The Monte Vista journal., 1909-03-13
TRAPPED BY AMIGOS
STORY OF THE BATTLE FOR LIFE
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Lieut.. erynton's Command Encoun-
tiers Treaeherous eand-Men Are
Exhausted from Exertions
on Tramp.
eY MARY HELEN EEE.


ing. as he did so. quick glance
around that betrayed strained nerves
All asleep" murmured Byrnton
Cant you rest?"
No" replied Milford. also in low
tone. He crossed over to where his
superior officer sat. But it's well
they can Sleep" nodding at the men
I'm sorry for the first guard tonight. .
And the last" added Byrnton. II
dare say we'll be rushed at dawn. I'm
dead tired myself; clean crazy; don't
know why l don't drop in my tracks.
Milford gazed at the serene heavens
and the Swallowed earth lying below
the high plateau where the small de.
tachment of army men rested
It's Christmas day" he said. slow.
~. Let me see-we're l2-14 hours
ahead of them. It's dawn at home,
Byrnton; and there's probably snow!
-snow!" He dropped his hand. and
In an ecstacy of Imagination. crum.
bled bit of earth In his fingers.
It's all soft and white and furry"
And Ethel's going to early church,
with her cheeks red as apples above
her sealskin collar" Byrnton went on,
following the lead. And they've got
the library locked so the kids won't
see the tree till after breakfast"
Hot cakes and maple syrup" in.
terjected Milford.
And my Christmas letter is lying
by her plate"
And we're here" said Milford, bit.
terly. lin God forsaken land
hungry. exhausted with fighting, look.
ing for bolo rush at dawn"
Its what we wanted was Byrn.
tons response. WAS there one of
us that did not pray for active serv.
ice?"
"ies. but We wanted a chance TO
fight. and instead we're put up to be
trapped and hacked. We're looking
for an enemy in uniform, armed with
= gun: American humane sentiment
can endure the thought OF killing
him. But II man is using his bolo
at the roadside. and says amigo.
(frien6. We mustn't touch him. !
don't believe there are 500 uniforms
In the whole island. Everybod is
enemigo. by Jove. and we've got to
walk through 'em with our hands In
our pockets and our humane senti-
ments In our countenances. II Isn't
service! It's providing sport for Fill
Pine devils. I've got Blake's shrieks
In my ears now"
He was a white man. paid $l3 a
month and his ratiOns to demonstrate
to these Filipinos the civilized notion
Of war. Wonder II they have any In.
tention OF taking the lesson. wish
they'd begin on this trip" Byrnton
kicked out his foot with an impatient
exclamation. and his sword fell nois.
lily against Mitford's rife. Half a
dozen men jumped to their feet
Lie down. men-all's well! Fine
tension on a mans nerves II he can
wake at a sound like that after what
we've gone through with today"
The men settled back into position.
with tender handling Of rifles. ON.
Ger and corporal sat In silence. listen.
ing to the breathing OF the sleeperx.
The moon hung clear and bright In
the sky. The mid heavens were one
gIistening heid Of piled wilderness.
cool and frosty as 4 buried prairie.
"A Merry Christmas and = Happy
New Year," said Milford. softly.
They claspcd hands for an instant:
then the corporal lapsed into soldier.
salwtcd. and went to rest.
They had stumbled upon Q bit OF
trail, and the beaten earth gave no
hint Of the bamboo structure beneath.
Fortunately. the natives had not built
strongly enough. and II gave way be.
fore the full weight Of the men was
upon Il. Blake and Jerrold. only.
touched It before II wsnt down. Jer.
roid. poor wretch. was spared by bis
own revolver. which discharged and
seat . bullet through his brain: but
Blake was impaled upon bamboo
stakes at the bottom. His shrisku
and prayers to be put out Of his mis-.
cry filled the leafy silence. The
monkeys chattered ct the noise. and
the breathiess air stirred slightly a
u aAauss sishsd At the Aeoay Of her
child. With beads Of Precipitation
standing on their faces they had
worked TO extract him. while half
their number stood at guard. await.
Ing the rush that dld not come. When
merctful death released the sufferer,
they reluctantly isft bis mansisd body,
and pushed on for the bare mountain
toy. knowing we'll that IN ten minutes
the bushes would b. full Of peepins
facss-women. ten.ysar-old boys With
boios. brawny naked ''taos"-ail come