The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-10-13

known.
"Oh, thou ungrateful one!" NUT
tered Mariana; and l was to p,ow to-
day. Juanito!" he called.
Isl PADRE" answered Juanito, APP
pearing in the doorway arrayed in a
pair of short trousers, his customary
costume.
Good boy, to answer in Spanish"
said the father, smiling, ana holding
out his hand, which Juanito dutifully
kissed, as all good little Filipinos are
expected to do every morning, and all
bad ones must. ''See," went on Ma
riano, that pig of Jefe has broken
his rope, and gone probably to the
river bend. Get from thy mother some
breakfast and seek him."
Juanito looked thoughtful. "Per-
haps the crazy Englishmen who ar
rived yesterday have stolen him." he
suggested.
Two naturalists, who seemed En-
glish, had come to the village the even
ing before, and spent the night at the
priests house. Juanito had seen them,
and had thought of little else ever
since.
= "Ingleses do not steal carabaos, thou
monkey" answered Mariana. "These
two particular lunatics seek only bugs
and snakes. Thinkest thou that they
could put Jefe in their pockets? Haste
away, now, and come not back without
him."
Juanito secured two plump bananas
from his mother and trudged away
across the fields toward the bend in the
river Carabaos at liberty for the time
being always assembled there to sink
themselves up to the eyes in the cool
water, and to doze in comfort, defying
their insect tormentors.
Juanito munched his bananas as he
went along in the cool morning air,
and soon was pushing his way through
the bushes which shirted the river, fol-
lowing the path worn by the buffaloes
in their pilgrimages. Coming out on
the bank, he saw, apparently floating
on the surface, about dozen huge
horned heads, which turned slowly and
fixed as many pairs of big, sleepy eyes
on the coming boy.
Juanito studied them carefully.
"Aha!" he exclaimed at last, there
thou art-thou with the biggest horns!
Come here, Jefe!"
But Jefe was too comfortable, and
would not come; so Juanito finally
took off his trousers, and waded in
until he could climb up on the great
beasts back. Now get up, big stupid"
he shouted, pounding the massive head
vigorously with small fist. Either
the insult or the thumps had the de-
sired effect, and, With many signs and
grunts, Jefe scrambled laboriously to
his feet almost submerging his com
panions in the waves created by the
prCcess), and splashed shoreward.
Juanito secured his trousers, and
mounting again, urged his ponderous
steed along the path. AS they emerged
from the bushes, Juanito caught sight
iof two figures across the field, dressed
in white, with huge sun helmets, APP
parentiy examining something closely.
"Hola!" exclaimed Juanito, the two
English lunatics. Let US go and see
what they have found, Jefe"
l may say here that all the ignorant
natives of the far east, being unable
to understand their ways, came to the
conclusion long ago that the English
and American races were composed en-
tirely of harmless lunatics.
Jefe, having been at last persuaded
to turn his nose in that direction, pro-
ceeded, one leg at time, toward the
two white figures.
Now there is popularity about
these Cara baos of which Juanito was I'M
aware; and that is that, although they
can be controlled and led by a six
year-old native, if necessary, at the
same time, in those parts of the
islands where a white man is a rarity
the sight of one seems to drive the
creatures frantic, and they will often
attack with all the tierceness and fury
of wild bull a white person who has
not given them the slightest cause;
and their attack is really the more
dangerous to the victim, for a cara
boa's horns are each as long anc thick
as mans arm. A single carabao has
been known to attack and kill full
grown tiger.
Consequently, Juanito was barely
prepared when, about half way across
the field, Jefe raised his head aloft,
and began to utter strange, nasal
grunts, pricking his great ears for
ward; and was still less so when the
hitherto placid beast of burden quick
ened his steps into sort of side, and
then broke into a numbering, ele-
phantine canter.
"Haya! qua tiene tn? what hast
thouP what is the matter?") shouted
the amazed Juanito, striving to main
tain his balance. But Jefe's sides were
still wet and slippery, and in another
moment Juanito tumbled ingloriously
off.
Rat and Ea Kant Hanna