Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-01-26

y
in Muldoon angrily.
They must have managed somehow
to mount that three-foot brass can
non we saw in a rubbish heap at Bad
og. It has a two-and-a-half inch bore
and was no doubt left there by the
Spaniards some centuries ago." de-
clared Private Crane.
Thankful ! am for the cannon"
shouted Muldoon.
'Muldoon is bughouse. Muldoon is
a hero OF loose wits; but, tell us how
yer brain is working" demanded
Crane.
IAN yer brain Is niver workin
Crane: no MISTAKES about that aither.
Lishten to the roar now Only a few
bricks sent hyin Aim too high en-
toirely. Whish. Crane, an what will
Sergeant Munson and his twinty-three
min IL doin at Paoay, four miles
away; but, be a listenin! With eigh-
teen men he will straddle thin ponies
and ride hard for CtIrmau to take a
hand in the shindig"
Muldoon's talk gave renewed cour-
age. Nothing more could now be
done for the support OF the door.
Should it give way the missiles would
lodge in the heap Of dirt. The situation
was critical but not hopeless. Rifle
firing began also from the bay, where
bamboo RATS and fishing boats had
been formed into semi-circie, from
which there poured a continuous
slanting stream of leaden hail. The
bullets fiattened against the thick
wall or passed above. the enemy not
daring TO fire low, fearing to harm
their fri, nds ashore.
When there's lull be prepared
to withstand rush, Jones; and Lind
stad hold the main entrance. The
rest Of us must keep them from the
walls. The natives can shin up a
bamboo pole as rapidly as a white
man can climb ladder But few sud
den deaths among them win cool their
ardor for close fighting | am certain
that Munson will soon be here. But
he may follow the coast road In order
TO get round the enemy's outposts and
These cannoneers are inexperienced
and have so far been unable to obtain
correct aim. but they may accident
ally make the target Then look out.
II this house didn't stand at least
twenty feet above shore level, they
might accidentally swamp some of
their own boats. But who is a-tap.
ping?"
Its on the outside. corporal"
soldier whispered. Tap tap, tap!
There IL goes again"
What do you want?" inquired the
corporal with slight tremor In his
voice.
"senor corporal" came the re
Spouse.
May | give him bullet?" asked
Muldoon.
NO, watt"
"Senor Corporal came a hoarse
whisper Il am Martinez q presidente
of Curamau, friend of Americanos.
win send message to 81 captain.
Why did you not do that hours
ago?" demanded Hogan.
Il no get away, insurgent officer
with me all the time" replied Marti-
nez anxiously. Il will give word to
el captain, but discover It not to the
Filipinos. or they drown me in the
bay" and the speaker disappeared.
He knows a thing or two, that
humbre, and wants to make himself
solid with our side before the hour Of
reckoning, which he thinks will come
mighty soon No doubt he has been
! fighting us all night but the roar of
the cannon disturbed his mental equi-
| librlum II can be heard a great dis
lance. He will prove the most humble
traitor in North Ilocos for the next
six weeks, or miss my guess whis-
pered Crane.
THE captain cannot reacn us be.
fore daybreak, but he will punish
these fellows ON their retreat over the
trail heading for the rough Cabugau
country and send many Of them to
kingdom come. BY taking a position
between them and the mountains, he
will annihilate the whole battalion, un-
less very suddenly it takes to the
| brush"
'Iiooray,' came from Muldoon, who
had been listening attentively to the
corporal's remarks.
There goes the door at Iast!'s
shouted Hogan. Now, men, keep
them Off Only a few minutes more
and help will come. Jones and Lind
stad, open fire! If crowded use your
bayonets. You can see them from
within better than they can see you
from without. Make every thrust
count Above with the rest now.
Hurry! On the swarming whelpsl
Bravo, Crane! That native viii remen1-
Der the grip you gave him when you
tossed him back onto his fellows
Yell, menl Show them how the white
man fights when -ornered: but, thank
the Lord, there is Munson! Use the
magazine now, men, but don't shoot
Munson's way"
On the enemy's right flank. in long,
thin skirmish line blazing Krags
broke the shadows It advanced slowly
and steadily and as the first streaks
Of dawn threatened in the east, Ser
geant Munsons voice could be plainly
heard.
Cease firing, fill magazines, fix
bayonets charged"
The brown men ran for the hills.
leaving their cannon, their wounded
and fbaf- daaT