Part 27 (2/2)
”I think I knohat it is,” returned the scout ”Wait here till I ht under a clu Soon they heard hi for the The beast had becoht under a partly fallen tree and could not release itself It was a handsoood many hundred pounds
”Here'sknife, he put the caribao out of his misery in short order ”This is some more work of that tornado,” he went on, as he proceeded to cut out a choice steak ”We won't starve for the next forty-eight hours”
”I hope by that time we'll have reached the army,” answered Larry, and took the portion ofto carry, but he had to shoulder it, since Boxer and Leroy were carrying the weapons
As they proceeded, the jungle appeared to become ress Yet they felt that each step was bringing them closer to the open plain and to a point where few natives were likely to be congregated ”If we once get down to the bottoht,” said Boxer
But the scout had not reckoned on the fact that there was a hollow at the base of the mountain, and that the heavy rains had filled this full to overflowing It was Larry who first called attention to the fact that the ground was growing damp Then of a sudden the whole party stepped into the water up to their ankles
Here was a new dile but a happy !”
cried Leroy, in deep disgust ”I'd give a year's pay to be safe on board the _Yorktown_ agin, keelhaulwe can do is to march around the swamp-hole,”
replied Larry ”What do you say, Boxer?”
”Let us try it a bit further,” replied the scout, and they row better, but then they went down again halfway to their knees and in a lue
”It's no use, we'll have to go back,” groaned Leroy, and turned about
Silently the others followed hi where the adventure would end
CHAPTER XXVII
THE DEPARTURE OF THE _OLYMPIA_
The advances of both General MacArthur and General Lawton had been so far nothing but a series of successes, and so hard were the insurgents pressed, that they scarcely knehat to do next Again they sued for peace, but as the A until they had surrendered unconditionally, the ent on, but in ht fashi+on than ever
Near San Fernando the rebels continued to tear up the railroad tracks, and likewise attacked a train of supplies, killing and wounding several ere on board They also attacked several gunboats co theh e on General Aguinaldo called a council of war, at San Isidro, at which fifty-six of his main folloere present By a vote it was found that twenty were for peace, twenty for war, and sixteen wished to negotiate with the United States for better terave rise to a ruht hours Alas! it was still to drag on for many months to coain, with Gilbert in the hospital receiving every attention It was Sunday, and a day of rest for the majority of the troops At a small tent a short service was held, and Ben walked over, to hear a very good sermon on man's duty toward God under any and all circu of several hymns, and the soldiers re over the general situation
”It always takes me back hohty glad we have it It shoe ain't no heathens, even though we air livin' a kind o' hit-an'-miss life a-followin' up these yere rebs”
On Monday the scouts went out to the front, and a sents in the vicinity of San Miguel de Mayumo They reported that the Filipinos had a number of intrench toward San Isidro
”If Aguinaldo makes a stand anywhere, it will be at San Isidro,” said Ben to Major Morris, as the two discussed the situation ”Oh, but I do e could have one big battle and finish this caainst us?” demanded the o against us,” answered the young captain, proents know it That is why they keep their distance”