Part 5 (1/2)
CHAPTER VI
IN WHICH LUKE STRIKER IS WOUNDED
The plan to surprise Santa Cruz had failed, yet General Lawton's coer as ever to press forward and do battle with the native garrison, of which the town on the Laguna de Bay boasted
It was thought the Filipino co one, and even if it had been the Aone ahead just the sauided foes
It was arranged that the centre and left wing of the infantry shouldaround, to cut off the Filipinos' retreat, should they start such a movement
In the una_ and _Oeste_, the cavalry landed on the hill overlooking the bay, and began to do battle with the ene its way over field and brush to the left wing as it swung closer to the river alreadyresistance which lasted for over an hour; but in the end the Filipinos were glad enough to fall back into the town proper
Out on the e over the river the sun was boiling hot, andthan like pushi+ng forith his heavy gun and other equip every one, and they pushed on until a sharp fire between the eneht, and perhaps a regular battle, would soon be at hand
”At them, my men!” cried the various commanders ”They'll run, no doubt of it They haven't stood up against us yet!” And aent the long skir line, and soon there was a steady crack and pop of guns and pistols as the Aor throwing down his arms
A number surrendered, and these were proained, and here the Ae to cross, and beyond was a barricade of stone and wood Were the insurgents massed behind that barricade? If they were, to cross the bridge in coluhter
”Here goes!” sang out one petty officer, andAs heto see hio down at any instant But then came a rush of first half a dozen, then a score, and then whole companies, and it was speedily seen that the barricade was practically deserted The insurgents were hurrying into the town as hard as they could, with Uncle Sa as they ran
In the meantime, soaked to the skin and utterly miserable over their capture, Larry and his Yankee friend had been thrust into the prison cell and left to themselves After the door was locked and the jailer walked away, the youth uttered a long-drawn sigh
”Luke, we're in a pickle, this trip,” he groaned ”What do you suppose they will do with us?”
”Heaven alone knows, my lad,” responded the old tar ”Bein' as how they ain't cannibals, I don't reckon they'll eat us up,” and he srimly
”They think we are spies”
”Thet's so”
”Do you know that they shoot spies--and do it in short order, too?”
”And why shouldn't I know it, Larry? I've heard tell on it often enough But they have got to prove we air spies first, ain't they?”
”They'll do what they please I believe half of these Filipinos think the A but cut-throats They can't conceive that we should want to coood”
”Because they would rather govern themselves, even if they made a mess of it, than be under anybody's thumb nail, Larry Howsoit out o' here before they settle to do ith us?”
”Get out? You mean break jail?”
”Exactly We don't want to stay here if we kin git out, do we?”
”To be sure not” Larry leaped up fro and ran to the door At this Luke so it thet way, lad--the guard locked it, I seen hi one, too”