CHAPTER XV

141CHAPTER XVTHE ESCAPE FROM THE BURNING HOUSE

“Hullo, that’s a new wrinkle!” exclaimed Ben. “They are going to try burning us out.”

“Sure, an’ thim haythins is up to all sorts av dodges,” cried Dan Casey. “It’s meself as would like to git a squint at th’ feller that threw that.”

“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?”142questioned 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. All143rushed 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 grass. 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 fiercely144that 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 grass 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, youAmericanos!” 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 grass, 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.

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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.

“They are coming!” came from Dan Casey, just as the nearest of the trees was gained. “Back, ye rascals!” he shouted, and fired as quickly as he could. Casey was right; the Tagals were surrounding them, and now they had to fight back to back, in as hot a contest as the young captain had ever seen. They were clearly outnumbered, but retreat was impossible, for the Filipinos surrounded them upon every side.

What happened during the next five minutes is almost impossible to describe, for every movement was executed with lightning-like rapidity, the Filipinos bound to kill or capture the Americans, and at the same time afraid that they would slip like eels through their fingers. After a score of shots taken at a distance, they closed in, and Ben found himself confronted by two fierce-looking men, one armed with a Mauser rifle and the other with a wicked-looking bolo. The Mauser was empty, and146its owner evidently out of ammunition, for as he advanced he used the weapon as a club.

Ben was hard pressed, for his pistol was now empty, and there was no chance to reload it. But his sword kept the two Tagals back, and had it not been for his gun, one of the enemy would have had his head split open from the blade. But now the rascal with the bolo tried to attack the young captain from one side, while he with the gun swung around to the other.

“His sword kept the two Tagals back.”—Page 147.

Ben could expect no aid from his companions, for all were as hotly engaged as himself; indeed, Sorrel more so, for he was fighting three men, while Jeming and Dan Casey, side by side, and with their backs against a heavy thorn-bush, were fighting the balance of the detachment.

The young captain felt that he could do little or nothing more, and expected each instant to have his assailants hurl themselves directly upon him, when a shout came from Sorrel which gave all of our friends hope.

“Some soldiers air comin’!” sang out the Tennesseean. “This way, boys, this way, an’ be quick about it!”

“What’s the matter?” came in a hoarse growl147from the roadway, and in a few seconds a whole company of the North Dakota troops burst into view. Their captain, a short, fat man, but one who was an excellent fighter, took in the situation at a glance, and ordered the Filipinos surrounded.

Taken by surprise, the Tagals were dumfounded, and for half a minute knew not what to do. Then they started to run, but this movement came too late, and four went down at the first volley from the newly arrived men. The others, realizing their helplessness, threw down their arms and surrendered.

“Had it hot, eh, captain,” said the North Dakota man to Ben as he came up with a quizzical smile on his round face, from which the perspiration was pouring in a stream.

“Yes,” panted Ben. “You came up in the nick of time, and I must thank you for—”

“That’s all right, captain—no more than you would do for me, and I know it.” The North Dakota man shook hands. “It’s been a long running fight to-day,” he added. “Where is your command?”

“That remains to be found out,” answered Ben. “Have you seen any of them during the last two148hours? I and one of my men became separated from them in the cane-brakes.”

“I guess you’ll find them up near Baliuag. Most of the troops are up there. But I wouldn’t try going around by this road, for the rebels are scattered in small bands all over this territory. You’ll find the main road all right.”

“What will you do with these prisoners?”

“Take them up to the main road and send to the colonel for orders.”

“Then I will go with you,” said Ben, and spoke to the others about it. Soon the whole party was on the way, Sorrel and Jeming carrying the dead form of Sergeant Kaser between them, with Casey trudging near to give them a lift whenever necessary.

It was now growing dark, and looked as if a thunderstorm was at hand. Seeing this, the detachment pushed forward rapidly, until at last the main road was gained. Here, from one of the drivers of a quartermaster’s turnout, they learned that Ben’s regiment had gone into temporary camp on the outskirts of the town of Baliuag, which was a mile further on. A number of Americans were missing, having become lost in a manner similar to Ben and Casey.

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The young captain now lost no time in marching forward once more, and reached his regiment in less than half an hour. He found his company in charge of Gilmore. Many had given him up for dead, and they were delighted at his reappearance.

“We can’t do without you,” said the acting first lieutenant. And as he shook hands his honest face showed that he meant what he said.

“And I don’t know that I can do without my company,” replied Ben. “Anyway, I’m awfully glad to be back. In the future, I must be a little more careful about keeping the boys in sight.”

150CHAPTER XVINEWS FROM HOME

It was evident that the majority of the insurgents had now had enough of fighting, for while the engagement just mentioned was taking place, General Luna of the Filipinos sent forward his chief of staff to General MacArthur, with a request that hostilities cease, pending a conference of Americans and Filipinos looking toward a settlement of existing difficulties.

But our leaders knew only too well what delay meant, and refused to enter into any compact unless the natives first threw down their arms. The Filipinos wanted their freedom, but events had now so shaped themselves that absolute freedom for them appeared to be out of the question. So the conference practically amounted to nothing. And while this was taking place, General Hale began to move eastward to join General Lawton’s command on its march toward San Isidro. It was the policy of all the American commanders to151give the Filipinos no rest during the short time left to them before the heaviest of the rainy season set in.

A rest of two days did Ben’s company a world of good. Communications with Malolos were now opened, and supplies were coming forward rapidly. With the supply wagons came Carl Stummer, just from the hospital and still somewhat “shaky,” but eager to be again on the firing line.

“I could not dink me of stayin’ any longer,” he said, as he shook hands all around. “Der docther say, ‘You vos besser here,’ und I say, ‘I ton’t gits me no besser bis I schmell dot powder purning vonce more alretty!’”

“Well, it’s powdher ye’ll be afther shmellin’ soon,” put in Dan Casey. “It’s forward we go to-morrow, so th’ colonel is afther sayin’.”

“Goot!” said Carl. Then he added with a faint smile. “You see, Tan, I vos afraid you kill all dem Filibenos off pefore I could git here.”

“Sure an’ I saved a couple fer ye, Carl,” replied his chum. “Ye’ll not be wantin’ fer a scrap, I’ll warrant!” And then he related his own and Ben’s adventures, to which the German volunteer listened with much interest.

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The wagon train had brought in the mail, and this included the usual letters for Ben—one from Walter and the other from Uncle Job Dowling. Ben breathed a long sigh as he opened the communications.

“I’m going to spring a surprise on you,” so wrote Walter. “I’ve been reading the newspapers, and it makes me weary to think that I am just cruising around with our squadron doing nothing, while you and Larry are right in it, head and heels. I’ve applied for a transfer to one of the warships in Manila waters, and it may be that before this reaches you I will be on the bounding Pacific on my way to join you and Larry in our fight with Aguinaldo and his supporters. Si Doring, my old Yankee chum, has applied with me, so we’ll probably come on together, and when we get there you and Larry will have to look to your laurels, that’s all.”

“Dear Walter!” murmured Ben, after reading the letter twice. “What will he say when he hears that Larry is missing? If Larry doesn’t show up, it will break his heart, and it will break153mine, too!” And he brushed away the tears that sprang up in spite of his efforts to keep them down. Then he turned to the heavy, twisted scrawl from his Uncle Job.

“It’s rare good news you have sent, Ben,” wrote the old man, after stating that he was in good health, “and the news comes none too soon, for the party who took a mortgage on my house wants his money, and where I am going to get it I don’t know, with money so tight and interest and bonus so high. I’ve told him that Braxton Bogg is captured,—and he saw it in the newspaper, too,—and he is about of a mind to wait for his money now until the bank gets back what was stolen, and settles up. For myself, I can’t hardly wait till that time comes; and after this you can be sure I’ll be mighty careful where I put my cash and what’s coming to you three boys, too. You won that thousand dollars’ reward fairly, and I hope you and Larry won’t squander it like most soldiers would. I thought that war would end soon, but it appears like it would go on forever. Tell Larry to take good care of himself, and mind that you don’t get shot.”

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“Poor Uncle Job—he’ll be in a hole again,” murmured Ben. “Evidently he wrote this right after I sent word Braxton Bogg was caught, and he doesn’t know anything of my being shot and getting over it, and of Benedicto Lupez skipping out with what Bogg stole. Hang the luck, but everything seems to be going wrong.” And Ben grated his teeth, in a mood hard to explain.

“What’s up, Ben?” The question came from Gilbert, who had just come up to watch the young captain, in considerable surprise.

Ben showed the two communications. “I’m just thinking of what I had best write to my Uncle Job,” he returned. “I’m afraid it will break the old fellow’s heart to learn that the money is gone—and after he is trying to turn over a new leaf, too.”

“And the news about Larry will cause him pain, too, I reckon.”

“No doubt, but—but—well, between you and me, Gilbert, I’m afraid the money will hurt the worst—Uncle Job always did set such a store by a few dollars. As for me, I’d give all I’ll ever be worth if only I knew Larry was safe,” concluded the young captain, arising from a seat under a155palm tree as Major Morris came forward to speak to him.

“Captain, I’m ordered to the front to-night, to do a little reconnoitring,” said the major of the first battalion. “I thought perhaps you would like to go out with me. Possibly we can again get on the track of that Bogg fortune;” and he smiled faintly, for he had been with Ben on the night Braxton Bogg had been first made a prisoner.

“I’ll go out with you gladly,” answered the young captain, promptly. “But I doubt if that money is ever found—or my brother Larry, either,” he added, with bitterness.

“Oh, cheer up, captain, you are blue to-night. Come, a little danger will put you on your mettle once more, and you’ll forget all about this thing—although I’ll allow it’s enough to make anybody heart-sick.”

Supper was served, and the sun had long since sunk to rest over the vast plain and ocean to the westward, when Ben and Major Morris set out, taking with them an ample supply of ammunition and likewise a day’s rations, for they were to move directly into the heart of the enemy’s country156and might be absent for a day or longer. The object of their going was to find out if a certain Lieutenant Caspard, who had deserted the American ranks, was with the rebels now gathering at Maasin, and if so, whether or not he was acting as an officer of the Filipino forces. If they could catch the deserter and bring him back, they were to be well rewarded. Strange to say, the orders were not to shoot him if it could be avoided.

“It’s a strange mission,” said Major Morris, as they set out. “But such are Colonel Darcy’s orders, and he is backed up in them by the general. Between you and me, I think this Caspard has been playing a double game between our forces and those of the Filipinos, and those at headquarters want to find out just what it means. One man told me that this Caspard was out of his head, and had an idea that he could stop the war by telling the rebels we would grant them everything they want if only they would throw down their arms.”

“Would the rebels swallow such a yarn?”

“Some of the more ignorant might. But that isn’t the point; Caspard may have given them some military information of vast importance.157You must remember we are in a territory that may be full of pitfalls for us,” concluded the major.

Ben thought but little of the ending of this speech at the time, but had good cause to remember it before midnight. On they pushed past the picket guard and on to a side road which it was said would bring them around to the north side of Maasin. Both were in fairly good humor by this time, and the major told many an anecdote of army life which made Ben laugh outright. The major saw that his companion was indeed “blue,” and was bound to dispel the blues if it could be done.

“And that story puts me in mind of one on General Grant,” he continued presently. “Grant was sitting in his tent one night when—”

“Hush!” interrupted Ben, and caught his companion by the shoulder. Then he pointed into the semi-darkness ahead. “Are those rebels, or friends?”

The road they were pursuing was, for the most part, a winding one. But they had now gained a straight stretch, the farther end of which was somewhat in the open. Looking in that direction158Ben had discerned six or seven figures stealing silently along, guns on shoulders and packs on their backs.

Major Morris came to a halt and surveyed the figures attentively. “I don’t believe they are our men,” he whispered. “None of the troops came as far as this—so the general stated.”

“Then, if they are rebels, what have they been doing?” went on Ben. “See, they have picks and shovels and axes.”

“Perhaps it’s an engineering corps,” and the major laughed softly at what he considered his little joke. “These Tagals are bound to be up-to-date, you know.”

“Well, if they are an engineering corps, what have they been doing?” demanded the young captain, who felt by no means satisfied at his companion’s words.

“I’ll give it up—no, I won’t, I’ll go forward and investigate,” came from the major. “There they go, around the turn, and walking just as fast as they can. If we want to catch up to them, we will have to hurry.”

“We don’t want to get too close, major. They are not the game we are after, remember.”

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“True, captain, but it won’t do any harm to find out what we can of them. We may be doing General Lawton a great service by such an action.”

The night was cloudy, and as they pushed forward to the bend in the road it became darker than ever, until they could see hardly anything of what was ahead of them. The way was evidently little used, for the grass grew thickly even in the centre of the highway.

The pair were going on, side by side, and with eyes strained to catch sight of those who had gone before, when suddenly Major Morris felt the ground giving way beneath him. “My gracious!” he ejaculated, and caught Ben by the arm. At the same instant the young captain uttered a cry, and also felt himself going down. Then came the snapping of slender bamboo poles, and the scattering of some loose grass, and down into darkness and space shot the pair, swallowed up utterly by a hole which had unexpectedly opened to receive them.

160CHAPTER XVIIIN AND OUT OF A STRANGE PITFALL

Major Morris and Ben had fallen into a pit dug by the Filipinos for the purpose of catching their enemies. It was an old trick, and one which had been used quite extensively at the opening of the rebellion, but which was now falling into disuse, for the reason that few Americans were ever caught by the device.

The method was to dig a square hole in the centre of some trail or road which the Americans would probably use in their advance. At the bottom of this hole would be planted upright a number of sharp bamboo sticks, and then the top would be covered over with slender bamboo sticks and loose grass or palm leaves. If one or more persons stepped upon the top sticks, they would break at once, and the unfortunates would fall upon the sharp points below, which were certain to inflict more or less serious injury.

Fortunately, however, for the young captain and161his companion, the hole into which they had tumbled was not provided with the sharp sticks mentioned. The natives had just finished the opening when an officer had called upon them to leave the vicinity as it was getting dangerous, owing to the rapid advances made by the Americans. So the trap had been set with its most dangerous element lacking.

Yet the fall was by no means a pleasant one, and for a brief instant the young captain of Company D thought that the bottom had dropped out of everything, and that he would surely be killed. He tried to catch hold of something, but all he could reach was the major’s shoulder, and then both landed with a thud on the soft dirt left at the bottom of the hole.

Ben was the first on his feet, which was not saying much, since the bottom of the opening was not level, and he stood in the soft loam up to his ankles. Shaking himself to find that no bones were broken, he drew a long breath.

“Major, are you all right?” he asked.

“No—no—I’m not all—all right,” came with a gasp. “I’ve had my wi—wind knocked ou—out of me.”

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“Any bones broken?”

“I gue—guess not. But wh—who ever heard of such a con—founded trick?”

“I’ve heard of it several times, major. But we are not as bad off as we might have been had the rebels put some sharp sticks down here to spit us with.”

“True.” Major Morris gave a grunt, and wiped the dirt from his eyes. “Well, I reckon we’ve learned what their engineering corps was up to.”

This was said so dryly that in spite of his discomfiture Ben was compelled to laugh.

“Yes, we’ve learned. The question is, now we are down here, how are we going to get out?”

“Better make a light and see how deep the hole is first,” replied the commander of the first battalion.

Fortunately Ben had plenty of matches with him, and striking one, he lit a bamboo stalk and held it up as a torch. By the flickering light thus afforded they saw that the hole was about eight feet wide and twice as long. The level of the road above was fully eight feet over their heads.

“Looks as if we were in a box, eh, captain?” said the major, grimly.

“We’re certainly in a hole,” responded Ben.163“But I think we can get out without much trouble. I wish we had a spade.”

“Well, wishing won’t bring one, and there is nothing here to take the place of one, either.”

“Nothing but our hands. Here, if you’ll hold the light, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Here is a bit of a flat stick, try that,” rejoined Major Morris; and taking the article mentioned, Ben set to work with vigor, attacking one end of the hole by loosening the dirt so that a large portion of it soon fell at their feet. Standing upon the fallen portion he continued his operations, and presently more of the dirt fell, leaving an incline up which both began to scramble on hands and knees. It was not a very dignified thing to do, but it was far better than to remain in the hole, and besides, there was nobody at hand to comment on the want of dignity in the movement.

“We are well out of that,” began Major Morris, brushing off his clothing as he spoke. “In the future—”

“Hold on, major, somebody is coming,” interrupted Ben, and pulled his companion back. He had seen a faint light advancing toward them, from a side road which joined the main road at a point but a few164yards distant. Soon he made out a heavy cart approaching, drawn by a pair of caribaos, or water buffaloes. On the seat of the cart sat two sleepy-looking natives.

“We must stop that cart,” was the major’s comment. “If we don’t, there will be a bad smash-up.”

“I don’t think it’s a good plan to expose ourselves,” replied Ben.

“But do you want those chaps to break their necks?” demanded the commander of the first battalion. “More than likely they areamigos.”

“I’ve got a plan for warning them, major.”

As Ben spoke he picked up some of the driest of the grass and palm leaves and applied a match to the stuff. It blazed up readily, and he threw the mass in with the other stuff about the edge of the hole.

“There, if they can’t see that they must be blind,” he said. “Come, let us get out,” and off they ran for the thicket close at hand. From here they watched the cart and saw it come to a halt near the hole and knew that the turnout was safe.

“I shouldn’t think the rebels would care to leave those holes about,” was Major Morris’ comment, as they pushed on once more. “They are as dangerous to their own people as they are to us.”

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“I suppose they tell their own people about them.”

“Those men on the buffalo cart evidently knew nothing.”

“The rebels don’t care for theamigos. Their idea is, if a native is not with them, he is against them, and must suffer with the Americans.”

To play the part of spies in such a country as this was not easy, for the Americans were easily distinguished from the natives. Had Ben and the major spoken Spanish fluently, they might have passed for Spaniards, as each was tanned from constant exposure to the strong sun. But this could not be, and so they had to go ahead and trust to luck to see them through with their dangerous errand.

At length they felt that they must be close to the enemy’s picket line, and paused to consider the situation. Before them was a gentle slope, terminating at a small but deep stream which flowed into the Rio Grande River.

“I think some of the rebels are over there,” said the major, pointing to a hill, from the top of which could be seen a faint glow. “There is certainly a camp-fire back there.”

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“There is a house just below us,” returned Ben. “Or is it a mill?”

“A mill most likely. They wouldn’t build an ordinary dwelling right at the water’s edge.”

“Perhaps the rebels are using the mill as a sort of headquarters. What do you say if we investigate?”

The major agreed, and they began to pick their way along the stream. Soon they reached a rude bridge, and were on the point of crossing, when a sharp cry rang out from the building they were approaching.

“Hullo, that’s a woman’s voice!” exclaimed Ben. “Somebody is in trouble.”

“Help! thief! murderer!” came in Spanish. “Oh, help, for the love of kind Heaven, help!”

“It’s a woman, true enough!” ejaculated the major. “I wonder what the trouble is?”

“I’m going to find out,” answered Ben. The cry for aid appealed to his heart, and he bounded toward the mill-house, for such the building proved to be, without further hesitation. Nor was Major Morris far behind him.

As they came closer they saw that the structure was dark, saving for a faint light that came from one167of the rooms built over the mill stream. It was in this room, evidently, that some sort of struggle was going on, for now both heard the cry for help repeated, followed by the overturning of a table. Then came the voices of two men, and the cry came to a sudden end.

“Two men are misusing some woman,” cried Ben, “come on!” and rushing around to the front of the building, he found the rickety stairs leading to the house floor, and bounded upward. The door at the top stood ajar and he pushed it in, with Major Morris at his heels. The room at hand was dark, the struggle was going on in the apartment next to it.

Ben paused long enough to see that his pistol had not sustained any injury in the tumble into the hole, and was ready for use, and then threw open the door before him.

The light in the room was not very bright, but coming out of the darkness Ben could see but little, for a few seconds. The room was thick with the smoke of cigarettes, and through the haze the young captain made out two men standing beside an overturned table, one with a knife in his hand. To his intense surprise the men were Americans and dressed in the uniforms of regulars.

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“What does this mean?” he demanded. “What are you—”

And then Ben got no further, for a swift look around the room told him that the two men were alone—that the woman he had heard crying for help was not there.

169CHAPTER XVIIITHE ADVENTURE AT THE MILL-HOUSE

For the moment it must be confessed that Ben was absolutely dumfounded, and Major Morris also. They had fully expected to see a woman in the hands of the regulars before them, and they could scarcely believe the evidence of their own senses.

But if the officers were astonished, the men they confronted were likewise taken back, and stared in amazement, which quickly gave way to consternation.

“What do you want?” demanded one, as soon as he could speak. And then he glanced over their shoulders to see if the newcomers were alone.

“We thought we heard a woman in trouble,” answered Ben, slowly.

“And we did hear a woman,” put in the major. “Where is she?”

The two regulars exchanged unsteady glances, for each was somewhat the worse for liquor. “There ain’t no woman here,” answered one of them, sullenly.

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“Then who was crying for help?” persisted the young captain.

“See here, cap’n, you are on the wrong trail,” came from the older of the regulars. “Me and Bill’s jest been having a little rumpus between ourselves. We meant no harm by it.”

“I don’t believe you,” came from Major Morris, promptly. “There is some mystery here, and as sure as you’re born I’m going to find out what it is!” he went on.

The major had scarcely finished when Ben’s eyes fell to the floor, and he saw the outline of a trap-door under one of the regular’s feet. One edge of the door was raised about half an inch above the floor proper, as if the door had been opened and not put back evenly into place.

“Major, look at that trap-door!” he cried. “I’ll wager they used it while we were coming up the outside stairs.”

“You must be right, captain. If you’ll—”

“We didn’t use no trap-door,” shouted the younger of the regulars, but he appeared much disconcerted over the discovery Ben had made.

“Captain, I have them covered,” came from Major Morris, as he brought out the two pistols with which171he had wisely provided himself. “Perhaps you had better investigate.”

“I will,” returned the young captain, and backed out of the room. The regulars wanted to stop him, but aiming his weapons at them the major told them to hold their peace.

“If everything is all right, you won’t be harmed,” he said. “But it doesn’t look right to me. You have no business here, for one thing.”

“And what business have you here?” demanded the older regular. And then he changed his manner. “We were captured in the fight of last week, and were just trying to get back to our lines again.”

“We’ll talk about that when my friend the captain gets back, my man. If we are treating you unjustly, I’ll apologize and do the handsome thing by you,” he added.

In the meantime Ben was making his way down to the bank of the stream, under the mill, with all possible speed. It was extremely dark, and he had to pick his way with caution for fear of tumbling into some ugly hollow. Below the mill was a fall of water, and here the stream ran between a series of sharp rocks.

Ben had just gained the bank of the stream when172a low moan reached his ears. At first he could not locate the sound, but presently discovered that it came from the vicinity of the rocks. Feeling his way along he managed, but not without great difficulty, to gain the top of the rocks. Here he saw the water foaming and boiling twenty feet below.

“That woman must be down there,” he muttered. Then he raised his voice. “Where are you?”

“Down here, by the rocks!” came back faintly. “Help! please help me!”

Locating the voice as well as he was able, the young captain began crawling down from one rock to another. This was difficult work, and he had to move with extreme care for fear of a tumble, which would land him directly into the boiling stream. At last, however, he found himself perched on a bit of a shelf, with the water less than two feet away.

From this point of view he beheld the sufferer, who was swinging in the water, with her arms tightly clutching a sharp stone which reared its point just above the surface of the stream. He saw that she was evidently a Spanish woman, well along in years, and that her dress was sadly torn,173and her long hair was floating loosely over her neck and face.

It must be confessed that the young captain was perplexed over the situation that confronted him. The sufferer was just beyond his reach, and he felt that to plunge into the water after her would be to take a big risk, for if the stream at this point was over his waist, the force of the current would carry him off in an instant.

“Can you hold on a few minutes longer?” he called out.

“Can you hold on a few minutes longer?”—Page 173.

“No! no! I am too weak,” came more faintly than ever. “Help me quickly, and Heaven will reward you!”

“I will do what I can—but you must hold tight for a minute,” answered Ben.

Just above his head a number of bushes were growing, and among these he had espied a long, stout-looking shoot. Clambering to this, he pulled out his pocket-knife and cut it off. Then he leaped down once more, and holding tight to the rocks with one hand, shoved out the branch with the other. “Catch hold, if you can,” he cried.

The woman understood and gave up the rock for174the stick, and Ben pulled her toward him. It was no easy task, and once it looked as if she would lose her hold and be swept away. But in a minute the danger was past, and the young captain was hauling her up to where he stood. She was thoroughly exhausted, and no sooner did he have her in his arms than she fainted.

One difficulty had been overcome, but another still remained, and that was to get up to the safe ground above the rocks. But once again the bushes growing out of the crevices came into play, and, hauling himself from one to another, Ben at last found himself safe, with his burden resting heavily over his shoulder.

It was now that the young captain found the woman was suffering from a blow over the left temple, from which the blood was slowly trickling. Laying the form down, he brought out his handkerchief and bound up the wound as well as he was able. This had just been accomplished when the sufferer came again to her senses and stared around her in bewilderment.

“You—you—am I safe?” she asked, in broken English, but in a sweet voice which went straight to Ben’s heart.

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“Yes, madam, you are safe,” he answered. “Did those two men throw you into the stream?”

“Yes, yes! Oh, they are villains, señor—great villains.”

“I must say they look it, even if they are of our troops,” replied the young captain. “Come, do you think you can walk back to the mill with me?”

The woman said she would try, and he assisted her to her feet. She was still very weak, and readily consented to lean on his arm; and thus they moved slowly back the way the captain of Company D had come.

During all this time Ben had not heard a sound from the house, and he was anxious to know how Major Morris was faring, although feeling positive that the major was fully capable of taking care of himself. Now, as they came closer, he heard loud talking.

“We ain’t goin’ to stay, major,—an’ it ain’t right fer you to ask us to,” the older of the regulars was saying.

“You will stay, and that’s the end of it,” came in the major’s clean-cut tones. “If you attempt to pass through that doorway, I’ll put a bullet through you.”

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“But we are friends, major, and—”

“I don’t know that I am a friend to you. It depends upon what my companion the captain will have to report when he gets back.”

“He won’t have nuthin’ to report, so far as we are concerned,” put in the younger regular. “We ain’t done any wrong, ’ceptin’ to quarrel a bit between us. Everybody has a set-to once in a while, you know.”

By this time Ben was tramping up the outside stairs, supporting the woman as before. Now he pushed his way into the outer room of the mill-house, the woman following with some hesitancy. At the appearance of their late victim the regulars fell back as though struck a blow.

“Nice sort of chaps you are,” exclaimed Ben, hotly. “You don’t deserve to wear Uncle Sam’s uniform. A set of prison stripes would suit both of you much better.”

“Hullo, you’ve found the lady,” cried the major. “Sit down, madam, and tell us what this means.”

A bench was handy, and the sufferer dropped heavily upon it. The regulars looked as if they wished themselves anywhere but in their present situation, yet they did not dare to budge, for Major177Morris still held “the drop” upon them, and the commander of the first battalion looked as if he would stand no nonsense.

“These men came here to rob me,” said the woman, slowly. “They are of your kind, but they are not honest.”

“Then they are not of our kind,” answered Ben, promptly. “We do not allow our soldiers to rob anybody.”

“We didn’t come to steal—” began the older regular, when Major Morris stopped him.

“Silence!Not another word until the lady has finished her story.”

There was a second of painful silence, and the lady continued: “I am staying at the mill alone, for my husband has gone to the Laguna de Bay on business. Several hours ago, these two soldiers came in and demanded that I serve them with a hot supper. Not wishing to have trouble I gave them the best I had. But they were not satisfied, and broke into my husband’s wine closet and drank two bottles of his choicest wine, and smoked his best cigarettes, package after package. Then, after drinking much wine, they demanded that I give them money, and that man,” pointing to the older178prisoner, “told his companion that I must have money hidden somewhere, as all the Spanish mill-owners in Luzon were rich, while the truth is, we are very poor, as the war has taken away everything. Then the men drank more, and at last they caught hold of me and threatened me with great violence if I did not give up what I had hidden away. I gave them the little silver I had, but they were not satisfied, and when I tried to run away, one hit me over the head with this bench. Then they plotted to get me out of the way entirely and go on a hunt for money themselves. I cried louder than ever, and then you started to come in. One of the men had opened that trap leading to the river, and as you came up the outer stairs both dropped me down, no doubt to drown me. I was swept down to the rocks at the falls, and there thecapitansaved me, God bless him for it.”

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