That night, amid much merriment, we initiated our host into the mysteries and secrets of a little society we had formed and which we called the Earring Club. Our insignia was a big, brass Igorrote earring, and we had signs and passwords, to say nothing of a song which nobody but ourselves could sing. We appropriated the Cavalry tune of “ For Seven Long Years I’ve Courted Nancy ,” but the words were our own and it was not difficult to supply a new verse to fit each incident or occasion as it came along. The song began:

For twelve long days we’ve hiked through mountains,

Heigh ho! Cross roaring rivers!

For twelve long days we’ve hiked through mountains,

Ha! Ha! While on our way through wild Lepanto!

For twelve long days we’ve hiked through mountains, Heigh ho! Cross roaring rivers! For twelve long days we’ve hiked through mountains, Ha! Ha! While on our way through wild Lepanto!