For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8189, 25 July 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER XXXVlL—Continued. Passing a short distance up the beaob, they came uron half a dozen Uasutaa engaged in constructing some shelter huts, which were to serve aa a place of confinement for the prisoners, for this was the spot designated in the letter as Diuuudungan.

These were under an old Tagalo, who looked as if he wore a veteran of all the wars for half a century baok, and the Philippines had beon cursed with many in their day.

The camp was pitched at this place.

A moet meagre moal they managed to patih up from all sources.

.After a secret coosullatiou, it was decided to send a letter to Palanan, acquainting Villa with the desperato condition of the men, and requesting that he send n supply of food, so that they could recover strength to complete the march.

That portion of the Tagalo's order pertaining to lh« leaving of the prisoners nine miles from Palanan was a cause fot worry.

.It could not be done; Funstou realized that the Eucoesa of the undeitufciug dependod upon his being present at the critical moment, lest the aroused and excited Maoatebes murdor Aguinaldo inetetul of making bitn a prisoner. At tho same lime, groat care must be taken not to arouso tbo slightest suspicion in the miud of the keen, old Tagalo or bis meu. A olever rnse was arranged, which would, in all probability, answer. to cover the case.

Meanwhile, they prepared to the night. Everything was done very naturally, just as if things wore as they appeared upon their face. The prisoners were not 111-treated, of course, but kept under strict guard, which was farcical in more ways than one, for had they been oaptives in truth, nothing could have tempted them to run away and again endure the awful privations which had marked the march to this place.

Perhapa the old Tagalo was guileless by nature—at least, he was no suspicious Richelieu, for he swallowed eagerly enough the diversified stories retailed by the various pretended insurgents oonoerning their tierce fight of late date; and if ho noticed any discrepancies in the recitals, no doubt he laid it to the individual lying qualities possessed by the narrator. Which was very kind of the veteran. The night passed, and none of the Americans obtained more than snatches of sleep. Excitement ran fevor'sbly high. By the time darkness again wrapped that far away bit of PhilippineAxnerjonn territory in its sable mantle tbey would have been given the chance ,vhioh they had endured fed hiuob to win. Success—how the thought dazzled them. And yet, even In the midst of speculations as to the glors' to be won, there would jutrude tanializing anticipations of the first deoent:, civilized meal whioh would be spread before them on board the Vicksbrug. But that, alas! was three days off, since hiß was only the night of the tweuty-seoond.

Armand, of course, rejoiced in the thought that be was now near the termination of bis task. He fanoied even Jacob, philosophers though they were in those olden days, must have felt something of satisfaction as he neared the end of his seven years' service for a wife.

- Would Godaigo Takanori- be found at the headquarters of the chief?

Since this day wan Aguinaldo's birthday, and was being celebrated, so thoy were informed, with all the usual Tagalo ceremony, the neighbouring alcaldes were there to lend dignity to the occasion, and it was hardly probable that a member of the famous Hong-Kong Junta, about to bear important tidings to his fellows across tho China Sea, would bo allowed to leavft before the festivities were ended.

Well, when Funstou got his royal prisoner, ho, Armand, would secure the papers he nought.

It was well. While the dauntless leader received honour and promotion as a reward o? his valour, Arrcaud was very well content to take—Te3sie. So ho fell asleep, and dreamed of her, naturally enough, when she was iu bis mind so much during his waking bo^ra.

They waia up- early iu the morning. To their great joy, supplies oamo to hand, for which they blessed Villa, and mentally promised to tuke good care of him in the immediate future, indeed, join bim in a toast on board the Vioksburg, for Villa was a gentleman a.id a scholar. At length came the time of departure. * Everything had been arranged down to the final detail, and if it worked smoothly and harmoniously, the game rested in their hands. The five Ameriouns wore left behind, iu charge of a corporal and ten men, but au hour later a meaaongor from Hilaho arrived, stating that Villa had sent new instructions and the Americans were to be taken to Palanan in the rear of the troc'n. So they joyfully quitted the seashore and struck inland over the trail, leaving the old Tagalo quite satisfied that everything was correct. CHAPTER XXXVIII. The daring adventurers had now reached the concluding and most

By St. George Rathfoorne. Author of "Dr. Jack," " The Witch from India," " Captain Tom," " Mynheer Joe," " Dr. JacJc's Wife," etc., etc.

dangerous phase of their dashing exploit. It has since become history, ana" will go ringing down the ages as one of the most remarkable deeds of valour ever attempted by men; but sinoe the member from New York, whose fortunes it has been our pleasant duty to chronicle, had a snare in the drama, we may be pardoned for once more removing the cover and surveying the little "finale" in all its strategic glory. The Americana, with the rear guar:!, did not overtake the main column as they had expected. They had not gone more than two hours upon the plain trail through the woods before a Maoabebe sergeant and a private were seen running toward them, making frantic gestures to the effect that they was some danger approaching, and it was important they should immediately conceal themselves in the bushes.

This the Amerioans did in a great hurry, and being joiued in their hiding placA by the others, matters were explained. It eeemed that the column had been meet by ten soldiers from headquartrs, whom Villp had sent to take charge of the Americans, perhaps with the kindly Idea of allowing all the weary and hungry pilgrims a chance to rest. Hilario was equal to the occasion.

He and the Spaniard engaged them in conversation, while Armand, obeying the look the leader gave him, bad two of the Maoabebe scouts slip away unseen with orders to warn the Americana. Presently the detachment came along, passed by without suspecting the truth, and vanished down the trail in the direotion of the coast. It had been a narrow escape. Should they have met, these fellows would have insisted on taking charge of the Americans, and while they might have been beaten off, the sound r.f gunshots would have possibly been heard at Palanan, and alarmed the always suspicious dictator.

As soon as Filipinos were out of sight, the Americans, witb their guard, hurried along after tho main body. So eager where the Macahebes to reach Palanan that they were not overhauled , and about the middle of that March afternoon, General Funaton, with his companions, arrived at the river, here about three hundred feet in width, to catch the sound of volley firing, and heard the exoited shouts of men fighting on the other fide.

A boat was just drawing in, evidently intended for them, and filled witb excitement, now that the crisis of their daring adventure had arrived, they hastily embarked and set out to oross the stream. Ssoonds seemed hours to them. ' (To be Continued.)