"The soldiers are driving the other fellows up the valley. There must be about five hundred men fighting on each side."
"Can the Tagals be waging war on the Spaniards?"
"I reckon they are rebels under General Aguinaldo, who has been their acknowledged leader for over a year."
"And do they expect to win their freedom?"
"I suppose so, although, even if they do throw off the yoke of Spain, I don't believe they are capable of governing themselves."
"They certainly are not, if they are all like the fellows who made us prisoners."
"Oh, the better class of Tagals are not like these, lad. Why, I've been told that, in Manila, some of them are quite ladies and gentlemen. They can read and write, and affect the Spanish fashions."
The tide of battle had now swept up the valley, and we heard and saw nothing more of the contest. We gave the surroundings another good look, and then descended to mother earth.
"I've got an idea," said Dawson. "If we can find one of the small boats, why not stock her up with provisions and water and then sail down the coast to the nearest seaport settlement to Manila—say Port Subig? That will save us a tedious and perhaps dangerous trip overland."
