king the American pulse
leap and the American heart thrill with joy.

[Illustration: KING ALPHONSO XIII. OF SPAIN.]

At the same instant the sound of the distant booming of Captain Capron's
battery, firing a salute of twenty-one guns, drifted in.

When the music ceased, from all directions around our lines came flying
across the plaza the strains of the regimental bands and the muffled,
hoarse cheers of our troops.

The infantry came to "order arms" a moment later, after the flag was up,
and the band played "Rally Round the Flag, Boys."

Instantly General McKibben called for three cheers for General Shafter,
which were given with great enthusiasm, the band playing "The Stars and
Stripes For Ever."

The ceremony over, General Shafter and his staff returned to the American
lines, leaving the city in the possession of the municipal authorities
subject to the control of General McKibben, who had been appointed
temporary military governor.

CHAPTER XIV.

MINOR EVENTS.

_June 24._ The details of the bloodless capture of the principal of the
Ladrone Islands are thus told by a private letter from the naval officer
who figured in the leading role of the exploit, Lieutenant William
Braunerzruther, executive officer of the cruiser _Charleston_:

"U. S. S. CHARLESTON, AT SEA AND ONE
"THOUSAND MILES FROM MANILA,
"June 24, 1898.

"We have just carried out our orders to capture the Spanish authorities at
the capital of the Ladrone Islands, Agana. I was selected by the captain
to undertake this job, and given 160 men to land as a starter.

"I went ashore to have a talk with the governor about affairs, and the
results were that I did not lose even a single man. The matter was all
settled in one day, and we are carrying with us fifty-four soldiers
(Spanish) and six officers, besides a lot of Mauser rifles and nearly ten
thousand pounds of ammunition.

"I had the whole to handle, and did it quickly. The captain's instructions
were to wait a half hour for his answer to our ultimatum, then use my
troops. I waited, and in just twenty-nine minutes the governor handed me
his sealed reply addressed to the captain of our ship out in the harbour
about four or five miles off.

"I knew this was sealed with the