day she followed a good road leading toward the mountains near
the eastern coast of Luzon. By night her pony had made twenty miles.

She had already reached the foot-hills. It was impossible for her
to make head-way any longer with the cart. She would soon be across
the mountains and be in the region to be approached by the American
relief party. What was to be done?

A happy thought came to Marie. She clasped her hands and muttered to
herself, "I'll trade the cart for a suit of men's clothes and trade
the harness for a sombrero," (bamboo hat.)

Since the middle of the afternoon she had been driving parallel to a
stream that wound its way, nearby, from the mountains across the plains
to the sea. Villages along the banks were numerous. At night fall she
was still in Tagalo territory. It was her own tribe. She soon found a
place to stay over night. Her pony was turned loose in a vacant yard,
with an old bamboo fence around it, and given some young rice.

That evening while smoking cigarettes, and while inflaming the minds
of the villagers with startling stories about the atrocities, of the
American soldiers, Marie finally succeeded in making the trade which
she had planned during the afternoon.

Next morning, April 5, she rode on. Before her lay sixty miles of
unknown territory to be covered during the next four days, if she
were to reach Baler in time to warn the besieging Filipinos of the
contemplated attack by the Americans.

A half mile out from the village, Marie came to an abrupt turn in the
road. Near by was a dense cluster of banana trees. She dismounted,
and while her pony was nibbling young rice she went into the thicket
and changed her attire. Then she tied a good-sized stone up in her
old clothes and threw them into the river. As she stood on the bank
watching them sink, she saw her shadow in the water. How changed she
looked! The sombrero was such a relief in keeping the hot sun off
her head.

"Now, I'll not be recognized," thought she. "How nice it is to be
dressed like a man. From now on I mean to play a man's part and be
a full-fledged soldier."

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GILMORE INCIDENT

Marie reached her destination late in the evening of April 9th,
and she at once notified the officers commanding the Filipinos who
were besieging Baler, what to expect. Knowing that with so small a
force, if the Americans undertook to relieve the Spanish garrison,
it would necessarily have to be done b