Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 20.pdf/338

 THE ROAD TO JAIL

unarmed Filipino driver. In a few moments the captain returned to the wagon only to find his captive gone. He saw him some two blocks down the street just turning the corner and followed him at full speed, finally recapturing him. Smith was really as fond of Neville as a dog is of its master, but he was unable to understand why Neville was so heartless as to wish to take him to Manila, and began to curse him as before, whereupon Neville put him aboard the boat, in the hold of the vessel, and chained him to one of the native mur derers. The central penitentiary at Manila is called " Bilibid." Upon landing at Manila, Neville made ready to take his prisoners thither. Just before disembark ing, Smith begged Captain Neville most pathetically not to march him from the wharf through the streets of Manila chained to a Filipino murderer and promised "upon his word of honor" that if allowed to march to the prison unchained and unhand cuffed he would not attempt to escape. Neville said "Very well, Smith, I will allow you to do so upon this distinct under standing — that if you attempt to escape I am going to kill you." Smith readily agreed to do this and kept his promise, possibly for ethical reasons, but more probably because he knew Neville to be a man of his word and a dead shot with a revolver. Thus was Adam Smith safely transported from Albay to the Manila penitentiary, with out the shedding of blood and otherwise without prejudice to the wealth of nations. The rest of this story concerns "General" Ola, who was one of Smith's fellow convicts, having been sentenced to thirty years in the penitentiary upon a plea of guilty. On the voyage up to Manila, Ola was neither hand cuffed nor chained but was allowed the freedom of the boat. He had made himself very useful "during the trial of his band of outlaws by turning State's evidence and telling everything he knew about every one of them. This had been done by virtue of an agreement between him and the prose

cuting attorney under which the latter had said that while he would not undertake to promise him (Ola) absolute immunity, yet he would recommend that to the GovernorGeneral, and would do all he could to secure executive clemency. Ola also understood that both Judge Carson and myself expected to make a similar recommendation. Under these circumstances, of course, it seemed entirely prudent to allow Ola the freedom of the ship. The second night out from Legaspi, which is the seaport for the town of Albay, the weather being very warm, about two o'clock in the morning I left my state room, carrying along a blanket and a pillow, located what appeared to be a good place to finish the night at the poop over the storm steering gear, took possession, and went to sleep. Sometime before daybreak I woke up for some unaccountable reason, and in a moment became aware of the crown of a human head adjacent to the crown of my own head. Not having invited anyone to share the opposite side of my pillow, I arose to a sitting posture and turned to see who the intruder might be. It was Ola himself, the Chief of the Brigands. I said "Hello, Ola, what are you doing here?" It seemed he had been somewhat restless dxmng the night, and had finally laid down where I now discovered him. The night was dark and he had supposed that the owner of this pillow was one of the crew. He arose at once when spoken to, and was very profuse in his apologies. After that I went to sleep again but was dimly conscious several times that Ola was pacing up and down, apparently determined to see that my slumbers were not again disturbed by anyone else. About daybreak some of the guard who were sleeping in that part of the ship awakened, and began to chatter quite volubly; whereupon "General'' Ola said to his captors in the unmistakable tones of a person accustomed to command, "Hush! the Judge is sleeping." Whereupon, silence prevailed. Ola was pardoned. MACON, GA., APRIL, 1908.