"No people are so destructive and wasteful as those who call themselves civilized," returned Mrs. Rizal. "I am of them and understand them, and I tremble for the future of the Filipinos. The Americans will bring the foreigner and the natives will disappear before him. They will bring the machine, and such as remain will be chained to it, and compelled to render to them a tribute many times in excess of that which Spain has exacted from you. You have been poor, but you have not starved. Civilization brings the slum and abject hunger." Agonoy answered not. He was thinking about something that to him seemed to be a dream, yet which he knew to be true--of the awful experiences of a girl, to all intents and purposes dead, who had suffered at the hands of civilization, the apex of possible human suffering. So the two walked on and on. Sometimes they heard of Saguanaldo, and again lost trace of him. They passed on into wilder regions, into places infested by mosquitoes, snakes and other loathsome things; to regions where mango birds were numerous and where the pigeon of the crucifixion with the red cross on its breast had its habitat. Often lost, they could go but slowly; sometimes they slept alone in the great forests. But ever they pressed on. Finally, after days out, the two travelers came upon Saguanaldo in a grass hut in a thicket near the southern end of the island. As they approached, piloted by a friendly Igorrote, Saguanaldo arose in evident surprise. After exchanging greetings Mrs. Rizal said: "General Saguanaldo, we came to take with you the fortunes of war." "Señora Rizal, you are welcome. We shall need all the soldiers we can gather, and your advice will be valuable in this time of trouble. The name of the boy"-- "Hilario Agonoy," said Mrs. Rizal, quickly. "You are welcome. Señora Rizal and the boy; we shall want you both at the council of war which we are about to hold." "Private soldiers are not often taken into councils," suggested Agonoy. "Oh, yes, they are when there are only three present," suggested Saguanaldo, with grim humor. But Agonoy did not join in the laugh that followed. By Saguanaldo's side sat Bishop Aglipay, Obispo Maximo, the leader of the revolt against the friars. Only these four were left, though others were ready to take up arms when Saguanaldo suggested. It was a pitiful remnant of the gay throng that had such a short time ago celebrated Philippine independence, hailing Saguanaldo as president. Saguanaldo began: "We shall need to confer as to the best mode of procedure, because we are in desperate situation. We are in a much worse shape than before the American army came. Then we were in possession of more than half the churches in the Philippines, and besides that, held Manila. But now I have been tricked away from the Philippine capital, and the American troops are protecting the churches for the friars."