CHAPTER XIITHE MIDSHIPMEN RECONNOITRE
Themidshipmen were so utterly astonished at the actions of their fanatical enemies that they could only gasp out their surprise in one heartfelt word of relief. Then a familiar voice at their elbow awoke them from their stupefied inactivity. It was in Visayan and they turned to gaze into the impassive face of Rodriguez.
“I have ordered them to escape,” he added in Spanish, casting a quick glance toward the squad of soldiers. “Poor fellows, it would be a pity to kill them, for they are but acting under orders.”
The lads were too grateful to their rescuer for saving their lives to make useless inquiries as to why his influence could be exerted over the acts of their enemy. Phil’s first thought was for the men whom the captain had left them to guard.
“Surround this house,” he commanded, and the sergeant in charge gave a short command and led the way himself to the rear of the large native building.
“It is too late, señor commandante,” Rodriguez said shaking his head; “they have all escaped through the rear door and are by now safely away.”
The midshipmen ran quickly up the steps and gazed disappointedly into the gloom beyond. The floor still lay at the bottom of the cellar, the bamboo spears sticking half-way through, but the natives had gone. The back door stood open and to the ground was a jump of twenty feet. They had safely escaped while the lads were engaged defending themselves against the attack of the bolo-men.
“I am on my way to see General Wilson,” Rodriguez announced after a search had failed to disclose any signs of the fugitives, “and offer my services.”
“Do you mean that you will fight with us against the insurgents?” Phil asked in glad surprise.
“Yes, from now on I shall aid the Americans to restore order in the island of Kapay,”Rodriguez replied, pleased at the cordial reception given him by the two midshipmen.
Together the party made their way back to headquarters in search of Captain Blynn.
“It was providential that I happened along,” Rodriguez said after they had passed through the sentries; “those bolo-men knew me and obeyed my sign. I see,” he added smilingly, “that you are already arresting the traitors.”
“We were not very successful with Señor Cardero and his friends yonder,” Sydney exclaimed ruefully, “but I suppose we should be thankful to have gotten off so easily.”
“Cardero is one of the craftiest of our outlaws,” Rodriguez returned. “It is a marvel to me how he could have remained unmasked so long. Of course,” he added, “I have known of this intrigue for some months, but until they deliberately plotted against my life I could not betray them.”
“Have you discovered who is the Katipunan leader who tried to murder you last night?” Sydney asked excitedly.
“Yes,” Rodriguez replied. “You have doubtless guessed that he was Espinosa. Iknow it now for sure. He has gone to Matiginao, where there is a strong fort, and is in command of all the insurgent forces there. The bullet only crippled him last night, and I hear he is rapidly recovering. General Diocno was murdered last night in his bed and no doubt I should have shared the same fate.”
They were by this time at the headquarters building, and were glad to find that Captain Blynn had returned. The midshipmen informed the army man of their luckless adventure and stood in silence expecting to hear his harsh rebuke for allowing such important prisoners to escape, but he only grasped their hands and congratulated them upon their rare good fortune.
“By George,” he exclaimed excitedly, “we’ve been contentedly living over an active volcano. It’s a marvel we haven’t all been massacred long ago.
“Every native of any consequence in the town has departed,” he added sadly.
“Rodriguez with you, and wishes to aid us?” he cried gladly, as Phil told of the intention of the wealthy native. “Well, that certainly is cheering news.”
Rodriguez came into the office and stood with dignified bearing before the big judge-advocate.
“So you are tired of being neutral?” the army officer said pointedly in Spanish. “Do you wish to occupy the position just vacated by our mutual friend Espinosa?”
Rodriguez drew himself up proudly while the midshipmen gasped at this harsh arraignment.
“I do not blame you, señor,” the native answered, no evidence of anger on his placid face. “I know that you can have but little reason to trust the honesty of the men of my race. But I do not desire a position. I am now ready to take the field with my men, heretofore neutral. I have three hundred rifles.”
“You are ready then to take the oath of allegiance?” Captain Blynn asked in official tones.
“Yes, señor, and keep it,” Rodriguez returned, his eyes unflinching.
“Have you any news that will lead to our knowing the whereabouts of Lieutenant Tillotson?” Blynn asked.
“Ah, I have,” the native answered eagerly.“I was about to ask you—my spies report a captive with Espinosa.”
The Americans gave sighs of relief. At least Tillotson was alive.
General Wilson received Señor Rodriguez with marked courtesy and appointed him on the spot a colonel in command of his own men whom he offered to enlist as native troops, rationing and feeding them from army funds, but Rodriguez declined the latter, agreeing to defray all expenses.
The midshipmen insisted that their new ally should go down to the dock and inspect the gunboat, so after explaining to General Wilson that they would like to be absent for a few days on reconnaissance work, the three strolled leisurely down the street.
“Where is Colonel Martinez?” Phil asked after they had arrived on board and the Chinese servant had brought refreshments.
Rodriguez shrugged his shoulders and pointed toward the interior of the island.
“Will he serve under Espinosa as leader?” Sydney asked incredulously.
“Who knows?” Rodriguez answered evasively.
The lads saw that their friend had reasons for being non-committal and tactfully ceased their interrogation, yet inwardly they were consumed with curiosity. Espinosa had attempted to kill Colonel Martinez on the morning of Blynn’s attack, and now would they serve amicably side by side against a common enemy?
The hour for lunch arrived, and as Rodriguez was not leaving for several hours to return to his home up the river he gladly accepted the midshipmen’s pressing invitation to eat with them.
Phil had made up his mind to explore the river, though this idea was unformed in his mind when he left headquarters.
During the meal the midshipmen questioned their guest about Espinosa’s impregnable stronghold and of its approach by water.
“There is a trail from my ranch to the foot of the mountain,” Rodriguez replied thoughtfully, “but it will be filled with traps, and will be dangerous if Espinosa hears an attack is to be attempted. The river flows through a narrow gorge at Matiginao, andfrom the cliffs huge boulders can be dropped into the river many hundred feet below.
“The gunboat!” he exclaimed in amazement, after Phil had questioned in regard to the depth of water. “If it were possible!” Rodriguez glanced admiringly at the heavy cannon mounted near him. “Yes, with this gunboat in the river the tops of the cliffs could be swept, and soldiers could scale the difficult trail unopposed, and once through the narrows the trail leading from the stronghold could be commanded by the cannon to cut off the retreat of the insurgents. It is wonderful! But the bridge, Señor Perry,” he ended, his voice betraying his sudden disappointment; “it is strongly built and a gunboat cannot pass.”
“If I find there’s water enough to float the ‘Mindinao,’” Phil replied assuredly, “the bridge will not stand in the way long.
“Does your daughter know the country?” Phil asked earnestly.
Rodriguez gazed a full minute at his questioner before he answered.
“Every foot of it,” he added; “she was born near the stronghold. But what is yourintention, señor? This is no work for a woman.”
Phil would willingly have bitten off his tongue for having led him into such an embarrassing situation. He could not tell Rodriguez that he wanted Maria because she alone would he trust as a guide on the perilous mission which he had made up his mind to make.
Major Marble fortunately arrived at this moment and saved the lad from becoming more deeply involved. He gave them the latest news.
“Tillotson’s father is keeping the wires hot,” he told them. “We are ordered to spare nothing to recapture him, but of course we shall do that anyway. The general has wired back the good news the señor has brought, that Tillotson is believed to be a prisoner and alive.”
Before the party dispersed, Phil confided to his hearers his plan to explore the river and his intention to start that very night.
“Then you will visit me on my ranch?” Rodriguez exclaimed gladly. “Everything I have is at your service,” he added with the grandiloquent air of a Spanish gentleman.
Phil nodded gratefully, realizing that unlike the Spaniard, whose form of address the native copied, Rodriguez made no empty offer.
“I believe,” the lad continued, a spark of enthusiasm in his voice, “that a gunboat of the tonnage of this vessel is capable of reaching the insurgent stronghold.”
“If you can accomplish that,” Major Marble exclaimed excitedly, “you and your ‘Mindinao’ will make an enviable name for yourselves, for once that stronghold is taken we shall have many surrenders throughout the island.”
“Why not force the insurgents to concentrate on Matiginao,” Phil asked earnestly, “and attack them there?”
“The general has already sent out orders,” Major Marble told them, smiling at the lad’s eagerness, “to attack the insurgents wherever they can be located and for all the troops to concentrate on Palilo, leaving small garrisons in the towns to guard the peaceful natives. He is working up a big plan to attack this stronghold with a large force, and will undoubtedly take the field in person. He is determined to rescue Tillotson, and will giveEspinosa no rest until he is captured or killed.”
The midshipmen listened in delight to this plan, which fitted in so well with their own ideas.
The major soon departed, promising short work in destroying the bridge if the lads discovered the river to be navigable above the house of Rodriguez.
O’Neil was ordered to have a boat’s crew of four men ready to leave the gunboat at one o’clock at night. The distance to Rodriguez’s ranch was somewhat over fifteen miles and the lads did not desire to be seen, so they would pass at night and be safely within friendly land by sunrise. Rodriguez left them soon after to return by land and promised a hearty welcome on their arrival up the river.
Promptly at one o’clock the expedition started. O’Neil had provided the usual gear for surveyors; a compass, a lead line, and also a rifle for each man and a revolver for himself.
Silently they shoved off and rowed with muffled oars up the river, and under the bridge, built substantially in the days of theSpaniards. “A few charges of dynamite would settle it,” Phil thought.
Already O’Neil had uncoiled his lead line and was sounding in the channel of the river.
“It’ll be a cinch, sir,” the boatswain’s mate exclaimed after several soundings had given him no less than four fathoms of water. “Seven feet is all we need and we can carry that for miles until the mountains commence to go up steep; then there’ll be rocks to look out for.”
Mile after mile was pulled in silence except for the light dip of the oars and the dull, almost soundless splash of the lead as it was heaved a short distance forward of the boat.
The midshipmen gazed with apprehension at the forbidding banks of the river. The rank tropical foliage would conceal an army. Riflemen might lie concealed and fire without the slightest fear of discovery.
Gradually the river narrowed, but the depth of water did not grow less.
It was just before dawn when the boat arrived at the bend behind which, by the description given them, would be the landing pier of the Rodriguez ranch.
In a half hour the boat was being cared for by one of the many willing attendants and the sailors were escorted to the palatial residence of Señor Rodriguez.
It was the señorita who came first to meet her old friends.
“Now we are fighting together,” she exclaimed gladly, “and I would like to go out as a man and help.”
Phil thought that nothing so far had deterred her. She had seen as much fighting as most men and had withstood it bravely, and he said so to her.
“You might be valuable, señorita, to put courage in men’s hearts,” Sydney added smiling, “but you would not be very formidable as a soldier.”
Maria bit her lips vexedly.
“I can shoot as well as a man,” she cried half angrily, “and I can ride a horse and paddle a canoe. What more is needed?”
“Something which is not in your makeup,” Phil answered admiringly. “You are not vindictive and are not cruel. But you can do us a favor, if you will. We want to explore the country between here and Matiginao.”
Maria clapped her hands with joy.
“I know every foot of the country,” she cried eagerly. “You couldn’t have better guides than my little brother and I. But,” she added, her voice becoming lower and a fear in her eyes, “my father is now an enemy to the ladrones and insurgents, and it is unsafe to wander away on the lonely trails.”
Phil and Sydney exchanged glances as much as to say, “There is your woman’s argument. One moment she wants to fight and the next she speaks of danger.”
Señor Rodriguez welcomed the midshipmen, and together all sat down to a large table where a delicious breakfast was served.
Phil saw his men were provided for, as he intended leaving them behind, and after breakfast Maria led the party out where five finely bred horses were held by native grooms.
Maria and Juan, who sat his pony as gracefully as if he were a part of the animal, led the way across the open fields surrounding the ranch houses. Then they plunged into a path cleaving the giant trees of the tropical jungle. Limbs of trees brushed their facesand great care was necessary to prevent themselves from being unhorsed.
Phil’s idea was for the boat to wait until dark, and then row up the river as far as possible and return by morning, in order that the general could be informed of the feasibility of the plan and the work of destroying the bridge started. His party, meanwhile, were bent on following this trail toward Matiginao, to reach the ranch before the boat and wait for it. He realized that they were running a great risk, but he believed the necessity for the information was worth the risk run. The trail led mostly within sight of the snake-like river. They passed many dwellings, most of them deserted of all save hungry mongrels and starving pigs.
“This seems to be a fine trail,” Sydney said surprisedly, as they walked their horses two abreast.
“It leads but five miles further,” Maria replied, “and from where it ends, all other trails are those made by animals, and followed seldom by men.”
At a brisk trot Maria started ahead. Thejungle bent away from the road, leaving a high arched canopy over the heads of the travelers, through which the tropical sun shone with sullen impotence.
“There is a small bungalow up here,” the girl announced in pleasurable anticipation. “We shall have our lunch there. Before the big house was built we lived there.”
“How long has it been since you were there?” Sydney asked in sudden anxiety, the fear entering his mind that it might now have other occupants.
“Not for years, señor,” the girl replied in a low voice. “It is very lonesome, besides there are many pulijanes[3]in the mountains.”
The house soon appeared through the thick grove of cocoanut palms with its unkept lawn sloping gently to the river. The grass in front of the house was overhead high, and everything had grown wild and in luxuriant profusion. The house itself was in ruins.
While Maria and little Juan had taken charge of the horses and tethered them amid a good repast of alfalfa, the two lads strolled down to the river.
“Hello, here are some canoes!” Phil exclaimed; “and they’ve been tied here recently,” he added anxiously, as he saw clearly the fresh footprints and the grass trodden down near the landing.
“HELLO, HERE ARE SOMECANOES!”
The lads’ intention had been to investigate the depth of the water in the river, but their startling discovery made them forget all else save the visible evidence that a small body of men had recently landed at this very spot and had taken the almost obliterated trail to the abandoned house. Maria and her brother might even now be prisoners among their enemy. The two midshipmen gazed at each other through eyes wide with apprehension. What was to be done?
“We can’t desert the girl,” Sydney declared, gazing at the trodden grass. “Otherwise we might reach the horses and escape before they discover us.”
“Come,” Phil exclaimed, “there are not many of them, and maybe,” he added reassuringly, “they are not all armed.”
The two lads walked noiselessly toward the house along the dim trail.
The building was now in plain sight. Thewide porch with its profusion of clinging vines was deserted. The long flight of bamboo steps was half in ruins. To the right not a hundred yards distant their horses were standing, their noses deep in the rich grass.
At the foot of the steps the midshipmen halted. There was a mysterious silence in the air about them and they imagined that from the deserted building unfriendly eyes were peering down upon them.
Phil gave a sigh of relief as he saw Maria, leading little Juan, come slowly through the tall grass toward them from the neighborhood of the horses. He made up his mind quickly. Nothing further could be gained here, and the evidence that others had been on this spot very recently was too strong not to take the warning. He caught Sydney’s arm and wheeled him away from the house. The lads had not taken a half dozen steps before a shrill cry from Maria riveted them in their tracks. Over their shoulders they saw that now the porch was filled with natives who were pointing their rifles at them menacingly.
“Come on, we might as well face them,”Phil whispered, his teeth tightly clenched and with his hand on his pistol.
Turning, Phil led the way back to the steps, and there he halted, glancing inquiringly at the unfriendly guns covering him.
A native, apparently an officer, dressed in a dull gray cotton uniform, walked slowly toward him down the rickety steps.
“How dare you insult me and my friends on my own door-step?” Maria’s voice was high pitched in anger. “These gentlemen are my guests. By what right are you here?”
The Filipino officer had stopped half-way on the steps in surprise, his revolver held in front of him. Unconsciously he dropped its muzzle toward the ground and regarded the girl in unfeigned admiration.
“Pardon, señorita,” he said apologetically, using the Spanish of the higher classes of Filipinos. “You, then, are Señorita Rodriguez, and I ask your forgiveness for my rudeness. I thought these señores,” indicating the two midshipmen with a nod of his head, “were Americans and my enemies.”
Phil’s ears were startled by a loud peal oflaughter, and he gazed in almost horror at the girl, believing that she had become hysterical. But a glance at her smiling face showed that her nerves were well in hand. An angry flush suffused his face as it crossed his mind that this was a trap of her own laying. But he blamed himself instantly for even entertaining such a thought. What would she say? She must acknowledge that he and Sydney were Americans, naval officers, though they were not in uniform, having on khaki riding suits. Phil’s hand slowly drew out his revolver from its holster, while his eyes were turned now on the averted face of the native officer.
“From what part of the island have you come?” Maria asked quickly, the smile of superiority still on her face and Phil saw that to the native the smile was disconcerting.
“I am just from Matiginao,” he replied. “I came for fresh meat. To forage on your father’s land.”
The smile died on Maria’s face, but luckily the native had withdrawn his eyes and was regarding closely the young men before him.
Maria felt that the Filipino officer mustknow of her father’s enmity to his new leader, Espinosa. Then as the native’s eyes again traveled to her face the smile reappeared.
“I see all white men are to you Americans. These señores are my guests. I vouch for them,” she told him in a confiding voice. “It was a natural mistake for you to make, Señor——” she stopped questioningly, and he supplied the name. “Salas, colonel in the Filipino army, señorita, at your service,” he said bowing gallantly.
Maria had not guessed at the officer’s identity although she knew most of the important leaders, having known them as a girl at her father’s house before the war had begun. Now the mention of his name almost made her heart stop beating. This frail creature, with the face and figure of a boy, was feared by all who had fallen under his control. He had won the unenviable reputation of being the most cruel of the insurgent leaders, first in Luzon under Aguinaldo and then on the island of Kapay. He was scarcely older than Phil, and yet he held the rank of colonel.
“Your name, señor,” she smiled, “is onewell known throughout Kapay. In appearance you are not the ogre that you are painted.”
Colonel Salas’ white, even teeth gleamed between his thin lips. He felt himself the master of the situation. Here was the proud daughter of Rodriguez complimenting him. His small soul was nourished by the thought that he was feared by all.
“Then, señorita,” he said, “if you do not consider me an ogre, will you and your English friends accept the offer of a share in my frugal meal? It is now ready inside.”
The midshipmen had watched with beating hearts this plucky girl’s brave fence with the subtle native and as he pronounced the word English he glanced at the silent lads. Phil thought he saw a gleam of joy in his cruel eyes.
“They do not speak Spanish?” he asked, shrugging his shoulder expressively as much as to answer the question himself in the negative. It was better so; one could play the game better than two and the lads now knew that Maria was an adept in diplomacy, and could be depended upon to make a better andintelligent fight for their lives. That their lives were in danger was but too evident to the lads. The native soldiers still covered them with their rifles, and Colonel Salas had moved to Maria’s side as they had talked, leaving the line of fire quite clear. A word from him and a score of bullets would be tearing through their bodies. Did the officer believe that they were English? Had he already seen through the deception, and made up his mind to maneuver so as to kill them at the least risk to himself and men? Phil gauged the distance between himself and the insolent face of this young colonel and resolved that the word of command to his men to fire should be a dear one for the smiling colonel.