[CHAPTER IV]
SHOWING HOW A PATRIOT MAY ALSO BE A TRAITOR
The meeting between Marcelino Ponce de Leon and his friend Don Carlos Evaña was very cordial; they embraced like brothers. Then Don Carlos proceeded to question Marcelino concerning all that he had done during the past three weeks. To every question Marcelino answered unreservedly, Evaña listening to him with a tender light playing in his usually stern eyes, and an approving smile upon his lips.
"How I envy you," he said, as the other paused, his face glowing with enthusiasm.
"Why do you not join us? You are more clever and braver than I am. Ah! how willingly I would serve under you. The chiefs we have are zealous enough but very few of them have any brains. I have no experience, but I can see the follies they do; one man like you were worth more than all the rest put together."
"Of all those you have named to me, Don Juan Martin and yourself seem the only ones at all fitted to command," replied Evaña. "Why are you only a subordinate?"
"There is so much jealousy among them, all want to command, so I thought I should set a good example by showing how to obey."
"Would there were more like you," said Evaña, with a sigh.
"There would be one more and one better than me, if you would only join us," replied Marcelino.