It was
an easier task to make up a company of native privates, who readily
followed their officers when a small payment on account had been given
to each man.
"I don't quite like the job," Sam confessed to Cleary, "but the general
says it's all right and so it must be."
At last the expedition started out. All the natives were dressed in the
native uniform, and the five white men were clad as privates in the
invading army and held as prisoners. After passing the outposts near
San Diego they turned toward the south in the direction of the
mountains where Gomaldo's captured letter had been dated. They were
received with rejoicings in each native village as soon as they showed
the forged letter of Baluna and exhibited their white prisoners. The
villagers showed much interest in the latter, but treated them kindly,
expressing their pity for them and offering them food. They had no
difficulty in obtaining exact directions as to Gomaldo's situation, but
found that it lay in the midst of an uninhabited district where it was
impossible to obtain supplies, the village where he had established his
headquarters being the only one within many miles. They scraped
together what food they could in the shape of rice, Indian corn, and
dried beef, and set out on the last stage of their journey. There had
been heavy rains recently, and the mountain paths were almost
impassable.
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