Arizona republican., 1905-06-12

l gan to crack over by the riVer. The
 fire increased steadily till they were shooting all over to the north in the
 Tondo district. Company after com
 pany of Filipinos ran past the hut, the officers yelling like mad. Still, there
 was nothing but Mausers going, pop
 ping like firecrackers, and it seemed hours before the fire was returned. At last I heard a volley of Springfields-I
 knew them by the heavy boom, and I knew then that the Nebraska boys had
 formed and gone into action. I had been with the regulars long enough to 1 look down upon the volunteers, but,
 when I heard that firing, I just stood up and yelled. It didn't die down, but
 kept up steadily, and I was sure the boys were holding the Filipinos back
 when the Utah light artillery got into
 action. Then, just like a thunder storm, the noise slowly swept round to
 the south and the Springfields took up the chorus down through Anderson's s division; first, the California boys and
 the Idahos. of the First Brigade, till
 about 3 in the morning the regulars
 were engaged.
 I waited for the Springfield fire to
 weaken, dreading that we would be driven in, but when 1t kept up as if it nChCI NOuid SUD- l was Ire Nlicib we
 had whipped them. The Filipinos be-
 gan to retreat past the hut in disor-
 der, the officers as badly scared as the privates. I was watching them, laugh
 ing, when four niggers broke into the
 hut, tied my arms, packed me on a
 mule and rushed me off.
 For four or five days I was carried back and forth behind the Filipino ar
 my, dodging out of every skirmish. as the Americans pushed Aguinaldo back all along the circle. One night we
 spent in Mariquina, and left early in the morning, while white flags were
 flying to lure our troops into the town.
 Then we travelled southward toward Pasai. I wondered what they were keeping me for, and why they didn't either kill me or let me go. Then I re- membered of what I had heard of
 Spanish prisons, and I stopped won dering and began to pray.
 We ended, finally. in a church the insurgents were trying to hold, while our boys were getting ready to charge. I was driven up into a bell tower, half battered to pieces from our shell and filled with smoke. A squad of natives were firing from the windows.
 There in a corner was Senor Aguilar, III AilG uill4IOil OL d r plIiO COiOIIcAs and I knew that my case was to be settled at last. He looked black I didn't have long to wait, this time. The niggers threw me down and put a Filipino uniform blouse on me, taking it from a dead soldier on the floor. I didn't try to resist. What was the use?
 Then Aguilar said to me: T hope you have enjoyed your journey, Senor Rob erts. My men took care to make it as interesting as possible. A man who has the courage to refuse the hand of an Aguilar deserves distinguished treatment" He got as far as that with his Spanish sarcasm, and then his native Filipino savagery got the better af him.
 You fool; did you think for a moment that I'd let an American hound like you marry my sister? Do you think I would let a man live who had played with her? No, by heaven, nor die, either, except like a dog. have let you live long enough to be hanged by your own countrymen. You're a de- serter. and have given some interest ing information to your spies. And you'll be caught firing in our ranks" Then he drew his revolver, and point ing to the dead Filipino. said: Take that gun and go to the window and shoot down your brother dogs." he cried.
 I don't know why I didn't shoot him, instead, right there. but I had lost my nerve. I went to the window and fired at a bare space. And then, if you will believe it, I saw my own regimental flag coming up with Old Glory, as my own bunkies formed for the rush. It was Colonel Knowlton's command that was to take the church. I don't know whatever became of Aguilar, for just up in the window and cheered as the | boys came on. They charged with yell that did my heart good to hear, | for I lost myself and the danger in 1 watching the way they did the work.
 But I remembered soon enough. The | Filipino fire died away and the insur- | gents scurried out of the building like | rats. I was pulled back with them | as they retreated, but as we crossed | a dry creek bed I stumbled and fell. | Just then a detachment of my own | came up, skirmishing, and | saw me. I threw up my hands and a | corporal covered me. knew him well; | he used to drive in the little donkey | donkey cart with me in Manila when | I marketed.
 lie dropped ms Tile and said: | Good God! It's Roberts,
 l tried to explain how I had been knocked out and captured, but they wouldn't believe me. I had been post ed for deserter and Aguilar had fixed | me. All could do was to ask them to shoot me right there, as if I had been killed in battle. But they had cooled down some while I talked and they couldn't do it in cold blood. Fin ally the corporal said
 See here, boys, I enlisted to fight, and not to be a hangman. Roberts has messed with me and I can't do it. Perhaps what he says is true; I don't know. If you want to arrest him, go ahead. But I'll be darned if I want it said that the old One Hundred and Fourteenth had to shoot a deserter. Come on and let him take his 
 I,F