Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/57

Rh ahead. One thing is sure—you shall not go back; have no fear on that score."

"But you will treat me as a prisoner of war?"

The rebel shrugged his shoulders. "What do you mean by that? When Santa Cruz was taken by your Lawton some months ago, what did they do to my brothers in arms? Sixteen were made prisoners, while forty-six wounded Tagals were shot or stabbed in the back. Ha! do not deny it, for it is true, true! And when Angat was taken, during the march on San Isidro, what happened then? Six innocent natives were slain, including a mother and her child. Your soldiers said it was an accident. Bah! Perhaps it will be an accident if you are some day shot in the back while you are a prisoner among us. You say we are butchers—that the Spaniards were butchers here and in Cuba! Your soldiers are just as bad, and some of your wild men from your Western states are worse! No, no, do not deny it, for I have seen these things with my own eyes." The Filipino shook his fists in Ben's face. "Perhaps you are not like some of them, but oh, when I remember what I have seen it makes my blood boil, and I would go out and kill, kill, kill, every Americano!"

The passionate outburst lasted for several minutes,