ure at his feet,
looked long, and sorrowed.

"But for the brave Piang I should have been lying there," he murmured.

Piang supported by Kali watched this new chief.

"Come here, Piang," said the governor. Fumbling with the collar of
his white uniform, he loosened something.

"My lad, I thank you for your bravery," he said, his voice shaking
slightly. "For your timely arrival, and your courage. Your name shall
be sent to the great chief at Washington."

The words were repeated to the jungle boy, and his manly little chest
swelled with pride.

"Piang, I am about to decorate you with the emblem of our government;
these infantry cross-guns I shall pin on your breast." The dignified
governor reached forward to make good his words, but he paused
in embarrassment, the noble speech dying on his lips. He gazed in
dismay at the naked little savage, standing straight and expectantly
before him.

"I shall _place_ this emblem." The officer began again. There was a
titter among the spectators.

Piang, eagerly eyeing the treasure, wondered why the governor
delayed. Suddenly a gleam of understanding broke over him, and he
grinned, broadly. With the tip of his finger he touched the shining
cross-guns, then his necklace of crocodile teeth. The situation
was saved.

Amid thunderous applause the smiling governor fastened the guns to
the indicated article of dress, and loud and clear rose the shout:

"Piang! Piang!"

TENTH ADVENTURE

PIANG'S TRIUMPH

Two years had passed since the bichara. Prosperity and honor had come
to Dato Kali Pandapatan and his people under the rule of General Beech
and Governor Findy, and Piang had been raised to the post of official
interpreter. Sicto, the disturber, had been seized in Zamboanga
on the charge of complicity in the plot on Governor Findy's life;
he had attempted to escape, and there were varying reports as to the
results. Some said that he had been killed by a crocodile, others that
he had escaped and swum to Basilan; but the tribe had not heard of him
since the bichara, and they were relieved to be rid of his bullying
presence. Especially the little slave girl, Papita, whom Sicto had
annoyed since infancy, was glad that he was gone. Sicto's father had
captured the little maid in a raid on the Bogobo country, and the
boy seemed to think it his special privilege to abuse and torment her.

Along the steep mountain trail, dividing the jungle as a river might,
crept a slow proc