Under MacArthur in Luzon. Stratemeyer Edward
captain of the sharpshooters showed that he was much aroused. He had been followed by several of his men, and one of these now liberated Ben from the corner post of the hut.
"You must go with us," said Captain Relosus. "And go quickly and without resistance, unless you wish to be shot."
No more was said, and in a moment more Ben found himself outside. The rain had ceased, but the air was full of moisture and the trail all but impassable. At a distance there was steady firing, showing that a lively skirmish was on.
Before Ben could look around him, he was hurried along the trail leading to the lake shore. Here there had been a large Filipino encampment, but all the soldiers were now either at the front or in full retreat. He had a rebel at each side of him, the pair holding on to the rope which bound his hands behind him. Each rebel had a gun slung over his shoulder, and looked like a fairly good fighter, even though barefooted and in tatters.
"Where are you going to take me?" asked the young captain, as they hurried along. But neither would answer the question, even if he understood it, which was doubtful, and both only grinned wickedly and trotted him on faster than ever.
All the while they were running Ben was working at his wrists, and presently, as they came to a patch of woods, he was delighted to find that his right hand could be slipped from its fastening.
"Now or never!" he thought, and watching his opportunity, he gave the guard on his right a tremendous shove which pitched the Tagal headlong over a tree root. Then he leaped at the other fellow, snatching for the rifle as he did so. The Mauser fell to the ground, and the Tagal on top of it. Before he could get up, the young captain bowled him over a second time, seized the gun, and leaped behind the nearest tree.
The action came none too soon, for he was not yet out of sight when the first guard, recovering from his tumble, scrambled up, pointed his rifle, and blazed away, the bullet clipping the tree within six inches of Ben's head. The young captain thought first to return the fire, and raised the Mauser for that purpose; but then he realized his scarcity of ammunition, and turning, ran at the top of his speed without discharging the weapon.
Ben did not know where he was going, and just then he did not care. His one thought was to get away from his enemies, who were now shouting wildly to others that the Americano had escaped. On and on he dashed, deeper and deeper into the thickets, until the heavy undergrowth and interlacing tropical vines refused him further progress. It was both dark and wet, and when he came to a halt, he could scarcely see his hand before his face.
"If only our troops come this way," he thought. He listened with strained ears and heard shot after shot fired, but they seemed to be mainly in the direction of the lake.
It was some time ere he could regain his breath, and after this he set to work to liberate his left wrist from the rope which still encircled it. There was no comfort in standing in water up to his knees, for the bottom of the jungle was little better than a marsh, and reaching for some vines clinging to a tree, he pulled himself up to the lower branches. Here he sat awaiting developments.
In the meantime the American column was swinging forward rapidly. The troops, which were under the immediate command of General Hall, consisted of some Oregon, Colorado, and Wyoming volunteers, and portions of the Fourth and Ninth Infantry, and Fourth Cavalry, as well as the battalion of Colonel Darcy's regiment to which Ben belonged. They had with them four mounted guns, which, however, were moved along the muddy roads only with the greatest of difficulty.
It was General Lawton's plan to have General Hall's column close in on the rebels on the north, and drive them down the shore of the Laguna de Bay (now commonly called by the Americans "Bay Lake") to Pasig, where the American troops stationed at that point were to unite with the others in hemming in the insurgents.
The plan was an excellent one, but the nature of the ground covered made it difficult of execution, and General Hall's column had barely come in sight of Antipolo, when it was fired upon. A running fire continued for two miles, when the rebels were discovered in a well-constructed line of trenches on the distant hillside.
"We must scatter them, boys," said the general. "General Lawton expects every man to do his duty. Forward!" And forward they did go, one command after another, Colonel Darcy's first battalion well to the front, with Major Morris commanding, and one of the lieutenants of Company B leading Ben's command. Many wondered what had become of Captain Russell and Lieutenant Gilmore, and some gave up both as dead.
The trenches were gained after a fight lasting half an hour, in which a dozen rebels were killed and several Americans were badly wounded, and then the column pushed on, over roads which were little better than gullies of mud. None of the wagons or guns could get through, and all had to be left behind.
As soon as General Lawton understood how matters were faring he ordered the troops at Pasig forward, in the direction of Cainta, which was shelled at a lively rate about three o'clock in the afternoon. This was the firing which reached Ben's ears, for the best part of the day had been spent when Captain Relosus announced to General Lupez that they must move. The shelling soon cleared Cainta of all natives, soldiers or otherwise, the majority of whom fled toward Taytay. Later still, Taytay was also taken, and then the rebel army retreated to Morong and to Antipolo. The natives of Taytay were very much disturbed at the fighting, and after it was over could only be subdued with the greatest of difficulty. It was rumored in the village that the Americanos were about to massacre all the women and children, and a number of mothers fled to the jungle, taking their little ones with them. Long after, it came out that the rumor was started by a Filipino recruiting officer, who used this means as an inducement to get the male inhabitants to join the rebel army. Whether his ruse succeeded to any extent or not, is not known.
Sitting in the tree in the jungle, Ben heard the firing grow more and more distinct, and late in the afternoon heard the strange whining of a shell as it sped over the tree-tops.
"Hullo, they must certainly be getting close now," he mused. "I wonder if it is safe for me to try to go on?"
Feeling he could not remain in his present position forever, he slowly descended to the ground and commenced to retrace his steps, feeling that it would be foolhardy to go deeper into that labyrinth of bushes and vines. He picked his way with care and kept the rifle before him ready for use. Once or twice he stumbled and went headlong in the mud and water. He was just getting up from one of these tumbles, when a slight scream reached his ears.
The scream sounded as if it came from a woman, and he came to a dead halt to listen. But it was not repeated, and now, the firing having died away in the distance, not a sound broke the stillness.
"Perhaps I only fancied it," he mused, and moved forward again, but with increased caution. Then he heard a low voice start to speak, only to be cut off at the third word. A swishing of bushes followed, coming from close at hand.
Some one was in that vicinity, some one who knew of his presence. "Whether the unknown was friend or enemy, he could not tell, yet he felt pretty certain it was an enemy.
CHAPTER VI
A SCENE IN A MONASTERY
Captain Russell had thoroughly learned the old proverb to "make haste slowly," especially when facing an enemy in the dark. Twice before had he been in a situation similar to the present, so it was not novel even though trying. On those previous occasions he had escaped with a whole skin, and he intended to do so now if the deed was capable of accomplishment.
Making as little noise as possible, he dropped upon the wet ground, at the same time doing his best to pierce the darkness around him. Then, as he could see nothing, he picked up a stick lying near and threw it into the air, taking care not to hit the bushes close at hand. The stick came down about twenty feet away, landing in the brush with sufficient noise to attract