"I'm going to have a word with Stummer before I go," added Larry, and
hurried to the ward in which the sturdy German volunteer had been
placed. He found the member of Ben's company propped up on some grass
pillows, smoking his favorite brier-root pipe.

"Sure, an' I vos glad to see you, Larry," cried Carl, his round face
broadening into a smile on beholding his visitor. "Yah, I vos doin'
putty goot, und I peen out on der firin' line next veek maype. But
say, I vos sorry I peen shot town pefore we got to Malolos. I vos dink
sure I help clean dose repels out."

"Never mind, you did your duty, Carl. I've heard they are going to
make you a corporal for your bravery."

"Sure, an' that's right," came in an Irish voice behind the pair, and
Dan Casey, another volunteer of Ben's company, appeared. "It's mesilf
as has the honor av saying it first, too, Carl. You are to be first
corporal, Carl, wid meself doin' juty as second corporal."

The German volunteer's face lit up for a second, then fell suspiciously.
"Say, Dan, vos dis a choke maype?" he said slowly.

"A joke, is it?" burst out Casey. "Sure, an' do ye think I'd be
afther playin' a joke on a wounded man, Carl? No, it's no joke.
We're raised to the dignity av officers be the forchunes av war an'
the recommendations av our superior, Actin' Captain Russell, which
same will soon be our captain be commission, Providence an' the
President willin'."

"Good for Ben!" exclaimed Larry. "You both deserve it." And after a
few words more he hurried off, leaving the two old soldiers to
congratulate themselves on their advancement and speculate upon how
high they might rise in the service before the rebellion should close.
Casey had his eye set on a captaincy, but Stummer said he would be
quite content if any commissioned office came his way, even if it was
but a second-lieutenancy.

Malolos had been captured on Friday, March 31, 1899, at a little after
ten o'clock in the morning, although the fighting kept up until nearly
nightfall. As soon as the rebels were thoroughly cleaned out, many of
the soldiers were called upon to do duty as firemen, for a large
portion of the town was in flames. While the fire was being put out,
other soldiers went about stopping the Chinese from looting the
deserted mansions. The coolies were at first made prisoners and put
under guard in the public park, but later on they were released and
set to work to clean the streets.

As Gilbert had said, the