musicians disperse, the carriages drive away, and people return to
their homes.

Many, however, linger on the benches or stroll along the beach,
watching the water curling upon the shore. As the waves reach the land
a soft light seems to spring from them and to break into thousands
of tiny stars. Now and then some one idly skips a stone over the
water. Where it touches, a little fountain of liquid fire springs
upward, and the water ripples away in gleaming circles that, growing
wider and wider, finally disappear in a flash of silvery light.

Of all the beauties of the Islands, the water of Manila Bay at night
ranks among the first. And those who ask why it flashes and glows
in this way are told the story of the silver shower that saved the
Pasig villages from the Moro Datto Bungtao.

Hundreds of years ago messengers came hurrying from the south of Luzon
with the news that the great Datto Bungtao, with many ships and men,
was on his way to the island to burn the villages and carry the people
away into slavery.

Then great fear came into the hearts of the people, for the fierce
Datto was the terror of the eastern seas, and all the southern islands
were reported captured. Nevertheless, they resolved to defend their
homes and save their people from shame and slavery.

The news proved true, for the Moro chief landed a great army on the
shore of the Bay of Batangas, and his fierce followers, with fire
and sword, started north to lay waste the country.