Part 29 (1/2)

”Avast, I'm only a common sea-dog at the best, captain,--an ef I remained behind to cast around fer the lad, ye mustn't think thet Jack Biddle an' the others have forgotten Larry, fer they ain't, not by a jugful. Every man jack o' them is his friend, an' was, almost from the start.”

Luke had come up to the camp by way of Malolos, accompanying a pack-train of caribao carts carrying rations and army equipments. He had left the _Olympia_ several days before, and had not waited to witness the departure of the flags.h.i.+p.

As Luke wished to remain with Ben, the latter lost no time in presenting the matter to Colonel Darcy and to Major Morris, and Luke was taken into the regiment camp as a cook, for he had once been a cook on a merchantman, years before. The position was largely an honorary one, and the sailor was permitted to leave his pots and kettles whenever he pleased.

”It's good news,” he said, when the young captain had told him what the prisoners had said about Larry and Benedicto Lupez. ”I've an idee we'll get to Larry soon, an' down thet tarnal Spaniard in the bargain.”

The conversation took place on Tuesday. On Wednesday orders came to strike camp, and the march of the regiment was taken toward San Isidro by way of Baluarte, a small village seven miles to the southeast of the new rebel capital. In the meantime, although the Americans were not aware of it, Aguinaldo was preparing to decamp, with his so-called congress, into the mountain fastnesses, still further northward.

”We are in for another fight,” said Major Morris, as he came to Ben that afternoon. ”And I've an idea it is going to be something to the finish.”

”That means, then, that we are bound for San Isidro!” cried the young captain. ”Hurrah! that's the best news I've heard in a week.”

The regiment was soon on the road, spread out in proper battalion form. The day was close, and it looked as if a thunderstorm was at hand. The growth along the road was thick, and at certain points the overhanging branches had to be cut off that the troops might pa.s.s. The trail was bad, and often a gun, or wagon, had to stop so that a hole might be bridged over with bamboo poles. Here and there they pa.s.sed a nipa hut, but these places were deserted, excepting in rare instances, where an aged native would stand at the door, holding up a white rag as a signal of surrender, or to show that he was an _amigo_, or friend.

”It's pitiable,” said Ben to Major Morris, as they trudged along side by side. ”I reckon some of these ignorant creatures have an idea that we have come to annihilate them.”

”You can be sure that Aguinaldo and his followers have taught them something like that,” replied the major. ”Otherwise, they wouldn't look so terrified.”

At one point in the road, they came to a tumble-down hut, at the doorway of which rested a woman and her three small children, all watching the soldiers with eyes full of terror. Going up to the woman, Ben spoke kindly to her, but she immediately fled into the dilapidated structure, dragging her trio of offspring after her.

”You can't make friends that way,” cried Major Morris. ”They won't trust you. I've tried it more than once.”

There was now a hill to climb, thick with tropical trees and brush.

The regiment had scarcely covered a hundred feet of the ascent, when there came a volley of shots from a ridge beyond, which wounded two soldiers in the front rank.

”The rebels are in sight!” was the cry. ”Come on, boys, let us drive 'em back! On to San Isidro!” And away went one battalion after another, fatigued by a two miles' tramp, but eager to engage once more in the fray. It was found that the insurgents had the ridge well fortified, and General Lawton at once spread out his troops in a semicircle, in the hope of surrounding the ridge and cutting off the defenders from the main body of Aguinaldo's army.

Ben's regiment was coming, ”head on,” for the top of the ridge. The way was over ground much broken by tree-stumps, rocks, and entangling vines, that brought many a soldier flat.

”Sure, an' it's a rigular fish-net!” spluttered Dan Casey, as he tried in vain to rise, with vines ensnaring both arms and legs. ”I don't know but phwat a fellow wants a wire-cutter here, just as they had 'em in Cuby to cut the wire finces wid.”

”Nefer mind, so long as we got by der dop of dot hill,” answered Carl Stummer, as he hauled his mate out of the entanglement. ”Be dankful dot you ain't parefooted by dem dorns.” And on went both once more.

There was many a slip and a tumble, but very little grumbling.

”Down!” The cry came from the front, and down went Ben's company into a little hollow, for the rebels had them in plain view now, and the two lines were less than three hundred yards apart. A volley from the insurgents followed, but n.o.body was struck.

”Forward twenty-five yards!” cried Ben, and up went the company for another dash. It was a soul-trying moment, and none felt it more than the young commander, who ran on ahead to inspire his men. He knew that at any instant a bullet might hit him to lay him low forever. But his ”baptism of fire” had been complete, and he did not flinch.

”Hot work, this!” The words came from Gilmore as he came up the hill close to Ben. ”It's going to be no picnic taking that ridge.”

”True, Gilmore; but it's got to be done,” answered the young commander. ”Down!” he shouted, and again the company fell flat. Then began a firing at will, which lasted the best part of ten minutes. The insurgents, likewise, fired, and a corporal and a private were wounded and had to be carried to the rear.

Looking around, Ben espied Luke Striker in the ranks of Company D. The old sailor had provided himself with a rifle and an ammunition belt, and was popping away at a lively rate.

”I couldn't help it,” said Luke, when the young captain came up to him. ”It's the best fun I've had sence thet air muss in Manila Bay, when we blowed old Montojo out o' the water, off Cavite. Say, but we'll git to the top o' the hill afore long, jes' see ef we don't!”

And Luke blazed away again, and so Ben left him.

The rest of the battalion was now closing in, and soon another advance was made, until the first line of the American troops was less than a hundred and fifty yards away from the insurgents' outer intrenchments. Then a yell came from a jungle on the left.