Happy Days: Tom Taylor, The Boy Who Worried Blanco — page 4: what you’re looking at

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A Prayer for Native Land, Gop of our land and State, To Thee we consecrate Our manhood’s might! Help us like those to be— Our fathers brave and free, Who made our history, Firm for the right! Fill us with patriotic zeal, To raise a grand ideal In freedom’s cause! Make greed and cunning less, Inspire unselfishness, Let brotherhood express Its love in laws! Create a purpose strong To righten every wrong From shore to shore! To stand by public trust, By conscience clear and just, By scorn of sordid lust For spoils and power! Bless Church and press and school, In all our rulers rule, Feed our fair fame! Heal every social sore, Blend hearts of rich and poor, Uplift us to adore And fear Thy name! ————— OO Oe Cc. LITTLE’S NEW STORY BECINS IN THE DON’T FAIL TO READ NEXT NUMBER. iT. --s—>t—_-_-—- [Zhis story commenced in No, 193.]} lewey s (atin Roy: THE HERO OF THE FLEBT, A Story of the Great Battle in Manila Bay. By H. K. SHACKLEFORD, Author of * The Busy Bats,” “ From Printer to President,” **A Wall Street ‘Lamb,’” “Lucky Luke,” “The Nine of Nineveh,” etc. CHAPTER XXII. A NARROW ESCAPE FOR JACK. For afew moments Jack was appalled > at finding himself and his escort almost __ » surrounded by « party of Spanish soldiers, In front, to the right and to the left were Mauser rifles and the stern faces of Span- jards; only in the rear, the way he had just come, was there any opening for es- ly and even that seemed utterly hope- ess, But he had a horror of falling into the hands of the Spanish authorities, for re- ‘cent events had developed the fact that they were extremely anxious to make way A single glance was enough to Satisfy him of the peril of the situation, but like the brave, fearless lad that he was, he preferred to die fighting to being _ led out and shot like a dog. bullets whistled over him, Just then came a hoarse demand from the bushes to surrender, For reply Jack drew his revolver and fired right into the face of the Spaniard who was glaring at him from the bushes, some ten feet away. The Spaniard dropped instantly, and his comrades were evidently so astonished at his audacity that some ten or fifteen sec- onds elapsed ere they recovered from it. By that time Jack was cool and calculat- ing, for he dropped to the ground just asa volley burst from both sides; the Mauser Many of the “natives were hit, and half a dozen killed, “* Rig ae. 4 ' > * a ~ ~ et PD inn fee tas Rs a“ “ ? Sa + 4 ae i ~ Realy ~ of The Spaniards themselves fared as badly for the natives, taking his single pistol _ shot as a signal to fire, blazed away with deadly effect. An instant or two after the volley Jack sprang to his feet and dashed straight at the enemy, passing through their lines, and, to his great joy, found that the way was clear beyond. _. The natives followed him, exchanging ' shots with the Spaniards as they ran, It was all over with inside of a couple of minutes, for the enemy dared not pursue them far in that direction, **Come on!” called Jack to the young officer, who had kept close at his side, Tell your men not to stop to fire.” They dashed on through the bushes, the young native officer calling loudly to his men to follow him, Presently the way be- came more open and they could travel faster, anda little later they struck the road leading to Cavite, and increased their speed to a full run, - They passed on half a mile or so, when the great heat forced Jack to reduce his speed to a walk. “We are clear of them now,” he re- marked to the eon native officer. ** Si, senor,” was the reply. ‘‘ They won’t follow us this se ll “I was surprised to find them out —+HAPPY DAYS TZ there,” said Jack. “It must have beena party of scouts or sharpshooters. Better see how many of your men are hurt.” The young officer turned and counted his force, aScertained that seven were miss- ing, while some eight or ten others were wounded, inost of them slightly, but two of them were bleeding so copiously that Jack feared they would not be able to get to the fort. Taking his handkerchief he tore it into strips, and tried to bandage the wounds so as to stop the flow of blood, after which he ordered the others to assist them to the fort. A little farther on he was halted by the sentries stationed by the lieutenant in charge of the arsenal and fort. ** We are friends,” called out Jack. ** Advance, friends, and give the coun- tersign,” came from one of the sentries, ‘*T haven't got it,” said Jack, ‘* I’ve been away three days. I am the commodore’s cabin boy. Call the corporal of the guard.” The corporal of the guard was called, who quickly recognized the cabin boy, and ordered the guard to let them pass. ** Where have ise been ?” the corporal asked of Jack, as he escorted him towards the fort. ‘* I’ve been out there with Aguinaldo,” he replied, ‘‘and we ran into a party of bushwhackers, losing seven of our men, besides those you see wounded there. They must go to the hospital to have their wounds dressed, forthey are as brave fel- lows as ever pulled a trigger.” **Have you been in that fighting out there?” 46 es,” ** Which whipped ?” ‘* Aguinaldo,” he replied, ‘‘for he has captured not less thana thousand Span- iards in the last twenty-four hours.” **The deuce he has! That’s good work.” ‘* Yes,” returned Jack. ‘* All they need se oe officers and discipline.” Vhen they came in sight-of the fort the lieutenant in command saw Jack and his party, which now numbered about forty, and went forward to meet him. ‘* What’s the matter, Jack?” the officer asked, ‘* We were fired into by the Spanjards as we were coming through the bushes.” ** You are not hurt, are you?” the lieu- tenant asked. ‘** No, but we lost seven men besides those wounded. Do you think the sur- geons will take them in the hospitals and dress their wounds ?” ** Of course they will. No surgeon will refuse to dress a man’s wounds,” and he turned to a sergeant and ordered him to conduct the wounded men to the hospital. ‘** How is the fight going out there?” the lieutenant asked of Jack. ‘** It’s going against the Spaniards, who have lost a thousand prisoners within the last twenty-four hours, to say nothing of the killed and wounded. Aguinaldo forced the garrison in that old convent to surren- der after killing and wounding nearly half of them, and he has sent me to the com- modore with a message, which I must de- liver cg as soon as Ican get aboard the flag-ship.” The lieutenant was very much surprised at the news,and asked many questions, among others one as to the force that Aguinaldo had with him, **T have no idea, lieutenant, as to what his force is, as they are all about in the woods where it was impossible for me tosee but a hundred or two at a time; but they seemed to be everywhere, There must be several thousand ofthem., Aguinaldosays he can capture the city if the commodore will permit him to do so,” **He can't do it,” said the lieutenant, shaking his head. **T don’t know,” returned Jack. ‘‘ Heis a good general, and his followers don’t seem to realize the danger they are in when confronting the Mauser rifles, While thousands of them are unarmed, they have yet secured some twelve or fif- teen hundred rifles in the last three days which they captured from the enemy, They have two field pieces, but they don’t know much about handling artillery, I had to aim the guns tor them myself; and after giving the enemy a few shells which exploded within the building, they were glad enough to give up.” ‘* How is it that these natives have come here with you ?” ** Aguinaldo sent them to see me safely back to youagain; and I would be glad if you could give them rations and let them stay until they can see their way clear to return,” **Of course,” said the lieutenant, ‘“‘ we couldn't refuse them that,” By that time they had entered the fort, where the lieutenant ordered a boat to be made ready to convey Jack to the flag- ship. It was ready to start in a few min- utes, and a little over half an hour after starting they reached the side of the Olym- pia, where Captain Lamberton greeted ack with a welcome, and a query as to where he had been, **Oh, I've been in all that racket out there for three days,” said Jack, as he reached the deck of the ship, ‘‘ where I saw some of the hottest fighting you ever heard of. Excuse me, captain, but I must see the commodore at once.” ‘‘ You will find him in his cabin, writing.” Jack at once repaired to the cabin, where he rapped on the door of the com- modore’s private room, ** Come in,” called a voice within. Jack opened the door, and entered. The commodore was sitting at a little table, where he had been writing for an hour or two. ‘*Ah! you’ve come back, have you?” greeted the commodore. ** Ay, sir; I have brought you a message from General Aguinaldo, ” ‘* Indeed; let me hear what it is,” Jack at once proceeded to tell the story of the fighting he had witnessed, explain ing the situation as he went along, in order that the commodore might fully un- derstand the insurgent chief's message when he reached it. SS ee CHAPTER XXIII, JACK AND THE COMMODORE—LONG TOM’S STORY OF ONE OF THE CABIN BOY’S CAP- TORS, COMMODORE DEWEY listened quietly for nearly half an hour to his cabin boy’s nar- rative, without once interrupting him, after which he said: ‘* Jack, my boy, you have a far better head on your shoulders than I was aware of, You have donea wonderful service, not only in aiding Aguinaldo in his operations, but in explaining to him why I cannot per- mit him to capture the city before Ameri- can troops arrive. How in the world have you managed to become so thoroughly posted on the situation ?” ‘*Simply from what I’ve seen, sir,” he re- plied, ‘‘as well as what I’ve heard on board ship. I have never tried to listen to any- thing that was said by the officers, but what I did hear I thought over, and tried to understand. ~ I told the general that I was not authorized to speak for you nor anybody else, and simply Eaxe im my opinion as to why you would not permit him to take the city before the arrival of our army; yet somehow he has the im- pression that I was sent out there by you to see what was going on, and in some way render moral support to the insurgent cause,” A broad smile illumined the commo- dore’s face, who remarked : ‘* You were singularly diplomatic in all you said,” said he, ‘I tried to be so, sir,” returned Jack, ‘*for I didn’t wish to be considered an im- postor by the general, or to say or do any- thing that would make a bad impression upon the minds of himself and his officers,” *“W hat do you think of Aguinaldo?’ the commodore asked, ‘* I'think he is a great gencral in his way, for he has been successful in every move he has made, It is probable, though, that the destruction of the Spanish fleet, and the knowledge that an American army is coming to their assistance, has inspired all of his followers with the hope and cour- age that makes them utterly fearless, I believe that if the chief were to undertake to capture the city he would get it inside of three days, although it would cost him a frightful loss of life,” and then he re- lated a number of incidents illustrating the fighting qualities of Aguinaldo’s men, adding as he finished: “Every prisoner captured would have been macheted had not Aguinaldo forbid it. Their hatred of the Spaniards seems to be one of the great passions of the na- tives, on account of the two or three cen- turies of ee Para of which they have been made the victims,” ** Undoubtedly,” assented the commo- dore, ‘‘and yet they seem to be a mild and gentle race ordinarily.” “They are,” said Jack, “ for they are peace-loving, easy going, careless kind of ha who, when they have satisfied their 1unger care for nothing else but cock- fighting,” Jack remained for nearly an hour with the commodore, after which he went to his quarters for a change of clothes and a few hours’ sleep. When he appeared on deck again he had a thousand questions to an- swer, propounded to him by the various officers of the ship, ‘You've been having more fun than any of us, remarked Lieutenant Calkins, ‘Yes, sir; I enjoyed it at times, but I can tell you that the heat out there in those woods is something awful. It looks cool enough from the deck here, for one naturally expects to find a refreshing cool- ness in the shade of the trees, but the foli- age is so dense that one fails to get a breeze such as we have sweeping across the water,” From the deck he passed below to see the old bo’son, whom he regarded, next to the commodore, as his best friend in the fleet. The old bo’son grasped his hand, shifted a huge quid of tobacco, and asked : * What have ub lad?” yo een doing ashore, At him,” Ee ‘‘ Having fun with the Spaniards,” lie re- plied, and then he again told the story of his adventures on shore. ‘Well! Well! Well!” ejaculated the po ees ‘*So you gave your girl to another, eo ‘Ay, sir. Why shouldn’t 1? I didn’t want her myself.” ‘Tut, tut, my boy. When you have made a few more voyages about the world you will fall into the ways of sailors and Ss have a wife in every port. ‘Not much I won't,” laughed Jack, ‘‘Tt’s only the sailors of the merchant marine who do that sort of thing; for the men in the navy can’t go ashore whenever they please and frolic around in every port, I captured a prize out there that I'd rather have than all the girls on the island.” — ** What was that, mate ?”’ ‘*Tt was a leather belt filled with Span-. ‘* Good !” ** How did you get it?” exclaimed the old boe'som * = thousand dollars ; so when we capture the ~~ city, and everything is quiet, we'll have a little celebration.” ‘All right, mate, fools of ourselves, either, have it.” : oie : ‘* No, lad, I have a few shots in my locker "ya yet, which I’m saving for a cruise on shore”, 2s discharge. We all grow 2 ae = when I receive m old, you know, when we can’t work: so} a sea-faring man has saved enough to | @ sate: ie an “but it ~s buy a snug berth somewhere in harbor he has done a wise thing.” -* So he has,” assented Jack; tag ~~ % a and we won’t make Me ae ' run up against a thing like that myself.™ ae Se ‘‘Tf you want any.money, Bo’son, you éan © 9) > seems to me that it'll be many years yet ~ before you will be too old to serve bo’son,” he again told the story of his adventures on shore to the marines, all of whom! en- vied him his good fortune and the fun he had had, Many of them asked him what the mes» sage was he brought from Aguinaldo. ‘**That I can’t tell you, mates,” he said, ‘*for were I to do so the commodore might order me to be scuttled,” Among the men listening to his story in the forecastle was a tall marine known as Long Tom, who was with Jack in the thicket in the rear of the arsena! af the — time the latter was captured by the giant Philippino, and hejwas the most inferested listener of the group. young girl who had rescued Jack from his captors, and declared her to be th® most beautiful of all the native Philippinos he. ~ had seen, ** Mate,” said he, addressing Jack, *‘are you dead sure the chief had that black giant shot?” _ * Yes,” he replied, “‘ though I didn’t see it; but I know that when the chief give® an order it is very quickly obeyed. | heard him order the fellow to be shot, and I'd be willing to gamble that he was,” ‘* Well,” said Long Tom, ‘‘ I went ashore yesterday and saw one of the men who was with him at work around the arsenal, with alot of others who had been employed & ‘ in cleaning the place out.” ‘* ‘You must be mistaken,” said Jack, ‘**T don’t think Iam, mate, for I’m. pretty good at recollecting faces. If it wasn’t the one he was so near like him that n@ one could tell the difference,” \ ‘** Maybe all coons look alike to you, laughed Jack. ‘Avast there, now, mate!” exclaimed He had seen the © Long Tom, as the others laughed at him, — ** Those Philippinos are not coons.” ‘‘ Well, if they are not,” said Jack, “ they look very much like them in the dark.” | I tell sé ou it was the same fellow.” ‘, ell, if it is true he ought not to allowed to work around the arsenal, as 5¢~ * “But I didn’t see him in the dark;,and 9 _ ~ - may be playing the part of a spy. EP will b- oa. there to-morrow, and take a look im.” ‘‘ That's it,” said the boatswain; “fori he is, he ought to be arrested and shot.” When Jack retired to his berth that night, he lay awake for some time thinkisg of what Long Tom had told him. ‘* It seems strange to me,” he said fo him- self, ‘“‘ that if that fellow had sought refuge ~ at the arsenal], to escape the vengeanee OF Aguinaldo, it was a strange thing for him » ee on During the evening the old bosom. = took Jack down into the forecastle, whereé — 5 ish doubloons,” we Bets ae Paes, me | es *” 2. - - ie tmdh A sd _ eS ia ; 0 . E A a = 3s Be Y < * e\ a a . *, a . s ~ a 5 : - ia. fa ‘ > = r o = J - = _— ——— - - - — — - -? . . *, x S = 3 i rs 4 > —~ 7? we “ + - c, : ~ eo bmg, Liew — 3 s = r = ~~" "Pa gis me nae Mar — vee > ace OL ri 4 erie ~ Aes 4 id Pete id, we, ie RY? a a kate * St aoe Wee aR me 5 tee Cit (alae ta Sey | PN +f Ean lee enable al 7 7 so Maen > sy. AP Se EY as + _- =, “| - a re" Fa 4 wl 7 J e%) * ‘ © ‘ - Mg Y a 7 t , 5 an , ad »! - s . a te 7 di a , a all) 9, ee Fr ve Ce Oe, Ae, Aa atl, ‘y WASPS Pal ths, o” ee Ses te Ee ey eS ms = 1 eee oF, ‘, eS Woe ee ir ye ts hae Sy ’ oY Pes Mar 4 PN teh Be Ty Ae AN ne dh ee ALY “ ig 6 oe eee a> 7/ ; ” »* * “- rs & ao 4a -” yp oe a, , az of | ‘4 4 Sy vA ; v 7 es .* . * S a 7 ' ie F a a. “ oe ae ee 7 ' = al to do, for he ought to know that f would oe ay run across him some day and recog a him, .I can’t help but think that Ton morrow when I go ashore and take a The next day when he came on woods, ‘‘*They’re still at it,” he said. Aguinaldo seems to be relentless in his e forts to down the Spaniards, and who © blame him ?” ‘ Soon after breakfast, when the surgee¢ went ashore, Jack obtained permission made a mistake, but I will find out. 0¢- fodk | * a “ eo r - : Jack could still hear firing going on inthe é bd . © , g to 6) say S S ac € 7 as 4 » .- ‘ sad ye accompany them, Hereported to the lfm: — a tenant at the fort as soon as he arrived, © Cc com boo ca nce ‘** Found it on the body of a dead officer ; © aie a” | and I guess it must be worth nearly a4 |) ‘ oe ae wah, = o | f Sie & Rigid a” +. - *. “F at 3 a’? ae > tie lhe oe Ay ee