For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8189, 26 July 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER XXXVlll.—Continued.

The criea coutinued, and it was evident that while an engagement of some sort was in progress behind the first houses, between the Macabebes and the Tagalos, there was also something doing inside the bamboo structure beside the river, whioh they knew to be Aguinaldo's headquarters from the way iu whioh it was decorated.

As they were drawing near tbe shore, the figure of a man came tumbling through the window, closely followed by a second. Both lan-led wtih a spalsh in tbe river.

Funston's quick eye had disdoverel that, apparently, ueither of them seemed to be tne high perfor whom he had undergone such prirationf. He accordingly left to his Macabebes the task uf dragging the dripping forms from the river, if so be jlhey could lay hands on them, while he and his fellow offioers made a wild dash for tbe house from insid« of which came shouts and scuffling sounds, as though someona were being chased about . They arrived just in the nick of time. To thoroughly understand the situation, aud appreciate the exceedingly dramatio termination of gallant Funston's quest, it ( will be ueoossary to *go back a little to discover how tne column in which Radoiiffe aud McGregor served, in their numble capacity as seeming Maoabebes, reached the village and was received by the Tagaloa. At the river bank a staff officer met the two leaders and escorted them up the bank and into tbe bouse, whore they found the famous Aguinaldo, surrounded by eight officers, each armed with a revolver. Here was a warm situation, but fortunately the native shrewdness of Hilario, as well as the bravery and nonchalance of th« Spaniard, were equal to the occasion. They were warmly received by the unsuspecting Tagalo chieftain, who immediately began fo ply them with a string of questions concerning their adventures, the condition in which they had left Laguna, and things in general connected with the prosecution of the war forSindependence. It certainly taxed the ingenuity of Segovia to answer all these questions without in any degree arousing suspicions. Fancy the situation, these two leader? of a forlorn hope in a room witbjfalmost half a soore of desperate rebels, who, had they suspeoted anything wrong, would have shot them down like dogs.

Meanwhile, the Macabebes were steadily crossing the stream, but as only eight oould come at a time in a boat, many trips would be necessary era the whole detachment were across. Segovia had taken up a position where he was enabled to see the farther river bank, and watch for his cue. Thus time passed, and the crisiß drew near. The Spaniard should have lived inthe time of the Arabian Nights, for surely no story teller. of these halcyon days, when belief in enchantment was a part of the education of the men, could have invented more pleasing hallucinations than those with whioh this glib tongued orator beguiled the deluded Tagalos, as they crowded about him in the diotators' lodge.

They saw no guile in this enchanter, who so dexteiiously aroused their fallen hopes with his wonderful fairy stories of important suo esses by their allies in the South, and completely hoodwinked them. At last, the balaooe of the Maoabebes had crossed. It was time, since Segovia was beginning to get a little wild in his assertions, and might soon have overshot the mark. The Macabebes, came up the bank and formed in line not far from headquarters, and the fifty Tagalos who had alao lined up to receive them with fitting military exactness. ■ It was at this moment, to his intense relief, that he dicsovered the litte convoy having the Americans in charge upon the other shore, near which the boat oould be seen. The time had come.

The Spaniard stepped outside; his men watching for him, knowing what was expected under the circumstances.

At onue Segovia ordered them to open fire on the lino of Tagalos. Then pandemonium broke loose. A "few scattering shots sounded, followed by th« urash of a volley. A number of Tagalos went down, and the remainder almost petrified with amazement to hear their supposed allies give went to Macabebe shouts, firing a few shots in return, broke and fled in panic, leaving the

field in the hands of the invaders. Meanwhile, Segovia had turned and entered the room again, where tbe group of lagalo officers might be found.

Aguinaldo, at the firafc oraab of guns, had thrust hia head out of the window, and under the supposition that his meu were firing as a salute to the newcomerß, ordered tbem to oease wasting prioeleas ammunition.

Perhaps he would have discovered the truth a few seconds later, upon seeing Tagalos drop and hearing the fierce Mncabebe war cries, but he was not given the opportunity. Hilario's chance had come.

Like a tiger, he hurled himself upon the slender form ol" the die tator, just as Segovia appeared in the doorway, revolver in hand, and bore him to the floor, shouting that he was a prisoner to the Americans. Ihe confusion increased without,

and Segovia, knowing all might be lost unless he struck a paralyzing

below with'n, began to open fire on the rebel officers.

Villa, chief of str.ff, vms struck

By St. George Rathborne. Author of e< Dr. Jack," "The Witch from India." " Captain Tom,"„** Mynheer Joe," " Dr. Jack's Wife," etc., etc.

twice, and Coromandante Albambra ones; these were the two men who, in their alarm, hurled themselves through the window, the former being flahed out of the wat n r dripping wet by the exultant Macabebes, the latter never seen again.

The other officers all escaped save Santiago Barcelona, the treasurer, who fell into the hands of the Americans.

When Funston and his companions arrived at the house they found some of the excited Macabebes chasing the alarmed Aguinaldo around the room, and apparently it was just as well the general took oomamnd when he did. It was hard, indeed for the imperious dictator to realize that it was not a joke, and that he had, indeed, fallen into the hands of the Americans, who, with Infinite daring and ounning, had tracked him to his lair in the wilderness of the east ooast.

Aguinaldo was verj dejected, but Villa and Barcelona took their capture philosophically; perhaps they were" a trifle weary of the poor fare erjoyed in this distant province, and longed for the flesh pots of Isra-1; gay Manila had its temptations, aud there might be worse things than - taking the oath of allegiance to Uncle Sam. Armand had been mindful ot bis own particular interests, and when tbe affair hj opened bounded toward the house, Relieving that Takanori must of a certainty be with the ohief. . As good luck would have it, he met the Jap, on the full run, escaping from the building. A dozen steps and Armand had overtaken the other, who trippel and fell headlong ere he could reach the shelter of the forest. So tbe American pounoed upon him and 6eated himself astride his body. The fellow thought his hour had come, seeing bimsSlf in the power of so fierce-looking a Macabebe. . He was, doubtless, surprised when the other began coolly to searoh bis person, and gave vent to an exclamation of joy over the discovery of a packet of papers tied with a dingy blue ribbon. Suddenly tbe sturdy and trioky Jay wrestler gave a lurob —Armand roiled over, and ere he could struggle to his knees, away went Godaigo, chasing for the woods. The American raised his revolver, and covered the' baob of the fugitive, but thought better of it. "Let the beggar go—l don't want bis blood on my bands. Besides, I've got it!" he gasped.

So the thing was done. Funston had won eternal glory, and his good wife should be the happiest woman in the Philippines, bar one—Tessie had an interest m the outcome of this exploit, and would also welcome a bero back to Manila. fTo be Concluded,)