re on the hills north of Orani and after a time
the infantry took possession, for a flag from the church tower called
for a boat to be sent to that place. The "Laguna de Bay" responded, went
up the river and shelled Paite and Sinilaon until darkness ended her
usefulness for that day. The troops had in the meantime checked the
native advance and camped at Paite.

From this time until May 7th little was done by the boats. A greater
part of the time was spent in making necessary repairs. On the last
mentioned date a Macabebe named Soteros Gatdula reported for duty as
pilot, and under his direction the fleet steamed across the bay to the
mouth of the Rio Grande. Passing up this stream the boats shelled the
towns of Guagua and Sexmoan. At the former place a fire had been started
and a launch in the river was observed to be in flames. A party was sent
out to try to save this craft, but she proved to be of little value and
the attempt was abandoned. Two Spaniards claiming to have been held as
prisoners by the natives, and a Filipino suspect were taken aboard.

It was decided early in May to make an effort to pierce the waters of
the Rio Grande de Pampanga, which leads to Calumpit and beyond far into
the heart of the enemy's country. The first efforts to search out the
channel were made by the "Cavadonga" on May 9th. Soteros Gatdula, a
Macabebe pilot, was directed by General Otis to undertake the task and
the "Cavadonga" started on the cruise into the unknown waters early in
the morning. Near the mouth of the river the boat suddenly went aground,
and when the tide rose, and early in the day the boat was joined by the
"Laguna de Bay." The channel was then located by the Macabebe and there
was no further difficulty in forcing a passage up the wide waters of the
river, the largest on Luzon Island. For a long distance up the river the
territory is occupied by the Macabebes, the ancient and traditional
enemies of the Tagalan race. A large crowd of these friendly natives was
on the shores of the river as the boats passed up and they filled the
air with cheers and cries of "Viva los Americanos," which the soldiers
replied to in variegated and wonderfully woven Filipino phrases. One
obstruction was met in the river consisting of cocoanut poles, but the
Macabebes assisted in removing these from the path of the boats. Without
having fired a shot, early in the afternoon the boats arrived at
Calumpit, where troops of the infantry were stat