Part 12 (2/2)
”The ground to the right seems to be firmer,” replied Ben. ”Come, we will move in that direction.”
But to get out of the soft spot was not easy, and soon they found themselves between the tall cane and up to their knees in a muck that seemed to stick worse than glue.
”Sure, an' this is fightin' wid a vengeance,” said the Irish volunteer, smiling grimly. ”It's sthuck we are like flies on a fly paper, eh, Captain Russell?”
”We've got to get out somehow, Casey,” answered Ben, half desperately.
”Our command is marching farther and farther away, and we'll have all we can do to get up to them.”
”Sure thin, an' Major Morris betther send a detail back wid a long rope to pull us out. We couldn't fly from the inimy now if we thried, could we?”
”This is no joke, Casey.”
”Joke, bedad? No, captain, I'm afther thinkin' it's a mighty sarious difficulty. But there's no use av cryin', no matther how bad it is,”
finished the Irish soldier, philosophically.
A moment of reflection convinced Ben that the best thing he could do was to go back part of the distance they had come, and make an endeavor to cross the little stream at another point.
They retreated with difficulty, first one sinking into some treacherous hole and then the other. Once Casey went flat on his back, and gave a loud yell of dismay when he found himself covered with a mud that was more like a paste than anything else.
”Sure, an' I'll not go in such a cane-field again, bedad,” he muttered, as he started to pick up the gun he had dropped. As he did so a cracking of cane-stalks near them caused both to straighten up in alarm.
”Who comes?” cried Ben, and drew the pistol he had shoved into his belt.
There was no answer and he repeated the demand. ”Are you Americans?”
he added.
Still there was no reply. But the cracking of the stalks continued, and the sounds seemed to move around the pair in something of a circle. Then came a soft command in the Tagalog dialect. At once Dan Casey clutched Ben by the arm.
”They be afther surroundin' us, captain,” he whispered. ”Be the noises there must be tin or a dozen av thim. Phwat shall we do, fight or run fer it?”
CHAPTER XIV
SURROUNDED BY THE ENEMY
For the moment after Dan Casey spoke Ben was silent, not knowing himself what was best to do. That the Filipinos were surrounding them there could be no doubt, since those approaching would have answered the young captain of Company D had they been Americans.
The position of the pair was dangerous in the extreme, for the tall cane-stalks surrounded them upon all sides, giving shelter to the enemy, while the Tagals could see the volunteers with ease.
”Keep quiet, Casey,” whispered Ben, as the soldier started to speak again. ”They may not know how many there are of us here and sneak off, fearing an ambush.”
The Irish volunteer nodded to show that he understood. He was holding his gun before him, ready to shoot whenever it appeared necessary.
Presently there was another whispered command, coming from directly in front of our friends. A slight movement in the cane-brake followed, and then all became silent once more.
”Come!” whispered Ben. ”Don't fire until you see me do so.”
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