It was evident that the boy—for such he looked to be—thought he would be murdered on the spot, or at least unmercifully dealt with.
The officer spoke to him in Spanish and assured him that no harm would befall him, but that he would receive every kindness and attention.
The poor lad was too weak to say much, but allowed the American to gently bear him to a more comfortable place in the open.
After a few moments’ rest, the sufferer opened his eyes and beckoned Sever to draw nearer. His whole expression had changed from hatred and fear of his rescuer to that of implicit confidence. In good Spanish he told that he had been wounded when they had charged the “Yankee” line, but, having heard of how heartless and cruel his enemy was, he followed his retreating and panic-stricken comrades till so weakened from loss of blood he could go no further. Knowing they were being hotly pursued, he crawled into the cogonales, hoping to escape the eyes of the hated Americans.
Sever arose to seek a surgeon. The old look of terror returned to the wounded native’s face, and he reached out his skeleton-like hand as if to hold him, and implored: “No, Capitan, don’t go; the ’medico’ may not be so kind as you, and I might die before you came back. I cannot live much longer.”
The brave and sympathetic officer then said: “Let me get some of my men who will carry you to the hospital. I cannot remain longer nor do I wish to leave you.”
The wounded Tagalo looked wistfully into his face and feebly murmured: “Will you do something else for me?”
The Captain hesitated for a moment, apparently wondering what the request could be, then gave a nod of assent, and stooped to listen, bending closer and his interest increasing as the suffering fellow struggled with his narrative.
It ran: He was called Benito Gonzales, and he had been forced to take up arms by the insurgent authorities. He had a sweetheart named Juanita Tarinto, who had at the opening of the war taken refuge in a convent in Manila. He wished to send her his “anting anting” (his good luck charm), and some little money he had saved before the war began. Would the Capitan take charge of these things and deliver them?
