The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1902, Page 23

The Storyteller

ESTABAN.

( Conclusion)

' Well, we went out from. Manila on a little steam-launch, a patrol boat, merely to carry on a few explorations. We went up the Pasig River and turned irrt-o one of the side streams, supposing all the time that wo were in a peaceful district. Suddenly the narrow banks were thronged with natives ; they iired, wo did the same ; a few of our boys feU and a good few niggers fell. Well, we fired our last cartridge and then asked for the honors of war. What else could we do ? No go ; they swarmed around us, put shackles on our ankles and took us along. That was three days ago. We've been trudging across swamps ever since until we reached thia place. Why should we be treated like mere criminals ? '

' I don't know. We Spanish prisoners have been treated very decently. We do not complain , but then wo Spaniards always carried on war in a way that the Filipinos understood. We never broke into their homes ; we ncven carried off their daughters ; we never pillaged them churches of nil that they hold relit gious and sacred ; we never set up our national flag to bo the trademark of the wine-den and the viceden ; we never burned the villages of) the poor, nor destroyed their year/s harvests, nor shot their babies and their defenceless one 3in murderous] cold blood.'

' But, my dear sergeant ; havo wa done such things ? ' ' I cannot say. Terrible stories are told of American modes of warfare however. They tell us that your soldiers trample upon every shred of decency, respecting neither religion nor age nor sex : outrage! and looting and assassination and sacrilege aro tho things asserted) everywhere. Who is this wretched Funston of your army ? Havo you heard of no atrocities connected! with his name ? ' ' A bivave man much maligned ' ' Bravery becomes every soldier!* but worthier still is that strength of! character which gives recognition to, natural rights and bows to tho majesty of moral law.'

i' Captain,' said ono of the Ainerif can prisoners, stepping up, ' those/ stories are not all untrue. I havo seen with my own eyes such very doings as tho officer speaks of — barai burnings and pillage and cold blooded killing. As for the desecration of churches,, is it not a fact that tho pawn-shops of San Francisco aro o\crflowing with sacred vessels and -\estments which have been stolen from Filipino altars ? If we only treated tho Filipinos with) common fairness, we would not ba subjected to harshness ourselves, shut up in this nat.trap, and kept under triple guard.'

' I wonder,' said tho captain, ' ifi the guards know anything about tho length of timo it is intended to keep, us here.'

I will go and question ono of them if you wish.' ' Do.'

When Eptaban returned, his countenance wore a serious mien. 'It is; too bad,' he said, ' "but your case* has a hard look to it.' ' How is that ? '

' r Well, just thy day beforo you wero taken, a peaceful villago was put to tho torch, and during the night the local church was robbed of all its treasures. Your capture took place in tho immediate vicinity of that rifled church, and so they hare sot you down as among the perpetrators. In view of Aguinaldo's recent proclamation to tho effect that! the; extremo rigor of the law shall bel meted out to those who aro caught) while engaged in the acts of pil-

lag© or wanton desecnation, your fate is apt to——'

'Great God ! you do not moan- '

" That you are to be shot as ln'ole-* factors to-morrow morning in the public square ; yes.'

' No, sergeant, you cannot mean what you say ; there is some mistake ; some terrible mistake : they canjiot mean to shoot honorable sol-/ diers down like dogs.'

' There is no mistake, sir ; I saw the warrants ; the commander of the district has signed them.' ' Then you must speak to him for us ; explain our situation ; \n~> tercede with him for a stay of sentence until our identity bo ascertained.'

' What weight would there be in my intercession ? A prisoner like yourself, with merely a few more privileges. Besides if you have, committed these wanton deeds, why '

' But we have not ; we ara innocent men.'

' Tho church was certainly despoiled of all it contained.' 'Not by us. We despoil a church? Why four of us here are of your own religion ; the same altar, the saxno creed, tho same holy Mass ' ' What, do you mean to tell mo that there are Catholics in tho United States ? '

' Yes indeed ; twelve millions oft them between New York and Oregon. Why it was your own Catholics prayer-book lying there on that shelf that first attracted our notice) when^wo came into this prison-4'oom.i We made bold enough to turn over its pages, we discovered that it was in the English language, and found, your name, O'Donoghjue, written oa tho blank leaf. Don't you believe yet that we are Catholics, at least some of us ? Maloney show him your rosary beads ; Mulligan, you wear a scapular round your neck ; show -it to the sergeant. And look-a-here. sir ; here's a prayer-book of my own, just like yours, only mine is more used up, and yours was'pwblished in Dublin, while mine was) printed in New York The name ia| the same, " Key of Hea.ven " in both. Now, do you think we could be men base enough to break into a sanctuary sacred to our own faith ? Tell tho commander thest? things and ask him if he is going to' punish innocent men for crimes of absent rascals.'

Estaban, although a prisoner himself, had somehow won tho esteem and affections of his lailors . his owni humane character, long evident in tho days beforo political troubles? arose in the island, was, perhaps, responsible for this generous feeling, toward him. At any rato when ho made known hi<; desire of interviewing the commander, that roqjuefst was forthwith granted. The result wart a night gallop of twelve miles toward tho mountains to the camp of Aguanaldo, Estaban being blindfolded and conducted under guard n.ll tho way. Early on the morrow tho tnoop returned with <he message from the comman!der.-in-chief.

4 Tho Filipino*?,' AguhuUdo stated,, " aro not savages, but are a people/ gifted with all the instincts of ait enlightened and religious civilisation. Wo havo no wish to wreak \ongeanco upon men not guilty Tho American prisoners under detention! at Casaypjuia will bo, therefore, treated with all respect and consideration until such time as proper measures aro effected for their release.'

Six weeks Liter negotiation's word entered int/o between tho American authorities at Manila and the military representatives of the Filipino) force. An exchange of prisoners was 4 to be made, and tho men in. durance

at Casayquia were to be given their freedom and safe conduct to an American camp. _ ' Tho terms of the exchange are incomplete,' exclaimed Captain Maguire, when he heard them reafc. 1 hey make no provision for therelease of the Spanish prisoners detained along with us. We owe you our lives in a way,' ho added, turning to Estaban, and, the only worthy, thing for us to do is to help, you to your own deliverance.' 'Nay, 1 answered Eetaban. ' Do, not bother about me. Our turn will come some day when the troubles which disturb this island havo quieted down. Take your freedom now, while it comes ; leit not ouxt misfortunes stand in any manner between you and your liberation.' Captain ICaguire, however, was obdurate. He sent hia ultimatum stating that he felt that he and rua men owed their lives to tho intercession of the young Spanish sergeant and that unless the Spanish prisoners were liberated witfl him he would refuse the proffered boon. Within two days his mesH sage received a favorable answer, and so together the incarcerated men of both nations wane conducted under safe escort to th« American lines. ' 1 am glad to meet you,' said th« American general at Manila to E»taban.

' 1 have heard about you, and I feel that you deserve the thanks o« the great Republic which I have, the honor to represent. I am going to ask you, now, to become a citizen of that Republic and to take seiy vico under her flag. I've got a good position for a good man like you. Your military training, your? standing in the engineer department* your knowledge of the roads and country hereabouts, your versatility! in the several languages you speak, your acquaintance with the nativti population, together with the great} esteem in which they seem to hold you ; all these factors combine td niako you an invaluable man to tho Government in control here, that is to say the American Government. Wo are bound to siubdoie these people it may take long or it may take short, but it has got to come, even if wo have to continue to nosort to fire and bloodshed. Now we prefer peaceful methods. That's why I say you are in a postion to da great service fors us. Your capabiH itios and temperament seem to justt cut you out and fit you for the noble work. I ask you, therefore, to remain with us right here in the* Philippines. I have a position ready for you in the island which guarantees a yearly salary o8 18.000 dollars. Will you take it ?." ' There's only ono hindrance,' an>4 fcwered Estaban. ' What's that ? ' ' My obligation as a Spanish soU dier to my own country.' Tf that is the only matter to stop you, you're all right ; for I ha\o forestalled that objection by going myself to the Spanish Con>eulnte here and fixing up things pro-) visionally i<n your name. I thought} that it would be best to havo you easy on that score ; so I went and had a talk with the Consail. He is a good friend of mine ever since the war ended and our two countries resumed their former friondly relations.'

' Then I accept the offer you mako me. '

' Good ! And may you over be as faithful with us as you wore under tho banner of your own unfortunate Spain.'