"Caught acting as a spy for the enemy in violation of the Articles of War; armed, with intent to take the life of an American sentry on guard!" After the testimony had been taken, the prisoner was given a chance to speak, but he absolutely refused to do so, even though addressed in several different languages and dialects. "He spoke Spanish to us as we captured him," interjected the corporal. "GUILTY!" said the lieutenant-colonel who was presiding, in a firm military tone. "The court fixes the penalty at death, and sentences the prisoner to be shot at sun-rise." "Remove him, Sergeant, and detail a firing squad to execute the order of the court!" As the prisoner was led away, the lieutenant-colonel dropped his chin in the palms of his hands as he rested his elbows on his knees, and muttered in a semi-regretful way: "I hate to do it; but in the past we have always been so chicken-hearted about punishing these blood-thirsty natives that they have now come to regard our kindness as cowardice. I can't help but feel that it will bring the war to a close quicker if we deal with them hereafter with a good firm hand." "I wonder what province the young fellow came from," said a major who was sitting near. "I really don't know," replied the lieutenant-colonel: "his face shows him to be a Tagalo. Certain it is that he didn't come from Isabella province in which we are now campaigning. I wouldn't be surprised if Aguinaldo were near here and if he had sent this young dare-devil to cut down our sentry, so as to make an attack upon us tonight during the storm." Toward morning the storm subsided. At day-break a comparatively shallow grave was hastily dug near the edge of a little bamboo thicket on a slightly elevated piece of ground. As the flickering rays of the tropical sun began to shoot above the pale, ashen-gray hue of the eastern horizon, the prisoner was led to the foot of his prospective tomb. The firing squad took its place in line. The guns had been carefully loaded in advance for their deadly work; all but one contained blank cartridges. As usual, after loading, the guns were intermixed, so that no man might know which one contained the deadly bullet. "Ready!" commanded the sergeant who had charge of the squad,--the corporal having taken his usual place in line with his men. "Click," went the hammers of the rifles in unison, as they were brought to a full cock. "Aim!" came the next command in a firmer tone. The soldiers brought their rifles to their shoulders. Every barrel was pointed at the chest of the prisoner, who now for the first time, began to tremble and turn a sickly yellow. "Fire!" commanded the sergeant. "Bang!" went the united roar of the guns; and as the light powder smoke cleared away and the echoes reverberated through the woods of northern Luzon, the firing squad stepped forward to view their heroic dead. A private jumped into the grave and turned the corpse over onto its back.