but the direction indefinite.

Was it the signal of an alarmed sentry, or was it one of the many
nocturnal noises which the Island of Luzon produces?

Another low whistle--this time nearer; then the speaking of that
instinct that tells us of the presence of human beings in the blackness
of the night.

He slowly faced about. There within four feet of him, crouching upon
the ground near the water's edge, was a man with a rifle in his
hand. Quick as a flash he threw the muzzle of his revolver in his
face--remembering his surroundings, he never fired or uttered a word.

Struggling between a whisper and a low talk, breathless through,
fear, came the words of Private Holmes: "For God's sake, don't shoot,
Lieutenant; it's me."

The officer lowered his revolver and beckoned the man to draw nearer.

With his mouth to the Lieutenant's ear, the soldier told that the
men left behind had seen a number of moving figures in the village
and trenches, not twenty-five yards away from where they were then
crouching; and that he had been sent to warn his officer of his danger.

Here is where it tried the steel of "Carabao Bill."

The two kept their positions, scarcely daring to breathe lest they be
heard. A plan of operations soon formed in the mind of the resourceful
young officer. He whispered to Holmes to return and have the Sergeant
hold his men in readiness, with magazines filled, for an emergency
should he need them.

Before Holmes had covered half the distance between the Lieutenant and
the men, there was the sound as the cocking of a rifle; a second later
came the flash and sharp report of a Mauser. True to his training,
the soldier fell to the ground and lay motionless.

By the light of the flash Van Osdol saw the black face of the Filipino
sentry who had fired.

Soon began that mumbling, chattering, rattling noise that an alarmed
camp alone produces. The shrill commands of the little officers in
frantic endeavor to steady their men, the patter of many shoeless feet,
the breaking of rifle-stacks, and the clanking of bayonets and swords,
made a medley of camp music that was hideous to hear.

The alarm was soon quieted. The aroused men returned to their sleep,
and soon all was again quiet. The sentry who had fired at Holmes made
loud and emphatic assertions in the twangy language of the Tagalo of
having seen something at which to fire, but he was disbelieved, his
belt removed, deprived of his rifle, and another man pu