Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/301

Rh so that now the self-styled Dictator was left almost utterly alone in the world. Many of his best friends advised him to give up the struggle, but he refused as stubbornly as ever to listen to such advice.

"I will never bow to the will of the American people," he is reported to have said. "We are as much entitled to our independence as they are entitled to theirs." Unknown to many, he was now planning to shift the seat of war again to the Laguna de Bay and the south side of Manila.

The trip which Ben undertook was one full of hardships, for in many places the roads had been utterly destroyed and even the wells were rendered unfit for use. No serious opposition was encountered excepting at the village of Santa Rio, where a handful of natives fired on them from two nipa huts. The natives were quickly put to flight, and those who were afterward captured were compelled to become litter carriers over the mountains.

When Biloguana was reached, the news that the Americans were coming had already been circulated, and every hut and house was surmounted by its flag of white, as a sign of truce. Yet Ben brought the command up with caution, so as not to be taken off his guard.