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UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Or
Following the Flag against the Moros
by
H. IRVING HANCOCK
Author of Uncle Sam's Boys in the Ranks, Uncle Sam's Boys on Field Duty,
Uncle Sam's Boys as Sergeants, The Motor Boat Club Series, The Grammar
School Boys Series, The High School Boys Series, The West Point Series,
The Annapolis Series, The Young Engineers Series, etc., etc.
Illustrated
[Illustration: "It Won't be Necessary, Corporal." _Frontispiece._]
Philadelphia
Henry Altemus Company
Copyright, 1912, By Howard E. Altemus
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE FILIPINO DANDY 7
II. A MEETING AT THE NIPA BARRACKS 26
III. PLOTTERS TRAVEL WITH THE FLAG 42
IV. CERVERRA'S INNOCENT SHOP 54
V. ENOUGH TO "RATTLE" THE VICTIM 65
VI. LIFE HANGS ON A WORD 70
VII. THE KIND OF MAN WHO MASTERS OTHERS 81
VIII. THE RIGHT MAN IN THE GUARD HOUSE 87
IX. NEWS COMES OF THE UPRISING 98
X. THE INSULT TO THE FLAG 112
XI. IN THE FIRST BRUSH WITH MOROS 124
XII. THE BROWN MEN AT BAY--FOR HOW LONG? 131
XIII. A TALE OF MORO BLACKMAIL 141
XIV. THE CALL FOR MIDNIGHT COURAGE 149
XV. IN A CINCH WITH COLD STEEL 161
XVI. DATTO HAKKUT MAKES A NEW MOVE 168
XVII. "LONG" GREEN AND KELLY HAVE INNINGS 177
XVIII. SENTRY MIGGS MAKES A GRUESOME FIND 187
XIX. HAL TURNS THE GATLING GUN LOOSE 196
XX. CORPORAL DUXBRIDGE'S MISTAKE 208
XXI. SCOUTING IN DEADLY EARNEST 220
XXII. PLAYING GOO-GOO IN A GRIM GAME 228
XXIII. DOOMING THE DATTO 236
XXIV. CONCLUSION 246
Uncle Sam's Boys in the Philippines
CHAPTER I
THE FILIPINO DANDY
"We've solved one problem at last, Noll," declared Sergeant Hal Overton
seriously.
"Only one?" demanded young Sergeant Terry quizzically.
But Hal, becoming only the more serious, went on earnestly:
"At last we begin to understand just what the 'lure of the Orient'
means! For years I've been reading about the Orient, and the way that
this part of the world charms men and holds them. Now, that we are here
on the spot, I begin to understand it all. Noll, my boy, the East is a
great and wonderful place! I wonder if I shall ever tire of it?"
"I believe I could tire of it in time," remarked Sergeant Terry, of the
Thirty-fourth United States Infantry.
"But you haven't yet," insisted Sergeant Hal.
"What, when we've been here only three days? Naturally I haven't. And,
besides, all we've seen is Manila, and certainly Manila can't be more
than one little jumping-off corner of the Orient that you're so
enthusiastic about."
"You're wild about the Far East, too--even the one little corner of it
that we've seen," retorted Sergeant Hal. "Don't be a grouch or a
knocker, Noll. Own up that you wouldn't start for the United States
to-morrow if you were offered double pay back in the home country."
"No; I wouldn't," confessed Sergeant Terry. "I want to see a lot more of
these Philippine Islands before I go back to our own land."
"Just halt where you are and look about you," went on enthusiastic
Sergeant Hal. "Try to picture this scene as Broadway, in New York."
"Or Main Street in our own little home city," laughed Sergeant Terry
quietly.
Certainly the scene was entirely different from anything that the two
young Army boys had ever seen before.
They stood on the Escolta, which is the main business thoroughfare of
New Manila, as that portion of the Philippine capital north of the
little river is called. South of the river is Old Manila, the walled
city of the old days of the Spanish conquerors. South of the walled city
lie two rather fashionable residence suburbs, Ermita and Malate.
But the Thirty-fourth was temporarily stationed in big nipa barracks at
Malate. It was in the newer Manila that the two boyish young sergeants
found their greatest interest.
It was a busy, bustling scene. There is nothing exactly like the Escolta
in any other part of the world. The whole of this crooked, winding
thoroughfare seemed alive with horses and people--with the horses in
more than goodly proportion.
Along the Escolta are the principal wholesale and retail houses of the
city. Here is the post office, there the "Botanica" or principal drug
store, operating under English capital and a Spanish name; down near the
water front is the Hotel de Paris, a place famous for the good dinners
of the East. Further up the Escolta, just around a slight bend, is the
Oriente Hotel, the stopping place of Army officers and their families,
of passing travelers and of civil employees of the government.
At this point along the Escolta are the busiest marts of local trade.
The sidewalks are crowded with hurrying throngs; the streets jammed with
traffic, for in Manila few of the whites or the wealthier natives ever
think of walking more than a block or two. The _quilez_, the little
two-wheeled car drawn by a six-hundred-pound pony, is the common means
of getting about. A dollar in American money will charter one of these
_quilez_ for hours, and the heat renders it an advisable investment for
one who has far to go.
Automobiles were scarce, though they had penetrated even this congested
Escolta. Here and there an Army officer or orderly appeared on horseback
in the crush of the street. If he attempted to ride at a canter the
horseman seemed to be taking his life in his own hands, with the chances
all against him.
Save for the lazy calls of drivers--_cocheros_--to their horses, the hum
of human voices was subdued. In the heat of the Escolta the people of
all colors seem to have reached a tacit understanding that it requires
less exertion to talk in low tones.
White people of both sexes appeared, clad usually in the white attire so
customary in the tropics. Filipino dandies affected the same garbing,
with the exception of here and there a natty, nervous, little brown man
who appeared in the more formal black frock coat. But few, even of
these, had the courage to come out in sun-up hours wearing the silk hat
that is the usual accompaniment of the long-tailed frock coat.
Despite the heat, the faces of most of the people in the crowded streets
appeared cheerful, even happy. Life is not taken too seriously in the
Orient. The natives always find plenty of time for laughter; the
stranger soon acquires the trick.
Banks, stores, restaurants, mineral water kiosks--all the places of
resort along the Escolta--were abundantly patronized, yet none save the
_cocheros_ perched up on the little seats of the _quilez_ appeared to be
at all in a hurry.
Yet one man in particular appeared to be devoid of hurry. In fact, he
paused or halted whenever the two boyish young sergeants did. He
invariably kept about a hundred feet behind them in this queerly
bustling yet ever leisurely crowd that thronged the sidewalks of the
Escolta.
While Hal and Noll were curiously noting the fact--that the Escolta
seems always so busy, but the individuals who make up the life there
seem never in a hurry--the man who was plainly following them never
glanced at them directly, yet never once lost sight of them.
Neither Hal nor Noll had yet noted the man, about whom there were some
points that would have been amusing to the American youngsters.
This man was a Filipino. At first glance one would have believed him to
be a Tagalo, or member of the most warlike and ambitious of all the
eighty-odd tribes that make up the peoples of these islands. The Tagalos
are the tribe most frequently found in and around Manila, and in the
provinces nearest to that city. In apearance the Tagalos look a
good deal like underfed Japanese. It was to the Tagalos that the
_insurrecto_ leader, Aguinaldo, belonged.
These Tagalos, however, consider themselves in every way the equals and
match for any white man. The Tagalos have absorbed much of the Spanish
civilization. Many of them are wealthy and the sons of such families
generally hold degrees from Philippine colleges. Well-to-do Tagalos,
despite their undersized stature and dark-brown skins, affect all the
culture--and the vices--of well-to-do white people. They conduct banks,
engage in commerce, mingle with white society, and consider themselves
as bright lights of civilization. Above all, every Tagalo takes keen
interest in politics. Yet these Tagalos, up to date, are only veneered
Malays.
This Filipino who was so patiently following Sergeants Hal and Noll
appeared to belong to the well-to-do class. Certainly he was an
immaculate dandy. He was about five feet two inches in height, and wore
neat-fitting, well-tailored white duck garments. The blouse was buttoned
down in front, a military, braided white collar standing up stiffly,
rendering the wearing of a shirt unnecessary. On his feet were highly
polished tan shoes of American make. On his head he wore a jaunty,
straight-brimmed straw hat of the best native manufacture. In his right
hand this irreproachable Filipino dandy lightly swung a feather-weight
bamboo cane.
His eyes were dark, gleaming, intense--fitted either to reflect
laughter or sharp anger. But what rendered this man, who appeared to be
close to thirty-five years of age, ridiculous to American eyes was his
mustache. This was blue-black in color, waxed to two fine, bristling,
upturned points--a fashion that this dandy had undoubtedly caught from
some former Spanish military officer.
"They are boys--they will suit my purpose excellently," murmured the
Filipino to himself, as he halted before a window where tropical
outfittings for men were attractively displayed. Yet, though he gazed in
at the window, he saw Sergeants Hal and Noll out of the corners of his
eyes. "They are young, ambitious; they are enlisted men, therefore poor.
Even in this short time these boys must have learned the craving for the
things that money alone will buy. No man, in the Orient, can escape that
knowledge and that longing for money. That is why it is so easy to buy
men's souls here in the East. Shall I go up and speak to them? But no!
There they go into a curio store where they will find much that they may
wish to buy. I will follow my young _sergentes_ inside in five
minutes--or ten. _Then_ they will be ripe for the man who talks money."
Hal and Noll had entered one of the most attractive little shops to be
found anywhere along the Escolta. This store is kept by a Chinaman, who
sells the more costly curios of the Far East. China's choicest silks are
here displayed; also her finest teakwoods and curious boxes and cabinets
of sandal and other valued woods, inlaid with pearl, or studded with
rare jades. Here are wonderful creations carved out of ivory, idols of
all kinds and sizes, of the highest grades of artistic workmanship. Here
are wonderful beaded portieres and the most costly of curious Chinese
garments for women. In a word, the bazaars of China are nobly
represented on the Escolta. But there is much more besides. The most
attractive curios from India, from Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula and of
native Filipino workmanship are all to be found here. It is not the
place to enter when one has not much money.
No wonder Sergeant Overton and Sergeant Terry moved from counter to
counter, pricing and sighing. Each young Army boy wanted to send home
something worth while to his mother. Yet how small a sergeant's pay
seems in such a bazaar!
Hal Overton and Noll Terry need no introduction to the reader of the
earlier volumes in this series. "$1," as our readers are aware, details
how Hal and Noll, reared in love of the Flag and respect for the
military, determined, at the age of eighteen, to enlist in the Regular
Army. Our readers followed the new recruits to the recruit rendezvous,
where the young men received their first drillings in the art of being a
soldier. From there they followed Hal and Noll westward, to Fort
Clowdry, in the Colorado mountains, where the young soldiers went
through their first thrilling experiences of the strenuous side of Army
life, proving themselves, whether in barracks, on drill ground or under
fire on a lonely sentry post, to be the sort of American youths of whom
the best soldiers are made.
Readers of "$1" already know how Hal and Noll went several steps further
in learning the work of the soldier; of their surprisingly good and
highly adventurous work in practical problems of field life. In this
volume was described field life and outpost duty, and scouting duty as
well, as they are actually taught in the Army. In this volume is told
also how Hal and Noll while out with a scouting party supplied their
company with unexpected bear meat. Our readers, too, will remember the
thrilling work of Hal and Noll, under Lieutenant Prescott, in capturing
a desperate character badly wanted by the state authorities. These young
soldiers were heroes of other absorbing adventures; their fine work
eventually leading to their appointments as corporals.
In "UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS" our readers will recall a host of
happenings that belong to military life, among them the stirring
military tournament in which a battalion of "Ours" took part at Denver,
and the all but tragic results of that tournament; the soldier
hunting-party up in the Rockies, in which Hal and Noll thoroughly
distinguished themselves both as hunters and as soldiers and commanders.
And now we find the entire Thirty-fourth Infantry in Manila, stationed
there briefly pending details at other points in the islands.
As we look in upon Sergeants Overton and Terry to-day we find them two
years older than when they first enlisted--but many years older in all
the fine qualities that go to make up the best manhood.
Either young sergeant's word was as good as his bond in the
Thirty-fourth. Truthful, ambitious, manly, thoroughly trained and
capable of commanding; in a word, _men_ in character and abilities,
while yet boys in years.
This much had two years of life in the United States Army done for Hal
Overton and Noll Terry. Could other training have done more?
And these were the young Americans whom the alert-eyed, trailing
Filipino dandy had already singled out and had planned to corrupt to his
own purposes.
Yet the astute man of the world knows more than one way of ruining and
disgracing simple-hearted, true-souled young fellows. Not even Satan is
credited with appearing often in evil guise at first.
Perhaps this Filipino, a wicked fellow of long training, knew how to go
about his work.
"Going to buy anything, Noll?" asked Hal at last, after the two young
sergeants had made the round of the bewildering, attractive store.
"I would, if I could find anything worth while that didn't take a
sergeant's whole year's pay," sighed Terry.
"Things are fearfully dear here, aren't they?" murmured Overton. "Yet I
want to send something home as a remembrance to mother."
"What do you fancy most?" asked Noll.
"If you haven't anything else on your mind, come around and I'll show
you," Hal proposed.
Nodding, Noll accompanied his chum. Hal stopped to rest one hand lightly
on a very wonderful little chest, made out of teak and sandal woods. It
was richly, wonderfully carved, the darker teakwood being also inlaid
with pearl. Inside were compartments and drawers, including two little
secret drawers that the smiling Chinese salesman artfully opened and
exposed to view.
"One all same fo' _dinero_ (money), other fo' plecious stones, jewels,
you _sabe_," cooed the yellow attendant.
"It's a beauty and a wonder," murmured Hal. "Mother'd be the proudest
woman in town if I could send it home to her. How much did you say it
cost?"
"Him tloo hundled pesos," stated the Chinaman gravely.
A _peso_ is the Spanish name for a Mexican dollar, worth about
forty-seven cents; but two _pesos_ and an American dollar are reckoned
as of the same value in Manila.
"A hundred dollars gold! Why, that's the same price you asked me
before," cried Hal in good-natured protest.
"Yep, allee same; him plenty cheap."
"It's too much," sighed Sergeant Hal. But the Chinaman, as though he had
not heard, asked:
"You likee? You buy?"
"I can't afford it at that price."
"All light; come in some other day," invited the Chinaman politely, and
glided over to where another possible customer was examining some
handsome jade jewelry.
"My _soldado_ (soldier) friend has not been long in Manila?" inquired a
low, pleasant, courteous voice behind the two young soldiers.
Hal wheeled. It was the Filipino dandy whom he confronted. That smiling,
prosperous-looking native was employing his left hand to twist one end
of the upturned moustache to a finer point.
"No; we haven't been here long," Hal smiled. "Three days, in fact."
"And you do not yet know how to bargain with these sharp-witted _Chinos_
(Chinese)?"
"I'm afraid not," said Sergeant Overton.
"May I ask, senor, what you wished to buy?"
"This box," Hal answered.
"And how much did the _Chino_ want for it, if I may make bold enough to
ask so much of the senor's business?"
"Why, he wants a hundred dollars in gold," Hal responded.
The Filipino dandy inspected the box critically.
"You are right, senor; the price is too high. It is _muy caro_ (very
dear), in fact. It could be bought for less, if you knew better how to
deal with these smiling yellow heathen."
"I'd be greatly obliged, then, if you would tell me how to put the
bargain through."
"You should get this rare and handsome box, senor, for ninety dollars,
gold--even, perhaps, for not much more than eighty."
"Even that would be a fearful price for me to pay," murmured Hal,
shaking his head regretfully. "I shall have to give up the idea, I
guess."
"Ah, but no!" cried the Filipino, as though struck suddenly by an idea.
"Not if the senor will do me one very great favor!"
"What favor can I possibly do you?" asked Sergeant Hal, regarding the
little brown man with considerable astonishment.
"Why, it is all very simple, senor. Simply let me feel that I have been
permitted to do a courtesy to an _Americano_ to one of the race to which
I owe so much. In a word, senor, I am not--as you may perhaps
guess"--here the Filipino swelled slightly with a pride that was
plain--"I am not exactly a poor man, not since the _Americanos_ came to
these islands and gave us the blessings of liberty and just government.
I have many business ventures, and one of them lies in my being a
secret--no, what you _Americanos_ call a silent partner of the _Chino_
who conducts this store. Now the favor that I ask--senor, I beg you to
let me present you with this handsome little box, that you may send it
over the waters to your sweetheart."
"Make me a present of it?" demanded Sergeant Hal in amazement.
"Ah, yes, exactly so, senor; and I shall be greatly honored by your very
kind acceptance. And your friend--he shall select anything--valuable and
handsome--that he would like for his sweetheart."
Neither young sergeant had a sweetheart outside of his mother. It was
for their mothers that they sought suitable-priced curios. In their
amazement, however, neither Hal nor Noll took the trouble to correct
this smiling, polite stranger.
"Thank you," said Overton promptly. "We can't accept, of course, though
it is very kind of you to make the offer--so very kind that it almost
takes our breath away."
"And why can you not accept?" insisted the Filipino. He was still
smiling, but there was now something so insistent in his voice that Noll
answered quickly:
"Because we cannot accept gifts from strangers."
"Ah, but you do not yet know the Orient. You must have things here; you
must have money to spend, and feel the pleasure of spending it, or you
will die."
"Thank you," laughed Sergeant Hal, "but at present my health is
excellent. As for dying, that has no terror for the soldier."
"Ah, yes, to die like a soldier!" protested the Filipino, with a shrug
of his shoulders. "But would you die of sheer weariness and envy? There
are pleasures in this country which only money will buy. Without the
money, without these pleasures, life soon becomes bitter. You do not
know, but I do, for I have watched thousands of your _Americano_
soldiers here. Now, I have money--too much! It is my whim to see that
the _soldados_ enjoy themselves. I have begged many a soldier to honor
me by letting me purchase him a little pleasure. Come, I will show you
now! Wait! I will send for a carriage--not a _quilez,_ but a victoria.
Say the word, give the consent, and I will show you at once what is
called pleasure here in the East--in Manila."
Though he spoke in low tones, the Filipino made almost extravagant
gestures. As he kept on he warmed up to his subject.
"Shall I call a victoria?" he asked.
"If you wish," replied Sergeant Hal dryly.
"Ah, that is the way I like to hear you say it!" cried the little
Filipino, and hastened toward the door.
He went away so rapidly, in fact, that he did not have time to note
young Sergeant Overton's altered manner. From a feeling of embarrassment
over having to repulse a stranger's ill-advised offer of generosity,
Hal, his eyes watching the man's face, speedily took a dislike to the
Filipino.
"Come along, Noll," Overton whispered. "We'll get out of this. I don't
like the fellow."
"You like him as well as I do," muttered Sergeant Terry.
At the door of the store they again caught sight of the dandy, who, with
hand extended, was at that moment signaling a _cochero_ to drive his
victoria in to the curb.
"It could not have been better," cried the little brown tempter. "Just
as I came out I saw an empty victoria."
"I congratulate you," smiled Sergeant Hal.
"No, but this is the carriage, here," cried the Filipino, as Hal and
Noll turned to walk down the Escolta.
"Get in, then, and enjoy yourself," called back Hal.
In an instant the Filipino was in front of them, barring their way.
"But you permitted me to stop a carriage," he protested, bewildered.
"Exactly," nodded Hal, "and we hope you will enjoy yourself. Step aside,
please, for we want to pass on."
"But you are not going with me, after----"
"Nothing was said about that," Hal answered, "and we have other plans.
Good-bye."
As the Filipino dandy once more tried to place himself in front of the
young sergeant, Hal gently but firmly thrust the insistent fellow aside.
The Filipino stood glaring after them until the two Army boys were out
of sight. The glint in his eyes was far from pleasant.
"Now, what on earth did that fellow want of us?" demanded Noll
wonderingly.
"Nothing good, anyway," returned Hal Overton. "Intending benefactors
don't act in that fashion. He may represent a bad phase of life out
here. Let's forget him. Say, here's a store we must have overlooked on
our way up here. Let's go in."
Half an hour later the Army boys came out of the store, each carrying a
small parcel. For his first present home each young soldier had bought
for his mother a small assortment of the wonderfully filmy _pina_ lace
handkerchiefs made by the native women.
"No _quilez_ around here for hire," said Hal, after looking up and down
the Escolta. "Let's walk across the bridge over the Pasig. We'll be more
likely to find an idle _cochero_ on the other side of the river."
As they started the sky was darkening, and the lightning beginning to
flash, for this was in early July, at the height of the rainy season.
"I hope we find a _cochero_ soon," muttered Noll, looking up at the dark
sky. "I don't fancy the idea of walking all the way out to Malate in a
downpour."
They were not quite over the bridge when the storm broke in all its
force. Tropical thunder crashed with a fury that made artillery fire
seem trifling. Great sheets of lightning flashed on all sides.
"Hustle, before we get drowned," laughed Sergeant Hal, breaking into a
fast run. "There's shelter just beyond the end of the bridge."
The shelter for which both soldiers headed was a kiosk, barely larger
than a sentry-box, that had once been erected for the convenience of the
native boys who stood there with relief horses for the service of the
old street car line.
The door stood open. Eager to make any port in a storm, Hal and Noll
bolted inside just in time to hear an angry voice declare:
"I had them picked out--two young _sergentes_, mere boys. At first they
were very polite--a minute later they made fun of me to my face--me,
Vicente Tomba! But I shall know them again, I shall see them, and I
shall make them wish they had never been born. I----"
The Filipino dandy stopped short as the two Army boys stepped briskly
inside. He gave a gasp as he recognized them.
"We meet again," remarked Hal dryly.
The dandy's companion, a big, florid-faced man of forty, in the usual
immaculate white duck of the white man, eyed the boys keenly.