the glasses, got up, and walked to the door;
but before he raised them to his eyes, he casually glanced to the
right and stopped, saying: "Hello! here comes the 'old man's' orderly,
'lickety split.'"

He had scarcely finished his favorite expression, "lickety split," when
the orderly had ridden up, dispensed with the courtesy of dismounting,
but hurriedly began: "The Commanding Officer directs that officers
get their companies out at once, and proceed to the north outpost
line. Messenger just in with information that the Filipinos are
swarming over our outposts there."

He had no sooner delivered his message when the sounds of a few stray
shots in the direction named were heard.

Sever, Parsons, and the other officers, experienced campaigners that
they were, swiftly buckled on their revolvers, and in an incredibly
short time were on the company parade-grounds shouting to their
men--the few, who had not already turned out. Most of them had heard
the message as it was given the officers, and had hastened to their
huts, not waiting for instructions, warned their comrades of the
impending fight, and again appeared with rifle and belt.

"Forward, double time; march," and Captain Sever was off with his
company--superb fighting machine--for the line of battle.

The fire was now rapidly increasing. What at first sounded like a
few heavy drops of rain on a tin roof was now an incessant shower.

On went the gallant company. Stray shots crashed through the thickets
to the right and left of them; struck the earth in front and near
them, throwing up great quantities of _debris_; others, singing their
death-song, passed uncomfortably close to their ears.

The outposts were now in sight. Some of them had been killed; others,
wounded, were bravely striving to repress groans of pain.

It was a desperate fight--few against many. The natives were pouring
down on the little handful of men like a great avalanche. The sure and
deadly aim of the Americans alone served to impede the over-powering
onslaught.

Reenforcements arrived none too soon. Just as the insurgents,
intoxicated on "vino," beaten and sworn at by their officers,
began a mad charge on the decimated ranks of the "Yankees," Sever
had finished the deployment of his men in battle formation, and was
ready to receive them.

Meanwhile, other companies arrived and were strengthening the lines to
the right and left. Then began those destructive American volleys--one
follo