The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-05-30

shrek the long shell leaped from the
brown muzzle and went tearing
through space toward the Krupps in
the river redoubts. Then followed n
distant crash-it had burst just above
the hostile parapet. 1--WE can't get
orders TO advance yet. and when we
do he wants you TO follow us right mp
with your wire. Communication must
bo kept by telegraph. It's as much
ns mans life is worth to attempt to
ride this street, and hate to send an
orderly with II message.
"Can you leave men enough TO
guard tho line?" asked the young
signalman, nnxiously. "They1l be
cutting it in dozen places other
WISE"
"Wo haven't got 'em" was the inn
patient answer. "Sooner or later the
order must come TO pitch in; then
every man will be needed at the front.
They are calling for re-enforcements
even now at Blockhouse Eleven. The
general sent in two California com
panies, and then rode over to Dyer's
battery. You might go to him there,
if You like. He'll want to know this,
anyhow"
But even as he spoke, up the street
at sharp trot, and followed by n
single orderly, came the brigade com
mander. The crash of musketry at
the front, and the cheers of the Cali
lornians. rs they drove in through the
rice-felds to the support of their COM
rades of the First Washington, had
deadened the sound of the ponies
hoofs. Silently, but with intense
interest, the general listened TO the
drivers story of the fire from the nipa
huts on the skirts of the town, and
even before it was more than half
told, excited ordinations among the
soldiers called his attention away.
Lashing his pony TO top speed and
bending down on his neck, an orderly
came tearing in from the front, run
ming the gauntlet between tworow of
native houses from which the sharp,
vicious crack of the Mauser, and the
heavier report of the Remington,
could be plainly heard.
"Send a platoon to thrash those
fellows and burn those huts at oncel"
was the instant order. "Send COM
pany back toward Paco Church. Did
they fire at you from there?" asked
the general, turning suddenly on the
signal officer.
81 think SO. sir" was the modest
answer. SAT least they fired several
shots from somewhere close at hand"
"You'll have hard work keeping
your wires up to-day, my lad" said
the commander, thoughtfully, "and 1
can't help you very much, either.
But all the same, shall have to rely
upon you"
"You may, SIR" was the answer,
and the old soldier and the young
shook hands and parted.
Two hours later came the longed-
for order, "Advancel" With crash
ing volleys and ringing cheers the
men of California, Washington and
Idaho plunged through the muddy
stream at their front, and charged
home upon the intrenchments to the
south and west of Santa Ana, and
then, wheeling to their left, drove the
insurgent force pell-mell to the banks
of the Pasig, many of the enemy, in
deed, drowning in their frantic ef-
forts to swim to safety on the farther
shore.
Meanwhile the extreme right of the
brigade, in hot pursuit of the insur.
gent reserve and rear guard, drove on
eastward along the highway, over
whelming the enemy every time he
strove to make stand, and at last,
worn and breathless, halted for the
night. On the back of pasteboard
cartridge case their brave leader
Colonel Smith, of the First California
wrote to his commander the brief
soldierly report of their success, ant
sent it back to Santa Ana by gallopinl
orderly.
"Wire this news at once to Genera
Anderson" was the order, as th,
brigade commander turned his horse
head up the river road, and spurret
away for the extreme front. The wir,
was in Santa Ana already, so energeti,
had been the work of the signal corps
but when the operator touched hi
key a moment later the line was life
less dead.
Wires cuti" said he, briefly, ant
went leaping down the stone steps il
search of his young chief. In another
moment the tall lad in brown KHAKI
was lashing his pony back along tn,
corpse-strewn road to Paco. Through
lane of blazing nipa huts he tore hi
way, keenly scanning the newl.
strung wire. Over the SCARED Con
cordia bridge, where the battle rage
80 hotly in the early morning. tn
plucky little racer bounded to tn
Manila side, and so on down tn
Gale Real between the smolderin
ruins of the native huts, from whic
had come that treacherous fire in tn
rear that killed and wounded mem
bers of the sacred band who serv
under the protection of the Red Gross
Dense volumes of smoke and fam
, were pouring from the roof and win
dows of the great church and conven
, in Paco Square. "And yet," said tn
| anl1iaro buAdiipr in tho oh altar =