The day finally came when the tiny flotilla was at last raised, and,gay in its paint and polished metal, gallantly rode at anchor. All thelake tribes were assembled to witness the celebration, and they gazedwith wonder at the strange craft. Many Americans had been attracted tothe lake by news of the discovery, and the camp had grown to almosttwice its original size. Some of the officers' wives had endured thehardships of the journey to witness the novel sight.
The boats were pronounced seaworthy and were to be tested. Thelargest boat, the flagship, was decorated from one end to the otherwith its faded pennants, but in the stern, proudly proclaiming itspresent nationality, flew the Stars and Stripes. Under the flagat the bow stood a sturdy, nonchalant figure, arms folded, headerect. Condescendingly Piang swept the crowd of wondering nativeswith his haughty eye. He paid no more attention to Sicto than to theothers. In his supreme self-confidence Piang scorned to report Sictoto the authorities. He was clothed in a new dignity that put him farabove considering such an unworthy opponent as Sicto and he silentlycherished the hope that other opportunities to outwit the mestizowould be granted him.
An order was given. A shrill whistle startled the jungle folk. Theengines throbbed, and one after another the boats responded. A cheerwent up from the banks.
Piang had been given the honor of renaming the boats. The smallestone bore the name of his mother, Minka. The next was dedicated to thememory of his tribe's greatest hero, Dato Ali, and characteristically,on the bow of the flagship, beneath the boy's feet, glittered thebright gold letters, "P-I-A-N-G."
Adventures of Piang the Moro Jungle Boy Page 22
