Late that afternoon the battalion reached Neritas, to find part of the village in flames. The rebels had left the place two hours before, after a bitter quarrel with some of the inhabitants, who were inclined to accept American rule. The principal dwellings of the town had been ransacked and everything of value carted off. In justice to Aguinaldo it must be said that the Filipino Dictator, later on, disclaimed all knowledge of this looting, and insisted that it had been done by guerillas without authority from any one. The flames could not be extinguished easily, and one-third of Neritas was consumed before the fire died out.
The chief man in the town was a highly educated Tagal who had but recently been to Manila for instructions in civic government—according to American ideas. He greeted Ben warmly and said he would give the troops all the assistance in his power.
"The rebels were under the leadership of Captain Relosus, of the sharpshooters—" he began.
"Captain Relosus—my old enemy—the rascal who once tried to burn Manila!" burst out the young major. "I owe him a good deal."
"Yes, it was this same Relosus who aided in the
