Part 20 (2/2)
”There is a big rock on that side, on the very top of the hill”
”But we can't climb that rock”
”No, and neither can the rebels fire over it with their field-pieces
When we get up to the rock we can march around it”
”Well spoken, Russell--you're a born strategist,” cried thebecause soo that way” And he iave necessary orders
But the advance was by no alling fire that the h to seek the shelter of every rock and bush which ca, and afraid of having his pieces taken from him, the captain had called upon several co his position
”Down!” suddenly shouted Gilbert Pennington, and doent the men, and the next instant a shell burst directly over their heads
”This is hot and no mistake,” murmured Ben Then he turned to his command ”Forward, men, the sooner we take that position the better it will be for us” And up the hill he dashed, with Casey, Stu as best they could, for the as steep and uncertain At last the very edge of the big rock was gained, and Company D poured around its left side, to find thealos fully a hundred strong In theup on the opposite side of the rock Ben was on the point of shouting soehty Igorrote warrior, ith his long lance seeh
CHAPTER XXI
CAMPING OVER A POWDER MAGAZINE
Bang!
It was the report of Ben's pistol, and the weapon was ai captain had learned the value of ai quickly
But the Filipino ”had been there before,” and as the trigger went down he dropped to the ground with the rapidity of lightning, and the bullet intended for him struck a orrote once more and bounded onward, the lance point ai captain's pistol was now e the climb up the hill His sas out, but the lance was three tie Yet he aimed a blow at the barbed point and thus turned it aside
”Ha!” hissed the Filipino, and drew back Then he struck again at Ben, and instantly both slipped on the rass and fell directly into each other's clutches The Igorrote was a powerful warrior, and grasped Ben's throat with the tightness of a steel band
Ben tried to cry out, but not a sound could he ed fro hiorrote leaped forward to hit hiorrote still insisted upon carrying Of the use of rifles this tribe of the Filipinos knew little or nothing
”Back, ye nager!” ca thud, and doent the enemy with the club, his head split open by a blow froun-stock Casey then aimed a second blow at the rebel who had hold of Ben, but not wishi+ng to receive such a dose as had beenup, butted Casey in the sto the Irishman on his back, and then ran for his life toward the nearest shelter of brush
”Oh, be gracious! To look at that now!” spluttered the Irishot wan av thim, anyhow, captain,” he added, with a jerk of his thuorrote, who lay with a broken head
”Yes, Casey; and you saved me, too,” returned Ben, earnestly ”You are worth two ordinary men;” and then captain and private drifted apart, as the tide of battle rolled forward
The top of the hill was gained, but for once the insurgents did not knohen they hipped, and held to their guns until more than half of their nued to the right and the left of the battery, and this was fortunate, for seeing they could not hold the pieces, souns and set it off, blowing it into a thousand pieces
Then thea few of their wounded with theain, and the downpour on the top of the hill was so great that little could be seen of the condition of affairs at a distance Sending word that the hill was taken and one old-fashi+oned Spanish field-piece captured, Major Morris rallied his battalion around hih of fighting for the present, and once again took up the retreat in the direction of San Isidro
”I reckon that was hot enough for anybody,” said the major, as he stalked up to Ben and the other captains under him ”I wonder if anybody was killed by the explosion of that old cannon?”
”nobody was killed, but several ounded,” answered one of the captains ”The rebel who charged her up and then fired her had lots of nerve,” he added