CHAPTER XXI
SCOUTING IN DEADLY EARNEST
It was a ferocious attack, promptly and staunchly met.
Soldiers in the field on campaign sleep in their full clothing, theirrifles at their sides. It takes not more than ten seconds to turn asoldier out in the night, fully awake and ready for orders. Theknowledge that their lives depend upon their promptness keeps the men incondition for quick obedience.
Even the Gatling was ready at the top of the hill. From point to pointit was dragged, and wherever it was served the midnight assailants soondrew back.
For twenty minutes the conflict was kept up, often at closest quarters.But at last the sounding of the Moro horns in the rear called off theassailants, who fled in the darkness.
"How did this all happen, Mr. Holmes?" asked Captain Freeman. "I mustcongratulate you on being alert and ready for the brown men."
"Sergeant Overton had just called me, sir. And I think you will wish tohear what he has to say."
Hal was sent for and reported instantly.
"I know, now, sir, why Tomba wanted to make my acquaintance, and that ofSergeant Terry, sir," Hal explained, and then told what had happened.
"How did Corporal Duxbridge ever happen to do a thing like that?"demanded Freeman angrily.
"Tomba had already made the Corporal's acquaintance, sir. Tomba wantedto make mine, and Terry's, as soon as he knew the Thirty-fourth wascoming to these southern islands. It was Tomba's belief that he couldrun a gang of creese men past us, and get inside where he could knifethe nearest soldiers, and then let an attacking party in."
"If the Moros had ever gotten through our line they'd have wiped thecamp out to-night," exclaimed Captain Freeman.
"Of course they would, sir, and that is the way in which Tomba, even inManila, had planned to make our acquaintance, and use it for just suchan undertaking as to-night's. It seems, sir, that having failed with us,he succeeded in getting on the right side of Corporal Duxbridge."
"Where, I wonder?" muttered the captain. "And where is the Corporal?"
"Just taken up above with the wounded, sir," replied Lieutenant Holmes."Corporal Duxbridge was hit, sir."
"Let us go up to see him. Where are the six natives?"
"Tied, sir, and up with the wounded."
Corporal Duxbridge, when the commanding officer visited him, feltsheepish enough, despite the great pain he was in. He now readilyexplained how Tomba, under the assumed name of Davo, had made hisacquaintance in Bantoc. Tomba had spent money so freely in entertaininghim that Duxbridge had been certain that the man must be a wealthy,good-natured Tagalo.
"I hope you've learned a lesson, Corporal," said Captain Freeman sadly."You're one of five wounded in to-night's performance, and two of ourfinest men are dead."
Corporal Duxbridge covered his face with his hands.
"I was a big fool," he confessed brokenly.
There were no more attacks that night, but in the morning the Morosdeveloped a new style of trouble. All through the day, from one point oranother, they kept the American trenches under fire at frequentintervals. Captain Freeman, however, refused to allow his men to wasteammunition. They must not fire until the brown men attempted an assault.
That night only half rations were served to the defenders of the hill.There was but little food left. During the night there were threeassaults against the force on the hill, though none of them weredesperately fought.
"Hakkut is going to adopt a new trick of keeping us awake day andnight," muttered Captain Freeman grimly.
The next day there was more annoying firing against the trenches, thoughthe Moros had learned their lesson too well to attempt any rushes duringdaylight.
Just after dark, that evening, Captain Freeman sent for his officers. Healso allowed Hal and Noll and two sergeants from C Company to be on handto hear the discussion.
"To-morrow night, at the latest, we've got to fight our way out ofhere," announced Captain Freeman. "To remain here later than to-morrownight will be to invite starvation--which, in our position, meansnothing less than destruction. I fear, too, that we shall be obliged toabandon our transport wagons. Our wounded we can carry on stretchersmade with poles and blankets. There must be some point in the Moro linewhere we can break through--some point so weakly guarded that we can beon our way before the brown rascals can gather in force enough to put upa hard fight. This fact can be determined only through the work of ascouting party."
"I shall be delighted, sir, to volunteer for scouting duty," spoke upLieutenant Prescott.
"And I also, sir," added Lieutenant Holmes.
"Thank you. I knew that you would both be ready," replied the commandingofficer. "Yet we must remember that, while our scouts are out to-night,this camp is also extremely liable to attack. If the latter be the case,I do not see how I can spare either of my officers. Now, I have cause toremember a time when, in the mountains of Colorado, when on practicefield duty, two of our non-commissioned officers especiallydistinguished themselves as scouts. I believe that both of the young menstill possess that ability in marked degree. It seems to me that thechoice of a leader for a scouting party lies between Sergeants Overtonand Terry."
"Thank you, sir," broke in Sergeant Hal gravely. "May I suggest, sir,that there is no need of making a choice between us? I would like to goon this duty, sir, and I'd rather have Sergeant Terry with me than anyother enlisted man in the regiment."
"I'm ready, sir," declared Noll promptly.
"It seems almost foolish to allow two such excellent sergeants to go,"returned Captain Freeman gravely. "You see, we need as good men in thecamp as we do outside of it. However, let it be as you wish, SergeantOverton. How many men do you think you will need with you?"
"None, sir, except Sergeant Terry," spoke Hal.
"Are two enough for safety, Sergeant, in your opinion."
"Two men are safer than a dozen on scouting duty, I think, sir. Two mencan get through in places where even four men would be caught at it."
"But if caught, two are a small number for defensive purposes."
"There won't be much defense possible, sir, if we're caught; but I thinkSergeant Terry agrees with me that we ought not to be caught."
"Will you take your rifle and bayonet, Sergeant?"
"I'd rather not, sir. In fact, the plan that has come into mymind at this moment is for Sergeant Terry and myself to stain our facesand bodies with juice from the berries of the boka bush that is growinginside our lines. Then we'll rob two of the native prisoners of theirclothing, under which we can each carry a service revolver and a creese.That is, sir, if you approve my plan."
Captain Freeman was silent for some moments.
"I'm afraid you're planning an especially desperate undertaking,Sergeant Overton. I quite understand your idea in dressing like natives.But if you are seen, you will be spoken to. It will be in the nativetongue. What then? You can't answer in native speech."
"But I think, sir," argued Hal, "that you'll agree that there areprobably men from several tribes under the datto's command. In that casemany different tribal dialects will be spoken. Noll--pardon me,sir--Sergeant Terry and I can answer in any heathen-sounding, gutturalsort of words, and look stupid."
"It's quite difficult, my lad, to improvise a pretended language on thespur of the moment."
"Hakka kado me no tonga, lakka prada estig ferente," rejoined HalOverton, with a grin.
"Dikka mone peditti u nono mate ben," said Noll cheerfully.
"What language is that, lads?" demanded Captain Freeman.
"New Jersey hog-Latin, I imagine, sir," replied Sergeant Hal soberly.
"I do not believe, gentlemen, that we can send better scouts thanSergeants Overton and Terry," said Captain Freeman.
His two subordinates expressed their agreement.
"Sergeants, you may go and prepare yourselves. Do it as speedily as youcan, and report to me as soon as you are ready."
There was sullen objection from two of the native prisoners, whe
n theirclothing was taken from them. Hal and Noll, however, loaned theirblankets in exchange.
"You know, Noll, if we don't succeed to-night, we shall have no furtheruse for our blankets, anyway," Hal remarked dryly.
"I've thought of that," Sergeant Terry nodded.
After they had dyed their skin and hair with the juice of the boka thetwo Army boys next distributed a liberal amount of dirt on themselves,then drew on the borrowed clothing, consisting only of shirts and shorttrousers. Inside their clothing each tucked a sharp-edged creese, also aloaded service revolver.
"You'll do, in the dark," nodded Captain Freeman, after looking themover keenly. "Of course, you won't show yourselves in a strong light,anyway. Now, you don't need instructions. You understand your errand."
Captain Freeman himself took the two Army boys through the darkness tothe trench.
"I am turning these fellows loose, men," the captain announced. "Butdon't allow any of the others to go through the lines."
To the captain's relief, the disguises appeared to "work" well in thedark, for the men on guard in the trench merely saluted.