uted with lightning-like
rapidity, the Filipinos bound to kill or capture the Americans, and at
the same time afraid that they would slip like eels through their
fingers. After a score of shots taken at a distance, they closed in,
and Ben found himself confronted by two fierce-looking men, one armed
with a Mauser rifle and the other with a wicked-looking bolo. The
Mauser was empty, and its owner evidently out of ammunition, for as
he advanced he used the weapon as a club.

Ben was hard pressed, for his pistol was now empty, and there was no
chance to reload it. But his sword kept the two Tagals back, and had
it not been for his gun, one of the enemy would have had his head
split open from the blade. But now the rascal with the bolo tried to
attack the young captain from one side, while he with the gun swung
around to the other.

[Illustration: "His sword kept the two Tagals back."--_Page 147._]

Ben could expect no aid from his companions, for all were as hotly
engaged as himself; indeed, Sorrel more so, for he was fighting three
men, while Jeming and Dan Casey, side by side, and with their backs
against a heavy thorn-bush, were fighting the balance of the
detachment.

The young captain felt that he could do little or nothing more, and
expected each instant to have his assailants hurl themselves directly
upon him, when a shout came from Sorrel which gave all of our friends
hope.

"Some soldiers air comin'!" sang out the Tennesseean. "This way, boys,
this way, an' be quick about it!"

"What's the matter?" came in a hoarse growl from the roadway, and in
a few seconds a whole company of the North Dakota troops burst into
view. Their captain, a short, fat man, but one who was an excellent
fighter, took in the situation at a glance, and ordered the Filipinos
surrounded.

Taken by surprise, the Tagals were dumfounded, and for half a minute
knew not what to do. Then they started to run, but this movement came
too late, and four went down at the first volley from the newly
arrived men. The others, realizing their helplessness, threw down
their arms and surrendered.

"Had it hot, eh, captain," said the North Dakota man to Ben as he came
up with a quizzical smile on his round face, from which the
perspiration was pouring in a stream.

"Yes," panted Ben. "You came up in the nick of time, and I must thank
you for--"

"That's all right, captain--no more than you would do for me, and I
know it." The North Dakota man sh