The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-07

windows of the huts that lined both
sides of the thoroughfare, black and
yellow faces stared at the passing blue
shirted figures. some scowling, for IL
nos friends were many. With a quick
swinging gait and a regular crunch
crunch-crunch. the company followed
its commander, and soon reached the
little creek that separated the town
from the jungle. Through the shallow
feet for they knew that many times
before their march was ended that day
would they long for another such
wetting. Soon the last sets of tours
disappeared around a bend in the
road.
On the town side of the ford stood
two small figures-two ragged little
American boys, wistfully cycling the
departure of their older countrymen.
Slowly. modify, with dropping lips.
they seated themselves on fallen log,
1either speaking to the other.
Before them stretched the cool. in
viting jungle, the luxuriant foliage
forming mysterious hooks and recesses
where monkeys and gayly feathered
birds sent the hanging creepers swing
ing by their restless playfulness.
But this paradise was forbidden
ground to the two Not yet in their
teens, these children were wards of
the regiment, mascots, picked up from
a vagab bond life in San Francisco's
streets, and their precious little lives
must not be endangered by insurgent
bullets as were those of their older
Comrads. Strictly had the colonel
drawn the line at the creek-to wan
der further meant disobeying orders,
and the colonel was a terrifying man
when angry.
These restrictions were not without
reason. Out in those inviting jungles
and thickly wooded hills roamed Tino
and his guerilla bands-Tino. the in
surgent desperate, the Tagalog chief,
famed as Gilmores cruel captor
"Reddy," said one of the two. after
a long silence. 1--WE don't never have
airy fun, do we?"
Reddy shook the mop of copper-col-
ored curls that gave him his name.
Another silence-both boys stood ii
the water, prodding the pebbles with
their bare toes. Dick. the eldest. took
a step forward-Reddy made two. And
SO the temptation overcame them.
Hurrah! The chains were burst.
With cries of exultation they scam
pered in under the towering trees and
wild banana groves. To them the colo
nels anger was now only a vague pos
sbility What cared they for colonies?
They themselves would be colonels-
aye, generals, if they pleased.
Hurrah! They would hunt and cap
ture Tino themselves. Whole compa-
MES, battalions, regiments, armies,
sprang up behind them-infantry,
cavalry, artillery-all eager for battle,
for Tino's capture.
For hours they fought their imagi-
nary battles. But shortly past noon
slackness about their wristbands re-
minded them of the dinner hour-and
their d1sobedience. With a feeling of
fear they noticed that the sun had
passed the meridian and was sloping
away westward. Hurriedly they turn
ed and stumbled to reach the town.
In half an hour they halted, staring
blankly into each others eyes. They
had lost the way.
Now they thought of Tino-the real
one.
While crossing a dry river bed, Red
dy tripped over bowlder, wrenchinS
his leg as he fell. A cry came to his
lips, but it died into a frightened gasp
as he realized his inability to walk an
other step. With Dicks help he man
aged to hobble to the embankment,
where the two sank helplessly to the
ground, ready to burst into tears.
Suddenly a man came leaping from
bowlder to bowlder across the river
bed At first the boys took him to be
one of the score of Maccabebe scouts
that garrisoned the neighboring town
OF San Quintin, for, like them, he wore
suit of light-brown khaki and tan
boots. But as he drew near they failed
TO recognize the dark boyish features
shaded by a broad brimmed hat of
slnamay straw.
AS the stranger reached the middle
OF the stream his eyes were caught by
the two little figures on the embark
ment. With a nervous start he halted.
Again he approached, with wondering
eyes.
Hello" he cried in broken English,
when fairly over thems what you do
here?"
Reddy replied by pointing mutely at
his swollen foot. The native stopped to
examine it. From the injured limb his
eyes wandered to the boys face. A
barely perceptible frown frightened his
brow. For some time he stood regard
Ing them. Reddy ventured to steal a
glance upward and met the dark
brown eyes. The brows relaxed; the
Young man was smiling.
Very bad" he said, shaking his
mead. 'Out here many insurrectos;
many bad Filipinos'
Both boys gave sigh of relief; he
must be an amigo. Again Reddy look
ed up.
DO you know" whispered the lad in
serious confidence, 1--WE was a huntin'
4lho for to take him prisoner. Com
pany ID went down to San Quintin af-
Ter him, and we came this way"
For a moment the young man looked
astonished, then burst into long
"What?" he cried, you no catch
Reddy shook his head solemnly.
No. he said. I'VE didn't catched
nm Couldn't find him"
What you do with Tino?" asked
me young man. smiling. "Tino got
many soldier and you no got gun"
hat was true-they hadn't consid-
cred that They didn't propose TO fol-
~" up the trail, anyhow; they want
~ 70 go home. Perhaps he might be
~ Kind as 10 help them.
Inc native thought a moment; yes,
D" would help them.
stepping into the bushes, he pres
-ily returned with handful OF green
raves. From a pocket OF his coat he
a white handkerchief, which he
'A1e9 diagonaliy on the ground as he
tsea himself on the bank beside The
Jpf~d boy.
iie rolled the leaves between his
ttltns anti be had bruised them into
damn soft f4aaa afrfa ha aHraa5