After talking over his experiences at the First Reserve Hospital at Manila, Sever asked his guest what he intended doing. Benito replied that his future was undecided. While in Manila he had seen Juanita, and they had decided that he should seek the Capitan and ask his advice. That was how he happened to be peddling along the line. "You don't intend to return to the army again?" asked Sever. On receiving an emphatic negative answer, the Captain continued: "How did you happen to cast your fortunes with the insurgents in the first place, and why were you so terror-stricken when first discovered after you had been wounded?" Benito's answer to this double query was lengthy, but in effect he said: His father had been a captain in the Corps d'Elite, Aguinaldo's body-guard, during the Filipino insurrection against Spanish rule. Hoodwinked and misguided by the juntas as to the designs of the Americans, he continued in the service after the Spaniards had been driven out. During the outbreak against the Americans on February 5, 1899, he was killed. Shortly afterward he received word that he must take his father's place. He knew what it meant to refuse to enter the insurrectionist service after having once been notified. Fearing assassination should he refuse, he at once joined his father's regiment and was given his father's company. His regiment gradually fell back into the interior as the Americans advanced. Nothing but tales of brigandage, rapacity, and cruelty were heard of the actions of the enemy. Driven beyond San Fernando de Pampanga, Aguinaldo established his headquarters at Tarlac, and determined to make a final stand; here taking oath that he would take the city of San Fernando inside of a week or lose every man in his command in the attempt. Then followed the attack in which Benito was wounded. From what he had heard, he expected the Captain's sword to run him through; or worse, be taken alive and afterward subjected to the cruelty of the "Yankee" soldiery, or sold as a slave and shipped to the States. Now he had seen with his own eyes the benign attitude of his former enemy. His connection with the rebellion had ended. Sever offered to employ him as his valet. The beaming fellow arose, bowing obsequiously, and replied: "As you wish, Capitan." From that moment his bearing and actions changed from those of a friend to those of a servant. Benito proved a model valet. His master's wants were anticipated; his shoes looked more like mirrors than prosaic foot-gear, and his clothes were always neatly pressed and immaculately clean. The culinary was not neglected. It was soon noised about the regiment that Sever was the best groomed and fed officer in the Division.