Arizona republican., 1905-06-12

was scarce, and water scarcer.
 So I fought my way through the tropical night, tortured by mosquitoes, insects and ants. Luckily, it was near the full of the moon, and I was able to drag myself along all night. The way gradually became more moist and swampy I toiled through slippery mud and had often to make detours to avoid sinking in great morasses. Then, just at dawn of the third morning, came upon the banks of the Paslg. Now I had four days more in which to save the army and a quiet river to drift down at night. hiding by daylight, if I could only find something to float on.
 Toward noon. as lay in the bushes, I saw an empty boat bobbing down stream. I swan ont to it, hauled 1t ashore and hid it in the bushes. That night I began to paddle down the river calling myself Lieutenant" Roberts.
 Twice, before morning, I thought I heard the sound of oars or paddles be hind me, and got inshore to listen, but nothing appeared. At dawn I drew in to the bank, hid the boat and crawied to a safe place and slept like a horse. After I had foraged for bananas and got back to the river, the boat was gone! I began to lose hope.
 After I had followed the bank of the river for some distance, some logs came floating down the current. I took the chances of being seen and swam out and captured two of them. Tied to- gether with long, tough creepers, they made a passable raft, and all that night I floated down stream, padding as we'll as I could with my hands. I passed
 
 and so I knew that I was approaching the city. Sometimes I heard the sound of drums and bugles, for the insur- gents were all over the country raising recruits. I must have been wandering in my mind by that time. for I wasn't a bit scared any more-only watching for wild bananas and bread fruit. and wondering how long I'd last. I sue ceeded in killing some of the many tame ducks I saw, and ate them raw, not daring to build a fire.
 Next night the river broadened out into a good-sized lake. From the looks of it, I took it to be Laguna de Bay, about twtney-five miles from Manila. 1 had only that night and the next day to reach our troops. If the first shot was fired before I got to the outposts, I might just as well drop into the Pasig and go to the bottom.
 When the sun rose I slid into the water and struck out for the shore, in tending to take my chances along the bank by daylight. This was the morn ing of the 4th of February. Somehow, someway, I had to get through the cir cle of the Filipino lines drawn about the city. I hoped that I was too close to the town for them to dare to inter fere with an American soldier in the daytime. So I climbed up a slippery bank and crawled into the brush, about as tired and disgusted as a man could be and still be alive.
 Then-alI of a sudden-I was mailed from behind! The game was up. Somebody gripped me by the throat. I was so weak there was no fight in me. Tn half a minute I was bound by dozen niggers, who came jumping out of the bushes and fell on top of me from all sides at once. I didn't much care what they were going to do with me: I had quit. Five days of fear and suspense and suffering had taken all he nerve out of me.
 As soon as l was tied up they began to rush me along the road, kicking me ID every time I faltered, and jabbinG me with boIos when I fell. I don't | know why I didn't die right then. l don't know why my hair isn't white.
 At last we came to a little nipa hut | guarded by Filipino soldiers in dirty l white uniforms and bare feet. l was hrown inside, unbound and given a | yourd of rice. I ate it, hoping it was poisoned. From all I saw. I was sure | he tip about the outbreak was | straight For the place was bustling l with soldiers, and they all had ammu- lition.
 At about o'clock I was bound | again and gagged. I thought 1t was 'eady to die game. But it was only a lew kind of torture. They prodded | ne with their bayonets. marching me O a place where I could look through | he bushes right across the river. There. on the other side, was one of ,ur sentries pacing up and down. and way off I saw the Stars and Stripes Ioating in the sun. I could hear a ,and playing "Therell Be a Hot Time" %. If I could have yelled across just nce, and given our boys warning, I have minded anything they lid to me. But I was gagged. I be- Ieve I cried.
 Then they took me back to the hut md night came on. Every minute that ,assed made the torture worse and worse. I didn't care for myself any nore; I was only thinking about the oys across the river, all unconscious f what was going to happen. new so well how careless they had ot to be. and what fun they made of he idea that the niggers could possi- ly have the nerve to attack us. They you'd all be fooling around the streets f Manila, probably half of them in he cafes or dancing in the theater, eaving only the guard to take the first ush It didn't seem possible that we ould be saved. Our entrenchments yould be carried at the first charge, I yas sure. The Tagalos in the town 'ould rise, and it would mean a whole ale massacre.
 Of course, you know all about the attle, for the night of February
 1899, is schoolbook history by this me. I doubt if there was any actual