“Viva los Americanos,” one shouted and the woods rang with their lusty cheers. “Will you come to the ranch with me and surrender there to the Americans?” Maria asked, after the cheering had died away. Gregorio shook his head. “My first quest is Espinosa,” he replied earnestly. “At once we shall march toward the stronghold. If he is captured or killed in the battle I shall seek General Wilson and surrender myself and men. If Espinosa escapes I shall follow him to the death.” Maria knew the native spirit too well to attempt to urge her brother to give up this perilous quest of their father’s murderer, so she bowed her head submissively. An hour saw the band on the march, with Maria and Juan mounted on two ponies; quietly the native soldiers led by Gregorio Rodriguez circled the Americans encamped at the ranch and struck the trail taken in the morning by Captain Blynn and his five hundred soldiers. Long before they came in sight of the stronghold the distant rumble of musketry and the thunder of artillery told them of the struggle at the top of the mountain. Despairing of reaching the battle-field by the treacherous trail already covered by the Americans, Gregorio led his party to high ground across the valley from Matiginao. They arrived breathlessly at the summit and viewed the distant figures of men fighting in a hand-to-hand struggle. Maria gasped in fear as she comprehended the awful sight of the struggle. “The Americans are victorious,” Gregorio exclaimed excitedly as he saw the wave of khaki sweep from two sides across the broad plateau. He saw the native insurgents huddled together in the centre of the American soldiers. But his eager eyes followed a small band of Americans and natives on the right of the mountain; he saw the natives in front of them give way slowly, contesting the battle-field foot by foot, while behind them he saw several score more of natives reach the edge of the plateau and rapidly disappear down the sheer side of the cliff. “They are escaping,” he cried in sudden alarm. “See, they are holding the Americans back to give those fleeing time to escape. It’s Espinosa,” he shouted hoarsely, beside himself with apprehension. Between him and the valley at the foot of the precipice, Gregorio knew were many miles of impenetrable jungle, through which there was no trail. Yet he must push through this formidable barrier in an effort to cut off his enemy’s escape. Calling up one of his trusty lieutenants he gave Maria and Juan in his charge.