For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8189, 23 July 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER XXXVI A LEADER OP MEN. • ' Robust men could hnrrlly be expected to wax fqfc upon two meals a day, and these in the main consisting of parohad Armand suffer;'. ! with the rest, but he did eo uniioruplaiuingly. tie end McUregnr endnavoured to cheer one another up aa they tramped along by eloquent, diaserations upon the art of cooking. Prooably upon few occasions have a greater variety of delightful dishes been described and commented on than in the low-toued ronverpation that enlivened the daily march of these comrade 3 in exile. It is extremely doubtful whether they received any good from the exchange of confidence, except to discover that their tastes ran pretty much in the game direction.

Stil l , they were cheery fellows, and oracked not a tew jokes over their frneal fare. The Macabebos tore up well. Although accustomed to an outdoor life, their bndies had uot been

bo well sustained aa the meat-eating Americans; consequently as day succeeded day, and the fatig'io became monotonous, some of the foor fellowa ?:ere apt to break down and firag btihiad the main column, to draw up af:ar camp was made. It was suraly anything but a picnic. In decfenfc weather, and with a sufficiency of good food, the Americans would have made a three-day job of il, and considered it a raie frolic.

r lho rain never failed to drench them daily, and there was not a man who had dry clothes on his back at any time during the Week. Whiuh was a fine thing for any one who might chance to be subject to rheumatism, as the general could declare from his own experience. There was always srore or less anxiety on the score of treachery, although none of the Macabebes could develon sufficient energy to outstrip the column, even though the wish were with them; still, it was within the range of possibility that there might have been sent a seoiet message to headquarters at the time the two couriers were hustled in advance to announce their coming. Perhaps this idea grew into a more grotesque shape because of the privations they euduied. Men whose stomp.ohs are constantly craving fcr sustaining food which they are utterly unable to supply nay reasonably expect to distort things that under ordinary conditions would give them very little concern.

Thus many a wary eye was ctfst ud at some overhanging cliffs along WhQ§§ base the seashore trail led, and the unwelcome thought forced itself forward, what a splendid spot for an ambuso, suoh as delights the Tagolog heart; it would hardly jbave surprised the Americans, as the days drew on to have suddenly heard the crash of rifles, followed by the fierce ories of the enemy who had them at their meroy. But Funston luck held good; it had already become proverbial among the valiant Kansans who followed their leader through the bloody battles marking the earlier months of the Philippine war. And when, weary with the days' maioh, he lay down at night, after half drying his garments and blanket at a Are, Armand slppt in spite of his wretched condition. Nature would not be refused. Dreams came to him in droves; he seemed to visit in spirit every plaoe he had ever been, and his acquaintances trooped before him, doing all manner of queer things. Another effect of cheating the stomach, pysioians tell us. It was not a merry time, to be sure, and well calculated to show a man's mettle Armand was gilt-edged, and more than odco when the leader of the forlorn hope had an opportunity to converse in a low tone with him, he declared himself well satisfied with the presence of these two comrades among the Macabebe soouts.

| Thus five days passed, suoh days as no man among the Americans hoped to see again. And yet they did not compare with what the aext was fated to be. Qame was scarce, indeed, at this season.

They had eked out their larder with fish which the Macabebes caught in the little streams, after a manner of their own, with snails, limpet and a small devilfish, whioh they stewed, fcut the general, in his own account of the adventure, remarks, with drv humour, that he would hardly recommend the devilfish as a dish suited to astidious palates. And now everything had been eaten up, with more than another days journey before fcheiii ere they oould hope to reach Palanan. The prospect was gloomy indeed.

At least, they drew some satisfaction from the warmth of the flies, if the infernal rain would only let ap and give them a show. Armand sat there sucking some enjoyment from his pipe, whioh he had managed to smuggle along.

He never wearied of the strange setting, the leaping flames, the surrounding tropical forests, the weird figures of the disguised Maca bebes huddled about, dressing their cuts and sore feet and jabbering in Tagalo, which they spoke as well as their mother tongue, the little group of resolute Americans, particularly him who oarried most of the worries and anxieties of the affair opon his sturdy shoulders; Armand never looked into his calm face and oaught. the gleam of bis unfiinohiug eyes without a flush of renewed hope. They would win out yet, they;

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

were bound to accomplish their bold task; its audactiy must force success. And so, feeing his nervous apprehensions set at reßt as if by the magic wand of a wizard, he was able to turn to other and more plea a ant themes. Tessie! Ah! yes; bow her sweet face appealed fo him now, half famished as he was for a glimpse of its rounded oontour, its ruby lips and sparkling eyes. The expediences of these days ueerned to have brought Armand around to his senses with a pretty rough jar. Gradually he had made np his mind to one thing, and the more he considered it the greater became bis determination to carry out that plan. It was settled, then, no matter how his present adventure panned out, whetheror not he obtained the papers that had begun to appear aimost chimerical, he was bound, if ho over got back to Manila, to throw a bridge across the foolish c hasm that separated him from and happiness, and make his peace with her. It was follv for him to ever imagine he could be happy without Tessie. How tonderly the name fell frorr his lips, almost like a caress, as he repeated it to himself. He abused himself for his tenacity in wantkg her to abjeotly apologize for the miserable affatr in Yokohama harbour. Surely, he ought to know how difficult it was to acknowledge one's self in the wrong, and the dearer the person wronged, the harder self humiliEtion came. She was genuinely sorry; her actions, since had spoken louder than words: be had surely punished her enough by proving so positively that she wronged bim with that word—bah ! he was a ruffian to desire a high spirited gitl like Tessie to fall on her knees and sue for his pardon. After all, what was there eo very objectionable in the name of a "ooward"? Used iu a oertain sense, the bravest of men could be subject to such ft an approbrious epithet, in the estimation of those who might desire to have them attempt some foolhardy feat with no redeeming qualities. Yes, one conld be a ooward and a gentleman, too. He even began to glory in the title, since it bad fallen from her lips, and no one else had ever dared reproach bim with the like. It was even a grim pleasure to shut his eyes, clod'ng them to the dancing fire, the dripping trees and the grotesque figures of the clustering Mucabebes, and seeing, once more the scornful face of his sweetheart when, overwhelmed by the wretched fate of poor Fido, gone tofeed the sharbs of the Japanese harbour, and possibly also by the horrors of her own gilt in endeavouring to make Armand f take water, she had so vehemently told him never to put his hand on her again. 'lime softens everything.

So even this most painful epooh in ilia life was rendered 'less aoute now that It lay far baok in the past. .

What of ttoe future? That was the main thing. Should he sacrifice, it allow some other fellow to secure the prize just because he chose to be obstinate and insist on her humiliating herself after the "kotow" fashion of the Chinese? Well, he had been a fool, but, please Heaven, is eyes were open now. Be fanoied he could be magnanimous enough to even forget as well as forgive, and no doubt when the sweet relations had been restored between them as of yore, Tessie would not rest until she had done her part. Yes, he must not forget she was a woman, and he bad always heard it was harder for one of the weafcer sex to acknowledge her errors than a man—and, manlike, he believed it.

This was all very fine, making suoh lovely plans for a rosy future, but who would guarantee that he had a future? It looked pretty dark just now, and unless a supply of food were forthcoming speedily he might die of actual starvation. Then, again, what about falling into the hands of the Jb'ilipinos? Gilmore's bitter experience was still fresh in tho minds of the Americans, and perhaps they might be treated even worse that tne lieutenant, since their mission conoerned the capture of Aguinaldo himself.

When Arraand had reaohed this serious point, and was beginning to feel somewhat shaky, all ho had to do to regain his confidence was to open his eyes again, and let them rest upon the calm, resourceful countenance of the man whose will held them all under its sway. (To be Continued.)