Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-01-18
CLAY, youse, where YOU goin'?"

You amt runnin' away from the
Greasers, are you2" returned Harry.
"Not bit of it, but they need us
jest now up at headquarters and W.
better git there mighty lively, too.
Come on, boys"
"No," yelled Harry authoritatively,
"come on with me. Well turn in
and give 'em a rassel."
81 command you to follow me,
men" said the Sergeant hotly.
Take your old command an go on
home with it,.
Harry plunged into the woods and
was Immediately followed by every
man of the detachment.
''Ill have you all court -martialed
and shot for Gisobedience," yelled the
Sergeant as parting shot.
But that had not particle of effect
on the men who were now dominated
by Harry's personality. When they
were out of sight in the woods Harry
halted the squad and said:
boys, L have an idea they's quite
bunch OF Spaniards layin' around
somewhere. They's about thirty of
us here an guess we're good for a
hundred or two of 'em if we should
happen to meet 'em.'
Fright you are," came the answer
in chorus.
''Now, then, not too much racket.
It's up to us to go in an clean out
these fellers If we can find 'em, other
wise the Sergeant'll have us all 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
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, I think we better git
into one of these trees an see if we
can spot the enemy. If 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 frst-rate.
That seemed fine plan, and a
moment later the squad was into the
largest tree and safely hidden from
sight.
"Holy catr' exclaimed Harry when
he had reached spot from which to
take observations. "Holy cat, but
this must been pretty near where
the Greasers fred 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. 1t was
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 as 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 volleys.
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 lifeless forms,
hanging limp in their canteen straps,
showed.
"Holy cat, boys, this is gittin' too
hot" yelled Harry as Mauser bullet
tore off one of his fingers. "Let's
shin down the tree an tackle 'eru 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 aud shooting as they
ran. Once under the tree they poured
hot fire into the top. 1t was deadly
and soon had the desired effect. The
Spaniards ceased firing and one of their
number whipped out dirty blood
stained handkerchief and waved it
frantically in the air.
"Do you want to quit?" called
Harry up the tree after he had given
the order to cease firing.
''Si, senor," came the answer.
eyes, [ see, all right" said Harry,
''but that's not your fault. You'd
had me dead if you could"
''Si, senor."
"Same to you Well, climb down
an be quick about it, too"
The Spaniards did not understand
his words, but they did his actions.
Down they came and lined up in row
before him. There were Just twenty
of them. Thirty more lay under the
tree either dead or wounded.
t"phat la ,,o n.orn