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He had been the hard-bitten captain of a hard-bitten company, fighting Moros in the jungles of Mindanao. Then, through the early years of the Twentieth Century, after his father's death, he had been that rara avis in the American service, a really wealthy professional officer. He had played polo, and served a turn as military attache at the Paris embassy.
"You're one of five wounded in to-night's performance, and two of our finest men are dead." Corporal Duxbridge covered his face with his hands. "I was a big fool," he confessed brokenly. There were no more attacks that night, but in the morning the Moros developed a new style of trouble.
I could see the bottom of the fish net bag. Now it was even with the cave. I could reach it if it was only a little nearer. Why did not those foolish Moros swing it nearer? I leaned out from the cave again to try and signal to them. What was this I saw? Not one, but twenty black faces grinning down at me with devilish cruelty.
Though the latent passion of battle stirred in the Moros' breasts, they were compelled to heed. Piang had proved a wise charm boy, and the tribe must obey him. Added to the pitfalls of the obscure trail, were hostile territories to be traversed, and if the enemies' fire-tree had bloomed, they would surely be attacked and probably despoiled of their cargo.
The boyish sergeant, who knew his business, marched his little command about six hundred yards under the trees. Still no Moros were encountered. Then Hal turned his line to the left, marching on through the woods. In this manner, in less than an hour, he had thoroughly explored the territory near the Seaforth plantation, and had returned to the point where his command had first entered the forest.
Furthermore, the Moros, so far as they can think, would prefer to owe allegiance to, and be entitled to recognition as subjects of, some great nation.
During the night there were three assaults against the force on the hill, though none of them were desperately fought. "Hakkut is going to adopt a new trick of keeping us awake day and night," muttered Captain Freeman grimly. The next day there was more annoying firing against the trenches, though the Moros had learned their lesson too well to attempt any rushes during daylight.
The Moros, like the Tagalos and Pampangos, are fond of getting an enemy at close quarters, and then leaping on him with cold steel. The Tagalo or Pampango fights with the bolo, the Moro often with the creese, and with all these brown-skinned men the game is the same to leap up unexpectedly, from the tall grass, before the soldier has had time to throw himself on his guard.
There was Chananay dressed as Leonor in Il Trovatore, talking in the language of the markets to Ratia in the costume of a schoolmaster; Yeyeng, wrapped in a silk shawl, was clinging to the Prince Villardo; while Balbino and the Moros were exerting themselves to console the more or less injured musicians. Several Spaniards went from group to group haranguing every one they met.
They promised, as his Majesty's vassals, to go on all occasions to serve him with their persons, men, and ships, whenever summoned by whomever commanded the fort of Terrenate; that they would oppose no obstacles to the Moros who wished to become Christians; that if any wicked Christian went to their lands to turn renegade, they would surrender him; and other suitable things.
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