Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/265

Rh "The biggest city is Manila, on the east shore of Manila Bay, a big harbor shaped like a camel's head, with the opening at the neck of the animal, and Manila sittin' like a wart on the critter's nose. Years an' years ago the city was only a Spanish military post, but it grew an' grew, until I reckon there are several hundred thousand folks—Chinese and Japanese and all—in and around Manila. A good many of the people are what they call Tagals, a branch of the Malay race—a good enough set if the Spanish would only treat 'em half decently."

"Something was said about their being in rebellion," went on the boy. "I wonder if they are fighting now."

"To be sure they are fighting," put in Barrow, the gunner. "I heard the lieutenant say, and I guess he got it straight from headquarters, that there are between thirty and forty thousand Tagals and others in revolt, under General Emilio Aguinaldo and other leaders. Oh, they'll make it as hot on land in these quarters as we'll make it on the sea, if we can catch sight of those will-o-the-wisp Dons."

There had been a vigorous signalling going on between the vessels of the squadron, and now all but the Concord and the Boston slowed up. The two