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THE NEW YORK
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AJfT'lK. LENOX AND
TIU>tiA FOrt:i»AT10NB
r. L
"It Won't be Necessary, Corporal.'
Frontispiece.
Uncle Sam's Boys in
the Philippines
OR
Following the Flag against the Moros
By
H. IRVING HANCOCK
Author of Uncle Sam's Boys in the Ranks, Uncle Sam's Boys on
Field Duty, Uncle Sam's Boys as Sergeants, The Motor Boat
Club Series, The Grammar School Boys Series, The
High School Boys Series, The West Point
Series, The Annapolis Series, The Young
Engineers Series, etc., etc.
Illustrated
PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY
HOWARD E. ALTEMUS
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE FILIPINO DANDY 7
II. A MEETING AT THE NIPA BARRACKS 26
III. PLOTTERS TRAVEL WITH THE FLAG 42
IV. CERVERRA'S INNOCENT SHOP 54
V. ENOUGH TO ' 'RATTLE" THE VICTIM 65
VI. LIFE HANGS ON A WORD 70
VII. THE KIND OF MAN WHO MASTERS 0 :HERS 81
VIII. THE EIGHT MAN IN THE GUARD HOUSE 87
IX. NEWS COMES OF THE UPRISING 98
X. THE INSULT TO THE FLAG 112
XI. IN THE FIRST BRUSH WITH MOROS 124
XII. THE BROWN MEN AT BAY — FOR How LONG? 131
XIII. A TALE OF MORO BLACKMAIL 141
XIV. THE CALL FOR MIDNIGHT COURAGE 149
XV. IN A CLINCH WITH COLD STEEL 161
XVI. DATTO HAKKUT 1 IAKES A NEW MOVE 168
XVII. "LONG" GREEN AND KELLY HAVE INNINGS 177
XVIII. SENTRY MIGGS MAKES A GRUESOME FIND 187
XIX. HAL TURNS THE GATLING GUN LOOSE ]96
XX. CORPORAL DUXBRIDGE 's MISTAKE 208
XXI. SCOUTING IN DEADLY EARNEST 220'
XXII. PLAYING Goo-Goo IN A GRIM GAME 228
XXIII. DOOMING THE DATTO 236
XXIV. CONCLUSION 246
Uncle Sam's Boys in the Philippines
CHAPTER I
THE FILIPINO DANDY
"TITTE'VE solved one problem at last,
Vy Noll," declared Sergeant Hal Over-
ton seriouslv.
V
"Only one?" demanded young Sergeant Terry
quizzically.
But Hal, becoming only the more serious,
went on earnestly:
"At last we begin to understand just what
the 'lure of the Orient' means ! For years I've
been reading about the Orient, and the way that
this part of the world charms men and holds
them. Now, that we are here on the spot, I
begin to understand it all. Noll, my boy, the
East is a great and wonderful place ! I wonder
if I shall ever tire of it?"
"I believe I could tire of it in time,' re-
marked Sergeant Terry, of the Thirty-fourth
United States Infantry.
7
'3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"But you haven't yet," insisted Sergeant Hal.
"What, when we've been here only three
days! Naturally I haven't. And, besides, all
we've seen is Manila, and certainly Manila
can't be more than one little jumping-off corner
of the Orient that you're so enthusiastic about.'
"You're wild about the Far East, too — even
the one little corner of it that we 've seen, ' re-
torted Sergeant Hal. "Don't be a grouch or
a knocker, Noll. Own up that you wouldn't
start for the United States to-morrow if you
were offered double pay back in the home coun-
try."
"No; I wouldn't," confessed Sergeant Terry.
*•! want to see a lot more of these Philippine
Islands before I go back to our own land. '
"Just halt where you are and look about
you, ' ' went on enthusiastic Sergeant Hal. i i Try
to picture this scene as Broadway, in New
York."
"Or Main Street in our own little home city.'
laughed Sergeant Terry quietly.
Certainly the scene was entirely different
from anything that the two young Army boys
had ever seen before.
They stood on the Escolta, which is the main
business thoroughfare of New Manila, as that
portion of the Philippine capital north of the
little river is called. South of the river is Old
IN THE PHILIPPINES 9
Manila, the walled city of the old days of the
Spanish conquerors. South of the walled city
lie two rather fashionable residence suburbs,
Ermita and Malate.
But the Thirty-fourth was temporarily sta-
tioned in big nipa barracks at Malate. It was
in the newer Manila that the two boyish young
sergeants found their greatest interest.
It was a busy, bustling scene. There is noth-
ing exactly like the Escolta in any other part
of the world. The whole of this crooked, wind-
ing thoroughfare seemed alive with horses and
people — with the horses in more than goodly
proportion.
Along the Escolta are the principal wholesale
and retail houses of the city. Here is the post
office, there the "Botanica' or principal drug
store, operating under English capital and a
Spanish name; down near the water front is
the Hotel de Paris, a place famous for the good
dinners of the East Further up the Escolta,
just around a slight bend, is the Oriente Hotel,
the stopping place of Army officers and their
families, of passing travelers and of civil em-
ployees of the government.
At this point along the Escolta are the busiest
marts of local trade. The sidewalks are
crowded with hurrying throngs; the streets
jammed with traffic, for in Manila few of the
10 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
whites or the wealthier natives ever think of
walking more than a block or two. The quilez,
the little two-wheeled car drawn by a six-hun-
dred-ponnd pony, is the common means of get-
ting about. A dollar in American money will
charter one of these quilez for hours, and the
heat renders it an advisable investment for one
who has far to go.
Automobiles were scarce, though they had
penetrated even this congested Escolta. Here
and there an Army officer or orderly appeared
on horseback in the crush of the street. If he
attempted to ride at a canter the horseman
seemed to be taking his life in his own hands,
with the chances all against him.
Save for the lazy calls of drivers — cocheros —
to their horses, the hum of human voices was
subdued. In the heat of the Escolta the people
of all colors seem to have reached a tacit under-
standing that it requires less exertion to talk
in low tones.
White people of both sexes appeared, clad
usually in the white attire so customary in the
tropics. Filipino dandies affected the same
garbing, with the exception of here and there
a natty, nervous, little brown man who appeared
in the more formal black frock coat. But few,
even of these, had the courage to come out in
sun-up hours wearing the silk hat that is the
IN THE PHILIPPINES 11
usual accompaniment of the long-tailed frock
coat.
Despite the heat, the faces of most of the
people in the crowded streets appeared cheerful,
even happy. Life is not taken too seriously in
the Orient, The natives always find plenty of
time for laughter; the stranger soon acquires
the trick.
Banks, stores, restaurants, mineral water
kiosks — all the places of resort along the Es-
colta — were abundantly patronized, yet none
save the cocheros perched up on the little seats
of the qidlez appeared to be at all in a hurry.
Yet one man in particular appeared to be
devoid of hurry. In fact, he paused or halted
whenever the two boyish young sergeants did.
He invariably kept about a hundred feet behind
them in this queerly bustling yet ever leisurely
crowd that thronged the sidewalks of the Es-
colta.
While Hal and Noll were curiously noting the
fact — that the Escolta seems always so busy,
but the individuals who make up the life there
seem never in a hurry — the man who was plainly
following them never glanced at them directly,
yet never once lost sight of them.
Neither Hal nor Noll had yet noted the man,
about whom there were some points that would
have been amusing to the American youngsters.
12 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
This man was a Filipino. At first glance one
would have believed him to be a Tagalo, or mem-
ber of the most warlike and ambitious of all
the eighty-odd tribes that make up the peoples
of these islands. The Tagalos are the tribe
most frequently found in and around Manila,
and in the provinces nearest to that city. In
apearance the Tagalos look a good deal like
underfed Japanese. It was to the Tagalos that
the insurrecto leader, Aguinaldo, belonged.
These Tagalos, however, consider themselves
in every way the equals and match for any white
man. The Tagalos have absorbed much of the
Spanish civilization. Many of them are wealthy
and the sons of such families generally hold
degrees from Philippine colleges. Well-to-do
Tagalos, despite their undersized stature and
dark-brown skins, affect all the culture — and the
vices — of well-to-do white people. They conduct
banks, engage in commerce, mingle with white
society, and consider themselves as bright lights
of civilization. Above all, every Tagalo takes
keen interest in politics. Yet these Tagalos,. up
to date, are only veneered Malays.
This Filipino who was so patiently following
Sergeants Hal and Noll appeared to belong to
the well-to-do class. Certainly he was an im-
maculate dandy. He was about five feet two
inches in height, and wore neat-fitting, well-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 13
tailored white duck garments. The blouse was
buttoned down in front, a military, braided white
collar standing up stiffly, rendering the wearing
of a shirt unnecessary. On his feet were highly
polished tan shoes of American make. On his
head he wore a jaunty, straight-brimmed straw
hat of the best native manufacture. In his right
hand this irreproachable Filipino dandy lightly
swung a feather-weight bamboo cane.
His eyes were dark, gleaming, intense — fitted
either to reflect laughter or sharp anger. But
what rendered this man, who appeared to be
close to thirty-five years of age, ridiculous to
American eyes was his mustache. This was
blue-black in color, waxed to two fine, bristling,
upturned points — a fashion that this dandy had
undoubtedly caught from some former Spanish
military officer.
"They are boys — they will suit my purpose
excellently, ' ' murmured the Filipino to himself,
as he halted before a window where tropical
outfittings for men were attractively displayed.
Yet, though he gazed in at the window, he saw
Sergeants Hal and Noll out of the corners of
his eyes. "They are young, ambitious; they
are enlisted men, therefore poor. Even in this
short time these boys must have learned the
craving for the things that money alone will buy.
No man, in the Orient, can escape that knowl-
14 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
edge and that longing for money. That is why
it is so easy to buy men's souls here in the East.
Shall I go up and speak to them? But no! There
they go into a curio store where they will find
much that they may wish to buy. I will follow
my young sergentes inside in five minutes — or
ten. Then they will be ripe for the man who
talks money.'
Hal and Noll had entered one of the most
attractive little shops to be found anywhere
along the Escolta. This store is kept by a
Chinaman, who sells the more costly curios of
the Far East. China's choicest silks are here
displayed ; also her finest teakwoods and curious
boxes and cabinets of sandal and other valued
woods, inlaid with pearl, or studded with rare
jades. Here are wonderful creations carved out
of ivory, idols of all kinds and sizes, of the
highest grades of artistic workmanship. Here
are wonderful beaded portieres and the most
costly of curious Chinese garments for women.
In a word, the bazaars of China are nobly rep-
resented on the Escolta. But there is much more
besides. The most attractive curios from India,
from Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula and of native
Filipino workmanship are all to be found here.
It is not the place to enter when one has not
much money.
No wonder Sergeant Overton and Sergeant
IN THE PHILIPPINES v 15
Terry moved from counter to counter, pricing
and sighing. Each young Army boy wanted
to send home something worth while to his
mother. Yet how small a sergeant's pay seems
in such a bazaar!
Hal Overton and Noll Terry need no intro-
duction to the reader of the earlier volumes in
this series. " UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE
BANKS, ' ' as our readers are aware, details how
Hal and Noll, reared in love of the Flag and
respect for the military, determined, at the age
of eighteen, to enlist in the Eegular Army. Our
readers followed the new recruits to the recruit
rendezvous, where the young men received their
first drillings in the art of being a soldier. From
there they followed Hal and Noll westward, to
Fort Clowdry, in the Colorado mountains, where
the young soldiers went through their first thrill-
ing experiences of the strenuous side of Army
life, proving themselves, whether in barracks, on
drill ground or under fire on a lonely sentry
post, to be the sort of American youths of whom
the best soldiers are made.
E-eaders of " UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD
DUTY' already know how Hal and Noll went
several steps further in learning the work of
the soldier; of their surprisingly good and
highly adventurous work in practical problems
of field life. In this volume was described field
16 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
life and outpost duty, and scouting duty as
well, as they are actually taught in the Army.
In this volume is told also how Hal and Noll
while out with a scouting party supplied their
company with unexpected bear meat. Our
readers, too, will remember the thrilling work
of Hal and Noll, under Lieutenant Prescott, in
capturing a desperate character badly wanted
by the state authorities. These young soldiers
were heroes of other absorbing adventures;
their fine work eventually leading to their ap-
pointments as corporals.
In " UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SEKGEANTS' our
readers will recall a host of happenings that be-
long to military life, among them the stirring
military tournament in which a battalion of
"Ours' took part at Denver, and the all but
tragic results of that tournament; the soldier
hunting-party up in the Kockies. in which Hal
and Noll thoroughly distinguished themselves
both as hunters and as soldiers and commanders.
And now we find the entire Thirty-fourth In-
fantry in Manila, stationed there briefly pending-
details at other points in the islands.
As we look in upon Sergeants Overton and
Terry to-day we find them two years older than
when they first enlisted — but many years older
in all the fine qualities that go to make up the
best manhood.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 17
Either young sergeant's word was as good as
his bond in the Thirty-fourth. Truthful, am-
t/ t
bitious, manly, thoroughly trained and capable
of commanding; in a word, men in character
and abilities, while yet boys in years.
This much had two years of life in the United
States Army done for Hal Overton and Noll
Terry. Could other training have done more ?
And these were the young Americans whom
the alert-eyed, trailing Filipino dandy had
already singled out and had planned to corrupt
to his own purposes.
Yet the astute man of the world knows more
than one way of ruining and disgracing simple-
hearted, true-souled young fellows. Not even
Satan is credited with appearing often in evil
guise at first.
Perhaps this Filipino, a wicked fellow of long
training, knew how to go about his work.
li Going to buy anything, Noll?" asked Hal
at last, after the two young sergeants had made
the round of the bewildering, attractive store.
"I would, if I could find anything worth while
that didn't take a sergeant's whole year's pay,"
sighed Terry.
"Things are fearfully dear here, aren't
they?' murmured Overton. "Yet I want to
send something home as a remembrance to
mother. ' '
Uncle Sam's Bovs.
18 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"What do you fancy most?" asked Noll.
"If you haven't anything else on your mind,
come around and I'll show you," Hal proposed.
Nodding, Noll accompanied his chum. Hal
stopped to rest one hand lightly on a very won-
derful little chest, made out of teak and sandal
woods. It was richly, wonderfully carved, the
darker teakwood being also inlaid with pearl.
Inside were compartments and drawers, includ-
ing two little secret drawers that the smiling
Chinese salesman artfully opened and exposed
to view.
"One all same fo' diner o (money), other fo'
plecious stones, jewels, you sabe/' cooed the yel-
low attendant.
"It's a beauty and a wonder," murmured
Hal. ' ' Mother 'd be the proudest woman in town
if I could send it home to her. How much did
you say it cost?"
' ' Him tloo bundled pesos, ' ' stated the China-
man gravely.
A peso is the Spanish name for a Mexican
dollar, worth about forty-seven cents; but two
pesos and an American dollar are reckoned as
of the same value in Manila.
"A hundred dollars gold! Why, that's the
same price you asked me before, ' ' cried Hal in
good-natured protest.
"Yep, allee same; him plenty cheap."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 19
"It's too much," sighed Sergeant Hal. But
the Chinaman, as though he had not heard,
asked :
"You likee? You buy?"
"I can't afford it at that price."
"All light; come in some other day," invited
the Chinaman politely, and glided over to where
another possible customer was examining some
handsome jade jewelry.
"My soldado (soldier) friend has not been
long in Manila?" inquired a low, pleasant,
courteous voice behind the two young soldiers.
Hal wheeled. It was the Filipino dandy
whom he confronted. That smiling, prosperous-
looking native was employing his left hand to
twist one end of the upturned moustache to a
finer point.
" No ; we haven 't been here long, ' ' Hal smiled.
"Three days, in fact.'
"And you do not yet know how to bargain
with these sharp-witted Chinos (Chinese)?'
"I'm afraid not," said Sergeant Overton.
"May I ask, senor, what you wished to buy?'
"This box," Hal answered.
"And how much did the Chino want for it, if
I may make bold enough to ask so much of the
senor 's business?'
"Why, he wants a hundred dollars in gold,'
Hal responded.
20 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
The Filipino dandy inspected the box critic-
ally.
"You are right, seiior; the price is too high.
It is muy caro (very dear), in fact. It could be
bought for less, if you knew better how to deal
with these smiling yellow heathen.'
"I'd be greatly obliged, then, if you would
tell me how to put the bargain through.'
"You should get this rare and handsome box,
senor, for ninety dollars, gold — even, perhaps,
for not much more than eighty.'
"Even that would be a fearful price for me
to pay,' murmured Hal, shaking his head re-
gretfully. "I shall have to give up the idea,
I guess.'
"Ah, but no!" cried the Filipino, as though
struck suddenly by an idea. "Not if the senor
will do me one very great favor!"
"What favor can I possibly do you?" asked
Sergeant Hal, regarding the little brown man
with considerable astonishment.
"Why, it is all very simple, senor. Simply
let me feel that I have been permitted to do a
cour.tesy to an Americano to one of the race
to which I owe so much. In a word, senor, I am
not — as you may perhaps guess" — here the
Filipino swelled slightly with a pride that was
plain — ' ' I am not exactly a poor man, not since
the Americanos came to these islands and gave
IN THE PHILIPPINES 21
us the blessings of liberty and just government.
I have many business ventures, and one of them
lies in my being a secret — no, what you Amer-
icanos call a silent partner of the Chino who con-
ducts this store. Now the favor that I ask —
senor, I beg you to let me present you with this
handsome little box, that you may send it over
the waters to your sweetheart."
"Make me a present of it?7 demanded Ser-
geant Hal in amazement.
"Ah, yes, exactly so, senor; and I shall be
greatly honored by your very kind acceptance.
And your friend — he shall select anything —
valuable and handsome — that he would like for
his sweetheart. ' r
Neither young sergeant had a sweetheart out-
side of his mother. It was for their mothers
that they sought suitable-priced curios. In their
amazement, however, neither Hal nor Noll took
the trouble to correct this smiling, polite
stranger.
' ' Thank you, ' ' said Overton promptly. l i We
can't accept, of course, though it is very kind
of you to make the offer — so very kind that it
almost takes our breath away."
"And why can you not accept!" insisted the
Filipino. He was still smiling, but there was
now something so insistent in his voice that Noll
answered quickly:
22 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Because we cannot accept gifts from
strangers. '
"Ah, but you do not yet know the Orient.
You must have things here; you must have
money to spend, and feel the pleasure of spend-
ing it, or you will die. '
"Thank you," laughed Sergeant Hal, "but
at present my health is excellent. As for dying,
that has no terror for the soldier. '
"Ah, yes, to die like a soldier!' ' protested the
Filipino, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But
would you die of sheer weariness and envy?
There are pleasures in this country which only
money will buy. Without the money, without
these pleasures, life soon becomes bitter. You
do not know, but I do, for I have watched thou-
sands of your Americano soldiers here. Now, I
have money — too much! It is my whim to see
that the soldados enjoy themselves. I have
begged many a soldier to honor me by letting
me purchase him a little pleasure. Come, I will
show you now! Wait! I will send for a car-
riage— not a quilez, but a victoria. Say the
word, give the consent, and I will show you at
once what is called pleasure here in the East —
in Manila."
Though he spoke in low tones, the Filipino
made almost extravagant gestures. As he kept
on he warmed up to his subject.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 23
" Shall I call a victoria?" he asked.
' ' If you wish, ' ' replied Sergeant Hal dryly.
"Ah, that is the way I like to hear you say
it!" cried the little Filipino, and hastened
toward the door.
He went away so rapidly, in fact, that he did
not have time to note young Sergeant Overt on 's
altered manner. From a feeling of embarrass-
ment over having to repulse a stranger's ill-
advised offer of generosity, Hal, his eyes watch-
ing the man's face, speedily took a dislike to
the Filipino.
"Come along, Noll," Overton whispered.
' i We '11 get out of this. I don 't like the fellow. ' >
"You like him as well as I do," muttered
Sergeant Terry.
At the door of the store they again caught
sight of the dandy, who, with hand extended,
was at that moment signaling a cochero to drive
his victoria in to the curh.
"It could not have been better," cried the
little brown tempter. "Just as I came out I
saw an empty victoria.'
"I congratulate you," smiled Sergeant Hal.
"No, but this is the carriage, here," cried the
Filipino, as Hal and Noll turned to walk down
the Escolta.
"Get in, then, and enjoy yourself,' called
back Hal.
24 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
In an instant the Filipino was in front of
them, barring their way.
"But you permitted me to stop a carriage/
he protested, bewildered.
"Exactly," nodded Hal, "and we hope you
will enjoy yourself. Step aside, please, for we
want to pass on.'
"But you are not going with me, after '
"Nothing was said about that,' Hal an-
swered, ' ' and we have other plans. Good-bye. '
As the Filipino dandy once more tried to
place himself in front of the young sergeant,
Hal gently but firmly thrust the insistent fellow
aside.
The Filipino stood glaring after them until
the two Army boys were out of sight. The glint
in his eyes was far from pleasant.
"Now, what on earth did that fellow want of
us?' demanded Noll wonderingly.
"Nothing good, anyway,' returned Hal
Overton. "Intending benefactors don't act in
that fashion. He may represent a bad phase
of life out here. Let's forget him. Say, here's
a store we must have overlooked on our way up
here. Let's go in."
Half an hour later the Army boys came out
of the store, each carrying a small parcel. For
his first present home each young soldier had
bought for his mother a small assortment of
IN THE PHILIPPINES 25
/
the wonderfully filmy pina lace handkerchiefs
made by the native women.
' ' No quilez around here for hire, ' ' said Hal,
after looking* up and down the Escolta. "Let's
walk across the bridge over the Pasig. We'll
be more likely to find an idle cochero on the
other side of the river. '
As they -started the sky was darkening, and
the lightning beginning to flash, for this was
in early July, at the height of the rainy season.
"I hope we find a cochero soon,' muttered
Noll, looking up at the dark sky. "I don't
fancy the idea of walking all the way out to
Malate in a downpour.'
They were not quite over the bridge when
the storm broke in all its force. Tropical
thunder crashed with a fury that made artillery
fire seem trifling. Great sheets of lightning-
flashed on all sides.
"Hustle, before we get drowned,' laughed
Sergeant Hal, breaking into a fast run.
"There's shelter just beyond the end of the
bridge."
The shelter for which both soldiers headed
was a kiosk, barely larger than a sentry-box,
that had once been erected for the convenience
of the native boys who stood there with relief
horses for the service of the old street car line.
The door stood open. Eager to make any
26 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
port in a storm, Hal and Noll bolted inside just
in time to hear an angry voice declare:
"I had them picked out — two young sergentes,
mere boys. At first they were very polite — a
minute later they made fun of me to my face —
me, Vicente Tomba! But I shall know them
again, I shall see them, and I shall make them
wish they had never been born. I '
The Filipino dandy stopped short as the two
Army boys stepped briskly inside. He gave
a gasp as he recognized them.
"We meet again/' remarked Hal dryly.
The dandy's companion, a big, florid-faced
man of forty, in the usual immaculate white
duck of the white man, eyed the boys keenly.
CHAPTER II
A MEETING AT THE NIPA BARRACKS
IT was only for a moment.
Then, without answering Hal's remark,
the Filipino clutched at the white man's
arm, shoving him out into the rain. The native
followed.
Just then a cocker o with an empty quilez
drove up. With instant presence of mind Vi-
cente Tomba, as the dandy had called himself,
held up his hand.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 27
It was all done in an instant, and native and
white friend were driving away through the
gusts of rain.
"Wonder who our friends are!' Noll re-
marked curiously.
"We know that one of them calls himself
Vicente Tomba," replied Sergeant Hal.
"But he spoke of having us picked out for
something, and he seemed almost peevish be-
cause we didn't suit him/' smiled Noll.
"I can't imagine what it is," replied Hal, un-
disturbed. "It couldn't be anything in the high
treason line, anyway."
"Why not even that!" demanded Sergeant
Noll.
"Why, look here, old fellow, we're just two
plain, kid, doughboy sergeants of the line. If
that fellow had wanted anything in the treason-
able variety, what sort of goods could we deliver
him, anyway? Nothing, much, beyond our own
arms and a copy of the company's roll.'
"Then what on earth was the fellow up to,
anyway ! '
"I don't know, Noll, and I don't much care.
I've heard that there are sharks of all sorts
here in Manila, ready to put up all sorts of
games to get the easy-mark soldier's pay away
from him. Probably Tomba and his friend be-
long in that class. ' '
28 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Pooh! Tomba has plenty of inoney,?
snorted Noll Terry. "He wouldn't have to be
out for a poor, buck-foot soldier's pay.'
"Swindlers sometimes do have plenty of
money, for a while, until the law rounds them
up and puts them where they ought to be, ' ' ob-
served Sergeant Hal sagely. "Let's forget the
fellow, Noll, unless we see him again. Tomba is
evidently up to something crooked, and we're
not, so we haven't any real interest in him,
have we?"
"Except to be on our guard," said Noll.
"You speak as though you had some forebod-
ings regarding Tomba, or Tomba and his
friend," smiled Hal quizzically.
"Well, then, I have," returned Noll Terry.
"Not scared, are you?"
"That's a fine question to ask a soldier,"
sniffed Noll.
"Well, I'm not going to waste any more
thoughts on Tomba, or on his white-man com-
panion, either. Wheel Look at that rain.
It "
But a fearfully vivid flash of tropical
lightning caused Sergeant Hal Overton to step
further back into the little shed and close his
eyes for an instant. Eight after the flash came
a prolonged, heavy roll of thunder that made
the earth shake.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 29
"Cochero, para!' shouted Noll right after
that, and a fareless quilez stopped near the
door of the shed.
"Occupado (occupied)!" called Noll.
"No, senor."
Hal and Noll bolted through the rain, darted
into the quilez through the door at the rear,
and plumped themselves down on the seats.
"Sigue directio, Malate, cuartel nipa/ or-
dered Hal, thus instructing the driver to go
straight ahead to Malate and to take them to
the nipa barracks.
The Filipino driver himself was drenched.
In his thin cotton clothing the little brown man
perched on the box outside, shivered until his
teeth chattered. He did not propose, however,
to let personal discomfort stop him from earning
a fare.
Around the Walled City (Old Manila) the
quilez carried the young soldiers. These mas-
sive walls, centuries old, enclose perhaps a
square mile of city. Once past the Walled City
the little vehicle glided on through pretty Er-
mita. Here, passing along Calle Eeal (Eoyal
Street), the driver turned into the straight
stretch for the next suburb, Malate.
For months before sailing for the Philippines
both young sergeants had devoted a good deal
of their spare time to the study of Spanish.
SO UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
They had, however, learned the best Spanish of
old Castile. First Sergeant Gray, who had put
in three terms of service in the Philippines, had
taken pains to teach them much of the local
Spanish dialect as it is spoken in this far-away
colony of Uncle Sam's.
To-day the Filipino children speak English
rather well and musically, for English is the
language of the public schools of the islands.
Many of the older natives, however, even those
with English-speaking children, know only a
few words at most of the tongue of the Amer-
icanos.
By the time that the little cab turned in at
the barracks grounds much of the fury of the
storm had passed. The rain, however, continued
at a steady downpour, and seemed good for the
night.
' ' We may have to be campaigning in this kind
of weather in another fortnight, ' ' remarked Hal.
' ' Fine business, ' commented Noll dryly.
"Well, it all goes in the life of a soldier. It
can't hurt the soldier much, either, for somehow
he's healthier than fellows who clerk or work
in machine shops."
"Clerking! Shops!" repeated Noll, with a
smile of 'mild disgust. "Did we ever stand that
sort of life, Hal!"
"Once upon a time, Noll."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 31
"Thank goodness that day has gone by."
"Here we are,' announced Sergeant Hal,
reaching for the rear door and opening it. "I'll
pay the cochero this time, Noll; you paid for
our last ride.'
On the broad veranda of the barracks, well
out of the rain, lounged half a hundred of the
men of the Thirty-fourth. A few of them were
at tables writing home letters.
"Did you give my regards to the Escolta,
Sergeant?' called Private Kelly, from one of
the groups. .
"I didn't forget you, Kelly," laughed Hal.
"Get those picture post cards for me?" called
Corporal Hyman.
"Here you are, Hyman," responded Noll,
opening his blouse and exploring an inner
pocket. "I hope I haven't got them too wet, and
that the views will suit."
' * Any views will suit, ' ' retorted Hyman. ' * My
kid brothers and cousins have never been out
here and one view will please them as well as
another. ' ?
A few more soldiers came forward to ask
about errands that the young sergeants had
undertaken. No one's commissions had been
forgotten.
1 i Your leave didn 't do you two so much good
this afternoon," grinned Corporal Hyman.
32 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Why not?" Sergeant Overton wanted to
know.
4 'On account of the weather we didn't have
parade, anyway/
" I 'm no parade shirker, ' ' retorted Hal. ' ' On
the busiest day we're not being overworked
here. We may strike something hard in the
tropics yet, but so far, since reaching Manila,
the men of this regiment haven't been worked
more than a quarter as hard as in barracks at
home. But I wonder when we go south?'
"Haven't you heard!' asked .Corporal Hy-
man.
"Not a word," Hal declared.
"I haven't, either. But we heard that the
4 Warren' came in this afternoon.'
The i i Warren ' ' was the United States Army
transport vessel that was much used in carry-
ing troops between the different islands.
' ' We ought to be under way soon, then, ' ' Hal
replied thoughtfully. "I suppose we're still
slated to go down among the Moros.'
"That's the talk in the regiment, anyway,'
replied Corporal Hyman.
"I hope it's true."
"You're one of the few that does, then,' re-
torted Hyman, with a grimace. "In these
islands the real fine place for a regiment to be
stationed is right here on the outskirts of Ma-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 33
nila. Plenty of grub, kitchen-cooked; little
work to do, and no danger of anything except
guard duty to call us out of our bunks."
"That's altogether too lazy for a soldier,"
objected Hal, with spirit. "I don't want to
see any trouble start in these islands, but if
there's going to be any campaigning, I want to
see the Thirty-fourth right in the thick of it."
"You'll get over that, by and by, Sergeant,"
responded Corporal Hyman. "More than half
of the fellows in the Thirty-fourth have been
out here in other years, and have seen plenty
of fighting. Now, getting shot at by a lot of
strangers is all right enough for a soldier when
it has to be done ; but you '11 find that the older
men in this regiment are not doing any praying
that 'Ours' will get more than its share of
fighting. ' '
"Perhaps I won't, when I've seen as much
fighting as some of you fellows have,' Hal
nodded. "I've never been in a real battle yet.'9
"You've been under stiff enough fire, right
back in the good old Eocky Mountains,' re-
torted Corporal Hyman. "You don't need any
more by way of training.'
"Perhaps not; but I want it, just the same.
I'm a hog, ain't If laughed the boyish young
sergeant.
"No; you're simply a kid soldier," grumbled
3 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
•
34 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Hyman. "All the kids want a heap of fighting
— until after they've had it. When you've been
with the colors a few years longer you'll be
ready to agree that three ' squares' a day and a
soft bed at night are miles and miles ahead of
desperate charges or last-ditch business."
"So the ' Warren' is in port from her last
trip south, ' 9 Hal went on. ' ' Oh, I wonder when
we start.'
"So do a lot of us,' retorted Private Kelly.
"But we hope it won't be soon, Sarge.'
"Oh, you coffee-coolers!' taunted Hal good-
naturedly.
The Army "coffee-cooler' is the man who
is left behind in stirring times. Uncle Sam's
soldiers explain that a coffee-cooler is a man
who won't go forward, in the morning, until
his coffee is cool enough for him to drink it
with comfort. Hence a coffee-cooler is a man
who is detailed on work at the rear of the fight-
ing line simply because he is of no earthly use
at the front.
It is not as bad, however, to be a coffee-cooler
as a cold-foot. A "cold-foot" is a soldier
paralyzed with terror; he is worse than use-
less anywhere in the Army. The cold-foot is
ironically asked why he didn't bring his woolen
socks along. If a cold-foot gets into deadly
action it is said that the cold chills chase each
IN THE PHILIPPINES 35,
other down his spine and all settle in his feet,
so that he is frozen in his tracks. However, a
soldier who betrays cowardice in the face of
the enemy may be shot for his cowardice, for
which reason "cold feet" sometimes become cold
for all time to come.
Soldiers there have been who have shown
"cold feet" in their first battle or two, and yet
have been among the best of soldiers later on.
But the cold-f ouot is a rarity, anyway, among the
regulars.
"Hello," broke in Kelly, peering out through
the rain, "there goes some good fellow to the
rainmakers. '
Many of the other soldiers looked. Two
hospital-corps men were carrying a stretcher
in the direction of the post hospital. None
could make out, however, who was on the
stretcher, as, owing to the downpour of rain,
the unfortunate one was covered with three or
four rubber ponchos.
"I hope none of our good fellows is badly
hurt," broke in Sergeant Noll Terry.
"Eheumatism, most likely," grunted Cor-
poral Hyman. "Did you ever see a country
where the rain fell as steadily when it got
started!"
"Well, this is the rainy season, isn't it?"
inquired Noll.
36 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Yes."
"But half of the year we have a dry season,
don't we!"
"We do," admitted Hyman. "Yet, of the
two, you'll prefer the wet season a whole lot.
In the dry season the dust is blowing in your
face day and night.'
An orderly stepped briskly out on the ver-
anda,
"Sergeant Overton is directed to report im-
mediately to Lieutenant Prescott at the latter 's
quarters. ' '
"I'll be there before the words are out of
your mouth, Driggs,' laughed Hal, rising and
starting.
"Hold on, Sarge," called Private Kelly.
"Look at the sheets of dew coming down, and
you haven't your poncho. Here, put mine on.'
"Thank you; I will," Hal assented, halting.
The poncho is a thin rubber, blanket-like af-
fair. In the field the men usually spread the
poncho on the ground, under their blankets.
But in the middle of the poncho is a hole through
which the head may be thrust, the poncho then
falling over the trunk of the body like a rain
coat.
Getting this on and replacing his campaign
hat, Hal started briskly toward officers' quar-
ters.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 37
Lieutenant Prescott was in his room when
Hal knocked, and promptly called, "Come in."
Hal entered, saluting his lieutenant, who was
writing at a table. He looked up long enough
to receive and return Hal's soldierly salute.
"With you in a moment, Sergeant," stated
Lieutenant Prescott, who then turned back to his
writing.
"Very good, sir."
Hal did not stir, but merely changed from his
position of attention to one of greater ease.
Lieutenant Prescott is no stranger to our
readers. He was second lieutenant of Captain
Cortland's B Company of the Thirty-fourth.
Eeaders of our "HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SERIES"
recall Dick Prescott as a schoolboy athlete,
and readers of the "WEST POINT SERIES"
have followed the same Dick Prescott through
his four years of cadetship at the United States
Military Academy.
After finishing a page and signing it, Lieu-
tenant Prescott wiped his pen, laid it down and
wheeled about in his chair.
"You heard about Sergeant Gray?" asked
the young West Pointer.
1 ' Nothing in especial, sir. ' '
"He was badly hurt ten minutes ago in stop-
ping the runaway horses of Colonel Thorpe, of
the Thirty-seventh Infantry. Colonel Thorpe
38 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
was visiting our colonel, and only the two little
Thorpe youngsters were in the carriage when
the horses bolted, pitching the native driver
from the seat.'
" Badly hurt, sir!" cried Hal Overton in a
tone of genuine distress. "That will be bad
news in the company, sir. I don't think any
of them know it yet, or I would have heard it
before. Sergeant Gray is a man we swear by,
sir, in the squad rooms.'
"Sergeant Gray is a splendid soldier,' ob-
served Lieutenant Prescott warmly. "It is not
believed that he will have to be retired, but he
may have to put in two or three months on sick
report before he can come back to duty. But
that is not what I sent for you to tell you,
Sergeant Overton. As Sergeant Hupner was
left behind on detailed duty in the United
States, the accident to Gray now leaves you the
ranking sergeant in the company. Until further
orders you will take over the duties of acting
first sergeant, by Captain Cortland's direc-
tion."
"Very good, sir."
"This is Tuesday, Sergeant. Thursday, at
eleven in the morning, the Thirty-fourth is due
before the office of the captain of the port, to
take boats for the transport * Warren.' This
regiment sails for Iloilo and other ports.'
IN THE PHILIPPINES 39
•
"May I repeat that to the men, sir?"
"It is going to be necessary, for you will have
to see to it that all the personal and company
baggage is ready for the teamsters at four to-
morrow afternoon.'
"Very good, sir/
"And, Sergeant, this is not official, but I be-
lieve it to be reliable ; some of the Moro dattos
(chieftains) are said to be preparing to stir
up trouble in some of the southern islands. In
that case the Thirty-fourth will bear the brunt
of it all. "
"I am really very glad to hear that, sir,'
cried Sergeant Hal eagerly.
' ' So am I, Sergeant, ' ' admitted the lieutenant,
who, like most of the younger officers, hungered
for active service against an enemy. "You un-
derstand your instructions, Sergeant!'
"Yes, sir.'
"Very good; that is all, Sergeant.'
Hal Overton saluted his officer with even more
snap than usual, then hastened back to barracks.
Supper soon followed, and before the meal
was over the rain had stopped. After supper
several of B Company's men went out into the
near-by street to stroll in the somewhat cooler
air of the tropical evening.
A little later Hal and Noll followed. Pres-
ently, in the shadow under a densely foliaged
40 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
yllang-yllang tree, they came upon two figures
standing there, just in time to hear Corporal
Hyman's voice saying heartily:
' 'That sounds like just as good a time as
you make it out to be. And it won't take us over
three hours! This is a hard night to get off,
as the packing-up order has been given. I'll
see our first sergeant, however, and find out
whether there's any chance of my getting leave
for the evening. If he says so, I can put it by
the captain all right. Wait here, and-
"I guess it won't be necessary, Corporal Hy-
man, ' broke in Hal's voice, sounding rather
cool, for Hal had recognized Hyman's com-
panion— none other than Vicente Tomba.
"Hello! There you are, Sarge,' cried Hy-
man, while the little Filipino dandy started,
peered at the young sergeants and then scowled.
"I'll try to fix it for you to get a pass to-
night, Corporal,' Hal went on, "if you really
want one. But I don't exactly believe that you
do. This native gentleman tried to butt in with
us this afternoon, and at first we took it in good
part. But he was too eager. Then, a little later
in the afternoon, we heard him denouncing us
to a white man because we weren't eager
enough. Corporal, unless you know a lot about
this man, I don't believe you want anything
to do with him."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 41
Tomba's face was blazing hotly, while his eyes
gleamed angrily at Sergeant Overton's words.
"If that's the kind of fellow he is, then I
don't want a pass to-night,' Hyman replied.
"This little man has just been telling me how
much he loves American soldados, and he pro-
posed to get a quilez and take me over into the
city for the time of my life.'
"From what happened this afternoon I'm a
little shaky on Seiior Tomba,' Hal continued.
"You never saw me before!" cried Tomba,
wheeling about on Hal. "Liar! Thief!'
Hal's reply was prompt, sufficient, military.
He delivered a short-arm, right-hand blow that
struck the native in the neck, felling him to the
sidewalk.
But Tornba was up in an instant, and a knife
flashed in his hands.
Hal did not flinch. He leaped upon the little
brown man, getting a clinch that held the rascal
powerless. Then Noll coolly took away the
knife, striking the blade into the tree trunk and
snapping the steel in two.
"Shall I call the guard, Sergeant, to take
this little brown rat ? ' ' demanded Corporal Hy-
man.
"No; he isn't big enough, or man enough to
bother the guard with, ' ' replied young Sergeant
Overton. "I'll take care of him myself.'
42 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Whirling the Filipino around, Hal gave him
a vigorous start, emphasized by a kick, and
Vicente Tomba slid off into the darkness.
Malay blood is not forgiving. There were
other reasons, too, why it would have been far
better had Sergeant Hal turned Tomba over
to the guard.
CHAPTEE III
PLOTTERS TRAVEL WITH THE FLAG
EOM the deck of the "Warren" only
distant glimpses of land, on the horizon
line, were visible.
The sea to-day was without a ripple, yet, as
it was not raining, the sun beat down with a
heat that would have wilted most of the pas-
sengers, had it not been for the awnings
stretched over every deck.
Up on the saloon deck was a mixture of the
field uniforms of Army officers, the white duck
or cotton of male civilian passengers, and the
white dresses of the women. Most of the mar-
ried officers of the Thirty-fourth had brought
their families along with them, and so children
played along the saloon deck, or ran down
among the friendly soldiers on the spar deck.
Here and there, among the women, was a
IN THE PHILIPPINES 43
Yankee schoohna'am, going to some new charge
in the islands.
A number of the male cabin passengers were
not Army people. Some belonged to the pos-
tals service, the islands civil service, or were
planters or merchants of wealth and influence
in the islands, who had been permitted to take
passage on the troop ship.
Between decks the enlisted men of "Ours'
were quartered and berthed by companies.
Each enlisted man, by way of a bed, had a bunk
whose frame was of gas pipe, to which frame
was swung the canvas berth. These berths were
in tiers, three high.
Away forward, in special quarters by them-
selves, as a sort of steerage passengers, were
some two score natives of the islands who were
making the journey for one reason or another.
These natives, however, kept to themselves, and
the soldiers saw little of them.
Altogether, the "Warren" carried something
more than fourteen hundred passengers, which
meant that quarters were at least sufficiently
crowded. Yet the soldiers, with the cheerful
good nature of their kind, took this crowded con-
dition as one of the incidents of the life.
Noll was up on deck enjoying himself; Hal,
as acting first sergeant, was otherwise occupied
during the greater part of the forenoon. At
44 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
the head of B Company's quarters, two decks
below, young Overton sat at a little table, busily
working over a set of papers that he had to
make up. This " paper work' is one of the
banes of first sergeants and of company com-
manders.
It was after eleven o'clock when Sergeant
Hal finished his last sheet. The papers he
folded neatly and thrust them into a long, official
envelope, which he endorsed and blotted. Eis-
ing, he thrust the envelope into the breast of
his blouse and started for the nearest com-
panionway.
" I 'm glad, old fellow, that you are the acting
first sergeant, ' ' grinned comfortable Noll Terry,
as his chum came upon deck with forehead, face
and neck beaded with perspiration.
"Oh, it doesn't hurt a fellow to have a little
work to do," replied Overton, smiling. "You
see, you've just been loafing this morning,
almost ever since inspection, while I have a
consciousness of work well performed.'
"Keep your consciousness and enjoy it,'' re-
torted Noll, as the two boyish sergeants stepped
along the deck.
"I wonder if Captain Cortland is on deck at
this moment ?" remarked Sergeant Hal.
1 i I saw him five minutes ago, ' ' Noll answered.
Almost at that moment B Company's com-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 45
mander came to the forward rail of the saloon
deck and looked down. Then his glance rested
on Hal.
"Are the papers ready, Sergeant ?' the cap-
tain called down.
"Yes, sir; I have them with me," replied
Hal. Pressing through the throng of soldiers,
he ascended the steps to the saloon deck, salut-
ing and passing over the envelope.
"Thank you, Sergeant/
"I think you'll find them all right, sir. I'm
somewhat new at the work, but I've taken a lot
of pains.'
"There's always a lot of pains taken with
any work that you do, Sergeant."
"Thank you, sir."
Hal saluted and was about to turn away when
he heard a voice saying:
"What we need, in dealing with the Moros
in these southern islands, is to show them
that "
Just then the speaker happened to turn, and
stopped talking for a moment.
The voice was new, but Sergeant Overton
started at sight of the speaker's face.
"Why, that's the same big, florid-faced fel-
low that I saw in the shed with Tomba, that
time it rained so hard,' flashed through the
young sergeant's astonished mind. "What can
46 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
lie be doing here — a cabin passenger on a
United States troop ship!"
Unconsciously Hal was staring hard at the
stranger. It appeared to annoy the florid-faced
man.
"Well, my man," he cried impatiently, look-
ing keenly at Hal, "are you waiting to say
something to me?"
"No, sir," Sergeant Hal replied quickly.
"Perhaps you thought you knew me?"
"No, sir; I merely remembered having once
seen you."
* ' You 've seen me before f Then your memory
is better than mine, Sergeant. Where have you
ever seen me before?"
"The other afternoon, sir, on the south side
of the Pasig River at Manila. You were in a
shed, out of the rain, with a native calling him-
self Vicente Tomba."
The florid-faced man betrayed neither un-
easiness nor resentment. Instead, he smiled
pleasantly as he replied:
"I thought you were in error, Sergeant, and
now I'm certain of it, for I don't know any
Vicente Tomba."
"Then I beg your pardon for the mistake,
sir,' Hal replied quickly.
"No need to apologize, Sergeant, for you have
done no harm, ' ' replied the florid-faced man.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 47
Here Captain Cortland's voice broke in, cool
and steady:
"Yet I know, Mr. Draney, that Sergeant
Overton feels embarrassed by the mere fact of
his having made a mistake. Sergeant Overton
is one of our best and most capable soldiers,
and he rarely makes a mistake of any kind.'
"I'm glad to hear that he's one of your best
soldiers, ' ' replied Draney pleasantly. * * It seems
odd, doesn't it, Captain, to see so boyish a chap
wearing sergeant's chevrons I9
i i Sergeant Overton, Mr. Draney, is more than
merely a sergeant. He is acting first sergeant
of B Company, and is likely to continue as such
for some months to come.'
"He has risen so high!' cried Draney. "I
certainly congratulate the young man.'
There appeared to be no further call for Hal
to remain on the saloon deck. After flashing
an inquiring look at his company commander,
and saluting that officer, Hal next raised his
uniform cap to Draney, then turned and made
his way down to the spar deck.
"Your sergeant looks like a very upright
young man, Captain,' observed Mr. Draney.
"Overton?' rejoined Captain Cortland. "I
am certain that he is the soul of honor.'
"His loyalty has often been tested, I pre-
sume?" persisted the florid-faced fellow.
48 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"He's a very thoroughly trustworthy young
man, if that's what you mean."
Captain Cortland was beginning to feel
somewhat annoyed, for, truth to tell, he did
not like Draney very well.
"Is your sergeant," asked Draney, "a young
man much interested in the joys of life, or is
he of the quiet, studious sort who seldom care
for good times?'
"You seem to be uncommonly interested in
Sergeant Overton, Mr. Draney," remarked the
captain almost testily.
"Only as a type of American soldier,' re-
plied Draney blandly. "I was wondering if
my estimate of the young man were borne out
by your experience with him.'
"Sergeant Overton is fond of the joys of
life, if you mean the quiet and decent pleasures.
He is a good deal of a student, and that type
is never interested in drinking or gambling,
or any of the vices and dissipations, if that is
what you mean.'
Then, noting that Colonel North had just
stepped out on deck from his stateroom, Cap-
tain Cortland added hastily:
"Pardon me; I wish to speak with the com-
manding officer."
As colonel and captain met they exchanged
salutes.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 49
"I told Draney, sir, that I wished to speak
with you, ' ' Captain Cortland reported, in a low
voice. "I did not tell him, however, that I
wished to speak with you mainly as a pretext
for getting away from his society/
"You don't like Draney ?" smiled Colonel
North, eying his captain shrewdly.
"I certainly do not,7 Cortland confessed.
"And I'm almost as certain that I don't,
either," replied the regimental commander.
"However, Cortland, we shall have to treat him
with a fair amount of courtesy, for Draney is
an influential man down in the part of the
world for which we are headed. He is influ-
ential with the Moros, I mean. Often he is in
a position to give the military authorities use-
ful information of intended native mischief.
Draney is a very big planter, you know, and
white planters are somewhat scarce in the Moro
country. It is one of the great disappointments
of our government that more American capital
is not invested in establishing great plantations
in the extremely rich Moro country. But, as
you know, Cortland, some of the Moro dattos
are given to heading sudden, unexpected and
very desperate raids on white planters, and that
fact has discouraged Americans, Englishmen
and Germans from investing millions and mil-
lions of capital in the Moro country.'
4 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
50 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Yet the fellow Draney is a planter there,
sir?"
"Draney owns half a dozen very successful
plantations."
"And is he never molested by the Moros,
sir I" inquired Captain Cortland.
"Never enough to discourage him in his in-
vestments. Eather odd, isn't it, Cortland?"
"Very odd, indeed, sir," replied Captain
Cortland dryly.
That same afternoon Captain Cortland, after
finishing a promenade on the saloon deck, went
forward, descending to the spar deck. There,
under the awning, he came upon Sergeants Hal
and Noll, who saluted as he addressed them.
"Sergeant Overton," began the captain in a
low tone, "you seemed, this forenoon, to feel
a good deal of surprise at seeing Mr. Draney
on board."
"I was surprised, sir.'
"Tell me what you know about the man.'
Sergeant Hal briefly related the adventure
that he and Noll had had with Vicente Tomba
on the Escolta, and their subsequent meeting
with Tomba and Draney on the south side of
the Pasig. Hal also repeated what they had
overheard Tomba saying to Draney. Hal then
described the flight of the pair in the quilez.
"Yet Draney declares that he never heard
IN THE PHILIPPINES 51
*
of Tomba,' said the captain musingly.
"Sergeant Overton, do you think it possible
that you have mistaken Mr. Draney for some-
one else?"
"It may be, of course, sir," Hal admitted.
"But I hardly believe it possible. Besides, I
have pointed out Mr. Draney to Sergeant Terry
and he also is positive that it is the same man. '
At that moment all three turned to look for-
ward. There was some sort of commotion going
on there. It proved, however, to be nothing
but the herding of the Filipino passengers on
deck near the bow, while one of the regiment's
officers was inspecting their quarters below.
The three officers returned to their conver-
sation, but presently Hal murmured:
"Don't look immediately, Noll, but presently
take a passing glance at the Filipino standing
away up in the bow. Tell Captain Cortland
who the fellow is."
"It's Vicente Tomba, although I'd hardly
know him in that costume of the peon
(laborer)," Noll answered.
"You are both certain that the man is
Tomba?" inquired Captain Cortland keenly.
"Yes, sir,' both young sergeants declared,
and Hal added :
"There's Corporal Hyman up forward, sir.
If you'll go up and speak to the corporal, and
52 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
allow us to accompany you, sir, you can see
whether Hyman knows the fellow. He, too, was
approached by Tomba, at the nipa barracks/
Accordingly the test was made.
"Why, certainly, the fellow is Tomba," re-
plied Hyman, "though he looks a lot different,
sir, from the dandy who was talking to me last
Tuesday night.'
Captain Cortland asked all three of the non-
commissioned officers some further questions as
they stood there. None of the quartette dis-
covered the fact that, close to them, crouching
under the canvas cover of a life boat as it swung
at davits, lay one of the keen-eyed Filipino pas-
sengers. This swarthy little fellow was only
about half versed in English, but he understood
enough of the talk to realize what was in the
wind.
In some mysterious manner what this swarthy
little spy overheard traveled, less than an hour
later, to Mr. Draney, planter, and that gentle-
man, as he sat in his stateroom and thought it
all over, was greatly disturbed.
Still later that afternoon — not long before
sundown — while the "Warren" was still
ploughing her way through the sea, the little
brown spy drew Vicente Tomba to one side in
the native steerage.
To make assurance doubly sure, both Fili-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 53
pinos spoke in their own Malay dialect, the Tag-
alos.
"Tomba!"
"Luis!"
"Tomba, the Senor Draney is greatly dis-
turbed. Sergeant Overton and Sergeant Terry
have recognized him as one whom they saw with
you in Manila.7'
"Bah! That amounts to little. Senor
Draney can deny."
"But they have recognized you also, my
Tomba, and so has Corporal Hyman. More,
they have told Captain Cortland all they know,
and all they can guess. "
"The dogs!" growled Vicente Tomba, his
snarl showing his fine, white teeth.
"You do well to call them dogs," grinned
Luis. "Senor Draney bids me to remind you
what becomes of dogs that are troublesome.
You have others here with you who can help.
At the first chance, then, Overton, Terry and
Hyman are to bite the bone that kills — and Cap-
tain Cortland, too, if you can manage it!"
54 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
CHAPTER IV
CERVERRA'S INNOCENT SHOP
'YE know what I'm thinking about?"
demanded Private Kelly, as he turned
to look out southward from Fort
Benjamin Franklin.
"Not being a mind reader — no," replied Hal.
"I'm thinking this country is a fine place to
dream about."
"It's worth it," declared Sergeant Overton,
with unsullied boyish enthusiasm.
"Worth it — huh!" retorted Kelly, who had
•/ 7
served longer in the Army. "Mind ye, I said
this was a good country to dream about. But
to live in — give me * God's country.' "
The United States soldier on foreign service,
invariably alludes to home in this way.
Send him to the fairest spot on which the
human eye ever rested, and the soldier will still
longingly speak of home as "God's country."
"Then I'll be polite," retorted Sergeant Hal,
^and say that I wish, Kelly, that you could be
at home. But as for me, I'm glad Irm here."
"Wait until you are in your third enlistment,
and have put in another two years in the islands,
after this time," growled Kelly.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 55
"Why, where can you find a more beautiful
spot than this?" demanded Hal Overton, gaz-
ing across the fields toward the town of Bantoc.
"I never saw a more beautiful spot. I wonder
if there are many like it in the tropics?"
"Beautiful?" rumbled Kelly. "Sure! But
ye can't eat beauty. 'Tis a long way from any-
where, this spot, and that's what I've got
against it.'
"Grumbling again, Kelly?" asked Sergeant
Noll Terry, joining them.
"Not grumbling,' retorted Kelly. "Just
giving my opinion. But this boy sergeant is
trying to make me think this swamp on northern
Mindanao is an earthly paradise.'
"Well, isn't it?" challenged Noll. "I know
what ails you, Kelly. When all is peace and
comfort, with three t squares' a day, and not a
heap to do, your old soldier is always kicking.
But just send you and the rest, Kelly, hiking
up through those mountains yonder, give you
twenty miles a day of rough climbing, drown
you out with rain and let you use up your shoes
chasing a lot of ugly brown men, and never a
kick will we hear coming from you. '
"Sure, no," replied Kelly philosophically.
" 'Tis then we'd be doing a soldier's work, and
a kicker on a hike is as useless as a coffee-cooler
at an afternoon tea."
56 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"In other words,' laughed Hal, "a real sol-
dier of the Regular Army is as patient as a
camel when things are all going wrong. The
only time when your real soldier kicks is when
he's having it easy and is too comfortable to
be patient. Curious, isn't it!'
"Oh, well, 'tis no use talking to you two,'
retorted Private Kelly, shaking his head and
strolling away. "Ye've not seen much of serv-
ice yet."
"That's another joke," laughed Hal in a low
voice, as soon as Kelly had stepped out of hear-
ing. "Here's a man like Kelly, with fairly
long service to his credit, but he's a private
still, and probably always will be. If the colonel
made him a corporal, Kelly wouldn't rest until
he had the chevrons taken from his sleeve so
that he could be a private soldier again. Now
you and I, Noll, work like blazes all the time,
and win our promotion, yet Kelly considers us
only boys, and boys who don't know much,
either. Either one of us can take Kelly out in
a squad and work him until he runs rivers of
perspiration, and he can't talk back without
danger of being disciplined. Yet all the time,
Kelly, under our orders, is thinking of us, half
contemptuously, as boys who don't really know
anything about soldiering.'
"That's because we're young," laughed Noll.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 57
"And because we're also boyish enough to
have a little enthusiasm left in our make-ups.
Noll, how do you really like our new station ?'
"I wouldn't be anywhere else/ retorted
Sergeant Terry, " except some where else in
the Philippines, possibly. One of the prospects
that caught me for the service was the chance
of seeing some of our foreign possessions.'
"It's what catches half the young fellows who
enlist to-day, ' ' went on Hal. " I 've been looking
forward to the Philippines from the day I first
took the oath in the recruiting station.'
"Well, we're here," replied Noll, breathing
in the warm air with lazy satisfaction. "And
I'm mighty glad that we're in for two years
of it."
The Thirty-fourth had come out to the islands
•/
as a complete regiment. They had reembarked
at Manila also as a regiment, but now the time
had come when "Ours' was well scattered
through the southern islands of the archipelago.
The second battalion and headquarters, with
the band, had disembarked at Iloilo; two com-
panies had been left on the island of Negros,
and two more on Cebu. B and C Companies
had been left at Fort Franklin, in the Misamis
district on northern Mindanao, and the remain-
ing two companies had been carried on to Zam-
boanga.
58 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
On its return trip the "Warren" had picked
up the scattered military commands which the
Thirty-fourth had relieved. Two companies of
the Thirty-second infantry had gone from Ban-
toe the day before.
Mindanao is the second largest and the most
fertile island in the Philippine group. The
natural beauty is as great as the fertility. If
it were not for the occasional ferocity of some
of the tribes this island could be turned into one
vast net-work of plantations as rich as any that
the world can show.
Bantoc was a sleepy, sunlit little town, half
Spanish and half Moro. Thanks to American
rule, the streets were clean and order reigned.
There were about forty stores and other mer-
cantile establishments in Bantoc, for this town
was headquarters for a large country district.
The people of Bantoc, outside of the small white
population, were more than half Moros, the
other islanders belonging to the Tagalo and
other allied tribes. Almost without exception
these people were lazy and good-natured. A
newcomer would have difficulty in believing that
such men as he met in Bantoc could ever give
the soldiers trouble. It was to this town that
the few planters and many small native farmers
sent rich stores of rice, cocoa, hemp, cotton,
indigo and costly woods.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 59
There was also the port of Bantoc, through
which these products were sent out to do their
part in the world's commerce.
The native leaders of the population of Ban-
toe were wealthy little brown men. There was
much money in circulation, the leading Moros
and Tagalos having handsome homes and enter-
taining lavishly. There was a native fashion-
able set, just as exclusive and autocratic as any
that exists in a white man's country.
Fort Franklin overlooked the bay at the op-
posite end from the port. Yet it was a "fort'
only in being a military station. There was no
artillery here, and the only fortifications were
semi-permanent earthworks, fronted by ditches,
thrown up around the officers' quarters and the
barracks and other buildings. The parade
ground and recreation spaces were outside these
very ordinary fortifications.
"The whole scene looks too peacefully lazy
to match with the yarns we hear of trouble
breeding among the Moros in those mountains
yonder," remarked Hal musingly.
"If trouble is coming, I hope it will come
soon," returned Sergeant Noll. "The only one
thing that I have against our life out here is
that it threatens to become too lazy an ex-
istence. If there's going to be any active serv-
ice for us, I want to see it happen soon, for
60 UNCLE , SAM'S BOYS
active service is what I came to the Philip-
pines for, anyway, as far as I had any interest
in the trip."
"From the gossip of the town and barracks,
I think we'll have our trouble soon enough,"
Hal replied. "You have fatigue duty this after-
noon, haven't you, Noll?"
"Yes; thanks to your detail," replied Noll.
"But I couldn't help the detail, old fellow.
Fatigue was for you in your turn. I 'm sorry it
came to you to-day, though, for Pve a pass and
I'm going to run over into Bantoc. I want to
see more of that queer little town."
"Going to be back for parade!"
"Yes; my pass extends only to parade. I
never want to miss that when I can help it."
Hal glanced at his watch, then back at bar-
racks, where hardly a soldier showed himself,
for all had caught the spirit of indolence in
this hot, moist climate of Mindanao.
"Well, I must be going, Noll. Don't work
your fatigue party too hard until the men get
used to this heat."
' ' Small danger ot my working 'em too hard, ' 9
laughed Noll. "It's only as a sort of special
favor that the fellows will work at all. ' '
Hal, with a nod to his chum, stepped out
on to fhe hard, level, white road that led from
Fort Franklin to Bantoc.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 61
It was a pretty road, shaded at points by
beautiful palms; yet the shade was not suffi-
cient to protect the young soldier all the way
into town. Ere he had gone far he found
it necessary to carry his damp handkerchief in
one hand, prepared to rnop his steaming face.
"Mindanao is certainly some hot,' he mut-
tered. "It keeps a fellow steaming all the
time.'
Yet there was plenty to divert one's thoughts
from himself, for along this road lay some of
the prettiest small farms to be found on north-
ern Mindanao. Instead of farms they really
looked more like well-kept gardens.
"It's the finest spot in the world to be lazy
in, ' thought the young sergeant, as he glanced
here and there over the charming scene. "If I
settled down here for life I'd want money
enough to pay other fellows to do all the work
for me. ' '
Though Hal did not know it, from the window
of one room in a house that he passed a pair
of unusually bright, keen eyes glared out at
him.
"That is he, the sergente, Overt on," growled
Vicente Tomba to himself. "Since we have
Senor Draney's orders that the sergente is to
leave this life as soon as possible, why not to-
day? He is going to Bantoc, where it will be
62 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
easy to snare him. And his friend Terry is
not with him. That pair, back to back, might
put up a hard fight — but one alone should be
easy for our ~bravos. Then, another day, we
can plan to get the Sergente Terry. "
Hal was not quite in Bantoc when a Tagalo
on a pony rode by him at a gallop. Hal glanced
at the fellow indolently, but did not recognize
him, as it was not Tomba, but one of that
worthy's messengers.
Up and down the principal street Sergeant
Overton wandered. He glanced into shops,
though only idly, for to-day he was not on a
buying mission.
At last the cool-looking interior of a little
restaurant attracted him. He entered, ordering
aL ice cream. When this was finished he ate
another. It was so restful, sitting here, that
when he had disposed of the second order, he
paid his account but did not rise at once.
"The sergente is newly arrived here?" asked
a white-clad Filipino, rising from another table
and joining Overton.
"Yes."
"Then you have not seen much of Bantoc?"
asked the Filipino, speaking in Spanish.
"Not as much as I mean to see of the town,"
Hal answered in the same tongue.
v * Then possibly, Senor Sergente, you have not
IN THE PHILIPPINES 63
yet seen the collection of ancient Moro weapons
in the shop of Juan Cerverra.'
"I haven't," Hal admitted.
' i Then you have missed much, senor, but you
will no doubt go to see the collection one of
these days.77
"I'd like to. Where is the shop?"
"Four doors below here. If you have time,
Senor Sergente, I am walking that way and will
show you the place.'
"Thank you; I'll be glad to go,' answered
Hal, rising promptly. His was the profession
of arms, and a display of any unfamiliar
weapons was sure to attract the young sergeant.
Juan Oerverra, despite his Spanish-sounding
name, proved to be a full-blooded Moro. He
wore his Moro costume, with its tight-fitting
trousers and short, embroidered blouse. There
were no customers in the shop when Hal and
his Tagalo acquaintance entered.
In another moment Sergeant Hal was deeply
absorbed in several wall cases of swords and
knives, all of them of old-time patterns. It
was a sight that would have bewildered a lover
and collector of curios of past ages.
One case was filled entirely with fine speci-
mens of that once-dreaded weapon, the Moro
"campilan." This is a straight sword, usually,
with a very heavy blade, which gradually widens
64 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
i
towards the end. This is a heavy cutting sword,
and one that was placed in Sergeant Hal's
hands, though Cerverra claimed that it was
two hundred years old, had an edge like a
razor.
"How much is such a sword as this?' Hal
inquired.
' ' Forty dollars, ' ' replied Cerverra.
"Gold?"
"No; Hex."
Hal felt almost staggered with the cheapness
of things here, as compared with the curio stores
in Manila. Forty dollars "Mex" meant but
about twenty dollars in United States currency.
"I have some cheaper ones,' went on Cer-
verra. "Here is one at eighteen dollars.'
"I'm going to have one of these campilan,'
Hal told himself.
In his interest he did not note that the Tagalo
who had brought him to the shop had left him
and was standing on the sidewalk outside.
"Are you interested in these creeses?' in-
quired Cerverra, passing down the shop and
pointing to another wall case.
The creese is an ancient Malay knife, with a
waved, snaky blade — a weapon with which the
Malay pirates of the past used to do fearful
execution.
Hal stepped before the wall case.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 65
"They are very interesting looking,' he re-
plied. "What does a good creese cost?'
The young sergeant did not wait for an an-
swer.
Click! A spring bolt on the under side of
a trap door on which he was standing shot out
of place.
Down dropped the trap door with such sud-
denness that Hal Overton did not have even
time to clutch at anything.
Then the trap door, relieved of his weight,
flew back into place.
Sergeant Hal shot down a steep incline, too
smooth for him to be able to stay his downward
progress.
CHAPTER V
ENOUGH TO " RATTLE '' THE VICTIM
UMP !
Sergeant Hal landed at least twenty
feet below with a suddenness that jarred
all the breath out of him for a moment.
Ere he could recover his half-scattered
senses he felt himself seized. Nor had the Army
boy fallen into one pair of hands. Four or
five men, as nearly as he could judge, seized
hold of different parts of his body.
Uncle Sanfs Boys.
66 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
There was little use in a prostrate youth fight-
ing against such odds. Hal was swiftly rolled
over on to his face, in the dark, and two of his
captors threw themselves upon him, holding him
down.
At the same time another thrust an armful
of hemp under his face, holding it close against
Ms mouth.
Then the light of a dark lantern was flashed
on the scene. With the speed of skilled hands
at the game these brown-skinned captors bound
the young sergeant hand and foot.
"Quit this!" Sergeant Overton tried to shout
angrily, but the wad of hemp was forced be-
tween his teeth and only a faint sound came
forth.
"Help!' he tried to shout, but the sound
came hardly louder than a sigh.
Now he was whirled over on his back, help-
less, and two of the brown rascals finished their
work by thrusting the hemp far enough into
Ms mouth to shut off all speech. Then the gag
was bound into place.
Hal could form little idea of his prison, save
that it was an oblong, cellar-like place, perhaps
a dozen feet wide by twenty feet long.
As nearly as the Army boy could guess, this
cellar must be located under the street itself.
"They Ve got me for fair," thought the young
IN THE PHILIPPINES 67
soldier in a rage that included himself as well
as Ms captors. "What's their game, I wonder?
Robbery? If it is, they'll feel sold when they
find how little money they are going to get."
By the light of the dark lantern, as he lay
on his back on the damp ground, Hal made out
the fact that his captors numbered eight. Five
men had the look and wore the costumes of
Moros ; the other three rascals looked as though
they might be Tagalos.
One after another the wretches looked down
at the young soldier and grinned, though not
one of them spoke.
Of a sudden the light went out. Hal, his ears
unusually acute now, heard their moving foot-
steps. Then all became intensely still.
"I wonder whether I'm a tremendously big
fool, or whether I'm merely unfortunate!"
thought Hal bitterly. "However, how was I
to guess ? In this Moro country must it be con-
sidered unsafe even to step into a store and
look at the merchandise0?'
There was no answer to this. By degrees
Hal began to feel decidedly uncomfortable as
to the fate that he might expect.
"If they meant only to rob me," he reflected,
"then why didn't they proceed at once? But
not a single brown rascal of the lot took the
trouble to thrust an exploring hand into my
68 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
pockets. What, then? Do they want an Army
prisoner, and if so, for what!"
The longer the young soldier thought it over,
the greater the puzzle became. Nor did it
escape his imagination that possibly he was not
to be allowed ever to see his comrades again.
That thought, of course, sent a chill of horror
chasing up and down young Overtones spine.
He was not afraid to die in battle, if need be —
but to be treated like a rat in a trap — that was
different.
"Well, they've got me, and I don't see any
likelihood of getting away,' decided Hal at
last, after fully an hour devoted largely to futile
efforts to wriggle out of the bonds that held his
wrists secure behind his back. "These knots
have been tied by masters. I don't believe I
could get out of them in hours. If they had
only tied my hands in front of me, so that I
could work them loose. Confound the pirates ! ' '
After what seemed like the passage of hours,
the boy heard a slight sound. Listening in-
tently, he heard it repeated.
Next a light was turned on — from the same
dark lantern.
Behind the light Hal's dazzled eyes could
make out the figure of a man.
Toward him the light came, Hal blinking in
the glare until the newcomer halted beside him.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 69
"Ah, Senor Sergente!" cried a mocking
voice.
Then the new comer bent over the Army boy,
and Overton knew him in an instant — Vicente
Tomba.
"That hemp in your mouth looks as though
it might give you discomfort — a thousand
pardons/' observed Tomba mockingly, as he
removed the cord that held the hemp in place.
Tomba now squatted on the ground beside
the young soldier's head and drew out the wt.d
of hemp.
"So you are in this, Tomba?' inquired the
Army boy coldly. "What's the game, any-
way?"
"Possibly," sneered the Filipino, "when you
know more, you '11 feel like making a noise. Let
me assure you that no friend will hear if you
do call. But any great amount of noise on your
part might provoke me, and that would not
be wise under the circumstances."
Showing his white, even teeth in an evil smile,
Tomba took out of the breast of his blouse a
small, bright-bladed creese that might have been
borrowed from one of the wall cases in Cer-
verra's shop.
"Why has this trick been played on me?" de-
manded Sergeant Hal angrily.
"A trick?" laughed Tomba softly. "Is that
70 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
what you think it is? My friend, you will find
that it is much more than a trick — it is a de-
cree!"
"A decree?" raged Sergeant Overton.
"What do you mean?"
"It is a decree from Senor Draney,' went
on Tomba coldly, maliciously. "It can do no
harm to mention that name since you can never
repeat it to anyone but me, for Senor Draney's
decree is that, when you go forth from here —
to-night — you will know nothing afterwards, for
you will be past knowing."
CHAPTER VI
LIFE HANGS ON A WORD
OU are talking like a madman," sneered
Hal.
"And next you will be begging like
one," returned Tomba, with that same easy
but deadly laugh.
Hal, despite his grit, felt a start of terror.
Cold sweat was now gathering on his forehead.
"You refused my friendship some days ago,"
continued Tomba. "You did not know how
valuable it might be.'
"Can the friendship of a scoundrel like you
ever be valuable?" asked Overton.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 71
"In the present case it would be worth a lit-
tle to you — your life!'
"What did you want of me, when you sought
my acquaintance?' demanded Hal.
He had suddenly become seized with a desire
to prolong the talk with this little brown monster
-to gain time !
"There was something that you could have
done for me,7 replied Vicente Tomba.
The Tagalo, like others of his race, was not
averse to talking, either. The little Filipino
knew that he had the whole situation in his
hands. With the cruelty of a cat, Tomba de-
lighted in the feline' pastime of playing with a
victim that could not escape him.
"What did you want me to do?" Hal asked
almost blandly.
"I wanted your services."
"Yes, but what kind of services?"
"What is the use of telling you — now?9
"Tell me one thing, though, Tomba."
"Why?"
"Just to gratify my curiosity," explained
Sergeant Hal, and he spoke slowly while his
eyes watched those of the Filipino. "Did you
want me to betray my Flag?"
"Not the Flag itself."
"But, in some way, you wanted me to turn
against my comrades — to serve you and your
72 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
friends at the expense of the United States
Government. '
"Yes/ assented Tomba. "But do not think
to deceive me. It is too late now to save your-
self by promising what I would have wanted
of vou."
v
"I don't intend to serve you and your rascal
friends at any price — at least, I haven't yet
come to that decision," Hal added, in a more
conciliatory tone. "However, I am curious.'
"Curiosity can do you no good now," re-
torted Tomba softly, with a shrug of his shoul-
ders.
"What part is Draney playing with you
brown-skinned men 1 '
Tomba again shrugged his shoulders, this
time more mockingly.
"Sefior Draney serves the same cause that
I do,' laughed the Filipino.
"And what cause is that!'
"His purse.'
"Then, in other words, Tomba, you are not
even a Filipino patriot. You are merely a
twentieth-century type of pirate.'
"If you like the word," replied Tomba, in a
tone of indifference.
Then he yawned — next placed the creese on
the ground beside him, while his right hand ex-
plored his pockets. He soon brought to light
IN THE PHILIPPINES 73
a package of Manila cigarettes. Tomba's left
hand produced a box of matches.
4 'Do you care for one last smoke, Senor
Sergente I ' inquired the Filipino with mocking
politeness, as he held out the package.
"Thank you; I never picked up the vice,'
Sergeant Hal answered, but he said it good-
naturedly, for he had an object now in not pro-
voking the enemy.
"So? You call smoking a vice?"
"The vice of pigs/ declared Hal, but again
he laughed good-humoredly.
"Oh, I do not mind your insolence,' replied
Tomba, striking a match and holding it to the
end of the cigarette in his mouth. "Abuse me
all you please, Sefior Sergente. '
' ' Thank you ! "
V
Hal had had a desperate motive in gaining
time by prolonging the talk. As he lay on his
side before the Filipino the young soldier had
at last employed his fingers in a way that he
hoped would lead to his being able to free his
hands. And now the instant had come! His
hands were free!
As he uttered that "thank you,' Sergeant
Overton suddenly summoned all the muscles in
his body to obey him in one frantic effort for
safety and freedom.
Like a flash he rolled, both of his bound feet
74 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
kicking Vicente Tomba and bowling over that
astounded little brown man.
Like lightning the Army boy reached for the
creese, and the finish of that general movement
found Sergeant Hal Overton sitting up and aim-
ing a desperate slash at the cord about his
ankles.
It needed a second slash, and in that fleeting
interval Vicente Tomba, uttering a wild cry of
rage, hurled himself upon the Army boy.
Hal Overton had now, however, entire control
of his body. He engaged with the little brown
man in a desperate struggle. Over and over
they rolled, the Army boy controlling the battle
and carrying them both further from the creese
that he had dropped on the ground.
Then, all in an instant, Hal freed his right
hand, clenched his fist and struck Tomba a stag-
gering blow between the eyes.
When Tomba came to himself again, after
a few moments, he found the youth in Uncle
Sam's Army uniform leaning over him.
"I have the creese, Tomba," warned Overton.
"You can guess what a sound or a move that
is not permitted will mean to you!'
To do his courage full justice, Tomba showed
himself no coward.
"You have the upper hand, Seiior Sergente.
But it will do vou no good."
•/ o
IN THE PHILIPPINES 75
"No?" questioned Uncle Sam's young sol-
dier. "Why not?"
"There is but one way out of here.'
"And then!"
"To pass out that way you must go by a
dozen of my men, and you can judge for your-
self what that will mean.'
"Yes; I have an idea," nodded Hal thought-
fully.
"Then you see the folly of thinking you can
escape ? '
"No; I am thinking that your men will be
able to get me. '
"To be sure."
i i Yet I am quick, Tomba, and before they can
finish me, I shall have settled my score with
you for good and all.'
"And thrown awav vour own life?"
V «/
"You forget that I am a soldier, Tomba.
I am inclined to feel that it will be worth even
my own life to make sure that you are where
you can no longer plot against the American
Government. '
"But your own life, Senor Sergente?'
"Mv own life is less than worthless to me
V
if I may be permitted to lose it in doing one
last valuable act for the Flag of my country.'
"You are boasting now!'
"As to that. Tomba, you will soon be in a
7 7 •/
76 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
position to know. And I warn you that the
slightest sign of treachery on your part will
be my excuse for ridding these islands of the
disgrace of your presence. "
"You are attempting too much/' jeered the
little brown man. "I see and I admit that you
are brave, yet you are bound to lose."
"The time for talking is past, Tomba, and
now we come to action," returned the Army
boy, speaking slowly and easily. "Come, get
upon your feet and obey every order of mine
the instant that you receive it. In another min-
ute or two you and I will be in the sunlight
again — or else you and I have both already
had our last glimpse of the light of day.
Tomba smiled, though he felt the mastery of
this young wearer of Uncle Sam's uniform.
' ' Get up on your feet, ' ' ordered Hal. ' ' Stand
right before me, your back to me. Do you feel
the point of the creese?"
"Yes,' answered Tomba in a low voice,
though the brown man spoke steadily.
"You will walk before me, very slowly. "If
you attempt to turn, or to disobey, I shall know
what to do with this wavy-bladed creese. If
you make a move to spring away from me, I
shall show you how good a jumper I am — and
then the creese! Now, walk, very slowly,
toward the exit from this place."
Steady, Now, Tomba!
77
T1IK M<:\Y YMIK
ASTOtt, LKNOX
TILDiiN
B
IN THE PHILIPPINES 79
As they started Hal held the lantern with his
left hand so that the rays of light flashed ahead
of them.
Vicente Tomba walked to the far end of this
•underground room. As far as young Overton's
eyes could see they were moving toward a blank
wall.
"Halt!" commanded the young sergeant
easily.
Tomba obeyed.
"You are taking me to a secret door!"
"It is so, senor.'
"And you know how to open it!'
"Yes; it is simple.'
"Then step to the door. But, Tomba!"
"Si, senor."
"Do not let any wild plan run through your
mind that you will open the door suddenly, bolt
through it and close it in my face. Do you
still feel the creese! Well, I am on the alert!'
In truth that had been Vicente Tornba 's very
plan. Now he gave up the idea, for Sergeant
Hal's tone and manner made it very plain that
treachery would prove but another name for
suicide.
' ' Then look out, Senor Sergente, that when I
open the door there is no rush on the part of
my brave ones. '
"Whether you or they plan the rush, it will
80 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
be the end of the world for you, Tomba, ' ' Over-
ton warned him steadily.
"I will do my best, senor," replied Tomba
in a voice well nigh as steady as the Army boy's.
Then he bent forward, pressing until he found
a hidden spring. In the seemingly solid stone
wall a large block of stone swung around on a
pivot, disclosing a larger cellar room beyond.
"Steadv, now, Tomba!"
«/ 7
Sergeant Overton flashed the lantern's rays
over the Filipino's left shoulder.
Nor was it a reassuring sight that the light of
the lantern revealed to the young soldier.
Instead of a dozen brown-skinned men in the
next room, there were eight* if Hal's hurried
count was correct. Moreover, he believed them
to be the same eight who had first received and
bound him.
The most disquieting fact, however, was that
five of the men wore revolvers at their belts,
and a pistol usually has a knife at a disad-
vantage.
"Explain to them, Tomba," muttered the
young soldier in English, "that any move of
your own, or any move of theirs to help you,
will be expensive for you. Warn them, for I
am watching all the rascals at once and I shall
not endure an instant's treachery or disobedi-
ence of my orders."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 81
Tomba spoke to them rapidly, partly in the
Tagalo and partly in the Aloro dialect. Ser-
geant Hal listened, watched, waited in keen
anxiety, for life and death hung on the issue.
CHAPTER VII
THE KIND OF MAN WHO MASTERS OTHERS
EVERY one of the eight sullen fellows
stood as though rooted in his tracks.
While Tomba spoke none answered,
but many baleful glances were cast at Sergeant
Hal Overton of the Thirty-fourth Infantry.
When Tomba had ceased speaking two or
three of the rascals spoke, slowly, briefly.
"What do the scoundrels say!" demanded
the Army boy.
"They do not like the situation, senor."
"Can you blame them? Or can they help
the situation in the new turn that it has taken 1 ' '
The Filipino shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, ask the brown pirates what they in-
tend to do ? ' >
Tomba spoke as though translating the ques-
tion into the two tongues that these surly fellows
understood.
"They say that they do not know,' replied
Vicente Tomba presently.
i Uncle Sam's Boys.
82 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
" Can't make up their minds, eh?" jeered Hal.
"Then I'll form their decisions for them.
There's a further way out of this place?"
Vicente Tomba hesitated, muttering.
"Now, don't you try my old trick of trying
to gain time,' warned the boyish sergeant
crisply. "I know all about that little trick and
I don't intend to put up with it in the enemy.
Tomba, tell your fellows to open the way out
of here, and to get out as quickly as they know
how. Tell them that, as soon as you stop talk-
ing, I'm going to begin to count ten in English,
and that the instant I count ten I shall drive
this creese deep into the back of your neck.
Tell them that I know how to handle a weapon
like this, and that I'll finish you with one
blow. ' '
As he spoke, Sergeant Hal dropped the
lantern that he had been holding with his left
hand. It fell with a crash, and the light went
out, but he needed it no longer, for there were
two other lighted lanterns in the room.
"Go on, Tomba! Tell them just what I told
you to say. Be sure you get it straight, too.
Eemember how much hangs in the balance for
you!'
Tomba began speaking, his voice wonderfully
steady. Sergeant Hal could not help admiring
the evident courage of this little Filipino, who
IN THE PHILIPPINES 83
knew well enough that his life was hanging on
a thread from second to second.
HaPs left hand now rested tightly on the lit-
tle brown manrs shoulder. Tomba's body was
no slight protection against the pistols of these
surly fellows in case they evidenced a dispo-
sition to shoot. And the Army boy did not
intend to let this human bulwark get away from
him.
"You have told them, Tomba?" queried Hal
Overton, as soon as the Filipino's voice ceased.
"Even so, sefior."
* ' They understand ! ' '
"If they do not, then they are idiots, Senor
Sergente. ' '
"Then tell them I am going to begin to
count. '
Again Tomba spoke, this time briefly.
The grip of young Overton 's hand on the
Filipino 's shoulder tightened. A slight shudder
ran through the brown man's frame, but other-
wise he showed no fear.
"One!" began Hal.
From the surly ones beyond an angry babel
of protest went up.
But Hal coolly disregarding the clamor,
merely raised his own voice enough to make it
heard :
"Two!"
84 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Sergeant Overton now let go of the Filipino's
shoulder, but only to throw his arm around the
fellow's neck. Tornba's head was drawn back,
almost chokingly, against the boyish sergeant's
shoulder.
"Three!"
Still no motion among the dark-skinned eight,
"Four!"
And then:
"Five! Tomba, your friends are cheerful
about your fate, aren't they! Six!"
Vicente Tomba spoke, sharply, hissingly.
Now some stir was noticeable among the
wretches, though whether they meant to obey or
to try to rush the lone soldier was more than
Overton could guess.
"Seven!"
Hal's voice, as steady as ever, must have car-
ried conviction with it. Certainly Tomba 's
shuddering had increased, though the little
brown man, no match in muscle for the white
soldier, made not the least effort to wrest him-
self away from that dangerous grip.
"Eight!' announced Hal Overton, his voice
on the verge of absolute cheeriness.
Again Tomba spoke, this time still more
angrily.
There was a shuffling of feet, as the men
moved further away. Then one of the wretches
IN THE PHILIPPINES 85
stepped forward and threw open a door, just
as Hal came calmly out with:
"Nine!"
"Stop counting, senor,' urged Vicente
Tornba quite coolly. "These men have yielded
and are going. They will open the other door,
pass through it hurriedly, and leave the way
open for you."
"Lucky for you, if they do, my Tagalo friend !
I will suspend the count for an instant only."
Another stone door was suddenly swung open,
by one of the surly fellows, revealing a passage
beyond. Into this the eight fairly raced.
"Do not follow too quickly, senor, or one of
the rascals may forget himself and turn to
fight," declared Tomba.
"It will be bad for you if it happens!'
"It is of myself that I am thinking, seiior!"
returned the Filipino dryly. Then, after a
pause :
1 t Come, senor. Surely we can pass out safely
now.:
"Then we'll do so,' agreed Sergeant Hal,
"and your life be upon our success! Don't try
to go more quickly than I move, or I shall sus-
pect you, and with me to suspect is to '
"Say no more, senor,' interrupted the little
Filipino. "I understand you better than I did,
and I am taking no chances. '
86 UNCLE SAM;S BOYS
Sergeant Overton still retained his left-handed
hold on Tomba as the pair passed out to what
might mean safety.
Through this second doorway they passed, to
find themselves ascending a slope paved only
with tightly packed dirt. Glancing up the slope
Sergeant Hal made out three or four stars low
down in the sky beyond.
''Night time?" he queried in mild astonish-
ment.
"Yes, senor, and you will even believe that
it is the night of another day," laughed Vicente
Tomba, "for you must have lived ages in the
last few hours."
"It wasn't quite as bad as that," the Army
boy returned graciously. ' ' In your way, Tomba,
you helped excellently to pass the time for me."
At the top of this interior slope the pair
passed out through a doorway ordinarily closed
by means of a stout wooden door. The pair
found themselves in the yard back of Cerverra's
house. At one side was an alley way leading to
the street.
"I will leave you here, senor, with your
gracious permission."
"Oh, no, no, Tomba! You will go with me,
and still held by me, at least as far as the mid-
dle of the street."
Wilth sullen assent the Filipino consented to
IN THE PHILIPPINES 87
this. On their way through the alley they en-
countered no one.
But, just as they reached the sidewalk, they
were met with a sharp hail of :
"Halt!"
CHAPTER VIH
THE RIGHT MA^ IN THE GUARD HOUSE
THAT command, however, in a good,
strong American voice, had very far
from the effect of startling Hal Over-
ton.
Down the street, barely a hundred feet away,
a squad of a dozen soldiers of B Company had
just halted in column of twos.
At the head of the squad stood Sergeant
Terry and Corporal Hyman.
"Sergeant Terry," called the self-rescued
Army boy briskly, "march your men here and
halt them again.'
"Very good, Sergeant Overton,' answered
Noll's voice, precise and formal as though on
parade, but there was a note of joy, none the
less, in Terry's voice.
"I will go now, seiior," suggested Vicente
Tomba, struggling slightly to free himself as
the squad again halted close to the Army boy.
88 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Yon will do nothing of the sort, Tomba,"
retorted Overton dryly. "Yon are going to
Fort Franklin as a military prisoner. "
"This is ingratitude!" snarled the little
brown man, looking decidedly crestfallen.
"No; it is not. I owe you nothing for my
freedom. Corporal Hyman, you will take
charge of the prisoner. See that he does not
escape. '
"Very good, Sergeant," replied Hyman, mo-
tioning to two of the men to place themselves
on either side of the prisoner.
"Now, Sergeant Terry, inform me how you
came to be here with this detachment?"
"I was sent into town, Sergeant Overton,
under orders from Captain Cortland. You
were missed from parade, and the captain knew
that could not happen with you, unless there
was something decidedly wrong. So, at seven
this evening, the captain directed me to take
this detachment and scour the town for you.
If we did not find you by half -past nine I was
to report back to the post by messenger, and
a larger detachment, under an officer, was to
be sent in."
"What time is it now?"
"About nine o'clock.'
"We shall be back, then," nodded Hal,
"within the time mentioned in your orders.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 89
But I shall leave some of the detachment here
until Captain Cortland has acted upon the re-
port that I shall make/
At that moment Sergeant Hal, glancing into
Cerverra 's store, caught sight of the bright,
eager eyes of the proprietor.
4 'Corporal Hyman, arrest that man, also,"
commanded young Overton sharply, pointing
into the shop. ' i The fellow 's name is Cerverra,
and he had a part in the plot against me. '
With two other soldiers Hyman darted into
the shop, from which they soon came out with
Cerverra, who protested strongly.
Meanwhile Vicente Tomba had discovered a
cause of discomfort.
"Senor Sergente,' he complained, "during
our struggle in the cellar you knocked my
cigarettes from my hand. I beg that you let
one of your soldiers take this piece of money
into a shop and buy me more cigarettes.'
"Shall I do it, Sergeant?' inquired Hyman.
' ' Tomba, ' ' laughed Hal, ' ' after all the trouble
that that last cigarette cost you I should think
you'd feel like cutting out the habit forever.
I know I would drop any habit that had gotten
me into such a mess. Had you not wanted to
smoke underground I would not have had such
a fine chance to upset you. Very likely you
would have won, instead of me.'
90 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"But I want cigarettes, now,' retorted
Tomba almost fiercely. "It is ungenerous to
deprive me of them. '
"Shall I. let a man get them for him?" asked
Hyinan.
"Yes; if he insists," nodded Hal. "What
an idiot a man is to allow cigarettes to make
such a slave of him that he can't pass an hour
without one.'
A soldier was accordingly dispatched to the
nearest tobacconist on Tomba 's errand. While
this was taking place Hal hurriedly told his
chum and Corporal Hyman what had happened
to him, and how he had escaped.
In all this time perhaps two score of curious
natives had gathered in the street, though all
of them kept at a respectful distance. Ser-
geant Hal examined these people keenly, though
he failed to see any of the eight from whom he
had had such difficulty in escaping.
"Captain Cortland told me,7 Noll broke in
at last, "that the former military commander
here informed him that he had had about a
dozen of his men disappear most unaccount-
ably, and that not one of them had ever been
heard from afterward. So, when you failed
to return, Hal, the captain declared that he was
going to sift this business to the bottom before
he stopped."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 91
"I guess, then, that all of our poor com-
rades in the other regiment who have disap-
peared in this miserable town of Bantoc have
gone, as I did, through visiting Cerverra's
store. Now, Noll, I am going to leave you here,
with eight of the men, to take possession of
Cerverra's store and premises until you receive
further orders from the post commander.
Hyman and I, and the other four men, will take
the prisoners out to Fort Franklin. I would
leave you a couple more men, Noll, only I do
not forget that it is possible that there may be
some attempt made to rescue our prisoners.'
"If the natives try that " broke in Cor-
poral Hyman.
"In the event of an attempted rescue, Cor-
poral, direct your men that they are to shoot
the two prisoners at the first sign of an attempt
at rescue/
Tomba heard Hyman give the order, and
spoke in a low tone to Cerverra. Both rascals
thereupon looked disconcerted.
"You have your instructions, Sergeant
Terry, " continued Hal Overton. "March the
guard, Corporal Hyman.'
As the guard started, Hal fell in beside Cor-
poral Hyman, telling him more of what had
happened in the cellar under the Moro curio
shop.
92 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"I reckon, Sarge, you've made the biggest
discovery of the year in this point of the
woods," was Hyman's terse comment. "I
reckon, too, the captain will see it that way."
It was cooler by night, though this was due
mainly to the absence of the sun. The air was
full of sticky moisture, and mosquitoes buzzed
about and bit viciously.
"I was born and reared in isTew Jersey,'
laughed Hal, striking at the winged pests, ' i and
I have had to stand a lot of guying about the
mosquitoes of my state. But Jersey has been
libeled. Compared with these Philippine pests
the Jersey mosquito is mild enough to be a
source of delight.'
There was no moon up, but the starlight was
bright — and how big and glowing the stars are
in the tropics!
Marching at an easy route step over the firm,
white road, it did not take the returning de-
tachment more than twenty minutes to cover
the distance to Fort Franklin.
"Halt your prisoners here, Corporal, and
watch 'em until Captain Cortland gives his
orders about them," directed Hal. Then the
young sergeant turned down the street leading 4
to officers' quarters, for the administrative
office of the post had been closed for hours.
Two minutes later Sergeant Hal Overton was
IN THE PHILIPPINES - 93
detailing what had happened him to the post
commander.
"But wait before you go any further, Ser-
geant,' cried Captain Cortland, interrupting
his tale. "I want the other officers to hear the
whole of this villainous business.'
By the use of the telephone the other five
commissioned officers on duty at Fort Frank-
lin were soon summoned.
"Now, begin again, Sergeant Overton,'
ordered Cortland, when all the officers had gath-
ered in his parlor.
The Army boy retold the entire story, leav-
ing out nothing — not even, the reader may be
sure, what Vicente Tomba had said to Hal about
Draney's connection with the natives.
"Ray, you're officer of the day,' broke in
the post commander suddenly. "Go out to
Corporal Hyman and see that he turns Tomba
and Cerverra over at the guard house. In-
struct the sergeant of the guard to make abso-
lutely certain that the prisoners have no chance
to escape. Also, Eay, you will send Corporal
Hyman and his four men back to Sergeant
Terry. Direct the sergeant to keep his whole
detachment on the ground to-night, setting a
regular guard. Hampton, as you 're in charge of
the commissary and quartermaster details at this
post, the first thing in the morning you will
94 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
make sure that Sergeant Terry's detachment is
supplied with rations enough for breakfast.
Early in the morning I shall look further into
that plague spot of Cerverra's. Now, Sergeant
Overton, continue your story."
When it was finished the officers sat in silence
for a few moments.
"Well, gentlemen,' inquired Captain Cort-
land at last, "have you anything to offer!"
"Are you going to arrest the man, Draney?'
inquired Captain Freeman, of C Company.
"Frankly," replied Cortland, "that is what
is puzzling me. What do you think, Free-
man?"
"We cannot doubt Sergeant Overton, and he
tells us that Tomba boasted that Draney is in
league with the natives in some conspiracy
here. '
"It is a matter of evidence, ' ' replied Captain
Cortland musingly. "Not one of you gentlemen
would doubt Sergeant Overton 's word on any
question of fact on which he has knowledge.
But his report is based only on what Vicente
Tomba told him. Now, at the test, not one of
you gentlemen doubts that Tomba would deny
it all point blank. I believe that Draney is a
scoundrel. I never liked the looks of the man
from the first moment, but I can't arrest him
on account of my bad opinion of him. Nor
IN THE PHILIPPINES 95
would any military or civil court hold him on
account of what Sergeant Overton says Tomba
told him. That evidence would not satisfy the
requirements of any court of trial.'
"Sir, is Draney really an American or an
Englishman?7 inquired Lieutenant Hampton.
"I don't know, Hampton, nor do I believe
any one else knows for certain. Englishman
or American, it is equally bad either way. If
he's an American, then I am sorry to say that
there are multitudes of people back in our own
country who would welcome only too gladly a
chance to attack the government for locking
an American up on what they would call a
flimsy charge. On the other hand, if Draney
is an Englishman, and we arrest him on any-
thing but the most satisfactory evidence, then
the British government would be sure to make
a noise about the affair. Hang it all, I wish
we had just a shade more evidence, and I'd
have Draney behind steel curtains in the guard
house before daybreak, for his plantation is
only eight miles out from here. Personally, I
haven't a doubt that Draney is behind all the
trouble of which we're hearing rumors."
"What can be Draney 's object?" asked Cap-
tain Freeman.
"Perhaps he hasn't really a sane object," re-
sponded Cortland. "Whatever his motive for
96 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
standing in with the worst of the Moros, and
plotting against the government that we rep-
resent, there is sure to be something that he
regards as being in line with his own advan-
tage."
"Everything connected with this fellow,
Draney, seems to be a puzzle, ' ' muttered Lieu-
tenant Hampton.
During this discussion the two youngest
officers of all, Lieutenants Prescott and Holmes,
sat listening intently, and looking from face to
face, though neither ventured any opinions. As
"youngsters'' it was their place to wait until
they were asked to speak.
So notable, in fact, did their silence become
that at last Captain Cortland remarked:
"Mr. Prescott, Mr. Holmes, you know that
you are not forbidden to speak in the presence
of your elders."
«/
"I was listening, sir/ replied Lieutenant
Prescott, with a smile. t i I haven 't anything to
offer sir, but whatever orders I may receive,
I'll follow them all the way across the island
of Mindanao and out into the ocean as far as I
can swim or float.'
"That's my answer, too, sir,' supplemented
Lieutenant Greg Holmes.
' i Spoken like soldiers and officers, ' ' said Cap-
tain Cortland heartily.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 97
And, indeed, these two young officers were
soldiers ! Young as they were, they commanded
the respect of the men in their companies. B
and C Companies could be depended upon to fol-
low Prescott and Holmes wherever these two
young "West Pointers cared to lead them.
"Gentlemen," announced Captain Cortland
at last, 1 1 we have the two prisoners in the guard
house, and we have a guard over Cerverra's
place. We'll take counsel of the night and of
sleep. In the morning, at eight o'clock, we'll
meet here to deliberate further on this puz-
zling matter. By the morning our whole duty
may be extremely clear to us.'
The visiting officers arose, saluted and took
their leave.
"That is all for to-night, Sergeant Overton,'
announced the captain. "But on one point I
want to caution you. You have heard the dis-
cussion here to-night. Do not repeat it to any
of the enlisted men.'
"No, sir."
"That is all, Sergeant. One of these days I
may have the time to tell you what a fine piece
of work you have done for us to-day. Good
night, Sergeant.'
"Good night, sir."
The Army boy saluted, receiving his supe-
rior's acknowledgment. Then Hal stepped
Uncle Sam's Boys.
98 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
outside and made his way down the white road-
way of ground shell and went to his own squad
room in barracks.
"One point, anyway, is highly satisfactory, ' '
mused Sergeant Hal, as he crawled in under
the mosquito netting that hung over his cot.
"Vicente Tomba, the fellow with a dislike for
seeing me alive, is safe behind bars in a guard-
house cell!"
But was he?
CHAPTEE IX
NEWS COMES OF THE UPKISING
FIVE officers of the garrison at Fort Frank-
lin had assembled in the post com-
mander 's office, at eight o 'clock the next
morning, and awaited the arrival of Lieutenant
Ray, who was still, for a matter of another hour,
to be officer of the day.
Nor did Eay keep his brother officers wait-
ing more than a moment. Then his brisk step
was heard on the shell road outside, followed
by his sudden entrance into the office.
But behind him came two soldiers of the
guard, dragging between them an insignificant-
looking little Filipino who seemed thoroughly
terror stricken.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 99
" How's Tomba this morning, Bay?' in-
quired Captain Cortland, wheeling about.
"And who is this prisoner?"
"This, sir," declared Eay, in a tone that
quivered with disgust, "is all that is left to
us of Tomba!"
"But this isn't Vicente Tomba at all."
"I know it, sir."
"Explain yourself, Ray."
"Why, Captain, I have just made an inspec-
tion of prisoners at the guard house. Huddled
in the back of the cell where I personally put
Tomba last night crouched this shivery little
object, looking as if he expected to be called
upon to face a firing squad."
Captain Cortland had leaped to his feet, look-
ing mightily concerned.
"But, Mr. Eay, where is Tomba?"
"I wish with all my heart that I knew, sir,"
replied the officer of the day, even more dis-
turbed than his superior. "Last night I put
Tornba in the cell and turned the key in the
lock myself. Then I turned the key over to
the sergeant of the guard. When I found
Tomba missing, and this worthless object in
his place, I made an investigation. The ser-
geant of the guard declared that the key had
not been out of his pocket since I gave it to
him.'
4". *
100 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Who is sergeant of the guard?"
"Sergeant Jones, C Company, sir."
"And Jones is as honest, capable and ener-
getic a man as we have in C Company," spoke
up Captain Freeman, in defense of his sergeant.
"Have there been any visitors at the guard
house this morning, Bay?" demanded Captain
Cortland. ' ' Especially, any native visitors ? ' '
"Yes, sir; so Sergeant Jones informs me.
You know, sir, it has been permitted that na-
tive prisoners be allowed to have their friends
come and bring them their native food and
coffee."
"I know," nodded Captain Cortland. "But
that rule, gentlemen, is revoked from this min-
ute. Thanks to that rule Tomba has gotten
away from us."
"I hope you don't suspect Sergeant Jones,
Cortland," interposed Captain Freeman. "Be-
cause, if you do, I'm satisfied that you're doing
the sergeant an injustice."
"I don't suspect your sergeant, Freeman. I
am more to blame than any one else, for hav-
ing allowed the old rule of my predecessor here
to remain in force. Quite a group of natives
came, eh, Bay?"
"Seven or eight of them, sir."
"Exactly," nodded Cortland, "and this
wretched little half-price native was one of
IN THE PHILIPPINES 101
them. He was brought along on purpose.
Probably he was threatened with having his
throat cut if he didn't do what he was told by
the scoundrels. Then, while some of the na-
tives were passing food and drink through the
bars to Tomba and the prisoners, Jones must
have had his attention attracted.'
"Sergeant Jones remembers that he was
called to the guard-house door for an instant,'
interjected Lieutenant Eay.
" Exactly, Eay, and at the same time a light-
fingered native slipped a cunning brown hand
into the sergeant's pocket and the key was
taken. The cell door was swiftly unlocked,
this native stole in, and Vicente Tomba stole
out. Friends swiftly slipped Tomba one or
two articles of clothing with which to help dis-
guise himself. Then the whole party filed
quickly out, and by this time Vicente Tomba
is headed for the mountains and going fast. '
"But Sergeant Jones found the key in his
pocket, sir, when I asked him for it.'
"Certainly, Eay. The little brown man who
was clever enough to pick the pocket of the
sergeant of the guard found it even less trouble
to return, the key.'
"Cerverra didn't get away, anyway,' mut-
tered Lieutenant Eay, who had grown suddenly
tired and careworn in appearance.
102 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Undoubtedly that's because Tomba is of
more importance to the Moro plotters than
Cerverra. Besides, Cerverra owns property
here, and he can't well afford to be a fugitive
from justice.'
"What shall I do with this little wretch of
a substitute, sir?" queried the officer of the
day.
"Have you questioned this prisoner!"
"Yes, sir, and not a word will he say. He
only shakes his head and pretends that he can-
not understand a word of English or Span-
ish."
"Then take him back and lock him in the
same cell," instructed the post commander.
"Keep him there until he does talk.'
"Very good, sir.'
Barely had Lieutenant Bay reentered the
guard house when two shots sounded on the
road toward Bantoc.
"What's that? Trouble starting?" de-
manded Captain Freeman, darting to the door
and listening.
"It may be only a shooting affray, but we
must soon know," replied Captain Cortland.
All of the officers save Bay were now out on
the veranda of the building.
Two more shots sounded, close together.
Then came a light volley, sounding lighter still.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 103
"It may be that Sergeant Terry is having
trouble in town/ muttered Captain Cortland,
wholly alert in a second. i l In any case we must
let these Moros see a show of military force.
Freeman, detail thirty of your men and let
Lieutenant Holmes march them into Bantoc in
quick time. Each man to carry fifty rounds of
ammunition. ' '
"Very good, sir.
"Lieutenant Holmes, you will go first of all
to Cerverra's shop, unless the firing seems to
be in another direction. But remember that
if trouble breaks loose we will take care of it
from here, and that your essential orders are
not changed until you receive them from me,
or from your company commander.'
"Very good, sir,' replied young Holmes,
saluting.
Freeman and his second lieutenant hurried
away to execute the orders without, loss of
time.
At the sound of the shots many of the men
from barracks had run out into the street to
see if they could find any explanation of the
hostile sounds.
' l Second platoon, C Company, fall in ! ' rang
the order, repeated three or four times.
That caught several of the curious ones in
the street, calling them to the parade ground.
104 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Acting First Sergeant Hal Overton, B Com-
pany, was among those in the street. And he
was the first to catch sight of a horse coming
up the road at a wavering gallop.
"We'll soon know," the Army boy called to
those nearest him. "This looks like a mes-
senger coming."
The man who was astride the horse, and who
was attired in white duck blouse and trousers,
was bending forward over the neck of the ani-
mal.
"Second platoon, fall in!" rang Greg
Holmes 's command on the parade ground,
showing how quickly military orders may be
carried out.
"The messenger is bleeding," cried Hal. "I
can see the stains on his white clothing. And
the horse has been hit, too!"
"Trouble with a big *T,' " muttered Private
Kelly.
Sergeant Hal said no more. He walked
quickly down the road as horse and rider drew
nearer. The mount was running more feebly
now. Fifty feet away from the young sergeant
the animal pitched suddenly, staggered, then
fell.
For an instant it looked as though the rider
would also be stretched in the dust. Then he
recovered, leaped painfully away from the
IN THE PHILIPPINES 105
horse — and just then Hal Overton reached and
caught him.
" Shall I carry you, friend?' demanded the
Army boy, for the stranger was a white man,
doubtless an American.
At the stranger's belt hung a holster, the
flap unbuttoned. He was wild-eyed and breath-
ing hard, but there was no sign of cowardice
in the man's sternly set face.
Bloodstains showed over three wounds in the
trunk of his body. The right shoulder, also,
had been touched.
"I can walk — but give me your arm," gasped
the wounded man. "Take me to your com-
manding officer!'
Hal started, but had not far to go, for Cap-
tain Cortland was coming forward on the run.
"Take that man to the porch of barracks,'
called the captain, whose eye, practised in
wounds, saw much. "Don't make him walk
far."
Kelly sprang to Hal's aid. Between them
they lifted the wounded stranger to a seat on
their arms. The man put his arms about their
necks, and thus they conveyed him to a broad
armchair on the porch.
' ' My man, there, run for a hospital steward, '
shouted Captain Cortland. Then the post com-
mander came to the wounded stranger.
106 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Now that lie found himself at the end of his
journey the stranger appeared to lose rapidly
the strength of his voice. He lay back in the
chair, his eyes half closed.
" Where do you come from, friend?" asked
Captain Cortland.
"The Seaforth Plantation."
"I know where the place is — twelve miles
from here, in the interior," answered the cap-
tain.
' i Eight, ' ' murmured the wounded one.
"Your name?"
"Edwards. I'm bookkeeper and correspond-
ent for Mr. Seaforth."
"Platoon fours right, march!" sounded from
the parade ground.
Edwards heard the command, then the steady
whump-whump of the feet of marching men.
The wounded man turned in his chair and
gazed at the detachment marching away in
quick time behind Lieutenant Holmes.
"You act quickly, Captain,' murmured Ed-
wards gratefully.
"Those men are marching to Bantoc to keep
order in the town," replied Captain Cortland.
"Tell me, as quickly as you can, what is wrong
at Seaforth 's."
"We were attacked just before daylight this
morning," Edwards replied weakly.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 107
"In force?7 pressed the post commander.
"Just at a guess there must have been two
or three hundred of the Malay fiends. "
"Any of the defending party killed?"
"Not when I left, Captain. But four of our
native Moro laborers were shot dead before
they could reach the main house. The main
house was being defended by Seaforth when I
left."
"How many white men there?'
"Seaforth, his son, his superintendent and a
blacksmith. '
"They all escaped into the house at the at-
tack!"
"Yes."
"Any natives helping Seaforth in the de-
fense?"
"Yes; eight of the most trusted Moro work-
men. But, Captain, you never can tell when
you can trust any of these natives.'
* { I know, ' murmured Cortland, nodding his
head.
At this moment the hospital steward arrived
on the run, carrying a case of instruments,
bottles and bandages. There was no surgeon-
officer at Fort Franklin, the post commander
being compelled to rely, at need, on a German
physician in Bantoc.
"Get right to work, steward," ordered Cap-
108 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
tain Cortland. "And I must question this man
while you work over him. Edwards, are there
any American women at Seaf orth 's ? ' '
"Three."
' l Good heavens ! ' ' uttered the captain, paling.
"Mrs. Seaf orth, the superintendent's wife,
and Miss Daly, the school teacher."
"How did you get away!"
"The Moros didn't appear to be in force
on the side toward the stable, and I wriggled
through in the dark, traveling flat on my
stomach. I reached a horse at the stable, sad-
dled fast, and then galloped away just as the
Moros turned loose a volley that covered the
noise of the horse's hoofs."
Edwards 's voice was becoming much weaker.
He paused frequently between words. The hos-
pital steward, standing behind the wounded
man, glanced up at Captain Cortland, shaking
his head.
"Was the road infested with roving parties
of guerillas'?" inquired Captain Cortland.
"No, sir," replied the bookkeeper. "I didn't
run into any trouble until I reached Bantoc.
The natives here must have known that the
trouble was coming, for concealed rascals fired
on me just as I got alongside the town. They
wounded me and my horse."
The other officers, with the exception of the
IN THE PHILIPPINES 109
absent Lieutenant Holmes, were now at the
.porch, listening quietly.
"Freeman, I must keep the rest of your com-
pany here/' explained Captain Cortland. "And
Hampton, your duties here are such that I can't
very well spare you from post. So I shall have
to send Lieutenant Prescott to Seaforth's.
Lieutenant Prescott, assemble the company
without an instant's delay.'
There was little need to speak of delay.
Every soldier left on the post and not engaged
in actual duty was as near to the spot as he
could be, for all were interested in this latest
news.
"Mr. Prescott, don't take the time to march
your men to the parade ground. Assemble B
Company right here. Pick out the sixty men
you want. Sergeant Overton will help you.
Take sixty men, two days ' rations and a hundred
and fifty rounds of cartridges per man. Take
blankets, ponchos and shelter tents. Detail your
men and be ready to march at the earliest pos-
sible moment.'
As the call for formation sounded Edwards
uttered a fervent:
"Thank heaven!"
The hospital steward forced a draught of
medicine down the wounded man's throat.
Quickly the sixty men were detailed, those
110 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
who had been on sick report lately, or those who
for any other reason were unfitted for a long,
swift march being rejected.
"Detachment, fall out/' ordered Lieutenant
Prescott. "Sergeant Overton, see to the equip-
ping of the men for this hike. Don't let any
man idle any time away. I'll soon be with you
in barracks, for minutes may be invaluable.'
Edwards had fallen back once more, lying
with his eyes closed. The hospital steward, one
hand on the wounded one's pulse, looked at
Captain Cortland and shook his head.
"Mr. Edwards," called the captain.
There was no answer.
"Is he dead?" asked the post commander in
a low voice.
"No, sir, but he is unconscious and there's
only a feeble flutter at the pulse."
As if to prove that he was still conscious, Ed-
wards's lips tried to frame the words:
"Thank heav "
A sigh, and Edwards 's head sank forward on
his chest.
"He's gone, sir; there's no pulse," said the
hospital steward.
Edwards 's brave mission was ended. He
had carried the word of danger to Fort Frank-
lin, but he could not live to see the relief or
vengeance detail set out.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 111
As soon as it was certain that the bookkeeper
had really ceased to breathe, Captain Cortland
had the hospital steward summon men, who
carried the remains away.
From the portion of the barracks allotted to
B Company there came hardly a sound of un-
usual activity. Yet men were preparing for
the "hike," as the long, swift march is called,
in record time.
"All ready in this room!" called Sergeant
Hal at last.
A chorus of low-toned replies answered him.
"Tumble out, then, lively!"
An instant later the men hastened from other
squad rooms. There was no flourish of bugles
this time. At a quietly spoken word the sixty
men fell in. Non-commissioned officers made
a hasty inspection, while Captain Cortland and
Lieutenant Prescott glanced up and down the
line with keen eyes.
"March your detachment, Lieutenant," di-
rected Captain Cortland, a minute later.
"Twos right, route step, quick time — march!"
called Lieutenant Prescott.
As one man they swung, and their feet were
in motion. At the head of the line marched
acting First Sergeant Overton, setting a stiff
pace.
For an instant Prescott stood still, eying
112 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
his men as they swept by. Then he ran to the
head of the line, falling in beside the young ser-
geant.
They were off on the Flag's business!
CHAPTER X
THE INSULT TO THE FLAG
T was a deserted road over which the de-
tachment marched.
When there is fighting in Mindanao,
and troops are scurrying along the roads, those
inhabitants who are non-combatants keep
within their doors — at all events, they remain
out of sight. It is as though every native feared
to be shot as a possible rebel.
But Uncle Sam's troops have no quarrel with
men and women following peaceful occupations.
If these brown natives understood our people
better they would not scurry to cover when the
khaki-clad men are passing on fighting bent.
For three miles, or until Bantoc was left well
behind, the quick time continued. Then the
young lieutenant decided that it would be neces-
sary to slacken the pace for a while. Soldiers
must not only reach their destination as early
as possible ; they must also be fit for fighting on
arrival.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 113
It was not difficult to find the way. An almost
straight road led out to the Seaforth plantation.
Lieutenant Prescott had a map of the country
for use in case he found it necessary.
Twice on the way the men halted, for five
minutes each time.
Then, about eight miles out, they came upon
outlying scenes of plantation life. There were
broad fields, rich with crops, but to-day no
laborers were to be seen at work.
Then the main buildings of the Draney plan-
tation were sighted.
About the buildings, too, all was unwontedly
quiet. In fact, the main house was closed and
had the air of being in a state of siege.
6 ' Humph ! ' ' muttered the young lieutenant to
the boyish sergeant. "If all we hear about
Draney is true, or even the half of it, he has
no need to fear the Moros."
Just as the detachment was passing opposite
the main building the front door opened, and
Draney, bearing a rifle in the hollow of his left-
arm, hastened out, holding up his right hand.
"Detachment halt!'7 commanded Prescott in
a wearied tone. Then the young commanding
officer stepped rapidly toward the planter.
"Well, Mr. Draney, what is it?" Prescott in-
quired.
"I'm thankful you've come, Prescott.'
8 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
114 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
1 i Mr. Prescott, if you please, ' ' interposed the
officer coldly.
"I'm mighty glad you've come. Off yonder
we 've been hearing firing at intervals ever since
daylight. '
"How recently have you heard it!" queried
Prescott.
"Within ten minutes."
"Thank heaven, then!" muttered the lieu-
tenant. "The Seaforth people are holding
out."
"Is it at Seaforth 'sf" demanded Draney,
with assumed eagerness.
"Sol imagine. But I must hurry on my way.
Take care of yourself, Mr. Draney.'
Perhaps that last bit of advice was delivered
in a tone of some sarcasm. Draney appeared
to feel very uneasy.
"Prescott — Mr. Prescott — aren't you going
to leave some of your men here to protect this
place?"
"I don't believe it will be necessary," replied
the lieutenant, and again, no doubt, there was
some hidden irony in his words.
"But the Moros may attack us here at any
moment," urged Draney pleadingly.
"I hope they won't attack you, Mr. Draney.
But, in any event, I have no orders to leave any
of my men here."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 115
"Yet, surely, as an officer commanding troops
in the field, you have some discretion in the
matter."
"I fear it would be an abuse of my discretion
to weaken my detachment by leaving men here. '
At that moment four or five shots sounded
faintly in the distance.
"You must see my present duty as clearly as
I do, Mr. Draney," uttered the young lieuten-
ant quickly. "Good-bye, sir."
"Can't you leave me even six men?"
Prescott did not reply, but called :
"March the detachment, Sergeant."
Hal gave the moving order instantly, the lieu-
tenant cutting off the column obliquely and thus
rejoining its head.
"The impudence of that fellow!" growled
Lieutenant Prescott, under his breath, but
Sergeant Hal heard the words.
Two or three minutes later, when the plan-
tation buildings were out of sight, the young
sergeant chanced to look back along the line.
As he did so something in the sky caught his
attention.
"Look at that, sir," urged Hal, stepping out
of the way of the column and pointing back-
ward.
Lieutenant Prescott uttered an exclamation of
anger.
116 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"I wish we had men to spare. I certainly
would send some of them back to that con-
founded Draney!" quivered Prescott.
The object at which both gazed was a blood-
red kite, flying high, and apparently sent up
not far from the Draney house.
"It must be a signal, sir," suggested Ser-
geant Hal.
"Of course it is!" stormed the lieutenant.
' ' It 's the easiest way in the world of sending the
news to the brown fiends swarming around Sea-
forth's that a military column has passed
Draney 's place."
"I could take a few men, sir, go back and ar-
rest Draney and bring him to you," suggested
Hal quietly.
"What would be the use?" demanded the
young officer, a scowl of disgust settling on his
face. "In the first place, you wouldn't find
Draney in an hour, for probably he has hidden
himself. Even if you found him sitting on his
back porch he'd be prepared to swear that some
native had sent up the kite without his knowl-
edge or permission. Sergeant, a fellow of
Draney 's type is always hard to catch, and it's
bad judgment to try to catch him until you have
evidence enough to hang him. So, for the
present, I'm certain that we'd better let the
scoundrel go. But the flying of that kite means
IN THE PHILIPPINES 117
that there's danger of an ambuscade. This is
the first time I've commanded in the field and
I don 't intend to be cut to pieces in ambush. '
Eaising his voice, Lieutenant Prescott called :
"Detachment, halt!"
As the column of twos came to a stop Lieu-
tenant Prescott announced:
"Men, you can see that red kite flying, back
at the plantation. It's a signal to a possible
enemy ahead of us. The enemy may try to
ambush us. Therefore, from now on, every man
will move as quietly as he possibly can. No
unnecessary word will be spoken in ranks. You
will take pains to keep your equipments from
jingling. I am going to march you off the road
and send a l point' ahead. Corporal Cotter!'
"Sir?"
"Take the first four files for a ' point' and
march two hundred yards ahead of the detach-
ment. Halt and signal back to us if at any time
you hear anything, or have any other reason,
to believe that you are nearing an ambush.
Take the first path to the left, which you will
find about a quarter of a mile from here. If I
have further orders for you I will send them for-
ward. '
"Very good, sir."
"March the * point,' Corporal."
When the last file of Cotter's men was two
118 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
hundred yards in advance Lieutenant Prescott
nodded to Sergeant Hal to march the main
column.
Not a soldier, now, but understood that the
command was probably close to the enemy. At
all events, fighting within the hour seemed
almost certain, for occasional shots still sounded
in the country ahead.
No word was now spoken. Cotter found the
path, and led his men into it. Prescott knew,
from his map, that the path would lead his men
to Seaf orth 's, though by a wide detour from the
highway.
Sergeant Hal Overton felt a queer little thrill
when he realized that they were now nearing an
enemy reported to be much superior in numbers.
The thrill was not exactly of fear, though there
was some uneasiness in it. Every soldier has
felt this sensation when marching into battle.
But Hal was curious to know how the feeling
affected the other men.
If Lieutenant Prescott felt any of it, there
was nothing in his face or manner to betray the
fact. He appeared to be "all business,7' and to
have a keen sense of responsibility which, how-
ever, did not dismay him in the least. No sol-
dier could gaze at that young officer and feel
that the detachment was badly commanded.
Such is the West Point training.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 119
Kelly and some of the other soldiers who had
seen much active service plodded along like so
many laborers going unconcernedlv to their
work.
Some of the newer enlisted men, who had
never before been in real action, betrayed their
newness only by the eager light that shone in
their eyes. These new men, too, took pains to
walk still more softly along the forest path than
did any of the old hands at campaigning.
To any but the most hardened old soldier
there is something ' ' creepy ' in plodding along
over a narrow path in a rather dense forest, not
knowing at what moment a lurking enemy may
pour in a volley that will bowl over half of the
command.
Yet every man clutches a rifle and feels at
his belt enough ammunition for putting up a
good and long fight. There is something ex-
ultant in the consciousness that, if attacked, one
can render back a good account of himself, and
that the American soldier has no cause to be
afraid of any troops on earth. It is man's work
— and it takes a man to do it!
To the "point,' naturally, came the real
danger — in the first moment of possible ambush
along the path. It would run into trouble first.
That is what it is for. If the "point" meets an
enemy every man in it may be bowled over by a
120 , UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
sudden shower of hostile bullets. But the main
column is warned, and the commander can bring
up the bulk of his force in battle line armed with
the knowledge of where the enemy is. When the
" point" marches but two hundred yards in ad-
vance of the main body of the command then
it can be promptly supported if trouble
comes.
Now the distant firing broke out again, and
briskly.
"The Moro fiends are trying to rush the
planter's house before help can reach him!'
muttered Lieutenant Prescott to himself.
"We'll spoil some of the joy of those savages
when we get close enough to send them a raking
volley. I hope they're lined up so that we can
give them a flank fire before the scoundrels
know that we're on the ground at all.'
Two miles covered, then a third was left be-
hind.
Now, a nervous or too eager commander
might have hurried his men over the remaining
ground, but Prescott, at West Point, had been
taught the value of cool, deliberate work.
It was noticeable, however, that now the men
marched along with more spirit and swing.
Those who may have been secretly nervous were
at least certain that soon their suspense would
be over. A few minutes, and they would be en-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 121
gaged in something more definite than merely
tramping in the direction of danger.
Suddenly Corporal Cotter halted his men,
and the same gesture was visible at the head
of the column behind.
' ' Softly, ' ' whispered Lieutenant Prescott, but
his gesture carried further than did his voice.
The main column closed slowly up with the
"point."
"I couldn't go further, sir, without running
into those fellows yonder," whispered the cor-
poral. "I didn't know that you would want
me to do it.'
Cotter pointed through the rows of trees to
a clearing beyond.
In the center of the clearing stood a little
building — plainly the schoolhouse in which the
few white children on the plantation and prob-
ably many native children of the neighborhood
were taught, five days in the week, by some
clear-eyed Yankee schoolma'am furnished by
Uncle Sam's Government.
Seven Moros were visible at or close to the
schoolhouse. All of them were armed. One fel-
low was hurrying up with a can of oil, which,
while the soldiers waited and watched, he
sprinkled over the woodwork of the doorway,
carrying a trail of the oil inside the building.
" That's a Filipino estimate of the value of
122 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
education/ whispered Lieutenant Prescott
savagely to his sergeant.
But then something happened that made Hal
Overton boil with indignation.
Just as the fellow had finished scattering the
oil and was about to strike a match, one of the
other Moros seized the fellow's arm, then
pointed up to the flag pole over the front of the
building.
All of the brown rascals began to chuckle.
Then one of them climbed up. With a keen-
edged creese he cut the Flag loose, hurling it
down to the ground.
Now began an orgy of derision. First the
Moros spat upon the Flag; then, howling glee-
fully, they commenced to dance upon it. Every
now and then one of the brown men bent down
to slash at the Flag.
It was hard for some sixty of Uncle Sam's
men to stand there, with guns in their hands,
and witness such desecration as that. Some of
the soldiers began to mutter.
' * Silence ! ' ' hissed Lieutenant Prescott.
One soldier rested his rifle forward, as though
bent on taking a shot, but Sergeant Hal, like
a flash, knocked up his arm.
"No man is to fire unless ordered,' ' muttered
Overton, and Lieutenant Prescott nodded his
approval.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 123
Soon the Flag lay torn and trampled, all but
covered in the dust of the roadway before the
school. Then one of the Moros again struck a
match. In a moment the flames began to crackle
and the smoke to ascend.
Then, as if satisfied with their work, the brown
rascals set out at a steady trot in the direction
of Seaforth's.
"Men," spoke Lieutenant Prescott, in a low
voice, "it would have been fine to have poured
a volley into those wretches, but it would have
told their main body our exact location. We
must sink all other feelings until we have
reached the plantation and rescued those im-
periled there. Corporal Cotter, lead your men
to the left, through the woods and around the
schoolhouse. On the other side you will find a
path that you will follow."
As the detachment started Hal saluted.
"Sir, have I your permission to run out into
the clearing, recover the Flag and then rejoin
you?"
Lieutenant Prescott shot a keen look at the
Army boy, then answered briefly:
"Yes, Sergeant."
Hal ?s task was quickly executed. In the open
he encountered no one; when he rejoined the
column in the woods he reverently carried a
Flag, torn, slashed and dirt-stained.
124 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"One of these days, sir," quivered the Army
boy to his officer, "I hope to be able to teach
those Moros a lesson with this very Flag!"
CHAPTER XI
IN THE FIRST BEUSH WITH MOROS
AT times, while the detachment in the
woods covered that last mile the firing
ahead cropped up briskly. Then it
died down into an occasional, sputtering shot or
two. But every discharge of a rifle ahead was
now distinctly audible to Uncle Sam's men
marching to the relief.
At last the marching men came so close that
the young lieutenant whispered to the boyish
sergeant :
" I 'm going to join the ' point, ' Overton. Bring
the men on at the same interval, but keep your
eyes ahead for signals from me.'
"Very good, sir."
Ahead the marching men could now see that
the trees were thinning out. Still further ahead
they knew that there must lie either plantation
fields or the houses themselves.
Many a soldier in the column tightened his
grip on his rifle as he thought how soon, now,
the raiding Moros would find that they had
IN THE PHILIPPINES 125
more fighting on hand than they had bargained
for.
The " point77 presently halted at the edge of
the forest and Lieutenant Prescott signaled back
by raising his hand with a downward gesture.
Sergeant Overton halted the main detachment.
Over a broad field the soldiers looked, but
it was now plain that the besieged planter's
house lay on the other side of a belt of timber
at the further edge of the field. Then the officer
signaled for the main column to be brought up.
"I don't see any of the enemy in sight, men/
declared Prescott. "You will deploy into line
of skirmishers and then we'll run across the
field. Be prepared for the order to lie down in
case the enemy develops. "
A moment later, and the men, in one straight,
thin line, with considerable intervals between
them, charged silently across the field.
At the edge of the timber they halted again.
Lieutenant Prescott, revolver in hand, moved
forward, accompanied only by Corporal Cotter.
After some minutes the pair came back agairu
"You'll go forward as skirmishers," said
Prescott. "Keep your intervals. Forward!'
No further word was spoken, but the lieuten-
ant, at the right of the line and slightly in ad-
vance, moved so stealthily that those nearest
him felt that the enemy could not be far off.
126 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Suddenly the stick that the lieutenant carried
in place of a sword was held aloft, then the
point lowered. The advancing line halted.
"When you move forward again, " went the
low, almost whispered and repeated order down
the line, "crouch low and do not hurry. A
hundred yards ahead is a position from which
we can rake the rascals with a flanking fire.
Forward!7'
Very soon the advancing soldiers caught sight
of the planter's house between the trees. It
stood some seven hundred yards from this
nearer edge of the clearing.
Now the soldiers, crouching as they moved,
until they appeared to he bent nearly double,
came in sight of a trench. It spread away
obliquely before them, but everything in the
trench was visible to them. At a rough estimate
there were some seventy-five brown-skinned
Moros crouching in the trench behind a line of
hard-packed dirt thrown up before them.
At this moment most of the brown fellows
were loafing in the trench. Only occasionally
one of them showed himself, raising his gun
quickly and firing toward the house. The
planter's return fire did not come toward Pres-
cott's command, but well to the right of the
soldiers.
"The Moros are up to their same old rascally
IN THE PHILIPPINES 127
tricks/ whispered Lieutenant Prescott to Ser-
geant Hal Overton. "They fire heavily, once
in a while, and then pepper the house occasion-
ally with single shots. Their idea is to keep
those in the house firing until the defenders
have used up all their ammunition. When the
Moros are satisfied that Seaforth's party have
no more cartridges, then those brown pirates
plan to rush the house, with little loss to them-
selves, and run creeses through every defender
left alive."
A moment later Prescott 's order was repeated
down the line of soldiers, now lying prone on
the ground:
"Load magazines! Eemember to fire low.
At the pistol shot begin firing at will, but keep
cool and try to make every cartridge tell. Bet-
ter to shoot slowly than to waste any ammu-
nition.7'
As noiselessly as they could the prostrate men
opened the magazines of their rifles and slipped
the cartridges in.
Lieutenant Prescott, revolver in hand, waited
until he saw that all had had time to obey the
order. Then the stick, now in his left hand,
pointed ^forward, and the various squad leaders
whispered :
"At four hundred yards, aim!"
It was a tense moment for the new men.
128 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Bang! Lieutenant Prescott's revolver rang
out, the muzzle pointed toward the enemy.
Instantly following it came a sputtering of
reports, then a settled, heavy fire. The noise
of so many soldiers, firing at will was like that
made on Fourth of July by a hundred packs of
cannon crackers all going off at once.
Yet over all the din rose the yells of the sur-
prised Moros in the trench. It had caught them
hard, for most of the soldiers were doing good
shooting.
Heedless, now, of the fire from the planter's
house, the Moros in the trench rose to flee.
Some of them dropped where they stood.
Others ran away as fast as their brown legs
could carry them, some brandishing their rifles
with defiance, a few others throwing down their
firearms as they started to bolt.
About a dozen of the rascals tried to re-
turn the fire of the soldiers, but fired too high.
None of the khaki-clad men were hit.
' ' Cease firing!" shouted Lieutenant Prescott,
but he addressed his order to the bugler who
stood beside him. No voice could carry over
such a din of firing.
Ta-rar-ta-ra-ta ! rang the bugle. As the men
obeyed the command to cease firing one would
again have been reminded of exploding packs
of fire crackers, for the fire died down sputter-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 129
ingly, with here and there another report or
two from soldiers who felt that they had a fine
bead drawn and ached to "get" another enemy
or two.
Fully twenty-five of the Moros had fallen,
either in the trench at the first crash of fire, or
else while running to cover.
These, however, were not the only enemies
at hand, for, from a grove off to the left of the
planter's house a heavy fire now crashed out,
and bullets began to clip twigs from the trees
among which the soldiers lay.
Other bullets whizzed by over the heads of
Uncle Sam's men as they lay there. There was
a peculiarly spiteful sound to the passage of
these bullets. " Whew-ew-ew ! " they sang, for
most of the Moros were using the .43 Reming-
ton, with the brass-jacketed, heavy bullet, this
being a favorite arm in the islands among the
natives. There are always adventurers at .Hong
Kong who, for a price, will land any number
of Remingtons and any amount of ammunition
at lonely spots along the coast of the islands.
Shading his eyes with his left hand Lieutenant
Prescott tried to locate this other firing party
of Moros. Smokeless powder gives no clue to
the hiding places of an enemy, and even if there
be any kind of echo it is a confusing guide.
But at last Prescott was sure he had located
•4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
130 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
the second Moro fighting party and he pointed
out the place to his men.
"Send them a volley over there, all together,"
ordered the young officer. "Ready; load! At
six hundred and fifty yards, aim. Fire ! ' '
Prescott's face beamed with satisfaction as
he held his field glass to his eyes and saw where
the bullets threw up the dirt.
"Splendidly done, men!' he cried. "We'll
send 'em another. Ready; load. Aim — fire!'
Once more the volley crashed out splendidly.
Then the men lay on their hot-barreled rifles.
No more shots came their way just then.
"We've silenced their fire for the time
being," chuckled the officer. "I wonder if the
enemy are retiring?'
In the silence Uncle Sam's men could hear
a frantic cheer rise from the interior of the
planter's house.
"Yes; I'll warrant they're glad," cried Pres-
cott, his eyes shining mistily. "But we haven't
reached them yet!'
It looked easy. All the detachment had to
do was to run across a field and halt before the
planter's house.
Yet how could the young commanding officer
know that he would not lose half his men by
ambushed fire while crossing that open space!
IN THE PHILIPPINES 131
CHAPTER XII
THE BROWN MEN AT BAY FOR. HOW LONG?
IF Sergeant Hal, or any other soldier in
that detachment of sixty men, had felt
any nervousness before the fight started,
everyone of them had forgotten it by this time.
So far, not a man had they lost, and none
had been even lightly hit. The bravery of sol-
diers is usually founded on their confidence in
their officers. Every man in the detachment
now knew that Lieutenant Kichard Prescott was
an officer who would do all that lay before him
to do, yet an officer who would not needlessly
sacrifice the life or safety of any man in his
command. That discoveiy by the men goes far
to make an officer capable. Let the men once
think their commander careless about slaugh-
ter, and they will not respond as quickly.
"Men,' presently spoke the young officer, as
coolly and slowly as though he were explaining a
manoeuvre in his once favorite game of football,
"we have now to reach the house yonder, and
there's a likelihood of our being fired upon
when we move forward. When I give the order
you'll run slowly, at the gait set by Sergeant
Overton, who will be ahead of you. If you
132 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
hear the command to lie down, drop in your
tracks. But let no man lie down until he hears
the word. We may have to employ half a
dozen rushes in reaching the house. Eise!
Sergeant Overton to the front. Forward!
Charge! "
Steadily and gallantly the little line swept
forward. Hal Overton, who knew the pace ex-
actly, went forward at a trot that did not vary
by as much as a step to the minute.
In the distance half a dozen rifles popped
out singly. Some of the bullets whistled by,
others struck the ground near them, ploughing
up the dirt.
If any soldier looked for Lieutenant Pres-
cott to order them down, he was in error. An-
other hundred yards they covered. Then a
volley rang out from the men hidden in the
grove, and Private Danes dropped, though with-
out a cry.
"Lie down!" shouted Prescott steadily,
though he remained with his field glass to his
eyes, searching the grove. "Sergeant Overton,
see how badly Danes is hurt."
Hal strode over to where the wounded man
lay.
"Oh, it ain't nothing, Sarge," growled Pri-
vate Danes disgustedly. "Just enough to give
me a toothache in the hip."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 133
\
Yet the poor fellow pointed to a blood-
stained spot right over the center of the hip
bone. Danes 's left leg would never again be
sound enough to march with his comrades.
Perhaps the man realized it, but he was a sol-
dier, and therefore made no fuss.
"You'll have to lie quiet, Danes, " returned
Sergeant Hal. "We'll get you out of this."
Just then Private Kelly raised his head for
a look at the adjacent grove.
As he did so a shot rang out over in the grove
and Kelly uttered an exclamation of disgust.
"Hit, Kelly ?'? queried Sergeant Hal, step-
ping over to him.
Private Kelly spat out two loose front teeth
and some blood.
"Ye see what happened, Sarge," retorted
Kelly. "It's a good thing the fellow drew a
bead on me profile. But I ain't kicking at get-
ting a dentist's services for nothing. No, that
ain 't my kick. ' '
"What is wrong, then?" laughed Hal.
"Why, that blamed bullet was hot, and the
Moro made me swallow it ! It was so hot that
it burned all the way down! Got any ice,
Sarge f ' >
A burst came from a dozen distant rifles at
once. Bullets tore through the air around Lieu-
tenant Prescott as he stood, still with his field
134 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
glass to his eyes. Looking around, however, he
saw Hal standing, and commanded severely:
4 1 If you 're through with your work, Sergeant
Overton, lie down. Beady, men, for just one
volley. Load ; aim — at the front timber line of
that grove. Fire!'
Hardly had the crashing volley ripped out
when again the young officer 's voice was heard :
"llise, forward, charge!'
This time the line moved with a yell, the two
men who carried Danes yelling as loudly as the
rest.
"Halt! Lie down!"
They were within two hundred yards of the
Seaforth house now. The front door of that
building had been thrown open, though no one
appeared as yet in the doorway.
It began to look as though the Moros had
withdrawn, or else were waiting for something,
for no shots came from the enemy.
Again, at command, the detachment rose and
rushed forward, this time without cheering.
"Lie down!"
Uncle Sam's men dropped in their tracks,
close to the house.
Now, Seaforth, the planter, appeared in the
doorway.
"Captain, I hope I needn't tell you that you
and your men are welcome," came Seaforth 's
IN THE PHILIPPINES 135
greeting. He was hardly a middle-aged man,
but three years of planter's life in Mindanao had
brought deep gray streaks into his hair.
"I've a wounded man to bring inside,' an-
nounced young Prescott.
"Bring him right in, sir; we'll make him as
comfortable as we can. ' ?
Private Danes fainted while being lifted and
carried into the house. He was soon after re-
vived, however. The two men who had brought
him in now used a first-aid package in dressing:
the wound, after they Tiad washed it.
In the meantime Lieutenant Prescott dis-
covered that none of the whites in the house
had been hit, though one of the loyal Moro de-
fenders of the house had been killed and two
others wounded.
Then the lieutenant told of Edwards 's death.
A young woman in the room promptly fainted.
"That's Miss Daly, the school teacher,' ex-
plained Mr. Seaf orth. ' i She and Edwards were
engaged to be married."
Outside more shots sounded. Lieutenant
Prescott ran to the door.
Sergeant Hal, however, had detailed twenty
of his men to answer the fire, whenever they
saw anything to shoot at, while the others had
been ordered to get to work with their intrench-
ing tools.
136 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
This tool, in appearance, is about half way
between a bayonet and a trowel. With it a
soldier can lie on the ground, digging and throw-
ing up dirt before him, while he opens a shallow
trench in which to lie and conceal himself from
the enemy's fire.
"Don't waste any ammunition. Sergeant.
Have your men shoot to hit," directed the offi-
cer. "I'm going back into the house, but send
for me if you see any suspicious move on the
part of the Moros. '*'
"Yes, sir," and Sergeant Overton turned his
face towards the enemy.
Though he made his men remain prostrate on
the ground, Hal Overton stood up. He was
using the lieutenant's field glass.
The walls of the planter's house were riddled
with bullets, for this house had not been con-
structed as a fort. Along the outer walls, how-
ever, bags of earth had been piled in such a way
as to afford comparative safety to the defenders.
"Those of us who weren't fighting,' ex-
plained Mr. Seaforth, "have been engaged for
hours in digging dirt in the cellar and bringing
it up in the sacks. But it was a fearful morning
until you arrived. Now, our only danger is
from a stray bullet. The Moros won't come any
Closer — they won't dare to charge the house with
such a force of troops here to defend the place."
> .IS^J^- *"'^?<U
Lieutenant Prescott Climbed One of the Wooden Porch Columns.
137
THE NEW
PUBLIC UflHAHY
AHTOR. LENOX AND
PI!
B
IN THE PHILIPPINES 139
"Not unless the rascals are reinforced,' re-
plied Prescott. "There is no telling how many
of the natives are concerned in this uprising.
Hello — pardon me a moment.'
Through the open doorway Prescott had
caught sight of something moving down the
highway. He ran speedily outside, got his
glasses from Sergeant Hal and returned to the
porch, where he climbed one of the wooden
columns. Now he brought the glass to his eyes.
"What do you see?" asked Mr. Seaforth.
"I see,'7 chuckled the lieutenant quietly,
"that it was well for us that we left the road
and came through the forest. Yonder are at
least two hundred Moros marching along.
There, they are debouching into the forest and
will soon be added to the attacking party here.
Those fellows went down the road to ambush
us on the way, for they received a signal that
we were on the road. "We fooled them, but we
shall have to reckon with them here, and within
fifteen minutes. Mr. Seaforth, send all your
people down into the cellar of the house. There
they will be safe. This is a job for the Army
alone ! '
"But "
"I am in command here, sir, and I direct you
to send all of your own people to the cellar at
once. That will free our minds of any dread
140 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
for the safety of your people, and will leave
us open to handle the problem that is coming
to us."
Then, quite regardless of the fine mark that
he presented to possible sharpshooters over in
the grove, Lieutenant Prescott stepped outside.
"Sergeant Overton!"
"Sir!"
Hal stepped beside his officer. Thereupon the
enemy's riflemen took heart and drove in a
score of bullets. Lieutenant Prescott 's hat was
shot from his head. Two bullets passed through
the edge of the sergeant's right trousers' leg,
one hole showing just above the other. The
back of Hal's left hand was grazed just enough
to show the blood. The stick that the lieuten-
ant carried was cut in two by a bullet and half
of the stick carried away from him.
"Sergeant," chuckled the lieutenant, "you've
heard the expression, ' observed of all observ-
ers.' Now you know just how it feels."
"Yes, sir."
"Now, we've got to be quick, Sergeant, We
must throw our men all around the house, and
dig trenches as fast as we can. Unless I miss
my guess, the enemy will — well, what!"
"The Moros will try to overwhelm us with a
reckless charge, sir," answered the young ser-
geant.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 141
CHAPTER XIII
A TALE OF MORO BLACKMAIL
*<rr\ HAT'S what they will do — if anything,"
nodded Lieutenant Prescott. "A
charge is the wisest thing for the brown
rascals, if they are bent on winning here. They
know now about how many men I have, and
they know that my men are regulars. The
Moros have plenty of rifles, and I judge that
they're well off in ammunition, but they can't
shoot as well as American regulars. On a
charge, however — in close, hand-to-hand fight-
ing— these Malays are not to be despised. They
always fought hand-to-hand in the old days, and
it's in their blood."
With that expression of his views, Prescott,
aided by his acting first sergeant, began to hustle
the soldiers into line around the house, forming
the men in a rectangle at about fifteen yards dis-
tant from the walls of the building.
The soldier of to-day must often fight lying
on his stomach. These men of B Company
crawled to their stations, dragging their rifles
after them.
Pop! pop! pop! The Moros were watching,
and fired from time to time, irregularly. A
142 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
prostrate man is hard to hit at a few hundred
yards. These pot-shots serve to bother and ir-
ritate soldiers getting into position.
As soon as each soldier was in place he began
burrowing with his intrenching tool. It is sur-
prising how quickly a man lying down can dig
a little ditch and throw up the dirt on the out-
side.
First, each man dug his own ditch. As soon
as he had this completed he connected his ditch
with that of the men next to him. Within thirty
minutes the men of B Company, without having
a man hit by the pot-shots of the enemy, were
well intrenched. From time to time some of
the soldiers, under orders, ceased their digging
to take a few shots themselves, just to keep the
Moros from growing too bold.
As soon as the encircling trench had been dug
Prescott detailed four men, with picks and
shovels furnished by the elder Seaf orth, to throw
up a trench wall in front of the main door of
the house, so as to permit any one safely to
enter or leave the house by that door.
"That'll do, Sergeant," nodded Lieutenant
Prescott at last.
"It would take a three-inch field piece, sir,
to make an impression on this wall of dirt,'
smiled Sergeant Hal.
"Now, I'll look after this part of the ground,
IN THE PHILIPPINES 143
Sergeant; you go around to the south side —
and be vigilant.'
Hal Overton stepped out from behind the wall,
carrying his rifle in the hollow of his left arm.
As he showed himself above the low wall of the
regular trench, exposing his head and trunk,
the Moros began to take notice.
Pop! pop! pop! Bullets struck all about the
young sergeant, sprinkling dirt over him.
' * Keep your head below the top of the trench
wall, Sergeant !" called Lieutenant Prescott
sternly. "We can't afford to have you hit.
Shield yourself. Don 't be afraid of any one sus-
pecting you of cold feet!'
So Hal, though he made a slight grimace, con-
tented himself with crouching low and progress-
ing slowly.
Barely had Sergeant Hal gained his own post,
with Private Kelly on his right hand, when a
furious fusillade broke out from the southward.
"Keep your heads down, all of you !" shouted
the young sergeant. "Don't be too curious
about what the Moros are doing. If you keep
your heads down the rascals can't hit you, and
it won't do us any harm to let them waste their
ammunition. Don't any man fire without
orders. '
"They're doing some good shooting, Sarge, at
last," remarked Private Kelly, as the showers of
144 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
bullets peppered the top of the trench and
sprinkled dirt over the crouching soldiers.
i * The only good shooting, Kelly, is that which
cuts up the enemy/' rejoined Hal. "The goo-
goos are not hitting any of us, and we're not
losing anything by saving our ammunition."
"Goo-goos' is an old name applied to the
Philippine raiders. Whenever a native grows
tired of fighting, or wants to enter a town for
the purpose of getting information, he hides his
arms, then enters Uncle Sam's lines, pretending
that he is a "good" man, and not a rebel against
the authority of the United States Government.
From this the soldiers have learned to allude to
all fighting Filipinos as goo-goos.
"Lend me your trenching tool, Kelly?"
"Sure, Sarge. "
With this implement Hal Overton burrowed
a small hole through the top of the trench. Thus,
without exposing himself too much, he was able
to keep an eye on the distant grove in which the
Moros had found cover.
"I'll let you spell me on this watch, from
time to time, Kelly, ' ' said Hal.
"I'll be glad to, Sarge, for I'll admit that I'm
anxious to know what the goo-goos are doing.'
"At present they're not trying to advance,'
replied Sergeant Overton, "and that's about all
we're interested in. As long as they stay where
IN THE PHILIPPINES 145
they are, and waste their ammunition, they'll
not bother us much.7
In the meantime Lieutenant Prescott was
seated in a chair behind the high wall of dirt
before the house door. The elder Seaforth oc-
cupied another chair.
"Have you any idea, sir, how you incurred
the wrath of these Moro rascals I9 asked the
young lieutenant.
"By refusing to pay blackmail,' replied the
planter bluntly.
"Then you were asked to pay money to some
of these native chieftains!'
"No."
"Eh?"
"I wasn't asked; I was commanded to do
so," replied Mr. Seaforth slowly. "When you
speak of the Moro rascals, Lieutenant, don't
conclude that all of the Moros are bad, or even
troublesome. The truth is that most of the
Moros on the island of Mindanao are good fel-
lows. They're lazy, but not notably vicious.
There are a few of the old-time chiefs — dattos,
they call 'em — who make trouble every now and
then. These dattos never respected the Spanish
Government, and they don't feel any more kindly
towards the United States Government. That
is because these dattos have always lived by
plunder, and they always intend to do so. For
JO 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
146 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
one thing, these raiding dattos don 't like to have
white men on Mindanao. The spread of civil-
ization here means that the old-time dattos will
be driven into the wilds, and that there won't
be any more plunder or blackmail money to live
on. These Moros out yonder wouldn't have
bothered me, this time, if I had paid the money
their chief demanded."
"How much did he want, Mr. Seaforth?"
"Ten thousand dollars."
" Whew ! That would be a good deal of money
to pay out. ' '
"For the sake of peace, and a chance to carry
on my plantation business, Lieutenant, I might
have paid it — if once would have been enough.
But it wouldn't have been. If I had acceded to
his demand the datto would have let me alone
for this year. He would have sent the same de-
mand next year, however. In fact, the datto
would have put me down on his list as being
good for ten thousand dollars a year tribute.
The first year that I failed to pay this tribute my
plantation would be destroyed, and myself, my
family and friends put to the knife. So it's
either fight or get out of here for good. It
seems a strange thing, doesn't it, Lieutenant, to
live under the Stars and Stripes, and yet to have
to pay tribute to a savage for the right to
business?"
IN THE PHILIPPINES 147
"It isn't right, it can't be, sir — and by the
great howitzer, Uncle Sam will put a stop to all
this business!" replied Lieutenant Prescott
hotly.
"I hope so," returned Mr. Seaforth. "The
Datto Hakkut, however, has been doing business
here on Mindanao since before the Spaniards
left, and my opinion is that he will do business
as long as he lives. This fellow Hakkut is a
wily old scoundrel, who often falls into traps
set for him by our soldiers. Yet, just when the
soldiers are about to close the trap, they find
that Hakkut isn't there. His escapes are mar-
velous. '
"Did Hakkut himself come to see you, Mr.
Seaforth?" inquired the young lieutenant.
"Hakkut I I've never seen the fellow, nor
has any other white man around here, so far as
I know. ' '
"Then he sends a regular collector for the
money?"
"Yes. He has a new collector this year."
"A Moro?"
"The fellow looks to me more like a Tagalo.
He's a sharp, keen, little business man — of his
peculiar type."
"A Tagalo?" mused Lieutenant Prescott.
"By Jove, I wish you'd give me a close descrip-
tion of the fellow. ' '
148 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Perhaps I can do better than that,' pro-
posed Mr. Seaforth, rising. "When the col-
lector was here my son succeeded — without the
rascal's knowledge — in getting a snapshot at
him. I think I can find the photo. '?
Disappearing into the house, the planter soon
returned, handing the young officer a card.
Prescott gazed at the photo, then called out :
"Men, pass the word for Sergeant Overton
to report here. Tell him that his orders are to
keep under cover while on the way here. '
Hal soon appeared, crouching behind the
trench, and sheltered by the high dirt wall.
"Sergeant, have you ever seen this fellow
in the photo?" inquired the lieutenant, with a
smile, passing the card to Overton.
"I should think I have, sir. This is Vicente
Tomba."
1 ' Can 't be a doubt about it, can there ? r
"Not unless Tomba has a twin brother, sir.'
"And to think that we had that little rascal
in arrest!' muttered the lieutenant. "It was
a sad day for Mindanao when Tomba escaped
from our guard house/ '
Then, after a pause, Prescott continued :
"By the way, Mr. Seaforth, how long has
Draney been on his present plantation!'
"I don't know, Lieutenant, He's been there
longer than I have resided here."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 149
"Has he ever been troubled by the Moros!'
"They have never attacked him, Lieutenant.
Draney must pay some tribute to the Datto
Hakkut. ' '
Lieutenant Prescott and Sergeant Hal Over-
ton glanced quickly at one another, though
neither spoke.
"That is all, Sergeant, " said the officer, by
way of dismissal. "Beturn to your men."
"Very good, sir."
CHAPTER XIV
THE CALL FOR MIDNIGHT COURAGE
AT a few minutes past six it was dark, for
the sun goes down early in the tropics.
Now the soldiers were relieved from
their cramped positions of the day. A few at
a time they left the trenches, rising and walking
about.
Inside the house their bacon was cooked for
them and their coffee made. Mr. Seaforth, who
was abundantly supplied with food, added a
variety of palatable eatables to their night meal.
Lieutenant Prescott and Sergeant Hal Over-
ton walked together around the line of defenses.
The officer frequently used his night glass, now
and then passing it to the boyish sergeant.
150 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Yon see, Overton, ' said the lieutenant,
"from all ontward appearances there isn't a
Moro left in the woods anywhere around here.
Our good judgment tells us, however, now that
night has come, that we shall do well to be doubly
alert."
"Do you think they will dare attack so large
a force in a sudden rush, sir?"
"It is the only trick by which the rascals could
hope to beat out an intrenched force of regulars,
Overton. By a rush they could have taken the
house before we arrived, but I fancy that the
first attack was made only as a bluff. They
hoped to be able to scare Mr. Seaforth into pay-
ing the blackmail their datto had demanded.
Now that the troops are here, they realize that
their bluff has been met, and that they've got
to fight or quit. I believe that the chances are
about even on fight or quit. I'd like to hurry
up their quitting by a charge, but it might cost
us some men, and my orders go only as far as
defending the plantation and the white people
here. Sergeant, I have about decided to send
a report to Captain Cortland. I believe it would
be safer to send one or two soldiers, if they're
the right kind of men, than to send a detach-
ment. A detachment would be almost certain
to be attacked on the way. Two or three bright
men might slip away unseen, and get word to
IN THE PHILIPPINES 151
the captain and back to me. You know the men
better than I do. Whom do you suggest?"
"I'd like to go myself, sir," proposed Ser-
geant Hal, his eyes blazing with eagerness.
"Absolutely out of the question, Sergeant.
You're second in command here, and there's no
knowing at what moment I may be hit. Who 's
a good man, outside of yourself?"
"Private Kelly."
"Send for him."
Kelly lost no time in reporting.
"Private Kelly, do you think you can slip
through the enemy's lines and carry a message
from me to Captain Cortland?"
"I can, if any man in B Company can, sir,"
replied the soldier promptly, though without ex-
citement.
"Who is the man you'd like best to have with
you?"
"Slosson, sir."
6 * See if he wants the detail. I prefer that this
shall be volunteer work. ' '
In a few minutes Kelly returned, accompanied
by Slosson.
"Do you want to go, Slosson!" inquired Lieu-
tenant Prescott.
"Yes, sir," responded the soldier promptly.
"It's an extra-dangerous detail, and you may
lose your life."
152 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"I'll chance it, sir. I broke my pipe in one
of the rushes here, and I want to get back to
barracks and get another.'
Lieutenant Prescott conld not repress a laugh
over such a reason. Slosson joined in, good-
humoredly and respectfully.
<• <• Very good ; you two men report here in half
an hour and I '11 have my message ready. Better
fill your canteens with coffee before you start.
Take nothing else but your cartridge belts, rifles
and bayonets. '
"Very good, sir," answered both soldiers, sa-
luting and withdrawing.
Punctual to the moment, both men were back
again. Lieutenant Prescott had prepared his
report, which he handed to Kelly, who fastened
it in an inner pocket with a safety pin.
"Now, you'll want to start at once, for it
won't be safe to return here later than just be-
fore the coming of dawn, ' ' said Lieutenant Pres-
cott.
"Yes, sir," answered both men coolly.
"Take care of yourselves, men!'
"Yes, sir.'
"We'll watch and listen until you get safely
away. If any trouble starts near here hold your
ground and rely upon my sending men to your
aid. ' '
"Very good, sir."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 153
Lieutenant Prescott and Sergeant Overton
watched the two soldiers step over the entrench-
ment, crouch, and vanish into the darkness.
' ' I hope they get through, ' ' sighed the young
officer. "By the way, Sergeant, from the fact
of your recommending the men I didn 't ask you
whether either man is likely to drink any in-
toxicant at Bontac and unfit himself for the
return. '
' i Neither man touches liquor, sir. '
1 i Then they 're to be depended upon. I never
trust work of importance to a man who drinks. '
"There's a bed in the house for you, when-
•/ /
ever you wish it to-night, ' ' announced Mr. Sea-
forth, stepping outside.
' ' Thank you, sir, but when in the field I sleep
with my men. I shall spread my poncho and
blanket on the ground presently. Sergeant
Overton, I leave you in command until half past
one in the morning. At that hour rouse me, re-
port, and then turn in yourself. '
"Very good, sir."
"Of course, if anything turns up in the mean-
time, you'll call me.'
"Yes, sir."
For some minutes more the two young Amer-
icans stood listening for sounds of possible
trouble which Kelly and Slosson might have en-
countered. Then the lieutenant spread his bed
154 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
and lay down without removing any of his cloth-
ing, placing his revolver beside him on the
ground.
Hal set guards on all sides, while the rest of
the men turned in, which they were glad to do.
Another army now invaded them! Mos-
quitoes— myriads of them — buzzed busily about,
seeking whom they might devour! The mos-
quito of the Philippines is well entitled to be
called an insect of prey. He is a big fellow,
tireless, always hungry and a valiant fighter.
The men who lay on the ground carefully
wrapped themselves in their blankets, with their
hands tucked in. Their heads and necks were
protected by collapsible nets that they had taken
from their haversacks.
For those who were up and on duty the tor-
ment of the flying pests was acute. There was
little danger of a sentry going to sleep without
a head net and some protection for his hands.
" Ain't it awful, Sarge?" demanded Private
Bender, as Hal paused near him.
"That word isn't strong enough," grinned
Hal ruefully, as he "swatted" at mosquitoes
three times in quick succession.
"I don't mind the Moros," continued Bender,
"and I try to be a good soldier, but I'm afraid
I'd surrender to the 'skeets* if they had intel-
ligence enough to recognize the white flag. '
IN THE PHILIPPINES 155
"We get only two years of this at a time,'
laughed Sergeant Hal. "Then we can go back
to the United States for a vacation.'
"I used to think, back in God's country, that
a soldier's day and night were full of work,'
remarked Bender wistfully; "but I'd rather go
back there and go to work than have to stand
these 'skeets.'
"They're not so bad in barracks,' Hal an-
swered. "It's only in the field that the pests
can torment us like this.'
"From present signs,' commented Private
Bender, " I 'm thinking that we '11 put in a large
part of our two years in the field. These Moros
are ugly and determined when they get started. '
"They're not bothering us much just now,'
replied Hal, as he started on his round of in-
spection.
Nine o 'clock came and passed. Not a shot had
been fired since late in the afternoon. Nor had
there been any sound to indicate that Kelly or
Slosson had encountered trouble near the plan-
tation. Now that he was in command, Overton
did not allow himself to be lulled into indiffer-
ence by the stillness of the dark night. A sleep-
ing volcano might start into eruption at any
moment. At every important point along the
trenches Hal paused, using the night glass that
the lieutenant had loaned him.
156 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Ten o 'clock came and passed without trouble.
Then eleven and finally midnight passed. Ser-
geant Hal, however, was not to be caught nap-
ping. He resolved to be vigilant until Lieuten-
ant Prescott relieved him.
Hal had just glanced again at his watch,
noting that the hour was nearly one, when a
quiet voice reached him :
"Private Bender calls the sergeant!"
Hal Overton ran quickly around to the place
where Bender stood peering off into the dark-
ness.
"Use your glass yonder, Sarge," urged the
soldier. < l See if you see anything moving. ' ?
"I do," Hal answered quietly. "I see figures
crawling out of the woods, headed this way.
Pass the word to rouse every man without noise.
Then go to Lieutenant Prescott, with my com-
pliments, and report that the enemy seem to
be crawling this way."
Barely had Bender disappeared when Lieu-
tenant Prescott came up on a quick trot.
"Starting things, are they, Sergeant!" the
officer whispered.
'Here's your glass; look over there, sir."
Lieutenant Prescott looked quietly for a few
seconds. Then he turned to whisper :
"Pass quickly along the lines, Sergeant, and
order every man to load his magazine. Instruct
IN THE PHILIPPINES 157
the squad leaders not to let their men get rattled
and shoot too soon or too fast. This move may
be only a ruse. '
Bringing his hand smartly to the brim of his
campaign hat, Sergeant Overton was off with
the orders. He soon returned, however, and
took up his position beside the lieutenant.
Then, in a twinkling, scattering Moro volleys
sounded on the other side of the house, followed
by wild, savage yells.
"That's probably a ruse to draw us around
there/ muttered Prescott. "Sergeant Dins-
more is there in charge, and he '11 know what to
do. Good ! He 's attending to it. ' '
For now the sharper tones of the Army rifles
began to rip out on the further side of the house.
Suddenly another volley of shots rang out
on the near side of the house, showers of bullets
driving in.
"Lie down, Sergeant!" ordered Lieutenant
Prescott, falling back.
"Are you hit, sir?" asked Hal anxiously.
"No, no; look after your fire control. Let
your men fire whenever they see anything to
hit, but not in volleys. Shoot sharp, men ! ' '
Hal 's regulars, crouching in the trench, needed
no further orders. They could now see, dimly,
the figures of the oncoming Moros, advancing
by rushes.
158 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
The enemy's fire became so heavy that Lieu-
tenant Prescott decided it to be an act of pru-
dence to crouch down himself, though he lay
against the trench wall, his head and arms fully
exposed as he kept the night glass to his eyes.
"Low aim, men!" warned Hal, as he passed
behind the firing line. * ' Careful with every cart-
ridge. Every brown man you hit is one less to
meet with cold steel I"
This is one of the first lessons that the soldier
must learn on the firing line. Every cartridge
that he fires needlessly means one less shot with
which to defend himself. Every man he hits
is one less to be reckoned with later.
" Don't fire heavily until the rascals get
nearer/' was Sergeant Hal's next warning.
"Those fellows are not very dangerous until
they get close. Then we'll have need of cool
gun barrels and plenty of cartridges. Steady ! '
"That boy has the making of a commander
in him/' thought Lieutenant Prescott approv-
ingly. "He's cool and all business. The only
thing in the world that he's thinking of is how
to make the squad work count. He isn't losing
his head."
Night firing is always uncertain. It is too
dark to see the end sight on the rifle and advanc-
ing figures show uncertainly, like wavering
shadows.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 159
" Don't fire so fast," called Hal, as the rifle
work of the troops became more brisk. "Fire
just enough to annoy the rascals. Save your
real work until the enemy are within a hundred
and fifty yards. ' '
"Wheel When the goo-goos get that close
they'll jump in and scalp us !" muttered a young
soldier nervously.
Hal crouched beside the young soldier, rest-
ing a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't get nervous, Hunter," urged the
young sergeant kindly. "Leave all emotion and
quivers for the volunteers and for civilians.
The regulars have smaller losses in battle be-
cause they depend upon their leaders and do
just what they're told. Eemember it, lad."
Then Hal was gone, but Hunter found himself
flushing a little, yet wonderfully steady in his
nerves. He shot carefully, sighting as best he
could for every shot.
After another rush, during which they yelled
like fiends, the Moros dropped to earth and be-
gan firing more heavily.
During that brief rush, however, the Moros
lost several men, dropped by Yankee bullets.
' l Cease firing and cool your rifles ! ' shouted
Lieutenant Prescott. "Load your magazines,
and be ready to drop 'em when they try another
rush."
160 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
A minute later Datto Hakkut's followers dis-
covered that the American fire had ceased. Yell-
ing, the brown men rose and charged like a
cyclone.
"Begin firing! Give it to 'em — hot!" shouted
the young officer, leading the firing coolly with
his revolver.
Again the Moros dropped to earth, though not
until they had lost a score of men. For a few
moments they lay there, not attempting to keep
up much of a fire, for now that they were close
to Uncle Sam's regulars, who were firing stead-
ily, it would have been suicide for a brown man
to raise his head at all.
' i Ta-ra-ta-ra-ta ! ' The bugler, sticking close
to the officer, had to sound the order this time,
for the cessation of firing.
"Every man lay his bayonet in front of him,
ready to fix!' called Lieutenant Prescott, as
the pop-pop-popping began to cease.
That meant cold steel — the final rush in which
the regulars must meet several times their own
number in deadly hand-to-hand conflict.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 161
CHAPTER XV
IN A CLINCH WITH COLD STEED
THEN came the Moro rush !
All soldiers cheer in the charge, but
these brown men had their own kind
of battle-cry — a deafening, blood-curdling din.
Yet the regulars made a noise that was heard
even over the Moro yelling. There was a smart
sound of firing as the magazines of the soldiers'
rifles were once more emptied.
The slaughter by men coolly firing at this close
range, even in the darkness, was a heavy one. It
testified to the courage of these Moros that they
could take such punishment and not run.
True, many of the brown-skinned foe did
waver, yet through their lines rushed groups of
yelling fanatics, armed now only with straight
or curved swords and knives. These men of
cold steel rushed valiantly into close quarters.
To the soldiers the order to fix bayonets was
never given; the men fixed their bayonets by
instinct as they emptied their magazines.
Now steel met steel, in a cold, ringing, deadly
clash. Occasionally the cry of a stricken man
rent the air, though the majority bore their
hurts with grunts or in stoical silence.
// 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
162 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
The greater part of the regulars leaped to the
top of the trench wall to meet the shock. That
move, however, soon carried them beyond the
entrenchments.
Some of the regulars found themselves fight-
ing three or more of the enemy at once. Lieu-
tenant Prescott shot one Moro dead, but as he
did so Sergeant Hal saw another Moro, armed
with a sword, rush at the lieutenant from be-
hind.
Overton leaped forward, cracking the fellow 's
head with the butt of his clubbed gun. Just as
he did so Prescott fired squarely over Hal's left
shoulder, knocking over a Moro bent on stab-
bing the sergeant from behind. The noise of
that explosion, so close to his ear, deafened the
young sergeant temporarily.
Both officer and sergeant realized that each in
turn had saved the other's life, but there was
no time for acknowledgments. The foe had yet
to be met and worsted in that furious conflict.
At last it was over. The Moro men had broken
and fled, their yells dying out in the distance.
Fully two dozen of the soldiers started to
pursue. Prescott turned, bawling an order to
the bugler over the din. The notes of the bugle
recalled the soldiers.
"Men," shouted Lieutenant Prescott, "the
first duty is to get the wounded behind the
IN THE PHILIPPINES 163
trench and then into the house. Every man
badly hurt must have prompt attention/
Then, indeed, came the time to take account
of what had happened.
Three of the soldiers already lay dead, their
heads and bodies frightfully gashed. Another,
Bender, was dying from two knife thrusts
through his lungs.
Four more men were too badly hurt to help
themselves. A dozen others had wounds of
varying degrees of seriousness but were able
to reach shelter unaided.
Uncle Sam had won the victory for the mo-
ment, but he had paid dearly for it.
"I'm glad you gave me that word when you
did, Sergeant, ' ' murmured Private Hunter. ' ' It
steadied me. If it hadn't been for that I guess
I'd have been a goner by this time."
It was after three o 'clock in the morning when
Sergeant Overton felt that he finally had a mo-
ment for free breathing.
"Sergeant," said the lieutenant, "your watch
tour is long past. Lie down and get some
sleep. '
"You're sure that I can be spared, sir?'
"Certainly; you can be called if you're
needed. ' '
To one not accustomed to war it might seem
strange, but thirty seconds after Hal had
164 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
wrapped himself in his blanket he was deep in
dreamless slumber. He slept until the sun was
fairly high. Then Prescott awoke him.
" Kelly — Slosson — are they back, sir?" were
Hal's first words, as he threw aside his blanket.
"Back nearly three hours ago, Sergeant,"
smiled the officer. "It's half -past eight. I've
been occupied, and have missed my breakfast.
Come into the house and breakfast with me,
Sergeant Overton. Sergeant Dinsmore will look
after things outdoors.'
"Did — have you buried the Moros who fell?"
questioned Hal, looking out beyond the trench.
"The rascals sent over men with two lan-
terns, and asked permission to carry off their
casualties," explained the officer. "I let them
do it."
"It must have given them a lot of work to
do, ' ' muttered Hal.
"It did. I estimate their dead at thirty, and
their badly hurt at forty or more. We made it
an expensive night for them.'
"We paid a big price on our own part, sir,'
returned the young sergeant, "for we paid in
good Americans."
"We can't have war without death, can we?"
half sighed the West Pointer.
Once inside the house Hal's first care was to
visit the wounded men.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 165
"Bender's gone, sir?' asked Hal.
"Yes,' nodded Lieutenant Prescott gravely.
Then they went to breakfast, for the soldier
must eat or presently stop fighting.
"You'll want to know my orders from Cap-
tain Cortland," said Lieutenant Prescott, fill-
ing his cup with coffee.
"Yes, sir; if you feel at liberty to tell me.'
' ' The captain 's instructions are few. He tells
me that, as commander in the field, I will have
to use my own judgment to a great degree. But
the captain urges me, as soon as I may be satis-
fied that the Moros have withdrawn, to leave
Sergeant Dinsmore here with a guard of twelve
men, and to bring the white people from this
plantation into town with me. Then Dinsmore,
if he sees no more of the Moros within three
days, is to march his men back to Bantoc. With
the limited number of men at his disposal Cap-
tain Cortland recognizes the impossibility of
keeping a military guard regularly at each plan-
tation. '
"But, sir, if Dinsmore and a dozen men had
to brave such a charge as we met last night he
would stand a very good chance of having his
detachment wiped out, wouldn't he!'
"No; for the Moros would attempt such a
charge only in the night time. Captain Cort-
land has sent me a supply of various-colored
166 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
rockets, and a code by which they are to be used.
So, if attacked by a rush at night, Sergeant
Dinsmore will withdraw with his men to the
house, and send up rockets that will be seen in
Bantoc and at Fort Franklin. Then a column
will be sent out to overtake and punish any
brown rascals who may attack."
"Have you seen any signs of the Moros lately,
sir?"
"No, Sergeant. Later in the forenoon, how-
ever, I think I shall order you to take about
twenty men out in skirmish line. You will try
to draw the enemy's fire, returning if you suc-
ceed. If you do not succeed, you will search the
woods, always keeping an alert eye open for
the possibility of running into an ambushed
party of cold steel men in the woods."
"I shall be delighted to have charge of that
reconnaissance, sir," Hal replied promptly.
"Yes; it is work cut out for just such a cool
head as yours, Sergeant. ' '
"Thank you, sir."
"Well, you are cool-headed, so why should I
not say it?" laughed Lieutenant Prescott.
"Sergeant, your presence here has made my
own work half as heavy as it would have been
without you. I shall so report to Captain Cort-
land on my return."
"Thank you, sir. May I ask if Captain Cort-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 167
land reports trouble with the Moros in any other
locality!"
"Nothing has as yet broken out anywhere
else. Captain Cortland writes me that Bantoc,
while apparently quiet, is really a seething vol-
cano, ready to break out into insurrection, riot
and pillage. Lieutenant Holmes is still in per-
sonal command over in Bantoc, so I fancy your
friend, Sergeant Terry, is there with him."
As Hal followed the lieutenant out after
breakfast, the first man they saw was Slosson,
busily smoking the pipe that he had tramped
twenty-four miles to obtain.
Then, as the officer walked away, Kelly saun-
tered up.
6 ' Did you two have any trouble on the way in
or back, Kelly?" asked Sergeant Overton.
"Not the least bit, though we stepped pretty
close to some of the 'goo-goos' in getting away
from here, Sarge. But we got by without tell-
ing 'em we were there.'
"You two must be tired.'
< < \ye Ve had the bit of a nap, ' ' replied Kelly.
An hour later Lieutenant Prescott again ap-
proached Sergeant Hal.
' ' Count off your twenty men, Sergeant. Line
'em up for instruction. I'm going to send you
over yonder, now, to make that scouting recon-
naissance. Don't fall into any traps, Sergeant. ' '
168 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Hal quickly detailed his men, ordering them
to fall in.
"Why am I not picked, Sarge!' whispered
Kelly.
"Man, you've done enough.'
Lieutenant Prescott's instructions were few,
though to the point.
Then, in line of skirmishers, Sergeant Hal
Overton ordered his men forward. Over the
trench they went, then advanced steadily toward
the woods from which had come the rush of the
night before.
Those left behind watched anxiously. Would
the issue mean another savage fight — or whatl
CHAPTER XVI
DATTO HAKKUT MAKES A NEW MOVE
TO the civilian mind, being sent forward
purposely to draw the enemy's fire,
looks like "ticklish' business.
Yet it is better to risk a few men rather than
sacrifice many. It is on the same principle that
a "point" of several men is always sent in ad-
vance of the larger body when moving sup-
posedly in the face of the enemy. The "point'
often draws disastrous fire upon itself, but the
larger body of troops is saved from catastrophe.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 169
The soldier accepts calmly this work of going
out ahead to draw a possible enemy's fire.
It's "all in the game/' as he understands it.
Of course, when troops are sent out only for
the purpose of drawing fire, these troops with-
draw, if necessary, as soon as they attract the
enemy's fire to themselves, and thus locate the
enemy.
Sergeant Hal Overton kept at the right of his
thin, sparse line of men as they moved forward.
Every man had his eyes ahead; each was
watching for the first sign of trouble.
When the line had reached a plane within a
hundred yards of the edge of the woods the
soldiers expected, momentarily, to hear the sig-
nal shot, then the first scattering shots, fol-
lowed by the heavy, crashing volleys.
Yet they passed this point safely and went on.
The edge of the woods was gained, still without
provoking hostile shots. It would have looked
to one untrained in the art of war as though
there were no enemy there. But this handful
of soldiers knew better than to jump at any
such conclusion. The Moros, like the Tagalos
and Pampangos, are fond of getting an enemy
at close quarters, and then leaping on him with
cold steel. The Tagalo or Pampango fights with
the bolo, the Moro often with the creese, and
with all these brown-skinned men the game is
170 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
the same — to leap up unexpectedly, from the tall
grass, before the soldier has had time to throw
himself on his guard.
A swift, short-armed cutting movement — a
mere slash, delivered with muscular effort, and
the soldier is gashed across the abdomen. After
this cutting has been effectively delivered the
white fighting man usually sinks down in a pool
of his own blood, and his fighting days are likely
to be over.
Small wonder that Uncle Sam's infantrymen
prefer facing native bullets to native steel!
The bolo man, or the sword man, is the sol-
dier's greatest aversion. It is like fighting rat-
tlesnakes !
Glancing down the line, Sergeant Hal saw
one or two of the newer men flinch slightly.
"Steady, there!" Hal called, in an easy but
business-like tone. i i If we strike the rascals an
unbroken line is the one hope for us all.'
Thev had now reached the woods, but no halt
*/ /
was made. The boyish sergeant, who knew his
business, marched his little command about six
hundred yards under the trees.
Still no Moros were encountered.
Then Hal turned his line to the left, marching
on through the woods. In this manner, in less
than an hour, he had thoroughly explored the
territory near the Seaforth plantation, and had
IN THE PHILIPPINES 171
returned to the point where his command had
first entered the forest.
"Halt!" ordered the young sergeant. "Fall
out, but don't scatter/
Then Overton stepped to the edge of the
woods, waving his hat. In the distance Lieu-
tenant Prescott, with his own hat, returned the
signal. Then Hal, using one arm in place of a
signal flag, wig-wagged the information:
"We have thoroughly scouted all about your
position, and find no sign of an enemy.'
From the lieutenant came the answer, wig-
wagged by arm:
"Good! March your men in.'
"I have allowed men to fall out and rest,'
Hal answered. ' l They are tired after their
hike."
"Rest your men five minutes, then march
them in, ' ' replied Lieutenant Prescott.
"Very good, sir,' Hal signaled.
Exactly five minutes later, Overton com-
manded:
"Fall in! By twos right, march!'
Within the hour several of the former Moro
laborers on the plantation returned. They re-
ported that the Datto Hakkut and some three
hundred men were on the march, miles away
and evidently headed for the mountains.
"These men are honest and loyal, Lieuten-
172 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
ant/ explained Mr. Seaforth. "They are my
regular laborers. Of course, when the attack
came those who could not reach the house took
to their heels. But these natives, like many
Moros, are dependable. They are not to be
classed with the idle, vicious cut-throats that
follow the datto."
' 'Hm ! ' ' replied Lieutenant Prescott, politely,
but he scanned all of these returned natives,
keenly. None of them, however, showed any
wounds, or bore any other signs of having seen
recent military service with the datto.
"Mr. Seaforth," said the young officer, pres-
ently, "I am going to follow the course laid
down by Captain Cortland, and return to Ban-
toe with the greater part of my command. I
shall, however, leave Sergeant Dinsmore and
a dozen men here. I urge that all the white
people of the plantation return with me to
town. '
"You can take the women with you, Lieu-
tenant, if you will," replied the planter, "but
we men feel that we should stay here and make
every effort to go on running the plantation.'
"If you do not think it too dangerous, Mr.
Seaforth."
"No; I can trust my laborers, and they tell
me that Hakkut and his rascals appear really
bent on reaching the mountains.'
IN THE PHILIPPINES 173
"But if they go to the mountains, you know,
they go only that they may be more secure un-
til they have recruited other brown rebels. If
Hakkut can get enough men together, he will
attempt to carry fire and bloodshed even into
Bantoc. '
' i Let the women go with you, and we men will
stay here/ was the planter's decision.
Half an hour later the column, minus Ser-
geant Dinsmore and his squad, swung off on the
return march. A wagon had been provided for
conveying the dead soldiers, another for the
wounded, and a third vehicle for the women.
Four hours later the column was at barracks,
from which the women were escorted into Ban-
toc, where there was a military guard, and
where they could stop with friends.
Just before dark an escort of twenty men,
guarding two wagons, marched into Bantoc.
Sergeant Hal had asked and secured permission
to head the escort, for he wanted to see his
chum, Sergeant Noll Terry.
"Well, so youVe been doing some real fight-
ing, ' ' demanded Noll in a tone of friendly envy.
"Yes," assented Hal.
"The Moros are not such very classy fight-
ers, are they?7'
"They're good enough for me," Hal Overton
answered. "I don't mind their rifle fire, but I
174: UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
can do very well with the least possible num-
ber of brushes against their cold steel/'
"But our fellows have their bayonets."
' ' Yes ; but wait until you have to face a rush
against those murderous creeses. I can't tell
you much about it. It sounds tame in the tell-
ing, Noll, but you'll know all about it when
you have to go up against it. How have things
been here in Bantoc!"
' * Bad, ' ' Noll replied, with a shake of his head.
"Any serious trouble?"
"No; no fighting. For that matter, I think
most of the Moros here in Bantoc like us well
enough, and are disposed to be orderly, ' ' replied
Terry thoughtfully. "Of course they're the
more peaceable part of the population, anyway.
On the other hand, there are plenty of Moros
here in Bantoc who don't hesitate to let us see
how sullen and restless they are. Only a spark
is needed, or maybe only a secret word from
the datto, and two or three hundred ugly fel-
lows here in Bantoc will try to get the upper
hand, or else take to the brush with Hakkut."
"We're going to have a warm time here be-
fore we're through, I think," replied Sergeant
Hal, with a shake of his head.
"What puzzles me," muttered Noll, "is why
the government doesn't send troops enough
here to wind up the thing in short order. The
IN THE PHILIPPINES 175
whole of our first battalion of the Thirty-fourth,
for instance, ought to take the field at once,
backed by a platoon of light artillery. We
ought to be sent to chase Hakkut clean across
the island and into the ocean on the other side
of Mindanao.'
"It's not for me to criticize the government,
or to say what it ought to do, ' ' Hal rejoined.
"Yet I can understand, lads, that you're puz-
zled,' broke in the quiet voice of Lieutenant
Holmes behind them. "You wonder, both of
you, why the government doesn't use more
force. Have you any idea of the great number
of troops we already have here in the islands?
As it is, it takes an Army corps to keep the
natives in anything resembling order. Yet, of
course, the government, in this especial case,
could exert itself and send an expedition of a
regiment of infantry, a squadron of cavalry and
two batteries of light artillery, say, against
Datto Hakkut."
* ' That would be enough to wind these rebels
up in short order, sir, ' murmured Hal.
"No; it would do nothing of the sort," smiled
Lieutenant Holmes. "Hakkut and his crew
would laugh at us. What would happen? The
rebels would disperse, and soon show up at their
homes, all through this island. As for Hakkut,
he would go into hiding. He always is in hid-
176 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
•
ing when he isn't in the field defying ns. I
don't know whether you sergeants know it, but
it's a fact that no American Army officer has
ever seen Hakkut. He never shows himself, and
his hiding place is a good one, for no American
knows where it is. So our big expedition that
might go out against Hakkut would find none
of these rebels to fight. After the troops of the
big expedition had been withdrawn, however,
then Hakkut and his land pirates would come
out again at their own convenience.'
"Wouldn't it break up Hakkut 's game alto-
gether, sir, if the government kept enough
troops here to be able to send a crushing force
against him whenever he raised his hand?'
"Possibly it might," nodded Lieutenant
Holmes; "but to police all of the Philippine Is-
lands in that fashion we'd have to make the
United States Army three times as large as it
is to-day — and then station the whole Army in
these islands. On the other hand, our present
plan of keeping small forces at different points,
and sending out small expeditions at need,
shows the natives that we don't take them very
seriously. We also show them that a hundred
of Uncle Sam's regulars is a pretty large force
for them to attempt to fight. By attacking the
Moros with small expeditions we keep alive and
always before them the fact that we know one
IN THE PHILIPPINES 177
of our regulars to be equal to several of their
pirates. '
Both sergeants saluted as Holmes moved on.
" Maybe the lieutenant is right/ muttered
Noll thoughtfully. "But the present way of
fighting these wretches is pretty expensive in
the matter of soldiers' lives."
CHAPTER XVII
"LONG" GREEN AND KELLY HAVE INNINGS
"T T^HJ That's a beastly trick. No white
man would ever do a thing like that ! '
The speaker was Private William
Green, also known as "Long' Green, from his
former habit of carrying large sums of ready
cash about him.
Our readers will remember William. He was
a good soldier, but above all he was a good
Army business man, for he saved his money and
added to it. To William Green the men of B
Company always went when they were "short'
and craved spending money. To any man in B
Company "Long" Green would lend five dollars,
but he always exacted six in return on pay day.
"What's wrong with your nerves, Green?'
inquired Sergeant Hal, stepping out on to the
porch of the barracks.
t
12 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
178 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
r<Slosson has been telling me about kantab,'
replied Green, with a grimace and a shudder.
66 Never heard of him," replied Hal.
"It isn't a 'him' at all, Sarge,' rejoined
Green. "Kantab is the name of a poison that
the Moros extract from one of their plants up
in the hills."
"Well, cheer up," urged Sergeant Overton,
seating himself and opening a book. "There
are no poisons issued in the rations.'
"But Slosson was telling me about two sol-
diers who got kantab in their rations a few
years ago," insisted Green.
"Was the quartermaster court-martialed f '
asked Sergeant Overton. "Or was it the fault
of the company cook?'
"Nothing like it," replied Green. "Two
soldiers were on outpost one morning, and they
had just prepared their breakfast. Just then
they thought they heard a sound in the bushes,
so they caught up their rifles and went out to
investigate. They found nothing, so they came
back to their breakfasts. They thought their
coffee tasted rather bitter, but they drank it
just the same. Ten minutes later both men were
dying in agony. That noise had been a ruse to
draw them off, while some native slipped in and
put the kantab in their coffee. Ugh! That's a
cowardly way to fight. If I find anything bit-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 179
t
ter about my food, even here in barracks, I'm
going to toss the grub out. No kantab for
mine, ' ' wound up ' ' Long ' Green earnestly.
"Did that really happen, Slosson?" asked
Sergeant Hal, glancing up from his book.
"Sure," responded Private Slosson nonchal-
antly.
"I've heard about the stuff, too," nodded
Private Kelly. "Only yesterday I heard one
native talking about it to another.'
"I'm going to watch my chow (food) after
this," insisted Green.
For twenty minutes Hal read on, paying no
attention to the chatter of soldiers about him.
Then a bugle blew, and Hal closed his book with
a snap.
"That's sick call, Kelly, and I believe you're
on sick report, ' ' announced the boyish sergeant.
"I'm not going," returned Kelly. "What's
the use. The hospital steward, I've been finding
out, has no medicines whatever but salts and
quinine. I can't stand the taste of either.'
"But you're going to sick call, just the
same," Hal retorted dryly. "Your name is on
sick report, so to hospital you go. There's no
way out of it.'
Sick call is sounded morning and afternoon.
It is the first sergeant's duty to enter on sick
report the names of all enlisted men who re-
180 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
port to him that they are not well, or think they
are not well. Then, when sick call sounds, the
first sergeant marches to hospital with the men
whose names he has entered on sick report.
"Fall in, Kelly, " ordered the young sergeant.
"I'll not take salts or quinine," insisted
Kelly.
"You'll march to sick call, just the same.
Fall in!"
So in step, and briskly, Hal and Private Kelly
marched over to the little building which, at
Fort Benjamin Franklin, was dignified with the
name of hospital. The acting hospital steward
was there waiting for them.
As this small command did not have a com-
missioned medical officer the steward attended
to all cases of minor illness. When occasion
warranted it the German physician was sum-
moned from Bantoc to prescribe for the men.
"The sick list, steward," reported Hal,
handing over the official paper on which Kelly's
name alone appeared.
"What ails you, Kelly!" asked the steward.
"Nothing," Kelly answered defiantly.
"Then you'll have to discover an ailment
soon," frowned the steward, "or I'll ask Ser-
geant Overton to report you for shamming sick
report."
"Why, truth to tell, I didn't feel very well,"
IN THE PHILIPPINES 181
asserted Kelly. "But that was two hours ago.
I'm feeling fine now.'
"Let me see your tongue," ordered the
steward. He also "took" Kelly's pulse and
noted his respirations, entering all this in-
formation on his record.
' ' Any pain anywhere, Kelly ? ' '
"Sorra the bit," promptly rejoined the sol-
dier.
"You're just a little off-key," went on the
hospital steward, with a professional air. "Not
much; still, you'd better have some medicine.'
" I can 't take salts, ' ' protested Kelly. * ' They
make me sea-sick. Give me salts, and ye '11 have
to find a bed for me here, and take care of me
for a few days.'
"Quinine is about your size," replied the
steward, reaching for a five-pound can of the
stuff.
"That'll kill me, entirely!"
"Four ten-grain doses never killed any man,'
insisted the steward.
"I won't take it!"
"Oh, yes, you will, Kelly. This is the Army,
and discipline is the rule. I'll make sure of
the first dose by seeing you take it here. '
The hospital steward's tone was firm, and
under the regulations he was master of the situ-
ation.
182 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Then, for the love of Mike," gasped Kelly,
"give me the bitter stuff in a capsule."
"Certainly, if you like it that way, Kelly,"
assented the steward, picking up a gelatine ten-
grain capsule and packing it tight with the white,
bitter powder.
"I don't like it any way," growled Kelly.
"Now, that's nonsense, man. Why, all the
medical authorities are agreed that quinine is
the greatest blessing to man ever discovered."
"Then why don't the doctors take more of it
themselves?" scowled Private Kelly.
"Here you are," continued the steward, cap-
ping the capsule and passing it to the unwilling
victim.
Kelly dropped the capsule into his mouth,
resolving to hold it there until he could get out-
side.
"Here's a glass of water. Wash it down,"
ordered the hospital steward. "Then you can
open your mouth and I'll make sure that youVe
swallowed the stuff."
"Can't ye be after taking a soldier's word?"
demanded Kelly, with a burst of virtuous in-
dignation.
'Not where quinine's the medicine," re-
turned the steward, grinning. ' ' Now, down with
the water, and then open your mouth."
There was no chance for sleight of hand here.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 183
-i
Kelly actually swallowed the hated stuff, then
submitted the proof.
"Here are the other capsules,' went on the
steward, handing the victim a small pill box.
"Take one of the capsules at bed time and the
other two to-morrow morning and noon. Ser-
geant Overton, it will be as well for you to see
that Kelly obeys the order.'
"May I go now?' demanded Kelly.
"Yes."
So sergeant and private passed out together.
"No wonder men sometimes desert,' grum-
bled Private Kelly.
"Nonsense," laughed Hal. "Kelly, you're
too good a soldier to be afraid of just a bad
taste in the mouth."
"I don't want a bitter taste in me mouth, un-
less an enemy is smart enough to give it to
me," grumbled Kelly, then added, "but by the
powers, that steward is an enemy of mine, and
I'll have his scalp one of these nights when I
catch him outside on pass.'
When Hal returned to the porch he picked up
his took and disappeared into the quieter squad
room, for he had found it rather difficult to
study while among the others.
"Long" Green was making considerable
noise, lying on his back on the porch, rumbling
snores issuing from his wide-open mouth.
184 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"No man has a right to run a Gatling gun
like that without a license,' muttered Kelly,
gazing thoughtfully down at the noisy sleeper.
"Boys, whist !"
There was mischief in the Irishman's eyes.
Sergeant Hal, from the shadow at the back of
the squad room, heard and glanced out.
At a sign from Private Kelly, the other sol-
diers rose, fleeing softly inside of barracks.
With an air as grave as that of a college
professor absorbed in a chemical experiment,
Private Kelly drew the pill box from one of his
pockets. He took out a capsule, uncapped it,
and bent over the sleeper.
Into "Long" Green's open mouth Kelly care-
fully but swiftly emptied the contents of the
capsule of quinine, then joined his comrades in
the barracks, all but closing the door.
After a moment Private "William Green,
asleep though he was, became dimly conscious
that something was wrong with his tongue.
Then he awoke. There was a hideously bit-
ter taste in his mouth.
In another instant Private Green had turned
ghastly pale, shaking like a leaf. It took him
but a moment to realize that he was alone on
the porch. Out on the road, some two hundred
yards away, a solitary male native was passing.
Private Green was a quick guesser.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 185
"Kantab!" lie gasped hoarsely.
Then "Long" Green's legs got into swift
action. Vaulting the porch rail, and almost fall-
ing in his trembling weakness, William made a
straight line for the hospital, vanishing inside.
Five minutes later Hospital Steward Hicks
appeared on the scene. He was supporting
"Long7 by one arm, for the soldier was not
yet over his fright.
"Kelly," said Steward Hicks, "I find that I
made a mistake. The medical authorities do
not prescribe the stuff I gave you in a case like
yours. So I '11 take the capsules back. '
"You're welcome," grinned Kelly, passing
over the pill box.
"Two capsules; there should be three,' re-
marked the hospital man, after having raised
the lid from the box. "Green, you idiot, the
kantab you're howling about came from the
missing capsule that Kelly can 't return to me. '
"Do you give kantab at the hospital, too1?'
gasped "Long,' r looking more scared than ever.
"We do," said the steward grimly. "But we
medical men call it quinine.'
First i ' Long ' ' looked bewildered. Then as the
grinning soldiers gave vent to howls of glee
a great light began to dawn on the mind of
Private Green.
"Kelly, you scoundrel!" he yelled, leaping
186 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
forward. "I'll take it all back — out of yon.
On your feet, man ! '
But Kelly, convulsed with laughter, sat back
in his chair until the irate Green slapped his
face. At that the Irishman's resentment leaped
to the surface and Kelly followed his recent vic-
tim to the ground beyond the porch.
Kelly, however, was weak with inward laugh-
ter. Green, therefore, administered some rather
severe punishment, and, in the end, sent Kelly
to the ground. "Long" couldn't possibly have
done this under any other circumstances.
Private Kelly sat there for two or three min-
utes. Then he got up slowly, his face grave
as he stepped to ' ' Long, ' ' holding out his hand.
" 'Long,' I know now what ailed me,' con-
fessed Private Kelly. " 'Twas me liver. Your
tr-reatment has fixed it up fine. I'll call on ye
for another treatment when me liver needs it.
By me present feelings I'm thinking 'twill be
about to-morrow morning, after guard-mount.'
IN THE PHILIPPINES 187
CHAPTER XVIII
SENTRY MIGGS MAKES A GRUESOME FIND
IT is not necessary for even the most ardent
admirer of Private William Green to feel
sorry for the fate of that soldier the next
morning after guard-mount at the capable hands
of Private Kelly.
Kelly had something else to think about, and
so had every other man in the little garrison.
Just before daylight the sentry on number
three post had made a horrible discovery. Now
that the old guard was relieved, and the new
guard was on, the sentry who had made the dis-
covery was able to tell what he knew of it, with
such other particulars as had been learned since.
Private Miggs was the sentry in question. Be-
fore daylight Miggs had patrolled down to the
further end of his post. On his return along
post he had discovered something on the ground
ahead of him.
When Miggs learned the nature of his dis-
covery he was almost overcome. Being a sol-
dier, he did not faint, but for a few moments
he did feel a sensation of nausea.
Then, raising his voice, the sentry called the
corporal of the guard to post number three.
188 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
The corporal and the two members of the guard
felt a similar nausea when they arrived on the
scene, and it ended in sending for the officer of
the day, Lieutenant Dick Prescott.
Without venturing to order the removal of
the find, Lieutenant Prescott sent a member of
the guard to awaken Captain Cortland.
After the post commander had seen it, the
guard removed the ghastly find to the guard
house, where it still remained.
What had upset Private Miggs's mental bal-
ance was the sight of two severed heads lying
on the ground in his path along post. They
were the heads of white men.
To each had been tied a piece of coarse paper,
and on each paper was rudely traced the like-
ness of a crab. This crab, as Captain Cortland
already knew, was the sign manual of that arch
scoundrel of brown skin, the Datto Hakkut. The
crab was meant to signify that, while the datto
could move forward, he could also crawl side-
ways or backward — that he was strategist
enough to crawl out of any trap that the~ sol-
diers might set for him.
As soon as the light came Captain Cortland
despatched an armed guard party to bring over
to the fort the German physician and three other
white residents of Bantoc, to see whether they
could identify the severed heads.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 189
The heads proved to be those of two young
American doctors of philosophy, Hertford and
Sanderson, who had come to Mindanao months
before, one for the purpose of securing speci-
mens representing the geological formation of
the island, and the other in pursuit of specimens
of the plants and flowers.
Despite strong advice to the contrary, as given
by the former military commandant at Bantoc,
Drs. Hertford and Sanderson, attended only by
a small party of natives, had gone into the moun-
tains to gather their specimens. Since then
nothing had been heard of the two enthusiastic
young scientists — until Sentry Miggs had
stumbled upon his gruesome find.
The soldiers discussed little else that morn-~
ing.
"Of course it was the old brown rascal, Hak-
kut, who had the young scientific gentlemen
killed. Didn't Hakkut have his card tied to
each head ? ' ' demanded Private Kelly, who was
the centre of a group of enlisted men.
The group of officers over in Captai'n Cort-
land's office had come to the same conclusion.
"It is the old brown scoundrel's way of show-
ing us his defiance, ' ' declared Captain Cortland
in a shocked voice. "Why couldn't that pair of
enthusiastic boys take good advice and keep out
of the mountains? Would their collections of
190 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
stones and plants be worth as much to any col-
lege as the young men's lives would have been
worth to themselves!'
' t The question is, Cortland, what are we going
to do in answer to this defiance!' suggested
Captain Freeman, of C Company.
"What are we going to do!" asked Cortland,
his face becoming even graver. "We have a
very small command here, but there's only one
thing we can do. Hakkut has defied us, and, un-
less he is punished for it, the native respect for
American authority in these islands will soon
be less than nothing. What are we going to do I
There is nothing that we can do but send the
strongest column of men that we can spare up
into the mountains on the double-quick. We've
got to root out that brown scoundrel, and send
him and his band running as fast as they can
go, or else we shall be forced to admit to the
natives that the claim of the American nation to
govern Mindanao is only a stupid joke. Our ex-
pedition must start before noon!'
"Who will command the column V inquired
Captain Freeman.
"You will command, Freeman. I would give
half a year's pay to head the expedition my-
self, but I am post commander here, and after
the greater part of the troops have started the
problem here at Bantoc is going to be such a
IN THE PHILIPPINES 191
serious one that I feel obliged to remain here
and handle it myself."
After thinking a few moments longer, Cap-
tain Cortland continued:
"Freeman, you will take sixty men from B
Company, and the same number from C Com-
pany. I can spare you but two officers, for I
shall need the services of Ray and Hampton
here. So Holmes will command the C Company
detachment, and Prescott the B Company de-
tachment, while you will command the expedi-
tion. You will also take one of the two Gatling
guns that we have at this post. You will take
two wagons for ammunition and one for hos-
pital and similar supplies. Your men will carry
such field and emergency rations as you can.
For the rest of your food you will have to de-
pend upon the country through which you will
pass. I am sorry for this, but on a swift, hard-
fighting expedition a command the size of yours
cannot be burdened with more wagons.'
"That is true," spoke Captain Freeman
thoughtfully. "Well, we shall have to do the
best we can with the amount of transport and
rations that you can put at our disposal. I am
anxious now, sir, to get "started with the pre-
parations as rapidly as possible.'
' ' Good ; it is half -past nine now. You should
be ready to march by '
192 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"By half-past eleven at the latest,' supplied
Captain Freeman, rising.
Never were preparations more rushed, nor yet
more thoroughly made.
First of all, it was necessary to send into Ban-
toe and recall Lieutenant Holmes and the guard
stationed there. With the removal of the troops
the lives of the white people residing in Bantoc
would he in immediate danger. So the twenty-
five or thirty white residents were obliged to
accompany the guard out to Fort Benjamin
Franklin, where they were to be provided with
temporary quarters.
Ten minutes before the time named by Cap-
tain Freeman all had been accomplished. The
column was ready and started.
B Company's detachment marched first. Be-
hind this came the transport wagons and the
Gatling gun. The C Company detachment, under
Lieutenant Greg Holmes, brought UP the rear.
Taking into account those who had lately been
killed and wounded, and also the guard under
Sergeant Dinsmore, left out at the Seaforth
plantation, Captain Cortland had remaining as
a garrison about sixty effective soldiers. These
must preserve the safety of the post and the
order of Bantoc through the twenty-four hours
of each day.
No soldier in the marching column deluded
IN THE PHILIPPINES 193
himself with the belief that he was starting on
a brief expedition. Every man knew that it
would be weeks before they were likely to set
eyes again on Fort Franklin. It was, moreover,
wholly probable that some of the soldiers now
marching would never see the fort again.
Yet officers and men tramped away uncon-
cernedly. All acted, and felt, very much as
though this had been merely a practice march
through a peaceful country.
Noll Terry was jubilant. Hal had seen active
service on this island, and now his chum was
about to do the same thing. The first taste of
real service is always dear to the heart of a
good soldier.
Night brought the command within three or
four miles of the foot of the mountains. The
next morning was still young when the column
wound its way up into the lower portion of
the mountains.
Captain Freeman was not marching blindly.
He was provided with military maps of the
mountains. Then, again, not all the Moros were
hostile to the Americans. There were many
friendly natives, and some of them had slyly
brought word to the post of the location of Datto
Hakkut and bis forces at the last report.
As to the number of men with the datto, the
statements of the natives had varied. They had
13 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
194 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
estimated the datto's force at all the way from
fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred fighting
men. Captains Cortland and Freeman, with
their knowledge of the native tendency to ex-
aggerate, had thus fixed the probable number at
about eight hundred men.
The second and the third days passed. The
troops were now far up in the mountains, though
up to that time they had not encountered the
enemy. Captain Freeman, however, pushed for-
ward, feeling confident that he would sooner or
later encounter the datto's forces.
On the fourth morning, an hour after day-
light, the troops were again under way. They
moved slowly, for the roads were in bad con-
dition and the column could not go ahead at
greater speed than the transport wagons could
maintain.
A " point7' was out in advance, followed by
a slightly larger advance guard. Behind
marched a watchful rear guard. The little
column, for its own safety and convenience, was
strung out over a goodly length of road.
As Lieutenant Prescott passed, Sergeant Noll
Terry stepped out and saluted.
"What is it, Sergeant?"
"If it is proper, I would like the lieutenant's
permission to go up ahead and walk with Ser-
geant Overton."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 195
1 ' That will be all right, Sergeant — if you will
remember that, in case of emergency, you are
to return hastily to your proper place in the
line."
"Thank you; I will, sir."
"Very good, Sergeant."
Once more saluting, Noll hastened up forward.
"You have a message?" asked Hal.
"No; but I have the lieutenant's permission
to walk with you."
"I'm glad of it, chum. Talking makes the
walking easier."
"Walking — yes,' grumbled Noll. "I'm
afraid that's about all we're going to get out
of this hike."
"Never pray for a fight, Noll. It's all right
when it has to be, but any real fight always
means the last hour for some good fellows. '
"I'm no hog for a fight,' grunted Terry,
"but I'd like to have just a little real practice,
after the long, long time I've had to put in pre-
paring for it.'
"Hm!" smiled Sergeant Hal. "I could
almost qualify as a member of a peace society.
/ don't care how long it is before the next fight.
I'd hate to see it come along this stretch of
road. ' '
"Why?"
"Well, look over at our left, Noll. Below us
196 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
is a deep gully, with a swift stream flowing.
Beyond it is that wooded ledge. Any number
of Moros could conceal themselves there and fire
at us, and we couldn't reach 'em with the
bayonet. Ahead "
Sergeant Hal may have finished, but, if he
did, his voice was drowned out by the savage
clamor of yells ahead. Barely a hundred yards
beyond the point came a rushing mob of Moros,
shooting and brandishing creeses.
From the wooded, inaccessible ledge to the
left came a sudden, rapid firing that made the
air hot with bullets directed at Uncle Sam 's men.
CHAPTER XIX
s
HAL TURNS THE GATLING GUN LOOSE
ATLING gun to the head of the line !
Lie down, men!"
Two men dropped even before the
order had been given, for Moro bullets had
found them.
After firing volleys, the " point" and advance
guard fell back on the run.
"Take the infantry fire at this point, Ser-
geant Overton!" commanded Lieutenant Pres-
eott briskly.
"Open magazines! Load magazines!'
IN THE PHILIPPINES 197
shouted Sergeant Hal to the men in the swiftly
formed front rank. "Beady, aim! At will,
point-blank range — fire ! ' '
Prettily enough the American fire opened on
the Moros rushing down the narrow path.
The centre of the American column, at Lieu-
tenant Holmes 's order, opened fire across the
gully at the wooded ambush on the left.
Captain Freeman took up his stand a little
forward of the centre, where he could watch the
fire in both directions.
"Hurry up that Gatling gun, Prescott."
"Yes, sir."
Prescott and two privates were working at
lightning speed to get the Gatling placed.
Then the lieutenant fed in a belt of ammunition.
' ' Sergeant Terry, relieve Sergeant Overton in
charge of the advancing firing line. Overton,
come here."
"Yes, sir," responded Hal, running up and
saluting.
Lieutenant Prescott was just finishing the
sighting of the Gatling.
"Attend to the firing of this piece, Sergeant.
Fire steadily, though not at fullest speed. Keep
it going continuously until it becomes too hot,
or until I give the word to stop.'
"Very good, sir.'
"Begin firing, Sergeant.'
198 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
\
Hal 's answer was to turn the firing mechanism
loose.
K-r-r-r-rip ! rang out the exploding cartridges
too rapidly for count. Hal swung the nose of
the piece slightly from side to side, and the
storm of Gratling bullets raked thoroughly the
road ahead.
At first the on-rushing Moros had been almost
stopped by the sudden, low, accurate infantry
fire. They were to be seen ahead in great force,
and the cries of their leaders drove them on
with greater steadiness.
Now, as the crackling of the Gatling rose on
the air, and its projectiles swept the road ahead,
constantly supported by brisk infantry fire from
at least forty men, the natives were forced to
halt. Then they wavered. The hoarse, taunt-
ing cries of their leaders, however, drove them
forward again.
Twice they wavered, under the blistering fire
of the regulars, though each time their leaders
succeeded in driving the brown men forward
again.
When the fight opened there were at least six
hundred yelling Moros in sight, but they were
now dropping by scores.
Then, with a wild yell, three hundred more
rushed around the base of a low hill, joining the
assailants.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 199
"Are the Moros cowards ?" demanded the
deep, penetrating voice of one of the leaders.
"Are the Moros women, that they would live
forever? Has heaven no joys for the faithful
that you would remain so long away!'
That stirred the fanatical blood of the brown
men. They were equal to anything, now! On
they dashed, though the Gatling and the steady
infantry fire withered the ranks in advance.
On they came, disdaining, now, to return rifle
fire with rifle fire. Over their own dead and
wounded stepped the brown men, and rushed
on.
"Cease firing there, Sergeant Terry. Give
'em the steel ! ' bellowed Lieutenant Prescott
hoarsely, using his hands for a trumpet, though
he stood barely twelve feet from young Terry.
i i Cease firing, ' ' Noll repeated squarely in the
bugler's ear. Then the notes of the bugle arose,
clear and loud. The firing died out.
" It 's cold steel, men ! Fix bayonets ! ' ' shouted
Sergeant Noll.
Eut Sergeant Hal and two men had dragged
the Gatling, momentarily silenced, to one side
of the road, where they could still employ this
machine of destruction.
Another belt of cartridges Sergeant Overton
fed in. Then he started the machine again.
B-r-r-r-rip! The Gatling was performing at
200 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
hand-to-hand quarters now. Noll sent a dozen
men to stand by the gun, defending it from cap-
ture with their lives.
Clash! Zing! Slash! Slash! Thrust— cut!
It was steel against steel now. On more open
ground the Moros might have had a slight ad-
vantage, for they are skilled users of the sword
and creese, and when their blood is up they know
little in the way of terror.
E-r-r-r-r-rip ! It was the Gatling, at such
close quarters, that now dismayed the brown
men. With no mean quality of heroism, they
threw themselves against the gun's defenders.
They would seize that demon of machinery and
hurl it over into the gully below. But the dough-
boys, with bayonets stationed on the sides of
the gun, thrust or stabbed them back. No native
approached the muzzle of the Gatling and lived
to cause further trouble. In as wide an arc as
possible Sergeant Hal swung the nose of the
piece from side to side.
Private Danton, standing close to Hal, ready
to feed in the next belt of cartridges, fell with
a Moro bullet in his brain. Another soldier
sprang forward, snatched up the belt of am-
munition and stood ready to feed.
Fully twenty-five hundred rounds of Gatling
ammunition were thus fired into the dense brown
ranks before the Moros felt that they could en-
Sergeant Hal Swung the Nose of the Gun from Side to Side.
201
THE SEW TOUK
'UUC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LF.KOX AND
ft
IN THE PHILIPPINES 203
dure it no longer. On that narrow road they
had failed to reach the piece itself. Four brown
sharpshooters, back in the ranks, had been de-
tailed by a Moro officer to climb a tree and fill
with lead the body of the indomitable young
sergeant. As the bullets sang past his head, Hal
discovered the tree, turned the Gatling muzzle
that way, and fairly shot the leaves off a portion
of it. Two of the sharpshooters dropped, rid-
dled through. The other pair dropped from
sheer terror.
Now that the execution on that narrow moun-
tain road was becoming more than flesh and
blood could stand, the Moros broke in pell-mell
confusion.
"Forward, there, Lieutenant Prescott!'
yelled Captain Freeman. "Give 'em the
bayonet. But don 't let your men get away from
you. ' '
Prescott 's answer was conveyed only by a
wave of his stick. After the fleeing Moros he
rushed his men, and the Malays in the rear re-
ceived many an ugly wound.
"Keep the Gatling close up with the advance,
Sergeant!" ordered Captain Freeman, striding
forward.
When the Moros in front had gotten to hand-
to-hand quarters the flanking fire from across
the gully had ceased, after having killed two of
204 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Freeman's men and wounding six more. Now
it reopened.
1 ' Halt, Sergeant ! Swing that Gatling around.
Turn it loose across the gully."
E-r-r-r-r-rip ! Captain Freeman sent two men
back on the run to bring up more ammunition
for the machine gun. Within two minutes the
fire from across the gully had ceased. In the
meantime three more regulars of the centre had
been hit.
"Now, run it forward, Sergeant," com-
manded Captain Freeman. "Support Lieuten-
ant Prescott. The Moros have halted him for
the moment.'
Again the Gatling went into action up front,
where Sergeant Noll Terry, in the front rank,
was taking more than his share of the attack,
though as yet he had given many wounds and
received none. Yet Prescott 's advance would
have been driven back had it not been for the
prompt arrival of the machine gun.
The transport and rear guard were coming
up now.
"Corporal," called Captain Freeman, "my
compliments to Lieutenant Prescott, and tell him
that I want the whole line to move forward as
rapidly as possible. Our only safety, now. lies
in getting as quickly as possible off this road
and into an open country."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 205
Prescott received the order, and right loyally
responded. As often as possible the Gatling,
now up with the advance, was given an oppor-
tunity to cool.
Within twenty minutes after the opening of
the attack the Moro spirit was broken for the
time. They had had more than a hundred men
killed and wounded, and that was all the brown
men could stand for the first onset.
" Don't pursue any further," ordered Cap-
tain Freeman, well up with the advance by this
time. "Let the rascals get away if they don't
interfere with our advance. We'll have them
at hand to fight when we're ready, Lieutenant.
What we must do now is to get a place where
we can fortify ourselves and look after our
wounded. ' '
"We've a heavy list, I fear, sir."
"Heavy enough,' replied Captain Freeman
gravely.
There was no further opposition to the ad-
vance of the regulars, who, despite the great
inferiority of their numbers, had made the brown
men respect their fighting grit and prowess.
Within ten minutes after Captain Freeman's
order to abandon the chase there was no visible
evidence that there were any Moros in the neigh-
boring mountains.
"March to the right, and take that hill
206 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
yonder in quick time, Lieutenant Prescott," di-
rected Captain Freeman.
"Very good, sir."
"Follow the lieutenant, yon men with the Gat-
ling," ordered the commanding officer, and Hal
and his comrades covered the ground as quickly
as they could. No opposition was offered to
their taking the hill. Here the first regulars
to arrive dropped down panting, though Pres-
cott, Hal and Noll remained standing and vig-
ilant. Slowly the rest of the column climbed
the hill. After a brief rest the men were set to
work fortifying the crest of this little rise of
ground.
No trench is ever dug, by a wise commander,
at the exact top of a hill, but always at a point
a little below, which is called the "military
crest.' If the trench were on the top of the
hill, every time the men raised themselves to
fire, their heads and trunks would stand out too
clearly defined against the sky-line, and make
them easy marks for an enemy below.
Up on the top of the hill, however, was a de-
pression in the ground. Into this space the
transport wagons were driven, and here the dead
were laid out and the wounded attended to.
A deadly morning's work it had proved.
Five infantrymen had been killed, twelve were
wounded badly enough to be out of the fighting
IN THE PHILIPPINES 207
lists for the present, while twenty-two others,
though more or less wounded, were still fit for
duty.
"Now, chum, you see what follows the fight-
ing," murmured Hal in Noirs ear. "How do
you like what follows the fighting?"
"It looks some grim," Sergeant Terry ad-
mitted, wrapping his left hand where a creese
had made a gash. ' * But what are we here for,
and why are we soldiers, if this sort of thing
doesn't appeal to us?'
"I'm afraid you're hopelessly blood-thirsty,'
smiled Hal.
"No; I'm not. I enlisted because I believed
I'd like the soldier life, and fighting is the high-
est expression of the soldier's work.'
"Hello, there, 'Long'!" called Private Kelly.
"Yes?" answered Private William Green,
turning at the hail.
"Did you bring along your kantab and pass
plenty of it to the goo-goos?'
"I'll make no money here," grunted William
disdaining to answer Kelly's teasing question.
"There's no chance to spend money here, so
none of the fellows will borrow from me.'
"Making no money?" Kelly rebuked him.
"Man, isn't your government pay running
along, and ain't ye glad ye 're here to be draw-
ing it?"
208 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"I don't like this fighting business," grum-
bled Slosson.
"Why not?" inquired Kelly in mild surprise.
"In that hike I lost my pipe. Lucky for me
I brought two more along in my pack. I'll get
one of them out, now. Want the other, Kelly?"
"I do not, lad, and my thanks to you. Slos-
son, I'm beginning to think we ought to force
the brown men to accept pipes. If they smoked
'em the way you do yours there 'd soon be fewer
of the pesky brown goo-goos in this land."
CHAPTER XX
CORPORAL DUXBRIDGE'S MISTAKE
FORTUNATELY there was water, a clear,
cool spring of it just below the trench
line. As soon as the men were rested,
Captain Freeman detailed a score of them to
haul water up into camp.
"Don't get into groups, you water carriers,
either,' Lieutenant Prescott called after the
men as they started down the slope with buck-
ets. "Keep apart. If you don't, some of the
Moros in the distance will be taking pot-shots
and getting some of you."
The day wore on, and it looked as though the
Moros were still running.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 209
"I'd hate to have to take ten men and fight
all of the enemy who are within two thousand
yards of here," declared Captain Freeman in
the hearing of a large part of his command.
"The datto has us all in a bunch and he'll hang
to us until he has wiped us out. ' '
"I don't believe he can do it, sir," retorted
Lieutenant Greg Holmes.
"No; but the brown rascal thinks he can,
which amounts to the same thing as far as he
is concerned. Mr. Holmes, you may safely take
my word for it that the datto has made up his
own mind not to allow one of us ever to get
back in safety to Bantoc.
Late in the afternoon the five soldiers who
had been slain were placed in a row at the top
of the hill.
"Too bad we haven't a Flag to drape the
poor fellows with, ' ' said Captain Freeman sor-
rowfully.
"We have a Flag with us, sir,' spoke up
Hal, saluting.
"Where is it, Sergeant?"
"In a small parcel in one of the ammunition
wagons, sir.'
"How does it happen to be there, Sergeant?'
"I put it in myself, sir. It's the Flag that
the Moros hauled down from the flagstaff over
the schoolhouse near Seaforth's — the Flag they
-4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
210 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
slashed and danced upon. I picked it up at
that time, sir; and when we started on this ex-
pedition I placed the Flag in one of the
wagons.'
"Why did you do that, Sergeant?"
"Because I was in hopes that before we get
through with this expedition, sir, we'd find a
chance to make Datto Hakkut and his men
salute the American Flag."
"Bring the Flag here, Sergeant."
Hal brought it, and its tattered folds were so
laid that some remnant of the bunting touched
each of the five bodies of the slain soldiers.
Assembling half his command, while the other
half watched in the trenches, Captain Freeman
read the prayers and the service for the dead.
Three volleys were fired over the graves after
the slain men had been laid in them. Bugler
Swanson blew "taps," after which the graves
were carefully filled and the tops sodded so that
roving Moros would not afterwards find and
desecrate these graves, sacred to the American
people. All in good time the American military
authorities would send and exhume these re-
mains, transferring them to marked resting
places in military cemeteries.
Before supper Captain Freeman summoned
his two officers in council with him.
"I want to talk with you young gentlemen,"
IN THE PHILIPPINES 211
began the captain, "for the reason that, of
course, by the fortunes of war, I may be re-
moved at any moment. If anything happens to
me Mr. Prescott is to be regarded as ranking
officer. Now, I want you both to understand
my plan in taking up my position on this hill.
Do either of you guess it?'
* i I think I do, sir, ' ' replied Lieutenant Pres-
cott, after a pause.
"Very good, Mr. Prescott. What is my rea-
son?"
"You were sent out, sir, to meet Datto Hak-
kut, fight him and disperse his forces. '
"Exactly/ nodded the captain.
"This hill, sir, will be a hard nut for the
brown men to crack. If he hopes to do it, Hak-
kut must get every available fighting man here
on the spot."
i t You 're right, ' ' nodded Freeman.
"Thus, sir, you hope to force Hakkut to con-
centrate his whole fighting force in this imme-
diate country. If you get all the rascals in
front of you you'll have them all in one lot to
whip. ' '
"You've fathomed my plan very easily, Mr.
Prescott, and you've exactly stated it. Now,
though I shall take pains to be sure that the
Moros remain in this neighborhood, I shall not
force any very hard fighting for two or three
212 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
days. Our rations will last longer than that,
with care. After IVe given Hakkut time
enough to get his whole crew togetlier then I
shall go after them as hard as I can consider-
ing the size of this force. Also, by waiting, we
shall give several of our wounded men time to
get back into fighting condition/'
"But what, sir/7 broke in Lieutenant Holmes,
"if the datto takes your negative course for a
confession of weakness, and attempts to carry
this hill by assault?"
"Answer that, if you can, Mr. Prescott," di-
rected Captain Freeman, turning to the other
West Pointer.
"Why, I imagine, sir, that you hope your
seeming inactivity will provoke Hakkut into
trying to carry this hill by assault. This hill,
defended by regulars, will be no easy place to
take from us, and Hakkut will lose so many of
his men that the experience will be a good les-
son for him.'
"That's the idea,' nodded the commanding
officer. "Now, gentlemen, you understand the
plan thus far. But there's another important
point to remember. If we are cooped up here
for very many days, then the men will have
nothing left to eat but grass and gravel. So
you will understand that, presently, it is going
to be a matter of prime necessity for us to be
IN THE PHILIPPINES 213
able to leave here and forage. Therefore, dur-
ing our comparative inactivity, we must pro-
voke Hakkut into as many assaults as possible
upon this position. The more attempts he
makes the more his fighting men will be de-
moralized when we at last fight our way through
his lines.'
During that night no attack was made, and
the men had little to do beyond carrying out
guard duty. Hakkut had undoubtedly dis-
patched messengers to bring all possible fight-
ing men to the scene.
Nor in the morning, even two hours after day-
light, was there any sign of the enemy. Cap-
tain Freeman at last took up his field glass
again and intently studied a deep forest some
twelve hundred yards below.
"Sergeant Overton!'
"Sir?"
' i Have the Gatling and a belt of ammunition
brought up.7
"Very good, sir.'
' ' When the Gatling had been placed, Captain
Freeman handed his glass to the young ser-
geant.
"Overton, look through the glass and see if
you can discover the line of timber that I'm
going to describe to you.'
Hal very soon had the spot located.
214 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Now, Sergeant, sight the Gatling for twelve
hundred yards. Do it carefully. When you are
ready do what you can to stir up life along that
line of timber."
While Sergeant Hal was making ready, Cap-
tain Freeman remained attentively watching
the timber line through his glass.
E-r-r-r-r-r-rip ! Hal served with speed and
intensity.
"Just as I thought!" exclaimed the com-
manding officer. "You've got a line of brown
men on the nervous jump down there. Keep it
up a little longer, Sergeant. Sweep over a
wider area.'
Then, after a pause:
"Cease firing.'
For an hour Captain Freeman let the enemy
rest. He was watching other points through
his glass. At last he ordered the Gatling into
action again. The trick was played a third time
that morning, and each time some of the Moros
were disturbed.
1 ' That 's one of the things I wanted to know, ' '
remarked Captain Freeman at last. "Hakkut
has this camp completely surrounded, but is
keeping his men quiet. I wish we had two or
three more Gatlings and a whole wagon load of
this special ammunition. We could make it in-
teresting for the goo-goos."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 215
However, the datto made no move to attack,
though Captain Freeman believed that the rebel,
by this time, must have twelve hundred fighting
men, at least, in the forests below.
"Hakkut may realize the difficulty of assault-
ing us here, and may be waiting for huge rein-
forcements,7 Captain Freeman confided to his
two lieutenants. ' ' Moreover, I think it extremely
likely that we have been caught underestimat-
ing the force of the enemy. "
"There's one good thing about this style of
campaigning, sir,' smiled Prescott. "It isn't
eating up any more men in casualties. ' '
"No; but the datto is figuring that he's let-
ting us eat up our rations.'
There were no attacks that afternoon or even-
ing. The next morning Captain Freeman hesi-
tated as to whether or not he should send out
a party in force to "locate and develop' the
enemy. But he decided net to do so.
"To-morrow, though,' declared the captain
to his lieutenants, "we'll break through the line
somewhere. '
That third night Sergeant Hal was placed in
charge of the guard, with Lieutenant Greg
Holmes as his direct superior. On the side of
camp where the commanding officer thought the
enemy most numerous, Hal placed Corporal
Duxbridge in charge.
216 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Don't close your eyes to-night, Corporal,"
warned the young sergeant. "You can get your
sleep in the daytime. This is the point where
the greatest vigilance is needed. This point is
really the key to the camp, and every man who
lies down to sleep to-night leaves his life in
your hands.7
"All right," replied Corporal Duxbridge in a
voice that sounded weary.
"You'll be sure to keep awake!"
"I know my business, Sergeant."
Hal Overton did not particularly like Dux-
bridge. He belonged to C Company, and was a
man subject to occasional fits of crankiness.
But Duxbridge, as well as the others, had his
share of duty to perform.
Late that night one of the men of the guard,
stationed not far from Duxbridge, thought that
he heard a slight noise down the slope. He lis-
tened only a moment, then felt sure that he had
espied a figure crawling along further down the
slope.
"Halt!" called the soldier. "Halt or I'll
fire. Who's there?"
"A friend,' came the answer in perfectly
good English. "For Heaven's sake don't fire.
We've had enough of horrors with the fiends
below. Where's Corporal Duxbridge? He
knows me."
IN THE PHILIPPINES 217
"Corporal Duxbridge is on duty at this
point,' returned the soldier. "How many of
you are there?7
"Seven; but I will come up alone first and
speak with the corporal.'
Duxbridge was called quietly. The corporal
had been dozing for twenty minutes, and he
awoke with mind somewhat befogged.
The stranger below, who had been allowed to
advance, now stepped up to where the corporal
could scrutinize him.
' i Why, I know this man, ' declared the cor-
poral. "His name's Eusebio Davo. He's a
wealthy Tagalo, loyal to the government and a
good man. What's the trouble, Senor Davo?'
"Corporal, I went south in the island to pick
up some laborers from the Manobo tribe. I got
forty together and was on my way through this
country, not knowing that the Moros were out.
So we were caught, this afternoon, and taken
before the Datto Hakkut. He ordered us into
his ranks to fight. We demurred, and four of
my fellows were cut down before my eyes. Then
we accepted arms. But to-night we tried to
creep through the datto's lines and get here.
All but the six men with me were caught, and
their fate must have been awful.'
Senor Davo shuddered, then went on :
"I come to beseech you that you allow my
218 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
\
poor fellows to come inside your lines. You
know me, Corporal, and know that we're all
right. ' '
"Yes, bring your men inside our line," de-
cided Corporal Duxbridge. " I '11 vouch for you,
Senor Davo, to our commanding officer."
Protesting his undying gratitude, Davo went
below for his men, and brought them inside the
lines, a sorry looking lot of fellows who at once
threw themselves down as if to sleep.
"You'll notify Sergeant Overton, of course?"
suggested the soldier who had first halted Davo.
"You mind your business, Strong," Corporal
Duxbridge rebuked him. "I'll notify the ser-
geant in good time. '
But Hal, as it happened, was nearer than had
been imagined. Unobserved he had listened to
the whole conversation. Now, Overton hastened
silently away, awaking Lieutenant Holmes and
ten soldiers. Without undue haste these
marched down on Duxbridge 's station.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
"The officer of the day and the sergeant of
the guard," came the response, in Lieutenant
Holmes 's crisp tones.
"Advance, sir.'
The seven new arrivals lay on the ground,
apparently sound asleep. Davo had his hat over
his face, and was snoring lightly.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 219
" Who are these new men in camp, Corporal! "
demanded Holmes sharply.
"Fugitives from the datto's lines, sir. I was
about to notify the sergeant of the guard, sir/'
"Don't let them get away/ spoke Hal
quickly to the men, i i and remember that they 're
armed with steel! This fellow, who calls him-
self Davo is Vicente Tomba, a Tagalo who is
right-hand man to the datto,' added the ser-
geant, bending and snatching the hat from the
Tagalo 's face.
It was truly Tomba, who, with a snarl, leaped
to his feet ere Hal Overton could grab him.
"Shoot him!" ordered Lieutenant Holmes, as
Tomba went over the trench and down the slope
at sprinting speed. Three or four rifles spoke,
but Tomba escaped in the darkness.
Not so, however, with the men Tomba had
brought with him. Not one of them escaped. All
were stretched on the ground senseless, having
been clubbed with the butts of the soldiers'
rifles. Then, a quick search under the shirt of
each of the rascals, revealed a creese with blade
ground to a razor edge.
"You see, Corporal/' ripped out Sergeant
Hal, "these scoundrels were going to watch
their chance to knife you all in the dark. Then
the Moros would have rushed in at this point,
and "
220 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Hal's prediction was verified, at that instant,
by the breaking out of a fiendish chorus of yells
down the slope. The Moros, waiting below,
were advancing to a night attack.
"Bugler of the guard! Sound the general
alarm ! ' ' roared out Lieutenant Holmes 's steady
tones.
CHAPTER XXI
SCOUTING IN DEADLY EARNEST
IT was a ferocious attack, promptly and
staunchly met.
Soldiers in the field on campaign sleep
in their full clothing, their rifles at their sides.
It takes not more than ten seconds to turn a
soldier out in the night, fully awake and ready
for orders. The knowledge that their lives de-
pend upon their promptness keeps the men in
condition for quick obedience.
Even the Gatling was ready at the top of the
hill. From point to point it was dragged, and
wherever it was served the midnight assailants
soon drew back.
For twenty minutes the conflict was kept up,
often at closest quarters. But at last the sound-
ing of the Moro horns in the rear called off the
assailants, who fled in the darkness.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 221
"How did this all happen, Mr. Holmes ?"
asked Captain Freeman. t i I must congratulate
you on being alert and ready for the brown
men.
"Sergeant Overton had just called me, sir.
And I think you will wish to hear what he has
to say.'
Hal was sent for and reported instantly.
"I know, now, sir, why Tomba wanted to
make my acquaintance, and that of Sergeant
Terry, sir, ' ' Hal explained, and then told what
had happened.
"How did Corporal Duxbridge ever happen
to do a thing like that?' demanded Freeman
angrily.
* ' Tomba had already made the Corporal 's ac-
quaintance, sir. Tomba wanted to make mine,
and Terry's, as soon as he knew the Thirty-
fourth was coming to these southern islands.
It was Tomba 's belief that he could run a gang
of creese men past us, and get inside where he
could knife the nearest soldiers, and then let an
attacking party in.'
"If the Moros had ever gotten through our
line they'd have wiped the camp out to-night,'
exclaimed Captain Freeman.
"Of course they would, sir, and that is the
way in which Tomba, even in Manila, had
planned to make our acquaintance, and use it
222 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS f
s.
for just such an undertaking as to-night's. It
seems, sir, that having failed with us, he suc-
ceeded in getting on the right side of Corporal
Duxbridge. '
" Where, I wonder ?" muttered the captain.
1 1 And where is the Corporal 1 '
6 i Just taken up above with the wounded, sir, '
replied Lieutenant Holmes. "Corporal Dux-
bridge was hit, sir."
' l Let us go up to see him. Where are the six
natives? "
"Tied, sir, and up with the wounded."
Corporal Duxbridge, when the commanding
officer visited him, felt sheepish enough, despite
the great pain he was in. He now readily ex-
plained how Tomba, under the assumed name
of Davo, had made his acquaintance in Bantoc.
Tomba had spent money so freely in entertain-
ing him that Duxbridge had been certain that
the man must be a wealthy, good-natured Tag-
alo.
"I hope you've learned a lesson, Corporal,'
said Captain Freeman sadly. "You're one of
five wounded in to-night's performance, and two
of our finest men are dead.'
Corporal Duxbridge covered his face with his
hands.
"I was a big fool," he confessed brokenly.
There were no more attacks that night, but
IN THE PHILIPPINES 223
in the morning the Moros developed a new style
of trouble. All through the day, from one point
or another, they kept the American trenches
under fire at frequent intervals. Captain Free-
man, however, refused to allow his men to waste
ammunition. They must not fire until the brown
men attempted an assault.
That night only half rations were served to
the defenders of the hill. There was but little
food left. During the night there were three
assaults against the force on the hill, though
none of them were desperately fought.
"Hakkut is going to adopt a new trick of
keeping us awake day and night, ' ' muttered Cap-
tain Freeman grimly.
The next day there was more annoying firing
against the trenches, though the Moros had
learned their lesson too well to attempt any
rushes during daylight,
Just after dark, that evening, Captain Free-
man sent for his officers. He also allowed Hal
and Noll and two sergeants from C Company
to be on hand to hear the discussion.
' ' To-morrow night, at the latest, we Ve got to
fight our way out of here, ' ' announced Captain
Freeman. "To remain here later than to-mor-
row night will be to invite starvation — which,
in our position, means nothing less than destruc-
tion. I fear, too, that we shall be obliged to
224 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
abandon our transport wagons. Our wounded
we can carry on stretchers made with poles and
blankets. There must be some point in the Moro
line where we can break through — some point so
weakly guarded that we can be on our way be-
fore the brown rascals can gather in force
enough to put up a hard fight. This fact can
be determined only through the work of a scout-
ing party. ' 7
"I shall be delighted, sir, to volunteer for
scouting duty,' spoke up Lieutenant Prescott.
"And I also, sir," added Lieutenant Holmes.
"Thank you. I knew that you would both
be ready, ' ? replied the commanding officer. ' t Yet
we must remember that, while our scouts are
out to-night, this camp is also extremely liable
to attack. If the latter be the case, I do not
see how I can spare either of my officers. Now,
I have cause to remember a time when, in the
mountains of Colorado, when on practice field
duty, two of our non-commissioned officers
especially distinguished themselves as scouts.
I believe that both of the young men still possess
that ability in marked degree. It seems to me
that the choice of a leader for a scouting party
lies between Sergeants Overton and Terry."
"Thank you, sir," broke in Sergeant Hal
gravely. "May I suggest, sir, that there is no
need of making a choice between us? I would
IN THE PHILIPPINES 225
like to go on this duty, sir, and I'd rather have
Sergeant Terry with me than any other enlisted
man in the regiment.'
"I'm ready, sir," declared Noll promptly.
1 i It seems almost foolish to allow two such ex-
cellent sergeants to go, ' ' returned Captain Free-
man gravely. 'You see, we need as good men
in the camp as we do outside of it. However,
let it be as you wish, Sergeant Overton. How
many men do you think you will need with
you!"
"None, sir, except Sergeant Terry,' spoke
Hal.
"Are two enough for safety, Sergeant, in your
opinion. ' '
"Two men are safer than a dozen on scout-
ing duty, I think, sir. Two men can get through
in places where even four men would be caught
at it."
"But if caught, two are a small number for
defensive purposes.'
"There won't be much defense possible, sir,
if we're caught; but I think Sergeant Terry
agrees with me that we ought not to be caught. '
"Will you take your rifle and bayonet, Ser-
geant?"
"I'd rather not, sir. In fact, the plan that
his come into my mind at this moment is for
Sergeant Terry and myself to stain our faces
15 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
226 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
and bodies with juice from the berries of the
boka bush that is growing inside our lines. Then
we'll rob two of the native prisoners of their
clothing, under which we can each carry a serv-
ice revolver and a creese. That is, sir, if you
approve my plan."
Captain Freeman was silent for some mo-
ments.
"I'm afraid you're planning an especially des-
perate undertaking, Sergeant Overton. I quite
understand your idea in dressing like natives.
But if you are seen, you will be spoken to. It
will be in the native tongue. What then? You
can 't answer in native speech. ' '
"But I think, sir," argued Hal, "that you'll
agree that there are probably men from several
tribes under the datto 's command. In that case
many different tribal dialects will be spoken.
Noll — pardon me, sir — Sergeant Terry and I can
answer in any heathen-sounding, guttural sort
of words, and look stupid."
"It's quite difficult, my lad, to improvise a
pretended language on the spur of the moment."
'Hakka kado me no tonga, lakka prada estig
ferente," rejoined Hal Overton, with a grin.
"Dikka mone peditti u nono mate ben," said
Noll cheerfully.
"What language is that, lads!" demanded
Captain Freeman.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 227
"New Jersey hog-Latin, I imagine, sir," re-
plied Sergeant Hal soberly.
' 1 1 do not believe, gentlemen, that we can send
better scouts than Sergeants Overton and
Terry, " said Captain Freeman.
His two subordinates expressed their agree-
ment.
"Sergeants, you may go and prepare your-
selves. Do it as speedily as you can, and report
to me as soon as you are ready.'
There was sullen objection from two of the
native prisoners, when their clothing was taken
from them. Hal and Noll, however, loaned
their blankets in exchange.
"You know, Noll, if we don't succeed to-night,
we shall have no further use for our blankets,
anyway,' Hal remarked dryly.
"I've thought of that," Sergeant Terry
nodded.
After they had dyed their skin and hair with
the juice of the boka the two Army boys next
distributed a liberal amount of dirt on them-
selves, then drew on the borrowed clothing, con-
sisting only of shirts and short trousers. Inside
their clothing each tucked a sharp-edged creese,
also a loaded service revolver.
"You'll do, in the dark," nodded Captain
Freeman, after looking them over keenly. ' ' Of
course, you won't show yourselves in a strong
228 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
light, anyway. Now, you don't need instruc-
tions. You understand your errand."
Captain Freeman himself took the two Army
boys through the darkness to the trench.
"I am turning these fellows loose, men," the
captain announced. "But don't allow any of
the others to go through the lines."
To the captain 's relief, the disguises appeared
to "work" well in the dark, for the men on guard
in the trench merely saluted.
CHAPTER XXII
PLAYING GOO-GOO IN A GRIM GAME
DOWN the slope the Army boys walked
boldly for a few hundred yards. The
night was so dark that there was small
possibility of being seen at a distance.
"Now, we'd better go a little more cau-
tiously,' whispered Hal, checking his com-
panion by a touch on the arm.
"It's going to rain within a very few min-
utes,' Noll whispered in return, as he looked
up at the inky sky overhead.
1 i The more rain the better. I hope there will
be no lightning. ' '
"Where are you going to try to slip through
the lines?"
IN THE PHILIPPINES 229
"Do you remember the gully that runs back
through the woods below, somewhat to our left
as we stand now?" queried Hal.
' ' Yes ; certainly. ' '
"That gully is a trap such as sane soldiers
would hardly dare venture into. If they did,
and were discovered, the Moros could annihilate
them from above."
"Surely," nodded Noll.
"Therefore I have an idea that the Moros
haven't attempted to guard that gully in force,
though there may be men on either side above
it. Noll, if we are careful not to make a sound
I think we can steal through that gully without
getting caught.7
"Or else we'll run into a hundred times as
much trouble as we can handle," replied Noll
thoughtfully.
"It's worth taking a chance, isn't it!"
"I think it's the best single chance I can see."
"Come along, then,' whispered Hal. "You
might keep just a little behind me. I think I
can find the mouth of the gully, even in this
pitchy blackness. If you see me drop to my
knees, do the same.'
Hal started forward again. The natural-born
scout, once he has observed a place in the day-
light, has some kind of an instinct that guides
him to the same spot in the darkness.
230 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Sergeant Hal had not gone far when the rain
began to descend. There were distant rumblings
of thunder, but no lightning. For this he was
thankful. He hoped to be behind the Moro lines
before lightning began to flash.
Two wanderers in front of the enemy's lines
*/
would be sure to excite suspicion, while two
seeming natives behind the lines would attract
little attention. (
Presently Sergeant Overton dropped to his
knees, peering ahead and listening keenly, as
he crept along. Sergeant Terry imitated his
chum. Hal crawled within fifty feet of the
mouth of the gully, just a little south of it.
After a moment's pause he obtained his bear-
ings and extended one arm in silent direction to
Noll.
Then they crept noiselessly into the mouth of
the gully. So far they had not been hailed, but
this was not positive proof that human eyes
were not watching their movements.
Once inside the gully they moved, cautiously,
still on hands and knees, halting after every ad-
vance of two or three feet. They were shiver-
ing in their thin raiment, for the rain was heavy
and cold. Noll's teeth were all but chattering.
"I don't believe the gully is guarded at all,"
whispered young Overton in his friend's ear.
"This place looks so like a trap that few mil-
IN THE PHILIPPINES 231
itary commanders would ever think of leading
men into it in the dark. I figure that the datto
thought this gully not worth guarding by night. '
"The slopes above us on either side may be
well guarded, however, ' ' warned Noll.
"Yes; and you can wager that we'll know
all about that before we try to go back to camp, '
returned Hal. "The place to start such an in-
vestigation is from the rear of the enemy's
lines. '
"All right; lead on.'
They had gone another hundred feet into the
gully when Hal Overton stopped again. Now
he rose to his feet.
"We'll walk through," he whispered. "I
don 't believe we will run into any of the datto 's
men hereabouts. If we do, leave it to me to
do the first talking.'
"Jersey hog-Latin?" queried Noll, with a
grin.
"Of course; Spanish or English would be
fatal to fellows who look the part that we're
rigged up to play. ' '
Hal walked on, steadily, though with caution.
Noll kept a few feet behind him until the gully
widened, then stepped to his chum's side.
Neither spoke. There was danger in unneces-
sary conversation. They had covered six hun-
dred feet more when they felt, rather than saw,
232 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
that they were nearing the further end of the
gully.
At last they stepped out into the open — then
received a sudden shock. Less than a dozen feet
away a Moro sentry, rifle on shoulder, halted,
regarding them keenly.
"Manu batto dobi kem," murmured Hal to his
chum, in a low voice. Noll answered in the same
low tone. Both were shaking with more than
the chill of the rain, but Hal turned to the sentry,
inquiring mildly:
"Hoppo tuti sen antrim mak!"
The Moro sentry shook his head. He did
not understand that dialect.
"Basta morti hengo pas turn," murmured Hal
regretfully, hesitating before the sentry.
" Manga tim no troka," remarked Noll.
Hal turned slowly, nodding at his chum. Then
both strolled along, the sentry merely staring
after them.
"That's the advantage of scouting within the
lines of an enemy where many tongues are
spoken,' whispered Noll in his chum's ear.
The Army boys had not gone twenty feet, how-
ever, when they ran into another Moro sentry,
who stood under a tree evidently trying to keep
out of the rain.
This sentry addressed them with two or three
words in the Moro tongue.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 233
"Banda nokku him slengo mat/ replied Hal.
Again the sentry spoke to them, accompany-
ing his words with a gesture that seemed to order
them to pass on. The Army boys were glad
enough to obey.
"We're right in the middle of the hornet's
nest," whispered Noll.
Fifty feet further on the Army boys came
upon a rudely built shack under which a number
of brown men were huddled to escape the rain.
' * The outpost crowd, ' ' whispered Hal. ' ' Noll,
I believe we're getting into the heart of the
Moros' camp.'
Noll was about to answer, but at that moment
discerning another sentry, a few yards ahead,
checked his reply. This sentinel they managed
to pass without words. Being well within the
enemy's lines now, and apparently natives them-
selves, the Army boys were not as likely to at-
tract suspicion to themselves.
A heavier downpour of rain drove the young
scouts for a moment under the spreading
branches of a large tree.
"This job is almost as easy as stealing the
marmalade from mother's preserve closet,"
chuckled Sergeant Noll, despite his discomfort.
"This place is like a good many traps," re-
plied Hal. "It seems easy enough to get in, but
remember, boy, we've got to get out.'
234 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
As soon as the rain slackened somewhat the
two scouts sauntered on again. Here and there
they passed rude shacks in which Moros and
allied natives were sleeping. Then the young
eouts came upon a new scene that made them
fairly catch their breath.
They were standing by a mud wall now, a wall
of about nine feet in height. There could be
no doubt that this was a Moro fort, erected for
a particular purpose, and Hal's active mind im-
mediately fathomed that purpose.
"The datto's own headquarters!" he whis-
pered in his chum's ear. 'Oh, Noll, I hope that
I am right ! ' '
Terry nodded. He was as excited as was his
comrade.
The wall, as well as the Army boys could
judge, was more than two hundred feet long.
About half way down they came to a gate. Here
six Moro sentries, armed with rifles and pro-
tected from the storm by woven rush raincoats,
stood on guard.
Hal boldly stepped nearer, for the sentries
were already regarding this straying pair of
natives. Noll, with a quick catch in his throat,
stepped after his chum. It looked like running
into almost certain death, for aside from the six
sentries there were hundreds of Moros within
call.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 235
"Bola mak no benga?" demanded Sergeant
Hal, with an impudence and cool assurance that
he was far from feeling.
One of the Moro sentries looked at the Army
boys, grinning and shaking his head. Then lay-
ing two fingers across his mouth as a sign for
silence, he pointed inside the mud-walled en-
closure.
"Him hasta putti datto?" asked Hal, in a
low voice.
"Datto* was the only word the Moro could
make out, but he understood that, and again
pointed inside.
"Banga tim no satti du,' remarked Hal
softly to his chum. Then Sergeant Hal bent
low, making an elaborate bow before the gate-
way. Noll Terry "caught on7 and followed
suit. The Moro sentries grinned. Nor did they
offer any objection when the Army boys strolled
off into the tempest-ridden darkness.
"Now, what?" whispered Noll, as the Army
boys halted under a tree.
"Noll, the biggest game in the world, now —
to get back out of the trap into which we've
stepped ! ' '
236 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"
"
CHAPTER XXIII
DOOMING THE DATTO
«« "Ik TOLL, you remember the first sentry in-
^J side the gully at this end?"
• ^ "Yes."
"Have you the nerve to stay near him while
I try to get back to camp alone?"
"I have nerve enough to do anything that a
soldier may be called upon to do."
"I was sure of it," Hal replied.
But what's the game?"
You are to keep close to that sentry until
just before daylight, ' ' continued Hal. ' i Then, if
nothing happens, slip out and make your way
back to camp as best you can. But if Captain
Freeman allows me to lead the expedition
through that gully, you are to be on hand to
silence that sentry at the first sound of our
coming. ' '
"I think I can do that," Sergeant Terry re-
plied thoughtfully. "I'll either win out or give
up my life without a murmur."
"Noll, if you prefer it, you can try to reach
camp, and I'll stay by that first sentry inside
the gully."
"No, Hal; I think you are far more apt to
IN THE PHILIPPINES 237
succeed in reaching camp than I. I'm satisfied
with the second part in the game. Both parts
are big enough.'
"Very well! Good-bye, chum. Take care of
yourself ! ' '
They had yet a little distance to go before
they came upon the Moro sentry beyond the
inner mouth of the gully. As they approached
him they strolled along in leisurely fashion.
The sentry, who appeared to be a good-na-
tured, rather stupid fellow, surveyed the chums
with a grin. He pointed to the sky, then made
a motion of shivering. Clearly this native be-
lieved the pretended brown men to be foolish
fellows for remaining out in such a downpour.
"Hastu rnaki not,' ' observed Hal.
"No beni,' replied Noll, and Hal stepped
away in the darkness. He did not appear to be
headed for the gully, but Noll distracted the
attention of the sentry for a few moments, and
out of the corner of his eye Terry caught a
glimpse of Hal 's body moving into the mouth of
the gully.
A moment later Hal was out of sight and
sound. Noll and the sentry stood side by side.
Presently, as neither could understand the
other's speech, Noll and the Moro fell to "con-
versing" by means of signs. Yet, in this line,
they could go little beyond the weather. Noll
238 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
presently made a hit with the real brown man
by shaking his fist in the direction of the Ameri-
can camp, then drawing his hand across his
throat with an eloquent gesture of throat-cut-
ting.
Sergeant Hal Overton not only got out of the
gully, but also satisfied himself that the slopes
were not guarded.
"As the gully looks like a natural trap, and
the datto has at least four hundred men between
himself and the gully, I suppose old Hakkut is
not worrying a great deal, ' reflected Overton.
Hal did not now trouble himself to move so
stealthily, until he neared the American en-
campment. With noiseless step he approached
and called out in the darkness:
"Officer of the day!"
"Halt! Who goes there?" called an alert
soldier.
"Sergeant Overton, in scout disguise,' Hal
returned. "I wish to return to camp.'
"Advance, Sergeant Overton, to be recog-
nized."
Thus assured that he would not be shot down
by mistake, Hal walked slowly but openly in
the direction of the voice from the trench.
"If you can recognize me, Galbraith, you're a
wonder," laughed Hal, as he came within the
soldier's range of vision.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 239
' i You, Sergeant Overton. Great Scott, I don't
recognize anything but the voice. I know that,
however; pass on, Sergeant.7
Hal went at once to Captain Freeman, whom,
however, he had to awaken. Lieutenants Pres-
cott and Holmes were quickly added to the
lightning conference that followed.
The officers listened almost in amazement to
the yarn that Sergeant Overton rapidly spun for
them.
"We made no mistake in detailing you two
sergeants to investigate the position of the
enemy,7 remarked Captain Freeman warmly.
"Now our course is clear. You understand my
plan, gentlemen?'
The two young lieutenants quickly assented.
"We shall have to abandon our transport
wagons, though I think we shall have no diffi-
culty in recovering them later,' went on the
commanding officer. "Waken all the men, and
have each man carrv as much ammunition as
«/
he can pack. The Gatling gun goes with us, of
course. ' '
"And the wounded men, sir!' asked Lieu-
tenant Prescott.
"Those still unable to walk will have to be
carried on the same blanket stretchers. Cau-
tion these wounded men that, no matter what
discomfort they may suffer on the trip, not one
240 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
is to make a sound. Our lives are at stake.
Now hustle, gentlemen! We must march from
this position in less than twenty minutes. "
"And the prisoners, sir?" asked Lieutenant
Greg Holmes.
"Bind the prisoners and gag them, and do it
effectively. We can't trust a prisoner on a
dash like this. Leave them behind, but be sure
that they can't effect their own escape. Gen-
tlemen, I look to your effective aid in playing a
most brilliant trick on the enemy.'
Twelve minutes later the column started.
They moved in three bodies. In advance were
twelve picked men of B Company, under Ser-
geant Overtoil. Captain Freeman accompanied
this little advance guard.
At a suitable interval behind marched fifty
men under Lieutenant Prescott.
Last of all Lieutenant Holmes headed the re-
mainder of the expedition. With this rear
guard marched such of the wounded men as
were able to walk. The others of the wounded
were carried on blanket stretchers.
Silently, like a procession of ghosts, moved
the American troops. The rain had moderated
to a drizzle, but there was no star in sight to
throw the least ray of light over the tropical
scene.
Almost as straight as a bullet could have been
IN THE PHILIPPINES 241
fired Sergeant Hal led the advance guard to the
-mouth of the gully. There was no challenge,
no shot fired by the enemy. A minute's halt;
then the advance guard quickly followed Ser-
geant Overton into the gully, Captain Freeman
stepping just behind the leader.
When they were two thirds of the way
through, Sergeant Hal, who was still in his
native costume, held up his hand as a signal
to halt. The signal was passed back through
the advance.
"I think you'd better wait here a few min-
utes, sir/ whispered Hal to the commanding
officer. "I'll hand my rifle to one of the men
and then stroll forward to see if the coast is
clear. '
"A good plan, Sergeant; but take mighty
good care of yourself!' ,
"Yes, sir. If you hear sounds of trouble up
ahead then I suppose you'll push right on
through. '
"If there's any sound of trouble, whatever,
Sergeant, you can depend upon our rushing
through. '
Saluting, Overton turned and slowly vanished
into the darkness ahead. Just as he came out
of the gully Hal heard a cautious, warning:
"Sh-sh!"
The muzzle of a rifle was thrust to his breast.
16 4 Uncle Sam's Boys.
242 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Noll?" whispered Hal.
"Yes,' whispered Terry.
"Where's the real sentry at this point?"
breathed Hal.
' ' The poor fellow was chilled through. I got
chummy with him, talking sign language, and
then volunteered to stand duty for him. The
Moro has gone off to take a sleep where it's
drier. '
"Bully, old Noll!"
"The troops are behind you, Hal?"
"Yes."
"Then march them ahead straight on for a
hundred yards due west. You won't run into
any of the enemy there. I've made it my busi-
ness to know."
Hal flew back to the advance guard.
"Fine!" glowed Captain Freeman, when he
had heard the report.
The advance was quickly in motion. Captain
Freeman was soon up with Noll, who, after
whispering, led the advance to the point he had
mentioned to his chum. Hal, in the meantime,
remained to receive and pilot Lieutenant Pres-
cott's command.
"How on earth did you do this?" demanded
Prescott in a whisper.
"Some of Sergeant Terry's work, sir," whis-
pered Hal. "When you're ready, sir, just keep
IN THE PHILIPPINES 243
on straight ahead until you come upon the ad-
vance. I'll remain here, sir, if you permit, to
warn the men behind you that they're march-
ing inside the Moros' lines,"
"Do so, Sergeant," directed Lieutenant Pres-
cott, at the same time making the motion for
Ms men to move ahead. On came the rest of the
command in single file.
"Softly," warned Hal, as the men passed by
Mm. "You're inside the enemy's lines."
Then, as the last man passed him, Hal whis-
pered :
' i Fall out, Gleason. Remain here to warn the
rear guard when it arrives. ' '
"All right, Sergeant. But this kind of work
in the dark makes one creepy. I feel as though
I were robbing a judge's chicken-roost.'
Hal laughed softly and hurried after the van-
ishing troops. Within a few minutes more the
rear guard had arrived.
By this time the rain had begun to come down
again in torrents, but this favored the work of
the American troops.
Led by the two young scouts, the entire com-
mand managed to advance, undetected, to a
point from which Captain Freeman could dimly
make out the mud walls of the datto's fort.
"Take the same twelve men of the advance
guard, Sergeant Overton,' whispered Captain
244 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
Freeman, after he had given directions regard-
ing the carrying of the wounded so that they
would be as well protected as possible from
slashing by Moro swords or creeses during the
attack about to be made. ' i With your men, Ser-
geant, gain the gate of the fort. Eemember, at
no matter what cost, you must get your party
inside and hold the gate. We'll be on the spot
the moment we hear the first sound of your at-
tack. ' '
"Now, then, men," Hal instructed his own
detachment, "we won't march forward, and we
won't skulk, either. We'll simply stroll along.
The instant that I hear any sound showing that
we're discovered, I'll give the order to charge.
When that order comes — remember that we
simply must fight our way through the gate of
the fort."
Then he gave the order for the forward move-
ment. Hal placed himself at the head of his
detachment, the post of greatest danger.
It was raining so heavily that even the guards
at the datto's gate had relaxed their vigilance.
So Sergeant Hal Overton was within thirty
feet of the gate when one of the six sentries,
peering outside, caught sight of him, yelled and
held his rifle at aim.
"Detachment charge!' yelled Sergeant Hal
Overton.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 245
With a low-uttered yet enthusiastic yell the
twelve regulars piled in after their sergeant.
There was short, sharp firing at the gate.
Then the Americans drove that guard in, killing
four of them and holding the gate.
Now there was wild yelling inside the fort.
Lights flashed from the principal building in
the enclosure. Sergeant Hal waited only long
enough to realize that Lieutenant Prescott's
command had come up when he shouted to his
own men:
"Follow me to the datto 's house! He's the
fellow we want."
Fifty natives howling wildly had thrown
» themselves around the house of the Datto Hak-
kut and had opened fire on the soldiers by the
time that Hal and his few men reached the spot.
"Fight your way through 'em, men!' com-
manded Hal.
"Bring your men back, Sergeant!' shouted
Captain Freeman in Hal's ear. "We've got the
Gatling ready. I'll show you something bet-
ter. ' '
Swiftly the regulars dodged back. Sergeant
Noll was at the breech of the Gatling.
E-r-r-r-rip! rattled out that rapid-fire ma-
chine, and the fire swept mercilessly into the
ranks of those who defended the datto.
Lieutenant Holmes had gotten the wounded
246 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
inside the walls. Now, with his efficient men he
had turned to guard the gate, for outside, hun-
dreds of frantically-yelling Moro fanatics had
gathered for the attack on the invaders.
Into the closely packed ranks of the brown
men who sought to defend the datto 's house the
Gatling poured its raking fire with fearful effect.
Whatever the issue of this madly fought hat-
tie, it began to look as though the Datto Hak-
kut were doomed.
CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
« T "1" AVE your men fix their bayonets, Lieu-
I I tenant Prescott!" commanded Cap-
tain Freeman. "Fall in, men! We'll
take the datto on the rush!"
As the Moros, reinforced by two score more
who had rushed to the aid of their leader, drew
up for a last desperate stand before the house,
the door opened.
A stream of light from inside illuminated the
scene.
Out bounded a man past middle age and of
imposing appearance. Not even his rich cos-
tume and flashing jewels were needed to pro-
claim that this man was the datto himself.
IN THE PHILIPPINES 247
Behind Hakkut came another and younger
man, the datto 's sword-bearer.
Hakkut was carrying his own heavy, straight-
edged sword. For a moment or two he stood
blinking upon the scene of carnage and death
below him as he halted on his porch. Then his
gaze swept to the regulars behind the machine
gun, standing alert with bayonets fixed, ready
for that solitary word "charge!"
Instantly the datto turned and shouted some-
thing to the younger man with him.
In another moment the datto had placed the
hilt of his sword against the flooring of the
porch, the point of the weapon up. The younger
man knelt swiftly, holding the sword in this
position. Drawing back, the Datto Hakkut
hurled himself forward with great force, fall-
ing upon the point. Then he tottered sideways,
tumbling to the floor of the porch. The younger
man without hesitation drove a needle-pointed
creese three times into his ruler 's breast. With-
drawing the knife, the sword-bearer then killed
himself.
"Charge, Lieutenant PrescottP called Cap-
tain Freeman.
"Charge!" repeated the lieutenant. The line
of bayonets swept forward, but news of the death
of the datto had already reached his would-be
defenders. The regulars swept through, meet-
248 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
ing little resistance, for hope had left the Moros
with the passing of their savage prince.
In a twinkling the datto's house was in the
hands of the regulars. Now a corporal's guard
could have held it, for the Moros inside the fort
who were still capable of fighting were throwing
down their weapons in despair.
"Bound the prisoners up, Lieutenant Pres-
cott, ' ' commanded Captain Freeman. ' ' I '11 take
some of your men and the Galling to the gate to
help Lieutenant Holmes."
In truth the Gatling was now sadly needed at
the gate, for Lieutenant Holmes was having the
fight of his life. Swarms of fanatic Moros were
attempting to rush the small party of regulars.
The Gatling, placed in a position commanding
the gate and sweeping all in front of it, soon
checked the desperate attack at this point. The
Moros could yet swarm the walls on all sides,
however. The fight was far from won.
There was a chance still to close the huge
wooden gate, and this Captain. Freeman, with
a few of his men; succeeded in doing just as the
Gatling was withdrawn.
Suddenly it occurred to Captain Freeman that
the night was passing and that the first dull light
of day was creeping over the scene.
At the commanding officer's side Sergeant Hal
Overton reported, saluting and saying:
IN THE PHILIPPINES 249
' ' Sir, I have a suggestion to offer. ' '
' l State it, Sergeant, ' '
"It seems like an almost dastardly thing to
uo, sir, but the death of the datto stopped the
fighting inside. Wouldn 't it be a good plan, sir,
since the datto is assuredly dead, to have his
body placed upon the top of the wall and hurled
over to the Moros outside? When they behold
that sight they may feel that their cause is
gone. ' '
"That is the best suggestion that could be
made. You attend to it, Sergeant.'
"Very good, sir.'
Lieutenant Prescott paused for a moment in
the shelter of the datto 's porch. It had been
warm work, and the young West Pointer was
mopping his face with his handkerchief.
At this juncture Hal appeared with four men.
"Pardon me, sir," he said, saluting the lieu-
tenant, "I am acting by Captain Freeman's
orders/
With that the young sergeant pointed to the
datto 's body. The four men lifted it, carrying it
from the porch. Prescott asked no question, but
watched with interest what followed.
Across the yard Hal's squad bore the datto 's
body, to a point of the walls where the regulars
were making their fiercest fight to repulse the
Moros outside.
250 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
"Two of you climb up on the wall/' Hal or-
dered. "The other two pass the body up."
This was done.
"Over with it," Sergeant Hal commanded,
and the body was hurled to the ground outside.
An instant later there was a shout that was
soon changed to a wail. In the growing daylight
several of the Moro fighters had recognized the
grisly message that had been hurled to them.
Half a dozen fighting men dropped their
weapons, picked up the datto 's body and hurried
off with it to a grove beyond.
Within two minutes the fighting had stopped.
The Moros had fled to the grove, from which
a loud, nerve-racking wailing now ascended.
Captain Freeman climbed to the top of the
wall.
"We could wipe them out by the hundreds
with the Gatling now," he remarked grimly.
"However, I fancy it won't be necessary.'
In half an hour the wailing of the Moros had
ceased. They had gone farther away, and the
regulars were content to remain behind the
walls. While half of the effective troops were
left on the walls, the other half prepared and ate
their breakfast from the abundant food supplies
found in the fort. After that the other half
breakfasted.
That forenoon Lieutenant Holmes was sent
IN THE PHILIPPINES 251
out with a scouting force of thirty men. Two
hours later he returned, stating that he had been
unable to find any signs of the enemy.
In the afternoon Lieutenant Prescott and
thirty men marched back to camp. There they
found the transport wagons and horses unin-
jured, and returned with them to the fort after
having set the half dozen native prisoners free.
"I fancy the cruel war is over, gentlemen,7
remarked Captain Freeman that evening to his
two younger officers. " These Moros, like other
semi-savages, fight with heart only when they
have a great leader. In this way, the Datto
Hakkut was a great man. For ten years he has
been the scourge of northern Mindanao, but now
we shall have a rest from him. He will never
again disturb the peace of the island. '
Early the following morning Lieutenant Pres-
cott was sent out at the head of forty men, Hal
and Noll accompanying him. Unless attacked
by superior force this detachment was to remain
out all day, scouting through the country for
signs of the enemy.
In the morning two native villages were found
close to the principal road through the moun-
tains. As the natives appeared to have no
weapons, and offered no trouble, they were not
molested.
"You may be sure, though, Sergeant Over-
252 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
ton, ' ' remarked Lieutenant Prescott, ' ' that very
nearly all of the men we have seen so far to-day
served lately under the datto. However, if they
have learned a lesson, and are now bent on peace,
we won't molest them."
In the afternoon, as the detachment, moving at
route step, reached the crest of a hill those in
advance came upon a party of Moros camped
in a grove by the road. These men, perhaps fifty
in number, were preparing a meal. They dis-
played no weapons.
' ' These men were undoubtedly recent fighters,
too,' remarked Lieutenant Prescott. "How-
ever, we'll look them over to make sure that they
have no weapons now."
Hardly had the two sergeants started on their
tour of inspection when one man leaped sud-
denly from his seat on the ground and made off
on a run.
"There's the man we want!" yelled Hal.
"Vicente Tomba, I call upon you to halt and
surrender ! ' '
But Tomba, for it was he, continued to run
fleetly.
"Bring that man down, if he won't stop!"
commanded Lieutenant Prescott sternly.
"Halt, Tomba, or we fire!" shouted Hal.
1 ' Ready, men ! Aim ! fire ! ' '
Seven rifles spoke, almost in unison. Vicente
IN THE PHILIPPINES 253
»
Tomba pitched forward, then fell. When ex-
amined he was found to have received four
bullet wounds. As he was dead, the soldiers
buried him then and there.
"Men who are found in Tomba 's company are
subjects for suspicion," remarked Lieutenant
Prescott dryly. " Though we've found no
weapons with this crowd we'll round 'em up
and take 'em in."
This was done. Captain Freeman decided to
read these natives a lesson and then let them go.
Why not make the rascals most humbly salute
the Flag, sir?" suggested Sergeant Overt on re-
spectfully. ' ' I still have the Flag that the Moros
insulted. ' '
"A good idea,' nodded the commanding of-
ficer. "Get the Flag, Sergeant."
Over the late datto 's fort the Stars and Stripes
soon fluttered. The troops were paraded to do
the emblem honor. Then the Moro prisoners
were forced to pay it humble reverence, after
which they were allowed, on their hands and
knees, to crawl out of the fort and find their
liberty outside.
"I'm sorry the datto didn't live a little
longer,' murmured Sergeant Hal to his chum.
"I'd have enjoyed seeing him salute the Flag
fifty times and then crawl away on his knees.'
The following morning Captain Freeman
254 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS
marched his column back over the many miles
that lay between them and Bantoc. On a later
morning of the march the dusty column passed
Draney's plantation. That adventurer boldly
hailed the officers as the troops marched by.
"I hear you've killed the datto," was the
planter's greeting.
"Yes,' responded Captain Freeman dryly.
"There are a few others, though, who deserve
the same fate.'
"We'll mix it up with that scoundrel yet,'
muttered Hal to his chum.
Back in Bantoc all was quiet again. Cerverra
had been released with a reprimand that he was
not likely to forget. Now that the datto was
gone, the spirit was lacking for insurrection, and
that part of Mindanao settled down to quiet.
For how long! Undoubtedly the reader will
discover in the next volume of this series — a
volume that will be filled with the lively doings
of our Army in the Philippines. This great
tale will be published under the title, "UNCLE
SAM'S BOYS ON THEIR METTLE; Or, A Chance
to Win Officers' Commissions." In this forth-
coming narrative the reader will meet several
old friends and will renew their acquaintance in
the most startling situations.
THE END
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JU
MAY 1 9 1943
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