Part 9 (1/2)

In the meantime the camp of the Third Artillery, situated soagement in the swamps took place, and in the end the rebels were driven northward and began then to concentrate at Tarlac, which soon becaovernment as often as it suited their convenience

It was now felt by General Otis and others in command that no tients to the north of Malolos, ere thebands were still operating to the south and southeast The rainy season was but a feeeks off, and once this set in military operations would be ether, for, taken as a whole, the roads throughout the Island of Luzon are bad, and heavy rains render then against the rebels as effective as possible, General Otis decided to send out two columns, one under General MacArthur to strike out for Calumpit, and the second, under General Lawton, to take a route to the eastward, along the base of the hills leading to San Isidro By this it was hoped, if the rebels at Calumpit were defeated and tried to take to the mountains, they would fall directly into Lawton's hands, and not only have to surrender but also give up all their war supplies

It was in the furtherance of this plan that General Lawton left Manila with his brigade and struck out for Novaliches which was gained after a small skiraray to await reenforce in froed the coun to rain, and those who understood tropical weather predicted that the wet season was at hand Yet it was very hot, and the water which fell arose in clouds of stea but comfortable

”Sure, an' it makes a man feel as if he was takin' a sta on the route step ”I don't know as I iver see it rain hot wather before, bedad,” he added, as he wiped the perspiration fro the day'sto everybody, Ben was silent, wondering what had becoer brother When the corove of tall trees, both Gilbert and Major Morris visited his tent to co,” remarked the major of the first battalion ”So far I understand the warshi+ps have lost about a dozen men ent ashore and failed to return And you know there are six i captain's answer ”But it's only when it's a close relative that the blow really comes home to one, you know”

”I suppose that is true, captain But don't be disheartened It may be that your brother is already back at Manila”

”I can't see what the rebels would do with him as a prisoner,” said Gilbert ”They have to move around so lively that I can't see what they ith prisoners anyway”

And so the talk ran on until it caht Ben slept but little, and it was not the rain or the aching of his wound that kept him awake either He was bound to think of Larry constantly until so lad

CHAPTER X

THE TAKING OF ANGAT

”We are out for a fight to-day”

It was Sergeant Gileant was still acting as first lieutenant of Coht hold the position permanently As for Ben, it was settled that he would be appointed permanent captain of the command as soon as the necessary papers could be iment had joined General Lawton's coat, a pretty town, full of quaint buildings, and a place which, as yet, the rebellion had scarcely touched But the insurgents had been developed in force by the sharpshooters in front, and now a constant rattle of le as of old, when the cry had been, ”On to Santiago!” and ”On to Malolos!”

”Yes, you are right, Gil captain ”And I aet the rain and our other discoet about Larry, but that is what heon the double-quick It was spread out in skirmish order, and the route lay over what had once been a rice-field, but which was but little ht inches deep Here and there were holes, and into these so an involuntary bath, ust

”It ain't all a picnic,” remarked one of the unfortunates, as he leaped up out of a hole and shook hi ”Folks at home as just read the newspaper accounts of the war don't know anything of what us fellows have to put up with All they think we do is to rush forward, kill the eneer sohty sour face if they had to traun and other luggage, and hardly knohen the nextto aot 'ehtelse” And Bradner took the pipe and was thankful that tobacco, at least, was still forthco

Half an hour later Ben received orders to take his co line, and aent the co captain at the head The rain had let up a bit, and the rebels could be seen rove of half-wild plantains, where were located a score of nipa huts

”Run theo at them with a rush we'll soon have them on the run!” And on swept the company, with orders to fire at will Soon there was a constant cracking of rifles, and Ben and the other officers joined in with their pistols The insurgents fired in return, and one man of the corove was gained there was a brook to cross This was much swollen, and here a nu was out of the question

”Don't stop!” came in a loud cry froh Co!” And over he ith a bound, and a score of soldiers followed A raking fire came fro The Americans answered the fire with volley after volley frouns, and the huts were surrounded as quickly as possible

”Captain Russell, you will take the trail to the left,” said an orderly, dashi+ng up ”Major Morris will rejoin you at the fork in the road”

”The trail to the left,” repeated Ben, and turned to his company

”Forward, boys,--left oblique!” he shouted, and on they went again, past the nipa huts and down a trail leading along the edge of a rich plantation Severalbut women and children, and offered no resistance Then at a distance could be seen a stone wall, as if the insurgents had endeavored to construct a rude fortification in a great hurry