CHAPTER XXIITHE ESCAPED OUTLAW
Lukbanwas the first to recover from the stunning news that Espinosa had, by a miracle, escaped out of the Americans’ hands when all outlets were supposed to have been covered.
“He doesn’t dare stay in Kapay,” the native exclaimed after Phil had explained to the general the manner of his escape. “The natives fear him, but without his followers and with the incumbrance of Rodriguez’s treasure, the dangers he must face will make him do his utmost to leave the island.”
General Wilson listened intently, his eyes wandering over the victorious battle-field behind him where Captain Blynn’s men were quietly disarming the now docile natives.
“I fear we cannot stop him now,” General Wilson said disappointedly, “but I suppose we should be satisfied with our victory. This means the end of the war on Kapay.”
Lukban had turned and was earnestly engaged in conversation with Lopez, and then he asked several eager questions of Garcia, who had joined the group. Finally he turned to General Wilson, his black eyes snapping with renewed eagerness.
“Lopez wishes to follow him,” he exclaimed excitedly. “He will take his hundred men, who are only too anxious to see him captured and punished for his many crimes, and especially for the murder of Señor Rodriguez. If he is pressed closely he will make for the nearest point of escape which by the trail is Banate. This Garcia assures me was his intention if he was defeated. Garcia wishes to go with Lopez, and he can arrange a signal by fires on the hill behind the swamps to be seen by the gunboat at sea. The gunboat must go down the river at once and at sea await the signal. Espinosa must attempt his escape by proa to Megras. It is only fifty miles away and if he reaches there he will be safe for the time among his friends living on that island.”
Phil’s face suddenly beamed in smiles as Lukban’s plan slowly unfolded before him.Highly delighted, he shook hands enthusiastically with the speaker, until the latter cried out in pain from the well meant but rough show of appreciation.
“Major Marble and I will return with you at once,” General Wilson added quietly to Phil after he had in but a few words approved the proposed plan. “Blynn can settle the question of prisoners. I’d like to have Espinosa behind bars before I wire to Manila giving them this news.”
Phil solemnly told of the sad fate of Lieutenant Tillotson and the general shook his head mournfully.
“Maybe it is better so,” he whispered half to himself, but to Phil, standing close by, these words from the old soldier’s heart came distinctly.
A detail of men carried the body of the dead officer across the battle-field, and as they passed solemnly through the joyful troops who had collected to cheer the white-haired veteran, the soldiers became suddenly silent as their eyes fell upon the stretcher and were told the identity of that figure underneath the flag. None had reverenced the officer in life,but in death all were anxious to render respect.
Phil told the general of the pitiful plight of Lieutenant Tillotson, and of the cruel manner of his death, and generously praised the doubtful courage of the army man.
“It’s a glorious end for a soldier,” General Wilson murmured. “I have always felt that I could welcome it, and now,” he added disappointedly, “I shall probably die in my bed like an ordinary citizen. My career is almost over; in another year I shall have left active service behind.”
While the general and his party climbed down the difficult trail to reach the gunboat at anchor in the river below them, Lopez and Garcia with their trusty company had nimbly descended the almost precipitous side of the mountain and were eagerly following the trail of the fleeing insurgent and his ill-gotten spoils.
The “Mindinao” steamed fearlessly down the river, her flag at half-mast in honor of those whose mortal remains lay covered on the quarter-deck; the soldiers who had given their lives in the attack on the most formidableof insurgent strongholds. Phil and O’Neil were given prompt attention by the surgeon and several ugly wounds were carefully dressed. Phil was glad to relinquish his command to Sydney and remained luxuriously in his cot.
At Rodriguez’s ranch the gunboat stopped and reverently landed the dead heroes, to be buried in the cemetery, and here General Wilson and his adjutant-general disembarked to return to Palilo by road.
Just as the “Mindinao” started ahead, after landing her passengers, on its way to the mouth of the river, a native canoe paddled rapidly from the landing, and ran up alongside of the gunboat. An excited hail came from its occupant, answered by an angry cry from Major Lukban who turned, his face deathly pale, and his hands trembling, to the midshipmen at his side.
“Señorita Maria is missing,” he gasped.
The midshipmen were stunned at the suddenness of this unexpected and disquieting news. Maria captured! What did it mean?
Lukban declared that his first duty was to his young mistress and the lads heartily approvedof his desire to be landed to attempt to trail the lost girl and her brother.
The excited native was brought on board from his canoe and told the eager men the meagre details of her loss.
She and Juan had gone out to the cemetery in the morning, and had not returned. A search had been made in the afternoon and the footprints of men had been discovered, showing that the girl had fallen into the hands of a party of natives.
The midshipmen bade good-bye to their native friend who entered the canoe and paddled shoreward, and then Phil rang for full speed ahead on the engines.
“The loyalty of these natives to the Rodriguez family is touching,” Sydney exclaimed in admiration. “Garcia alone betrayed his friend; but he did it through superstitious fear of the Katipunan society. Lopez is as staunch as a rock, and Lukban, you can see, would lay down his life willingly for his young mistress.”
Two hours later the “Mindinao” had steamed through the harbor of Palilo and turned her bow northward.
During the night Sydney and O’Neil took turns with Phil in standing watch on the gunboat’s bridge, carefully searching the shore for the signal agreed upon with Lopez. Would he succeed in coming up with the fleeing outlaw?
The night wore slowly along and morning dawned clear, finding all three of the Americans up and on the bridge of the rapidly moving vessel.
No sails were in sight. A wide expanse of water was before them, while on the port hand the low swamp land of Banate was in plain sight.
Phil steered his ship in toward the bamboo town nestling in the hollow of two small hills in the midst of the swampy mouth of the Mani River. As they approached, the Americans could discover naught but the usual listless life of a Filipino village.
“I’ll patrol here,” Phil said, as he steered further offshore.
All day long the gunboat steamed backward and forward over fifteen miles of coast line. An occasional sail was sighted and overhauled, only to find in it a handful of frightened fishermen.
As night approached the gunboat was brought to a stop in the centre of the line of patrol in order that it might be at an equal distance from all possible points of departure, in case Espinosa had eluded his pursuers.
“If he has a proa in waiting, hidden in the swamps of one of these estuaries, he will choose night for his escape,” Phil declared as he studied his inaccurate chart, “and at night he can easily elude us, for it is too dark to see a half mile. Our only hope is that there will be no wind, and if the air is sufficiently calm we can hear the dip of oars for miles.”
Phil stationed his sailors as lookouts everywhere, with orders to listen alertly and make known to him if they heard the slightest sound.
The night drew on. The others had gone below for their broken night’s sleep, and Sydney was alone on the bridge. A half dozen lookouts were alert, peering into the night, their energies bent on catching the faintest sound from the distant shore.
Suddenly Sydney’s ears caught a dull sound which seemed to come from the direction of the land. He listened intently, hisbreath held tight. The dawn wind brought to his nostrils the sweet damp smell of earth mingled with the pungent odor of smoke from the early morning fires of the villagers.
All lights were extinguished on the “Mindinao” and the midshipman knew that the vessel was, even at a short distance, invisible.
Now the sound came distinctly to his ears. It was the steady dip of oars and their rattle in the locks. He could hear the low muffled swish as the blades shook themselves clear of the water.
Several of the lookouts reported in whispers the presence of the strange craft.
Gradually the sound approached, the boat invisible, while slowly the gray streak of dawn spread in the east. The sound was now located ahead and the boat appeared to be traveling fast, doubtless propelled by both oars and sail. Was it only a fisherman going out early to spread his nets? Or was it the outlaw Espinosa attempting escape, and carrying off Rodriguez’s gold and the more precious treasures, Maria and Juan?
Sydney sent one of the men to call Phil to the bridge immediately.