Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/182

156 found himself in the very thickest of the fight, with Larry close beside him, and Major Morris and Gilbert not far away, They were hugging the side of the hill, and the rebels, having left the first line of intrenchments, were scampering through the underbrush. Some were surrounded, and of these many were shot down or made prisoners.

The corner of a series of rocks was turned, when of a sudden a detachment of the Tagals hurled themselves upon Company B. Gilbert was in the thickest of this onslaught, and in his eagerness to kill an American officer one of the rebels grabbed him by the throat, at the same time raising a short sword as if to stab the lieutenant.

Ben, from a distance, saw the movement, and his heart leaped into his throat. There was no time left to think,—only to act,—and like a flash his pistol came up. There was a crack, and Ben saw the Tagal fall back badly wounded. Then the smoke of battle hid both Gilbert and the rebel from view.

"Good for you, Ben!" The cry came from Larry. The youth was in a dripping perspiration and covered with dirt and gun-soot. "Oh, but this is a great fight, isn't it?"