Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/189

Rh his command to the shelter of some trees and some trenches which the enemy had dug long before. The artillery was speedily placed in position, and a constant and bitter fire was directed across the stream, which the insurgents returned as well as they were able. It was now the middle of the afternoon, and nobody had had anything to eat since early morning. But there was no let-up, all feeling that this was one of the contests which must count heavily for one side or the other.

"We'll never dislodge them," said Major Morris, after a survey through a field glass; but scarcely had he spoken when some of the rebels who had had several guns pointed at them with good effect, leaped up from their trenches and ran across an open field back of the river. This small beginning produced something of a panic, and soon others followed, the Filipino leaders trying vainly to stop the retreat.

"Fourteenth Infantry to the front!" was now the cry on the American side, and in a trice the brave soldiers were swimming the river. Then the Ninth and the Twelfth made a detour and crossed, and another pitched battle occurred close to the bridge, which was still smouldering. But