it was the strangest sight I ever saw in my life."

"Oh, me love monkeys," replied the boy, stroking and soothing the
frightened creature. "You want this one?"

"No, let the little beast off, I couldn't bear to cage it up." A banana
and some sugar repaid the monkey for the experiment and after he was
free, he followed the travelers, chattering and begging for sweets.

When they came to Isabella, capital of Basilan Island, Piang scurried
off in search of the sultan. The men amused themselves watching
the excitement they created. An American soldier is a wonderful and
dreadful thing to these wild folk.

"The sultan, he out in other barrio. Me catchim." This being
interpreted meant that Piang would guide them to his house.

When they finally came to a clearing, Lewis wondered why Piang stopped
in front of a filthy hut, half-way up two cocoanut-trees; he was
impatient to be off, as he wanted to reach the sultan's palace before
dark. Piang was arguing with a dirty woman cleaning fish in the river.

"Piang, what's the idea? Let's get on," impatiently said Lewis.

"This His Excellency Paduca Majasari Amiril Sultan Harun Narrasid's
house," replied Piang with awe.

"Gee, what a name!" exclaimed Lewis. "And to go with that dugout,
too. Say, Piang, I suppose we could call the old chap Pad for short?"

Piang grinned, but instantly went on his knees, head touching the
ground as a sullen, dark face, a white scar slashed across the cheek,
appeared at the opening.

"What does the beggar mean by that grunt, Sergeant?" asked Lewis.

"That's the old boy himself, sir, wanting to know why you have
disturbed his royal sleep."

Lewis was dumfounded! This dirty, insignificant creature the sultan! He
wanted to laugh, but the solemn little figure, prostrate before the
man, made him say quietly:

"Piang, get up, I want you to talk to him."

Timidly the boy raised his eyes to his august lord; another grunt
seemed to give Piang permission, for he rose and faced Lewis.

"What you want Piang to say? Be careful. He not like joke and might
chop off Americanos."

Lewis realized it was no trifling matter to meet this scoundrel alone
in the jungle, far from reinforcements. His message was simple, short,
and impressive:

"Ask him why the devil he allowed those juramentados to invade
my camp?"

With much ceremony Piang addressed the sultan, bowing and scraping
before him. The low, ugly growls in response made Lewis furious,
but he ref