed again and could not move. Be- 
 sides, I was confident that I could have your bar- 
 racks empty at the critical moment. But again 
 your foresight defeated me." 
 
 " And now having failed in every treachery you 
 try this crowning one and expect me to betray my 
 trust ? " 
 
 " I must have those papers before Captain Hal- 
 stead returns. Otherwise the work of years will 
 collapse." 
 
 " You will not get them from me." 
 
 " Do not be so sure." 
 
 "And why not? Am I such a fool as to hope 
 that you will tell me all this and still let me live ? 
 No, Don Ramon, when you told me your identity 
 you had already signed my death warrant in your 
 heart. Since I have to die I shall go true to my 
 trust and my manhood." 
 
 " Ah, seiior, but there are so many ways of dying. 
 I think you may wish to choose." 
 
 219 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 INEZ INTERVENES 
 
 Don felt as if an icy hand had closed upon his 
 heart. The reference was too plain to be mistaken 
 and once before he had undergone torture. And 
 what torture the cunning mind of the man who 
 faced him could devise ! With an effort he pre- 
 vented the fear from showing in his face. 
 
 " So," he said, and was proud to find his voice 
 calm. " You propose torture." 
 
 " I mention it as a possibility. It will be the 
 last resort. I endeavored to have you captured or 
 killed in fair fight yesterday, but you mastered 
 Ferrandez — how I do not know." 
 
 " Then his attack upon you and your swoon was 
 all a sham?" 
 
 " To be sure ; it was designed to draw you from 
 the ranks, and to relieve me of any possibility of 
 being suspected." 
 
 "And Otoy's assault on you was the same? " 
 
 " Certainly — the Pulujanes purposely held back 
 to permit me to be rescued by Lieutenant Harris. 
 But tell me, how did you learn of the term ' the 
 
 220 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 second stroke,' and how did you discover our ren- 
 dezvous ? " 
 
 " I will tell you nothing. My sources of infor- 
 mation will remain my own secret." 
 
 Sanchez' face contracted with rage. Again the 
 young American had shown his superiority. 
 While he, Sanchez, had been goaded into showing 
 his whole hand, his opponent had divulged noth- 
 ing. For an instant it seemed that he would lose 
 control of himself, but with a powerful effort he 
 subdued the impulse to give way to his anger. 
 
 " As you please, for the present. I shall learn 
 your secrets, nevertheless. Now, will you give me 
 the combination of the safe ? " 
 
 " I will not. And it would do you no good if I 
 did. There is a lock to be opened, and my men 
 would not give you access to the records." 
 
 " A written request to Lieutenant Harris to give 
 me the key and to pass me into your office would 
 overcome those difficulties." 
 
 " I will give you no such request." 
 
 " That I do not need — I can write one for my- 
 self. Come, lieutenant, you are in my power, and 
 must yield. If you refuse the combination I shall 
 write an order for the safe to be sent here under 
 strong guard — and sign your name. Then I shall 
 assemble my men and kill every member of the 
 guard en route." 
 
 221 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " That might work, but I doubt it — I think the 
 men would suspect some trap after Otoy's attack, 
 showing plainly as it did that to obtain the safe 
 was its main object." 
 
 " I have thought of that, and it is the reason 
 I prefer to go armed with both the order and 
 the combination. Then no suspicions would be 
 aroused." 
 
 " I will not give you the combination." 
 
 " Think a minute. I can assemble a thousand 
 men and make another sudden attack. It may 
 fail, but most of your company are away. By 
 your refusal you condemn many men to death, 
 yourself among them." 
 
 " My men are paid to fight and to die if need 
 be. And as for me, I count myself as already dead. 
 If I yielded you could not let me live knowing 
 what I do." 
 
 " And why not? If you give me your word of 
 honor that nothing you have learned shall pass 
 your lips, and give me the necessary instructions 
 as to opening the safe, you shall go from here as 
 free a man as you came." 
 
 " You mean that you would accept my promise 
 forced under such circumstances ? " 
 
 " Assuredly I should, and having it should feel 
 safer than I have for many weeks." 
 
 Don opened his mouth to refuse, but a thought 
 
 222 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 checked him. Time meant everything to him, 
 and though he had stated that he considered him- 
 self as already dead, he was far from having given 
 up hope. At any rate he would dissemble and 
 miss no possible chance. 
 
 " I am bewildered," he said. " I must have 
 time to think." 
 
 " Certainly. Captain Halstead will not reach 
 Katubig for three days. In the meantime you 
 shall be my guest. If your pride revolts, remem- 
 ber that you are a prisoner, and prisoners may 
 accept food from captors without humiliation. 
 But there is one thing you must see before at- 
 tempting to reach a decision. Come with me." 
 
 Don arose and, on a motion of Sanchez, passed 
 from the house. 
 
 " To the left," the latter directed. " I will fol- 
 low two paces behind you. Remember that escape 
 is impossible." 
 
 Obeying the commands given from time to time 
 Don, followed by Sanchez, left the barrio. Some 
 three hundred yards they went over the trail the 
 company had followed in entering the town, then 
 took a path to the left. At the end of this they 
 came to a small opening where there was but little 
 vegetation. The soil was sandy. 
 
 Don's hair rose in horror at what he saw. 
 
 Securely staked to the ground by wrists and 
 
 223 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 ankles was one human skeleton, while another 
 was similarly secured over a small mound. Over 
 the second a myriad of large black ants passed, 
 going in to or coming out of the ant-hill. A 
 shudder shook the young man's frame, and the 
 watchful mestizo noted it with satisfaction. It 
 was the first sign of weakness. 
 
 " You see," he said, " this man," indicating the 
 skeleton on the mound, " was placed here for 
 purpose of punishment. He died in agony, but it 
 did not last long and his reason held to the end. 
 The other," and here his voice sank, " was difierent. 
 He had information which he declined to divulge. 
 He remained here two days, for the ants were 
 driven away from time to time. Toward the end 
 of the second day he went insane and the informa- 
 tion which he had withheld so long was given 
 when his mind had failed. By that time, however, 
 it was too late to save him. He was left here as 
 an example to other stubborn enemies." 
 
 " You fiend ! " cried Don. And, his horror and 
 rage making him careless of results, he sprang 
 upon the mestizo. 
 
 The move was not unanticipated, and Sanchez 
 met his attack skilfully. Don was surprised at 
 the wiry strength of his enemy. But he would 
 have mastered him, thanks to greater skill in 
 wrestling, and was bearing him back, when his 
 
 224 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 hair was grasped and his head jerked back. At 
 the same time his wrists were seized and his hands 
 torn from their grip. Three powerful natives held 
 him while a fourth, knife in hand, looked ques- 
 tioningly at the presidente. 
 
 The latter readjusted his collar and blouse, then 
 with a curt command dismissed them. 
 
 " And now we will return. You shall have a 
 room to yourself and your wants will be supplied. 
 No one shall disturb you until to-morrow morning. 
 I cannot wait longer for your decision, as on the 
 night of the day after to-morrow I must have the 
 papers." 
 
 The return to the village was made in silence. 
 Don noted curious eyes gazing upon them from 
 the windows of the nipa houses as they passed. 
 The streets were nearly deserted, and the few per- 
 sons at large avoided meeting them. 
 
 On reaching the presidente's house the latter 
 conducted Don to his room, a large one opening off 
 the sala and overlooking the little plaza. Here 
 Sanchez bowed without remark and motioned 
 Don to enter. 
 
 Glad of an opportunity to be alone and collect 
 his thoughts the young American closed his door. 
 The room was completely furnished. On the 
 canopied bed lay the soft grass mats used univer- 
 sally by the Filipinos for sleeping, being cooler 
 
 225 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 than even linen sheets. A suit of pajamas was 
 thrown across the pillows, and a pair of bedroom 
 slippers lay on the floor by the bed. On a hand- 
 some plate-glass dressing table were toilet articles, 
 and beside it was a tub of water. Apparently 
 every effort for his comfort had been made. 
 
 Don walked to the window. Far out on the 
 water there was a smudge of smoke. Undoubtedly 
 it was the vessel, bearing his friends and the com- 
 pany of men, every one of whom would gladly 
 lay down his life for his commander. But they 
 were ignorant of his danger — would they ever know 
 the truth? 
 
 He turned back, and, removing his clothing, 
 bathed his feverish body. Putting on the pajamas 
 and slippers, he sank into an easy chair, and en- 
 deavored to concentrate his thoughts. 
 
 Fortunately he was inured to danger, and had 
 lived so long with his life in his hands, that the 
 present situation, critical as it was, did not shake 
 his calm nor detract from his reasoning faculties. 
 
 At first his thoughts were entirely of the char- 
 acter of the man who held him in his power. 
 The most hopeless aspect of his case was the fact 
 that Sanchez was evidently one of those fanatics 
 who believed the end justified any means used in 
 accomplishing it, and that the cause for which he 
 had toiled and schemed was a righteous one. The 
 
 226 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 personal fondness he had expressed for Don was 
 evidently genuine, but there was no comfort in the 
 thought. Should the young man turn traitor and 
 consent to give up the incriminating documents, 
 Sanchez, without doubt, would be relieved, and 
 would be happy to let him go free on promise that 
 he would not betray the double life he was leading, 
 but no considerations of friendship would serve to 
 turn the mestizo from his purpose should Don 
 stand firm. He must either escape that night or 
 outwit his enemy and gain time, hoping for some 
 outside interference. 
 
 Don's mind ran over all that had occurred. 
 He could trace step by step the progress of events 
 and see how, in each new course attempted by 
 Sanchez, he had instinctively taken the action 
 necessary to bring to naught the native's plans. 
 And he could not but admire the iron nerve of the 
 man who could maintain'^ the courteous attitude of 
 friendship knowing all the time that the evidences 
 of his guilt were in the hands of his enemy and 
 that any hour the secret of the papers might be- 
 come known. The only time he had seen Sanchez 
 in any way excited was the morning he had hur- 
 ried into Don's room just in advance of Sergeant 
 Dominguez. His resourcefulness in choking down 
 the sergeant's dying words under pretense of 
 giving him a drink of water, while revolting, 
 
 227 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 showed him to be one who would fight to the last 
 ditch. 
 
 The door opened and a servant entered. 
 
 " The senor presidente's compliments, and will 
 the teniente dine with him in the sala ? " 
 
 " My thanks to the presidente — I prefer to dine 
 alone." 
 
 " Si, senor." 
 
 A carefully prepared meal was brought into the 
 room, and Don sat down to it. After the hard 
 march the food was welcome, and as he ate he con- 
 tinued to think. 
 
 He must make his escape that night. The cork 
 in the bottle of boiled water gave him his first idea. 
 He removed it and put it beneath his pillow. 
 Burnt cork would darken his face, hands and feet 
 and the pajamas were suflQciently like the ordinary 
 native costume to pass in the darkness. If he 
 could win free of the house he would give them a 
 chase that would last, possibly, through the morn- 
 ing. Undoubtedly all paths to Katubig were 
 strongly guarded, but if he could delay the torture 
 till noon, then hold out for two hours, it would not 
 be possible for the presidente to reach Katubig and 
 return before dusk. Don's plan was to give him a 
 false combination and in this way gain another 
 night. 
 
 The servant entered again and removed the tray. 
 
 228 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 After he had gone Don stepped to the door and 
 tried it ; it was securely locked. He went to the 
 window and glanced below ; three natives all 
 armed with bolos and one with a rifle squatted on 
 the ground. One of them looked up and meeting 
 Don's eye smiled, then drew his bolo and ran his 
 thumb nail along its edge. The act was signifi- 
 cant. 
 
 Don drew his chair to the window and sat down 
 where the cooling night air could reach him. He 
 must face the possibility of his attempt to leave 
 the house proving a failure. On two things he 
 was determined, one was that he would not be 
 tortured out of his mind by ants, another was that 
 he would outwit and triumph over his enemy. 
 If all else failed he would give the true combina- 
 tion, let Sanchez have the papers, then instead 
 of promising to keep the secret he would join the 
 natives and await a favorable opportunity to kill 
 their leader. This course meant death, but it 
 would be death fighting to the last and would 
 settle the Samar problem out of hand. His fate 
 would reach his friends sooner or later, for with 
 their guiding spirit dead, the band would disinte- 
 grate and after a while some member would tell 
 the story. 
 
 The hours passed slowly. Don blackened the 
 cork in the flame of a lamp, then extinguished the 
 
 229 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 light and lay down on the bed to give the impres- 
 sion that he had retired. From time to time he 
 arose and crept to the window, but could hear the 
 low voices of the watchers below. He had not 
 much hope of their relaxing their vigilance before 
 the early morning, when his knowledge of the 
 native character told him they would be asleep or 
 nearly so. 
 
 He was returning to the bed after one of these 
 trials when a faint creak at the door startled him. 
 Holding his breath he listened intently and heard 
 it again. The lock was being turned slowly and 
 cautiously. 
 
 Quickly he stepped into the corner so that the 
 door in opening would leave him behind it. He 
 knew that Sanchez was not now plotting assassina- 
 tion, but one of his underlings might attempt it 
 upon the hated American without his leader's 
 knowledge. 
 
 The door swung open silently, and Don felt 
 rather than heard some one enter. From his po- 
 sition he could neither see nor be seen and he was 
 attempting to move sufficiently to put his head 
 out when he heard a whisper. 
 
 " Don Don — where are you ? " 
 
 " Why, Senorita Inez, what are you doing 
 here?" 
 
 " Hush I Speak softly. Father is asleep, and 
 
 230 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 you must not awaken him. Oh, Don, will you 
 not forgive me ? " 
 
 The young man was silent. 
 
 '' You do not speak. Oh, my dear friend, soften 
 your heart. Here," and she took his hand, " sit 
 down in this chair and let me kneel beside you. 
 Oh, Don, listen to me — I know you will forgive 
 when you understand." 
 
 " There, there, Inez. Do not distress yourself. 
 Your father is against me — I do not blame you for 
 taking sides with him." 
 
 " But you do. I saw your contempt in your 
 eyes this afternoon, and you would not sit at table 
 with us to-night. But, Don, it came upon me so 
 suddenly. Till to-day I had no idea that father 
 was other than he seemed to be, and when he told 
 me he must capture you or die and asked my aid, 
 I gave it." 
 
 " You knew then that he was the Papa Atta ? " 
 
 " I did not know, though I feared it. He had 
 not told me all then. And I could not grasp the 
 thought. To me he has been always loving, al- 
 ways gentle. My mother I cannot remember — 
 my earliest recollection is waking frightened at 
 night and finding father's great, strong hand to 
 cling to. In my childhood his bed was always 
 next mine. In sickness and health, in pleasure 
 and pain he has always been my resource with a 
 
 231 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 tenderness that has never failed. No one can 
 know what my father has been to me." 
 
 " Dear child, say no more. You have wiped all 
 resentment away, and if there was contempt in my 
 eyes to-day there was none in my heart. I forgive 
 you freely for your share in my undoing." 
 
 " Bless you for that," and Don felt her soft hands 
 close upon his. " And now to get you out of this. 
 Do you know what father plans ? " 
 
 Don hesitated. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Tell me." 
 
 " I cannot." 
 
 There was a silence. The young man could just 
 see the girl's dark eyes searching his face. 
 
 " Where did you go this afternoon ? I saw him 
 take you from the village. Did he take you to 
 that awful place ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Inez shuddered. 
 
 "What did he tell you?" 
 
 " He told me of a man who would not betray a 
 trust and who was given to the ants till his mind 
 failed, and in his ravings he spoke the secret they 
 desired." 
 
 " No — no. That is not true. He told you that 
 to intimidate you. The truth is awful, but not 
 so bad as that. Those skeletons are of two Span- 
 
 232 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 iards on whom the natives here wreaked a terrible 
 vengeance for long years of abuse, but there was 
 no such thing as father told you. And what did 
 he say — did he threaten to put you there ? " 
 
 Don was silent. 
 
 " He did, I see that he did, but, Don, you can- 
 not believe he means it ? " 
 
 Again Don had nothing to say. 
 
 " I see you do believe it. What does he want 
 you to do ? " 
 
 " I have some papers which will betray him 
 and his associates. I cannot translate them, but 
 he thinks Captain Halstead can, and he must 
 have them before the captain's return." 
 
 " Give them up, Don, yield to him. It is a 
 ghastly thing to me, but I realize that my father 
 is a terrible man, and one not to be opposed. 
 Give them up." 
 
 " Not till the last hope is gone." 
 
 " Then I must go to Katubig for help. Yes, I 
 shall. Do not attempt to deter me. The trip is 
 nothing to a Filipino girl, and I shall neither see 
 you die nor my father commit such a crime. Oh, 
 father ! Father ! " and she sank forward with her 
 head on the arm of the chair while her body 
 shook with sobs. 
 
 Don had nothing to say that could comfort 
 such grief; the girl's confidence and love for her 
 
 333 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 father had received too severe a shock. He 
 stroked her hair and let her sob it out. After 
 a while she grew calmer and finally rose. 
 
 " I am going. Thank you for not holding this 
 afternoon against me." 
 
 " Hush, child. If ever a heroine was born you 
 are she. I pity you from my heart, and but that 
 I owe a duty, I would not accept this chance for 
 escape. Leave the door unlocked." 
 
 Inez ojBfered her hand which Don raised to his 
 lips. A minute later she was gone and he was 
 again alone, and not till then did he realize that, 
 in his sympathy and distress for her grief, he had 
 forgotten to ask her to return to him his revolver. 
 
 234 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 AN EXCITING CHASE 
 
 The tension of his thoughts relieved by this 
 interview, Don resumed his place on his bed. 
 From the position of the waning moon he judged 
 the time to be about an hour after midnight. 
 His hope was renewed, for much as he disliked 
 the task undertaken in his behalf by Inez, it was, 
 as he knew, nothing very difficult for one so 
 familiar with the country as she. The chances 
 were all against her winning through, but her 
 woman's wit might enable her to impose upon the 
 sentinels of her father's party. At any rate he 
 could do nothing till just before the dawn. He 
 must leave the house just before the servants were 
 astir, but not so long before as to awaken sus- 
 picion in the minds of the watchers below. 
 
 An hour passed, and he found, in spite of his 
 efforts, that he was falling into a doze. To pre- 
 vent this he left the bed and sat in a chair, only 
 to find himself nodding again. Then he was 
 aroused with a start at the sound of voices below. 
 Stepping to the window he was in time to see a 
 woman enter the house, followed by three men. 
 
 235 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Don Ramon's voice rang out harshly asking the 
 cause of the disturbance. A confusion of voices in 
 explanation followed, and through it Don could 
 hear a woman weeping. Then Sanchez spoke 
 again, and at the sound of the tender tones he 
 invariably used in addressing his child, Don knew 
 that Inez' mission had failed. 
 
 Not till then did he realize how high his hopes 
 had mounted. The men left the house, and for 
 a while could hear the father and daughter talking 
 together, she pleading, he saying little. He was 
 sure that he was the subject of their conversation, 
 but when the tones died out and the creak of a 
 key being turned in a door sounded through the 
 house, he knew that her prayers had been in vain 
 and that the presidente had secured her against 
 any further interruption of his plans. 
 
 Quiet settled again on the house, but all drowsi- 
 ness had fled from the young oflScer. All de- 
 pended again upon his own efforts, and he found 
 it hard to readjust his spirit and buoy his confi- 
 dence up to the point it had reached before hope 
 had come to him only to be snatched away. 
 
 One thing he had gained. The door was un- 
 locked, and he would not be forced to adopt the 
 desperate expedient of springing from the window 
 and making a dash before the guard had recovered 
 from their surprise. 
 
 236 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 The moon sank and the black darkness that pre- 
 cedes the dawn settled over the village. Taking 
 the charred cork Don rubbed it over his face and 
 neck, using a little cocoanut oil from the lamp to 
 spread it uniformly. In the darkness he could 
 not tell the result, but felt confident it would pass. 
 Next followed his hands and feet, and he was 
 ready for the venture. 
 
 The alertness of his guards surprised him. A 
 Filipino sentry could usually be depended upon 
 to go to sleep, even in face of the enemy, toward 
 the morning hours, but the frequent drone of 
 voices below his window told him that these were 
 exceptions. It was evident that the fear of their 
 chief was greater than nature. 
 
 A cock crowed in the distance, then another 
 took it up. Searching the east Don noted the 
 first faint flush of dawn and knew that the time 
 had come. 
 
 Picking up a small grass broom from a corner, 
 he opened the door and stole silently toward the 
 stairway, carrying in his other hand the slippers, 
 which were similar to the footgear used by many 
 natives in their houses and around town. He 
 gained the head of the stairs without accident and 
 the silence of the house continued unbroken. 
 
 Quietly he crept down the stairs. On reaching 
 the bottom, however, he opened the door without 
 
 237 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 regard to noise. To quell suspicion from without 
 he had to risk disturbing those within. 
 
 At once two of the guards appeared. Muttering 
 a greeting in the native dialect, Don proceeded to 
 sweep the floor at the foot of the stairs, brushing 
 the trash ahead of him toward the door. He 
 stepped through and continued to use his broom 
 on the sidewalk, working toward the sentinels. 
 It was still too dark for them to distinguish any- 
 thing but his white clothing, and evidently they 
 were without suspicion, as all resumed their seats. 
 
 Momentarily it grew lighter and Don worked 
 more rapidly as he passed them. He must gain 
 the corner of the house and work his way around 
 it in a very few minutes, for the time between the 
 breaking of the dawn and full light is very short 
 in the tropics. 
 
 His heart beat madly in his excitement ; the 
 strain was intense, and it was all he could do to 
 restrain himself from springing off in flight. For 
 the first time in his life he was grateful that he 
 was not a tall man. 
 
 A window in a house across the street was raised, 
 and from another house he could hear voices. The 
 town was waking. 
 
 Don reached the corner, still bent and sweeping. 
 He passed around it and, dropping the broom, 
 darted down the side street. At the first corner 
 
 238 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 he changed direction and hurried to the beach. 
 The paths in the woods he knew were guarded. 
 Once on the water he stood a fighting chance. 
 
 " If I can only find a boat with a large sail, I'll 
 win out yet. At any rate a boat on the water in 
 plain sight with a black man in it will be the last 
 thing suspected." 
 
 Again fortune favored him, for he found a small 
 vinta already half afloat in the rising tide and, 
 casting ofi" the painter, he threw his weight upon 
 it and slid it easily into deep water. Poling care- 
 fully to avoid noise he was soon a hundred yards 
 from shore and in water so deep that he had to 
 change to a paddle. 
 
 No breeze was stirring, but he knew it would 
 rise with the sun, so stepped the mast with its 
 little lateen sail, then resumed his paddling. It 
 was an unaccustomed task, and he was awkward, 
 but the sight of the breakfast fires in the yards of 
 the houses along the beach spurred him on. 
 
 Soon the outlines of the houses became visible. 
 The pink in the sky changed to a bright red. 
 Dusk fell away and broad daylight took its place. 
 
 By now Don was a quarter of a mile from shore 
 and wielding his clumsy paddle like mad. The 
 breeze started up, dead ahead, and he forced the 
 boat against it, knowing he could make better 
 time that way. From the appearance of his hands 
 
 239 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 and feet he felt confident that the job he had done 
 on his face would pass muster at a distance even 
 in daylight. 
 
 Becoming tired and fearing to create suspicion 
 by his unusual exertion, he let the boat's head fall 
 to the right and filled the sail on the port tack. 
 
 As he pointed he could not clear the entrance to 
 the bay, and decided that in event of his coming 
 close inshore before there were evidences of excite- 
 ment in the town, he would land, beach and con- 
 ceal the boat if possible, and lie hidden till night- 
 fall. 
 
 An hour passed. Even the light breeze that 
 blew had carried him over a mile from the town 
 when faint but clear over the water came the hated 
 sound of the conch. Three times it was blown, 
 then the signal was taken up apparently from all 
 directions, the last being almost inaudible in the 
 distance. 
 
 " They have discovered my escape," said Don, 
 his spirit rising with the danger. Then with a 
 grim smile, he added, " I wouldn't be in the shoes 
 of those sentinels (if they wear any) for all of Don 
 Ramon's hemp." 
 
 Though he had heard the conch signals on the 
 shore of the bay he was heading for, he did not 
 change his course. To do so might attract atten- 
 tion, and besides he wanted to gain as much to 
 
 240 
 
THERE CAME THE SHOT OF A RIFLE 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 windward on that tack as possible, so that, when 
 he did put about, he could clear the other side of 
 the entrance to the bay with a comparatively free 
 wind. Once outside he would have it abeam, and 
 a clear course for Katubig. 
 
 " Then it'll be a stern chase, which all sailormen 
 say is a long one. Hooray for a life on the ocean 
 wave ! " 
 
 He was within half a mile of the shore when a 
 party of natives burst from the brush and appeared 
 on the beach. He could see them stop and turn 
 toward him. Even then he did not put about, 
 but continued to approach for about three hun- 
 dred yards further ; then he brought his boat 
 up into the wind and let her fall onto the other 
 tack. 
 
 When the natives saw he was not coming to the 
 bank one of them made a hollow of his hands and 
 called to him. Don knew enough of the native 
 tongue to understand that they were ordering him 
 ashore. 
 
 " Fish ! " he shouted back. 
 
 They renewed their signals and shouts, and the 
 words " el papa " (the pope) were frequently 
 heard. 
 
 Pretending not to understand Don continued on 
 his course. Then there came the shot of a rifle and 
 the bullet struck not far from the boat. When this 
 
 241 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 did not cause him to change his course the natives 
 gathered in excited conversation, then one of them 
 separated from the rest and started on a run along 
 the beach toward the town. 
 
 " The race is on ! " cried Don. " And, by Jove, 
 that fellow can run. He has two miles to go, how- 
 ever, and I count twenty minutes more start. 
 Even at the worst they cannot stake me to an ant- 
 hill before ten o'clock now, and if the breeze will 
 freshen I may get clear entirely." 
 
 But the breeze barely held its own, and the little 
 boat, hugging the wind, slipped through the water 
 at not more than a mile an hour. Don let her 
 come into the wind again and began to paddle. 
 For ten minutes he kept this up, then was forced 
 to desist from fatigue. Again he let her head fall 
 off and was gratified to see that he could clear the 
 entrance to the bay at an angle that gave him a 
 better speed than he had had heretofore. 
 
 And now there were evidences of activity on the 
 beach. Too distant to make out details Don never- 
 theless saw sail after sail run up, and soon half a 
 dozen boats were on the water. His heart sank, 
 for he knew that in each half a score of men with 
 paddles, and skilled in their use, would aid the 
 sails. 
 
 But he took heart in his lead, and a slight fresh- 
 ening of the breeze encouraged him. The gur- 
 
 242 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 gling of the water along the sides was music to his 
 ears. 
 
 The pursuing boats came up rapidly ; by the 
 time he was half-way to the southern point of the 
 bay's entrance they had covered one- third the 
 distance. 
 
 " It'll be close," muttered Don. " If I only had 
 a rifle or even my revolver, it would be certain." 
 
 Chancing a shift of the wind he let the bow of 
 his boat fall off a point more, thus increasing his 
 speed through the water. On this course he would 
 clear the point of land by a scant two hundred 
 yards, but knowing the natives would have orders 
 to capture and not kill him, except as a last resort, 
 he took the risk. 
 
 As Don swept through the mouth of the bay, the 
 leading boat was no more than a quarter of a mile 
 behind him. He put up his helm, and with the 
 wind slightly abaft the beam settled back in the 
 stern and awaited the issue. On this course the 
 paddles of the pursuers would barely compensate 
 for the extra weight carried. It was a question of 
 which boat was the faster. It was in the hands of 
 the gods ; he had done his best. 
 
 At once he began to increase his lead, and the 
 immediate result was a fusillade both from the 
 boats behind and from the point of land he was 
 passing. And this time the enemy shot to kill, 
 
 243 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 and not to intimidate. Don crouched so as to offer 
 as small a target as possible. Twice the splinters 
 flew from the thwarts .and several small holes ap- 
 peared in the sail. 
 
 " They think I am going to escape ! " he ex- 
 claimed and his spirits rose in spite of the whis- 
 tling bullets. " Go it, little boat ! I'll buy you a 
 gold figurehead if you beat them." 
 
 Soon the others rounded the point and had the 
 advantage of the favoring wind. Don could see 
 the paddles working feverishly on both sides, but, 
 as he had anticipated, his pursuers had no advan- 
 tage thereby and he easily maintained his dis- 
 tance. The wind and sea rose and into the race 
 the excitement of breaking waves and straining 
 outriggers entered. 
 
 The chase became scattering as the slower craft 
 fell behind. Two of the vintas clung to him 
 closely, one of them once creeping up to one hun- 
 dred yards, where it held on for a while, and one of 
 the natives tried his marksmanship. It had be- 
 come too rough for him to accomplish anything 
 even at that short range and, when he found that 
 his position in the bow was making the boat lose 
 ground, he desisted and fell back. 
 
 Still Don was greatly relieved, when suddenly a 
 smudge of smoke appeared on the horizon, and 
 only a short time later the funnel and then the 
 
 244 
 
IN TBE PHILIPPINES 
 
 hull of a steamer appeared. He gave a ringing 
 cheer, which was repeated, as he thought in deri- 
 sion, from the boat behind. 
 
 Rapidly the distance between the boats and 
 steamer lessened. To Don's surprise the natives 
 did not give up the chase, though they ceased 
 their exertions with the paddles. He smiled as 
 he thought of the surprise of the captain of the 
 S'teamer when a constabulary officer, with black- 
 ened face, hands, and feet came aboard. 
 
 And then his heart turned sick within him. 
 He tried to thrust the thought from him with the 
 same instinct that makes a child cover its head 
 with the bedclothes, but the truth ground itself 
 into his mind. 
 
 The steamer was the same that had left the 
 barrio the day before. 
 
 For an instant the young man sat stunned with 
 despair. Safety, which had seemed so near, had 
 now taken flight ; escape by water was impossible. 
 A dry sob shook his shoulders and his grip on the 
 stirring paddle relaxed. 
 
 The flapping of his sail brought him back to 
 himself, and shaking ofi" the faintness that had at- 
 tacked him he called up all his Anglo-Saxon grit. 
 There still remained the forest, and he would never 
 give up while any hope remained. 
 
 Action followed thought. With a pull at the 
 
 245 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 paddle and a loosening of the sheet he threw the 
 boat around dead before the wind. He saw the 
 natives in the boats wildly signaling to the 
 steamer, then when certain their signs were not 
 understood, change course also, one boat steering 
 to intercept him, the other to strike the beach be- 
 tween him and Katubig. 
 
 As he approached the shore, and saw no signs of 
 life thereon, hope revived. He would have five 
 minutes' start in this last lap of his race for safety. 
 
 The boat struck, then as a wave overtook it, 
 was raised and dashed high up on the beach. Don 
 was thrown heavily on the sand, and as he regained 
 his feet a dozen natives rose from the bushes 
 where they had concealed themselves. With 
 drawn bolos they rushed upon him. 
 
 Don raised his hands above his head. 
 
 " It is all over," he said. " I surrender." 
 
 246 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE ANT-HILL 
 
 Don Ramon was seated at his table when Don, 
 filthy with sweat and dust and the streaks of the 
 greasy burnt cork from his face, was thrust into 
 the room. His eyes were snapping with rage, for 
 the captors had not spared him on the return to 
 town, and but for the fact that they had bound his 
 arms behind him, he would probably have done 
 something rash. 
 
 The presidente looked up without change of ex- 
 pression. 
 
 " Release his arms," he commanded. 
 
 One of the natives obeyed. In front of Don 
 
 stood the Filipino who had tried the edge of his 
 
 bolo on his thumb nail the night before. He had 
 
 been one of Don's captors, and had been especially 
 
 brutal to the young American while the latter's 
 
 arms had been bound. As Don felt the bonds 
 
 relax he made a quick step forward and, before 
 
 his purpose could be anticipated, struck the fellow 
 
 a heavy blow full in the face, knocking him flat 
 
 on the floor. 
 
 247 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Keep quiet I Don't touch him ! " shouted San- 
 chez as the others sprang toward Don. " Doubt- 
 less the dog deserved it, and it is nothing to what 
 I should have done, had the morning's chase not 
 ended so happily. And now," he added, " leave 
 us." 
 
 The men withdrew. 
 
 " Senor teniente," said Sanchez, " will you do 
 me the honor to breakfast with me ? " 
 
 " I'm hungry enough to eat with a dog," replied 
 Don, ungraciously, hiding his satisfaction in the 
 chance to gain further time. " Give me a chance 
 to wash off this filth." 
 
 " Your room and clothes are still there." 
 
 Don took as long as he dared, then, somewhat 
 restored to his usual appearance, joined Sanchez at 
 the table. 
 
 The latter studied him for a long time without 
 speaking. He seemed trying to make up his mind 
 about something. There was none of the old ur- 
 banity in his manner, but the savagery that had 
 peeped out occasionally on the preceding day was 
 also well under cover. 
 
 " Senor Page," he said finally, speaking in 
 Spanish, " the events of this morning make me 
 even more desirous of having you as a friend. 
 You outwitted me and four of my cleverest men 
 by a trick or a series of tricks, for we never sus- 
 
 248 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 pected the little boat on the water till almost too 
 late. Few men so desperately placed would have 
 thought of such a plan. I acknowledge that you 
 deserved to escape." 
 
 " I should have done so but for that steamer." 
 
 " Very true, which should prove to you that in 
 this matter fortune is against you in spite of your 
 resourcefulness. I am inclined to meet you more 
 than half-way, however. Give up the papers, or 
 destroy them and give me your promise not to be- 
 tray me and you shall go free." 
 
 " Don Ramon, I took an oath when I accepted 
 this commission to serve my country and uphold 
 its laws ; not to save my own skin will I leave so 
 dangerous an enemy to the United States free to 
 pursue his course against her." 
 
 " Then listen. I shall go even further ; I shall 
 cease to be your country's enemy. My boy, Inez 
 has been pleading for you — to her you are as a 
 brother, and I find her distress more than my fa- 
 ther's heart can bear. Turn back to me the papers 
 and pledge yourself to silence and I in turn will 
 give you my word that I shall leave Samar and, 
 with Papa Atta gone, you know how short a time 
 this insurrection will last. One additional surety 
 I shall require ; I have said that Inez views you as 
 a brother, and may add that I would be proud of 
 you as a son — you must consent to cast your lot 
 
 249 
 
AN ARMT B02^ 
 
 with my people and agree to adoption into my 
 family." 
 
 Don sat speechless with surprise. ' 
 
 " And you will be rich," Sanchez continued) 
 " The fortune I have accumulated was intended, 
 first for the cause, then for my daughter ; consent, 
 and you two shall share the whole." 
 
 " Don Ramon, I scarcely know how to answer 
 you. Were you always as you now are I could npt 
 doubt you. But I have seen you as Papa Atta. I 
 have seen Satan looking out of your eyes — there ! 
 there was a flash of him then ! I cannot forget 
 that I face the murderer of Captain Andrews, of 
 Jose Valdez, of Sergeant Dominguez, and I know 
 not how many others. Ramon Sanchez, I dare 
 not trust you." 
 
 The two men sat, eye fixing eye. Sanchez' ex- 
 pression did not alter, but the beads of perspiration 
 which broke out on his forehead told of strong 
 emotion. 
 
 "Nevertheless, I mean honestly by you — pos- 
 sibly it is for my daughter's sake, but if you con- 
 sent, I will keep my word." 
 
 " I cannot. As a sworn ofificer of the law, I can- 
 not condone murder and protect a murderer. Nor 
 as an American gentleman can I stoop to accept a 
 bribe, for, cover it as you may, it is a bribe you 
 offer in exchange for my life." 
 
 250 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 At his refusal Sanchez' self-control gave way. 
 He arose with flashing eyes. 
 
 " It is as I suspected," and his voice rang with 
 bitterness. " My people have nothing to hope for 
 from yours. An American can take all from a 
 Filipino but can give nothing. Your nation 
 promises ' as large a measure of self-government as 
 they are capable of,' and in your hearts you con- 
 sider us your inferiors and incapable. It is war to 
 the end now, and I scorn myself for having made 
 you the offer I did. Stubborn and confident as you 
 are, I shall wring your secret from you." 
 
 " I am not so sure of that," said Don, hardily. 
 
 " I am. Hello without there ! Mandac ! 
 Perez ! A dozen of you seize this man and away 
 with him." 
 
 The natives swarmed in at the door and sur- 
 rounded Don. Resistance was idle, and he of- 
 fered none. But for Sanchez' presence he might 
 have fought, but he was loath to lower his dignity 
 in a hopeless struggle with the mestizo watching. 
 As he left the house he heard pounding on a door 
 and Inez' voice calling his name. 
 
 He was hurried to the little opening in the for- 
 est, his clothes stripped from him and he thrown 
 roughly to the ground. Four men held his arms 
 and feet while four others pounded the stakes into 
 the ground. Directing them was Papa Atta, for 
 
 251 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Sanchez had put on the priest's robe, with wig and 
 cap and his face was drawn in the hateful lines of 
 cruelty that it seemed to assume naturally while 
 playing this r61e. He himself secured Don's wrists 
 and ankles to the stakes, then dropped a line of 
 powdered sugar from the ant-hill to the prostrate 
 man's feet. 
 
 Don summoned all his resolution. He selected 
 the branch of a tree, and calculated that when the 
 sun was opposite it the day would be sufficiently 
 far advanced for him to give a false set of num- 
 bers and feel sure the mestizo could not reach 
 Katubig, discover the trick, then return before 
 nightfall. As the ants would not run at night he 
 would gain eighteen hours, in which much might 
 happen. 
 
 The burning sun blistered his exposed skin and 
 the burning sand his bare back. But these were 
 nothing to the torture when the ants, following the 
 line of sugar, found their living prey. Try as he 
 would the helpless man could not prevent himself 
 from writhing in agony under the gloating eyes of 
 the enemies surrounding him. The ants swarmed 
 over him ; they invaded his nose, they invaded his 
 ears, and his eyes would have gone in half an hour 
 but that Atta kept the ants away. He desired to 
 hold Don's eyes with his own glittering ones, add- 
 ing hypnotic effect to the torture. He knelt beside 
 
 252 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 his victim, continually repeating " the numbers, 
 the numbers ? " 
 
 It seemed to him that the sun must have stopped, 
 but, in spite of his suffering, Don held on till the 
 appointed time. He had been replying, " I will 
 not, I will not," to the question, but as the sun ap- 
 proached the limb selected, he became silent except 
 for an occasional moan. When finally the sun 
 passed the point he opened his mouth and gasped : 
 
 " Turn to the left five times stopping at 20." 
 
 " Yes," said Atta, producing a paper and pencil 
 and noting it down. 
 
 " Then to the right three times stopping at 73." 
 
 " Go ahead." 
 
 " Then to the left once stopping at 8." 
 
 " Very well." 
 
 " Then to the right slowly till it stops. It 
 should stop at 49." 
 
 " Is that all ? " 
 
 " Yes. Now let me up." 
 
 " I will, but not from any desire to. If I fol- 
 lowed my inclination you would never leave this 
 spot again. But you are too shrewd. I am not 
 so sure that this is the true combination. If not, 
 it is not too late, for, as I live, if you have at- 
 tempted to trick me again, my vengeance will be 
 beyond your thoughts. No, I'll not let you die 
 now — we have still to-morrow to resume this pas- 
 
 253 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 time if your safe doesa't fall open to my hand to- 
 day." 
 
 Lieutenant Harris sat in the sala of the constabu- 
 lary officers' quarters, longing for the sun to set so 
 that he might have done with the day. No word 
 had come to him from the expedition, and he was 
 lonely and uneasy. Not till left alone did he real- 
 ize the weight of responsibility upon the command- 
 ing officer of a station in a country where at any 
 moment the most peaceful inhabitant might turn 
 into an active enemy. 
 
 At the sound of a horse's hoofs he leaned for- 
 ward and was gratified to recognize the figure of 
 Presidente Sanchez riding across the plaza to the 
 house opposite. He was chagrined and disap- 
 pointed that the presidente had not seen fit to stop 
 in passing to give him the news and consult him 
 as to conditions. For a while his pride struggled 
 with his curiosity, then the latter triumphed, and 
 he arose and went to see the man who was too 
 cunning to come to him first. 
 
 Sanchez greeted him with his usual cordial air 
 and invited him to a seat. 
 
 " I was coming to see you, teniente," he said, 
 " as soon as I recovered from the fatigue of our 
 trip." 
 
 254 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " What was the result? " 
 
 " We were most successful — surprised the enemy 
 and inflicted great loss. Also we have several 
 captives. The sergeant, Nabato, was questioning 
 them when I left. He is an excellent man, and 
 is gaining valuable information. I had to return 
 here to sign some reports, and Mr. Page asked me 
 to bring back some papers for him." 
 
 " And these papers ? " 
 
 " Are in his office. He gave me this request to 
 hand you." 
 
 Harris took and read the paper.' 
 
 " I'm sorry, Don Ramon. I have the key to 
 Page's safe, but the keyhole is covered by a bar 
 which opens only when the combination is 
 operated. And I have not the information neces- 
 sary to work it." 
 
 " That is right. I remember now he gave me 
 another paper." Don Ramon searched his pockets. 
 " How annoying. I have misplaced it. Excuse 
 me for a minute. It may be in the house." 
 
 He left Harris for a minute, to return smiling. 
 
 " Here it is," and he gave the scout a sealed 
 envelope. " Possibly you'll find the combination 
 in there." 
 
 Harris tore open the envelope. 
 
 " You are right," he said. " Shall we go over 
 now ? Probably Page is in a hurry." 
 
 255 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " I'm sorry I cannot, as I have to go to the 
 municipal building. But I'll join you in half an 
 hour if that is convenient." 
 
 " Very well," said Harris. And he left without 
 the slightest suspicion, so indifferent had the other 
 seemed. 
 
 Nearly an hour later Sanchez strolled over to the 
 constabulary cuartel. Harris met him with a dis- 
 turbed countenance. 
 
 " I cannot open the safe, Don Ramon. These 
 numbers do not seem to fit." 
 
 " Let me try," was the reply. " Surely there is 
 some mistake." 
 
 Harris led him to the office, and Sanchez set the 
 figures marked. There was no result. His rage 
 mounted within him, and it was with difficulty that 
 he maintained his appearance of indifference. 
 
 " Possibly he skipped one number. We must 
 try." 
 
 And painstakingly he followed out the combina- 
 tion, setting the numbers given, then turning back 
 to each number from one to one hundred, before 
 resuming the directions given him. Failure after 
 failure was the result and finally he arose, baffled. 
 There was no longer a doubt that Don had defied 
 him to the end. 
 
 " It is useless, senor," he said. " Teniente Page, 
 in his haste, must have made a mistake. There re- 
 
 256 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 mains nothing to do but return to our camp and 
 have it corrected." 
 
 " I am more than sorry, Don Ramon. Let me 
 accompany you." 
 
 " I should be glad to, but it would not be well 
 for us both to leave town at once. There must be 
 some responsible person left in charge here. It is 
 unfortunate, but if Tefliente Page wants the papers 
 he must send to-morrow." 
 
 " Where is your camp ? " 
 
 " Off in the mountains. It seems a needless 
 trip for me now, but he has to be informed of my 
 failure. Good-bye — possibly I may return to-mor- 
 row myself." 
 
 Ten minutes later the mestizo, mounted on a 
 swift pony, took the trail leading to Binan. As 
 the last house was passed and the jungle concealed 
 him, he relaxed the effort of will by which he had 
 held his rage in control. Biting his lips and shak- 
 ing his fists at the sky above him, he vowed 
 vengeance. 
 
 Had he delayed ten minutes longer he would 
 have seen a travel-worn score of men, all limping, 
 many carrying arms in slings or bearing other 
 evidence of having been in a skirmish, enter the 
 town from the Balika trail. It was the slightly 
 wounded of Don's company, those who, while not 
 well enough to join in the fruitless expedition to 
 
 257 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 Mendoya's old stronghold, were not in a condition 
 necessitating their remaining at the Balika hos- 
 pital. On this possibility Sanchez had not counted 
 in preparing his scheme. 
 
 Had he delayed half an hour he would have 
 seen a steamer enter the bay and turn her prow 
 toward the wharf. And even in the failing light 
 his keen eye would have recognized her as the 
 inter-island mail boat from Manila on which Cap- 
 tain Halstead was to return. Her schedule was 
 fixed, but her observance of it was irregular. This 
 was one of the rare occasions when she was ahead 
 of time, another possibility that the mestizo had 
 not considered. 
 
 258 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 CAPTAIN HALSTEAD, SENIOR INSPECTOR 
 
 As the steamer wheezed her way up to the wharf 
 Harris, who welcomed her arrival as a break in the 
 monotony, noted an American on the bridge with 
 the captain. He sprang aboard and made his way 
 to the upper deck, 
 
 " Captain Halstead, I presume." 
 
 " The same, and glad to be on my feet again. 
 Come up to the house and give me the news." 
 
 As they passed the light on the wharf Harris 
 saw that his companion was a man of large frame 
 on which the khaki uniform hung in bags. 
 Evidently his recent illness had depleted the 
 captain greatly, but there was no sign of weakness 
 in the springing stride. And when they were in 
 the lighted sala Harris saw that his spirit was 
 equally unaffected. The cheeks were sunken and 
 pale, but the lines showed a face given to habitual 
 laughter. And the eyes, though sunken, twinkled 
 with shrewdness and mirth. Harris knew him by 
 reputation, and five minutes in his company was 
 sufficient to inspire him with confidence in this 
 man's ability to carry through any task. 
 
 " I'm a convalescent, my boy," said Halstead, as he 
 
 259 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 gathered up a bunch of his loose blouse in his hands. 
 " I have all this to fill up ; can you help me to it ? " 
 
 " Certainly," replied Harris laughing. " Here, 
 boys, put out everything you have to eat and then 
 make a round of the shops and buy everything 
 you can find." 
 
 " You should resign from the service, Mr. 
 Harris, and open a hotel. I'll guarantee you a 
 full house. Now tell me what those wild lieu- 
 tenants of mine have been up to." 
 
 Carefully, not sparing himself, Harris told the 
 events of the past month. Halstead listened and 
 ate, occasionally interjecting a question. Each 
 time he was told of Don's care of the papers in the 
 safe he nodded with satisfaction. Early in the 
 narrative he asked : 
 
 " Are they still there ? " 
 
 And when Harris replied : " They are," he was 
 content. 
 
 As the relation proceeded he grew more and 
 more interested and toward the close laid down his 
 knife and fork. 
 
 " I'm only half done, but I must see the men 
 who just came in from Balika. If Don Ramon 
 left to rejoin Page by way of the trail to Binan 
 how is it that men returning from Page's party 
 come from the direction of Balika? " 
 
 " I'm sure I can't say." 
 
 260) 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Well, if you knew Samar as I do you'd ap- 
 preciate my surprise. There's no way from Binan 
 to Balika, unless they flew, that wouldn't require 
 them to pass through here." 
 
 They adjourned to the cuartel and Captain 
 Halstead ordered the men who had recently re- 
 turned brought before him. As they entered the 
 office he called each one by name, and they were 
 evidently greatly pleased at being remembered by 
 the senior inspector. 
 
 At his command they told the story of the ex- 
 pedition under Page, then of the company sailing 
 for Katubig and of the column that had left there 
 the preceding day for the interior. 
 
 " This order, senor," said the leader, handing a 
 paper to the captain, " Lieutenant Kearny said 
 was to be filed with the company records." 
 
 Halstead took the paper, and read it aloud. It 
 was the order to Harry directing him to leave 
 Binan on the steamer without waiting for Don. 
 He hung it on the file of company orders. 
 
 Harris had listened to the men's report with 
 eyes growing wider and wider. As soon as they 
 had left the office he burst out : 
 
 " There's something queer here, captain. The 
 presidente told me that the expedition had been a 
 complete success, and that they were even then 
 questioning the prisoners." 
 
 261 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 "When was this?" 
 
 " Only this afternoon," and Harris rapidly com- 
 pleted the narrative that their questioning of the 
 soldiers had interrupted. 
 
 Halstead's eyes had narrowed and his brows were 
 drawn. He was thinking deeply. 
 
 " Mr. Harris," he said, finally, " I want you to 
 search your mind for every word Sanchez said 
 while here. Think, man, and think hard." 
 
 Harris made the effort. He went over his con- 
 versation with Sanchez word by word. In the 
 middle of it the senior inspector broke in. 
 
 " He praised the first sergeant, Nabato ? " 
 
 " Yes, said he was putting the prisoners to the 
 question." 
 
 " Wait a moment, please," and Halstead stepped 
 to the door and called for one of the slightly 
 wounded men. 
 
 " Evangelista," he questioned, " where is Sergeant 
 Nabato now ? " 
 
 " With the company, senor." 
 
 " He did not remain in Binan with Teniente 
 Page?" 
 
 " No, senor, none of us did." 
 
 " That will do." 
 
 Harris searched the captain's face for some sign 
 of what this news meant. He was bewildered. 
 
 " Mr. Harris," said the senior inspector, finally, 
 
 262 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Sanchez did not tell the truth. It was a very 
 small fib, and we might possibly think he told it 
 for the sake of praising one of his countrymen. 
 But there are other things that make me sus- 
 picious. Throughout your story it has appeared 
 that several times the presidente was anxious to 
 get hold of those papers." 
 
 " By Jove, that is true ! " 
 
 " And Otoy's attack certainly had as its main 
 objective to secure the papers." 
 
 " That is certain." 
 
 " Yes, and significant. Who arranged for Otoy's 
 surrender ? " 
 
 " The presidente." 
 
 " And did he not try to have the constabulary 
 withdrawn from the cuartel ? " 
 
 " He did, but he said it was so Otoy would not 
 think treachery was intended." 
 
 " Yes — so he said, but it was apparent that it 
 was Otoy who planned treachery." 
 
 " But the Pulujanes assaulted the presidente, 
 and would have killed him but for Mr. Cameron 
 and myself" 
 
 " One little point, and a dramatic one, to con- 
 tradict a long line of circumstantial evidence. 
 If we assume that the attack on Sanchez was a 
 sham, and intended to deceive you all, everything 
 else holds together and points in one direction." 
 
 263 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 "You mean that Sanchez, who has been the 
 Americans' best friend ? " 
 
 " Is their secret enemy ? Yes, that is the con- 
 clusion I am forced to. My boy, if you and Page 
 and Kearny are to be successful among these 
 people, you must keep open minds. Never let 
 your preconceived ideas of any man influence 
 your conclusions. A series of results, pointing to 
 a common cause, makes that cause worthy of 
 examination. If we assume that Sanchez is our 
 enemy, is not all of the mystery of the past month 
 explained ? " 
 
 " It is, sir, and clear as daylight," 
 
 " Now let us look in the safe. I can open it 
 unless Page has changed the combination." 
 
 " Here are the figures he sent by Sanchez." 
 
 " Which failed. I'll try the old one." 
 
 At the first trial the bar protecting the lock 
 fell and, with the key given him by Harris, the 
 senior inspector opened the heavy door. 
 
 " You see," he said. 
 
 " Yes, sir, but this is certainly Page's writing." 
 
 " True enough — that will be explained later, I 
 have no doubt. Now to work." 
 
 Halstead spread the papers before him on the 
 desk. As he opened and read them a deep frown 
 settled on his forehead, and an occasional exclama- 
 tion testified to his interest. He separated them into 
 
 264 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 two piles, one of which he thrust back into the safe, 
 the other he proceeded to examine again, slowly 
 and carefully. Suddenly he sprang to his feet. 
 
 " Let me have that order from Page." 
 
 Harris gave it to him. 
 
 He placed it beside one of the papers on the 
 desk and drew a deep breath. 
 
 " Now give me the one he gave Kearny." 
 
 Harris took down the tile of orders and opened 
 it to the last one. This, too, the captain carefully 
 compared with the others. 
 
 " Look here, Mr. Harris. See this signature, 
 ' Atta,' on this paper — look at that narrow ' a ' 
 with the increased slope. Now look at the ' a's ' 
 in these orders." 
 
 " Why, captain, they are the same." 
 
 " Now take Page's signature on the last morn- 
 ing report. There is a difference, is there not ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Page wrote neither of these papers. They are 
 forgeries, and clever ones." 
 
 " Who did it ? " 
 
 " Papa Atta." 
 
 "And he ?" 
 
 " Wait a minute. Slip over to the municipal 
 building and bring me the bulletin on which are 
 posted the town notices." 
 
 Harris was back in a few minutes, bearing the 
 
 365 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 board. As he laid it on the desk there was no 
 need for further question. In the signatures 
 " Ramon Sanchez " to the many notices, each " a " 
 appeared with the identical peculiarity noted in 
 the other papers. 
 
 " Ramon Sanchez is Papa Atta ! " exclaimed 
 Harris. " No wonder our plans were all known 
 in advance — no wonder we have failed and failed. 
 It's lucky you have returned, captain ; none of us 
 would ever have suspected." 
 
 " My boy, I'm afraid Page not only suspects, 
 but knows. He is evidently deep in the toils 
 of this double-lived villain, if he is not already 
 dead." 
 
 " No, captain, he is not dead. I can help you 
 that much. Sanchez must have tortured him into 
 giving the combination of the safe, and Page gave 
 him an incorrect one to gain time. He may be 
 torturing him again, but Page is not dead." 
 
 " Why are you so sure? " 
 
 " Because Sanchez intimated that he would re- 
 turn to-morrow with the correct combination. He 
 means to get it to-night." 
 
 " Then we must move, and move quickly. They 
 cannot be distant — probably still in Binan. Get to- 
 gether a dozen men heavily armed, and take them 
 to the beach. Have a large vinta launched." 
 
 " It would be shorter by the trail." 
 
 266 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Yes, but that is sure to be guarded, and the 
 blowing of a conch would raean Page's death. 
 Hurry, Mr. Harris ! " 
 
 " We'll be ready in ten minutes, sir." 
 
 It was less than that when the party embarked, 
 and, hoisting the sail, left the wharf. The breeze 
 was light, and Halstead divided the men into two 
 reliefs and ordered them to aid the sail with the 
 paddles. He told them that Lieutenant Page was 
 in danger, and that they were going to attempt a 
 rescue. This spurred them on, and they drove the 
 vinta through the water with vigor. 
 
 " I'd judge it to be twenty miles, counting the 
 harbors," said Halstead. " We shall make it in 
 four hours. It's barely nine now, so we should 
 arrive there by one o'clock or a little after." 
 
 He and Harris sat in the stern and discussed 
 their plans. Halstead knew Binan as thoroughly 
 as he knew Katubig, and he divided their men into 
 four parties, one to guard each of the three trails 
 leading out of the town, and the fourth to accom- 
 pany him to the house of the presidente. He in- 
 structed them carefully in their duties. 
 
 Some time between one and two o'clock they 
 beached the vinta on the outskirts of Binan. The 
 weather favored them in that there were broken 
 clouds in the sky, and, by moving when one of 
 these covered the waning moon, they had the ad- 
 
 267 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 vantage of darkness. Halstead and Harris, with 
 three of the soldiers, crept to the house of the 
 presidente. The former posted the scout at the 
 door, then put one of the soldiers at each of the 
 remaining three sides. This done he tried the door. 
 As he expected it was locked. 
 
 Calling two of the men he mounted on their 
 shoulders and was able to reach the edge of a win- 
 dow. Drawing himself up, he slid the shutter 
 aside and silently entered the house. He had been 
 there many times before, and knew that he was in 
 the sala. 
 
 So far everything had gone smoothly, almost too 
 smoothly, the captain feared. For he felt that, if 
 Page were confined in the house, its exterior would 
 have been guarded. But he hoped to capture 
 Sanchez, and wring from him the whereabouts of 
 his lieutenant. Striking a match he lit the lamp 
 on the center table. 
 
 " Ramon Sanchez ! " he called loudly. 
 
 Instantly exclamations were heard from several 
 rooms, and following these a door was opened. 
 Sanchez, dressed in pajamas, appeared on the 
 threshold. For a moment he halted, overcome 
 with surprise, then with wonderful self-control 
 stepped forward, hand outstretched and face 
 wreathed in smiles. 
 
 "Welcome, captain. Welcome back to Samar, 
 
 268 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 and especially to my poor house in Binan, though 
 how you entered is a puzzle to me. But surely 
 something urgent has brought you here at this 
 hour?" 
 
 Halstead waved him back, and changed his posi- 
 tion so as to keep the table between them. Then 
 drawing his revolver he pointed it at the mestizo's 
 heart. 
 
 " The game is up, Sanchez, and the whole truth 
 known. What have you done with Lieutenant 
 Page?" 
 
 " Why," said Sanchez exhibiting every sign of 
 surprise, " the lieutenant is here." Then his face 
 lighted up. " Here he comes now," and he smiled 
 a greeting toward the door of a room behind the 
 captain. 
 
 So natural was the action that Halstead turned, 
 expecting to see Page entering the sala. It was 
 only for a second that he was off his guard, but 
 it was sufficient. Sanchez seized a heavy paper 
 weight from the table and hurled it with all his 
 force. It struck the captain back of the ear and 
 he fell stunned to the floor. Convulsively his 
 hand closed and the heavy revolver was dis- 
 charged, the sharp report ringing through the 
 house and the acrid smoke filling the room. 
 
 As the captain struck the floor Sanchez blew 
 out the light. 
 
 2^9 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 A STRENUOUS NIGHT 
 
 With the shot of the revolver and the dull 
 crash of Halstead's fall, there was a shriek from 
 Inez' room and shouts from the servants' quarters. 
 Sanchez sprang to the rear window of the sala, 
 and threw open the sliding shutters. As he sus- 
 pected, there was a soldier below and, at the sound 
 of the shutters, he could see the man, in the 
 faint light, peering upward, rifle raised to shoot if 
 necessary. 
 
 " Quick ! " called Sanchez, in Spanish, imitat- 
 ing Captain Halstead's gruff voice of command. 
 "Come to the front door and bring the others." 
 
 Instinctively the soldier obeyed, leaving the 
 coast clear. Already Sanchez could hear heavy 
 blows on the front door, and the splintering of its 
 panels. With a chuckle of satisfaction he swung 
 himself from the window and dropped silently to 
 the ground. 
 
 "Cowards ! " he muttered as he noted that not a 
 window was raised in the town. " Every man has 
 been ordered to assemble with his arms on the 
 
 270 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 plaza in event of an alarm, but not knowing the 
 force of our enemy they prefer to lie hidden. It's 
 for me to finish Page, and gather in my hillmen 
 — I may make them regret this raid yet." 
 
 Unconscious of the attempted rescue, or of the 
 approach of his enemy, Don lay, staked to the 
 ground near the ant-hill. Here Sanchez had had 
 him taken on his return from Katubig with the 
 idea that a night in the place of torture would 
 weaken the American's resolution. In this he was 
 wrong, though the young man suffered agony from 
 his cramped limbs, and hope had practically left 
 him. Don no longer believed the mestizo would 
 spare him even if he betrayed his trust. 
 
 He thought of his home, his parents and the 
 other dear ones who would never learn his fate. 
 He prayed, indeed, that they never should. 
 
 *p ^•JS ifm J|5 SjS 5J5 
 
 Harris and his three men plunged through the 
 opening as the shattered door yielded to the rifle 
 butts and dashed up the stairs. Careless of attack 
 the officer struck a match. The light revealed a 
 room empty save for Captain Halstead lying un- 
 conscious on the floor. 
 
 " Open this door 1 " called a voice. " Open at 
 once if you would save Don." 
 
 271 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " It is the Seiiorita Inez ! " cried Harris. " Smash 
 that door, men ! " 
 
 An instant later Inez sprang past them. 
 
 " Come," she said, and without waiting to ex- 
 plain ran to the steps. 
 
 " Two of you carry the captain to the vinta. 
 Put to sea if you have to, and save him, but hold 
 on for the rest of us if possible." 
 
 Calling this over his shoulder, Harris followed 
 the young woman, the third soldier bringing up 
 the rear. Inez ran through the streets at a speed 
 that tested the men. In a minute they were halted 
 by the soldiers guarding the trail. 
 
 " Some one tried to break through here a min- 
 ute ago," said one of them. " We tried to capture 
 him but he broke away." 
 
 " It was my father ! " cried Inez. " He means 
 to kill Don," and she turned and ran up the trail. 
 
 Ordering one man to gather the soldiers from the 
 other trails, Harris and the three remaining soldiers 
 followed her. But she outdistanced them, and 
 when the men guarding Don turned out to see who 
 was coming down the trail they were surprised to 
 have their leader's daughter burst upon them. 
 
 " Fly ! " she cried. " The Americanos are upon 
 us!" 
 
 The men started to scatter, but were checked by 
 their leader. 
 
 272 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Senorita," he said, " last night you tried to 
 break through the lines, and I know your father 
 confined you. I must take you back to him 
 
 now." 
 
 But- 
 
 "No, senorita, I cannot risk your deceiving me," 
 and he caught her by the wrist. 
 
 Here Harris and his followers came up. Re- 
 gardless of the odds against them they threw them- 
 selves upon the guards. The latter broke and ran 
 at this confirmation of Inez' warning, but were 
 halted by a shout as a man staggered into the clear- 
 ing from the other side. 
 
 " Rush them ! " he shouted, hoarsely. " Cut 
 them to pieces while I settle this one." And he 
 started toward where Don lay. 
 
 " Father I " cried Inez, hastening to interpose. 
 
 But it was unnecessary, for at that moment the 
 remaining scouts entered the clearing. Their com- 
 ing decided the event, and the enemy, who had 
 rallied to their leader's call, now turned and fled 
 carrying him, protesting, among them. 
 
 " Bless you, child, you have saved me ! " said 
 Don to Inez, who was deftly untying the cords that 
 bound him. 
 
 " I hope so. I pray you may get clear, but there's 
 no time to waste. Father has two hundred men 
 within call." 
 
 273 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 Confirming her warning of danger there came 
 the blast of a conch near at hand. 
 
 " Calling in his band," said Harris, who had come 
 to Inez' assistance. "^Can you walk, old man ? " 
 
 Don staggered dizzily to his feet. 
 
 " I'll make it with help," he said. " Thank 
 goodness they left me my clothes, or I'd have been 
 stifFer than I am." 
 
 " They will gather at the village and cut you off," 
 said Inez. " Hurry ! " 
 
 With two of the men aiding Don they started 
 for the beach. As they entered the town they saw 
 that it was thoroughly alive at last. Large num- 
 bers of men were flitting through the streets toward 
 the plaza. 
 
 Soon their presence was noted and by yells the 
 news was spread. As they hurried down a side 
 street they were fired upon from the houses, and . 
 the cross streets showed bands gathering. Into 
 these the soldiers sent a few shots. 
 
 " They lack only a leader," said Don who was 
 now able to totter along unaided. 
 
 " Those who are coming do not," replied Inez. 
 " Hark ! " 
 
 Faintly, but with increasing volume, could be 
 heard the shouts of men in the forest. 
 
 " The Pulujanes," she said. " Their coming 
 will hearten the town-folk." 
 
 274 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 And she was right, for these latter began to close 
 upon them like a pack of snarling curs. Only 
 the presence of their leader's daughter, whom they 
 recognized among the soldiers, prevented them from 
 opening fire, and the soldiers' rifles discouraged 
 thoughts of a charge. 
 
 And so they won to the beach, and found the 
 vinta awaiting them. Halstead, still weak from the 
 blow he had received, wrung Don's hand and 
 hastened the embarkation. 
 
 Inez declined to accompany them, in spite of 
 Don's urging her to do so. 
 
 " No," she said. " I cannot leave my father. 
 He has lost much of what he held dear — he shall 
 not lose me, too." 
 
 " But you cannot remain among these savage 
 people," protested Don. 
 
 " They are my people," she answered. " Savage 
 to you, I know, but kind and gentle to me. Now 
 haste, I beg of you, and for Lieutenant Kearny's 
 sake I'll give you one more warning. It is shorter 
 to Katubig by trail than by water." 
 
 " True enough," said Captain Halstead, who 
 realized that she did not know of Kearny's ab- 
 sence from Katubig, and who caught her meaning 
 at once. " Jump aboard, Page, we must be off." 
 
 With a last pressure of the hand and a few words 
 of thanks, Don complied, and the soldiers poled 
 
 275 
 
AN ARMT BOY 
 
 the boat into deep water. As the girl joined the 
 villagers the latter opened fire on the boat, but the 
 men rapidly forced it beyond range. 
 
 " What did she mean by that last warning ? " 
 asked Don. 
 
 " She meant that her father will lead his men 
 against Katubig." 
 
 " And we cannot get there in time to warn 
 them," said Harris. " But they'll never be taken 
 by surprise — they have had too many to be taken 
 ofi" guard again." 
 
 " I'm not so sure," said Don. " Our men know 
 nothing of Sanchez' double dealing. He could lead 
 fifty men into town and none would suspect him." 
 
 " Not if he led them," encouraged Halstead. 
 " But Sanchez is too far-sighted for that. If a 
 single soldier escaped and carried word that he had 
 led the attack it would ruin the plan I think he 
 has in mind." 
 
 " What is that ? " 
 
 " I believe he will rush the town, kill as many 
 soldiers as he can and scatter the rest. Then he 
 will recover his papers and with a number of men 
 launch vintas and come after us. He will fight in 
 disguise, and will try to finish all who know or 
 suspect him. We are in a tight hole, boys, and I 
 don't know but, for the sake of Samar, that we 
 who know the truth should save ourselves." 
 
 276 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " That would be giving up our last chance of 
 saving our men." 
 
 " Yes, and for that reason Samar must take her 
 chance and we ours. We'll fight it out to the last 
 ditch." 
 
 Urged by their officers, who frequently aided 
 them, the willing soldiers made the water boil 
 around the vinta. But as they feared, it was im- 
 possible to anticipate the surprise of their com- 
 rades. Before they reached the opening of Katu- 
 big Bay the red glare on the sky told them that 
 the town was ablaze. 
 
 But as they entered the bay the breaking dawn 
 revealed no boats out to intercept them, and this 
 encouraged them to hope that their men had not 
 been taken utterly by surprise. As they drew 
 nearer the sound of rifle firing confirmed the hope. 
 
 Now they could see that the constabulary cuartel 
 was a smouldering ruin and the houses that lined 
 the lower end of the plaza were in like condition. 
 Down to the southward the great bodega that had 
 sheltered Harris' company was ablaze, and it was 
 from this that the sound of firing came. 
 
 Halstead steered that way, and when within 
 range all in the boat opened fire on the houses near 
 the bodega. The effect was immediate, as the Pu- 
 lujanes could be seen decamping and seeking other 
 shelter. Then Halstead checked his men, for the 
 
 277 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 crisis had not yet come and their ammunition was 
 running low. 
 
 Suddenly a number of soldiers were seen to 
 spring from the windows of the bodega, and take 
 up a position to fire on the enemy. Apparently 
 the flames were driving them from their refuge. 
 
 A wolfish howl rose from the village and with 
 a rush the Pulujanes and their lowland allies bore 
 down upon the soldiers. Neither their fire nor 
 that from their comrades in the vinta could check 
 that mad charge made under cover of the smoke 
 from the burning building. 
 
 The little band of scouts was swept along the 
 beach. Harris saw his first sergeant holding his 
 men together, encouraging them to the utmost re- 
 sistance. Don recognized Atta directing the Pulu- 
 janes and urging them to more frenzied daring. 
 
 " It's all over with them ! " cried Harris. " Oh, 
 my men ! My men ! " and he buried his face in 
 his hands. 
 
 A bugle sounding the charge rang out. 
 
 "Oh, glory!" shouted Don. "The cavalry! 
 The cavalry ! " 
 
 All sprang to their feet. Debouching on to the 
 plaza from the Balika trail was a troop of Ameri- 
 can cavalry. Without waiting to form front they 
 urged their horses at a gallop toward the struggling 
 mass. Bright sabers flashed high, and a good 
 
 278 
 
BRIGHT SABRES FLASHED HIGH 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 whole-souled American cheer burst from them as 
 they rode down the Pulujanes on the outskirts and 
 struck into the press. 
 
 As mist dissolves before the sun, the enemy 
 melted before the charge. It was every man for 
 himself, and the large majority soon gained cover 
 of the houses, where the horsemen could not follow. 
 But the cavalrymen took a fearful toll of them be- 
 fore they finally won the foot-hills and were lost 
 in the jungle. 
 
 Halstead beached the vinta and sought the 
 troop commander, a tall, slim young lieutenant 
 who was still nervously fingering a saber that had 
 done good service. 
 
 " Thank you for your noble work, sir. You ar- 
 rived barely in time." 
 
 " So it seems, though we came at breakneck 
 speed when we saw the fiames just before dawn. 
 You seem about wiped out here." 
 
 " Nearly so, and it would have been completely 
 so in another five minutes." 
 
 " What has happened ? " 
 
 " You know Ramon Sanchez, presidente of this 
 town ? " 
 
 " Know of him. The ablest Filipino in Samar 
 and a good friend of ours." 
 
 " So reputed, but young Page of the constabulary 
 has unmasked him. He is really the ' Papa Atta ' 
 
 279 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 who is at the bottom of all the trouble on this 
 island." 
 
 " And he is now openly leading the uprising ? " 
 
 " He is." 
 
 They gazed at each other in silence for a min- 
 ute. Then the cavalryman spoke. 
 
 " Heaven help Samar ! " 
 
 " Amen I " said Captain Halstead. 
 
 280 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 DON SEES A WAY 
 
 In the days that followed events hurried fast. 
 The news that Don Ramon Sanchez was no other 
 than the mysterious " Papa Atta" was received 
 with incredulity, but when, within three days of 
 the sacking of Katubig, the people in every town 
 of Samar awoke to find their walls placarded 
 with his manifestos, the last doubt passed. 
 
 In these proclamations Sanchez called on all 
 able-bodied Filipinos to take the field against 
 the usurping Americans. He threatened all who 
 should remain in the concentration camps with 
 his displeasure, and those who accepted office 
 under, or entered the armed forces of, the American 
 government were denounced as traitors to be dealt 
 with accordingly. The effect was marked. Fully 
 half the male population disappeared during the 
 twenty-four hours following the proclamations, and 
 those who remained visibly trembled in fear of 
 hourly vengeance. 
 
 Don urged on Halstead and the latter on the 
 commanding general the necessity for an immedi- 
 ate relief expedition being sent inland to the 
 
 281 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 rescue of those who had left Balika under direc- 
 tions of the forged note from Sanchez. 
 
 " Harry is expecting Sanchez, with a party, to 
 unite with him at Mendoya's old rendezvous," 
 Don said. " And it is an opportunity the mestizo 
 is too shrewd to miss. He will surprise that little 
 force and overwhelm them." 
 
 But the general had a larger operation in mind, 
 and could not interrupt it. Troops were pouring 
 into Samar, and he was strengthening his lines 
 and stamping out the disorder along the coast 
 that he might be able to undertake a concerted 
 move by which he hoped to end the insurrection 
 at one blow. 
 
 And even this large force was constantly en- 
 gaged against a guerrilla warfare. Outposts 
 changed their positions after dark to avoid the 
 sudden charges of bolomen. The towns were sub- 
 ject day and night to a " sniping " fire from the jun- 
 gles. Daily the number of able-bodied men of the 
 Filipino race in the settlements became smaller. 
 Of those who were captured sneaking through the 
 lines all had the same statement to make : 
 
 " If we disobey the Americans we will be im- 
 prisoned but will live, but to disobey Papa Atta is 
 to suffer a daily death from fear till his hand 
 closes, then to die miserably." 
 
 Of the garrison of Katubig there remained 
 
 282 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 some three-fourths of Harris' company. The 
 squad left in charge of the constabulary barrack 
 had been obliterated. They had fought to the 
 death in their burning barrack, and were destroyed 
 as utterly as had been their building. It was 
 their determined resistance which had given the 
 scouts the few minutes' warning that had enabled 
 them to escape a similar fate. 
 
 One day while Captain Halstead and Don were 
 engaged in drilling some fifty new men they had 
 enlisted, a crowd approaching attracted their atten- 
 tion. As it drew near they made out an emaciated, 
 ragged figure in the center. The man was walk- 
 ing rapidly, but with the unevenness of extreme 
 exhaustion. When within twenty yards the two 
 Americans saw that he was covered with the 
 ground leeches of the jungle. Neither recognized 
 him till he halted in front of Don with a ghastly 
 smile and saluted. 
 
 " First Sergeant Nabato ! " cried the lieutenant. 
 
 " Si, mi teniente." 
 
 " Where is Lieutenant Kearny ? " 
 
 " A prisoner, senor." 
 
 " And the company ? " 
 
 " You and I are the company, senor," and he 
 fell in a faint at their feet. 
 
 Willing hands carried him to the presidente's 
 house, which the officers had commandeered as a 
 
 283 
 
AN ARMT nor 
 
 residence. Here he was given restoratives and 
 stimulants, the leeches were removed and his cuts 
 and bruises treated. By the time he had been 
 bathed and dressed in clean linen, he was asking 
 for food, which he ate ravenously. 
 
 They controlled their impatience until the first 
 of his hunger had been appeased, then asked his 
 story. 
 
 It was as Don had anticipated. The expedition, 
 consisting of one-half the constabulary company 
 and a platoon of American infantry, had started 
 from Balika and by forced marches had reached 
 the neighborhood of Mendoya's old camp in a day 
 and a half. There under Harry's advice they had 
 separated, the one camping at the upper ford, the 
 other at the lower, keeping in touch with each 
 other by patrols. 
 
 On the third day Don Ramon Sanchez had 
 appeared with a large following. Unsuspecting, 
 Harry had received him and their respective 
 bands had mingled. He, Nabato, was fishing at 
 the time, seated on a large rock in the lower 
 waters of the ford. Suddenly there had been a 
 shout and he looked up to see his lieutenant 
 down on the ground, struggling with half a dozen 
 men, while his other comrades were being cut to 
 pieces. He had made his escape across the stream 
 followed by four of the Pulujanes. 
 
 284 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 (( 
 
 I killed them all, seiior," he said simply. 
 "Two of them got ahead of the others in their 
 eagerness to overtake me and found me more than 
 their match. Then the other two, struck by fear, 
 endeavored to make their way back to their 
 friends, but I became a hunter myself and ran them 
 down." 
 
 " And the Americans ? " 
 
 " I do not know. Evidently they also were at- 
 tacked, but made good the passage of their ford. I 
 could hear their firing gradually dying away in the 
 forest. They may- have reached the east coast. 
 The English caballero ^ was with them." 
 
 "And then you came here." 
 
 " Not at once. I tried to find means to release 
 the lieutenant, but he was too well guarded. I fol- 
 lowed them for two days, living on the scraps left 
 at their camps, then, after several narrow escapes, 
 I gave it up and came due west through the 
 jungle." 
 
 " I am recruiting another company, sergeant ; 
 you are its first sergeant." 
 
 " A night's rest, seiior, and I am at your service." 
 
 The following day Captain Halstead received a 
 sealed letter marked, "To be opened on the eight- 
 eenth." The two days that intervened were spent 
 in training the new men and endeavoring to gain 
 
 ' Caballero — gentleman. 
 285 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 recruits. Work in the fields having ceased, the 
 natives were driven to throw their lot with one or 
 the other side for the sake of a livelihood. On the 
 morning of the eighteenth when Halstead opened 
 his sealed instructions at reveille Don had forty- 
 eight partly trained men in ranks and Harris 
 about seventy -five, most of them of his old com- 
 pany. 
 
 The general's orders were clear and sweeping. 
 A concerted movement from the coast-line inward 
 was to be made from all posts. No definite rate of 
 march was fixed. Commanding ofiicers of units 
 were to hold the trails leading to the coast with 
 sufficient force to prevent large bodies of theenemy 
 from breaking through, and, with the remainder 
 of their men, were to reconnoiter each branch trail 
 and as far as possible sweep the jungle. All 
 habitations, all food supplies, all animals, all grow- 
 ing crops were to be destroyed. The enemy was to 
 be pushed back toward the center of the island, 
 and if possible surrounded. 
 
 " A hard campaign," said Halstead, " but the 
 only practicable plan. Let each man carry three 
 days' rations and from the start cut them to half 
 allowance. Even so we'll stand to have some 
 empty days before our return." 
 
 It was five days later when the column from 
 Katubig united with that from the opposite coast, 
 
 286 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 and two days longer before the troops who had 
 started from the ends of the island appeared. All 
 had met with determined resistance, the Pulujanes 
 missing no chance for an ambush. They had 
 adopted a new method of signaling, that of pound- 
 ing on a section of bamboo, a thing more easily 
 carried than a conch and almost as penetrating. 
 Day and night these devices sounded through the 
 forest, carrying to the Pulujanes the information 
 of the soldiers' movements. 
 
 Then suddenly all resistance had ceased, and 
 silence had reigned. For the last two days there 
 had been no sign of the enemy, and when the ex- 
 hausted and half-starved troops were finally as- 
 sembled and all columns accounted for the opinion 
 was general that the elusive enemy had slipped 
 through the investing lines, and might, even at that 
 moment, be devastating the helpless coast in re- 
 taliation. Each commander was equally positive, 
 however, that no considerable force had passed 
 through the particular line held by his party. 
 
 The return was made as rapidly as could be, as 
 supplies were exhausted. While chagrined at the 
 failure to secure his main objective the general 
 was not discouraged. His men had met and 
 thoroughly thrashed the enemy a dozen times. A 
 large number of rifles had been captured. But best 
 of all many of the smaller camps of the enemy, 
 
 287 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 the rendezvous where they assembled prior to their 
 raids on the coast, had been located, and the 
 habitations and accumulation of food stores had 
 been destroyed. 
 
 Another effect was noted almost immediately, 
 and that was the return to the towns of a number 
 of Filipinos who had been missing prior to the ex- 
 pedition. Their return was accepted without com- 
 ment, as it was feared that to punish them would 
 discourage others from deserting the enemy's cause. 
 
 It had been the intention of the general to al- 
 low the troops a week of rest, but he had counted 
 without the genius of his opponent. The desultory 
 guerrilla warfare had been checked, but on the third 
 day after their return one of the garrisoned posts 
 was attacked in such force that the troops had to 
 take shelter in the stone church while the town 
 was utterly destroyed by fire. Reinforcements 
 were rushed in and the enemy retired. 
 
 Again the general movement was executed, and 
 this time with greater thoroughness than before, 
 but the results were the same. Sharp, bitter resist- 
 ance up to a certain point, then the complete dis- 
 appearance of any living being. It was as though 
 the enemy had ceased to exist. 
 
 " What do you think of it, captain ? " asked 
 Don as they marched at the head of their dis- 
 couraged men. 
 
 288 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " I cannot reason it out. We know we have a 
 large force opposed to us ; we know they have not 
 broken through, nor is it possible that so large 
 a number could lie concealed. And yet when we 
 close upon them they are not there." 
 
 They trudged on for a while, then Don spoke 
 again. 
 
 " This seems like a one man job to me." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " I mean that there must be some place we have 
 missed, some ground not covered, some place which 
 is so located that its existence is not suspected. 
 We should have some one man to join these fel- 
 lows and ascertain the secret." 
 
 " Have we any such man ? It would, of course, 
 require a native." 
 
 " I have a mind to try Nabato. It would have 
 to be a case of volunteering — I could not order 
 him on such a trip." 
 
 " What is your idea ? " 
 
 " It is this. If we were hunting for one man, 
 or a hundred, or even five hundred, they might 
 scatter, hide in these jungles and in the canons, 
 and the majority escape detection. But we must 
 have over a thousand men against us, and we 
 know they have women and children. These re- 
 quire houses, and clearings and stores of food. I 
 am positive that a large settlement exists." 
 
 289 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " But why have we not found it ? Twice we 
 have been through the island like a fine tooth 
 comb." 
 
 " I'm thinking the comb has some gaps in it ; at 
 any rate the system we are working on has failed." 
 
 " Well, my boy, I imagine the general would 
 welcome any private enterprise at this time." 
 
 Accordingly, when they camped that night, 
 Don drew Sergeant Nabato aside. This man had 
 risen to the responsibility put upon him and had 
 developed into a first-class non-commissioned 
 officer. His sternness to the men was tempered 
 by kindliness, he was unfailingly cheerful, was 
 brave to rashness and had the most unbounded 
 admiration for his leader. He listened to what 
 Don had to propose, nodding his head in easy 
 comprehension and assent. 
 
 " Without doubt it is as the teiiiente says. And 
 you would like me to undertake this task." 
 
 " I can think of no one else." 
 
 " Teniente, I am willing, but am sure I should 
 fail. I have not the brain nor the knowledge, and 
 I doubt if I could win the confidence of the people. 
 I am rather well known." 
 
 " I do not wish to urge you, sergeant." 
 
 " Seiior, in this affair one should be sure. Now 
 I have an idea. You, seiior, have a great knowl- 
 edge of medicine " (Don smiled to himself) " and, 
 
 290 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 if you would consent, I can brew a dye from these 
 brown berries that would stain your skin nearly as 
 dark as my own. Then with a supply of medicines 
 you and I could enter the hills and, avoiding the 
 large bands as far as possible, work among the 
 people till they became used to us. It would take 
 time, but in the end we could discover what we 
 sought." 
 
 " But what excuse should I have for undertak- 
 ing such a mission ? " 
 
 Nabato smiled. 
 
 " You could say that you had been visited by 
 an angel who ordered you to come to the aid of 
 Samar. Surely you know my people well enough 
 to realize that nine-tenths of them would believe 
 you absolutely, and the remainder would half be- 
 lieve, and what doubts they had would be of your 
 sanity. The time, when the people are swayed 
 largely by religious fanaticism, is favorable." 
 
 " But I cannot speak their language, though I 
 understand a little." 
 
 " It would be better for you to pretend that you 
 are dumb and let me do the talking." 
 
 " I will think it over." 
 
 But in his heart he knew that he had already 
 decided. Somewhere in the interior lay his dear- 
 est friend, in the hands of their most relentless 
 enemy. Don knew he was being held as a hostage 
 
 291 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 and that, in this war to the death, his chance of 
 ultimate escape, unless rescued, was negligible. 
 
 The following day he laid the plan before the 
 senior inspector, who demurred at first, but finally- 
 consented. 
 
 " It will be best not to inform any one, not even 
 the general. My boy, I hate to see you undertake 
 this desperate venture, but believe if any one can 
 carry it through you will do it. And, after all, 
 we of the constabulary are required and expected 
 to attempt and accomplish the impossible." 
 
 292 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 THE DUMB HEALER COMES TO SAMAR 
 
 About a week later a small band of Pulujanes 
 scouting down a ravine came upon two men sleep- 
 ing. They closed around them, and then the 
 leader stirred one with his foot. The man sat up, 
 rubbed his eyes, and greeted them without sur- 
 prise or sign of fear. He then turned and shook 
 his comrade, who arose and offered his hand to the 
 outlaw leader. 
 
 The latter hesitated, then gave his hand, study- 
 ing the man intently. He was a stranger, a man 
 above the average Filipino height, though not 
 markedly so. From his color he apparently had 
 some white blood in his veins. His body, clothed 
 in a short jacket secured by a belt at the waist and 
 tight fitting breeches of Moro cut, was well devel- 
 oped, but lacked the heavy back muscles of the 
 habitual burden bearer. Two large rings of gold 
 hung from his ears, an unusual thing in Samar. 
 His feet were incased in hemp sandals. 
 
 " Who are you ? " asked the Pulujane. 
 
 The stranger pointed to his mouth and shook 
 his head. 
 
 293 
 
AN ARMT nor 
 
 His comrade answered. 
 
 " Listen, warriors, and mark my words. A 
 blessing has come to you who are struggling for 
 the great cause in Samar. The Almighty, hearing 
 the prayers of your sick and your wounded, has 
 sent one of His angels to this most learned physi- 
 cian, Gabriel Zamora, of the Island of Masbate. In 
 a dream he was told to land at Itang and to fol- 
 low the watercourse that enters the sea at that 
 town back into the hills, and that there he should 
 find those who would guide him to his work." 
 
 The Pulujanes fell back a step, looking with 
 reverence upon one who had received a celestial 
 visitor. 
 
 The taller of the strangers turned to his com- 
 panion and made several rapid passes with his 
 hands. 
 
 " My master says that among your comrades are 
 some suffering from fever, some from dysentery and 
 some from wounds. He asks to be led to them 
 that he may heal their wounds and drive from 
 them their diseases." 
 
 " We have, indeed, sickness of the kinds men- 
 tioned," the Pulujane replied. " The learned doc- 
 tor is most assuredly inspired to have divined our 
 needs from so great a distance. Follow me." 
 
 Ordering the others to remain where they were 
 he started up the ravine at a rapid pace. The 
 
 294 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 strangers followed, but, unaffected by his manifest 
 haste, were leisurely in their movements, as be- 
 came great men. The leader would frequently 
 make his way fifty yards in advance, then halt, 
 fuming with impatience, but fearing to show it. 
 
 Taking advantage of one of these intervals the 
 shorter of the two muttered : 
 
 " It works like a charm, senor. Within a week 
 your fame will spread throughout Samar." 
 
 " Remember to decline to be taken before Atta. 
 Say that it is the poor I come to heal, and not one 
 who himself has a mission from heaven." 
 
 " Very well, teniente, though you need not fear 
 discovery. The addition of those earrings was a 
 master-stroke. They change your appearance en- 
 tirely. Are they still painful ? " 
 
 " No, only very uncomfortable." 
 
 After proceeding a mile or more up the ravine 
 the leader plunged under some overhanging vines 
 and, as Don and Nabato followed him, they found 
 themselves in a narrow fissure in the rock. Pass- 
 ing through this they came to a bowl-like opening 
 some fifty yards long and half as broad. The two 
 exchanged glances ; such a place might easily be 
 missed by the most careful searchers. 
 
 Within was a rough camp evidently recently 
 established. Some fifty or sixty Pulujanes were 
 within. Under rude shelters lay several sick men, 
 
 295 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 suffering from the inevitable diseases accompany- 
 ing a campaign such as they were engaged in, 
 Don's " inspiration " was nothing but a guess 
 founded upon knowledge of the local conditions 
 and the nature of the people. 
 
 At a sign from Don, Nabato ordered some boil- 
 ing water brought and set aside to cool. While 
 his leader examined the patients Nabato questioned 
 them and their fellows as to the symptoms of each 
 case, using as far as possible the Spanish tongue so 
 that Don could understand. 
 
 " I ask," he said, " in order that. I may explain 
 in case the physician is in doubt. He, as you see, 
 is both deaf and dumb, and communicates only by 
 signs. Doubtless, however, he will not require to 
 be told anything ; the Power that sent him will 
 tell him what to do." 
 
 The cases were indeed simple, though beyond 
 any help their comrades could have given. Those 
 having fever were given a purge, and Don had 
 them bathed and lightly dressed. One man far 
 gone in dysentery he had little hope of saving but 
 gave him medicine, and, by signs, instructed the 
 well-trained Nabato to order for him a diet consist- 
 ing of the water poured off well boiled rice, a cup- 
 ful each two hours. 
 
 It was in the surgical cases he expected to win 
 his immediate reputation, for the principles of anti- 
 
 296 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 septic treatment were unknown to the natives, and 
 their effort was always to heal the surface regard- 
 less of interior conditions. There were several 
 badly infected wounds, which Don lanced deeply, 
 then washed out with a bichloride solution made 
 in the water sterilized by boiling. He made no 
 effort to close the wounds the first day, simply pro- 
 tecting them from the air by loose dressings of 
 cloth which were first soaked in his antiseptic so- 
 lution. 
 
 Three days he remained in the camp attending 
 the sick. At the end of this time all his patients 
 were better and some of them well-nigh recovered. 
 To them a miracle had been performed, and they 
 promised faithfully to continue the treatment he 
 had prescribed. 
 
 Then abruptly he left them, declining the as- 
 sistance of a guide or of a cargador to carry his 
 pack of medicines and his food. 
 
 The next band was met by chance as before, and 
 the first experience repeated. They were a hardy 
 people and, in the great majority of cases, needed 
 only a chance to recover health even without the 
 aid of medicines. 
 
 Thereafter their itinerary was more or less 
 marked out for them. Urgent requests came from 
 all directions for the services of " The Healer," as 
 they called Don. He persistently declined to be 
 
 297 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 hurried, however, and when asked to come to the 
 central camp replied through Nabato : 
 
 " In time I shall be there. Tell them to be 
 patient and all shall be served." 
 
 Their trips from camp to camp were invariably 
 made alone. In these intervals they extended 
 their list of signs, and in time so perfected them- 
 selves as to be able to carry on a simple conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 " I am getting deeply interested in this work, 
 sergeant," Don remarked one day. " Really at 
 times I think I am the learned Gabriel Zamora, 
 and that the tale you told of the angel's visit is 
 true." 
 
 " The tefiiente is a wonderful actor, and has a 
 natural gift for handling the sick. Seiior, I count 
 at least twenty able-bodied enemies who would be 
 dead instead of fighting us had we not come into 
 the hills." 
 
 " Sergeant, we have but one enemy in Samar, 
 and that is Ramon Sanchez. These poor fellows 
 we have saved will return gratefully to their fields 
 when his impelling spirit is withdrawn from their 
 midst." 
 
 " It is true, senor tefiiente — you are right, as al- 
 ways. And can we not let them lead us to their 
 great camp now ? Three times we have been urged 
 and you have declined. The teniente's nerves are 
 
 298 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 of iron, but I confess I should be glad to see the end 
 of this." 
 
 " We must disarm any possible suspicion. It 
 cannot be far away, and it is better we should 
 come to it naturally and without show of eager- 
 ness." 
 
 " Very good, senor. You see that I should have 
 failed had I come alone." 
 
 " Possibly. But I think, sergeant, it would be 
 wise to renew the dye before we enter the next 
 camp. It seems to be wearing off." 
 
 " Little danger of that, senor, till you wash with 
 the mixture I told you of. But the berries are plen- 
 tiful here and we can prepare some dye while we get 
 our noon meal." 
 
 The extent to which his fame had spread was 
 proven to Don that afternoon. They were proceed- 
 ing along a rough trail when a woman, patently 
 one of the wild hill folk, came upon them. 
 Trembling with fear but driven by mother love 
 she approached to within twenty feet of them, then 
 knelt, holding up an emaciated child. 
 
 Don took the little mite of humanity in his 
 arms. A glance showed him that it was probably 
 suffering from malaria and his suspicions were con- 
 firmed by the woman's signs and broken sentences 
 in reply to Nabato's questionings. He agreed to 
 accompany the woman to her dwelling, though it 
 
 299 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 took them well off the course they had selected. 
 In a miserable grass hovel, surrounded by a field 
 where a small quantity of mountain rice was 
 grown, they spent ten days. 
 
 It was a new problem to Don, but he tackled it 
 in earnest with the thought that, even if he made 
 errors and the child died, its death was certain if 
 he left it. He sent Nabato to search for eggs of 
 the wild chickens and oranges from the trees that 
 grow naturally throughout the islands, while he 
 gave himself up day and night to the struggle to 
 save the little life. 
 
 He put the child on a diet of rice water, alter- 
 nated with the white of an egg beaten in a cup of 
 orange juice. He crushed his quinine pills and 
 moistened the powder with cocoanut oil. This he 
 would rub into the child's back during its periods 
 of sweats. When the chills came on ,he would 
 wrap the little body in such covers as were avail- 
 able and place heated stones around it. Then 
 when the temperature mounted again he would 
 bathe and fan it. 
 
 On the fifth day their whereabouts was discov- 
 ered by a searching party from Sanchez' camp. 
 
 " We have come to lead the healer to our chief. 
 He is urgently needed." 
 
 Nabato made certain signs to Don, who quietly 
 shook his head, pointing to the child. 
 
 300 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " You see," replied the sergeant. " My master 
 cannot come at this time." 
 
 " And do you mean that we must wait on this 
 wild woman's brat ? " 
 
 " It is fortunate for you," Nabato sternly rebuked 
 the speaker, " that my master's affliction prevents 
 his knowing what you have said. To him one liv- 
 ing being is the same as another, except that the 
 lowly and helpless are entitled to his first consid- 
 eration. Begone, and do not return until you come 
 in a different spirit I " 
 
 " Pardon, senor. We humbly ask forgiveness. 
 It is the great Atta's daughter who is ill, and he is 
 beside himself with anxiety." 
 
 " This woman, too, has a sick child. But return 
 to your master and tell him that we shall come 
 soon." 
 
 " I shall leave a guide." 
 
 " It is well." 
 
 " Pardon me, teniente," said Nabato later, when 
 they were alone. " I thought the opportunity 
 too good to pass." 
 
 " You judged well. The time is ripe, and we 
 can go with no danger of suspicion now. But I 
 will not leave until the child is convalescent." 
 
 " He improves, senor ? " 
 
 " Yes, and rapidly. I count him out of danger, 
 and a few days more will see him free of the disease." 
 
 301 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 When the time came for the departure the 
 mother's gratitude and her grief at seeing them 
 go were beyond her powers of expression. Don 
 kissed the child, who was sitting up in bed play- 
 ing with a toy Nabato had carved from some soft 
 wood. The mother kissed Don's feet again and 
 again, then followed them for a mile bearing her 
 child in her arms and calling down blessings on 
 them. 
 
 For five hours they marched through the wil- 
 derness and at dusk were met by a large party of 
 Pulujanes. These raised a shout when they saw 
 the " Dumb Healer," and closed around him with 
 every evidence of joy. A runner was sent in ad- 
 vance, and the main body followed. After an 
 hour's further march, during the latter .part of 
 which torches were lighted to illumine the rough 
 way, they were halted. A messenger from the 
 camp had arrived with orders that the strangers 
 should be blindfolded. 
 
 Nabato drew back and opened his mouth to pro- 
 test, but as he saw his leader step forward to sub- 
 mit to the bandage, he checked himself in time. 
 When both were blindfolded they were led for- 
 ward. A short climb and they came to an open- 
 ing, as they knew by the fresher breeze that fanned 
 them. Far below they could hear the sound of 
 roaring water. Then they could tell that the men 
 
 302 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 were leaving them one at a time and could hear 
 their voices calling back. Finally Don was caught 
 and urged forward. His guide proceeded slowly 
 and carefully, clutching his arm tightly. The 
 wind now struck up from below and the roar of 
 the water was more distinct. After proceeding for 
 what Don judged a hundred feet they halted and 
 his hands were placed on the rungs of a rope 
 ladder. At the same time a noose was passed 
 under his arms and a gentle tug told him to 
 mount. He did so, and the rope was pulled from 
 above so as to be taut as he climbed. After a few 
 breathless minutes in which his heart beat heavily 
 with excitement, a hand caught his and he was 
 again on solid earth. 
 
 They stood for several minutes while the re- 
 mainder of the party mounted, then again were 
 marched forward. And now by sound and the 
 odor of cooking they knew they were in a large 
 settlement. Don heard the voices and laughter of 
 women and children. Somewhere a harp was be- 
 ing played. One thing he noted — the absence of 
 the barking of dogs, so universal in Filipino towns. 
 Apparently the inhabitants here wished to be ab- 
 solutely silent on occasion. 
 
 They turned into an enclosure and entered a 
 house, as Don knew by the stillness and closeness 
 of the air. Then a voice said : 
 
 303 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Remove their bandages." 
 
 Don's heart leaped in his chest. He recognized 
 the voice, though the native language was used. 
 
 Deft hands untied the knots. Dim as the light 
 was Don was dazzled for an instant and covered 
 his eyes with his hands. Then looking through 
 his fingers he saw that his ears had not deceived 
 him. 
 
 Seated at the table was Ramon Sanchez. 
 
 304 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 IN THE lion's den 
 
 " You are welcome, Dr. Zamora. It is strange 
 that a physician of your renown should be un- 
 known to me." 
 
 There was the usual interchange of signs. 
 
 " My master asks me to tell you that you are 
 mistaken — that he is not a man of renown. Also 
 that you have met before — in your town of Katu- 
 big, but that you apparently have forgotten." 
 
 "So?" and Sanchez searched Don's face and 
 figure. " There is something familiar, and I am 
 sorry to have forgotten any who have visited my 
 town, or," bitterly, " what was my town. 
 
 " But it will be mine again," he arose and 
 walked nervously about the room, " it must be and 
 shall be. How come you here ? " and he turned 
 on Nabato. " I understood that a constabulary 
 soldier had deserted and was with the Dumb 
 Healer, but you were the first sergeant." 
 
 " Si, seiior, but now I am my master's servant." 
 
 " You have no fear to come among my men ? " 
 
 " No, sefior. I have no fear." 
 
 " Sergeant Ferrandez is now a colonel in my 
 army ; will you accept a commission ? " 
 
 305 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " I thank the senor — I serve my master." 
 
 " H-m-m — well, I shall not tempt your loyalty. 
 But I wish your master to see my daughter. Will 
 you ask him to follow me ? " 
 
 Sanchez picked up a lamp and led the way to 
 an inner room. Close and heavy with closed 
 windows, the split bamboo floor which otherwise 
 would have admitted the air was covered with 
 closely woven mats ; it was the typical Filipino 
 sick room. In the dim light Inez could be seen 
 lying on a canopied bed. 
 
 Don felt her pulse and placed his hand on her 
 forehead. It was only slightly feverish. He 
 turned to Nabato and made several signs. 
 
 " My master orders that the mats be removed, 
 that the windows be opened and that the hang- 
 ings be taken from the bed. He wishes air, day 
 and night, and sunlight." 
 
 " But the night air " 
 
 " Senor Sanchez, my master must be obeyed. 
 He knows." 
 
 " So be it. I shall give the orders. How comes 
 it that you can understand his signs ? I am sus- 
 picious of miracles." 
 
 " Seiior, are you yourself not a miracle ? I do 
 not try to explain. Suffice it that I do under- 
 stand, as you see." 
 
 In spite of his superior education, Sanchez was 
 
 306 
 
I AM SUSPICIOUS OF MIRACLES 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 not without superstition, and Nabato's reply si- 
 lenced him. 
 
 Don in the meantime had completed his exami- 
 nation. From a case he took a pellet which he 
 dissolved in water and held to the girl's mouth. 
 She drank the medicine. 
 
 " Thank you," she said quietly. " My father 
 is overanxious — there is little the matter with 
 me." 
 
 Don looked at her with a stolid expression and 
 prepared another dose. He then made a few signs 
 to his follower. 
 
 " My master directs that this be given when she 
 awakes. He says to admit the air and she will 
 sleep quietly to-night. To-morrow he will come 
 in the morning, when he will be able to tell you 
 her trouble." 
 
 " Will she recover? Can he cure her? " 
 
 " Without doubt, seiior. You may rest easy. 
 He does not fail. And now we would retire." 
 
 Sanchez accompanied them to the door, profuse 
 in his expressions of thanks. Something of his 
 old hospitable air returned to him. A servant 
 was called and directed to take them to the little 
 house set aside for their occupancy. 
 
 But there was no opportunity for privacy or 
 rest yet. They were met in front of the house by 
 a large number of men and women earnestly beg- 
 
 307 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 ging the attendance of the healer who had come 
 among them. Don yielded to their requests and 
 for hours went from house to house, most of them 
 being merely shelters, prescribing and administer- 
 ing medicines, cleaning and dressing wounds. As 
 he went from place to place he made a rough sketch 
 marking each house entered, and noting the char- 
 acter of the case attended. None of his patients 
 could understand what he was writing down, and 
 he saw a chance to impress them the following day. 
 It would be another miracle for him to be able to 
 go to each of the sick without a guide. 
 
 And always he looked for a sign and listened 
 for a word of Harry, but nothing was forthcoming. 
 Certain that his friend was here, he meant to get 
 into communication with him as soon as possible. 
 
 It was well past midnight when the two were 
 finally led to the house where they were to live. 
 It had been a long day's work and they were 
 thoroughly tired. But there was much to be done. 
 After looking through the single room to be sure 
 no one was there, they sat in the door, where the 
 first sign of approach could be detected. Then 
 they dared converse in low guarded whispers. 
 
 " Seiior teniente, we seem to have stepped into 
 the lion's den. How are we to get out? " 
 
 " You think we are trapped ? " 
 
 " I am afraid so. And, sefior, my heart sank 
 
 308 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 when you signaled me to tell Don Ramon you 
 had met him in Katubig. Was not association 
 with me a sufficient cause for suspicion ? " 
 
 " It was that which made me tell him. Had 
 there been anything about me that seemed famil- 
 iar and I had permitted him to believe that we 
 had never met, his shrewd mind, working upon 
 our association, might have deduced the truth. 
 Now, however, he expects me to look like some one 
 he has met in the indefinite past. It was the only 
 thing to do." 
 
 " Your mind is wonderfully clear, mi teniente. 
 It is fitting that you should command such men 
 as I. Now tell me, senor, what are we to do ? " 
 
 " You must leave me to-morrow." 
 
 " Leave you, senor ? Not I, even if I could, 
 which I cannot." 
 
 " Listen, I have it all planned out. To-morrow 
 we shall go early to the Senorita Inez. I have 
 given her a sleeping potion which, with the fresh 
 air, will ensure her a quiet night. She will be 
 better to-morrow and her father correspondingly 
 elated." 
 
 " Si, senor." 
 
 " I shall make another examination, then go to 
 my pack for medicines. I shall search out a bot- 
 tle and it will be empty — then another, and it will 
 have but little in it, for I shall conceal the medi- 
 
 309 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 cines here. I shall then make several signs to 
 you." 
 
 " And they will mean what ? " 
 
 " They will mean this ; now treasure up each 
 word. The seiiorita's trouble is largely mental — 
 she has some sorrow preying on her mind. This 
 has caused sleeplessness and, in the weakness fol- 
 lowing, disease has entered her system. It is not 
 dangerous, but may become so. It is imperative 
 that the disease be fought, and that she have rest. 
 You understand ? " 
 
 " Perfectly, senor." 
 
 " Tell him all this, then turn to me and I'll 
 make more signals, holding out the bottles. Then 
 you will tell him that I wish you to go at once to 
 the coast and have the bottles refilled. If he de- 
 murs you may offer to be blindfolded, and led a 
 distance into the forest before being released. But 
 I do not think he will object. The improvement 
 in his child will make him believe my diagnosis 
 correct, and he will be the more eager for the treat- 
 ment to continue." 
 
 " It will work, senor ; but how shall I be ad- 
 vantaged any if led forth blindfolded ? I cannot 
 find this place again." 
 
 " Did you not notice the character of the houses 
 here?" 
 
 " Si, senor. With the exception of the presidente's 
 
 310 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 and a few others like this one, they are the shelters 
 used by the wild folk." 
 
 " Who have been driven out. Now I believe 
 the woman whose child we saved may have come 
 from here. If not she certainly knows the secret. 
 And she would obey any order from me. It is my 
 plan that you make your way back there. Can 
 you doit?" 
 
 " With ease and from any point, senor." 
 
 " And if the presidente sends a man as 
 guide " 
 
 Nabato opened and closed his powerful hands. 
 
 " I shall try to dismiss him when I am on the 
 right path. And if he declines to return— well, 
 senor, I shall know what to do." 
 
 " You will find the woman and take her with 
 you to the settlements. You will tell Captain 
 Halstead, who will make all the arrangements. 
 They will organize another extended search and 
 sweep the forests as before, but this time the woman 
 will accompany Halstead and act as guide. But 
 they will sweep by this place as if the secret were 
 still unsuspected — you understand? Then they 
 will retire toward the coast, but two companies of 
 picked men will remain hidden in the forest." 
 
 " I understand, senor, but you ? " 
 
 " Now this is the critical point. On the day the 
 soldiers start to retire as if baffled again you will 
 
 3" 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 return here. Pick up a wounded Pulujane as 
 guide if you can, if not, get the woman to guide 
 you — your return with the medicine will disarm 
 any suspicion. In the meantime I shall locate 
 Lieutenant Kearny and it will be for the three of 
 us to lower the ladders and guard the ground 
 above while the two companies cross the water over 
 the path we came, the woman guiding them to the 
 entrance." 
 
 " Senor, it is wonderfully planned, and I believe 
 will succeed. The companies had better have a 
 fixed hour to attempt the passage." 
 
 " Make it four in the morning." 
 
 " Very well, senor. It shall be as you have 
 planned." 
 
 They retired and soon were sleeping soundly. 
 So accustomed had they become to their danger- 
 ous undertaking that the approach of its crisis did 
 not affect their nerves. 
 
 Early the following morning they were at San- 
 chez' house and found the latter eagerly awaiting 
 them. His face, beaming with pleasure, made his 
 statement that Inez had passed a good night super- 
 fluous. He wrung Don's hand again and again 
 expressing the greatest gratitude for what had al- 
 ready been accomplished and his confident hope 
 for continued improvement. 
 
 Everything went as had been planned. Sanchez 
 
 312 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 lost his cheerfulness when he saw the empty med- 
 icine bottles, and himself suggested the trip to the 
 coast. 
 
 " You must be blindfolded, however. None 
 know the secret of the entrance here except the 
 initiated," 
 
 " It is well, sefior," answered Nabato. " But 
 how shall I return ? " 
 
 " I will send one of my soldiers with you to one 
 of the main trails and thereafter he shall await 
 your return at the same point." 
 
 " And if the troops turn out again while I am 
 away ? " 
 
 " Then you and he must arrange some place for 
 him to lie hidden. No matter what is taking 
 place he shall be there." 
 
 " Then all is settled. I will go." 
 
 " Hold a minute. You are a deserter. How can 
 you make your way into and out of the settle- 
 ments ? " 
 
 " I have a woman who will attend to that. 
 Possibly, senor, it would be well for you to give 
 me some writing or symbol that would pass the 
 woman and me through your own soldiers. While 
 with my master I have no fear, but alone it will 
 be different." 
 
 " It shall be as you say," and Sanchez wrote a 
 pass on which he placed his private seal. " None 
 
 313 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 of my men will molest you while you have this, 
 and, if you make this sign," he closed his thumb 
 and little finger, then placed his hand palm out- 
 ward over his heart, " it will prevent attack before 
 you have the opportunity to show the paper." 
 
 In taking his farewell of Don the sergeant knelt 
 and kissed his hand. It was done partly to im- 
 press the onlookers, and partly from the love he 
 had come to feel for his young leader whom he 
 was leaving behind in the lion's den. 
 
 Leaving a tonic for the girl Don started on his 
 rounds. From house to house he went, silent and 
 apparently hearing nothing. His rough sketch 
 served the purpose, and by noon he had visited all 
 the sick. The word of this went among the peo- 
 ple, who marveled. 
 
 Sanchez had strict discipline. There were two 
 hours devoted to drill in the morning and the 
 same time in the afternoon. Don noted about six 
 hundred men in ranks at these formations, and 
 there was a strong guard kept. From what he 
 overheard he judged that some three hundred 
 more were out on an expedition. 
 
 He was not surprised to see Ferrandez in charge 
 of the military instruction, though Sanchez was 
 usually present, dressed in a striking uniform. 
 
 Don seemed at liberty to wander where he 
 pleased within certain limits. The clearing was 
 
 314 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 bounded by high trees and brush, and when he 
 attempted to make his way to these he was in- 
 variably met by one or more armed men who re- 
 spectfully but firmly turned him back. He 
 always retired smiling, but was worried, for it 
 was imperative that he should know the entrance 
 to this strange place. 
 
 Of food there seemed to be plenty. The ground 
 was sown with the quickly growing camote, a 
 species of sweet potato, and there were great stores 
 of rice and canned goods, the result of the looting 
 of Katubig and other coast ports. 
 
 On the third day a Pulujane came and beckoned 
 him to follow. He led Don out of the settlement 
 and through the bordering forest to the edge of a 
 clifi". Below Don could see the water of a moun- 
 tain stream, white with foam as it dashed over the 
 rocky bed, and beyond the dense forest growth. 
 His guide stepped down on a little ledge which 
 they followed on a descending slope for about 
 thirty feet, then turned into the opening of a cave. 
 
 Don caught his breath and barely restrained 
 himself in time. Chained by the ankle to an iron 
 ring cemented in the wall was Harry, emaciated 
 and pale, but with the old spirit still in his eye. .; 
 
 " Hello, old sport ! " he said to the guide. 
 " What is it to-day ? Still camotes, with rice and 
 sardines? I told you yesterday if you brought 
 
 315 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 that combination again I'd distribute it over your 
 plain but honest countenance." 
 
 The Pulujane grinned. Evidently he was the 
 attendant of the prisoner, and the latter's wit had 
 won his regard. 
 
 " It is not time for food," he answered in halting 
 Spanish. " I bring the Dumb Healer by Atta's 
 order to cure your dysentery. I will await him 
 outside." 
 
 " Hold on — this place is bad enough without 
 being left alone with a ring-eared cannibal. You 
 sit right there till he's through. You are ugly all 
 right, but I've gotten used to you." 
 
 " The Healer prefers to be alone with his patients. 
 He is a holy man, senor — you need have no fear." 
 
 Don measured out a dose and gave it to his 
 chum. The Pulujane watched him take it, then 
 retired, motioning to Don that he would await him 
 above. 
 
 Don stepped to the opening of the cave to make 
 sure he had really retired beyond hearing, then 
 turned. 
 
 " They seem to have you pretty well tied up, 
 Harry, old timer." 
 
 316 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 EVENTS HASTEN TO A CKISIS 
 
 Harry fell back, overcome with surprise. 
 
 " Why, Don, you old hero ! " he gasped. 
 " Here ? You ? Come over here and let me 
 feel you. Say something. I can't believe it's 
 your voice coming out of that heathen exterior. 
 It's not a case of transmigration of souls, is it ? '' 
 
 " No, it's a case of brown berry dye, and it sticks 
 like a brother." 
 
 " Who diked you out like this, and what's your 
 game ? " 
 
 " Nabato fixed me up. It was the only way to 
 locate this hiding-place. I'm supposed to be an 
 inspired physician sent by an angel to minister to 
 these people." 
 
 " Of all the wild schemes — but just like you. 
 But the earrings, Don — say, have you seen yourself 
 in a mirror ? " 
 
 " Only once — that was enough," and Don made 
 a wry face. 
 
 " Bent the glass, probably ? " 
 
 " I didn't wait to see — but say, Harry, are you 
 very sick ? " 
 
 317 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Nothing much — I'm pretending to be, in hopes 
 our dear friend Ramon will take me out of this 
 hole. It's damp and cold here and a blamed hoot 
 owl comes each night and sits in the entrance and 
 glares at me. I've thrown every rock at him I can 
 pry loose, but he's a persistent bird, and holds on." 
 
 " You poor chap ! I know you've had a hard 
 time. How has Sanchez treated you ? " 
 
 " Well enough except that he has fixed me so I 
 haven't a chance to get away." 
 
 " I'm glad to hear it, but now to business. If all 
 goes well within a week I'll have a couple of hun- 
 dred good American soldiers here. Do you know 
 the way out of this place ? " 
 
 "Do I ? Well, I could walk out blindfold if 
 they'd let me. I kept my eyes wide open while 
 they were leading me in." 
 
 " We have hunted in vain for this place — we 
 thought we had covered all possible ground." 
 
 " I'm not surprised. A river forks just here and 
 on one side goes under a natural bridge. The 
 ground around there is so formed and the brush 
 so thick that there's only a bare chance of a search- 
 ing party stumbling on the only approach." 
 
 " Well, I must get on, or there may be suspicion. 
 I'll return each day and tell you my plans. Keep 
 a good heart." 
 
 " Never had any other kind, old chap." 
 
 318 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Don found the Pulujane dozing with his back 
 against a tree trunk at the edge of the cliff. At 
 the slight sound he started up, but smiled when 
 he saw who it was, and motioned the Healer to 
 pass. The path was plain to the settlement, and 
 as the Pulujane remained seated it was evident 
 that his duty was to remain on watch here. It 
 was evident also that Don was to have free passage 
 back and forth. 
 
 He found the settlement in great excitement. 
 The men were assembling under arms, ammunition 
 was being distributed, canteens being filled and 
 rations given out. Sanchez, with two handsome 
 revolvers in his belt, was going from company to 
 company giving instructions. Ferrandez, his 
 fierce eyes snapping in anticipation of combat, ac- 
 companied him. 
 
 " Our fellows have started, and these are off to 
 do what damage they can," thought Don. " It 
 will be another case of ambush and fall back, am- 
 bush and fall back, then a sudden disappearance. 
 But this time we'll know where you hide, my 
 slippery fellow." 
 
 At this juncture there were shouts from the dis- 
 tance and a large band entered the clearing from 
 one end. Their ragged clothing and sweating 
 bodies showed a long trip ; and the bundles borne 
 on their backs a successful raid. Among them 
 
 319 
 
AN ARMT EOT 
 
 were several wounded, some carried on rude litters, 
 some hobbling along unaided. 
 
 Without a word Don began to care for these un- 
 fortunates. The newcomers questioned the by- 
 standers, then broke into a feeble cheer when the 
 latter told them this was the Dumb Healer. 
 
 Sanchez at once joined the returning raiders and 
 engaged their leader in conversation. Don, ap- 
 parently heedless of anything but his task, heard 
 enough to learn that another coast town had been 
 burned and looted and that the Americanos were 
 again storming the interior. He saw Sanchez call 
 in the guards, replacing them with the most weary 
 of the newcomers, then order the rest to equip 
 themselves to take the field again. 
 
 There was no grumbling, no sign of dissatisfac- 
 tion. As the men scattered to renew their ammu- 
 nition and food supply, Sanchez interrupted Don 
 long enough to point to his house, then make a 
 sign as of one in prayer. The latter knew that he 
 was asking especial care for his daughter in his ab- 
 sence, and gravely bowed his assent, then resumed 
 his work. 
 
 A few minutes later the band moved out, and a 
 comparative silence fell on the little settlement. 
 With the exception of about fifty men left on 
 guard, the sick, and some threescore women and 
 children, the camp was abandoned. 
 
 320 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Don finished caring for the wounded and saw 
 them comfortably housed. The absence of San- 
 chez made a marked change in the spirit of the 
 place. The children ran out into the open to 
 play ; women passed from house to house ; even 
 the guards came in and lolled around eating and 
 smoking. The man left in temporary charge oc- 
 casionally ordered these back to their posts, and 
 was obeyed, but it was a leisurely obedience, very 
 different from the snap with which Sanchez' slight- 
 est instruction had been carried out. 
 
 Deciding to make an experiment at once Don 
 started to walk in the direction taken by the 
 Pulujanes in their departure. He followed a well 
 beaten trail into the brush without interruption 
 and after a few turns came out upon the river. 
 Looking up-stream he saw a natural bridge of rock 
 joining the island with the shore. Just above the 
 river made a sharp turn and he could see the truth 
 of Harry's remark. Doubtless from the other bank 
 the bridge so blended with the cliff in the back- 
 ground that it would have taken a sharp eye to 
 detect it. 
 
 "An impregnable place," he thought, "unless 
 taken by surprise. It will be all right if we succeed 
 in overcoming these guards when the time comes." 
 
 Declining an invitation to sit and smoke with 
 the guard, who evidently had no special orders 
 
 321 
 
AN ARMr Bor 
 
 concerning him, Don walked on for a distance, 
 his eye taking in every detail of the ground. He 
 was selecting landmarks that might be most visible 
 during the night, and fixing them in his mind. 
 A short distance back in the brush was a little 
 shack, evidently used by the squad furnishing the 
 sentinel at the bridge. 
 
 One thing he noted with especial pleasure, and 
 that was ajar evidently used for drinking water 
 for the guard. 
 
 " A good dosing of that water with sulphonal," 
 he thought, " will increase their tendency to sound 
 slumber. I'll have to try it." 
 
 Three days passed. Don visited Inez twice and 
 his other sick at least once every day. He was so 
 occupied that the time passed rapidly in spite of 
 his suspense. His visits to Harry were a relief 
 from his enforced silence. They perfected their 
 plans and informed each other of all that had oc- 
 curred during their separation. 
 
 " The thought of Don Ramon's treachery is 
 sickening to me," said Harry. " When I think of 
 the way we used to visit his house and he ours, 
 and all the time he was plotting murder — I cannot 
 understand it." 
 
 " Nor I, but we shall never understand these 
 people thoroughly. From my own experience I 
 know he believes that justice is with him." 
 
 322 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 The morning following this conversation a few 
 of the raiders returned. Most of them were in- 
 jured, and as he gave them first aid treatment Don 
 listened to their replies to the questions of those 
 who had been left behind. Though they used the 
 native tongue he was fast becoming familiar with 
 it and he learned, with both excitement and pleas- 
 ure, that the Americans were moving more rap- 
 idly than in their preceding searches of the 
 jungle. It seemed that their beating of side trails 
 was being omitted and several times parties of 
 Pulujanes lying in ambush in expectation of a 
 repetition of former tactics had barely escaped be- 
 ing cut off. 
 
 That afternoon another and larger body arrived. 
 They brought news that Sanchez had concentrated 
 his men and had attacked several isolated parties 
 of Americans in turn, driving them back a short 
 distance, but that each time he had been unable to 
 follow up his advantage for fear of being sur- 
 rounded. Don began to fear that the fighting 
 spirit might become so aroused that the Pulujanes 
 would break through and make for the undefended 
 coast. 
 
 This made him anxious for the return of San- 
 chez; and another reason increased his anxiety. 
 Those who had returned were among the most un- 
 disciplined of the band, and conditions in the 
 
 323 
 
AN ARMr Bor 
 
 stronghold became exceedingly menacing. There 
 was quarreling among the men, which the lesser 
 leaders could not control. A number of them 
 held a weird dance around a fire at night, and he 
 feared that they might take a notion to murder 
 their prisoner. 
 
 All that night the young man remained on the 
 alert, but there was no attempt on Harry's life, and 
 after midnight the camp quieted down, to be dis- 
 turbed later by the arrival of another band from 
 the front. At dawn distant musketry firing could 
 be heard, and at eight o'clock the last of the Pulu- 
 janes were back in their stronghold, and Sanchez 
 with them. 
 
 Without an instant's delay he hurried through 
 the settlement having every fire extinguished, and 
 enjoining silence. With his return and the dis- 
 ciplined body of men under Ferrandez' immediate 
 command, complete order was restored. Don re- 
 sumed his wonted task, which had now grown to 
 such proportions that it was difficult for him to 
 keep track of individual cases, though most of 
 his first patients were well toward recovery. 
 
 He was soon called into Sanchez' presence, to 
 find that leader more than ordinarily cheerful. 
 He was gratified at the result of his expedition, 
 and the improvement in Inez' condition completed 
 his pleasure. Apparently he had called Don to 
 
 324 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 offer him money, and when this was declined tried 
 to force his acceptance of a large diamond ring. 
 
 They were still standing, Sanchez urging and 
 Don declining when a guard approached, and with 
 him was Nabato, a cloth bound over his eyes. 
 
 " You are sure none of the Americanos saw you 
 cross the bridge ? " Sanchez asked eagerly. 
 
 " Certain, senor," was the answer of Nabato's 
 guide. " There was a company near at hand, but 
 I beat on a bamboo drum and started them after 
 us — then we doubled back." 
 
 " Good ! And you have the medicine ? " to 
 Nabato. 
 
 " Si, senor," and Nabato handed the bottles to 
 Don. 
 
 " Fortune favors me in everything, child," cried 
 Sanchez. " The enemy make no headway here, 
 and I learn that all Southern Luzon, encouraged 
 by our success, is ablaze in revolt. With the 
 strong party favoring us in the United States we 
 shall surely win our independence." 
 
 " I trust so, father. We need peace." 
 
 In their house Don breathlessly questioned the 
 sergeant. 
 
 " All goes as you planned, mi teniente. Two 
 hundred men now lie concealed in the brush a 
 kilometer from here, and the woman is with them. 
 As you thought, this was her home." 
 
 325 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " And this news from Luzon ? " 
 
 " Is the truth, senor. The captain told me that 
 the general had had word to press the campaign 
 here in order to hurry troops to Cavite, Batangas 
 and Laguna. Have you word of Senor Kearny ? " 
 
 " Yes, and have visited him." 
 
 " Then all is well. Let me sleep — I have had 
 no rest since I left you." 
 
 326 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 SAXON AGAINST MALAY 
 
 " Senoe, it is three o'clock." 
 
 Don started up from a fitful slumber. 
 
 " Why did you not awake me at midnight, as 
 agreed ? " 
 
 " I had slept this afternoon, and besides, the 
 event is too close to permit me to rest now." 
 
 " You emptied the sleeping mixture I gave you 
 into the drinking water at the guard's shelter ? " 
 
 " Si, senor." 
 
 " Was there any difficulty ? " 
 
 " None, senor. When the sentinel challenged 
 me I made the sign Senor Sanchez had given me, 
 and he passed me to the guard. I remained with 
 them talking for fifteen minutes, then asked for a 
 drink. They motioned me to the jar, and the rest 
 was easy." 
 
 "We must release Lieutenant Kearny. You 
 have the bayonet and the mallet." 
 
 " Si, senor." 
 
 " Then come. And remember I should not wish 
 
 the Pulujane on guard there to be injured if possible 
 
 327 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 to avoid it. All three of the men who have had 
 charge of the lieutenant have been kind to him. 
 We can afford to take no chances of an alarm, but 
 remember, do no more violence than is necessary." 
 
 " I understand, senor." 
 
 They slipped from their house and made their 
 way stealthily through the sleeping village. Once 
 in the underbrush they separated. Don walked 
 quietly but without apparent care down the path. 
 At its end he found the Pulujane guard seated as 
 usual at the edge of the cliff, his back against the 
 tree. 
 
 Revolted at the treachery of his act but realiz- 
 ing its necessity, Don motioned the man to his 
 feet and began making signs to him. The guard, 
 unable to understand but intent on catching the 
 meaning, did not hear the faint sound of Nabato's 
 approach. Don was motioning to the other bank 
 and the Pulujane leaning forward following the 
 direction with an intent gaze when a dark figure 
 rose behind him, an arm was raised and with a 
 dull thud the mallet crashed down upon his head. 
 The man fell like a shot. 
 
 "It is done," said Don catching his breath. 
 " Now into the cave with him. I hope you have 
 not killed him." 
 
 " Their skulls are thick, senor. In an hour 
 he'll be as good as new." 
 
 328 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Between them they carried the limp figure 
 down the narrow ledge into the cave. 
 
 " What time is it ? " cried the irrepressible 
 Harry. " Half-past three day after to-mor- 
 row ? " 
 
 " I imagine you have suffered some suspense," 
 replied Don, as he quickly bound and gagged the 
 senseless sentinel. 
 
 Placing a link of the chain over a crevice in 
 the rocky floor Nabato inserted the point of the 
 bayonet, one of the old three-cornered type, in the 
 link. Three heavy blows on the shank drove the 
 bayonet through the link, cracking it. A fourth 
 spread the link so as to separate the chain. Harry 
 arose — a free man, 
 
 " Where now, senor? " asked Nabato. 
 
 " To the bridge. I trust the sentinel may be 
 asleep. If not, it is for you to handle him, ser- 
 geant." 
 
 " 'Sta bueno, mi teniente," and Nabato opened 
 and closed his powerful hands. " He will give us 
 no trouble." 
 
 Cautiously, and avoiding the known posts of 
 the guards, they circled the camp. It appeared 
 that they were the only human beings awake on 
 the island when Nabato, who was leading, sud- 
 denly halted and drew them back into the brush. 
 A man was approaching from the direction of the 
 
 329 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 bridge. He passed within a few feet of them, but 
 suspected nothing. 
 
 " It was Sanchez 1 " whispered Don. " Assuring 
 himself that the sentinels are on the alert." 
 
 "Shall I after him, senor?" asked Nabato, 
 trembling with eagerness. 
 
 " No — it is too great a chance. Our men are 
 almost due at the bridge." 
 
 Resuming their W3y they approached the only 
 exit from the stronghold. Soon they could make 
 out dimly the form of the sentinel standing near 
 the rope ladders. If he had had any tendency to 
 sleep before, the visit of his chief had thoroughly 
 aroused him. 
 
 Don and Harry crouched in the brush while 
 Nabato drew back and disappeared. The sentinel 
 was facing half toward them, shifting from foot 
 to foot in fatigue. After what seemed an inter- 
 minable interval the watchers could make out a 
 dim form creeping silently from the opposite 
 direction. Step by step he approached the un- 
 suspecting guard. The latter half turned, then 
 squatted down, only to arise again an instant 
 later. Some instinct seemed to warn him of the 
 impending danger, for suddenly he turned. As 
 he did so the crouching form shot through the 
 air and two powerful hands closed about his throat. 
 
 Don and Harry started forward, but before they 
 
 330 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 could reach the struggling pair the sergeant, his 
 wild blood now in the ascendant, had broken his 
 opponent's neck and hurled the body over the 
 bank into the water below. A faint splash was 
 heard — the only sound that had marked the 
 deadly struggle. 
 
 " Lower the ladders ! " ordered Don. " Sergeant, 
 you remain here, while the lieutenant and I stand 
 over the door to the guard shack. When they 
 arrive, notify me." 
 
 As the time passed and the east commenced to 
 lighten Don began to fear that something had mis- 
 carried. He was divided in his mind as to whether 
 to escape into the forest or to risk all on a single 
 throw and creep into Sanchez' house, trusting 
 Nabato to end the insurrection by killing its leader 
 as he had the sentinel at the bridge. In ten min- 
 utes it would be dawn and the decision must be 
 made at once. But they were not forced to either 
 alternative. 
 
 Nabato crept up to him. 
 
 " They come, senor." 
 
 " Remain here, sergeant ; I will receive them." 
 
 Don went quickly to the ladders. He could see 
 a long column crossing the bridge single file. In 
 a minute they had reached the base of the wall. 
 
 " There are two ladders," whispered Don. 
 " Have a man steady them from below." 
 
 331 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Is that you, Page ? " came Halstead's voice in 
 a whisper from below. 
 
 " Yes, I'm all right." 
 
 " And Kearny ? " 
 
 " He is here also, and well." 
 
 " Now praised be heaven for that ! " 
 
 He was mounting the ladder as he spoke and in 
 a few seconds was wringing Don's hands. The 
 next to mount and seize Don by the shoulders was 
 Cameron. 
 
 " You wild man. Why do you go into such 
 scrapes without giving a poor newspaper corre- 
 spondent a show ? " 
 
 " Silence, man. You'll arouse the guard. They 
 are doped, but if they got even half awake it 
 would be enough." 
 
 The soldiers were rapidly climbing upward, and 
 as they reached the top were led forward by their 
 ofiBcers, forming a close line across the end of the 
 island. 
 
 Three-fourths of them were on the island when 
 suddenly from the distance came a prolonged 
 shriek, followed an instant later by another, then 
 a third. 
 
 "The sentinel we stunned has regained his 
 senses and worked free of his gag," Don whispered 
 to Harry. 
 
 Answering shouts were heard in the settlement 
 
 332 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 and exclamations from the little shelter where the 
 guard slept. Then these, still heavy with sleep, 
 rushed into the open. 
 
 Half of them were felled hefore they realized 
 what was happening. All were seized, but one 
 broke through the line and disappeared into the 
 brush. An impulsive officer drew his revolver 
 and sent five shots after him. 
 
 " The fat's in the fire now," cried the officer in 
 command. " Forward, men, and at them, but 
 hold your formation. The rest of you men," he 
 shouted to those still crossing, " hurry to your 
 places as soon as you can." 
 
 " I suppose you are Lieutenant Page ? " he ques- 
 tioned Don hurriedly. Then, as the latter as- 
 sented, " you and your sergeant better stay with 
 me. My men are in no mood to show mercy to a 
 dark skin to-day." 
 
 With bayonets fixed the men advanced. Don's 
 heart leaped at the sight of the white faces and 
 the old familiar uniform. Worn they were and 
 weary, but with jaws in grim determination. 
 
 As the center of the line swept into the clearing 
 they could see the natives fleeing toward the other 
 end. Women and children intermingled with the 
 men. In the center a body of the enemy had 
 formed, and these opened a rapid but poorly di- 
 rected fire. 
 
 333 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 " Charge them with the bayonet, men. Don't 
 kill the women and kids I " called the captain. 
 
 And now Sanchez appeared leading a dense 
 mass of bolomen. They advanced at a rush with 
 shrieks of rage and defiance and as they passed 
 the riflemen under Ferrandez, these also joined 
 the charge. 
 
 " Stand the shock, men ! " yelled the commander. 
 
 With a coolness and accuracy unexcelled in any 
 army of the world the soldiers emptied their rifles 
 into the advancing mass. Scores went down, but 
 there was no stopping that wild rush. The grass 
 shelters were knocked over and tramped under 
 foot. Knives and guns in hand, the desperate Pu' 
 lujanes fell upon the center of the American line 
 and by sheer weight carried it back a hundred feet 
 in their effort to break through to the only route 
 of possible escape. 
 
 The extended line of the Americans closed in 
 upon the flanks and continued their deadly fire. 
 This forced a part of the enemy to turn and re- 
 lieved the pressure on the center. The fight be- 
 came hand to hand and swept back and forth over 
 the clearing. It was fortunate for the Americans 
 that not all of the enemy were opposed to them. 
 The wild followers of Otoy, desperate fighters 
 when united and in hot blood, had scattered at 
 the surprise and taken to the brush. 
 
 334 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Even so the odds against the Americans were 
 three to one and but for their superior physique 
 and discipline it would have gone hard with them. 
 But the men were inspired both by duty and 
 vengeance. The massacre of Captain Andrews and 
 his company was fresh in their minds and the cry 
 " Remember Balika I " was shouted along the line 
 as they plied bayonet and butt. 
 
 Don caught glimpses of Sanchez urging his men 
 to more desperate deeds of daring and leading 
 them in one attempt after another to break the 
 American formation. And everywhere he struck 
 the line gave back, so fierce was the attack under 
 the inspiration of his immediate presence. The 
 panting, sweating men yelled, " Atta ! Atta 1 
 Kill ! Kill ! " in answer to the Americans' cry, 
 " Remember Balika ! " 
 
 Several times Don covered Sanchez and fired, 
 but another intervened, and still the cruel but 
 gallant chief cheered on his following. 
 
 But slowly trained valor gained the ascendency 
 over savagery. Finding their efibrts to break 
 through unavailing some of the natives in the rear 
 began to give way. Seeing this the ofiicers were 
 encouraging the men on to renewed efibrts, when 
 there came a diversion, 
 
 Otoy had been busily engaged in gathering his 
 demoralized band together and now, some two 
 
 335 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 hundred strong, they appeared upon the scene. It 
 was at once apparent that their intention was not 
 so much to reinforce their hard pressed comrades 
 as to effect their own escape. 
 
 They fell upon the extreme left of the enveloping 
 American line and doubled it up before them. 
 Fiercely the Americans, oflBcers and men, sought to 
 check them and force them into the confused and 
 shaken mass of the main body. In this they were 
 partially successful, and the credit was due to Cam- 
 eron, who once more forgot he was a correspondent 
 and non-combatant and remembered only that he 
 came of a race of fighters. Heading a body of sol- 
 diers he drove a wedge into the Pulujanes which cut 
 off three-fourths of them. The others, led by 
 Otoy,^ had a free path to the bridge, toward which 
 they dashed in headlong flight. 
 
 " Let them go ! " cried Don to some soldiers who 
 turned to follow. " Our work is here." 
 
 And, indeed, the tide had turned. With the 
 increased numbers of the enemy and the left of 
 the line broken in formation the American oflficers 
 had all they could do to keep their men from be- 
 ing cut into small detachments. They were 
 pressed back nearly to the woods before they re- 
 
 ^ The Pulujane Otoy continued at large and an annoyance to the gov- 
 ernment till the summer of 1911 ; at that time his following had 
 dwindled to some twenty men, who were captured. Otoy himself was 
 killed hy Captain Juan Sulse, Philippines constabulary. 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 gained the shoulder to shoulder formation essential 
 to their success. Here the fighting was desperate, 
 for once in the brush the rifle and bayonet lost all 
 advantage over the bolo, a fact well appreciated by 
 both parties. 
 
 " Sergeant Nabato," gasped Don, " to win this 
 fight we must kill Sanchez. Follow me ! " 
 
 " Lead on, mi teniente." 
 
 Dropping his rifle Don skirted the edge of the 
 combatant forces. Emerging from the brush in 
 the rear of the Pulujanes, they snatched up two of 
 the bolos with which the ground was strewn 
 and wormed their way into the mass of their 
 enemies. 
 
 The few who noticed them paid no attention, as 
 only those in the very front had had opportunity 
 to observe these two fighting in rear of the Amer- 
 ican line. 
 
 " He is there, senor ! " cried Nabato, pointing 
 ahead to where a number of the Pulujanes were 
 forming a dense wedge. 
 
 " They are about to charge and may break our 
 line. Hurry ! " 
 
 Dodging, twisting and pushing, they thrust on 
 through, when suddenly Don met the wild gaze of 
 Ferrandez, whose eyes lighted with a fierce glare. 
 Too often had the native seen the oflScer in combat 
 not to know the expression and to recognize him 
 
 337 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 through the disguise which, in quieter moments, 
 had served so well. 
 
 "Ah! It is thou! I understand — I under- 
 stand ! " And Ferrandez, freed by his excitement 
 from the thraldom in which the American's su- 
 periority had always held him, hurled himself for- 
 ward knife in hand. 
 
 Don warded the first thrust and seized the na- 
 tive's wrist. Ferrandez avoided the return stroke 
 by closing in, and, as Don gave back, he tripped 
 over one of the dead and they both fell heavily to 
 the ground. Instinctively Don threw back his 
 right hand to check the fall and the knife was 
 twisted from him. 
 
 But he^retained his grip on Ferrandez' wrist and 
 closed his free arm tightly around the native's 
 neck. It became a struggle^ — on the Filipino's 
 part to force his knife home, on the other's to pre- 
 vent it. 
 
 Nabato's face flashed across Don's vision. 
 
 " Quick I " the latter ordered. " You get San- 
 chez ; I can hold my own here." 
 
 " I'll help this much ! " yelled Nabato, and he 
 buried his bolo in Ferrandez' straining back. 
 
 The Pulujanes, stunned with surprise at the ap- 
 parently unwarranted attack of one of their leaders 
 upon the gentle and sacred " Dumb Healer," had 
 stood in hesitation. At Nabato's stroke, which ap- 
 
 338 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 peared to them only a natural step in defense of 
 his master, they gave a great shout and crowded 
 in to separate the combatants. The excitement 
 within his ranks did not escape the keen eye of 
 Sanchez, who ordered the charge he had prepared, 
 then turned to ascertain the cause of the new trouble. 
 
 " What is this ? " he demanded. " Colonel Fer- 
 randez killed ? " 
 
 "Yes," grinned Nabato, and with a lightning 
 movement he grabbed Sanchez' left wrist and, jerk- 
 ing the latter toward him, stabbed the mestizo 
 under the arm. 
 
 339 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 AFTER WAR, PEACE 
 
 " Atta is killed ! Atta is killed ! " 
 
 The wild cry passed over the stricken field, one 
 after another taking it up. 
 
 A stampede followed. Those who crowded for- 
 ward to avenge their chief were swept away by the 
 retreating masses, not, however, before Nabato had 
 received several slashes from half-warded bolos, 
 though he cunningly interposed Sanchez as a 
 shield. 
 
 As the advancing line of Americans pressed for- 
 ward, herding their enemies infrontof them, those 
 in the centre saw one native, covered with blood, 
 half supporting another, while on the ground a 
 third struggled against the dying efibrt of a fourth 
 to wrench his wrist free so that he might make one 
 more stroke with the knife he clutched. 
 
 But none stopped to observe the end of the 
 tragedy. The cry " Remember Balika ! " had now 
 an exultant ring. 
 
 All resistance had ceased. The fleeing natives, 
 casting aside rifles, bolos and spears, crowded to 
 the end of the island, followed by the victorious 
 
 340 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 soldiers. Some, desperate with fear, sprang from 
 the bluff, others were forced over by the pressure 
 of those in rear. The majority, however, fell to 
 their knees, raising their hands in submission and 
 supplication. 
 
 With some troops a massacre would have fol- 
 lowed. To an American soldier, however, an 
 enemy thoroughly whipped becomes a friend. 
 The men halted, arms still at the ready, and 
 awaited the orders of their officers. 
 
 Hz sis sjs sfa sfe sl± 
 
 With a feeling of nausea Don threw off the 
 body of Ferrandez and sat up. 
 
 " Are you hurt, sefior ? " anxiously asked his de- 
 voted follower. 
 
 " Not at all, sergeant, but I fear you are badly 
 cut up." 
 
 " It is nothing. We did it, sefior, you and I — 
 we did it. See, the battle is over." 
 
 "And Sanchez?" 
 
 " Dead, I think. I struck hard and deep." 
 ^ven as he spoke, however, Sanchez gasped and 
 opened his eyes. 
 
 " The hemp," he muttered. " It will buy arms 
 and ammunition, and food is plenty. We shall 
 triumph ! " 
 
 He endeavored to rise but fell back weakly. 
 
 " Ah-h 1 " he groaned. " I cannot." 
 
 341 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 Don leaned over him. 
 
 " Sanchez," he called. 
 
 The mestizo again opened his eyes and this time 
 they seemed clearer. 
 
 " It is you — our Dumb Healer. I remember 
 now. The surprise, the fight, and Nabato struck 
 me down. Ah, well, it is all over. But you, who 
 were dumb, call my name. Who are you ? " 
 
 " I am Teiiiente Page." 
 
 " Thou — always thou ! But I beg of you carry 
 me to my house and hasten for my child. I am 
 dying." 
 
 " And where is Inez ? " 
 
 " I sent her to the cave in which I had your 
 friend confined, together with such other women 
 and children as could be found. I trust she 
 reached the refuge safely." 
 
 Carefully they raised the dying man and carried 
 him to his house, one of the few that remained 
 standing. After placing him on a bed, Nabato 
 hurried out, while Don arranged the pillows for 
 comfort. When he took out some bandages and 
 endeavored to examine the wound Sanchez shook 
 his head. 
 
 " It is useless — I am beyond the help of even 
 the Dumb Healer." 
 
 He studied the face of the man leaning over 
 him. 
 
 342 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " So," he said, finally. " It is you, my enemy. 
 Even now I find it difficult to believe." 
 
 " Hush ! You must not talk. And I am your 
 enemy no more." 
 
 "Say you so? It is good for a dying man to 
 hear, for you have much to forgive." 
 
 " It is all forgiven so far as I am concerned. I 
 hold no grudge against a man who is soon to ap- 
 pear before his Maker." 
 
 Sanchez was silent. Occasionally a shudder 
 passed through his body, and once he coughed 
 and the blood poured from his mouth. Don 
 wiped it off and held water to his lips. Twice 
 he tried to speak again but Don silenced him. 
 
 " Save your strength till your daughter comes," 
 he warned, and the other obeyed him. 
 
 There was a quick step outside the door and the 
 rustle of a dress. Inez, wild eyed, and half dressed 
 in such clothing as she had been able to seize in 
 the first alarm, entered the room. Her eyes turned 
 at once to the recumbent figure of her parent. 
 
 " Oh, father ! " she sobbed, and fell on her knees. 
 
 " Dear child 1 " he murmured faintly, and his 
 hand stroked her head weakly. " Dear little 
 Inez ! " 
 
 Don started quietly to withdraw, but Sanchez 
 halted him. 
 
 " Wait, I beg of you, Senor Page." 
 
 343 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 At the name Inez raised her head, cast a startled 
 look on Don, then collapsed again. 
 
 " It is right that you should hear what I have 
 to say," continued the weak voice. " Inez, niiia 
 mia,^ I am dying, and my plans have failed. I 
 see clearer now, and know that it is best I should 
 fail. It seems some madness has had possession of 
 me and I hope our Father will realize and forgive." 
 
 " Dear father, He will. If I know your heart 
 — surely He knows it better." 
 
 " This young man has forgiven, and I hope that 
 all the others who have suffered at my hands may 
 not judge too harshly." 
 
 " Do not talk any more, dear father. It must 
 pain you." 
 
 " No, I have no pain — just a growing numbness. 
 Now listen. In my safe at home you will find an 
 account of all my affairs. There is the list of all 
 who have sold me hemp and of the stores I have 
 given them in exchange. Within a short time 
 the ports will open. With Senor Page's help — 
 and you will help her, will you not, sefior ? " 
 
 Don nodded. 
 
 " With his help you will sell the hemp and give 
 to each of the poor his just profit, retaining for 
 yourself the percentage usually charged by the 
 handler. You understand ? " 
 
 ' Nifla mia — my child. 
 344 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 " Yes, father, but why speak of this now ? " 
 
 " I have finished except for one thing — I would 
 lie in the vault in our church. Can you arrange 
 that, senor ? " 
 
 " I promise." 
 
 " I thank you. You have beaten me through- 
 out, young man, and now that all is over I am 
 glad. I see a better, greater future for my country 
 than such as I could have given her." 
 
 4s :!: :i: H: H: H: 
 
 Don stepped from the house and faced the rising 
 sun. He felt none of the exhilaration to be ex- 
 pected from his success. Instead he was conscious 
 of a deep depression. This was due to the reaction 
 from the great strain he had been under for the 
 past two weeks and to the scene he had just left. 
 
 He turned and went to the little house he and 
 Nabato had occupied, and which had been half 
 demolished. Here he found his faithful follower 
 making a rude effort to bind up his own wounds, 
 some of which were deep and ugly in spite of his 
 recent assurances to the contrary. As Don cleansed 
 and dressed them he could see that Nabato was 
 not affected by any low spirits. The sergeant was 
 bubbling with pride and enthusiasm, as indeed he 
 had a right to be. 
 
 Don was touched when some of the wounded 
 dragged themselves to his door and besought his 
 
 345 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 help. And as he turned again to the task with 
 which he had grown so familiar the wild scenes 
 of the early morning seemed a dream. 
 
 Here Harry and Cameron found him. 
 
 " Come, Don, let me hug you ! " And Harry 
 proceeded to do it to the surprise of the band 
 of wounded Pulujanes. " Is it true Sanchez is 
 killed?" 
 
 " He is dying." 
 
 " Who did it ? " 
 
 "Nabato, here." 
 
 Harry wrung the sergeant's hand. 
 
 " It means peace to Samar." 
 
 " I suppose," remarked Cameron, " that you two 
 will now be on tenter-hooks till you get into the 
 scrimmage on Luzon. I'm off myself on the first 
 steamer, and will look for you there to give me 
 copy for my paper. This last adventure of yours, 
 Page, will make a better story than our Chinese 
 experiences. But you seem to take no joy 
 in it." 
 
 " I'm tired, I suppose, and my mind is with 
 that poor girl up there, and with the remorse- 
 stricken, dying man. This is a black hour for 
 them both." 
 
 " Surely you of all men owe him no sympathy." 
 
 " True enough, and I owe these poor fellows 
 none either," nodding to the men whose wounds he 
 
 346 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 was dressing. " But all of them have been misled, 
 and are suffering for it." 
 
 It was nearly noon when a servant came for Don 
 and told him that Sanchez had breathed his last. 
 With Harry he went to the house, and sending 
 Inez to her room, wrapped the body in a sheet and 
 sewed it securely. 
 
 The following day the victorious troops, guard- 
 ing their eight hundred prisoners, returned to 
 Balika. At a fork of the trail Don secured per- 
 mission for Inez, her household and the body of 
 her father to leave the main body and proceed 
 direct to Katubig. 
 
 The entry of the column into Balika was a 
 triumph. The general had already cabled Manila 
 and received word that a transport would be sent 
 as soon as available for the transfer of the bulk of 
 his forces to Luzon. The disposition of the pris- 
 oners was left to his discretion. 
 
 Halstead, warmly seconded by Don, secured 
 clemency for these men. They were thoroughly 
 beaten and cowed, and desired nothing more than 
 to return to their deserted families and fields. 
 
 " Since you will be responsible for good order 
 here," the general finally told Halstead, " I'll let it 
 go your way. As you say, the ruling spirit is 
 dead, and they are nothing but a flock of sheep." 
 
 The oath of allegiance was given each of the 
 
 347 
 
AN ARMY BOr 
 
 prisoners, and when they were told that the past 
 would be forgotten and they were free to return to 
 their homes, their joy knew no bounds. They 
 thought they owed all to Don, about whom they 
 were still sorely puzzled, and crowded around him, 
 kissing his hands before they finally broke into 
 small parties and left the village, 
 
 " Young man," said the general, " you have 
 done your country a great service. Were you in 
 the army a medal of honor should reward you. 
 As it is, I shall speak to your chief personally 
 when I reach Manila." 
 
 " I feel amply rewarded already, general, by the 
 prospects here and your kind words." 
 
 " Can I do nothing for you now ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir. I'd like to retire to the dispensary 
 with permission for my sergeant here to use what 
 chemicals are necessary to get this stain off me. 
 My color and earrings are no longer suited to my 
 company." 
 
 A roar of laughter greeted this reply. 
 
 A week later the drowsy town of Katubig was 
 aroused by the arrival of half a dozen steamers. 
 With them came the order for the opening of 
 Samar's ports to trade, and on each was the agent 
 of a rival company, all striving to be first in the 
 market for hemp. 
 
 348 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Don met them with Inez' power of attorney and 
 resisting all bluffs, and some bribes, held them to 
 the highest prices. When all had been arranged, 
 he secured a leave of absence and went from port 
 to port, a careful witness of the weighing and 
 loading of the hemp. In every village he was 
 known, the pierced ears confirming to the natives 
 the rumors they had heard that the Dumb Healer 
 was none other than the young constabulary 
 officer. His influence and advice enabled the 
 small holders to get the current price for their 
 hemp and, when the steamers sailed on, they left 
 behind them greater happiness than the people of 
 Samar had known in years. 
 
 With the great sum accruing from the sale Inez, 
 aided by Don and Halstead, carried out faithfully 
 the will of Sanchez. The money enabled houses to 
 be rebuilt, new clearings to be made and new 
 fields opened. Peace and progress took the place 
 of war and stagnation. 
 
 One day Don was surprised by a request from 
 Nabato to stand as godfather for his child. 
 
 " Your child, sergeant ? Why, I had no idea 
 that you were married, let alone possessed of a fam- 
 ily." 
 
 The sergeant smiled sheepishly. 
 
 " It is the woman of the hills, mi teiiiente. I 
 became fond of her and the child during our time 
 
 349 
 
AN ARMT BOr 
 
 in the forest and, during your absence recently, 
 went to search for her. We were married before 
 your return and I count the child as mine." 
 
 " With all my heart, sergeant, and you must let 
 me settle upon my godchild a bit of land and a 
 little house." 
 
 As time passed and the effect of her good works 
 became visible, Inez began to throw off the leth- 
 argy of her grief An aunt had come to live with 
 her and companionship, together with the warm 
 sympathy of all around her, brought back to the 
 lonely girl some of her old brilliancy and spirit. 
 It became the custom for the constabulary officers 
 to assemble on her veranda each night. It was 
 here they received a cablegram one evening which 
 the messenger delivered to Captain Halstead. 
 
 He started to break the seal, then checked him- 
 self. 
 
 " Hold on," he said, " not so fast. The title of 
 the address misled me. I see, however, it is Cap- 
 tain Page and not Captain Halstead." 
 
 With trembling fingers Don tore open the envel- 
 ope. It read as follows : 
 
 " Page, Katuhig : 
 
 " Your appointment captain constabulary 
 and Kearny's as first lieutenant signed by gov- 
 ernor-general to-day. Cable received to-day from 
 
 3SO 
 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Washington directs age requirement waived and 
 directs you both be examined for entrance regular 
 army. Accordingly you will repair to Manila first 
 available transportation. 
 
 " Rollins, Adjutant-General." 
 
 " I knew they'd do something for you," cried 
 Halstead. " My warmest congratulations." 
 
 " I knew it also," said Inez softly, stretching out 
 a hand to each of them. " And I have selfishly 
 feared it, for it takes from me my dearest friends. 
 But you will never forget me, dear friends, I am 
 sure, and you must always feel, wherever you may 
 be, that there is at least one loving.heart, praying for 
 your safety and welfare, in Samar." 
 
 other Stories in this Series are : 
 AN ARMY BOY IN PEKIN 
 AN ARMY BOY IN MEXICO (In press) 
 
 351