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diff --git a/24709-8.txt b/24709-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c9a27e --- /dev/null +++ b/24709-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3060 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bamboo Tales, by Ira L. Reeves + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bamboo Tales + +Author: Ira L. Reeves + +Illustrator: J. Alexander Mackay + +Release Date: February 27, 2008 [EBook #24709] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BAMBOO TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + Bamboo Tales + + By + + Ira L. Reeves. + 1st Lieut. 4th Infantry, + + Author of + "Twenty-four Hours on a Mountain," "Looking Forward," + and other Short Stories. + + Illustrations by + J. Alexander Mackay. + + + + Press of + Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co., + Kansas City, U. S. A. + + + + + + + + Copyright, 1900, + Hudson-kimberly Publishing Co., + Kansas City, Mo. + + + + + Respectfully Dedicated + To the + "First Man up San Juan Hill." + + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + How the Spaniards Campaigned in Luzon 7 + "Cougar" Daly 19 + A Dying Spaniard's Request 31 + Benito 38 + The Army Mule 65 + Comedy and Carnage 67 + How I Saw Aguinaldo 79 + What the Wounded Say and Do 92 + The Flight of "Father Time" 101 + Camp Alarms 106 + An Encounter with Bolomen 124 + "Carabao Bill" 135 + "Paterno," the Disgraced Mascot 158 + + + + + + + +HOW THE SPANIARDS CAMPAIGNED IN LUZON. + +A TRANSLATION FROM A SPANISH OFFICER'S DIARY FOUND AT SAN FERNANDO +DE PAMPANGA, LUZON, BY AN AMERICAN OFFICER. + + +"It happened that we left such a hidden retirement and we went into +Taal. We employed more than a whole day on the road, more than half +of which we passed in a lagoon with water up to our waists. We arrived +on the seventh. + +"After six days of rest, on guard every other day, we embarked the +thirteenth for Paranaque, where we arrived the fourteenth in the +morning, and on the following day we left with rations of sea biscuit +for three days, and at the end of the day we arrived at the camp +of St. Nicholas, where we found encamped the Division La Chambre, +which we joined. + +"On the eighteenth we set out with a convoy for Salitran, and after +passing a whole day in the water, we had to halt, because neither +the darkness of the night permitted us to go any further, nor did +the fire of the enemy permit us to follow the road. + +"Next morning at dawn we took up the march, arriving at half-past +nine. We sent away the convoy, and at one p. m., after having eaten +our ration of rice and ham, we started out again for camp, arriving +at eight p. m., with some firing. + +"The twenty-third we set out on the same road toward Imus, which fell +after an hour firing with innumerable loss. Imus was then the center +of the insurrection. The General-Coronal, who was not yet wearing +his insignia, died. + +"On the following day we came upon the second trench of the town +above mentioned, and there entered it with guns 'at rest,' as we had +promised the most excellent La Chambre. + +"In this last capture the division lost about forty, the greater part +of them officers. + +"Until now the officers coming from the Balearic Islands have received +no news, but some of the men have. + +"It is March 25th, and we have been told that the review of the +Commissary is to be passed in Noveleta, which is in the possession +of the enemy. + +"On the thirty-first of the month we left Ymus, going toward Noveleta, +and without following any route we found ourselves at night-fall +on the road which goes from Noveleta to San Francisco de Malabon, +which is also in the power of the Tulisanes. + +"During the day there was some firing, and finally we found a trench, +which we captured with the loss of one man. The unfortunate man +was the captain from Majorca, who died from a ball which exploded, +entering through his left eye and exploding in the middle of his head, +so that he died instantly. I could not look at the corpse. + +"We slept, as I have said, in the middle of the road, and on the +following day, April 1st, we fell like a plague on Noveleta, into +which only one company entered with their arms in their hands, since +all the rest of the column carried them 'at rest' in fulfillment of +the promise above cited. + +"During the firing we had the protection of artillery, and we ate +our ration without breaking ranks. + +"The entrance into Noveleta did not cost more than a loss of fifteen +Europeans, but more than thirty of the natives. + +"Noveleta was attacked three days after it had been taken without +other result than the leaving upon the field a number of the mutilated +bodies of the natives, which were buried by our valiant men with +respect, not for what they had been before then, but for what they +represented at that moment. + +"On the day after taking Noveleta, the important town of Cavite was +taken, which was bombarded by our marines till they saw the division +coming, which had all our men except four companies, which remained +defending Noveleta. + +"The column returned the next day from Cavite and then set out for +New Cavite, where we took rations for four days of biscuit and wine, +setting out the same day for Noveleta, and on the sixth the division +started to attack San Francisco de Malabon, last point of Cavite +Province in which there was an insurrection. This point was well +fortified, and this is what was the death of them. + +"In an hour or seventy minutes, the enemy was dislodged, leaving more +than fifteen hundred bodies behind the trenches. There was one corpse +whose head fell more than two hundred feet from its body, carried +off by a ball of artillery. This picture was terrible to look at. We +could not look in any direction without seeing a mass of bodies, some +in pieces and others burning up as if they had been a mass of straw. + +"We lodged that afternoon, and night in the houses which remained +standing, and on the following day set out for the suburb of San Juan, +which had been abandoned when they saw that San Francisco was falling +into the power of the Chasseurs. + +"On leaving San Francisco, we were able to salute the Flag Regiment, +No. 70, composed of natives, whose flag was now adorned with the +seventh stripe of San Fernando. + +"In the same town was found a prisoner of the enemy and wife of the +man who had been captain of the 'Guardia Civil,' who had died there +when the insurrection of San Frerelledo broke out. + +"We set out, as I have said, for the suburb of San Juan, which was +abandoned, and in the same state was that of Rosario. Between these +two points I could see the ruins of what had been the dwelling of +the Augustinos, who also died at the breaking out of the rebellion. + +"We reached Noveleta at night-fall, and after two days' rest, set out +on the march toward Ymus (or Imus), passing through Zapote and Bacoor, +which important points had been taken the day after the entrance to +Ymus, of the taking of which I can relate nothing, since at this time +I was recovering from illness. + +"We reached, as I have said, Imus, passing through Zapote and Bacoor +on the afternoon of the eighth, and we were there till the thirteenth +of the same month of April, without having in all this time any +religious ceremony, except on Palm Sunday, when we had a mass said +by an Augustino; one of those who had come from Manila to take charge +of the convent, etc. + +"The Division La Chambre and the brigades which had been formed +returned to Noveleta by means of the steam of a locomotive, which was +at the same time used to move the wheels to press the green cane in +order to transport it from the plantation to the factory--refinery. + +"Being again incorporated in the company, we were ordered to cover +the line of security established in the quarter of Piga (?), from +which we were relieved on the seventeenth of May--birthday of His +Majesty the King, Alfonso XIII.--and day also on which ended the term +of indulgence--pardon--granted by the Most Excellent Primo de Ribera. + +"We were in Fananan from the seventeenth to the twenty-ninth, +when, the brigade having been organized, it was divided into three +columns. The second column set out for Banadero on the twenty-ninth, +waiting there till the following day, when the aforesaid column, +having been joined by another, which came by the way of Mount Semgay, +and by another small force which had come from Bayuyangan; all these +forces having been joined together, they fell at the same time upon +the ruins of Talisay, which had been taken from the insurgents last +October, and later they had taken possession again of its ruins. + +"On the evening of the thirtieth we received orders not to set out +again until further orders, and on the thirty-first we came upon the +trench destined for the third column, which did not arrive in time; +and the second column, which was on the left, and in which I was, +moved forward more than it ought to have done, by reason of not +being able to attack in front; and seeking the right side or flank, +we fell upon the enemy without giving them time to defend themselves +in the least, so that there was not more than one killed and one +slightly wounded. We then united on the same ground with the first +and second columns. The first had been reënforced at Cale by a section +of volunteers from Albay, who are very conversant with the territory, +because they are natives of this district. + +"The second column entered Talisay without firing a shot. The flag in +the trench was set up by the second lieutenant of the second company +of the Thirteenth, Don Carlos Gonzalez Lara, who is orphan on his +father's side (!), for his father had been killed by the insurgents +because they had demanded from him a thousand pesos, and he replied +that he did not have them there, and then they cut his throat. + +"About two o'clock p.m., we took up the march toward Bayuyangan to +see what had happened to the two companies which from there were +to go to Talisay, and which they had not effected, the same as the +column Sarralde, which came by way of Mount Semgay, which was not +seen until they had taken their position, and which had brought us +more than fifteen hundred Tulisanes, which had been presented to them +on the road. + +"The two companies from Bayuyangan did not show themselves either, +because of the narrow passes of the road they had met with resistance +and by taking another way the road would have been left free to them, +so that they might have escaped; which did not suit us, because in +this way they would have fired upon Bayuyangan, and it might be that +the reserve force might not be present; the rest would be too few to +defend the fort. + +"At night we arrived at Bayuyangan, and I was to see again the land +watered by the blood of my captain and friends. + +"In memory of my captain mentioned, in building and dedicating the +fort, they named it after him--Yena--as being the same place where +he died. + +"From there we went out the next day, tearing down all the trenches we +found on the way. We passed through Banadero. We went on and entered +gloriously and victoriously into Yananan, from where, after three +days, we were detailed to the two small forts at Cale, where we are +very comfortable. + +"I have just learned that I have been promoted to the honorable +position of first lieutenant." + + + + + + +"COUGAR" DALY. + + +"Cougar" Daly's connection with the company had not extended two +days till he was duly installed as "dog-robber" for Lieutenant John +Buestom, the most handsome, soldierly-looking, and intensely despised +officer in the --th "Foot." Buestom--or "Bues," his enemies called +him--must have had liver complaint, for his temper was always riled +like stagnant water full of crawfish; and when Captain Bobson left +the company for a few weeks to go on a hunt up the St. Joe River, the +"non-coms" resigned in a body, every man of them, so hot did he make it +for them during that brief period. As for the batch of recruits, fresh +from the drill-sergeants and bulldozing of the recruiting rendezvous, +they deserted by platoons and sets of fours, for the life with them +was unbearable. Had the "Old Man" Bobson remained away a few days +longer, he would have had no one of his company--the one pride of his +life--to greet him upon his return, with the possible exception of +Private McCoy, who had been in the service since George Washington +was a "lance jack," and who swore that all the damned "shave-tails" +in the Army could not drive him out. + +Many hard things were said of Buestom, but not half that could +have been told and yet save one's reputation for veracity and +secretiveness. Among the things he could not keep were his word and +servants. Not even would a Chinaman attend his many wants. His last +effort was a big Manchu from northern China; and he had no more than +been installed and began his work with the usual celestial energy, till +in rushed "Bues," as savage as a bear, and gave him more instructions +in a minute than the frightened menial could have executed in a +month. To cap the climax, he taught poor "Chino" to stand at attention, +and ordered him to ever thus stand when in his august presence. + +This was more than the faithful fellow of the pigtail locks could +stand, so he made it known in his own English: "Me squit jlob. Me no +dalmn sloder." And he slipped into his pajamas and was gone. + +Then came a long series of soldier servants--"dog-robbers"--but +none could endure him for more than a day or two, and seldom got +their pay for that. The complaints were all similar: "He asked me to +bathe his mangy dog;" or, "He ordered me to stand at attention when +rocking the damned cradle, so precious are his 'brick-top brats';" +or, "She," for Mrs. B. was not angelic, "wanted me to fan the flies +off her ring-tailed cat while that animal chose to nap;" and so they +ran. Thus they growled and quit their places, usually without giving +notice. Then Private Jones, Brown, Smith, or whoever the offender +might happen to be, endured his turn of torture and calling-down when +at drills and other duty till there was a fresher victim on whom this +choleric officer could wreak his vengeance. + +Now came "Cougar" Daly, fresh from the Bowery, with the odor of stale +beer and "twofers" on his seven-dollar "cit" suit marked down to +five ninety-nine, which was hanging in the orderly room, and which +he was sure to don when on "old guard" pass and sober; but Daly was +like all soldiers in one respect--he always got drunk in uniform. + +Daly, indeed--as true a Dutchman as ever bore an Irish name. Daly, +he of the "ingrowing face"; "kidney-foot" Daly; Daly, the man "wid +his chist on his back," were just a few of the "handles" he enjoyed. + +It was Archie Fettin, lately of the Queen's Own, but now a "buck" +private in Uncle Sam's service, who aptly said: "Daly, tek off yer +bloomin' 'ed and put it on facin' t' the rare and ye'll hev as foine +a brace an' as smaart 'perance as any non-com 'n the Quane's Guayards; +mesel', fer example." + +Unfortunately for poor Daly, he could not follow Fettin's advice, +and must content himself with his dromedary "set up." The company +non-commissioned officers were disgusted with him, for the company +enjoyed the reputation of being the best drilled in the regiment, but +here came this hopeless recruit to muddle the rear rank at parades and +walk on the heels of his front rank man. Corporal Self, the meanest +martinet in the outfit, drilled him till his tongue was hanging out, +and then reported to the captain: "Sir, there's slight hope fer thet +spalpeen o' a rakroot Daly, fer th' more sittin' up ixercise I giv' +'m th' bigger th' lump on 'is schloping shoulders." + +Daly, the newest recruit in the regiment, now "dog-robbing" for "Bues," +and excused from cook's police, room orderly, guard, fatigue, and, +in fact, everything except drill, and he would have been relieved +from that had he not been sorely in need of it. The men hated him +more cordially than the devil despises a Christian who refuses to +black-slide. A man with the slightest hint of spirit would have +resented their insults, heaped so lavishly and frequently, but he +was as impervious to the names, epithets, growling, and swearing as +a duck's back is to water. + +Rising in the morning long before reveille, he noiselessly slipped +out of the barracks, always carrying his shoes in his hand till away +from the quarters, and then went to Buestom's house and began his +day's work by building fires, preparing the bath, and assisting in +the cuisine. He never ate his meals with the company--always served +himself in the kitchen or back yard of his master. Master? Yes; +for a more menial slave was never sold from the block. + +When nothing else to engage him, he had his orders to take the mangy +dog out for a walk--and what a dog! What breed? Just dog--the yellow +kind. His comrades always spoke of these walks as "two curs out for +a constitutional." But that same dog was Daly's only friend, and he +no doubt enjoyed his society. + +Then came the great railroad strike, and the tie-up of the mails. The +regiment was ordered out to open up the roads. To everybody's delight, +Buestom remained behind to take care of the post; but a greater +delight was when Daly asked to go with his company in the field, +for now he would get more than his share of duty to make good the +work thrown on his comrades while he was excused from everything. The +"non-coms" were "laying for him." + +When it came to choosing tent-mates, Daly was left a widow, for even +Rassmussen the Swede--"Rouse mit 'em der sweet"--the worst reprobate +that ever wore a uniform, refused to pair with him; so he hied himself +to the nearest escort wagon and slept under it. + +They marched past miles of obstructed railroad track to Patterson, +where the switches were crammed full of freight cars and "killed" +engines. The work of clearing the tracks went on for many days, +till finally they were cleared, and a train made up to take the +first mail through that had passed since the strike began. Soldiers +were everywhere--on the tops of cars, on the platforms, inside, on +the tender; and riding on the cow-catcher, loaded rifles in hand, +were Archie Fettin and "Cougar" Daly. + +This heavily guarded train sped on at a lively rate, through tunnels, +over cuts and fills, coughing a continuous challenge to the groups +of strikers gathered along the way to watch it pass. On it went. The +soldier-engineer, taking courage from the docile attitude of the +strikers, pulled the throttle wide open, while the soldier-fireman +was heaving coal into the fiery furnace, even though the steam was +at the time "blowing off." The giant machine leaped forward like a +spurred stallion, easily making fifty miles an hour. Daly and Fettin +were holding on like grim Death, for the track was rough and the +speed unprecedented for that road--a new one. + +A bad curve was just ahead, but the speed was not slackened. Like a +racing horse on a small track, the engine struck it and leaned toward +the inner circle, but an instant later straightened up and flew on +its way. + +Just as the curve was turned, a few hundred paces ahead, stood a small +group of tramps. Seeing the train, they hastily broke and ran for +the timber along the edge of the right-of-way, but not before one of +them hurriedly stooped and placed something on the track, A hundred +eyes were on him, and as many rifles were instantly raised to fire, +but Daly was the first to pull the trigger, and the man fell backward +down the enbankment, bearing with him that which he had endeavored +to place on the rail. + +In firing, Daly was compelled to let go his hold, which kept him on +the train, and he lost his balance and fell forward, crushed into an +unrecognizable mass beneath the wheels. + +The train was stopped, and a hundred aching hearts, which had melted +in the presence of death, went tenderly to their duty of gathering +up poor Daly's remains. + +The tramp had been shot fairly through the head, and he had died +holding in one of his clenched fists a deadly bomb, which, but for +the presence of mind and quickness of action of the despised recruit, +would have sent every soul on the train into eternity. + +The next day the _Rocky Mountain Daily Eagle_ contained this Associated +Press report: + +"The late Private Daly, of Company E, --th Infantry, who was +crushed beneath the first train out of Patterson, Mont., while +firing at Antonio Bressi, the anarchist, was from New York City, +where he has a mother and younger sisters and brothers dependent +on him for support. His right name was Leonard Dresel, and the name +Daly seems to have been assumed when he entered the Army to conceal +his identity. There was no apparent reason for this, as he has an +excellent reputation for honesty and industry, and he enlisted in the +Regulars because he could obtain no employment elsewhere. He worked +for officers of his regiment in order to make additional money that +his brothers and sisters might remain in school. + +"Antonio Bressi, who died from the deadly aim of Daly, was a noted +anarchist leader, prominent in the Coeur d'Alêne riots a few years ago, +which were so promptly quelled by the --th Infantry. It is believed +that for this reason he endeavored to blow up the train, for it is +known that he is not in sympathy with the striking railroad men." + +A week later Company E was paid, and that night a money order payable +to Mrs. Catharine Dresel, No. ---- Baxter Street, New York, for $150, +left on the east-bound train. + +In the little cemetery at Fort Meredith there is an elaborate granite +monument bearing the inscription: + + + "Private Patrick Daly, + Co. E, --th Inf. + He gave his life that others might live. + Erected by his comrades." + + + + + + + +A DYING SPANIARD'S REQUEST + + +An auxiliary brigade, consisting of one regiment and one battalion of +infantry and a mountain battery of artillery, was formed at Calumpit, +on the Island of Luzon, to ascend the left bank of the Rio Grande, +and to form a junction with Lawton some distance above. This expedition +was accompanied by two gunboats belonging to the "mosquito fleet," and +one launch used to tow the cascoes, or native freight barges, bearing +an extra supply of rations and ammunition. This was in May, 1899. + +I was provost-marshal of this expedition. When we first entered a town +or city, after capturing it, it was my duty to find out what buildings +contained valuable property, and immediately place a guard over them, +in order to prevent the place from being looted. Large warehouses +containing immense quantities of rice, sugar, silks, piña cloth, +and other things equally as precious, were frequent finds. They had +to be guarded. + +We met with but little resistance on this expedition till we reached +the town of San Luis, about twelve miles up the river from Calumpit. + +The heavy fire of our infantry and artillery, ably assisted by the +little "pepper-boxes" afloat, soon put our dusky enemies to flight; +and we marched straight into town, with colors flying, over trenches, +barricades, and other obstructions hastily thrown in our way. + +Among the largest stone buildings of San Luis was the "tribunal," +or public house, something after the style of our town halls, with +the difference that it is always open for strangers, who cook, eat, +and sleep in it. Among other useful apartments, it had a cell, probably +used as a "jug" into which the native policemen ran the over-exuberant +youth who was guilty of imbibing too freely of his cherished "vino," +or the head of the family for the non-payment of taxes, or allowing +his water buffalo to play in his neighbor's yard. + +Previous to the occupation of the town by the Americans, this +dungeon-like cell had been occupied by Spanish prisoners, who were +held by Aguinaldo's army. When I first saw the room, not more than +ten minutes after our arrival, I saw one of as sickening sights as +any person ever beheld. + +This dungeon, or cell, was about ten feet high, the same in width, and +about fifteen feet in length. Through one small grated window passed +all the light that ever cheered this ante-chamber of hell. The door +leading into it was in a dark corner, and when one was on the inside, +he scarcely noticed whether it was open or closed. + +By the aid of a lighted candle I saw the rock floor scantily covered +with coarse rice straw, flatly mashed by the emaciated bodies of the +Spaniards who had slept upon it. A few articles of Spanish uniforms, +tattered and torn, were strewn about. In the cracks of the walls were +hordes of vermin. Filth was present everywhere in its most germ-bearing +form. In the center of the room were a few live coals and over them +a quart cup about one-third full of boiling rice--probably the entire +meal for the six doomed prisoners whose home had been for weeks that +abode of lurking death. + +At the end of the room and opposite the window was a raised platform, +eighteen inches high, made of rough boards. This was covered with dry +blood, and in the center was a large, quivering pool of clotted gore, +which had not more than an hour since coursed through the veins of +its owner. + +Above this platform, a little higher than the height of the average +native, was the dangling end of a rope, freshly besmeared with the +life-blood of a recent victim. + +On the plain white wall was the newly made print of the murderer's +hand, who had wiped the warm crimson fluid of the sufferer from the +blood-stained hand which held the throat, while the other, with the +deadly bolo, severed the head from the trembling body. + +Everywhere were evidences of a recent, horrible murder. A trailing +streak of blood led from the platform toward the door and faded when +the street was reached. + +I diligently looked for some last message from the victim or +victims. The walls showed nothing but spots of blood thrown there by +the struggles of the dying, and armies of pests traveling aimlessly +over the cold, bare surface. The plain, rough boards told nothing but +that the life had passed from many a defenseless soul while hanging +over them. But these boards were not nailed down, I turned one over +and looked beneath, but all was darkness. The candle was lowered to +the bottom. Nothing was to be seen but great dried pools of blood that +had leaked through the cracks above. One stone looked as though it had +been recently disturbed. I tried it, it was loose. When raised from +its resting-place, I saw a small roll of paper lying beneath. There +was nothing more. + +A further search revealed nothing. The gory board was replaced and +I gladly walked out of this chamber of horrors, bearing with me the +piece of paper. + +Reaching the light, I unrolled it. It was dimly written. Evidently a +bullet had been pointed and used as a pencil. The greasy sheet had +been torn from a prayer-book. Just above a chapter of prayers for +Easter Sunday was written in Spanish: + + + "To the Americanos: + + "If my body is here when you make your entrance into the city, + give me a Christian burial. I am to die because I refuse to + fight you. My five companions have taken arms against you in + order that they may not die by the hands of the Tagalos. I + prefer death to fighting in the Filipino Army. + + "Francisco Delgado." + + +The trail of blood showed me that his body had been carried out and +probably thrown into the river. + +We could not perform his last request. + + + + + +BENITO. + + +"A-a-a-hum!" "What's that?" was the waking remark made by Captain +Randolph Sever, as he slowly turned over on his back to face the +owner of the voice which had so dimly penetrated the dreamless slumber +resulting from a twenty-four-hour tour on outpost duty. + +He struggled with his sleep-laden eyes and succeeded in opening one, +with which he looked at the intruder, but, on recognizing the Colonel's +orderly standing at his side, hastily arose to a sitting posture, +and proceeded to rub open the other optic; meanwhile repeating his +former question, but this time assuming a manner more in keeping with +the dignity of his rank. + +"Sir, the Colonel presents his compliments, and asks the Captain to +step over to regimental headquarters." + +Having delivered his message, he saluted and disappeared, leaving his +weary superior to gather himself into a more military appearance as +well as frame of mind. + +Sever looked at his watch and found that he had slept for just +forty-eight minutes and fifteen seconds. He mentally berated the +whole outfit. "Stepping over to regimental headquarters" meant +a walk of a mile and a half through the relentless hot sun of a +tropical country; for the dotting of an "i" or the crossing of a "t," +which had carelessly been overlooked by both company commander and +clerk. Then would follow the hair-splitting Colonel's permission to +step back again. + +The --th Infantry, arriving at Manila late in the spring of 1899, +had taken its turn at doing duty on the outskirts of the city, and +was now participating in the nocturnal fights of the interior. It had +been at San Fernando de Pampanga for a little more than a month and +both officers and men showed the wear and tear of sleepless nights +and tropical climate, which tested the hardihood of the stoutest +constitution among them. + +With temper yet ruffled, Captain Sever retraced his steps to his bamboo +hut. When he arrived there, he found three of his brother officers in +possession. With that hearty and genial tone of good-fellowship which +is only used and felt between men who have passed through hardships +together, and know the true worth of each other, they greeted him. + +He confided to them the cause of his unusual exertion after a +trying night on outpost duty, and wearily dropped himself onto some +ammunition-boxes, which were serving the purpose of a chair. + +The talk naturally turned to the condition of affairs, but argument +waned for lack of an opposing side--the unanimous opinion being that +the "gugus" did not and never would know when they were "licked." + +Sever arose, walked over to a native bed, and began cleaning his +revolver, occasionally glancing toward the enemy's lines. Finally he +said: "Say, Parsons, I wish you would reach up in that cracker-box +above your head and hand me my glasses." + +Lieutenant Parsons was a long, lank fellow, who never exerted himself +any more than was absolutely necessary, so he simply unwound one +of his arms, which was twisted around one of the posts of the bed, +and blindly felt above till he found the article desired. Handing +them to Sever, he indifferently asked: "What's going on over there?" + +Without replying, Sever took the glasses and looked intently at the +"gugu" trenches. Having satisfied his curiosity, he returned to his +work of cleaning his "six-shooter"; then answered the almost forgotten +question: "Oh, nothing, I guess; only I thought I saw a 'nigger' +running. Its such an unusual sight to see one of those fellows 'get +a move on,' especially when the sun is beating down like it is now, +unless something is after him--looks like there might be something up." + +Parsons reached over for the glasses, got up, and walked to the door; +but before he raised them to his eyes, he casually glanced to the +right and stopped, saying: "Hello! here comes the 'old man's' orderly, +'lickety split.'" + +He had scarcely finished his favorite expression, "lickety split," when +the orderly had ridden up, dispensed with the courtesy of dismounting, +but hurriedly began: "The Commanding Officer directs that officers +get their companies out at once, and proceed to the north outpost +line. Messenger just in with information that the Filipinos are +swarming over our outposts there." + +He had no sooner delivered his message when the sounds of a few stray +shots in the direction named were heard. + +Sever, Parsons, and the other officers, experienced campaigners that +they were, swiftly buckled on their revolvers, and in an incredibly +short time were on the company parade-grounds shouting to their +men--the few, who had not already turned out. Most of them had heard +the message as it was given the officers, and had hastened to their +huts, not waiting for instructions, warned their comrades of the +impending fight, and again appeared with rifle and belt. + +"Forward, double time; march," and Captain Sever was off with his +company--superb fighting machine--for the line of battle. + +The fire was now rapidly increasing. What at first sounded like a +few heavy drops of rain on a tin roof was now an incessant shower. + +On went the gallant company. Stray shots crashed through the thickets +to the right and left of them; struck the earth in front and near +them, throwing up great quantities of _débris_; others, singing their +death-song, passed uncomfortably close to their ears. + +The outposts were now in sight. Some of them had been killed; others, +wounded, were bravely striving to repress groans of pain. + +It was a desperate fight--few against many. The natives were pouring +down on the little handful of men like a great avalanche. The sure and +deadly aim of the Americans alone served to impede the over-powering +onslaught. + +Reënforcements arrived none too soon. Just as the insurgents, +intoxicated on "vino," beaten and sworn at by their officers, +began a mad charge on the decimated ranks of the "Yankees," Sever +had finished the deployment of his men in battle formation, and was +ready to receive them. + +Meanwhile, other companies arrived and were strengthening the lines to +the right and left. Then began those destructive American volleys--one +following another in quick succession. No flesh and bone could live +under such fire. + +The more advanced of the charging column were now within a few feet +of the outpost's trenches; but here they wavered. Vacancies occurred +in their ranks like the falling of grass before the blade. They +hesitated. Their officers rushed wildly to and fro, excitedly waving +their swords, shouting in their twangy language above the din of +battle. + +There was a brief halt; then the line broke, and a surging, +terror-stricken mass of humanity trying to escape from this disastrous +fire was all that was left of that hopeful army of insurrectos who but +a moment before were so near experiencing the exhilaration of victory. + +Word came down the line to cease firing. A moment later the expected +charge was sounded by the Colonel's bugler. Up rose that khaki line, +and, with that terrorizing American yell, swept like a whirlwind +across the fields in pursuit of the flying natives. + +It was just another of the many victories. The fight was now over. The +enemy was pursued for several miles beyond the limits of the American +lines, losing many in killed and wounded. + +Most of the troops were withdrawn. Captain Sever with his company +was detailed to search the field for killed and wounded. + +The outposts returned to their stations, and there was nothing but the +faint groans of the wounded, and the presence of the dead, to tell +that but a few short moments before a deathly struggle had occurred +between two determined armies. + +Sever and his men had just started on their humane duty, performing +it with that tenderness and earnestness which the brave alone show +to those in their power, when his attention was attracted by a low +moan in the tall grass near by. He stopped and listened. Another +half-suppressed groan was heard, apparently coming from the cogonales +to his left. He parted the grass. There, lying in a pool of his own +blood, was a Filipino soldier, frantically endeavoring to conceal +himself and smother further groans. The expression on his face was a +mixture of fear and pain. Seeing that he had been discovered, he put +out his hand as if to ward off a blow. + +It was evident that the boy--for such he looked to be--thought he +would be murdered on the spot, or at least unmercifully dealt with. + +The officer spoke to him in Spanish and assured him that no harm would +befall him, but that he would receive every kindness and attention. + +The poor lad was too weak to say much, but allowed the American to +gently bear him to a more comfortable place in the open. + +After a few moments' rest, the sufferer opened his eyes and beckoned +Sever to draw nearer. His whole expression had changed from hatred and +fear of his rescuer to that of implicit confidence. In good Spanish +he told that he had been wounded when they had charged the "Yankee" +line, but, having heard of how heartless and cruel his enemy was, he +followed his retreating and panic-stricken comrades till so weakened +from loss of blood he could go no further. Knowing they were being +hotly pursued, he crawled into the cogonales, hoping to escape the +eyes of the hated Americans. + +Sever arose to seek a surgeon. The old look of terror returned to the +wounded native's face, and he reached out his skeleton-like hand as +if to hold him, and implored: "No, Capitan, don't go; the 'medico' +may not be so kind as you, and I might die before you came back. I +cannot live much longer." + +The brave and sympathetic officer then said: "Let me get some of my +men who will carry you to the hospital. I cannot remain longer nor +do I wish to leave you." + +The wounded Tagalo looked wistfully into his face and feebly murmured: +"Will you do something else for me?" + +The Captain hesitated for a moment, apparently wondering what the +request could be, then gave a nod of assent, and stooped to listen, +bending closer and his interest increasing as the suffering fellow +struggled with his narrative. + +It ran: He was called Benito Gonzales, and he had been forced to +take up arms by the insurgent authorities. He had a sweetheart named +Juanita Tarinto, who had at the opening of the war taken refuge in +a convent in Manila. He wished to send her his "anting anting" (his +good luck charm), and some little money he had saved before the war +began. Would the Capitan take charge of these things and deliver them? + +Having received assurance that his tokens would be carefully taken +care of, he closed his eyes as if in great pain, a moment later a +smile passed over his face, and he knew nothing more. + +Just then the regimental surgeon approached, and Sever called to +him. They gently removed the clothing from the boy, and discovered +that he had received a frightful wound in the side. They carefully +and tenderly placed him on a litter borne by two Chinamen, and sent +him to the town, some distance back. + +After this futile attack of the little rebels, the days passed with +the same monotony that existed before. + +Captain Sever, hearing nothing more of Benito, sent the remembrances +given in his care to his wife in Manila, with instructions to deliver +them to their rightful owner. + +Mrs. Sever had no difficulty in finding the dusky lass, and, +after gently breaking the painful news to the lovely girl with +sorrowful-looking eyes and beautiful jet black tresses, offered to +lend her any assistance she might need. + +Grateful for the kindness, and anxious to earn her own living, +she accepted, and was soon domiciled with the "Señora Americana," +as she was pleased to call Mrs. Sever. + +One morning, after several fatiguing days on reconnaissance duty +waist-deep in mud and water, Company E, of the --th Regiment of +Infantry, like a lot of rollicking school-boys on a holiday, were +indulging in numerous sports outside their huts in the street. The +spirit of the soldiers was contagious--even the native venders seemed +to feel the reaction. Their voices, usually so harsh and unpleasant, +had a more cheerful ring as they cried their wares; and the customary +stoical expression of their black faces had actually given place to +a bearable smile, by this atmosphere of good humor and fine spirits. + +The always-busy commander of Company E, Captain Sever, was engaged +with delayed papers and reports, and was writing with an energy seldom +seen in that enervating country, when he was interrupted by a bold +native at his elbow crying: "Huevos, leche, mangoes, lucatan. Quiere, +Capitan?" ("Eggs, milk, mangoes, bananas. Do you wish, Captain?") + +The Captain turned abruptly, and was about to reply with usual American +brusqueness, but was halted by the broad smile and unusual intelligent +look of the invader of his privacy. As he studied the face trying to +recollect where he had seen it before, the expression changed for one +of disappointment. Then did he recognize in the strong and athletic +figure before him the shrunken and emaciated one he had seen borne +off the field of carnage, but four short weeks before. + +"Hello, Benito! where did you come from?" he began, and offered a +friendly hand to the native; continuing, "You don't look much like +the chap I found in the cogonales, trying to hide from me a short +time back, beyond the north line. I thought you'd moved from this +land of strife, lizards, and mosquitos, and staked out a claim in the +celestial regions. Did not know you at first. You must have seen some +pretty tough times before I found you if this is how you look after +undergoing a month of American cruelty." + +He ran on in this train, not giving the dusky soldier-merchant a +chance to answer, but all the time studying the face and taking in +every line of the splendid specimen of a Tagalo before him. + +Benito was taller than the average of his tribe. His muscular limbs +showed a strength and athletic training that would be the envy of any +Yale man or West Pointer. His back was as straight as the proverbial +ramrod and as supple as the leaf of the cocoanut palm. His eyes were +brown, and fairly danced with good nature and intelligence. They +were frank, too, an unusual thing with a native. All in all, he was +a perfect model of the physical man in bronze. + +He placed his tray, laden with the luxuries he had cried, on a +box near by, and seated himself in such a natural and easy manner, +making himself so perfectly at home, that Sever's feeling of surprise +at the action, soon changed into one of amusement over the unusual +familiarity of a Tagalo toward a hated "Yankee." But he was to find +out that this compatriot of Aguinaldo was unusual in many ways. + +After talking over his experiences at the First Reserve Hospital at +Manila, Sever asked his guest what he intended doing. + +Benito replied that his future was undecided. While in Manila he had +seen Juanita, and they had decided that he should seek the Capitan and +ask his advice. That was how he happened to be peddling along the line. + +"You don't intend to return to the army again?" asked Sever. + +On receiving an emphatic negative answer, the Captain continued: +"How did you happen to cast your fortunes with the insurgents in the +first place, and why were you so terror-stricken when first discovered +after you had been wounded?" + +Benito's answer to this double query was lengthy, but in effect +he said: His father had been a captain in the Corps d'Elite, +Aguinaldo's body-guard, during the Filipino insurrection against +Spanish rule. Hoodwinked and misguided by the juntas as to the designs +of the Americans, he continued in the service after the Spaniards +had been driven out. During the outbreak against the Americans +on February 5, 1899, he was killed. Shortly afterward he received +word that he must take his father's place. He knew what it meant to +refuse to enter the insurrectionist service after having once been +notified. Fearing assassination should he refuse, he at once joined +his father's regiment and was given his father's company. + +His regiment gradually fell back into the interior as the Americans +advanced. Nothing but tales of brigandage, rapacity, and cruelty were +heard of the actions of the enemy. + +Driven beyond San Fernando de Pampanga, Aguinaldo established his +headquarters at Tarlac, and determined to make a final stand; here +taking oath that he would take the city of San Fernando inside of a +week or lose every man in his command in the attempt. + +Then followed the attack in which Benito was wounded. From what he had +heard, he expected the Captain's sword to run him through; or worse, +be taken alive and afterward subjected to the cruelty of the "Yankee" +soldiery, or sold as a slave and shipped to the States. + +Now he had seen with his own eyes the benign attitude of his former +enemy. His connection with the rebellion had ended. + +Sever offered to employ him as his valet. + +The beaming fellow arose, bowing obsequiously, and replied: "As you +wish, Capitan." + +From that moment his bearing and actions changed from those of a +friend to those of a servant. + +Benito proved a model valet. His master's wants were anticipated; his +shoes looked more like mirrors than prosaic foot-gear, and his clothes +were always neatly pressed and immaculately clean. The culinary was +not neglected. It was soon noised about the regiment that Sever was +the best groomed and fed officer in the Division. + +Then came the time when the wily little rebels cut the railroad +and telegraph communications, and there was no intercourse with +Manila. The morning after this occurrence there was noticeable the +absence of Filipino venders of bananas, eggs, and other edibles on +the streets of San Fernando. This always meant an early attack. To +Sever the most ominous thing was the disappearance that night of his +trusted valet, Benito. But he refused to believe that he had turned +traitor; he vowed the native would duly appear in time. + +Early that evening orders came from regimental headquarters to +strengthen the outposts, especially those of the north--the point +always the object of attack of the insurgents. + +The south line was reënforced by Captain Sever's company alone. He +arrived there about dark, and soon made a careful disposition of his +men, personally superintending the placing of each man. + +Then came that extreme darkness known only to sentries on posts in +tropical countries. + +While not expecting an attack from the south, Sever's men were +nevertheless vigilant. Their gallant commander refused to lie down, +but groped about in the darkness amid interminable underbrush, through +banana grove and bamboo thicket, over rice-paddies and briery hedges, +instructing and reassuring his men. + +Just as he was finishing his two o'clock rounds, and was feeling his +way back to the company rendezvous, he was startled by the sounds +of the footfalls of a galloping horse in the direction of the city, +which were rapidly drawing nearer. He at once knew its import. There +must be something serious. Orderlies were not sent out at that hour +of the morning unless the cause was pressing. + +He retraced his steps toward the main road leading to the city and +down which the now rapidly approaching horseman was coming. + +Of a sudden the whole sky to the front was lighted as if traversed +by the fiery darts of an electric storm. Then came the sounds of +volleys fired at close range, and the crashing of the bullets as they +struck near. + +He ran toward his men, shouting words of command. A few returned +the fire as best they could, but it was too late for that kind of +fighting. The insurgents had crawled to within a few feet of the +outposts, by a given signal began a murderous fire, then, whipping +out the deadly bolo, pounced upon the unsuspecting sentries. It was +a death-struggle; a hand-to-hand combat; a few against many. + +This mere handful of Americans bravely wielded the bayonet and clubbed +with the rifle, but the odds were too great. + +Sever arrived on the scene of action with flashing eyes and set jaws, +determined to die with his men. In an instant he was surrounded by +a half-dozen grinning natives, brandishing their shining knives in +his face. He fought like a madman, effectively using his revolver, +but it was an uneven fight, and he fell by a heavy blow which barely +missed his head, landing on his right shoulder and sinking deep into +his body. He sunk heavily to the ground. Another boloman raised +his weapon to administer the final cut which would end his life, +but his raised hand seemed fixed in that position. There was another +struggle--this time native against native. + +Benito appeared just in the nick of time to save his friend's life. + +Hundreds of feet were now heard coming from the rear. + +Plunging through the darkness, falling over vines and rice-dykes, +into ditches, came the yelling "Yankees." The tide of battle turned. + +The insurgents who had broken this weak line and were pouring in toward +the city heard that awful and unexpected "Yankee yell." They halted. A +moment later there was a clash that lasted but a second. Sweeping +everything before them, the reënforcements changed the fortunes of +the fight. + +The next day Benito visited his severely wounded master at the +hospital. It was then that the Captain learned that Benito had +overheard some Filipino venders inside the city drop a hint of +the proposed attack. That night he set out to learn the details if +possible. He arrived at the rebel lines safely, unrecognized and +not suspicioned. He soon learned the plan of attack by hiding near a +group of officers who were discussing it. He started back to inform +his master of what he had learned, but was apprehended when trying +to recross the Filipino lines. Charged with being a deserter, he was +closely watched that night and the next day. The following night he +evaded his guard during the confusion incident to the preparations for +the battle, and made for the Americans as fast as his feet could take +him, arriving in town at about one o'clock in the morning. Searching +for the Captain, he could not find him. He then reported what he knew +of the plans of the fight to Lieutenant Parsons, and learned from +that officer the whereabouts of Sever and his company, and ran with +all his might to warn him, for it was rapidly nearing the hour for +the murderous onslaught. Parsons, after listening to Benito's story +of what he had learned while in the enemy's camp, immediately started +a mounted orderly to the Colonel. That worthy hastily dispatched a +warning messenger and reënforcements to Sever. The rest has been told. + +A month later Sever was carried up the gang-plank of an army transport, +on his way to the United States to recover from his wound. Benito +was by his side. When the deck was reached, he took his master by the +hand. Great tears were gathering in his eyes and tracing down his fine, +dusky face as he said: "Adios, Capitan." + +The American officer struggled to make a reply, but there was something +in his throat which prevented him. + +The two remained clasping hands for a minute, then Benito turned and +slowly descended to the "lighter." + +Benito and his wife had urgent invitations to accompany Captain and +Mrs. Sever to "God's country," but they chose to remain in their +native land. + + + + + +THE ARMY MULE. + + + That republics are ungrateful, + Is adage old as sin; + That only he who has a pull + Can rake the chestnuts in; + And he, the faithful, honest heart, + Who meekly bears his humble part, + Is often dubbed a fool. + + Oh, Dewey gets a mighty praise, + And everywhere they shout + And yell for Schley until they raise + Their very livers out; + Of rank and file much praise is heard, + But then you never hear a word + About the Army Mule. + + He calmly bears his heavy pack, + And twists his tail in glee; + And chews at night a "gunny" sack, + When corn has "gang a-glee"; + But for his patient, loving ways + No annals speak a word of praise + Of that poor Army Mule. + + He nobly marched where bullets fell, + With calm and even tread; + And when he heard the bursting shell, + He only shook his head; + And at his post he nobly stood + To help the boys what e'er he could, + That faithful Army Mule. + + 'Neath burning sun of Cuba's isle, + He brought the train along, + To furnish Shatter's men the while + They sang the "rifle song"; + And but for him supplies were vain; + They must be brought through sun and rain, + By that same Army Mule, + + In Luzon where the Army moves, + The festive Mule is nigh; + Too slow the pokey carabao proves, + For Yankee soldiers fly; + In heat or cold, in wet or dry, + In mud or dust, they can rely + On the true Army Mule. + + He brings relief to sick and well, + When other sources fail; + His worth the soldier cannot tell, + His glory shall not pale; + And here a monument we raise, + A tribute to the worthy praise + Of the American Mule. + + But first and foremost of them all, + In duty or in danger; + With biggest ears and loudest call, + And to fatigue a stranger; + The first on Santiago's brow, + And in Luzon the friskiest now: + Oh, that's the Missouri Mule. + + --_W. S. Platt_. + + + + + +COMEDY AND CARNAGE. + +The "Sky Pilot" and the "Dutch" Corporal.--The Mule that Sounded the +Charge.--"Bull's-Eye" Kelley and the Fire-Bug. + + +War, with all its horrors, laconically described by General Sherman as +hell, is not without its comedy. The marching through rain and mud; +camping in marshes; digging in trenches, using the bayonet for a +pick and the meat-ration can for a shovel; wading rivers by day and +sleeping exposed to the elements by night, are all sandwiched with +numerous mirthful incidents. Soldiers, above all people, have an eye +for the ridiculous, and are ever ready to make merry and laugh over +the most trivial matter. Even the horrors of battle are unable to +quench the spark of gaiety ever present in the make-up of a "Yankee +Doodle" soldier. + +There are even times when comrades are lying about dead and dying, +and the missives of death yet speeding by, searching for new victims, +or to penetrate the quivering form of the already wounded, that +something occurs to bring forth peals of laughter. + + + + +THE "SKY PILOT" AND THE "DUTCH" CORPORAL. + + +During the mobilization of the Army at Tampa, Fla., at the outbreak of +the Spanish-American War, an orthodox minister enlisted as a private in +one of the infantry regiments. On the 6th of June came orders to break +camp and prepare to go aboard transports for the invasion of Cuba. + +The railroad facilities from Tampa to Port Tampa, where the transports +were waiting, were not equal to the emergency. Traffic became more +or less clogged, and it was early the next morning when the regiment +to which the preacher belonged was entrained. During the early part +of the night the men were gathered in groups, some playing "shuffle +the brogan," others busy at "nosey poker," while the greater part of +them were smoking their pipes and telling yarns, or stretching their +weary limbs on rolls of canvas, or on the bare ground asleep. + +The orthodox minister appeared worried. He was walking to and fro in an +aimless manner like a headless chicken. After having paced backward +and forward past a pile of mess-chests several times, each time +sizing it up, he suddenly began to mount it, planted himself on the +very pinnacle, and with a fog-horn voice began a patriotic harangue. + +Long, hair-raising, and Spanish-scalping sentences rolled from his +lips like crude petroleum from a five-inch pipe. Each inflammatory +oratorical flight was dramatically climaxed with the words, "For it +is sweet to die for one's country." + +The sleeping ones restlessly turned over, rubbed their eyes, and opened +their ears to this wonderful address. The entire regiment, officers +included, soon became his audience, and all were inspired with the +oft-repeated words, "For it is sweet to die for one's country." + +This regiment was one of the first to land in Cuba, and took a +prominent part in the attack on El Caney. Its position during this +fight, for many hours, was within a few hundred paces of the famous +"stone block-house," in a sunken road, and was suffering heavily. + +Along about two o'clock in the afternoon matters began to look +blue--even a general officer who had fought in many hard battles of the +Civil War, and spent the best years of his life combating the Indians +on the frontier, was overheard to mutter to his adjutant that he was +"afraid we've bitten off more'n we can chew." + +There was not a cheerful face to be seen. Men with grinding teeth +were soberly looking Death in the face. Sir Orthodox was burrowing +his face into Mother Earth in a wild effort to shield himself from +Mauser bullets. A German corporal was doing the same thing about +fifty feet further down the road. + +As the corporal, better known as "Dutch," was burrowing his face +in the mud, an idea struck him, and, like all Teutons, he must +make it known. He raised his head and looked up and down the line +of prostrate soldiers till his eye fell on the flattened figure of +the minister. In a voice that could be heard the full length of the +regiment, he bleated out: "Say, dere, Sky Pilots, id aind so schveet +to died for vonce countries, aind id?" + +The effect was magical. Amid this scene of carnage and death a wild +yell of merriment went up that brought courage to many weakening +hearts, and Caney had fallen before the men had ceased to laugh at +the joke on the preacher. + + + + +THE MULE THAT SOUNDED THE CHARGE. + + +He was a Colonel with enough dignity to rule the universe, but he +knew no more about music than a pig does of navigation. With his +regiment he was slipping up on a Filipino town at night. It was +purely a clandestine movement--orders were given in whispered tones +by tiptoeing orderlies. The men were holding their bayonet scabbards +against their legs to obviate screeching and rattling, and every +effort was made to minimize the sounds of a marching body of men. + +The Colonel with the battalion on the right had arrived within charging +distance of the insurgent trenches. It was the pre-arranged plan for +all the companies to arrive on this line before the general advance +would be made. When all were ready, the charge would be sounded by +the Colonel's bugler. + +The battalion with the Colonel was all ready for the bloody charge. Not +knowing if the companies of the other battalions had arrived, the +impatient commander sent his adjutant, mounted on a native charger, and +his bugler, mounted on a Missouri mule, down the line to investigate. + +When all was in readiness, the adjutant was to have the bugler sound +the charge, when the whole khaki-clad line, like a thousand demons, +would set up that awful, "gu gu" terrorizing "Yankee yell," and wade +into the unwary Tagalos with cold steel. + +The adjutant and his bugler found that the companies on the left +were yet some distance to the rear. The former, while waiting for +the companies to come up, dismounted to tighten his saddle-girth, +while the latter busied himself looking for some signs of life in +the enemy's trenches not two hundred yards ahead. His mule dropped +his head in a dozing attitude. He suddenly appeared inspired, raised +his head high in the air, looking toward the insurgent lines. Then, +with a grunt, as if of satisfaction, elevated his chin, began working +his huge ears backward and forward in a pumping motion, and set up a +long-drawn "A-w-e ye! a-w-e ye! a-w-e ye! a-w-e ye!" in threatening +tones, which sounded through the midnight air for miles around. + +The faithful animal had not finished his challenge when the deep voice +of the Colonel rang out completely drowning it, giving commands for +the charge. He flashed his saber, and gallantly led the only battalion +on the line into the midst of thousands of dusky soldiers--he had +heard the mule sound the charge. + +It was a brilliant victory. The town fell with but a single American +casualty--that casualty left the bugler without a mount. + + + + + +"BULL'S-EYE" KELLEY AND THE FIRE-BUG. + + +Where is there a soldier whose name is dry on the muster-rolls who +has not heard of "Bull's-Eye" Kelley? Kelley gained his enviable name +of "Bull's-Eye" by having spent twenty-two successive seasons on the +target-range without ever making a "bull's-eye." As a reward for long +and honest service--not for marksmanship--he was warranted a sergeant, +and went with his regiment to the Philippines. + +While the regiment was doing garrison duty at one of the interior towns +in Luzon, it was constantly harassed by the little rebels. One dark +night in June they made a determined effort to drive the Americans +out. The regiment had run short of officers, so this night Kelley was +in command of his company. He was a strict disciplinarian--so much +so that when out of his hearing the privates referred to him as the +"Duke of Ireland." + +The night of this attack his orders were to keep his men lying +flat on the ground and perfectly quiet. There was to be no talking, +whispering, coughing, or smoking; or, as Kelley himself expressed it, +"no nothin'" would be allowed. + +All sorts of insects, including lightning-bugs as big as incandescent +lights, were singing and flying about, causing the men to put their +hands and faces through a most unique series of gymnastics. + +The rebel fire was becoming alarmingly effective. Although they knew +nothing of the location of Kelley's company, yet stray bullets coming +that way had already hit two of his men, instantly killing one of +them. He suspected that something was betraying his position. Looking +down the line, he was horrified to discover what was unmistakably a man +smoking. Flushed with anger, he shouted louder than his instructions +would have permitted, "Hie there, me man! put thet cigaroot out," +but the light remained undisturbed. "I say there, ye insultin' divil +of a rekroot, put out thet cigaroot," stormed the enraged Kelley. + +In reply came the low, mourner's-bench, meek voice of a South Carolina +recruit: "It hain't a cigaroot, Sergeant; it's a lightnin'-bug as +big as a search-light on 'Pin-Head' Hebb's mustache." + +The undaunted Kelley was not to be beaten thus, but sternly commanded: +"I don't give a dom what 'tis, put it out." + + + + + + +HOW I SAW AGUINALDO. + +An Army Officer's Curious Experience in Luzon.--A Tight Place and a +Close Call. + + +It was during the early part of the month of June that my company +was doing outpost duty on the north line at San Fernando, one of +the largest inland towns on the Island of Luzon. We had been on the +south line, but on the morning on which this incident took place, +were directed to relieve a company of another battalion of the same +regiment on the north line. + +Our arrival at the outpost was very early in the morning; so early +that it was impossible to distinguish a man from a high stump at a +distance of 100 feet. The lay of the land was new to me; I hadn't the +slightest idea of the contour of a foot of the ground to be covered +by my company. After getting my men properly stationed along the +line, guarding a front of about 1700 or 1800 yards, I took an old, +reliable sergeant with me and proceeded to reconnoiter the territory +to my front, and to make a rough sketch map, showing on it what I +could of the Filipino trenches and their outposts. + +We started just as the sky began to turn a deep red in the east, +and the "chuck me" chameleon, the harbinger of the early dawn, +began his morning challenge. Our progress was very cautiously made +through the cane-fields, banana groves, and bamboo jungles, halting +and investigating the slightest noise, the rustling of a leaf or the +breaking of a twig not escaping our attention. First, I would take the +advance and then the Sergeant. When we passed through cane-fields we +found the plowed grounds but little less than marshes, for the rainy +season had just begun with torrential showers. Our bodies were soon +soaked to the skin, for the leaves of the cane and banana stalks were +burdened with water. The cane was a trifle higher than our heads, +and the wide-spreading leaves of the banana hid the sky from view. + +After wading and splashing along toward the Filipino lines for about +1400 yards, we suddenly and very unexpectedly came upon a well-traveled +road, fringed with bamboo on either side, with quite a stretch of open +ground beyond, in which was lying at the farther edge, the trenches +of our enemies, which seemed to be at the time swarming with dusky +soldiers preparing their morning meal. + +Believing ourselves not have been observed, we withdraw a short +distance from the bamboo fringe into a banana grove, a position +that afforded us concealment as well as an opportunity to make +observations of the position of the trenches and location of the +outposts of the rebels. + +I was busy making copious notes and my maps, while the Sergeant, with +my field-glasses, was making most wonderful discoveries of masked +batteries and gas-pipe cannon, when, all of a sudden, a cavalcade of +insurgent officers, followed closely by a large body of foot soldiers, +appeared down the road to our left, where there was a slight curve, +not more than 200 yards away. + +What were we to do? At that short distance from our open-eared and +alert rebellious fellow-citizens, we could not beat a precipitate +retreat, or an orderly one, without disclosing our presence; and that +fact once known to this body of armed men meant almost certain death, +or worse, to be taken prisoners by this half-savage band. We held +a hasty council of war in whispered tones, and decided to hold our +ground till the danger passed. + +It was but a moment till the little steeds and their haughty riders +were directly in front of us, not fifty paces away, and, to our +intense surprise and discomfort, halted. There they stood, with +the first ray of the rising sun resting full upon them, seventeen +horsemen, officers, and just back of them about 5,000 infantrymen, +all within a stone's throw of us. What made our position all the more +precarious, the infantry was standing at a "rest," and were, as all +soldiers do when first halted, looking in every direction in search of +something--an enemy, fruit, a stray porker or a fowl. Our chances of +being discovered were becoming momentarily greater. We could plainly +see them, so naturally, if they would but look in the right direction, +they could see us. What may not five hundred busy eyes discover? + +The danger of the mounted men seeing us was not so great, for they +had discovered something interesting in our lines and were active +with their glasses looking over our heads. + +Sixteen of these officers were dressed in light blue uniforms of +some thin cloth, wide-brimmed sombreros, russet leather leggings, +and clanking sabers dangling by their left sides, almost trailing the +ground, while the trappings of their horses were enough to make the +eyes of a militia major snap with envy. The other officer, who rode +at the head, and the recipient of the most obsequious attentions, +a man about middle age, with close-cropped hair, small restless +eyes, and somewhat lighter complexioned than the average inhabitant +of those far-away tropical islands, wore a neat-fitting uniform of +khaki cloth over his diminutive body, and a helmet of the same color +upon his well-shaped head. His mount was a beautiful dapple gray +Filipino stallion, some larger than the average-sized native animal, +and much more gorgeously caparisoned than the charges of the other +officers. This pompously equipped commander wore at his left side +a most handsome saber, and on his right he carried a revolver and +field-glass case. + +The foot soldiers were of the famous Corps d'Elite, Aguinaldo's +body-guard. We knew them by their bright red uniforms. Where Aguinaldo +goes, there they go also. They are his constant attendants. They were, +of course, all armed with Mauser rifles and laden with ammunition. + +We were so interested at the sight of this picked regiment of Tagalos, +of which we had heard so much, that we almost forgot our danger, and +actually raised our heads higher in order that we might have a better +view of them. Just as we were craning our necks and straining our eyes +to their utmost capacity, we were suddenly brought to a realization +of our terrible danger by the officer in khaki dismounting, throwing +the reins to an orderly, and advancing to the edge of the bamboo just +in front of us. Like a flash the others followed him, and stood at +attention just in his rear, gawking and peering in our direction. This +was a trying moment for us. There stood the flower of the Filipino +Army, facing two almost helpless servants of Uncle Sam, and, for +all we knew, were deciding our fate, for they were discussing some +important subject in the Tagalog tongue, all of which was Sanscrit to +us. Our hearts were in our throats and kept up an increased throbbing +in their new positions. Had we been discovered? Were those snapping, +half-savage eyes now resting on us, and was the mode of our death being +discussed? We knew not. Our faces were being pushed in the mud till +our ears were begrimed in our mad efforts to conceal ourselves. We +felt it would be but a matter of seconds till our hides would be +perforated with Mauser bullets, or we would be bound, hand and foot, +prisoners of a revengeful enemy. + +Their talk became excited. Something was being discussed with great +interest and moment. The suspense was awful. Minutes passed as +hours. Our skins would cringe when the thought of a volley liable to +be fired into our bodies at any moment occurred to us. + +Would they never leave? Their conversation warmed. The khaki-clad +officer said a word, and then they faced about, reëntered the road, +and passed down it out of sight, one officer alone remaining with +the foot soldiers, who gave some directions to the orderlies, and +the horses were led across the road and hitched. We slowly raised our +mud-besmeared faces. The infantry, still looking and chattering in the +twangy language of their tribe, were holding their ground. We heard +the officer in command say something about "aqua" in Spanish, then a +few words of command followed. They instantly came to the "attention," +moved forward till the center of the column was opposite us, wheeled +to the right by fours, and stacked their arms. "Aqua"; that meant +water. We knew they would soon break ranks and go some place, we knew +not where, to replenish their water-bottles. So far, then, we had been +unobserved. But we remembered that just a few yards to the rear of us, +and in a direct line from our enemies, was a rippling stream of crystal +water. We exchanged looks. Oh, what looks! The Sergeant's expression +was awful, and I knew mine to be none better. Here they came; 500 of +them were moving toward us. Was it too late to run? No. I whispered, +"Come on." We were about to rise and make a wild dash for life, when +a sharp blast of a trumpet was sounded to our front. All stopped in +their tracks. Another trumpet-call--a rush to arms. The officers came +tearing back and remounted. + +We waited for the volley that was to send our souls into eternity. That +we had been discovered we were sure. + +Boom! A loud report from our rear. It was unmistakably a cannon +shot. An instant later a shrieking shell passed over our heads and +tore its way through a stone sugar storehouse, 100 yards ahead, +rending demolition everywhere in that vicinity. + +The officers madly spurred their diminutive mounts in a wild effort to +secure speed. Off they rode at break-neck rate over rice-paddies and +small ditches in the direction of the bamboo thickets beyond the open. + +But the infantrymen remained steadfast! They kept their close +formation, facing us. I ventured to raise my head a trifle higher when +I noticed the Sergeant putting his face through a series of grimaces +that would tend to make it as muscular as his brawny arms. His struggle +was in vain; he could not help it--he sneezed, not once, but twice, +and once again. + +Five hundred ears pricked up, and as many pairs of eyes were thrown +upon us. It was but a second till a dozen rifles were raised to as +many shoulders, the muzzles all pointing in our direction. + +As a last effort to save our lives, I yelled to the Sergeant to follow, +and started a disorderly retreat toward our lines. + +Boom! Was it a volley? No, another shot from the cannon. The shell +struck between our enemies and ourselves and exploded. The sky was +filled with everything. We looked back over our shoulders, but could +not see the red uniforms for flying _débris_. + +An instant later we heared a crying, screaming, terror-stricken +mass of humanity breaking through the bamboo on the farther side of +the road. We halted. There they went, over dykes and ditches. All +organization had fled with the winds in their wild efforts to escape +the next shot from our artillery. + +Now we were safe, and sauntered lazily back to the company, giving +our hearts an opportunity to resume a normal state of affairs. + +When we reached our lines we found that a recruit battery of +light artillery had come out from the city that morning for +target-practice. An experienced non-commissioned officer fired the +first shot, which hit the sugar warehouse, the target. A recruit +gunner fired the second, which, falling short, saved our lives. They +knew nothing of the presence of the Filipinos or of my little +reconnoitering party. + +The next day our native spies reported that Aguinaldo and his +body-guard had come down from Angeles early the morning before, +but had immediately returned. + +I laughed when I heard this report, for I knew the circumstances. + +The dapper little officer in khaki was Aguinaldo, and this is the +story of how I saw him.--_Sunday Globe-Democrat_. + + + + + +WHAT THE WOUNDED SAY AND DO. + +An American Officer's True Stories of our Latest War.--Brave Men who +Meet Death as Heroes Should. + + +No two men behave alike when hit in battle. There is just as much +difference in their actions as there is in the behavior of the members +of a volunteer fire brigade at a country-town conflagration. The +look of the mortally wounded is nearly always the same. There is +always that deathly pallor that creeps over the face, and that fixed +stare--horrible look of resignation--that tells so plainly that all +is over with the unfortunate soldier. A few instances will serve to +give a general idea of how the victims of the messengers of death +receive them. + +On the 1st of July, a company of regular infantry, in reserve, was +lying flat on their stomachs in a sunken road, a few hundred yards from +the stone block-house of El Caney, Cuba. The men were under a terrific +fire, but were not allowed to reply to it, for ammunition was growing +scarce. For hours they remained in this position. They began to get +restless and to shift about. As long as they kept low, there was no +danger from Spanish fire, for the bank of the road was sufficiently +high to afford security. Curiosity occasionally got the better of a +man, and he would poke his head above the embankment and peer in the +direction from which the bullets were coming. In the company was a +large, muscular German, who had early become restless and curious to +see what was transpiring. He would occasionally break out and swear +because he was not given a chance to fire at the hated Dons. Of +a sudden he ripped out a choice lot of the best in his vocabulary, +raised his head above the bank, and shook his huge fist at the line of +sombreros to be seen just above the Spanish trenches to the right of +the block-house. Ping! ping! thud! "Wasn't that an awful sound?" a +dozen soldiers chimed. There is no other sound produced that can +be compared with it. It stands alone for all that is sickening and +horrible. All knew that some one had been hit. A moment was passed +in suspense. The German whispered, in the tones of death, to his +comrade at his side: "Wipe the blood off of my face!" It was his last +words. He drew his knees to his chin in the agonies of death, turned +over on one side, burrowing his face in the mud, and died without a +groan. A Mauser had hit him squarely between the eyes. + +A short time later a sergeant of one of the companies of the same +regiment moved a few yards forward, trying to get a pot-shot at +some Spanish sharpshooters who were snugly perched in the spreading +tops of some royal palm trees, and were hitting some of our men. He +sighted one and had his rifle to his shoulder, taking a fine bead, +when all at once the rifle fell to the ground and his hands dropped +helplessly by his side. He coolly faced about and walked toward the +rear, his arms dangling like pendulums, not even so much as muttering +a word. One of his company officers asked him what was the matter, to +which he laconically replied, "Hit," and continued on his way to the +dressing-station in the rear. He was shot through both shoulders--a +serious wound, but he recovered. + +About an hour after the German was killed the same company was +ordered to take a position farther to the right. They walked along, +goose-fashion, single file, moving by the right flank toward their +new position. Next to the last man in the rear was a corporal, a +new man, just a few months in the service. Biff! ping! bang! went the +deadly missiles. One struck a man's rifle-barrel, cutting it almost in +two. Another split the stock of a gun in a man's hand. Then one struck +the recruit corporal's left arm, passing through the biceps. With +an expression of great surprise he for a moment stood still, saying +nothing. His eyes began to dilate, and then of a sudden he threw his +fowling-piece high in the air, grasped his left arm with his right +hand, and started for the rear at a disgraceful gait, yelling so as +to be heard above the din of battle: "I've got it! I've got it! I've +got it!" The last that was seen of him that day he had "it," and was +taking "it" to the rear with him. + +On San Juan Ridge, July 2d, just as Chaffee's brigade had reached the +crest, they were ordered to lie down and intrench, using the bayonet +as a pick and the hands for shovels. A dashing young fellow of one of +the companies on the right of the line was some distance in advance +of his fellows when the halt was made. Instead of falling back on the +line with the other men, he stopped where he was. One of the officers +shouted at him several times to fall back, as he was in danger of his +own men shooting him, but he did not hear. The officer then walked +down to where he was, grabbed him by a leg, and started to drag him +back to the line. He had but started when he felt the man's whole body +quiver, and he flopped himself over on his back, saying as he did so, +"I'm done for." Some of the men came to the soldier and assisted the +officer to carry him to a place of security. With a bayonet one of the +men cut off his clothing, when a Mauser hole was seen just above the +heart, where the bullet entered, passing through his body and coming +out between the shoulders, near the spine. The man said no more at +the time. His wounds were bound by sympathetic hands. All except the +wounded man returned to the firing-line. The Spanish fire was heavy, +and kept up for four hours, occasionally a soldier dropping out, +wounded or killed. When all was quiet, the officer and one of his +soldiers returned to see if the young man were yet alive. They found +him sitting against a small tree. His first words were: "Bill, give +me a cigarette." The man is living to-day. + +Just about the time this man was wounded a man in the next company on +the right suddenly threw down his bayonet, jumped to his feet, paused +for a second or two, looking in the direction of the Spanish trenches, +then threw both hands to his breast, saying, "I'm hit." He turned about +and walked into the dense thickets of cactus and Spanish bayonet, and +was never seen nor heard of again. He undoubtedly crawled far back into +the heavy tropical growth and died, where the vultures claimed him. + +One of the coolest men who ever received a wound was an infantryman +at San Fernando, in the Island of Luzon, on the 16th of June. The +insurgents made a determined effort to retake the town early +on the morning of that day. They opened up simultaneously from +every quarter, and the kind and variety of missiles used would be +beyond the wildest expectations of that sweet-throated midnight +serenader, the Thomas-cat. Out of an old smooth-bore cannon they +threw railroad spikes, horseshoes, old clocks, lemon-squeezers, +and cobble-stones. From their Remingtons they shot large cubical and +irregular-shaped lead slugs. One of these struck this cool man high +in the right groin, deeply imbedding itself. The pain must have been +excruciating, for the man was terribly lacerated. He hobbled to his +company commander, saluted, and asked permission to fall out and lie +down, as he had been hit. He was lying near a road where his comrades +passed to and fro during the entire fight, but no one heard a word +or a groan out of him unless he was spoken to. + +During the same fight, in another company of the same regiment, a +battalion sergeant-major was ordered to take two squads and proceed +to a point about 400 yards down the Angeles Road, where there was +a small trench, and defend it. When about half-way down, one of +his men, a green "rookie," received a severe wound in the leg. The +Sergeant endeavored to start him to the rear, with a man to assist +him along, but he protested. Nothing but to continue to the front +with his squad would do. He loaded and fired with the other men till +the fight was over. This man was recommended for a medal of honor by +his captain.--_From Leslie's Weekly, of December 9, 1899_. + + + + + + +THE FLIGHT OF "FATHER TIME." + +A Case of Mistaken Identity. + + +Captain C. was what soldiers call a "fussy" officer. He was constantly +prying into matters that concerned him but little, and wasted his +energies in performing duties usually within the province of a +corporal. In fact, he would march a "set of fours" to dinner. In a +fight, however, his soul enlarged, and he was ever to be found at the +front directing his men, and doing much to atone for sins committed +during less exciting moments. Always in the van, his long, gray +whiskers gently flowing in the breezes, his sword drawn and pointing +toward the enemy, suggested to the men the pictures they had seen in +almanacs of "Father Time"; and when speaking of him among themselves, +he had no other name. + +In August, 1899, his company was at Angeles, in Luzon, and was +entrenching on the outskirts, for the pesky little "niggers" were +constantly threatening and frequently attacking the place. + +The Quartermaster Department hired a lot of Macebebes, who had offered +their services, to do the harder part of the work of trench-digging, +for the men were exhausted by an arduous and exacting campaign. + +One bright morning about two hundred of these laborers were put to work +a short distance to the front of the trenches under construction, +to cut away a dense growth of cane, and open up a field of fire +toward the enemy. The faithful fellows jumped into the work with a +vim seldom seen in that country, slashing to the right and left with +bolos, machetes, knives, hoes, scythes, and a variety of other edged +implements, felling the large cane stalks with great rapidity. + +"Father Time's" company was just in rear of them, with rifle and belt, +ready to protect them from the insurgents, who hated a Macebebe even +worse than a despised Americano. + +The usual activity in the cane-field was soon discovered by the festive +little rebels, who promptly proceeded to pour volleys into the place +where the cane was so mysteriously disappearing. The unarmed Macebebes +stood their ground for a moment, but when the Mauser bullets came +whistling uncomfortably close, and one of them had been slightly hit, +they could stand it no longer, but, with an unearthly yell of fright, +they broke for the rear like a herd of stampeded cattle. A regular +race of mad men. + +When the firing began, the soldiers threw themselves upon the ground +as flat as pancakes. The Captain was busy writing in a nipa palm hut +a few hundred yards in rear. He rapidly buckled on his equipment and +"took up the double time" to join his men. As he neared the trenches +he raised his head to look for his company. Not a soldier was in +sight. As he stood in wonderment it seemed that the gates of the +infernal regions were standing ajar and the inmates escaping toward +him. Two hundred black devils, every imp of them screaming and yelling +at each leap forward, were coming for him, armed with bolos and other +death-dealing weapons, to mince him in a thousand pieces. He knew his +men had been massacred to a man. He alone remained to face this mass +of uncivilized warriors eager for every drop of his blood. + +No general ever more quickly decided upon a definite maneuver, or put +one into execution with a more fixed determination than this veteran +officer, hero of three wars, decided to decrease the distance between +himself and the main body of his regiment in town. Two miles over +muddy roads and rice "paddies" is not an easy march for a young man, +but when a valiant gentleman of sixty summers covers the distance at +a forced-march gait, without a halt, a record has been broken. + +When "Father Time" learned that not a man of his company had been hurt, +he was pleased; but the news that he had mistaken a lot of Macebebes, +hopelessly stampeded, for a blood-thirsty enemy, had to be broken to +him gently by the Colonel. + + + + + +CAMP ALARMS--FALSE BUT STARTLING. + +The Red-Headed Recruit and the Cuban Dog.--The Charge of the Hospital +Corps.--Private Timmons and the Carabao. + + +In the face of his reputation for undaunted courage and dashing deeds +of valor, the American soldier has at times allowed himself to become +frightfully alarmed and on the eve of being panic-stricken, when taken +unawares. He soon collects himself, however, and is ready to meet +all emergencies, let them come from whatever source they will. Even +the old "vet" may lose his head for a moment or two, and find some +difficulty in establishing his equilibrium. The Yankee soldier is ever +ready to obey his officer, and if the latter will but keep his wits, +order may be restored out of hopeless demoralization. + +The Civil War was replete with camp alarms, some of them of the +most ridiculous type; and our war with Spain and the Filipinos has +added greatly to the stock. The tropical countries, with their dense +growths of vegetation, myriads of crawling creatures, and hair-raising +sounds, form a replete field for alarms, which are usually started +by frightened sentries on lonely outposts. + + + + + +THE RED-HEADED RECRUIT AND THE CUBAN DOG. + + +One of the most notable alarms that occurred during the campaign +about Santiago was within two miles of the "Stone Block-House," at +El Caney, on the night before the attack on that place. The brigade +that did the hardest fighting there, and that had been in advance +the greater part of the time from the landing at Baiquiri, received +orders late in the afternoon of June 30th to move forward and take +a position within easy striking distance of El Caney, and to there +rest on arms for the night. The march began at dusk, and, by a long, +circuitous route, ended at 12 o'clock midnight at an open field, which +the guides said was within two miles of the nearest Spanish position in +the town. The march, in single file, up and down hills, over slippery +ground, by men as silent as mice, was a tiresome one. All were glad +to hear the word passed along in low whispers to quietly lie down, +retaining arms and equipment, and bivouac for the night. The silence +of death prevailed. The long line of dark figures on the open field, +silhouetted against the star-lit sky, and the stillness that reigned, +reminded one more of stereopticon views thrown upon canvas, than of the +presence of eighteen hundred fighting men, stealing upon their prey. + +It was not a minute after the whispered command to lie down was given +till all except a few selected for duty on outposts had stretched +their weary limbs on the dewy grass. + +The outposts were placed around the main body, some few hundred yards +distant, most of them in the direction of the Spanish lines. The +command was soon asleep. There was the usual number of disturbed +dreamers, and occasionally the snorer would burst out in loud and +long-drawn tones, only to be promptly kicked in the ribs by his +light-sleeping comrade. The nocturnal cigarette-smoker was prohibited +from indulging in his nightly practice, and soon there was a long +mass of sleeping humanity, not a sign of wakeful eyes to be seen. + +As sudden as the flash of lightning the woods in the direction of the +Spanish lines was filled with yells, screams, and the heavy falling +of feet in rapid retreat. + +The brigade sprang to its feet as if each man had been lying on a +stiff spring and the whole touched off simultaneously by the pressing +of a button--every man with loaded and cocked rifle in hand. Then began +the low, mumbling sound of a suddenly aroused camp. The efforts of the +officers who had kept their heads to keep it down were fruitless. It +was a long line of buzzing sounds like the swarming of bees. But the +screaming and yelling continued and grew nearer. + +Shouting at the top of his voice at every jump, "They're +coming! they're coming!" tall, lean, red-headed, and hatless, the +recruit sentry came by leaps and strides, and close at his heels a +half-starved Cuban dog, playfully pursuing him, soliciting some of +the hardtack in the recruit's haversack. + +It was near dawn before complete order was restored. Many eyes were +opened by that alarm raised by the panic-stricken recruit that never +again closed till closed in death. + + + + +THE CHARGE OF THE HOSPITAL CORPS. + + +The campaign in the Philippines against the wily Tagalo has been +replete with false alarms, owing to the prowling and sneaking nature +of the enemy, and the unearthly noises made by the animals of that +sun-scorched and water-splashed country. + +There is a line of trenches and block-houses around the city of Manila, +the average distance being about two miles out from the suburbs. This +was called the "firing-line." On first arriving from the United +States, regiments were sent out to occupy a part of this position, to +recuperate from the long sea voyage aboard crowded transports, and at +the same time help maintain the line of defense around the city. Most +of the newly arrived regiments were filled up with recruits with but +a few months' service; so this position afforded the opportunity to +get these men in shape for field-service. + +This line of defense was the theater in which was acted the comedy +of the war. Here is where occurred the most foolish alarms and at +the same time some serious ones. + +There is one famous charge (?) that occurred in a newly arrived +regiment, which was spending its first night on the Island of Luzon +in these trenches. It is known as the "Charge of the Hospital Corps," +and promises to be handed down in army tradition. The gallant leader +of this daring advance was a young surgeon, recently appointed to +the regular establishment as a battalion pill-dispenser. His command +consisted of three privates and an acting steward of the Hospital +Corps. + +Arguing that he was fighting a savage enemy, not a party to the Geneva +Convention, and consequently would not recognize as non-combatants +the wearers of the red cross, he succeeded in having a requisition +honored by the ordnance officer for five big forty-five caliber +"six-shooters," with which he armed himself and command. + +This embryo warrior and his gallant following were tickled with their +toys, and flourished them most dangerously during the day, vowing +death and destruction to any thousand Filipinos who would dare to +face them and their death-dealing weapons. + +The doctor, or "Pills," as the men called him, established his +battalion hospital in a ravine in a break in the trenches. It was a +lonesome place. Night came on, and the corps men retired to sleep their +first night on Luzon's soil; but their sleep was not easy. Visions of +gore and midnight slaughter passed in review before their drowsy eyes; +and just as a black-faced little rebel had them by the throat and +was plunging a great long knife into their vitals, they would awaken +with a start, feel under their heads for their fire-arms, to reassure +themselves, pat the trusty weapon a time or two, call it "good old +Bets," and again doze off to sleep, only to repeat the performance. + +One hungry, gaunt-looking fellow, who his comrades said had a head that +would fit in a regulation full-dress helmet, could stand the nervous +strain no longer. The noises that came from the little thickets of +bamboo and cogonales into his little "tepee" were more than he could +stand. He had listened to them in his mind, enlarged, multiplied, +and magnified them in his own imagination, till he was sure the whole +insurrectionist army was quietly, inch by inch and foot by foot, +slipping down upon him. Up he jumped, revolver in hand, gripping +the handle and gritting his teeth, and proceeded to investigate the +sounds. Approaching within a few yards of a thick bunch of trees not +far in front of the hospital tent, he halted to listen. Yes, they +were there beyond all doubt. He could almost see them crawling toward +him; a hundred dusky demons upon all fours, with long, glistening, +razor-edged knives held between their shining teeth. They must be +stopped. With a loud voice, trembling with fear, he challenged: +"If you're an American, for God's sake say so, or I'll shoot." The +noise made no reply, and the shooting began promptly as promised. + +The valiant "Pills" landed on his feet in the middle of +his tent, rallying his men, and was soon leading them to the +attack. Bang! bang! biff! bang! rang out the loud-mouthed Colt's +revolvers. A moment later the Krags began to pop to the right and +left, the alarm traveling up and down the line with lightning-like +rapidity. Soon six miles of grim-looking rifle muzzles were pointing +toward the innocent nothing to the front, a volley occasionally +resounding through the midnight air at an imaginary enemy. + +Dawn found "Pills" searching the field of battle for dead and +wounded. He discovered numerous bullet-holes in his tent and medicine +chests, made by 45-caliber balls; and, lying near the place where the +gaunt, hungry-looking corps man first fired upon the enemy, he found +poor "Paterno," Company E's monkey mascot, with a short and bloody +tail, that member having been lost in the battle--a penalty for his +nocturnal perambulations. + + + + + +PRIVATE TIMMONS AND THE CARABAO. + + +Timmons was a recruit private in an infantry regiment, and, when +stationed in a temperance community, was a mighty good soldier. True +to his steel, he met death in the general advance from San Fernando, +in August, 1899. He was one of those jolly, good natured fellows who +can sit in the mud and crack jokes, and sing standing in water to +his arm-pits. And what is better, he possessed the happy faculty of +imparting his exuberance to his long-faced, homesick, and downcast +fellow-privates. His temper was as smooth as a becalmed sea, and +seldom was it that a ripple passed over the smooth surface. There +was just one word in the soldier's vocabulary that would disturb him, +but this word never failed to bring on a typhoon. This innocent yet +magic word was "carabao," the name of the water buffalo, the beast +of burden that formed the American "cracker line" in the Philippines +before the introduction of the ever-faithful mule. This is how it +came to have such a terror for poor Timmons: + +His regiment was undergoing its training on the "firing-line," and +his company furnished twelve men daily for the "lunette," a kind of +detached bastion about 800 yards in front of the line in the direction +of the enemy. This was a lonesome detail. Just twelve men to man an +isolated little fort, the enemy known to be in great numbers not more +than four or five miles away. It came Timmons' turn to go on this duty +for, the first time. The detail, in command of a sergeant, marched +out at sundown and relieved the men who had been on the previous +twenty-four hours. The old guard turned over its orders and at the +same time reported having seen some armed "gugus" in the direction +of the Mariquina River, which ran in front of the "lunette" about a +thousand yards away, the intervening space being an open rice-field. + +The old guard marched off and the new one on, throwing off their +blanket-rolls and making themselves as comfortable for the night +as possible. But two men at a time were required to remain awake +and vigilant. + +Night came on as black as the enemy they were fighting, and with it +all the breath-stopping and hair-raising noises that the myriads of +flying and crawling animals of that war-ridden country produces. There +was the "vantriloquest" bird, gifted with a voice that is the essence +of all that is frightful and hideous in sounds--forty demons running +amuck and coming your direction. + +In painful harmony was the low, deep tones the "chuck me," whose +vocal cords are tuned after the left end of the key-board of the +pipe organ. Then there were slimy lizards, chameleons, tree-frogs, +scorpions, and wonderful bugs, all with voices peculiar to their +families. There were lightning-bugs as big as jack-o'-lanterns, +and tarantulas with round and velvety bodies, and a spread of legs +that would cover a frying-pan. All this and the known presence of +a sneaking enemy was enough to test the nerves of veterans, so its +effect on recruits can easily be imagined. + +Timmons' time to remain awake and go on post duty arrived. Jones, +who called himself an old "vet," because he had served in Cuba, +went on with "Tim," as his comrades called him. Their turn began +at midnight. The Sergeant, who had posted them, was soon lying down +taking a non-commissioned officer's sleep--one eye closed, the other +on the _qui vive_. Both sentries were on the alert. Many suspicious +noises came to their ears, and imaginary murderous-looking "niggers" +were seen lurking in the grass, behind rice-dykes, and lying crouching +on the ground. If "Tim" discovered something that he was certain was a +death-dealing boloman, he would tiptoe over to Jones and hold a council +of war. That worthy--the old "vet"--would dispense nerve-soothing +whispers in his ears, and he would return to his post a less nervous +"rookey." + +The time dragged wearily on, and finally arrived when they were about +to be relieved. The blackest of the night was on. Jones left his post +to arouse the Sergeant and acquaint that official with the hour. "Tim" +was now alone. A slowly moving figure loomed up before him not fifty +yards away. Then came the sounds of heavy tramping feet. The sounds +were rapidly drawing nearer. There, before his dilated eyes, dimly +outlined, and within pistol-shot, was the enemy in great numbers, +who would soon close around the little garrison and murder them to +a man. What should he do? His orders were strict about giving undue +alarms, but if he wasted a moment longer, there would be no time for +defense. If he left his post to arouse his comrades, the enemy would +rush upon them. No. He would give the alarm by firing and one dead +Filipino would be the result of it. He nervously raised his rifle, +took deliberate aim at the advancing figures, and fired. There was a +sickening thud, a heavy fall, and low, deep moans. The men were aroused +and manned the fort. The Sergeant ordered a general fusillade. The +regiment was in the trenches in a moment and remained there till dawn. + +The first light of day revealed, lying in a great pool of his own +blood, "Big Bill," the bull buffalo that drew the headquarters +water-cart, who had been out grazing that night. + + + + + + +AN ENCOUNTER WITH BOLOMEN. + +A True Narrative of a Personal Experience in the Philippines. + +By a Lieutenant of Infantry. + + +The organized bands of Filipinos known as bolomen are so called because +their principal weapon is the long, broad-bladed, vicious-looking +knife called the bolo, with which they do their deadly work. They +make many boasts of their prowess and skill in taking human life, and +one of their proudest feats is to sever the head from the body with +a single blow. Our men in the Philippines who are on detached duty, +or who for any cause are away from their commands, are frequently +attacked by these men. + +As a rule, bolomen do not carry rifles, although many carry revolvers +when they can get them. Their work is to kill at short range. With +the stealth of a cat they slip up on their victim, strike him a deadly +blow, and then beat a quick retreat to their own lines. + +Many of the insurgent officers and soldiers carry bolos, but the +genuine bolomen are an organized body belonging to Aguinaldo's army, +who have as distinct a work to do as the different branches of our own +service. Their work is solely to surprise the unsuspecting outpost, +officer or soldier, to dispatch him and run away before the deed has +been discovered. + +Their feats are commonly committed in the darkness of the night Then +their cat-like tread serves them well. Stealing noiselessly along +through banana groves and bamboo thickets, cane-fields and cogonales, +they approach within a few feet of their intended victim and lie for +a few moments watching him as a snake eyes a defenseless bird. + +During the months of June and July, 1899, my regiment was doing duty +at San Fernando, about forty miles from Manila. The companies of the +regiment took turns on outpost, going on this duty every fourth day +and being in reserve on the outpost line the day preceding that on +which they went on post. This gave the companies two nights in houses +in town and two on the line out of every four. + +My company did duty on what was known as the north line, extending +from San Fernando a full mile toward Angeles. The entire distance was +an almost impenetrable jungle of bamboo and banana trees, intertwined +and interwoven with vines, thorn-bushes, and many other forms of +tropical growth. + +To the front was an immense cane-field, with a "paddy-field" +beyond. The cane was from five to seven feet high. Along this deep +fringe of bamboo and matted undergrowth, and near the edge next to +the cane-field, our pickets, or Cossack posts, as they are properly +called, were stationed at distances ranging from one hundred and fifty +to two hundred and fifty yards apart, one corporal and six privates +at each post. + +On the tenth of July my company went out in reserve, and early in +the morning relieved the company there on the outpost line, Nothing +took place during the day except the usual exchange of shots with +the insurgent pickets. Most officers when in command of companies on +this duty visit their sentries some time during the night, in order +to reassure their men, and to see that they are well-instructed and +on the alert. I have always followed this practice. + +I started on a tour of inspection at about 9:30, visiting first the +post on the railroad on the left of the line, then taking the other +posts in succession down toward the right It had rained in torrents +for several days, and wide, deep pools of water had formed everywhere +along the way. Because of these pools, I was wearing high-topped +rubber boots. Shortly after ten o'clock I arrived at the next to the +last post on the line, which was about two hundred and fifty yards +farther on. Between these two pickets was the most dense growth of +bamboo trees and banana stalks to be found in that neighborhood, and +the entire distance was a continuous chain of diminutive lakes. There +was a path leading through this net-work from one picket to the other. + +It was drizzling. The immense spreading leaves of the banana and +thickly matted foliage of the bamboo formed a canopy that shut out +every trace of light. No dungeon was ever darker than this path. + +Notwithstanding the gloomy surroundings caused by the death-like +stillness, the darkness of the night, the water dripping from +the overhanging vegetation and completely saturating my clothes, +my occasionally colliding with a thorny shrub, or tripping over a +low-hanging vine, I was in excellent spirits. I groped along the +cave-like way, humming in a low tone "The Girl I Left Behind Me," +and had reached a point about midway between the pickets. Then, +although I could see no one, I suddenly became aware of the presence +of a human being. + +I stopped as if I had been struck dead, and strained my eyes. There, +just in front of me, near enough for me to grasp with my hands, I saw +the dim outlines of a short, thick-set man. Was he one of my men? No, +for no man would dare to leave his post at that time of night. Should +he be discovered in such an act, the penalty for his crime would +be death. + +"Hello! Who are you?" I said. There was no answer from the man; +instead, I saw his right hand quickly strike out from his shoulder, +and the flash of a glistening blade. I threw up my left hand, and +our wrists met in heavy collision; but his blow was stronger than my +ward, for I felt a sharp sting in my face just below the left eye, +and a moment later the warm blood trickled down my cheek. With my +left hand I grabbed his wrist just below the thumb and gripped it +like grim death, but he was not to be beaten thus. I felt the sinews +of his wrist rise, and the grinding of the muscles, and then the same +stinging sensation that I had felt in my face I now felt in my wrist. + +I could count the cuts as he made them--one, two, three--all on my +left wrist and hand, and then the blood began to run down my forearm, +as our hands were elevated. + +This occupied but a second of time. He raised his left hand, and I saw +another flash. What it was I knew not, but I immediately grasped his +wrist and tried to force this hand behind him. Before I could do so, +he fired, and the ball passed through my left boot-leg. The muzzle +was so close to me that the force of the powder almost threw me to +the earth. I ground my teeth in a desperate effort to force his hand +behind him. My left hand, cut and bleeding, still held his right. Now +forcing the fight with the revolver, he tried vainly to raise it and +shoot me in the body. Throwing my whole strength on my right arm, +I succeeded in forcing back his revolver hand. At this he began to +shoot at my feet. + +The first shot missed, but he immediately followed it with another. It +struck, for my right foot felt as if it had been hit with a club, +and grew numb. Four more shots came in quick succession. One of +them--which I cannot tell--struck the same foot and broke the bridge, +as I knew from the immediate loss of strength in that member. + +Now all was quiet. We stood with our heaving chests touching. I +felt his breath in my face, and his heart palpitating against my +breast. There was a lull in the battle. I felt safe, as far as +the revolver was concerned, for he had emptied that, but the deadly +knife was still poised over my head. My life depended entirely on the +strength of my wounded hand and wrist, which were holding the knife +away from my throat. + +Now I remembered that bolomen never travel alone. That he had comrades +within a few feet of me, who were trying to distinguish between us, +so that they might be sure that their knifes should enter my back +instead of his, I was certain. My flesh cringed at the thought; +I could almost feel the cold steel enter my body. + +It was time for me to force the fight. My right foot was badly +wounded, but the knee was yet unhurt. With this I struck the man a +blow in the abdomen, and quickly followed it with another. It was +evident that he was weakening. He again made a desperate effort to +free the hand which held the bolo, but my endeavor to keep him from +succeeding was greater. I drew back the right leg as far as I could, +doubled up the knee, and, with all the strength that I possessed, +drove it again into his abdomen. + +The effect was marvelous; his muscles relaxed, his struggles grew +feeble, and his breathing was badly interrupted. This was the decisive +part of the fight, and I grasped the opportunity. With all my might +I threw him from me. He fell among the bushes, and was lost in the +blinding darkness. I drew my revolver from the scabbard, and fired +in the direction in which I had thrown him. This shot was answered +by a cry which told me he had been hit. + +At this moment I heard the twigs breaking and the leaves rustling +behind me. Like a flash I faced about and fired at the approaching +figures--my assailant's fellow-bolomen. The effect of the shot was +to cause a heavy rustling and the sound of many feet in rapid retreat. + +I had been careless enough to come into this jungle with but two loads +in my revolver, and these had been fired. When I began to reload, +my right foot gave way and I fell. Lying on the ground, I loaded and +fired again. The groans of my wounded enemy were getting farther away, +and the sounds finally died in the direction of the Filipino line. + +I hobbled to my nearest outpost, where one of the men bound my wounds, +and later I received the attention of a medical officer. I believe +myself to be the first American soldier to live to tell the tale of +his fight with bolomen.--_From Youth's Companion of February 1, 1900_. + + + + + + +"CARABAO BILL." + +A Midnight Reconnaissance in the Philippines. + + +"Carabao Bill," from his dress and manner, might be said to be a +typical United States Army officer. His figure would probably fall +short of the standard, but he was no less strong and healthy than his +brother knights of the sword. His strength was more to be compared to +that patient animal after which he was nick-named, the mighty carabao, +but he lacked the grace of form and dignity of bearing that the average +wearer of shoulder-straps in Uncle Sam's army is supposed to possess. + +The soldiers said he waltzed like a cow and walked like a camel--moving +one corner at a time--which was indeed a graphic way of describing +his movements. + +William Van Osdol was his name, and he was a second lieutenant in the +--th Infantry. After several months of hard service in the Philippines +he earned for himself the unenviable sobriquet of "Carabao Bill," +because his awkward movements, ox-like strength, and slow but sure +gait were so much like the sturdy animal that formed our "cracker line" +that that name could not but suggest itself. + +In Cuba he served as a sergeant in one of the regular infantry +regiments. He was the proud possessor of a bayonet scabbard, several +times punctured by Mauser bullets, which he had worn in the charge up +San Juan Hill. It was for "gallant and meritorious conduct" during this +fight that won for him the recommendation for commissioned rank; and +it was but shortly after he had returned from fever-ridden Santiago, +when in the hospital at Montauk Point, that the much-coveted document, +making him an officer in the United States Army, reached him. + +Van Osdol was a born fighter. The set of his lower jaw and the quick +snap of his light blue eyes left nothing to be guessed at on that +line. While he was not a picturesque nor dashing officer, yet his heavy +growth of fiery red locks was ever to be seen in the front of the fight +and seldom under cover. An Irish corporal, who had once fallen a victim +to his disciplining, declared, "The sorril-topped lootenint hain't +brains 'nuff to git scart," but this was not true. While not a man +renowned for brilliancy of intellect, yet he was a level-headed thinker +whose judgment was always good on minor matters. He was frequently +selected to conduct scouting expeditions where good "horse sense" and +nerve were much more expedient than a superabundance of gray matter +abnormally developed with theories of fine tactics and maneuvers. + +When the --th Infantry, to which he belonged, was doing duty at +a convent some fifty or sixty miles from Manila, on the Manila +and Dagupan Railroad, the Tagalos gave the usual annoyance. Their +threatenings and feeble attacks came mostly from the west, but as +the rainy season approached the torrential showers soon flooded that +vicinity, so they changed their base of harassing to a village of +bamboo and nipa palm huts on the further side of a river running +parallel to the American outpost line on the south, about five +thousand yards away. The intervening ground was taken up with rice +paddies, banana groves, cogonales, or tall grass, and occasionally +a bamboo jungle. + +The rebels had no sooner occupied this new position, than they began to +entrench, take possession of the huts, and make themselves comfortable +in other ways, giving promise to make matters lively for our troops +the rainy season. + +They were frequently reënforced, greater activity was seen among them, +and their boldness was unprecedented. Some days, when the tropical +sun was beating down its sweltering rays, and our men were seeking +every vestige of shade, the pesky little Filipinos would suddenly +emerge into the open rice-field, deploy into line of skirmishers, +and advance in a most threatening manner toward the American lines. + +The outposts would become alarmed and call for the regiment to support +them. Out the companies would rush at double-time, amid swearing and +sweat. When the deployments were made and all was ready to receive +the dusky foe, he would suddenly face about before he had approached +within effective rifle-range. The regiment's orders were to hold +the convent; consequently the enemy could not be pursued beyond the +outposts' limits. + +One morning during the latter part of July, 1899, it was observed that +there were no signs of the festive "gugus" in the accustomed place. No +smoke; no outposts; no soldiers in short white pants and wide brimmed +sombreros. This was an unusual thing--for, while Aguinaldo's men were +never known to hold a position against the mad attacks of our boys +in blue, the voluntary abandonment of their works was an unheard-of +proceeding. + +Treachery, or the same thing, Filipino strategy, was strongly +suspected. They were playing some game, and the senior officer at +the convent determined to learn the trump. + +Just as the shades of evening began to gather, on the day when +the Tagalos made their mysterious disappearance, "Carabao Bill," +who was in command of his company on outpost, and had it quartered +in a church which had once been held by the natives and abandoned +under pressure, turned out his men to do the daily police. While +he was busy reprimanding a private, who was noted for laziness and +shirking his duty, and had just been adding to his reputation for +such, a battalion adjutant, a tall and handsome fellow with a slight +partiality for legs, came dashing up on a native pony. His knees were +bent and elevated toward his chin in order that his pedal extremities +might not collide with the frail limbs of his steaming mount. + +Owing to the shortness of his stirrup-straps, he dismounted rather +ungracefully, but soon gathered himself into military shape and +smartly saluted "Bill," saying: "Sir, the Commanding Officer presents +his compliments and directs that at twelve o'clock to-night you take a +non-commissioned officer and fourteen privates of your company and make +a thorough reconnaissance of the grounds between here and the enemy's +position on the south, and determine if possible their whereabouts, +strength, and probable intention; and report to him immediately on +your return." + +His message delivered, the dashing young officer remounted and rode +rapidly back to headquarters. + +Van Osdol slowly ran his freckled fingers through his auburn locks, +and gave a shrill whistle, his signal for his first sergeant to report +to him. That worthy of multitudinous duties immediately appeared and +received orders to arrange the detail for the reconnaissance duty. + +The night was blindingly dark. There was a density to the darkness +that almost excluded the penetration of thought. The mind could pass +no farther than the immediate vicinity. Since the sun had set a thick +layer of clouds had lined the canopy of heaven, veiling the winks of +the brightest stars and the benignant light of the moon. + +Sergeant Schriner, with soldierly punctuality, reported with the +detail just as the sentry over the rifle-stacks at the church called +in a subdued voice the hour of twelve. + +The little party promptly started on its hazardous mission, feeling +its way through the matted bamboo jungles fringing the station--the +officer leading, the sergeant and men following in "goose formation," +single-file; each keeping in touch with the person before him. + +The advance was slow, for during the day the border around the +place was almost impenetrable--the darkness served to multiply the +difficulties. + +It was a night to try men's souls. Bolo parties frequently lay in +ambush in these places of perfect hiding, and suddenly pounced upon +the unsuspecting Americanos, and cut them to pieces before a hand +could be raised in defense. + +Or there was the possibility of receiving a volley at close range; +for it was known that at night the Tagalos invariably approached nearer +our lines. Since they had so mysteriously disappeared during the day, +there was a strong probability that they would take up a new position +that night. Where, no one knew. + +Lonely huts, amid vines and bamboo, that had been deserted when the +place fell into our hands, were frequently passed. A half-starved dog, +that had refused to follow its master from home, set up a mournful +howl that tended to chill the marrow in the bones. The very silence was +appalling. The breaking of a twig was as the discharge of a rifle. The +lightest footfall resounded in the distance. To the party it seemed +their shoes were of iron and the earth a ringing plate of steel. + +After a hard struggle with Nature's obstacles, and many halts to +locate and determine the cause of suspicious noises, the little band +finally emerged from the dense undergrowth into an open field. Almost +simultaneously with the entrance into this open space there was a +slight break in the clouds, and through the crevice the moon and +stars gave sparingly of their light. + +The men were now deployed into line of skirmishers, and moved slowly +and cautiously forward. There was just sufficient light to cause the +imagination to see an enemy behind every rice-dyke or bunch of grass. + +The advance was made to within 150 paces of the river, when a halt +was made. A vague outline of the village and trenches could be +seen. Someone saw the dim figure of a rebel sentry. All eyes were +turned on the spot, but he remained as fixed as the stars. + +Van Osdol decided to go alone to investigate the trenches and village, +for in doing this there would be less danger of detection. + +The Sergeant remained behind to take command of the detachment. The +intrepid officer, with revolver in hand, went on his way toward the +river. His advance was slow--only a few feet at a time, then he would +stop, lower his head to the ground, and listen intently. + +Now the trenches loomed up before him not more than fifty yards +away. He strained his eyes in effort to see some signs of a living +occupant, but nothing save the fanning of the giant leaves of the +banana, and the waving of the tall grass under the gentle breeze of +the south wind, was seen to move. There was reigning the stillness +of death--that awful omen of lurking danger. A few feet further he +wormed his way, now crawling on all fours. Just in front of him was +a foot-bridge across the river, made of a single stringer of poles +and a hand-rail with which to balance the body. + +Over this bridge he began to cross. Not more than two short steps +were taken when he heard a low, whistling sound. He halted instantly, +squatted on his haunches beneath the hand-rail, and listened, as +fixed as a statue. The whistling was repeated; this time nearer, +but the direction indefinite. + +Was it the signal of an alarmed sentry, or was it one of the many +nocturnal noises which the Island of Luzon produces? + +Another low whistle--this time nearer; then the speaking of that +instinct that tells us of the presence of human beings in the blackness +of the night. + +He slowly faced about. There within four feet of him, crouching upon +the ground near the water's edge, was a man with a rifle in his +hand. Quick as a flash he threw the muzzle of his revolver in his +face--remembering his surroundings, he never fired or uttered a word. + +Struggling between a whisper and a low talk, breathless through, +fear, came the words of Private Holmes: "For God's sake, don't shoot, +Lieutenant; it's me." + +The officer lowered his revolver and beckoned the man to draw nearer. + +With his mouth to the Lieutenant's ear, the soldier told that the +men left behind had seen a number of moving figures in the village +and trenches, not twenty-five yards away from where they were then +crouching; and that he had been sent to warn his officer of his danger. + +Here is where it tried the steel of "Carabao Bill." + +The two kept their positions, scarcely daring to breathe lest they be +heard. A plan of operations soon formed in the mind of the resourceful +young officer. He whispered to Holmes to return and have the Sergeant +hold his men in readiness, with magazines filled, for an emergency +should he need them. + +Before Holmes had covered half the distance between the Lieutenant and +the men, there was the sound as the cocking of a rifle; a second later +came the flash and sharp report of a Mauser. True to his training, +the soldier fell to the ground and lay motionless. + +By the light of the flash Van Osdol saw the black face of the Filipino +sentry who had fired. + +Soon began that mumbling, chattering, rattling noise that an alarmed +camp alone produces. The shrill commands of the little officers in +frantic endeavor to steady their men, the patter of many shoeless feet, +the breaking of rifle-stacks, and the clanking of bayonets and swords, +made a medley of camp music that was hideous to hear. + +The alarm was soon quieted. The aroused men returned to their sleep, +and soon all was again quiet. The sentry who had fired at Holmes made +loud and emphatic assertions in the twangy language of the Tagalo of +having seen something at which to fire, but he was disbelieved, his +belt removed, deprived of his rifle, and another man put in his place. + +This was pleasant for the squatting American officer on the bridge +to behold. + +After patiently waiting in deep suspense for more than half an hour, +he noticed the substituted sentry stand his rifle against a tree and +sit down. A moment later his head fell forward and he was asleep. + +Determined to learn more of the enemy's position and strength, +"Carabao Bill," inch by inch, silently slipped across the bridge +and to the edge of the trench, a few yards to the left of the +sleeping sentry. Here he made a rapid survey of the insurgent camp +and position. Hundreds of them were lying stretched in sleep behind +the shelter of the earthworks. + +His mission accomplished, he slowly turned to the unconscious sentry, +thinking to secure the Mauser rifle as a trophy of the trip; but he +had no more than grabbed it when the man awoke with a start, and, +like a flash, whipped out a shining bolo. Before the native had +time to use his weapon, "Bill" raised the rifle above his head, and, +with a powerful blow that resounded through the midnight air, sent +him reeling over the trench among his slumbering companions. Then, +with a shout that would tend to raise the dead, he began to empty +his revolver into the rapidly awakening rebel soldiers below. + +Quick-witted Sergeant Schriner had no sooner heard the blow of the +rifle and the shout of his commanding officer, till he had taken in +the situation. + +He gave the order for a charge; and this small band of Uncle Sam's +men rushed like demons, screaming and yelling like maniacs, toward the +little bridge--then over it, and began to pour an awful, close-range +fire into the confused mass of humanity beyond the trench. + +The effect was magical. The drowsy enemy, taken unawares, routed and +disorganized, beat a disgraceful retreat. In vain their officers tried +to make them stand; but the thought uppermost in every man's mind +was how to get to a place of security in the quickest possible time. + +In less time than it takes to tell it; there were no Filipinos on +the scene of action, excepting the dead and wounded. The number of +these, considering the darkness of the night, did credit to American +marksmanship. + +The sound of retreating feet was occasionally broken by the reports +of a poorly directed volley by a few of the bolder characters, who +had the rare nerve to halt and fire at the audacious "Yankees." + +The situation was ridiculous. Sixteen men had charged and taken a +well-fortified position held by at least one thousand Tagalog. + +The victors sat down on the bank of the river to talk and laugh +over the adventure. Meanwhile, the terror-stricken followers of the +misguided Aguinaldo were being rallied by their officers beyond the +range of fire. They were now aware of the inferiority in numbers of +the Americans. + +To capture and hold the enemy's works was not a part of Van Osdo's +instructions. Now realizing this, he decided to return and report. The +men were called together, and the start began for the return. + +But the bridge! In their wild advance over that frail structure it had +been so shaken that it had fallen into the river and was washed away. + +The stream was full to the banks and too deep to wade. Not a third of +the men could swim it with their arms and accouterments. The rebels +were every minute drawing nearer and intensifying their fire. They +were truly between fire and water. There were no boats to be had nor +could the time be taken to construct a raft of bamboo poles. + +On came the howling, revengeful, murderous black devils, frenzied +by their recent defeat by this inferior party. The leaders were +frantically waving their swords over their heads, and shouting words of +encouragement to their men; offering rewards to the first to reënter +the trenches. + +Our diminutive army was now on the defensive. They leaped into +the ditch and began to take pot-shots at the more daring of the +rapidly approaching mass, determined, to hold the place or die in +the attempt--indeed, there was no alternative. + +They succeeded in arresting the van. + +The enemy in turn sought shelter and began a fire that had results, +for two Americans were soon rendered _hors de combat_; the trench +not affording as good shelter from the side from which the insurgents +were approaching as on the other side. + +This long-range duel kept up for many minutes. Ammunition grew scarce +and was finally exhausted, Van Osdol alone retaining loads in his +revolver. + +From the slackening of the American fire, the rebels soon became +aware of their scarcity of cartridges, and again began a mad rush +for the trenches. + +Nothing remained for the bold little band to do but to meet them with +the point of the bayonet and sell their lives at a precious price. + +The unhurt members of the detachment rallied around their gallant +leader with bayonets fixed. Now the foremost of the wildly rushing +horde was within a hundred yards. + +A brilliant thought struck Sergeant Schriner. He ran forward, grasped +a Mauser near one of the rebels who had fallen when the trenches were +taken, undid the belt of the lifeless owner, buckled it around his own +waist, and returned to his comrades. All followed his example. With +their own arms and ammunition the advance of the blood-thirsty +enemy was again checked. With the newly acquired arms and ammunition +the brave little band inflicted a decided injury to their would-be +slayers. Now every shot was expended with the greatest caution. + +Again the American fire slackened, and again the stubborn insurrectos +rushed forward. At last the recently acquired belts were emptied. There +was now no further hope. + +With renewed shouting, and rending the air with their hideous screams, +the twice-checked enemy came madly on. Once more the defenders rallied +to meet their death together. + +On a sudden the yells seemed a hundred times multiplied, and from the +rear as well as front. Had they been surrounded? To the rear the shouts +were rapidly drawing nearer, but it was not the sharp and broken yell +of the Tagalo--it was the familiar "Yankee yell"; that invincible, +"gugu"-terrorizing "Yankee yell." + +Five hundred brave defenders of the stars and stripes had heard the +first firing, when the trenches were taken, and immediately started +to the rescue of their comrades. + +Upon his return, "Carabao Bill" reported that he found the enemy. + + + + + + +"PATERNO," THE DISGRACED MASCOT. + +Ostracism in Monkey Society. + + +There is a certain analogy between the Chinaman's pigtail and the +prehensile appendage of that very astute little animal, the monkey, for +the proud possessors of either of these grotesque physical adornments +lose social caste the moment they are bereft of them. That there are +reasons to believe that the tail of the monkey is his credentials +to the polite society of his race the following incident will serve +to substantiate: + +One day in May, 1899, when one of our infantry regiments which had been +ascending the Rio Grande, in the Island of Luzon, in pursuit of the +wily and festive Filipino, had halted to rest, it was decided to have +an exhibition of company mascots. Each company had a monkey--an even +dozen of them all told. There were "Pat" and "Mike," who proudly wore +strips of billiard-table cloth about their necks; and "Aguinaldo" and +"Paterno," named respectively for the leader and brains of the Tagalo +insurrection. "Aguinaldo" wore with dignity a little tin sword by his +side that one of the men of his company had made from a salmon can, +while "Paterno" looked gay and world-wise in a ballet skirt ingeniously +contrived by a company tailor from a bit of red mosquito-bar. The +others all had names, most of them for some distinguished military +commander to whom they were supposed to bear some facial resemblance. + +The show was a decided success. Every contestant put aside his +work-a-day tricks, and performed those only that were intended for +gala days. "Aguinaldo" was a sure winner from the first, for he +had learned to draw his sword, wave it dramatically over his head, +cheer for a few seconds in monkey talk, then break and dash to the +rear. "Paterno" was an easy candidate for second honors. He gave a +giddy dance and looked coy. + +But "pride goeth before a fall." It was decided to let the mascots +have a social gathering. They were brought into a ring formed by +grinning soldiers. All went well for a moment or two. They grinned, +caressed, and made merry. Just in the very heights of the ecstacies, +a playful young monk, that had been exchanging "sheep's eyes" with +"Paterno," in a fit of playfulness made a grab for the latter's +tail, but lo! there was none. The news spread like the incoming of +"amigos" after the capture of a Filipino town. A damper fell upon the +meeting. All scorned the maimed fellow with that frosty bearing that +a reigning belle bestows upon a promising _débutante_, or the monkey +family toward their tailless fellow-monks. + +The disgraced animal begged and entreated for further notice, and +a renewal of the general good time that had been so unceremoniously +ended by the recent discovery, but his solicitations were in vain--none +condescended to again notice him. + +With "Paterno," patience at last ceased to be a virtue. Knowing that +the playful young monk who had made the discovery caused his downfall, +he looked for a moment at that guileless-appearing creature. The +expression of his face rapidly changed from a look of entreaty to +that of ferociousness. With a vicious bound, he pounced upon his +enemy, clawing, tearing, and biting. The other members of this solemn +gathering simply separated the belligerents, none daring to do harm +to the socially ostracised fellow. + +Finally, giving up the struggle, "Paterno" withdrew from the crowd. In +the _mêlée_ he had lost his skirt. He looked long and pitifully at his +fellow-mascots who had so suddenly turned against him. Great teardrops +gathered in his eyes and trickled down his hairy cheeks. Raising his +head, he spied a bamboo thicket in the distance. With a wild yell, +he sprang through the line of sympathetic soldiers and made for +the jungle. + +Company E had had their last sight of "Paterno," their tailless +monkey mascot. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bamboo Tales, by Ira L. 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