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"Bernardo Leonardo Ricardo Eduardo Gerardo or what?" "Andong, sir!" repeated the imbecile. "Put it down Bernardo, or whatever it may be," dictated the alferez. "Surname?" The man gazed at him in terror. "What name have you that is added to the name Andong?" "Ah, sir! Andong the Witless, sir!" The bystander's could not restrain a smile. Even the alferez paused in his pacing about. "Occupation?"
The grief of the people was changed to wrath against the young man, accused of having provoked the riot. The alferez gave orders to depart. "You are a coward!" cried the mother-in-law of Andong to Ibarra. "While the others were fighting for you, you were hiding. Coward!" "Curses upon you!" shouted an old man following him. "Cursed be the gold hoarded up by your family to disturb our peace!
The alferez ordered the directorcillo to question him. "Señor, Señor," he groaned. "I will tell you all that you wish." "Good. Let us see! What is your name?" "Andong, Señor!" "Bernardo ... Leonardo ... Ricardo ... Educardo. Gerardo ... or what?" "Andong, Señor," repeated the imbecile. "Call it Bernardo or whatever you please," said the alferez, decided not to bother more about it.
"What family name?" The man looked at him frightened. "What's your name? What do you add to the name Andong?" "Ah, Señor! Those standing around could not resist a laugh. The alferez himself stopped short. "What is your business?" "Cocoanut tree pruner, Señor, and servant for my mother-in-law." "Who ordered you to attack the cuartel?" "Nobody, Señor." "What's that; nobody?
To arrest my Andong, to shoot at him, to put him in the stocks, to take him to the capital, and only because because he had a new pair of pantaloons! This calls for vengeance! The civil-guards are committing abuses! I swear that if I ever again catch one of them in my garden, as has often happened, I'll chop him up, I'll chop him up, or else let him try to chop me up!"
So the sorrow of the families was converted into anger toward the young man, who was accused of having started the trouble. The alferez gave the order to set out. "You're a coward!" the mother-in-law of Andong cried after Ibarra. "While others were fighting for you, you hid yourself, coward!" "May you be accursed!" exclaimed an old man, running along beside him.
Doray broke into a bitter lamentation and two soldiers had to work hard to keep her from embracing her husband. Antonio, the son of Captain Tinay, next appeared, crying like a child a fact which made the family cry all the more. The imbecile, Andong, broke out in a wail when he saw his mother-in-law, the cause of his misfortune.
Don't you lie or we will put you in the well. Who ordered you to do it? Speak the truth." "That's the truth, Señor." "Who?" "Who?" "I ask you who ordered you to revolt." "What revolt, Señor?" "That one last night, when you were in the tribunal yard." "Ah, Señor!" exclaimed Andong, blushing. "Who was to blame for that?" "My mother-in-law, Señor." A laugh of surprise followed this reply.
"They arrest my Andong, wound him, put him in the stocks, and take him to the capital, all because he happened to be in the cuartel yard." But few people had any sympathy for the Mussulman mother-in-law. "Don Crisostomo is to blame for all of this," sighed a woman. The school teacher also was wandering about in the crowd.
"Ah, sir!" exclaimed Andong, blushing. "Who's guilty of that?" "My mother-in-law, sir!" Surprise and laughter followed these words.
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