he rebels had no sooner occupied this new position, than they began to
entrench, take possession of the huts, and make themselves comfortable
in other ways, giving promise to make matters lively for our troops
the rainy season.

They were frequently reenforced, greater activity was seen among them,
and their boldness was unprecedented. Some days, when the tropical
sun was beating down its sweltering rays, and our men were seeking
every vestige of shade, the pesky little Filipinos would suddenly
emerge into the open rice-field, deploy into line of skirmishers,
and advance in a most threatening manner toward the American lines.

The outposts would become alarmed and call for the regiment to support
them. Out the companies would rush at double-time, amid swearing and
sweat. When the deployments were made and all was ready to receive
the dusky foe, he would suddenly face about before he had approached
within effective rifle-range. The regiment's orders were to hold
the convent; consequently the enemy could not be pursued beyond the
outposts' limits.

One morning during the latter part of July, 1899, it was observed that
there were no signs of the festive "gugus" in the accustomed place. No
smoke; no outposts; no soldiers in short white pants and wide brimmed
sombreros. This was an unusual thing--for, while Aguinaldo's men were
never known to hold a position against the mad attacks of our boys
in blue, the voluntary abandonment of their works was an unheard-of
proceeding.

Treachery, or the same thing, Filipino strategy, was strongly
suspected. They were playing some game, and the senior officer at
the convent determined to learn the trump.

Just as the shades of evening began to gather, on the day when
the Tagalos made their mysterious disappearance, "Carabao Bill,"
who was in command of his company on outpost, and had it quartered
in a church which had once been held by the natives and abandoned
under pressure, turned out his men to do the daily police. While
he was busy reprimanding a private, who was noted for laziness and
shirking his duty, and had just been adding to his reputation for
such, a battalion adjutant, a tall and handsome fellow with a slight
partiality for legs, came dashing up on a native pony. His knees were
bent and elevated toward his chin in order that his pedal extremities
might not collide with the frail limbs of his steaming mount.

Owing to the shortness of his stirrup-straps, he dismounted