…for they fought as long as they could still move a finger.

During the battle, I had set up a first aid station and was occupied with four seriously wounded men, when two Igorots who had managed to sneak through our line suddenly appeared before me. They were armed with borongs (short, heavy swords), and when they saw me alone (for the wounded were helpless), they came at me. I brought the first one down with my revolver, but the second one knocked the revolver out of my hand, and there I stood — unarmed. I couldn’t run away, for he would have split my head at once. My only chance was to hold fast to him and get him to the ground if possible, so that he couldn’t use his weapon. All that happened much faster than I can tell it here, and in the next moment I had him encompassed, and we pitched back and forth on the uneven terrain, each trying to throw the other. He was bigger and stronger than I, but a few years earlier I’d had some good practice in wrestling, which stood me in good stead now. He tried to stab me with his borong, but [6] the weapon was too long, just as I’d thought. Mustering all my strength, I just wanted to get a lower grip on him so I could throw him, when I suddenly felt a dagger in his belt, which I grabbed. Realizing my intent, he now dropped his borong so he could devote all his energy to bringing me to the ground. But in the heat of the struggle, neither of us had been paying attention to the ground, and at the next moment I stumbled over a protruding tree root, and we both rolled down a steep slope. What happened in the next two minutes still seems like a dream to me today: We tumbled from rock to rock, and it’s a wonder my skull is still intact — but bad weeds grow tall, as they say. I still had the dagger in my hand, and when I came to again, there lay my opponent beside me in his blood. I was too weak to get up, and the pain was as if every bone in my body were broken. But help was near, and after a thorough examination I was found to have no broken bones, but my left arm and shoulder were severely sprained, and my entire body was badly [7] bruised and scratched, especially my head. For two months I couldn’t use my left arm at all, and it still hurts in humid weather. But I am content to have come away with my life and will try to avoid similar adventures in the future. As long as I have a rifle or revolver, I’m not afraid, but with swords and daggers, the matter gets uncomfortable.

After we’d buried the dead, we continued toward the coast, but very slowly this time, for we had to carry the wounded with us on stretchers, which with the poor path through the wild mountains became extremely difficult. After a three-day arch, we arrived at Dapitan, the capital of the province, a squalid settlement with a few thousand inhabitants. We stayed there for the next four months and were kept busy enough capturing several of the murderers.

Since the first of September, I’ve been back in Iloilo and am very happy with my current job. I have a lovely apartment and received twenty pounds of ice every day, which is very convenient, for then one can at least chill a bottle of beer. I also bought myself a piano. Even though I can’t play, I often receive visits from colleagues, and that’s when the fun starts. On the fifth of October, Lisa’s wedding day, I also celebrated in Lisa’s honor. I had invited my friends over for the evening, and many a glass was emptied to the health of the young bride and groom. I would have liked to accept Lisa’s invitation, but the news arrived much too late, for one thing; and then I hardly think I could have gotten away. Yes, if I had known last year how things stood, I would have postponed my visit to Germany until this year.

I received the Narrenblätter last spring, and if there are any new ones, I would certainly welcome them. I intended to write last summer, but one can’t always find time in the field, or one is not in the right mood.

I am well and in good spirits, which is actually the most important thing, and I hope all is going well for you dear folks [9] in the old homeland too. I recently had a letter from Karl, who seems to be doing well, and Fritz also. Karl would like me to come to Rome and start a business, but I still can’t bring myself to give up army life. I will likely return to America next summer, but I’m not really in any hurry, for I’ve gotten so used to the climate that I can tolerate it well, and I would like to enjoy one more pretty summer. — It appears that conditions in the army are woeful for you in Germany, if one can believe the newspaper reports. NO wonder the Social Democrats have made such great advances.

We have splendid weather this month, and if it would just stay this way, I would like it just as much here as in America. We receive mail from America every Monday, and from Europe every two weeks, via the Suez Canal and Singapore. That way we at least get the news, even if it’s a little old. When I was in Alaska, we would sometimes get no mail for four or five months, and even then, just letters.

[10]

With this mail I am also sending a picture of me and several colleagues in the middle. They are mostly Germans, and one by the name of Steinel is from Baden-Baden. The picture isn’t very good, but it gives you an idea of our uniform.

In closing, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

In the hope that these lines find you in good health, I remain, with greetings and kisses, your loving brother