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Rh, we cannot afford to lose too many officers and men. You have a good record to your credit—do not spoil it;" and Ben had promised to advance with all caution. Yet he was ready to "stick his head into the lion's mouth," as the saying is, if only Walter could be rescued by the movement.

During the first two days on the road but little out of the ordinary happened. They passed through a dozen villages, some deserted and some occupied by American troops and friendly natives. The weather was hot and muggy and the greatest suffering was on account of the atmospheric conditions.

At their last stopping place, Vobaña, they heard that the regulars two miles to the westward had had a brush with the rebels two days before, in which half a dozen on each side were wounded. It was reported that the Filipinos had fled southward.

"We'll soon catch up to them," said the young major, and he was right. They came upon the rear guard of the Filipinos the next morning at ten o'clock, and a short engagement ensued during which three Tagals were wounded and one killed. The rest of the band left the highway and took to the mountains, and the major did not undertake to follow them.