lowing, including Ben's
battalion with Major Morris at its head. As before, the advance was
along the main road and through the rice-fields, cane-brakes, and the
jungle, with the air so oppressive that it felt as though coming out
of a steaming oven.

"I dink me I vos right in it from der start, alretty!" exclaimed Carl
Stummer, as he plodded along. "Dis vos vorse as der march on Malolos,
eh, Tan?"

"Sure, an' it's no picnic," replied the Irish volunteer. "But thin,
Carl, me b'y, ye must remimber, we didn't come out here fer fun. We
kem out fer to show thim haythins how to behave thimselves an' grow
up into useful an' ornamental citizens av the greatest republic that
iver brathed th' breath av life."

"Chust so," returned the German volunteer. "But it vos uphill vork,
ennahow," and he sighed deeply. Carl could fight as well as any
old-time trooper, but the long tramps through the jungle always
disgusted him.

There was the river to cross upon which the mill-house was located,
and Ben could not help but wonder if the Spanish woman was still at
the structure, and how the American deserters had fared. But the
mill-house was too far away to visit, and now the battalion was
ordered into action on the upper side of the stream.

"Gangway for General Lawton!" was the cry that reached Ben's ears a
few minutes later, and then came a crashing of horses' hoofs, and the
tall general rode through their open ranks, followed by several
members of his staff. As was usual, the general was bound for the
firing line, to personally direct the movements of the men under him.
Many were the times that the members of his staff urged him not to
make a target of himself. He would not listen; and in the end this
daring exposure cost the gallant leader his life.

But now all was excitement, for a large force of rebels had been
uncovered and there was no telling but what the jungle ahead concealed
even more. "We are up against it, fellows!" shouted one of the
sergeants. "Let us rush 'em for keeps!" And on swept the battalion,
until the steady pop-pop of Mausers and the crack of the Springfields
could be heard upon every side.

Ben's company was no longer as large as it had been, for death and
disease had sadly depleted the ranks. Yet the forty-six men in the
command were now thoroughly seasoned fighters, and all loved their
young and dashing leader and would have followed him anywhere.

Presently an orderly dashed up to Major Morris.

"