Aguinaldo rode a fine bay horse, as did several of his followers, but by far the majority of the regiment, if such it could be called, was afoot, and most of them were barefooted, too.  The rebel leader looked very much like most of his pictures, with the exception that he had an older look, and some gray hairs about the temples.  He was attired in a gaudy uniform of some sort, with epaulets and a Spanish general’s hat, and he carried himself with great dignity of manner.  Dismounting from his horse, he entered the administration building, where he held a conference with the town officials, and probably made them pay over whatever money was in the treasury “for the cause.”  He remained within for two hours or more, and all this time Archie stood upon the roof and watched the remarkable scene in the streets below.  The troops had scattered, and were engaged in robbing the housewives of whatever they had in their houses to eat.  And the women seemed willing to provide them with whatever they could afford, and there was much enthusiasm evident everywhere.  But the celebration was very quiet, in spite of the friendly reception, There were no bands of music, no cheering, and no singing of battle-hymns.  The whole affair reminded Archie of some camp of a section of the famous Coxey army, when he had seen it long ago.  The soldiers were no better dressed than tramps, and there was but little more discipline among them.

And the celebration and occupation of the town came to a sudden end.  While Archie stood upon the roof at noontime, he saw a runner enter the administration building in great haste, and in a minute Aguinaldo came hurrying down the steps.  Then there was a great commotion in the streets, and the two hundred followers of the chief were seen assembled in the square, and before they were all there the general was riding out of the town toward the interior of the island.  There was no noise, and the inhabitants stood about apparently speechless, and wondering what had happened.  Their reception had come to an untimely end, and their hero had left them unceremoniously.  Soon the last of the straggling troops were out of the town, and just as Archie was beginning to think of going down from the roof Bill Hickson stuck his head up and gave him some astonishing news.  “Stay where you’re at, young feller, till these fool Filipinos gits away from here.  You saw how they skedaddled, didn’t ye?  Well, Uncle Sam is comin’ after ’em with shot-guns, and old Aggy heard the news just in time.  He is bound for the jungle, about forty miles southeast, and he won’t reach it until to-morrow night, anyhow, and if the officers are quick they may be able to catch him.  Now you stay here, lad, and give ’em the news when they git here.  They’ll thank you for it, and you may be the means of gittin’ this fool of an Aguinaldo captured.  If you does, why, your future’s all right.  And ye can tell the colonel, or whoever’s in command, that Bill Hickson is still with ’em, and that he’s doin’ his best fer Uncle Sam, and tell ’em that Aggy has got about three thousand troops altogether, but only about a thousand with him.  Now, good-bye, lad, and I hope I’ll see ye again.”