The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-10
THE WHIPPERSNAPPER K. O. WHO COULD FIGHT

crushing roll of n volley, with thin spurts of blue
smoke. and Bedam broke loose
The quick word to knee probably snvcd our CON-
mnnd from annhllatlon, the Filipinos usual aim
ing high Crouching I'm the path, our men answered
the fire pumping ut random into the thcket. whence
the enemy mnlnt the attack with hendlsh yels
and continued shooting Some one said Jlm's hlt!'
In a dazc / crawled TO the fallen dum
dunn had torn away half of his neck. AS worked at
the red ragged wound, looking into the STILL spat
tered fnce with powder fumes plnchlng my nostrIls
savage yelling. barking reports and the whine Of
bullets in my car, could hear the clear, voice
of the Captain intonlnG orders. 1t gave queer
comfort, and the mist cleared from my vision
as ] unwonnd my bandages.
We were heavily outnumbcred So much was
clear from the deafenng rip and rattle of rifles
from up and down the tbicket But under the Cap.
;ains commands we took at the right of the
path and our men began carefully placing their shots
wherever the waving Of fronds drifting wIsps Of
smoke betokencd enemy.
They began TO find us The spit spatter of lead
through the foliage like the quickening of an
April shower. Flashes of red and scowlms brown
faces behind cleaning rife barrels showed from the
copse and the yels shrller. AS I trunded to
another wounded man passed the Lieutenant curled
behind bush He had snatcbed up the fallen rifle
and was pumping 1t deliberately like any private
The Captain at the end of the line At intervals
his voice dominated the din, urging slow aim and
low.
Suddenly him spring to his feet and with an
unnteIlgble yell dart Off down the path through the
S1eet of bullets. snarling cry BALI curse half Sob
broke from r and his rife swung around TO
the fugitive. I caught his before he could
fire and he struggled with passion drawn face Stlll
| held him back, unable TO believe what he, In his
obsessiop. Of that the Captain was COM
hitting the most loathSOme fault The had
seen, and they, too, cursed him, covering closer In
despair.
Then, from down the path came whooplng cheer,
followed by the smashing discharge of n heavy
volley. The Filipino yes answered with a new note.
We all stood up, unmlndfu Of danger and pcered
down the path. We just In time to see the
Captain waving his sword. leap into the thIcket
toward the enemy and at his heels long line Of
blue shired
"By God, It's the boys from Bayanp' shouted
Davis Come on"
And our little squad led It's bewildered lieutenant
in mad, reckless charge against the hidden enemy
before us.
It was a great fight The relnforcements, secretly
arranged for by the Captain. had hurried up the
valley to be hand when the trap should be sprung
us The natives had warning OF this supple
mentary force, owing to the destruction OF their
watch tower and the cutting of their line Of informa
ton by the Il. O's clever tactics. They outnumbered
now by moro than four one, a very fair pro-
ppTlion Wual VIVID tne surprise ana the yelplnS
enthusiasm of charge we drove them.
We of the Captains company had one good view
Of him before the rout he beaded the Bayan con-
tnGcnt to close quarters. In his left hand he BRAN
dIShed the spntered shard of his sword. He had
thrown away his useless revolver and In his right he
swung dubbed rifle. twirlng 1t like blackthorn
He was hatlesS, torn and Streaked with mud and
blood. The passage Of the thcket had ripped his
uniform to shreds. One check open from temple to
chin His voice had hoarsencd to a raven croak
And So a raging, thirsting demon, he fell upon the
enemy and crushed the nearest rebel to the ground
the rifles whitfield in his face.
In five minutes the thing over The Filippos
shedding gaudy coats guns and ammunition, plunged
into the jungle where could not hope TO pursue
leaving Il heavy loss behind them. The first thing
remember after the hurlyburly of the final struggle
was Lieutenant =, speechIess with shame and
pride-shame OF himself and pride of the other
wringing the X. O's hand while the adorng SQUAD
looked on.
Pretty good, sub. what?" gasped the Captain
reaching hand for his Scorchcd and bedragg mus
toche. Nov, when | was a eftnant in the light
Artillery, Suh-we learned the vaue-of a flank move
ment-always flank suh-wbcn you can"
And heard Private Davis murmur reyerentlv;-
"Who said he wasn't? Who said he wasn't little
son of gun wheelS:'
We didn't capture Lukdon but we cut up his force
badly and he was captured some time later and i'm
priSOned for life