The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-12-14
THE HEAD OF A REBEL.
A TALE OF MANILA.
BY II. CLYDE FORD.

is my g'y,udfather Still, since 1T is
all in the family, i may as well tell it,
aud, besides, it has special interest
now, when so many people in this land
are looking and long ng across the Pa
cifc to where our flag floats over Ma
Mia bay.
In the year 1S42 my grandfather, n
young man of 20, shipped rs common
sailor on the three-masted ship Polly
Ann of New Bedford, bound from New
York to the Philippines with cargo
OF flour. The voyage was uneventful,
and l36 days after passing Sandy Hook
the Polly Ann dropped anchor in Pasig
river, Manila.
During the ships stay there, grand
father, who was of an investigating
disposition, looked the city over pretty
well and, believing there were chances
for wide-nwake Yankee to make II
fortune in the islands, he quilted the
ship aud took service with trading
firm on the harbor front. In ten years
he was manager of business of his
own and a man of influence among the
foreign traders. The Spaniards, too
looked mp to him and respected him.
As his business grew he was unable
to manage all the details of the in
creasing trade and so called to his help
a young Filipino named Juan Aguado,
a bright young man, half Spanish,
half Malay, who had formerly been nn
assistant in the packing house. Aguada
possessed polished, courtly manners
and u good education; he had received
his schooling at a monastery, and
grandfather trusted him implicitly for
in the course of time he made him
chief clerk and adviser.
Aguado was absolutely fearless-that
was where his Malay blood showed
out, grandfather would remark when
he himself had occasion to refer to the
story. They were out hunting one
day in jungle tract some ten or tif-
teen miles away from the city when
they were charged by maddened buf-
falo that dashed out Of water hole
upon them. They both ran for cover,
but grandfather by some misstep
tripped on q vine and fell, and before
he could regain his feet the animal
was upon him. 1t was no time to use
gun-they were armed with nothing
but light fowling pieces for pigeon
shooting. When grandfather fell,
Aguado, who was little behind him,
made leap to one side to pass him;
but he was not thinking of saving
himself Quickly drawing his kris,
which was another mark of the Malay
in him, he rushed back upon the buff
falo aud stabbed it through the neck
again and again with all the dexterity
of veteran matador. The buffalo fell
dead in its tracks, and grandfather
crawled away with broken arm.
From that time on the two men
were like brothers. Juan seemed
glad that he had hal an opportunity
to show his regard for his employer
and benefactor, and grandfather was
too much of man to be anything but
generous to one who had saved his
life.
But il was about the end of their
comradeship. One day native from
up country called at the warehouse
for Aguado. They retired to dis
tant part of the building and talked
long and quietly together. Then the
stranger went away and the clerk re-
turned to his desk
That night, when it came time fol
closing, Agnado said: ''Senor,
must leave you. l am wanted at home,
and it will be useless to try to detain
me-"
Grandfather was surprised beyont
belief, almost; but he did not try tt
dissuade him. He paid his arrears o
salary, added a handsome bonus an6
said good bye to the only man in the
East Of whom he was truly fond.
Two years passed and not wore
came from Aguado; but that was no
very strange, for the province wher,
he lived had been in open revolt fol
some time, and as the fighting on botl
sides was constant aud relentless
communication with Manila was prac
tically cut off.
However, as time went on the rebel
lion was crushed, and the insurgents
were scattered or captured. The leade
} OF the revolution, one Luiz Berceo, WA
man of considerable generalship ant
resources, for without munitions o
money he had held his ground agains
the Spaniards for u long time and ha'
intrigued successfully against tn
, native troops sent to oppose him. Blu
he could not hold out fore, er, and he
too, was a fugitive.
Then it was that the government re
sorted to an expedient often tried il
! Spanish countries for catching thos
, who will not surrender--a plice wa
set on Luiz Berceo's head. Placard
were posted in Manila ana throughou
the islands wherever Spa ,ish author
: ity was recognized, proclsianing q rs
ward of ~. 900 Mexican dollars TO th