Note 5 — Chapter XIV · THE EXILE OF DAPITAN

It appears that the misbehavior noted here by Rizal consisted of the seduction of the sergeant’s wife by the officer, and the tying up of the officer was the sergeant’s revenge. It is an interesting side-light on the prevailing code that the officer was dismissed from the service for allowing himself to be tied but not for dishonoring the poor sergeant, whose recompense was to be shot. The privates were to be punished for laying hands upon an officer, although they were but obeying orders.5