Part 14 (1/2)

”I've got him, I reckon,” whispered Sorrel, taking a ready aim at a thin hedge to the left of the house. The report of his gun was followed by a shriek of pain, and a Filipino fell into view, the blood flowing freely from a wound in his neck. Soon his companions caught him by the legs and dragged him back into cover.

After this brief exchange of ”compliments,” as the tall Tennesseean called it, there came a lull. Evidently the natives were disconcerted by the unexpected fall of the man who had thrown the fire-ball and knew not what to do.

”Do you suppose they have quitted the vicinity?” questioned Jeming, after listening vainly for some sound from without. From a distance came a scattering fire, but around the native house was the silence of death, for the man who had been shot by Sorrel had fainted from loss of blood.

”They are up to something, you can be certain of that,” answered Ben.

”The Filipino is at his worst when he is silent.”

”Right ye air, cap'n,” put in Sorrel. ”Yere she comes agin--an' a scorcher, too!”

From over the bushes came a huge fire-ball, blazing brightly. It struck the thatch of the cottage close to the edge of the roof, and before it fell to the ground had set fire to the abode, which began to burn as though no shower had wet it for a month.

”That settles it!” came from Jeming. ”We've got to get out, or we'll be burnt up like rats in a corn-crib.”

”But the sergeant--” began Sorrel, when a low moan issued from the corner.

”Never--mind--me, boys,” came, with several gasps. ”I'm--I'm going!

Good--good--bye--to--to-- Tell mother--”

He said no more, but fell back exhausted. All rushed to him, but ere anybody could raise his form again he was gone from this earth forever.

Tears stood in the eyes of Ralph Sorrel, and Jeming was scarcely less affected, for both had known the sergeant intimately. ”Another victim,” murmured the tall Tennesseean. ”How long is this yere blamed war goin' ter last, anyhow?”

”Not much longer, I hope,” answered Ben, in a low voice. ”I, for one, have seen enough of bloodshed.” Then the young captain straightened up, for fear he might break down. ”But we must attend to our duty, and get away if we can. See, the flames are eating in at the window.”

”All right, cap'n, I'm ready,” said Sorrel. ”But we must carry this yere body outside fust. We can't let it be burnt up, nohow.”

He nodded to Jeming, who understood, and covering the form of the dead man with a blanket, they marched to the door with the stiffening form.

The coast seemed clear, and they darted out and deposited their grewsome burden on the gra.s.s. They were just returning to the shelter of the doorway when two shots rang out, but neither was effective.

By this time the cottage was burning so fiercely that to remain inside longer would have proved highly dangerous. Accordingly, Ben called a council of war.

”I think we had best strike out for the grove of trees on the right,”

he announced. ”The distance is shorter than to the other shelters, and the gra.s.s is so high that perhaps we can get some benefit by stooping down as we run.”

”Right ye air, cap'n,” answered Sorrel, and Casey and Jeming nodded.

”Surrendor, you _Americanos_!” came in a shout from without.

”Surrendor, you beasts!”

”Let them burn up, they deserve it!” came in Spanish.

”All ready?” asked Ben, and receiving a nod, he hurried to a side window. Below was a small bush, and in a moment he had dropped to the ground. As he started through the long gra.s.s, Casey and the others followed him.

A wild yell speedily showed that this new movement had been discovered, and a dozen shots rang out. But the Filipinos were too excited to shoot straight, and the bullets merely clipped their way through the mango and other trees, or buried themselves in the side of the burning building.

At first Ben thought to fire in return. But to find shelter was the prime consideration, and on he went, holding his pistol in readiness, but without pulling the trigger. Here and there a Filipino could be seen flitting from bush to tree, but these glimpses were short and far from satisfactory.