But the colonel was right, as he found later on.
CHAPTER XV.
ARCHIE STARTS OUT ON AN EXPLORING TOUR AND HAS SOME STRANGE ADVENTURES
AMONG THE NATIVES-- SEIZED BY THE REBELS.
THE days passed very quickly in Manila. the regiment was quartered in
an old palace which had once been used as a residence by the Spanish
governors of the islands, and Archie remained in the palace with them.
There was very little to do while they were there. Each morning there
were anxious inquiries for news from the front, but there was always
the same discouraging reply that no trace had yet been found of the
fleeing Aguinaldo. The men were gradually becoming disheartened at the
long wait, and there were frequent statements by the officers that
Aguinaldo would soon be caught if they were sent out after him. The
dissatisfaction with the general in command grew stronger every day,
and at last things reached a point where there was very little loyalty
and patriotism displayed among the troops.
The drilling was continued, however, by order of the colonel, and
every morning the troops marched out to a public square near the
palace, and went through the same old manoeuvres which they had
practised for months past. And it was harder for them to drill each
week. At first they were willing enough to work, for there was then
some prospect of their being able to use their knowledge in a fight,
but now it was beginning to seem that they would simply remain in this
old palace for a few months longer, and then go back again to San
Francisco.
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