Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-11-25
"Risht you are" came the answer

It's mp to rs TO go in an clean out
these fcllers If we can find 'em, other
wise the Sergeant'll have us oil up be-
fore the old man in the morning. Fol.
low me an I think we'll git 'em.
Without more ado Harry started off
and the rest followed single file, walk.
ing as silently as possible. They
made long detour and at last came
out on the river again about half q
mile from where they had been work
ing. At this spot were half dozen
immense mango trees, whose towering
tops reached far above the surround.
ing shrubbery.
"Now, boys, think We better git
| into one of these trees an see il we
can spot the enemy. II we do find
'em this will be dandy place to do
business in, for the trees tops are too
thick to see into an we can see out Of
'em tirst-rate.
That seemed fine plan, and a
moment later the squad was into the
largest tree and safely hidden from
sight.
"Holy cat!' exclaimed Harry when
he had reached spot from which to
take observations. "Holy cat, but
this must been pretty near where
the Greasers fired from. There's the
place we were workin, and the whole
layout can be seen from here. An
I'll bet it can't be seen from any
other place around the country. Holy
cat!"
This last exclamation was caused by
the sharp report Of rifle and the
bullet which tore through the tree
taking off The heel of his shoe.
The first shot was followed by a
volley. 1t came from another mango
tree about twenty yards away. TWAS
now plainly evident where the
Spaniards were. The bullets were
whistling about the mems ears by
scores and hundreds. Without wait.
ing for orders they shielded them.
selves rs best they could behind the
largest limbs of the tree and returned
the fire.
"Strap yourselves up with your
canteen straps so You won't fall when
shot," yelled Harry from the top OF
the tree. But already three men had
fallen. The rest, however, followed
the advice Immediately and the battle
went on.
Crash, crash,
First from one tree and then from
another came the voleys.
From the number OF the enemy
who went tumbling down it was
easily seen that the American fire was
destructive. But that of the Spaniards
was hot, also, as several life.ess forms,
hanging limp in their canteen straps,
showed.
"Holy cat, boys, this is gittin' toe
hot" yelled Harry as Mauser bullet
tore off ono of his fingers. "Let's
shin down the tree an tackle elm from
the ground up"
No sooner said than done. In less
than minute what remained of the
American squad was charging across
the open space between the two trees,
yelling like mad and shooting as they
ran. Once under the tree they poured
hot fire into the top. 1t was deadly
and soon Ind the desired effect. The
Spaniards ceased firing and one of theil
number whipped out dirty blood
stained handkerchief and waved il
frantically in the air.
"Do you want to quit?" called
Harry up the tree after he had given
the order to cease firing.
Isl, senor," came the answer.
eyes, I see, all right" said Harry,
'but that's not your fault. You'd G
had me dead if you could"
"Si, senor."
"Same to You. Well, climb down
an be qnick about it, too"
The Spaniards did not understand
his words, but they did his actions.
Down they came and lined up in a row
before him. There were just twenty
Of them. Thirty more lay under the
tree either dead or wounded.
"That reminds me. Guess I better
see how We came out" said Harry
after counting his prisoners.
Going over to the other mango tree
he found ten men dead and six wound.
ed, all but three still strapped in the
tree. With first aid bandages he
bound the woun Is of the men as best
he could, both Americans and Span.
iards. Then, leaving the wounded in
charge OF detail of five men, he
started for camp with the balance.
He did not get far when he met q
regiment which had been sent out in
search of him. The firing had been
heard at the camp. TWAS feared that
the Americans would he worsted on
account of their small nu mber, and so
the regiment had been ordered out as
a relief party.
Harry and his prisoners were es.
corted to the camp in triumph. When
they arrived there the Colonel came
forward and taking his hand said:
young man, I'm proud OF you.
You are a hero. But you are under
arrest on charge of disobeying o
superior officer. You will be tried
tomorrow morning. Go to the guard
tent"
The trial didn't amount to much.
Harry was found guilty, sentenced to
be shot and pa,doned, all within
twenty-four hours. The trial and
sentence were matter OF military
discipline. The pardon was q matter
of message from the Colonel to
Washington.
Everyone was satisfied and Hayfoot
Harry is now ranking Sergeant in his
company in the Philippines.