rget for the hottest
kind of fire, and as the ferrying had to be done by the soldiers
pulling along the rope stretched from shore to shore, the passage was
as slow as it was dangerous. But the soldiers on the craft went over
in safety, and soon more followed, until over fifty were on the beach
fronting the enemy's intrenchments. Then, with a wild yelling, to give
the rebels the impression that a large body had come over, they pushed
forward to enfilade the enemy's trenches as first proposed.

But now another difficulty arose. There was a small stream flowing
into the Rio Grande near this spot, and this had to be crossed before
the fire of the Americans could be made effective. How to get across
was a problem, as the insurgents had a machine gun trained on the
spot. This worked for a while and then stopped; and in the lull
Colonel Funston secured a rowboat and went over with some of his men,
and the others soon followed.

The Filipinos were now thoroughly frightened, for the Americans were
making a great outcry down by the railroad bridge, and they imagined
that they were to be attacked from several points at once. Some
started to run, and as soon as Colonel Funston's men began to rain
their bullets into the long trenches, more followed, until the enemy
was in a panic. Then the Americans began to cross the bridge and
stream in great numbers, and the Filipinos, although reenforced by a
body of Macabebes just at this time, could not make an effective
stand. Calumpit was left behind, and a running fight ensued which
ended at Apalit, when a violent tropical thunderstorm put an end to
the day's operations. It was thought that the rebels' headquarters
would be found at Apalit; but this had, at the last moment, been
removed to San Isidro, toward which General Lawton was now advancing.

CHAPTER XII

SOMETHING ABOUT A POISONED WELL

After the rest at Angat, the taking of San Rafael by General Lawton's
troops was an easy matter, and on May 1--the anniversary of Admiral
Dewey's great victory in Manila Bay--the soldiers set out for the town
of Baliuag, five miles to the northward.

In spite of the recent rain, the road was hard and even dusty in
spots. The heat was still as great as ever, and Ben was glad to take
the benefit of any shade that afforded itself as he marched along at
the head of his command. The date made him think of the battle just
mentioned, and this brought him around to Larry once more, and he
bega