e courtesy of the editors.

FIRST ADVENTURE

THE CHARM BOY

In the warm Celebes Sea, four hundred miles south of Manila, lies the
romantic, semi-mysterious island of Mindanao, home of the Moro. For
three centuries Spain struggled to subjugate this fierce people,
with little or no success, and she turned them over to America with
a sigh of relief. Perpetual warfare is the pastime of the Moro; it
is his sport, his vocation; and the Mother Jungle hurls a livelihood
at his feet. Food, clothing, shelter are his birthright.

One of the most powerful tribes of Moroland is ruled by Dato (chief)
Kali Pandapatan. Far up in the hills dwells this powerful clan,
arrogant and superior in its power. Piang, the chosen of Allah,
dwells among them; haughtily the boy accepts their homage as his due,
for he is destined to become their ruler some day. His prowess and
bravery are the boast of his people, and the name of Piang is known
from one end of Mindanao to the other.

The tribe was assembled for the ceremony. Within the hollow square
stood Dato (chief) Kali Pandapatan and old Pandita (priest) Asin. There
was a rustle of expectancy among the onlookers; their interest was
divided between the two solitary figures, silently waiting, and a
hut, much bedecked with gaudy trappings and greens. On all sides the
silent jungle closed in around the brilliant throng, seeming to bear
witness against mankind; men might force a tiny clearing in its very
heart after years of struggle and work, but the virgin forest sang on,
undisturbed, watchful.

The grass flaps, forming the door of the hut, moved. Like a soft wind
caressing the palm-trees, a murmur rustled through the crowd:

"It is he!"

Children scrambled away from restraining parents to get a better view;
dogs, filled with uneasiness by this strange silence, whined. The
stillness was unnatural. Distant cries of a mina-bird floated to this
strained audience; the river, muttering its plaints to the listening
rushes, sounded like a cataract in their ears.

Into the midst of this crowd walked a stately, graceful youth. The
dusky goldenness of his skin was enhanced by his rainbow-hued
garments. From waist to ankle he was encased in breeches as tight as
any gymnast's pantaloons; they were striped in greens and scarlets
and had small gold filigree buttons down the sides. A tight jacket,
buttoned to the throat, was fastened with another row of buttons,
and around his waist was graceful