t, and in anticipation of the doings of
the approaching day, for it was the day designated for the capture of
the Maciu stronghold. We broke camp at an early hour and at 7 a.m. we
were again on the march, this time in a new direction. We had not been
marching over two hours when the word was quietly passed along the line
that the Maciu stronghold was in sight.

We now began to think more seriously as we were nearing our long looked
for destination, for well we knew that the Moros, having consolidated
here were determined to fight to the last.

We were, however, perfectly willing and ready to face Maciu and his
tribesmen in open combat, and meet whatever fate awaited us, without a
murmur.

The column was ordered to deploy right and left in skirmish line, and
advance towards the fort, in order that they could more easily and
readily command a view of the outer surroundings of the enclosure, and
prevent, if possible, the escape of any of the blood-thirsty Moros whose
wild cries we could now hear within.

The Battery, having halted in front of the fort, was immediately brought
into action. Then suddenly a deafening noise was heard by all, the noise
which, though too familiar to many of us, was nevertheless to make even
a brave soldier tremble. The Artillery had opened up on the left. "Boom!
Boom!!" went the cannons, and a rain of solid shot and shrapnel was
hurled at the fort, and for a space of a moment nothing could be seen
but the flying fragments, and splinters of bamboo and debris hurled high
in the air.

The clouds of smoke soon cleared away and then something happened
unexpectedly, and which surprised every American soldier in that
vicinity. A thick, black volume of smoke arose in the direction of the
fortress, then a flash, and a deafening noise, as if the merciless waves
of the Pacific were beating against the granite ribbed cliffs.

They had replied to our firing. Boom! went the lantacas, followed by a
volley from the rifles, and then it behoved every true American to "lay
low" for a few moments.

It now looked as if our expectations were going to be fulfilled to the
last. There was a moment of silence and again the Battery opened up in
real earnest, and a more exciting scene could not be witnessed than to
see the havoc wrought on that fort by the guns. Bang! Bang!! went the
shots in rapid succession, and bamboo, rocks, and flying fragments were
hurled hundreds of feet in every direction, but still the Mor