open war with us; but he went unprotected to the bank of the river
with dignified pace and sober garb, carrying a fan, and gazing with
much interest on the galliots and their passengers. Recognizing him,
our soldiers in the arrogance of youth, and in hatred to the enemy,
applied their matches, and fired a few shots. The bullets, which
were generously aimed at his feet, did not touch him, although they
fell near by; nor did they cause in him any more agitation or anger
than if the matter were some jest which he disregarded. This was the
courage of an enemy--one of the dwellers in the southern part of the
island; I will relate an instance of valor in a friendly native, an
inhabitant of the northern region of Mindanao. A man went out from
Botuan to fish upon the sea, embarking with his wife and children in
two separate boats. On returning to land when the fishing was over, the
man with his boat was somewhat farther from the shore; and the wife,
with their children in her boat, made more haste to reach the land, on
account of some vessels of Ternatans, which were coasting from point
to point--their enemies and ours, as I have said. These invaders,
seeing their prey alone and defenseless, were not willing to lose
it; accordingly, some of them went in a little skiff, and seized the
woman and the children, carrying them away captive. The poor wretch
who had been thus despoiled, reached the shore some distance behind
them; and seeing that he could not overtake them, began to shout to
them, standing on the beach, and was able to utter such insults to the
robber--calling him a coward, who laid his hands on women and children
alone--that he compelled the other to take up the challenge. He added,
that if he himself should be overcome, his wife and children would not
be unjustly plundered from him, but fairly won as spoils by dint of a
valiant arm. The Ternatan (who was no less spirited than valiant) came
to land, at this provocation, with the woman and the children. Having
placed the latter at one side, they furiously began their combat;