The Filipino introduced himself as Quentin Salas, and owned that he possessed a slight advantage in having viewed the officer in propria persona, while he, Salas, was in disguise.  He confessed that the American had caught him napping on that day, and that he had been forced to assume hurriedly the garb and mien of an aged pauper.  The American owned himself outwitted, and shakes his head to this day to think how near he came to victory.

We lived in a maze of war talk all that autumn.  I doubt not that, to the officer commanding, much that was mere excitement to us was deadly reality and anxiety, for although peace was declared, the treachery of the natives had been demonstrated at Balangiga, and there was no certainty that the affair would not be repeated elsewhere.  The American people have little conception of the burdens laid upon the army.  These were to hold a people in subjection while denying that they were in subjection; to assume the belief of peace and yet momentarily to expect war; to rule without the semblance of rule; to accomplish when all the recognized tools of accomplishment were removed; to be feared and yet to be ready to bear cheerfully all blame if that fear expressed itself in complaint.  I cannot but feel that the army had much to bear in those early days, and bore it well.

One little incident will serve to illustrate how lightly and yet how seriously the circumstances of life were viewed at that time.  The open sea beach, or playa, two miles north of the town, was the favorite afternoon drive, and one day Miss C——­, who lived with me, was invited by the wife of Dr. D——­ to share her victoria.  They left for the playa about half-past four, the Doctor accompanying them on his bicycle.  He never permitted his wife to leave the borders of the town unaccompanied.

Mrs. D——­ was in poor health and found long drives unendurable, so when seven o’clock came and Miss C——­ had not returned, I concluded that she was going to dine at Dr. D——­’s.  However, before sitting down without her, I sent Romoldo up to the Doctor’s to inquire if she was there.  He came back saying that the D——­s had not returned, and that their servants were quite upset, as such a thing had never happened before.  I waited till eight and sent Romoldo again for news.  Again he brought back word that the D——­s had not appeared.  I thereupon went over to Lieutenant C——­’s house, who instantly picked up his hat and left to talk the matter over with the officer of the day.  Thence it was reported to Captain M——­, who ordered out searching parties for each of the three main roads leading out of Capiz.  Just as the men were ready to start, the victoria and bicycle appeared.  Our friends had stopped at a Filipino house where a saint’s day celebration was in full swing, and had found it impossible to leave.  The Filipino hosts had brought up ice all the way from Iloilo to make ice-cream, but as they were not adepts, it didn’t freeze properly, and they would hear of no guest leaving until the ice-cream had been served.  Miss C——­ said they were worried and tried to get away, but I declined to believe her.  Ice-cream, I insisted, might excuse four times the delay, and I flatly refused to be convinced that they had intended to turn their backs on it after a compulsory fast of seven months.