The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1909-04-01


tions given by Byrnton the night be
fore. The man wAlsened and grasped
a fellow. who IN turn communicated
the signal. Silently they rolled into o
circle, each man with heels to the 4
center and lying on bis rife. At q
low signal, the pickets fell back
slightly Thus they awaited the rush
which Byrnton had anticipated at the
dawn It came With the first crimson
streaks and before It was light enough
for the enemy to perceive that pickets'
had fallen In and the Americans were
ready for them There was a fierce
oncoming OF shriells and hacking
bolos. 1t lasted perhaps three min
utes. Then the bolo men fell back,
from devastating fire, leaving dead
and wounded to twice the number
they had attacked. Two sentries who
had been overtaken before they could
get in constituted the American loss.
To the comfortable citizen unfold
ing the morning paper over his coffee,
the telegraphic item is gratifying:
American loss, q; Filipino. 49," But
to the soldiers who had lived the.
struggle, those two men seemed a
preposterous, an unholy price for the
score or more naked savages.
I'VE can't bury them," said Byrn-
ton, bitterly, and we cant pursue. !
think the brutes have had enough for
one day-unless there's fresh gang
every five miles The business of this
outfit In its present condition Is to
get over these hills as fast as we can,
and put something inside of us-if
we can get it."A
Light-headed from hunger, they.
worked their way over the next noun.
| tain. They found few bananas, and
| the men slaked their thirst at brooks
and even in caribao wallows. BY
eight o'clock the tropic sun was
blistering; by ten, all nature was
dropping and lifeless. Byrnton noted
the growing weakness of his soldiers,
and the pitiful, sidelong glances with
which one, youngster Of %, seemed
to question his probable action.
At last the boy stopped with gasp,
Its no use, lieutenant, he sobbed. u
can't go another step"
He tried to stand at attention, but
his legs crumpled under him, and with
ghastly look, he sank In horrid,
trembling heap. His head bobbed
meaninglessly for a second, then
Topped over.
>7'7--1esae---- A-anntrias. and let the men
} rest" ordered Byrnton. adding:
can't leave the poor devil till he comes
, IN OF Uf him TINT
much Of show, and-he can save the
last cartridge for himself. There are
!; no two men--or four men-here, who
! can carry him.
! The relieved men dropped to the
ground, painting. Byrnton sat long
staring at the grassy peaks above. al
the forests that crept up their sides
} at the clear cut brilliance of every
thing-the bluest of skies, the green
est of verdure, the most dazzling OF
sunshine. Suddenly he sprang to his
feet.
I'm damned If I'm going to die like
a trapped animal, or let my men do It,
either! Milford, take the three
} strongest men, and go into the brush
Bring me the first native you can col
lar-man, woman or child"
In scant half hour Milford and
the three men came back, dripping
with perspiration and leading swar
: thy native woman and boy of con
! siderably fairer complexion.
Byrnton gave one quick contemptu
GUS glance at the woman's stupid
countenance, but frightened at the
alertness of the boys expression.
A soldier, in fair visayan, began the
examination. simultaneously the two
began to whine: Gam bot!"
They pretend they don't under
: stand. Mebbe they don't. Gon't
back my Visayan-r He scratched
at mosquito bite. and looked help
lessly about
"Donde barrio?" said Byrnton
sharply, to the lad.
The boy spread his hands. ant
looked around. Am bot he re
; peated.
Byrnton bit his lip. Then he cut {
pliable bamboo.
81 suspect, young man." he said, IL
rather mangled Spanish, that yol
understand Spanish; that your fathel
is mestizo teniente deputy o
some barrio (viilage), and likely al
/, not a captain of insurrectos. We wan
your barrio first, because we wan
something to eat; and we would lik'