oft command in the Tagalog dialect. At once Dan
Casey clutched Ben by the arm.

"They be afther surroundin' us, captain," he whispered. "Be the noises
there must be tin or a dozen av thim. Phwat shall we do, fight or run
fer it?"

CHAPTER XIV

SURROUNDED BY THE ENEMY

For the moment after Dan Casey spoke Ben was silent, not knowing
himself what was best to do. That the Filipinos were surrounding them
there could be no doubt, since those approaching would have answered
the young captain of Company D had they been Americans.

The position of the pair was dangerous in the extreme, for the tall
cane-stalks surrounded them upon all sides, giving shelter to the
enemy, while the Tagals could see the volunteers with ease.

"Keep quiet, Casey," whispered Ben, as the soldier started to speak
again. "They may not know how many there are of us here and sneak off,
fearing an ambush."

The Irish volunteer nodded to show that he understood. He was holding
his gun before him, ready to shoot whenever it appeared necessary.

Presently there was another whispered command, coming from directly in
front of our friends. A slight movement in the cane-brake followed,
and then all became silent once more.

"Come!" whispered Ben. "Don't fire until you see me do so."

Thus speaking, the young captain moved slowly and cautiously from the
spot they had occupied for five minutes or more. He picked his steps,
and they fell as silently as those of a cat after a bird. Casey was at
his heels, almost holding his breath, and his small eyes glistening
with expectancy. Both knew that they were carrying their lives in
their hands.

Two rods had been covered, and still nothing was seen of the
Filipinos. Was it possible that they had withdrawn? But no, there was
another cracking of cane-stalks and another command in the Tagalog
language, coming now from their left. Then of a sudden a Mauser rang
out, and a bullet whistled back of Ben's head and across Casey's
face.

The report had not yet died out when Ben fired, straight for the flash
of fire of which he had caught a momentary glimpse. That his shot
reached its mark was proven by the wild yell of pain which followed.

"The jig is up!" cried Dan Casey. "We must run fer it, captain!" And
as a Tagal came into view before them he fired point-blank at the
fellow, hitting him in the breast and killing him on the spot.

As luck would have it, the Filipino whom Casey had killed was a petty