ir utmost capacity, we were suddenly brought to a realization
of our terrible danger by the officer in khaki dismounting, throwing
the reins to an orderly, and advancing to the edge of the bamboo just
in front of us. Like a flash the others followed him, and stood at
attention just in his rear, gawking and peering in our direction. This
was a trying moment for us. There stood the flower of the Filipino
Army, facing two almost helpless servants of Uncle Sam, and, for
all we knew, were deciding our fate, for they were discussing some
important subject in the Tagalog tongue, all of which was Sanscrit to
us. Our hearts were in our throats and kept up an increased throbbing
in their new positions. Had we been discovered? Were those snapping,
half-savage eyes now resting on us, and was the mode of our death being
discussed? We knew not. Our faces were being pushed in the mud till
our ears were begrimed in our mad efforts to conceal ourselves. We
felt it would be but a matter of seconds till our hides would be
perforated with Mauser bullets, or we would be bound, hand and foot,
prisoners of a revengeful enemy.

Their talk became excited. Something was being discussed with great
interest and moment. The suspense was awful. Minutes passed as
hours. Our skins would cringe when the thought of a volley liable to
be fired into our bodies at any moment occurred to us.

Would they never leave? Their conversation warmed. The khaki-clad
officer said a word, and then they faced about, reentered the road,
and passed down it out of sight, one officer alone remaining with
the foot soldiers, who gave some directions to the orderlies, and
the horses were led across the road and hitched. We slowly raised our
mud-besmeared faces. The infantry, still looking and chattering in the
twangy language of their tribe, were holding their ground. We heard
the officer in command say something about "aqua" in Spanish, then a
few words of command followed. They instantly came to the "attention,"
moved forward till the center of the column was opposite us, wheeled
to the right by fours, and stacked their arms. "Aqua"; that meant
water. We knew they would soon break ranks and go some place, we knew
not where, to replenish their water-bottles. So far, then, we had been
unobserved. But we remembered that just a few yards to the rear of us,
and in a direct line from our enemies, was a rippling stream of crystal
water. We exchanged looks. Oh, what looks! The Ser