Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-20

travelled all night over a hazardous
route. and he was more than welcome.
He brought news that Pillars men
were OFF TO the east and the north, we'll
intrenched and prepared TO fall upon
the Americans when they advanced
blindly into the trap laid for them.
The newspaper men pricked up their
ears and at once looked to a box of
carrier pigeons which formed most
important part of their pilgrimage A
light was at hand. doubtless an impor-
tant meeting of the clashfng forces.
The whole army was waiting for intel
ligence of Pillar waiting with little
less anxiety than that which attached
itself to the pursuit of Aguinaldo.
Captain Groce ordered Sergeant Con-
nell with picked squad to reconnoiter.
They scurried off In advance of the
company, with instructions to locate
the elusive enemy and open up the
secret of his position. Supposedly
Pillar was ten miles off among the
rocky foothills which guarded the pass
through the mountains AS usual,
Bansemer was one of the scouts. He
snatched his rations with the others
and went forth eagerly to court the
danger and excitement that was prom
ised. For days they had had no fight
ing worthy the name. Amigos every
where. villages peopled only by wom-
en- and children, treacherous peaceful
ness on every side. This had been
their encounter-an occasional rife
shot from the rice fields. a crackle of
guns far ahead, Il prisoner or two who
had not been quick enough in trans
forming himself from combatant to
friend, that was all. Now there SEEM
ed to be real fighting ahead.
Pillar was known to have many men
good soldiers all of them. The native
scout gave close and accurate direc-
lions as to his position. 1t remained
for Connell's men to draw him out if
possible. Captain Groce and the re-
mainder OF his eager company did not
march until long after the scouts
were on their precarious way.
Two hours after the party of eleven
left the village a Mauser bullet from a
cIump of trees far to the right cut
through the hat of one of the scouts
who was some distance in advance of
his fellows. AS he saw the scout stoop
to pick up his hat Rogers turned to the
man nearest him and remarked:
They'll get him sure as shOotin'
some day if he hikes along in that fool
way"
1t was no new experience for the
scouts to find the quarry gone when
they reached the place where they ex-
| pected to find him. Pillars own scouts
had found that the ambuScade was
destined TO fail of its purpose. and the
willy leader drew back into the more
accessible country. The scouting party
did not come in sight of the little
! brown soldiers Before noon they were
| far up in the hills. everywhere met by
| the physical assurance that the enemy
was not far ahead of them. Behind
| them came Captain Groce and his mel
and the two correspondents.
| Amigos along the mountain road
gave information that was not worth
| having A deserted village showed
signs of the passage. and finally there
was proof ahead that Pillar had stop
ped to give battle He had reached
| his vantage ground. Connell and his
men drew back and waited Nightfall
| came and with it the spiteful crack OF
the Mauser rife. A brawny troopc!
toppled over with great hole in his
head. Pillars pickets could see like
cats in the night. The native scout
reported that the big village of Con
cepcion was not far ahead; Pillars men
were making their stand before this
rather important stronghold.
well get scrap that is a scrap
boys" said Cornell exultingIy. These
fellows are going to put up a fight al
last. They're like bees up yonder
We've got to fall back on the com
pany. If we don't, they'll chew us VI
before the little captain can get to us. y
Too well did the men know the belli
cose temperament of the big lriShman
to think of grumbling at such com
mGnd, yet it was with certain reluc'
lance which invariably accompanies q
backward step that the men retired t.
meet the advancing company.
Young Bansemer in his khaki uni
form was not the immaculate, debon
naire man of the drawing room. Serv
ice, though short, had been hard ans
grueling. His face was even hand
somer with its rugged lines and Sc
features. He was thinner and brown
er; his eyes were clearer and darker
gray his hair seemed thicker ant
fairer than before; his figure more
| erect and sinewy. The wistful look il
his eyes seemed to betray hunger fol
action; his ever ready eagerness to b'
on the move told of his strength ant
of his weakness. He had the lean
active bearing of the panther and thu
restless daring of that 1.-THE animal.
No man in the company had stood
fire as valiantly as he. He courted thu
whlZ of the bullet, scofed at the rig
ors of the march and instinctively wa
a good shot with the rifle. He bore n;
grudge against the department a
home; he had no grievance.
The officers recognized in him MAJ
Of parts, man of station far abov,
the position which he had chosen II