Anting-Anting Stories, and Other Strange Tales of the Filipinos Page 2

  Perhaps a month of respite from attack had made the sentries careless;perhaps it was only that the Tagalogs had spent the time in gatheringstrength. No one can ever know just how that wicked slaughter of oursoldiers in the campaign on that island did come about.

  The Tagalogs swept down into the camp that night as a hurricane mighthave blown the leaves of the mountain trees across the plateau; andthen were gone again, leaving death, and wounds worse than death,behind them.

  When our men had rallied, and had come back across the battle-ground,they found among the others, the captain lying dead outside histent. A Tagalog dagger lay beside the body, and the uniform had beentorn apart until the officer's bare breast showed.

  The first full moon of the month shone down upon the dead man's white,still face.