Edward Stratemeyer

“ THE CAVES UNDER THE MOUNTAIN
For a distance of five hundred feet the way was known to both Larry and his sailor friend, and the pair passed along swiftly, guided in part by the flickering rays from the camp-fire outside of the main cave.
"Have a care now, lad," whispered Leroy, as they reached a narrow passage, which turned first to the left and then upward.
"The roof is low, and you don't want for to dash your brains out on the rocks."
"Never fear but I'll be as careful as I can," responded the youth, feeling his way along. "Better keep close, Leroy, that we don't become separated." ”

“ Here and there a Filipino could be seen flitting from bush to tree, but these glimpses were short and far from satisfactory.
"They are coming!" came from Dan Casey, just as the nearest of the trees was gained. "Back, ye rascals!" he shouted, and fired as quickly as he could. Casey was right; the Tagals were surrounding them, and now they had to fight back to back, in as hot a contest as the young captain had ever seen. They were clearly outnumbered, but retreat was impossible, for the Filipinos surrounded them upon every side. ”

“ The battle over, the battalion came to rest under the shade of the trees lining' the stream, many of the soldiers throwing themselves down in a state bordering upon exhaustion, for the humidity in the air told upon them greatly, there was not a breath of a breeze, and the water hardly quenched the thirst that raged within them. As Major Morris declared, 'It was the primest place to catch a fever in' he had ever seen. ”

“ On and on, and still on went the rebels, some on foot and a few on their steeds. In front were a few wagons and caribao carts piled high with camping outfits, and also one or two light guns—all that had been saved from the garrison. General Lawton's attack had been a brilliant success, and Santa Cruz itself had surrendered with hardly the loss of a man to the Americans. The troops coming in did their best to round up the insurgents, but they had scattered in all directions and only a few were caught, and these swore that they were amigos, or friends, and had to be given their liberty. ”

“ He would not listen; and in the end this daring exposure cost the gallant leader his life.
But now all was excitement, for a large force of rebels had been uncovered and there was no telling but what the jungle ahead concealed even more. "We are up against it, fellows!" shouted one of the sergeants. "Let us rush 'em for keeps!" And on swept the battalion, until the steady pop-pop of Mausers and the crack of the Springfields could be heard upon every side.
Ben's company was no longer as large as it had been, for death and disease had sadly depleted the ranks. ”

“ The best laid plans are often upset by incidents trifling in themselves. It was the dry season of the year, and the Pasig River, usually broad and turbulent, was now nothing better than a muddy, shallow creek, winding and treacherous to the last degree. As night came on the expedition found itself still in the stream and many miles from the lake, and here cascos and launches ran aground and a general mix-up ensued.
"Hullo, what have we run up against now?" growled the lieutenant in charge of the soldiers in Larry's boat. "Can't you keep out of the mud, Jackie?" ”

“ A bench was handy, and the sufferer dropped heavily upon it. The regulars looked as if they wished themselves anywhere but in their present situation, yet they did not dare to budge, for Major Morris still held "the drop" upon them, and the commander of the first battalion looked as if he would stand no nonsense.
"These men came here to rob me," said the woman, slowly. "They are of your kind, but they are not honest."
"Then they are not of our kind," answered Ben, promptly. "We do not allow our soldiers to rob anybody." ”

“ Evidently the natives were disconcerted by the unexpected fall of the man who had thrown the fire-ball and knew not what to do.
"Do you suppose they have quitted the vicinity?" questioned Jeming, after listening vainly for some sound from without. From a distance came a scattering fire, but around the native house was the silence of death, for the man who had been shot by Sorrel had fainted from loss of blood.
"They are up to something, you can be certain of that," answered Ben. "The Filipino is at his worst when he is silent." ”

“ Soon General Lawton came dashing through the crowd on the road, followed by his staff.
"Forward, boys!" was the cry, and then Ben's command left the road and took to the rice-fields on the outskirts of Baliuag. The line was a long one, with the Oregon and Minnesota soldiers forming the skirmishing end, and Scott's battery in a paddy-field on the extreme right. So far the insurgents had kept well hidden; but as the Americans drew closer to the town they could be seen running in half a dozen directions, as if undecided whether to fight or to flee. ”

“ A little later the young captain got the chance to talk to the Spanish prisoner, who was making an application for his release, claiming that he was friendly to the United States and had never encouraged the rebels. Seldom had the young captain met more of a gentleman than Señor Romano proved to be.
"Ah, the war is terrible! terrible!" said the señor, after Ben had introduced himself. "It is bloodshed, bloodshed, all the time. Where it will end. Heaven alone knows—but I am afraid the Filipinos will be beaten far worse than was my own country." ”

“ Going up to the woman, Ben spoke kindly to her, but she immediately fled into the dilapidated structure, dragging her trio of offspring after her.
"You can't make friends that way," cried Major Morris. "They won't trust you. I've tried it more than once."
There was now a hill to climb, thick with tropical trees and brush. The regiment had scarcely covered a hundred feet of the ascent, when there came a volley of shots from a ridge beyond, which wounded two soldiers in the front rank.
"The rebels are in sight!" was the cry. "Come on, boys, let us drive 'em back! ”

“ Out on the main road leading to the principal bridge over the river the sun was boiling hot, and many a soldier felt more like seeking shelter and resting than like pushing forward with his heavy gun and other equipments. ”

“ The rest of the battalion was now closing in, and soon another advance was made, until the first line of the American troops was less than a hundred and fifty yards away from the insurgents' outer intrenchments. Then a yell came from a jungle on the left.
"What's that? more rebels?" cried Ben, and listened.
"No, no, the Filipinos are retreating!" came from a score of throats. "See, they are scattering like sheep! Up the hill, fellows; the fight is ours!" And a regular stampede occurred, each command trying to get to the top of the ridge first. ”

“ Can you run?"
"No; I sprained my ankle, and it is still sore."
"I'll carry him," said Luke. "You lead the way, cap'n. And Boxer had better bring up the rear guard."
"Right you are," came from the scout. "Have your weapons ready, cap'n. We may catch it hot, in spite of the alarm over the snake. Those rebs will be as mad as hornets when they find the lad is missing."
Away they went, Ben trying to find an easy path,—which was no small thing to do in that utter darkness,—and Luke coming up behind, breathing like a porpoise, but vowing he could carry Larry a mile were it necessary. ”

“ Soon the scouts in front came back with the news that the insurgents were forming in front of our troops and that Santa Cruz and its garrison seemed thoroughly aroused to the danger which threatened.
"Forward, boys!" was the cry. "The more time we give them, the better they will be prepared to meet us. Forward without delay!" And the "boys" went forward with a wild hurrah, for everything thing promised well, and they were much pleased to have General Lawton lead them, even though they had no fault to find with their other commanders. ”

“ Then Major Morris came bounding through a window, and it was Ben who cut his bonds with a pocket-knife.
"I saw it all," exclaimed the major. "Go for them, men, every one of the rascals deserves death!" And stooping over the dead rebel, he took from his bosom a bolo and joined in the attack. "They are a pack of cowards—a mere set of camp followers." ”

“ It was Larry who spoke, and he sat on the stump of a tree at the mouth of a wide cave, gazing disconsolately at a fire which several insurgents were trying to build.
The place was on the top of a high hill, backed up by still higher mountains. On every hand were sharp rocks and trees, with a tangle of thorns. Small wonder, then, that Aguinaldo and his cohorts considered these fastnesses inaccessible for American troops. No regular body could have gotten to such a place, and to forward supplies hither was totally out of the question.
The rebels numbered fifteen, all mountaineers and strong. ”

“ The land is ours, and no Americans shall govern us. We will fight to the last,—from the cities to the towns, and from the towns to the villages, and then to the mountains, from one island to another,—and you shall never conquer us, no matter how large an army you send from across the ocean. But, bah, I am talking to a mere boy, when I might have better sense." And turning on his heel the under-officer strode away, out of humor with himself as well as with Larry. ”

“ But the tornado had scared the insurgents as much as it had anybody, and not one showed himself.
By eight o'clock they were once more on the way, Boxer leading with his gun ready for use, Larry in the centre, and Leroy bringing up the rear with the pistol.
They were just entering the jungle at the foot of the mountain when a strange moaning reached their ears and all halted. There was a silence, and then the moaning started up again.
"What is that?" questioned Larry. "It can't be a human being."
"I think I know what it is," returned the scout. ”

“ Looking in that direction Ben had discerned six or seven figures stealing silently along, guns on shoulders and packs on their backs.
Major Morris came to a halt and surveyed the figures attentively. "I don't believe they are our men," he whispered. "None of the troops came as far as this—so the general stated."
"Then, if they are rebels, what have they been doing?" went on Ben. "See, they have picks and shovels and axes." ”

“ The sight made Larry shiver, for he had never before met the rebel soldiers at such close quarters.
"We're in a box," muttered Luke. "Somethin' wrong somewhar—our soldiers didn't come this way, ye kin reckon on thet."
"I move we run for it," whispered Larry. "If they take us prisoners—" He did not finish, but his silence was more impressive than mere words would have been. He had heard many stories of terrible cruelty practised by the insurgents on their prisoners, and whether these tales were true or not, they had had their full effect on both him and his shipmates. ”

“ It was a welcome sight to see the sky again and the sunshine, and Larry's eyes sparkled as he gazed down the mountain-side and at the vast panorama spread out before him. At their feet was a heavy jungle, and beyond a plain and a small hill, where a large body of insurgents were encamping.
"It's good to be in the fresh air again, eh, lad?" observed Leroy. "But I'm afraid we'll have a good bit o' trouble gettin' past them rebels," he added to George Boxer.
"We can't get past them in the daytime," answered the scout; "but I think we can make it after the sun goes down. ”

“ Ben was sitting at the foot of a tall tree talking to Gilmore, when he saw the advance guards bringing in two Americans, one evidently a sailor, at once he sprang to meet the sailor, thinking the man might know something about Larry.
The two men proved to be Dan Leroy and Boxer, the scout, and when he mentioned his brother's name to them, both were of course astonished.
"Do we know him!" cried Leroy. "Sure and didn't he and I run away together from the rebels, and Boxer, here, helping us to get out of the prison caves. Yes, yes, I know Larry well." ”

“ The old sailor could hardly stop, and had to throw himself flat, dragging the boy down on top of him.
A few feet beyond was an opening twelve to fifteen feet wide, running from side to side of the passageway. The walls of the opening were perpendicular, and the hole was so deep that when a stone was dropped into it they could scarcely hear the thing strike bottom.
"Here's a how-d'ye-do!" cried Leroy, gazing into the pit. "We can't jump across that, nohow!"
"A real good jumper might," answered Larry. "But I shouldn't want to try it. The other side seems to slope down toward the hole. ”