Lukban pointed to the tall mountains ahead of them.
“Time and again the Spaniards have endeavored to drive out the outlaws from yonder stronghold, and the poor people who made their living on the river were mercilessly preyed upon by the war parties of the contending factions, until none were left. Juan Rodriguez alone has managed to remain, but only by his fearless courage and the devotion of his followers. Neither side cared to provoke him in his security until Espinosa coveted his lands and his money and, who can say, maybe his beautiful daughter.”
“Maria!” Sydney exclaimed.
The native lowered his voice to a whisper.
“Espinosa has had but one ambition all his life; to marry the daughter of Rodriguez; but she scorned him, and to save her from his persistent attention, Señorita Maria was sent away to Manila to school. Now he has robbed her of her father and stolen the treasure which had been hoarded for her. For many years Espinosa has been the head of the outlaws of Kapay. Holding positions of trust under Spanish rule, he directed the rebel movements and prevented their annihilation by the Spanish columns. This identical work he has attempted under the American rule, but his treachery has at last been exposed. Until he openly threatened the life of Rodriguez, none of us dared to thwart him. His murderers are everywhere, and his society of the Katipunan is far-reaching. Nowhere in the archipelago is one safe from their vengeance. Maria, woman as she is, has been marked for the assassin’s knife if she continues to refuse to become the wife of its leader. Garcia, Rodriguez’s trusted friend and overseer, was lured by terrible threats of vengeance and hopes of reward to betray his benefactor. He had been chosen by the society to commit the repulsive crime of murdering his friend. He came to the Rodriguez house intending to kill the father and carry away the daughter into captivity, which would have been for her a living death. Through the administering of the water and the voluntary confessions of Garcia, I have found out every motive which has actuated both Espinosa and Garcia. The would-be murderer entered the room of his victim, but in the light of the lamp could not bring himself to murder his lifelong friend. He at least had remaining some of the kindlier feelings in his heart. Turning out the light he was about to despatch him with a swift dagger thrust as he lay innocently sleeping; then hearing a noise on the stairs he withdrew into the darkness of an adjoining room. It was Señorita Maria and the two Americans who had remained to protect her. Seeing that to stay would mean discovery, he escaped by a window, intending to meet Espinosa and his men as they stole through the uproar of the bolo attack and tell him of the locality of the treasure. Espinosa is a leader of no mean order. His attack on the ranch was masterfully executed. Even though wounded, he came unhindered through the thick of the attack, with his body-guard of twenty faithful men. These were the ones who entered the house and carried away the treasure chests.
“When Garcia, escaping, reached the ground, your trusty boatswain’s mate, O’Neil, was on the spot.”
Major Lukban’s eyes were on his restive captive as he talked in low tones to Sydney.
“We must keep an eye on him,” he continued. “He has given me so much information that he would be killed if he fell into Espinosa’s hands. Knowing the danger he runs, acting as our guide, he may attempt to escape.”
The “Mindinao” was now where the dapper little colonel had taken his involuntary bath. The river had become sensibly narrower and the shores more treacherously rocky.
The captive suddenly turned and excitedly spoke to Major Lukban in the native language, his gaze meanwhile roving over the cliffs just visible ahead.