that would be a good scheme," said Marie. "Malolos is about
twelve miles from Manila Bay; besides, the bay is shallow in the
north end, so that heavy boats could not go up there. This will make
it impossible for Dewey to shell the place with his fleet. We've got
to watch out for that--no matter what we do. My! but those American
ships can shoot! Did you hear about me shooting at 'em with that
cannon on Corregidor island when they entered the bay? I mighty near
got one of their vessels."

"No," said Aguinaldo, "I have not heard very much about the firing
off Corregidor, but as I came from Hongkong the other day on the
"McCulloch" I noticed that the Spanish fortifications on the island
had all been dismantled."

"Why! they killed a man right at my feet, the very first shot," said
Marie; "and then one of their boats drew nearer and fired several
times more and they killed every Spaniard in the relief guard which
was near by,--seven of them in all."

"And I was terribly worried about Marie," interrupted her mother who
had listened to the conversation with deepest interest. "She had been
gone for a week, and I hadn't heard a word from her."

"Oh! well, I don't pity the Spaniards any for what the Americans did
to them," interjected Aguinaldo, with some emphasis.

"Be careful," said old lady Sampalit, putting her finger on her lips,
"don't speak too loud."

Aguinaldo continued in a lower voice: "They killed your husband. They
shot Rizal. They strangled Dimigeuz. They tortured to death several
hundred of our young fellows in the dungeons. They have left ridges
of dead wherever their armies have moved among us. I tell you they
deserved all they got."

Mrs. Sampalit and Marie had grown heavy hearted. Aguinaldo looked at
his watch. It was after ten P. M.

"I wonder," said Aguinaldo, hesitatingly, "how I shall be able to
get back to our lines tonight."

"Don't go!" said Marie, in an emphatic whisper, "stay over night!"

"Yes, do!" entreated the old lady, "I'm nervous."

"It might be best; it would surely be the safest thing to do," said
Aguinaldo, in a meditating manner.

"We sleep on bamboo beds," said Marie. "There stands mine. You may use
it tonight, and I will sleep on the floor. I don't mind. Mother and
I frequently lie down on the floor near the window, when the nights
are sultry."

The next morning Aguinaldo arose very early, made his way to the
edge of the city and stealthily stole out threw the Americans'