Americans obeyed as quickly
as possible. Several of our men had been hit, one seriously, and now
half a dozen Filipinos went down. For several minutes the fighting was
at close quarters, and it looked as if the battalion had run into an
ambush and were about to be slaughtered.

"To the shelter of the trees!" shouted Ben, and was about to guide his
men when a fierce-looking rebel officer leaped before him with drawn
sword. His own blade met that of the enemy, and both flashed fire. But
the Tagal was a fine swordsman and kept at his work, feeling certain
that he could run the _Americano_ through and through. Clack! clack!
went the blades, up and down, side to side, and straight forward.

"Take care there!" came from Major Morris, and just then the Tagal's
sword pricked Ben's arm. The young captain leaped back a step, then
came forward, and as quick as lightning his sword found the Tagal's
ribs. At the same time Dan Casey fired at the enemy, and the officer
went down flat on his back, shot through the breast.

"I had to do it," cried the Irish volunteer. "I thought he was afther
stickin' ye like a pig!"

"It was a close shave," murmured Ben, as he passed on. "He handled his
sword like an expert. I shan't forget you for that, Casey."

"Sure, an' that's all right, captain," answered the soldier, quickly.
"Is your arm hurted much?"

"I guess not. Come, we've got them on the run again." And away the
pair went, into the cane-brake, through which the rebels were crashing
like so many wild cattle.

The day had been full of excitement, but much more was to follow. The
cane-brakes were heavy, and soon Ben and Casey found themselves
separated from the main body of the battalion and out of sight of
their own company. Then several Filipinos confronted them and called
upon them to surrender.

"We ain't surrenderin' just yit, we ain't!" howled the Irish soldier,
and let drive at the nearest rebel, while Ben discharged his pistol.
Two of the enemy were wounded, and in an instant the others took to
their heels, evidently convinced that such fighters were "too many"
for them.

The encounter, however, had taken time, and now Ben called upon his
companion to stop running. "We want to know where we are running to
first," he said. "Listen."

They listened and made out a distant firing to both the right and the
left. "I'm afther thinkin' our b'ys is to the right," said Dan Casey.

"I believe you are right, Casey; although both of