rained from showing his anger. The sultan's reply amazed him.

He expressed his regrets indifferently, that the camp had been
disturbed. But (he threw up his hands to indicate his helplessness)
who could stop the sacred juramentado? Not he, powerful sultan that
he was. To-day was a feast of the Mohammedans. To-day was a most
holy day, and, of course, the sultan could not be held responsible
if some of his men had become excited. True, many good Americans had
met their death in this way; it was most unfortunate, but how could
it be stopped? Did the Christians not have their Christmas, and did
they not kill turkeys and cut trees? The Moros are a fierce people
and celebrate their feast days in a more violent manner.

Poor Lewis! Thoroughly exasperated, he tried to argue through Piang,
but finding it hopeless, he told the boy to finish Kali Pandapatan's
business with the sultan as quickly as possible.

Discouraged, he started back through the jungle, wondering how many
more fanatics had broken loose during his absence. The sultan was
deliberately picking the troops off, a few at a time, always insisting
that he was at peace with the Americans. The war department, many miles
away, was unable to understand the situation. Orders required that
the Moro receive humane treatment, and forbade any drastic measures
being taken against the juramentados, saying time would cure it. It
was outrageous, and intelligent men were being made fools of by the
sultan, who understood the state of affairs perfectly.

The jungle began to irritate Lewis; it was a constant fight. The
terrible heat, the tenacity of the vines and undergrowth seemed
directed toward him personally, as he stumbled and fought his way
along. How impossible to deal with the crafty sultan according to
Christian standards! He should be given treatment that would bring
him to terms quickly, and Lewis longed to get a chance at him.

Suddenly an idea flashed into his head. He hurried Piang, bidding
him find a shorter cut home, as night was gathering.

"Sergeant Greer, come to my tent immediately," ordered the lieutenant
when he had looked over the camp and found everything safe.

"Allow no one to enter, orderly," he said and closed the flaps.

"Sergeant, I have a plan and I need your experience and advice to
carry it out. That old sultan is a fiend, and I am going to get him!"

"That's been tried many times, sir, and he is still ahead of the game."

But after Lewis had