The Virginia enterprise., 1909-12-10

a fellow, who in turn communicated
the signal. Silently they rolled into q
! circle, each man with heels to me
center and lying on his rifle. At q
low signal, the pickets fell back
slightly. Thus they awaited the rush
which Byrnton had anticipated at the
dawn. It came with tho first crinnOR
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 fierce
oncomfng of shrieks and hacking
bolos. 1t lasted perhaps three min:
utes. Then the bolo Iaen fell back.
from devastating fire. leaving dead
aid wounded to twice the number
they had attacked. Two sentries who
had been overtaken before they could
get in constituted the American logs.
To the comfortable citizen unfold
ing the morning paper over his coffee,
the telegraphic item is gratifying:
american loss, 2; Filirino, 45." But
to the soldiers who had lived the
struggle, those two men seemed a
preposterous, an unholy price TO, the
score or more reked savages.
I'VE can't butv them," said Byrn-
ton, bitterly, and we can't pursue. I
think the brutes have Had enough fou
| one day-unless there's a fresh gang
| every five mixes The business of this
| outfit in it's present condition Is I'd
get over these hills as fast a.: we can,
and put something inside o. ls-1
we can get it,
Iight-headed from hunger, they
worked their way over the next noun
tain. They found few bananas, snd
! the men slaked their thirst at brooks
| and even in caribao wallows. By
eight o'clock the tropic sun wa4
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 scbbed. I
can't go another STEP"
He tried to stand at attention, but
his legs crumpled under him, and With
| a CHASTITY look, he sank in a horrid,
! trembling heap. His head bo5bed
| meaninglessly for a second, then
| Topped over.
Put out sentries, and let the men
rest" ordered Byrnton, adding: Z
| cant leave the poor devil till he comes
to his senses; must give him that
much of show, anG-he can save th3
last cartridge for himself. There ara
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, at
| 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 a scant half hour Milford and
the three men came back, dripping
with perspiration and leading swars
| 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: Am bot"
They pretend they don't under
! stand. Mebbe they don't. l don't
! back my Visayan-" He scratched
at a mosquito bite, and looked help
lessly about.
"Donde barrio?' said Byrnton,
sharply, to the lad.
The boy spread his hands, and
looked around Am bot" he re
peated.
Byrnton bit his lip. Then he cut a
pliable bamboo.
81 suspect, young man." he said, In
rather mangled Spanish, that yoy
understand Spanish; that your father
is a mestizo tenfente deputy of
some barrio (village), and likely as
| not captain of insurrectos. We want
your barrio first, because we want
something to eat; and we would like
to find him because we need infOrma
tion and guides. l am going TO ques
tion you in Spanish, and I'll liven up
your memory by good licking if II
works poorly. Donde barrio?"
He understands all right said
! Milford. He tried to keep his face
wooden, but the eyes told"
$50 it seemed to me-" agreed Byrn,
ton "Now, young mar, donde SaI~
| rio?"
The boy walled "am bot" but twa
strokes of the bamboo changed this
! to "lyas."
20, you do understand! How far?"
The boy finally admitted that his
father was an officer of insurrectos,
and with about 20 of his men was ct
the barrio, where there was much2
fiesta (great feast).
$50 that's why they haven't been
after us all day." commented Byrnton.
THANK God for the church In tho
Philippines! 1t has its good uses"
CTO BE CONCLUDED)
Copyright, 1908. by Joseph B. Bow.aaN
E<~rr ~n~a -