Thoroughly imbued with the lofty sentiments expressed by him in our instructions, we set forth on our long pilgrimage to a country where we were to undertake a heavy task essentially different from that which had ever before fallen to the lot of any five citizens of the United States.
On April 17, 1900, we sailed from San Francisco on the United States army transport _Hancock_.

We were forty-five strong.

Of this goodly company only four remain in the Philippines to-day, [458]--Mr.and Mrs.Branagan, Mrs.Worcester and myself.

Singularly enough, with two exceptions, all of the others are still alive and at work.

Arthur W.Ferguson, prince of interpreters, who was later appointed Executive Secretary, died in the service after more than six years of extraordinarily faithful and efficient work.