ly alarmed, and Ben and Larry did their
best to defend themselves by firing as rapidly as possible at the
Tagals as they appeared. But the enemy was retreating, and gave the
little party scant attention. Then came a yell close at hand, and in
a few seconds a squad of American soldiers burst through the thicket.

"Dan Casey!" cried Ben, as he recognized the Irish volunteer.

"Sure, an' is it Captain Russell?" came from the soldier, joyfully.
"It is, the saints be praised! We've been a-wonderin' what had become
of yez!"

"Town mit dem Filibinos!" The call came from Carl Stummer, and soon he
also put in an appearance. "Dis vos von lucky tay," he said, when he
saw the party. "Ve haf dem repels on der run like neffer vos."

"Then send them a-flying, Stummer," answered Ben. "Where is our
camp?"

"Pack dere apout half a mile. Ve vos move up las' night und steal von
march on dem Filibinos."

There was no time to say more, excepting to stop several of the
soldiers, and assisted by these, the whole party moved to the rear,
through line after line of American troops now hurrying to the firing
line, for it was General Lawton's plan to give the Filipinos no rest
until San Isidro and the territory in its vicinity were captured.

Inside of half an hour, Ben had seen to it that Larry, Luke, and Boxer
were all made comfortable, and then, hastily swallowing a bowl of
coffee and some bread and meat, he hurried after his command, which
was threshing the jungle just outside of San Isidro for scattered
bands of the enemy such as the young captain and his party had met.
Soon Ben was on the firing line once more, and warmly greeted by Major
Morris, Gilmore, and his other friends.

The fighting was hot, for the rebels felt that if San Isidro was
taken, nothing would remain to them but the mountains. They had
constructed a high embankment just outside of their capital, and this
they were defending vigorously, many of their leading generals being
at the front to direct the movements.

But General Lawton was now in his element, and feeling that his troops
would do whatever he asked of them, he began to spread out to the
right and the left, thus enfilading the trenches behind the
embankment, which presently became so uncomfortable that the rebels
had to leave them. At the same time a centre column continued the
attack from the front--a centre column composed principally of
Minnesota troops and the regiment to which Ben belonged.

"They