mountain fastnesses, still further northward.

"We are in for another fight," said Major Morris, as he came to Ben
that afternoon. "And I've an idea it is going to be something to the
finish."

"That means, then, that we are bound for San Isidro!" cried the young
captain. "Hurrah! that's the best news I've heard in a week."

The regiment was soon on the road, spread out in proper battalion
form. The day was close, and it looked as if a thunderstorm was at
hand. The growth along the road was thick, and at certain points the
overhanging branches had to be cut off that the troops might pass. The
trail was bad, and often a gun, or wagon, had to stop so that a hole
might be bridged over with bamboo poles. Here and there they passed a
nipa hut, but these places were deserted, excepting in rare instances,
where an aged native would stand at the door, holding up a white rag
as a signal of surrender, or to show that he was an _amigo_, or
friend.

"It's pitiable," said Ben to Major Morris, as they trudged along side
by side. "I reckon some of these ignorant creatures have an idea that
we have come to annihilate them."

"You can be sure that Aguinaldo and his followers have taught them
something like that," replied the major. "Otherwise, they wouldn't
look so terrified."

At one point in the road, they came to a tumble-down hut, at the
doorway of which rested a woman and her three small children, all
watching the soldiers with eyes full of terror. Going up to the
woman, Ben spoke kindly to her, but she immediately fled into the
dilapidated structure, dragging her trio of offspring after her.

"You can't make friends that way," cried Major Morris. "They won't
trust you. I've tried it more than once."

There was now a hill to climb, thick with tropical trees and brush.
The regiment had scarcely covered a hundred feet of the ascent, when
there came a volley of shots from a ridge beyond, which wounded two
soldiers in the front rank.

"The rebels are in sight!" was the cry. "Come on, boys, let us drive
'em back! On to San Isidro!" And away went one battalion after
another, fatigued by a two miles' tramp, but eager to engage once more
in the fray. It was found that the insurgents had the ridge well
fortified, and General Lawton at once spread out his troops in a
semicircle, in the hope of surrounding the ridge and cutting off the
defenders from the main body of Aguinaldo's army.

Ben's regiment was coming, "head on," for th