For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8187, 19 July 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER XXXlll.—Ooßtinued. / Armand took pleasure in drawing them oat, and during the balmy days on deck listeued to many a wierd tale of tbr days when the Spanish arms wrestled with the weary problem of keeping this pe r plein subjection, when pomp and show rather than stern business marked the spirit of warfare, and the most astonishing things were done on either aid . There was a spirit of romance in the recital, comma from the lips of these brown warriorp, who had been there and actually participated in many of the stirring scenes; and yet the difference between tbe methods of these Oasti'ian geneials and the up-to-date Americans was 80 vast that really it seemed to Radcliffe as though at times be were listennig to some account of ancient history.

And he had entirely ceased to wonder nnw why it was Adu.ival Dewey had been able to sink or destroy the whole Spanish armada without the loss of a single man.

The Spaniards lived upon the glorious deeds their ancestors had done, and failed to keep up to the times—that was the secret.

So the days went on, and they gradually nearer tbe coast wheie the landing was to ce arranged. The JVlacabebes had been daily drilled in the stories they were to tell until every man jaok among them could repeat it off parrot fashion.

General Funston had, some time before, captured a messenger bearing letters from Aguinaldo to various insnrgen!, leaders. These not only informed him as to where the lebel chief had his headquarleis, bun also gave him the brilliant idea which he was now so lesolately pushing to an issue. One of these was a letter to L.icuua, intorming him that hi? appointment to the rank of brigadier general, made some time previously by Alejandrino, was confirmed by the commander-in-chief. Accordingly, an answer to this was forged on Laguna's private paper, also captured, in whiun the writer thanked hie ohief for the/ honour shown him, furthermore, stated that in obedience to his request for a company of soldiers, he waa sending the best under his oommand. As a lack of offioers prevailed at his camp, the detachment would be placed in charge of an ex-major, Hilario Placido, who had been captured by the Americans and escaped with a Spanish captaiD, one liozaro Segovia, whose heart bad, as well known, long been wrtb the cause of liberty. These lei.ters were so ingeniously written that it did not seem possible the least euspioion could,arise in the mind of Aguinaldo as to the sincerity of the suppose» author, or too loyalty of the troops who were to ooa e along the coast in order to avoid the occupied towns. They were dictated by General Funston, and written in Spanish by the "loyal' Segovia himself, who only-yearned to have a hand in pulling down the dictator's castles in the ail. Some of thier plans had to lie changed through force of circumstances. It. had been arranged that the company was to land in three native "bancas" that had been purchased at Polillo Island anti which, they were to claim, had brought them from a long distance. These towed beh'nd the Vicksburg very well for a time, but the sea rising, they were swamped, one by cue, and the men on board only rescued with the greatest difficulty.

Of course, such an accident necessitated a change in the plan, and it was resolved to land under oover o< ! night by means of the boats of the Vicksburg, and hatoh up another story to tell the villager at Oasiguran.

Tliey had left Laguna's camp at Monte tfulac, east of Penaranda, Nuevp Ecija, and had marched to the f-en by way of lrurulong. On the way they bad fallen in with a detachment of American soldiers with whom they had had a fierce enagement, lasting some hours and ending in the total defeat ef of the invaders, who had in terror leaving several dead on the field, whose rifles tbey had taken, and five prisoners, whom they were now carrying in triumph to Aguinaldo. The loss of the "bancas' at sea necessitated a little alteration in this story so they told each other they had come overland from Aguna's camp, by way of Pantabangan, and it was near the latter place the Americans were captured. As. the country between was a vast wilderness, inhabited only by savage tribes, there was no way of disproving this delightful fable, even if the poople were suspicious, which could hardly be possible. Every one was anxious enough when the time drew near for the landing. Would tbe Macabebes hold firm? Among eighty men might there not be one who, to ourry favour with the insurgent chief, would desert his colours and endeavour to carry him warning?

Perhaps that was one reason General Funston was glad to have Armand and McGregor among these biown boys, to head off any such move that would bring disaster upon the cause.

Like the rest, Radcliffe felt glad the voyage was near its end, for au eagerness possessed him, a yearning to accomplish that which he had set cut to perform.

Of course, his fortunes interwoven with those of the f>xpeditic n—failure to them must swamp bis own venture, wbile success at letst gave him the obanoe be asked.

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

If Godaigo were there, all might be well. So he anxiously watched the coming of that momentous night, and looked toward the distant green thore with a feeling that it held his destiny, that if he could succeed this time in securing those precious papers, he wo Id be in a position to command what was all the world to him—the citadel of a woman's heart. \ And so the Maroh night settled down, and the Vicksburg turned bead on for the mouth of Oasiguran Bay. CHAPTER XXXIV. BURNING THEIR BRIDGES. It oan readily be believed that there was muuh excitement among tbe Macabebes when the time drew neir to go ashore. The little brown soldiers chattered like a lot of magpies, and seemed eager to have the second phase of the adventure begin. Armand went about among them, uurious to discover whether, at this ciitical juncture, any of the natives showed evidence of a weak heart, for it was exceedingly Important they should Know this in good time, since one such lame duck might give the whole thing away on shore, and a messenger knew the country well could surely reaoh Aguinaldo's headquarters while the column still struggled day by day through the tangled lianas. So far as. he could see, there appeared to be only one of the scouts who gave evidunce of weakening. Peiro, the sergeant, picked him out. The fellow was actually frightened. Perhaps he had reason to fear the Tagalo chief particularly ; perhaps at some time in tbe past Aguinaldo had appeared to him as a terrible scourge, and the very idea of not only taking up arms against the powerful dictator, but actually seeking to' capture him through a bold game, was appalling, in his min 3. Pedro showered him with cauetin abuse, but be could not arouse the man's spirit, 3 which fact being communicated to the leader of the expedition, it was quickly decided to let the fellow remain on board the boat. They could far better spare a single man than take any chances of betrayal. Another Macabebe cut himself quite severely with is "bolo," and had to be left; MoGregor had his suspicion thai; the fellow did it purposely, rather that take the terrible ohances ashore; but Armand scoffed at tbe idea, .lalling his comrade a suspicious old woman, and told him events of the past, as narrated to him by Sergeant Pedro, which went to show what great cause these men had tu hate the Tagalo leader. When Aguinaldo was in the height of his power at Malalos, through his orders| the Macabebes suffered treribly at the hands of the insurgerts, and there was hardly a man among tfie company who had not burned to avenge some wrong of the past. That was one reason why they so much enjoyed the dazzling prospect of humiliating the man at whose door they laid their grievances and woes, the loss of property and lives of relatives.

As a fugitive, hunted like a wild beast, even to his lair, the Filipino chieftain was not the same party who bad wielded despotic power for a short time, and no doubt he would show signs of alarm when he found himself surrounded by t&ejooen whom he baa once treated with such cruelty.

J'hey lived upon anticipations of t::at hour.

Amaud, who had been so much among them, was a little afraid that, in,spite of strict orders that Aguinaldo should not be harmed, one of these men might, in bis excitement, use nfie or "bolo" with deadly effect, and thus at a blow deprive tbe expedition of Its crowning glory.

For General McArthur wisely saw that a live Aguinaldo, convinced of the error of his ways, and signing bis allegiance to the United States, woaH have a thousandfold more influence in terminating guerrilla warfare than if he were simply dead, and Trias, or Borne other leader of the insurgents, suueeed him as dictator.

So the very last thing before embarking, the general talked to his boys, giving au urgent warning. They admired him above all men, aad were sworn to carry out his orders to the letter. No one underrated the task set before them, and yet few really imagined the terrific nature of the ninety miles over whioh they must pass from their landing place to Palanan, in order to allay suspicion and make things oonform with the letters of advico sent on before. (To be Continued.)