The National tribune., 1901-09-26
cit TOOK BUT A GLANCE TO SEE
THAT He WAS DEAD"

gle with his pride and love. The worst
was not that she had thrown him over
without even a word of explanation, but
that she had married a coward who had
refused to volunteer with his company.
He felt it to be a personal degradation.
His struggle was a long and bitter one.
Late that afternoon he went to his Cap
tain and requested to be detailed to the
scouts.
"How's this, Lucas, a few days ago,
when they were after you, you said regu-
lar soldering was good enough for your
'Yes, sir, but they've lost some men
since then, and l thought I'd like to help
them out"
The result was that when the sun rose
the next morning and revealed
small squad of men moving stealthily up
the road in the direction of the enemy, one
of them was Lucas. The scouts had left
the camp before daylight and were at
least two miles in advance of the main
column when il took up the march. 1t
was their duty to feel for the enemy and
especially to seize and hold the bridge at
Tarbon for the brigade to cross, on its
way to capture San ISadro, the Filipino
Capital, but four miles further on. This
was wooden structure across narrow
but deep and unfordable stream. running
between steep and high banks. 1t was the
only crossing for a number of miles, and
as the column was already short of rations
it was important that it be not delayed By
the destruction of the bridge.
There were but 20 scouts in the squad
that day, and the young Lieutenant who
lead them moved cautiously, constantly ex
pecting to se suddenly fired upon from
ambush. He was not long disappointed,
for at a turn in the road, where it led out
upon fat, there was a whistle of bullets
in the air, followed by the crack of maus-
ers half a mile to the front.
The smokeless powder gave no indica-
ton of the point from which the yolley
came, but the general direction of the bull
lets as they sang their sibilant song was
noted, and few minutes use of his field
glasses revealed the situation to the Off
Ger, who had stood calmly up to make the
survey, though he had ordered his men
to lie down at the sound of the first bullet.
Half a mile distant was the bridge he
was TO seize. and it was on fire. Above
and below 1t, on the opposite side of the
stream, and completely commanding the
structure and the road approaching it,
were heavy intrencbments filled with Fill
pino soldiers, not less than 200 as he esti-
mated them. Between them lay the fiat,
whose rice ridges were covered by swamp
grass, making screen six feet high, a
splendid cover for stealthy advance, but
no protection from bullets.
There was no time TO send back for
help If the bridge was to be saved. In
deed, the scouts were expected to tackle
everything they stumbled upon alone
They had previously met larger numbers
and put them to fight by their sharpshoot-
ing, Indian fighting tactics, and there was
no hesitation in this instance. Quickly the
Lieutenant issued his instructions to the
men to extend at intervals on both sides
Of the road, guiding upon himself in the
center, and no man to fire until he gave
the signal by firing his own rifle, and then
only TO shoot when they saw a good mark
Dropping out of sight the scouts began
their secret and sinuous advance. The
enemy supposed this little advance guard
had retreated and were entirely uncon-
scious of the thin line OF markSmen so
stealthily advancing upon them, until q
| rifle shot rang out and one of their num-
! Der fell over backwards in the trench
dead. There was instant confusion, which
/ increased as other shots from the tall
grass tumbled still others into the trench,
and then there was a scurrying for cover
and a rapid reply from the protection OF
| the earthworks. Not a head was thrust
above the crest of the trenches in order to
take aim, for they feared those deadly
marksmen hiding in the grass and now
not over hundred yards distant, but each
! Filipino thrust the muZzle Of his mauser
over the top and pulled the trigger as fast
as he could work the bolt, the steel bull
lets going high into the air and doing no
damage Whatever, unless it was to bring
on the rainy season prematurely.
| In a short time the scouts had secured
good cover within so yards, and every
moment the panic across the stream in.
creased. The chief then signalled the four
scouts nearest him to approach, and then
after q few words of instruction, the five
sprang TO their feet and made rush
for the burning bridge. 1t was all over
in few minutes Three of them got
! plfbouDb tha Hnnr oil l.
partly burned away, and began firing into
the TANKS of the trenches in both direc,
tions.