the corporal gently shook Piang. The boy opened his
eyes and shuddered.

"You're all right now, little 'un," the corporal said, and although
Piang did not understand the language, he responded to the kind tone
with a weak smile. Slowly getting to his elbow, he motioned toward
the garrison:

"_Hombre!_" ("Man!") he muttered. It was the only Spanish word he knew,
and the soldiers guessed that he wanted Lieutenant Lewis.

"Give him a lift, boys," said the corporal and set the example by
helping Piang to stand.

"Why, the boy's story is incredible, Lewis. It is simply impossible
that a gunboat could be at the bottom of Lake Lanao," General
Beech protested as he walked to and fro in front of his desk in the
administration building.

"If you will search the records at headquarters, sir, I think you
will find mention of three gunboats that were shipped to this island
by the Spanish government and disappeared mysteriously on the eve of
our occupancy."

And so it turned out. Inquiries among the older natives of the barrio
brought confirmation of the report, and weird tales of transporting
the diminutive gunboats in sections over the mountain passes began
to float about. Finally General Beech was convinced and gave the
necessary orders to equip and send an investigating party to the
lake. Piang was to be the guide.

The transport _Seward_ carried the troops around to Iligan, and the
struggle up the mountain trail to Lake Lanao began.

Sicto was the first to give warning of the approach. He came upon the
party one morning as they were breaking camp near the Marie Christina
falls and immediately dashed off to Marahui.

"The white devils are coming," he shrieked. "Piang, the traitor,
is leading them to us!"

Dato Grande assembled his council, and they awaited the coming
of the soldiers with misgivings. They had good reason to fear the
Americans. General Bushing had swept that district in his marvelous
campaign, and there was many a cripple among the lake people to
testify to the accuracy of his marksmen. But they were relieved by
the appearance of Ricardo, the interpreter, who explained to the dato
that the troops were not hostile, but had come to make friends with
the Moros.

Proudly Piang swung along at the head of the column, guiding them
to his recent platform home. Camp was pitched on the shore, and the
engineers commenced work at once. The boy impatiently waited for
the divers to fix their cumbersome suits