For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8189, 21 July 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER XXXV.—Continued, The vice alcalde received the letter, and was completely deceived by the contents. That accounted for the warm reception which tbe expedition received when the tired men finally drew up at the outskirts of the town. The five prisoners we e secured in tbe house of the absent major, this being soggested by the apparent leaders of tbe force, who blso occupied an adjoining room, so that they might bold secret communication with the Amerione. It was a great game of bluff,' deserving of recognition in tbe annals of "opera bouffe." Fancy those Macabebes masquerad : ing as fierce lagagloga day after day, and vying with other in denunciations of the American pigs who had come across the sea to try and B3cure the Philippines to the chariot v%r-pe!s of fho far-avvav rep;sMic. Then, again, imagine the feelincs of the five seemiug prisoners, how they chafed at this long delay, Which wa9 nevertheless, so essential. Armind and t»jo McGregor enjoyed themselves not a little, although both wore under the restraint of appearing dumb, and making all sorts •of extravagant signs when the natives sought to draw them into conversation. So many different kinds of . adherents backed the cause of the dictator, Spaniards and members of various tribes, that it appeared nothing in that line excited more than passing comment. Although our friends must hace seemed more or different from their fellows, much as they tried to imitate Macabehe wnyp, the fact was not marked dovvu as suspicious against them. At Casiguran, a letter was prepared to be sent ou afcead, in orderto pave the way for their coming, i It was manufactured to cover all exigencies, and make it appear the most natural thing in the world why the weary polumn remained so long at theseacdast town, when, in reality, their sole intention waß to secure provisions and allow the messenger a chance to deliver his letters. In order to show with what rare tact Funston played bis moves on the chessboard, this letter, as given in his report to his commanding officer, is reproduced word for word. Of course, it was written in Tagalog, executed by Gregorio Cadhit, and signed by flilario as the leading officer: "The Honourable Dictator and Captain General: "With the greatest respeot, 1 inform your excellency that, having received the necessary orders from my chief, General Urbano Lacuna, on the tweaty-eighth of February, I began the march immediately to join you. We have just arrived at Casiguran, and nust rest for two days, because of the great fatigues and hunger my soldiers have undergone. The correspondence which we brought with ua I am sending with this, in order that there may be no delay in your receiving it. "In, addition, 1 wish to inform commissioner, Sr. Cecilio Segismundo, is with us. "While on the march through the mountains near Pantanbangan, we came face to face with a detachment of American soldiers making mapss, and by the suddenness of our attack, and by surrounding them, we were able, after slight resistauce, to take five prisoners. Two others were killed, and three so badly wounded that we had to leave them. The five prisoners we are bringing with us. "Casiguran, Maroh 15, 1901. "The Lieutenant Colonel, Chief of the Column, HILARIO, PLACDO. "P.S.—My force consists of eighty five, including a captain and four lieutenants. P.H." To carry this letter, as well as the two communications supposed to have been written by Lacuna, two bearers were selected, a Caaiguran and a native Baluga. These were stated 'on the long journey. It became necessary thai the expedition also push on, if they expected to make connection with the Vioksburg at Palanan [Bay on the twenty-fifth. Tbe greatest trouble lay in the lack of supplies. All that could be oollceted of dried corn vtr'i hardly enough for three days, .'irjd they would have to trust to luck for more en the way, or'] ruu great risk of hunger, for the country between was a desolate stretch entirely uninhabited. To thus start out only half prepared for so arduous an undertaking required no little nerye. Indeed, the Americans afterward confessed that they one and all entertained grave fears concerning their anility to pull through. Still, no one flinched; they wero made of stern stuff, and able to discount threatening danger. So, after two days at Casiguran, the was put in motion, and amid the plaudits of the people, pushed into the wilderness. A dozen natives had been given them by the sadly deluded vice alcalde as b&arers of burdens. These men carried the packs, and ware to aut as guides over tbe mountainous trail Tbey carried but small plunder, since there was not a great quantity with the expedition, and the awful nature of the muddy trail prevented heavy loa'is. / Afrnacd soon fouud he was up against it good and hard, ditto the McGregor, as well as tbe five American officers serving as prisoners of hope. It was the beginning of the rainy

By St. George Rathborne. Author of "Dr. Jack,"," The Witch from India," " Captain Tom,". "Mynheer Joe," " J>r. Jack's Wife," etc., etc.

season, and they oonld look for no good weather, although of course the daily downpour would not be anything so severe as later on, when the summer deluge oame. They must expect to be constantly wet, to plod thiough mud, to climb steep heights and endure the plagues of insect.B that made life « burden—all this with a scarcity of food, little beyond parched corn to cook, and a scanty allowance "per oapita" of that. Well, it required natures constructed upon the heroic model to endure all this cheerfully, or, at least, philosophically. It is simply amazing, almost incredible, to discover what men can go through with when the necessity arises. The trial through the woods led first southeast, then northeast, heading for the coast. Once this latter was reached, they kept along it whenever possible, following its sinuosities. Sometimes the ueaoh was hnrd sand, and again it cunsirttail of soft mud, which made very unpleasant tracking. Armand had thought he had endured pretty rough times when bunting moose away up in Canada, with the wilderness snowbound "and himself lost in the vast "bush," as they call the forest there; but, why, that was play besida this experience. When night came, they made camp, it was a weary lot that gathered around the fires. Songs were few and faint, for tbe Macabebe warriors had' no stomaoh for amusement. They were beginning to learn what campaigning with Funston meant. And yei none complained, the utmost good-humour prevailed, considering how tired and wet they were, and the frugal repast was eaten with a gusto, and only one regret—its limned quantity. This was one day. There were others to, follow—five or six—as bad. Really, it gave Kadoliffe quite a pain in the region of h's heart to t.hink of it, alhough he succeeded id convincing himself .that it was another feeling entirely, brought about by an insufficient quantity of food. Then he endeavoured to jolly himself a little by trying to remember how long it was Jacob served for Rachel, seven years, or double that —and was it Raohel, after all, that he won? And thus ruminating, he fell asleep. Men may find , sounder slmuber upon a blanket lying on the wet ground than if they reclined upon the softest of couches. It always depends upon how weary tbey are; nature cares naught for scented surroundings, for bair mattresses, wire springs and down quilts, but sends her sweet restorer, slteep, to the tired frame that sinks under exhaustion. So these crusaders enjoyed their night despite the gloomy surroundAt daybreak fires were rekindled, the meagre breakfast cooked, and with sharp appetites one and all polished their pannikins. Doubtless, sad memories huanted Armand of sumptuous repasts in clubs to which he belonged, the Colonial and Racquet in New York. Well, the contrast was great, but he did sincerely wish there had been enough of the corn for a second help around. He tried to imagine he could smell tbe delicious aroma of boiling coffee, but tbe effort was a rank failure and this was the worst deprivation of all, for even on his hunting trips he bad never been without a supply of Java. So they tightened their belts and prepared for the second day's merry jaunt. The oonidtions were 1 just as "bad perhaps worse. Rain and wind, climbing steep hills, trudging through mud, wading innumerable little streams —so it went, and every mile they put behind them was amply earned. The only thing that cheered them was the great hope of ultimate success. If the rebsl chieftain was made a prisoner, it would be a feat to win glory without limit, deal a staggering blow at the cause of rebellion, and [repay them for everything they i-suffered; ftthese things are always soon forgotten and made light of in recounting tbe adventure, as Radolift'e knew from experience. And so they plunged'res6lutely on, to meet whatever fortune ' L had ou store for such adventurers. (To bo Continued.) , ... - Not Inherited. Only a small percentage of the millions that have consumption inherited it. In nearly every instance it was a neglected cough or cold that developed weak lungs; and Consumption followed. If ChamberJain's Cough Eemedy is taken right at the beginning, it checks the cough, soothes and heals the lunga, and assists Nature »o brow off the disease. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy always cures. For sale by T. G. Mason, Masterton.