Adventure Magazine Cover — page 150: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

144 were known to have purchased a big war banca which they had hidden somewhere in the heavy tules surrounding the island of Malihi in the middle of the Laguna, and that they had been dickerigg with Old Pappa Isuan, the insurrecto chief, secretly, for the last two weeks. Isuan’s name was like a red rag in the major’s face. The wily old scoundrel had fled Samar after the massacre of Balanguiga where he had wiped out the better part of an infantry company, and staking his vic- tims out on convenient ant-heaps to be devoured by the vicious insects at leisure, had departed for the Laguna de Bay on the island of Luzon with forty-seven picked men of his forces, all armed with the Krags that had once belonged to his enemies.. Soon after his arrival on the Laguna he had established his headquarters at Los Banos waiting for a chance to sweep down on some other isolated company and re- peat his coup. Twice he had made an at- tempt to steal through the outpost lines of E, only to be discovered and driven back. This latest news was enough to stir the anger of a more even-tempered man than the major, but Lieutenant Miles was not to hear the torrent of curses that he expected Juan’s recital would bring forth. “Mr. Miles, give my compliments to Captain Franklin and say that Major Morphy would be pleased to take a trip to the head of the lake this morning, if the Napindan is running, and it is convenient to the captain, ye understand, Mr. Miles, if it is convenient—to the captain.” The even, dead cold accénts came quietly from the major’s lips, their menace so deep that again ‘Juan de Taal followed in the lieutenant’s footsteps without even waiting to ask for the expected reward. eee AN HOUR later the major, followed Ae ake ww by his orderly, Tommy Rice, stepped Bei aboard the MNapindan. A short run of five miles and the old converted ferry-boat swung into the Laguna and began to plow her steady, six-knot way toward the head of the lake. The major, sweeping’ the coves with his field-glasses, kept a close lookout for his- ‘‘deserters,” as he called the Moreys in his running conversation with Captain Franklin. He had intended to attack Pappa Isuan that very day, and only the Moreys knew the trail through the pampas-grass covering Adventure the ridge between Pateros and Los Banos. -His plans were all awry and he held forth at length on the defection of the twins. “Trouble-makers, the pair o’ thim! Tl git thim! I fix thim, too. [ll lairn thim to break up any party of mine! Had it all planned out to round up Old Isuan today. Thim Moreys, thim, knew a nice little trail, but ividently it was only for their own traitorous uses. —— the pair o’ rapscillions thot upset an old man before the day is fair begun!” Meanwhile in the shade of Malihi Island the Moreys were just putting the finishing touches on the gas engine they had bought in Manila and installed secretly in their big war banca. They were ready for their revenge. They would have the laugh on Old Spud, the major, this time. Leon de Jesus, ostensibly postmaster at Pasig, in reality one of Aguinaldo’s most trusted agents, had left them a few minutes before, paddling hurriedly to Pappa Isuan, at Los Banos, with the word that the two Americans were ready to deliver a dozen cases of much needed Krag ammunition to the insurgents, at Paquil, in return for commissions in the Insurgent army and a small honorarium in Philippine pesos. They did not dare make the transfer at Los Banos owing to the proximity of the | American troops. About the time the Napindan struck her nose into the Laguna the twins were already paddling slowly toward Paquil. A small square sail forward hid the deadwood bracing in the bow and made tle rather heavy task of propelling the big banca somewhat easier. Aft of the mast were piled ammunition boxes, along the sides on the oval bottom of the craft, hiding the en- gine amidships. It was slow work and Pap- pa Isuan’s big banca had been rolling idly in the swell off Paquil for an hour before the twins arrived within hailing distance. The Napindan had completed a circle around Malihi before the major picked up the two canoes at the head of the lake. The tropical sun was pouring down on the old vessel, its iron-sheeted sides reflecting the rays which bored like molten lead at the pitch seams in the decking. The major had sought refuge beneath the awning over the bridge and both he and Captain Franklin were following every move of the distant bancas with their glass- es. EORMMICLOOKS As the Napindan drew nearer they saw> (C@)