CHAPTER XIV
SURROUNDED BY THE ENEMY
For the moment after Dan Casey spoke Ben was silent, not knowinghimself what was best to do. That the Filipinos were surrounding themthere could be no doubt, since those approaching would have answeredthe young captain of Company D had they been Americans.
The position of the pair was dangerous in the extreme, for the tallcane-stalks surrounded them upon all sides, giving shelter to theenemy, while the Tagals could see the volunteers with ease.
"Keep quiet, Casey," whispered Ben, as the soldier started to speakagain. "They may not know how many there are of us here and sneak off,fearing an ambush."
The Irish volunteer nodded to show that he understood. He was holdinghis gun before him, ready to shoot whenever it appeared necessary.
Presently there was another whispered command, coming from directly infront of our friends. A slight movement in the cane-brake followed,and then all became silent once more.
"Come!" whispered Ben. "Don't fire until you see me do so."
Thus speaking, the young captain moved slowly and cautiously from thespot they had occupied for five minutes or more. He picked his steps,and they fell as silently as those of a cat after a bird. Casey was athis heels, almost holding his breath, and his small eyes glisteningwith expectancy. Both knew that they were carrying their lives intheir hands.
Two rods had been covered, and still nothing was seen of theFilipinos. Was it possible that they had withdrawn? But no, there wasanother cracking of cane-stalks and another command in the Tagaloglanguage, coming now from their left. Then of a sudden a Mauser rangout, and a bullet whistled back of Ben's head and across Casey'sface.
The report had not yet died out when Ben fired, straight for the flashof fire of which he had caught a momentary glimpse. That his shotreached its mark was proven by the wild yell of pain which followed.
"The jig is up!" cried Dan Casey. "We must run fer it, captain!" Andas a Tagal came into view before them he fired point-blank at thefellow, hitting him in the breast and killing him on the spot.
As luck would have it, the Filipino whom Casey had killed was a pettyofficer and the leader of the detachment, and his sudden taking-offdisconcerted the insurgents for a minute, who yelled one to anotherthat their leader was shot. Taking advantage of the confusion, ourfriends rushed headlong through the cane-brake, firing several timesas they ran. A dozen shots answered them, but none of these tookeffect.
"I think the road is yonder," said Ben, pointing with his pistol asthey progressed. "Hark!"
From a distance came a scattering volley, proving that the fightingwas not yet over. It came from the direction in which they wererunning. But now those left behind were after them, shooting andshouting with vigor, for they were ten to two, and were determinedthat the wicked _Americanos_ should not escape their clutches.
At last the cane-brake was left behind. Beyond was a small part of arice-field, and close by a cottage which appeared deserted.
"Sure, captain, an' we'll be shot down like dogs if we show ourselvesin th' open," panted Casey, who was almost out of breath.
"Get behind the house," answered Ben. "It is our one chance," and hestarted in advance. Again the Filipinos fired on them, and this time abullet touched the young captain's side, cutting a straight holethrough his clothing.
They were yet a hundred feet from the cottage when two Americansoldiers came rushing forth, guns in hand. The strangers took in thesituation at a glance, and let drive with such good aim that two ofthe enemy fell back wounded. The others paused, not knowing how manyAmericans might be concealed in the building, and in another minuteBen and Casey were for the time being safe.
"By gum, ef it ain't Captain Russell!" cried one of the soldiers, ashe faced Ben. "I'm right glad to be yere to help ye, cap'n," and hesmiled broadly.
"Ralph Sorrel!" returned Ben, as he recognized the tall Tennesseeanwho had once accompanied him on a search for Gilbert when the youngSoutherner was missing. "What are you doing here?"
"Jeming an' me hev got a wounded man with us--Sergeant Kaser o' ourcompany. We war takin' him back o' the lines, when he got so bad webrung him in yere to rest a spell. But you--"
"Thim rebels is comin' agin!" announced Dan Casey. "Six, eight, nineav thim, wid wan limpin'. How many av us are there here?" he asked, ashe looked around.
"Four," answered Ben. "Load up, boys, and when you shoot--"
"We'll make every shot tell," answered Jeming, a hardy-lookingsoldier, almost as tall as his companion.
"I don't believe they will come very close," continued Ben. "They knowthat we have the advantage of them, even if we are but four to nine."
The young captain was right. The Filipinos had showed themselves onlyfor a few seconds. Now, as Sorrel raised his gun, they lost no time indarting behind cover.
The cottage consisted of four rooms, all on the ground floor, and alow loft upstairs. It was well built and fairly furnished in nativefashion. On the single bed it contained lay the wounded soldier,Sergeant Kaser, whom Ben had met several times. He was hit in theneck, and looked as if he could last but a few hours at the most.
"Sorry we can't git ye back to camp, sergeant," said Sorrel, as he didwhat he could to ease the wounded one's pain. "The house is surroundedby the enemy. I reckon we kin keep 'em out, but I reckon likewise thetthey kin keep us in--at least fer a while."
"It--don't--matter," gasped Sergeant Kaser. "I am not--not--long forthis world. What a terrible thing war is! I never thought I was goingto be shot down like this!" And he gave another gasp. His eyes werestaring from his head, for he was suffering severe pain.
Ben looked around the cottage for something which might be given tothe sufferer to ease him. But the dwelling had been stripped of allsmall things, and nothing in the way of food, drink, or medicineremained. Sorrel had already bound a handkerchief soaked in cold wateraround the wounded neck, so nothing more could be done, excepting toraise the sufferer up to a sitting position, at his request. "I don'tknow as thet is best fer him," whispered the tall Tennesseean to Ben."But he ain't long fer this world, as he says, an' he might as wellhev his wish as not."
In the meantime Casey and Jeming were on guard, one watching to thefront and right, the other to the left and rear. The nearest buildingto the cottage was a hundred and fifty feet away, but bushes and smalltrees were numerous, and the Americans were afraid the rebels mighttry to sneak up behind these and surprise them.
"Something is moving over there," announced Jeming, after watchingseveral of the bushes for a short spell. "Can't make out, though, ifit's man or beast."
"Have you plenty of ammunition?" asked Ben, who, as an officer, feltin charge of the party.
"Seventeen rounds, captain."
"And how about you, Casey?"
"Fifteen rounds," returned the Irish volunteer, after counting up thecontents of his belt.
"I have twelve rounds, captain," came from Sorrel. "But I reckon youknow how I shoot, an' Jeming's jest as good, mebbe better."
"I think the supply is sufficient," said Ben, "so don't run anychances. If you think that is an enemy give him a shot. But don't hitone of our fellows by mistake," he added, by way of caution.
"It's a Tagal!" cried Jeming, while the young captain was yet besidehim. The gun was levelled like a flash, a report followed, and theFilipino fell behind the bushes and was seen no more.
"Thet will teach 'em to keep their distance," was Sorrel's comment."Perhaps they'll clear out soon, bein' afeered some more o' our troopswill come this way."
But the natives were "game," as Ben expressed it; and instead ofwithdrawing, they began to come closer, using every bush, tree, andoutbuilding to the best advantage. Some of their fellows had joinedthem, so that the attacking party now numbered fifteen, and each wellarmed. They had seen that Ben wore the uniform of a captain, and feltthat the capture of such an officer would be much to their credit.
Sergeant Kaser was now groaning so that he could be heard even outsideof t
he building, and as the rebels had fired through the windowsseveral times, they concluded that they had wounded one of the fourmen they knew to be inside. If this was so, but three _Americanos_were now left, and they felt that victory would soon be within theirgrasp.
"Surrendor, or we kill eferyboddy!" cried one of the number, inEnglish that could scarcely be understood. "We haf dreety mensoutside."
"We ain't surrenderin', not by a jugful!" answered Sorrel. "What inthunder does he mean by 'dreety mens'?" he added, to his companions.
"I think he means thirty," answered Ben. "But I don't believe thereare that many."
"Yes, but there are more than there was," announced Casey, quickly."I'm just afther seein' 'em pass yonder bushes." He had pointed hisgun, but the Filipinos had been too quick for him.
"Do you surrendor?" demanded the voice again. "We shall begin to shootif you no gif up."
"No surrender," answered Ben, firmly.
Hardly had he spoken when something came rolling toward the cottageand stopped close to the porch. It was a rude ball made of sugar-canehusks and over a foot in diameter. The ball was ablaze and burningfiercely, as if covered with pitch.