The Green Forest tribune., 1900-05-10

l teen and bathed my face with the remainder of the water, and opened the front of my shirt to get more air. This refreshed me considerably but not enough to enable me to pursue my company.
 However, about 5, D. m., that afternoon, was sufficiently re- covered to make start. I had not gone over half a mile when 'sping!''I felt the breath of Mau- ser ball close to my ear. 1 drop ped on one knee, cooked my Krag, then cautiously arose and kept a careful lookout all the while for the insurrecco sharp-shooter.
 By the time 1 was recovering from this scare, dusk was rapidly approaching, so in sheer desper- ation l stumbled on. I was soon exhausted again and found that l was too weak to travel further.
 But after resting awhile, I tried it again and travelled, as l thought, in southerly direction, thinking that I might be able to find the camp of the 22d U. S. Infantry, who were supposed to be in the attack against the village. After travelling considerable distance and seeing no trace of their camp, I fully realized that I was lost, lost in the dark iumbleS of the Philippine Islands, lost, with no one to tell the story. "Shall I fall down and give up in despair, or shall pick up courage and make last effort to find my com rades?' Of course I decided on the latter, and, peering through the darkness that was rapidly coming on, superinduced by the dark flying clouds, see what appears to be small detachment of soldiers.
 Redoubling my efforts, I push on, and getting in shouting dis tance, l halloo and wave my arms. Though hear no answer ing shout, l see several of the boys signal and beckon in return. On I plod to find at length that what l thought a detachment of soldiers was nothing but clump of willows and a few bamboo stumps.
 But I am not mistaken this time. Wonder is a group of men, probably strangers like myself, and for aught I know, enemies; but am going to make an effort to camp with them tonight. 1 struggled on with my heart in my mouth; my whole life's history seemed to pass in apanarama be- fore me. What would be the re- suit of my introduction to those strange-looking men seemed to be the most important epoch. was now quite close enough to see the very white of their eyes, only to find that, just as before, it was all my imagination.
 Not wishing to follow my imag- ination any further, I resolved to push on in the direction of Gapan, where I had stayed the night be- fore.
 Travelling on about one and half miles, I stumbled on to the signal service telegraph wire run- ming into Gapan, but like any other lost man I did not know which end to follow. However, followed for a long ways through the grass and rice paddles until lost it, often having to get down on my hands and knees and make a long search for it. I gave it up.
 Again l went it alone, hoping that kind Providence would lead me to Gapan. The clouds begin to gather and the darkness be- comes more intense until finally l sink down completely exhausted. Having replenished my canteen before dark, I took a swallow of water and crawled to clump of willows, spread out my poncho and "flopped" for the night.
 shut my eyes, but not for sleep. Iwould hear slight rust ling in the grass and on opening my eyes would see men, dressed in white, just like Filipino sol- diers, stealing upon me. Crab ping my cartridge belt, l threw it across my body, and clutching