Phil’s face suddenly beamed in smiles as Lukban’s plan slowly unfolded before him. Highly delighted, he shook hands enthusiastically with the speaker, until the latter cried out in pain from the well meant but rough show of appreciation.
“Major Marble and I will return with you at once,” General Wilson added quietly to Phil after he had in but a few words approved the proposed plan. “Blynn can settle the question of prisoners. I’d like to have Espinosa behind bars before I wire to Manila giving them this news.”
Phil solemnly told of the sad fate of Lieutenant Tillotson and the general shook his head mournfully.
“Maybe it is better so,” he whispered half to himself, but to Phil, standing close by, these words from the old soldier’s heart came distinctly.
A detail of men carried the body of the dead officer across the battle-field, and as they passed solemnly through the joyful troops who had collected to cheer the white-haired veteran, the soldiers became suddenly silent as their eyes fell upon the stretcher and were told the identity of that figure underneath the flag. None had reverenced the officer in life, but in death all were anxious to render respect.
Phil told the general of the pitiful plight of Lieutenant Tillotson, and of the cruel manner of his death, and generously praised the doubtful courage of the army man.
“It’s a glorious end for a soldier,” General Wilson murmured. “I have always felt that I could welcome it, and now,” he added disappointedly, “I shall probably die in my bed like an ordinary citizen. My career is almost over; in another year I shall have left active service behind.”
While the general and his party climbed down the difficult trail to reach the gunboat at anchor in the river below them, Lopez and Garcia with their trusty company had nimbly descended the almost precipitous side of the mountain and were eagerly following the trail of the fleeing insurgent and his ill-gotten spoils.
The “Mindinao” steamed fearlessly down the river, her flag at half-mast in honor of those whose mortal remains lay covered on the quarter-deck; the soldiers who had given their lives in the attack on the most formidable of insurgent strongholds. Phil and O’Neil were given prompt attention by the surgeon and several ugly wounds were carefully dressed. Phil was glad to relinquish his command to Sydney and remained luxuriously in his cot.
At Rodriguez’s ranch the gunboat stopped and reverently landed the dead heroes, to be buried in the cemetery, and here General Wilson and his adjutant-general disembarked to return to Palilo by road.