Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/48

28 "This is not the way to the American camp," said Ben, as he halted the sharpshooter.

"We must go around; six or eight sharpshooters are ahead," replied the Tagal, sourly.

"Oh, all right; but mind what I told you." And the young officer shook his pistol suggestively. On they went again, and no more was said for nearly quarter of an hour, when the sharpshooter came to a sudden halt.

"What's the trouble now?" began Ben, when he saw several forms moving in the brushwood ahead. "Are they your men?" he questioned quickly.

"Who can tell that—in this storm?" was the reply. And then the Tagal added: "I did not know anybody was here."

The forms were approaching rapidly, and there was no time to retreat. Suddenly the Tagal uttered a sharp cry and pushed Gilmore from him. He had recognized some fellow-sharpshooters, and fearing for his own safety he dodged behind a tree, but not before Ben had fired on him and wounded him in the shoulder.

The cry attracted the attention of the Filipinos, and the shot made them take to cover. But in a minute the young captain and his companion were