reassured, and orders were given to the Captain of the _Petrel_ to
hand over to me the 62 rifles and ammunition which Admiral Dewey had
kindly promised. About 10 a.m. the _Petrel's_ launch landed the arms
and ammunition in question at the Arsenal and no time was lost in
distributing the arms among the men who were by this time coming in
ever increasing numbers to offer their services to me and expressing
their willingness to be armed and assigned for duty at the outposts
and on the firing line.

During the evening of the 20th May the old Revolutionary officer
Sr. Luciano San Miguel (now a General in command of a Brigade)
came to me and asked for orders, which were given to him to effect
the uprising of the provinces of Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Tayabas,
Bulakan, Morong, Pampanga, Tarlak, Newva Ecija and other northern
provinces. He left the same night to execute the orders.

During the 21st, 22nd and 23rd and subsequent days of that month my
headquarters were simply besieged by my countrymen, who poured into
Cavite from all sides to offer their services in the impending struggle
with the Spaniards. To such an extent, indeed, were my quarters in the
Arsenal invaded that I soon found it necessary to repair to another
house in the town, leaving the place entirely at the disposal of the
U.S. Marines, who were then in charge of and guarding Cavite Arsenal.




CHAPTER V

The Dictatorial Government