By this time they were reinforced by a small body of men who had crossed the bridge on the girders, and as these came up yelling other college yells and firing as rapidly as possible, at nothing, the Filipinos, in utter consternation, broke ranks and fled. In the course of a few hours, however, Saguanaldo, who understood the lay of the country thoroughly, had again brought his forces into order and had forded the river a little lower down. He was now on the side of the stream nearest Manila, while the Americans, after all had crossed and they had leisurely partaken of dinner, were hunting him further in the interior. It had been a bloodless battle, with the victory apparently on one side and yet the advantage decidedly on the side of the defeated. After the troops had been collected Saguanaldo called Agonoy to him and said: "The honors of the first encounter belong to you. Name the reward you desire." "All I wish is to serve my country further," replied the youth with another blush. "Permit me to go ahead to Manila and inform you how to take the city." "Another should accompany you, so that if something happens to one the other may escape." "Permit me to go to spy out the land," asked Bishop Aglipay. "You, Bishop?" "Yes. Let each go in his own way and alone. Then we can report and will not be in collusion." "Does that suit you, Señor Agonoy?" "I shall be satisfied. If we can wreak vengeance on the bishop's enemy, the Jesuit, I shall be repaid for all dangers and suffering that may ensue." "Then go, and success attend your efforts," returned Saguanaldo. And he looked on the youth with searching eyes that for a third time caused Agonoy to blush. XV. WORLD POLITICS. "I'm going to invite Judge Daft to occupy this convento," suggested Violeta to Bishop Lonzello, a few days after he arrived. "You will do nothing of the kind," replied the bishop. "It is a little too much, you coming here and ordering us from the islands; but, as if this was not sufficient, now you want us to give up our dormitories. I may yield the land for the good of the church, but I am not going to stand this individual insult from a stranger." "Oh, be reasonable," persuaded the Jesuit. "I am doing it solely for your good. You will get the rental for it, and a republic is never niggardly in such matters. The convento is really the only suitable building in Manila for the purpose, and we can use the tender of it in cementing a very valuable pact. Depend on it, you will lose nothing by it. Another thing"-- "Nombre de Dios! Is there anything else?" "Of course there is. We must syndicate the friar lands." "I do not understand."