sentry sending a bullet whizzing into space by way of the colonel's pith
helmet, which prompted the doctor to say in his placid and most
effective way that more heads had been lost that night than valuables,
and one bad shot begat another.

Sentries down towards the barracks, hearing the three or four quick
reports, bethought them of the time-honored instructions prescribing
that in case of a blaze, which he could not personally extinguish, the
sentry should "shout 'Fire!' discharge his piece, and add the number of
his post." Sagely reasoning that nothing but a fire could start such a
row, or at least that there was sufficient excuse to warrant their
having some fun of their own to enliven the dull hours of the night,
Numbers 7 and 8 touched off their triggers and yelled "Fire;" 5 and 6,
nearer home, followed suit, and in two minutes the bugles were blowing
the alarm all over Ermita and Malate, and rollicking young regulars and
volunteers by the hundred were tumbling out into the street, all
eagerness and rejoicing at the prospect of having a lark with the
_Bomberos_, the funny little Manila firemen with their funnier little
squirts on wheels.

It was fully half an hour before the officers could "locate" the origin
of the alarm and order their companies back to bed, an order most
reluctantly obeyed, for by that time the nearest native fire-company was
aroused and on the way to the scene. Others could be expected in the
course of the night, and the Manila fire department was something that
afforded the Yankee soldier unspeakable joy. He hated to lose such an
opportunity.

But for all his professional calm, Dr. Frank was by no means pleased
with the excitement attending this episode. For an hour or more officers
from all over the neighborhood gathered in front of Brent's and had to
be told the particulars, "Billy Ray's daughter" being pronounced the
heroine everybody expected her to be, while that young lady herself, now
that the affair could be called closed, was in a condition bordering on
the electric. "Overwrought and nervous," said Miss Porter, "but laughing
at the whole business."

What Frank thought he didn't say, but he cut short Sandy's visit to his
sister, and suggested that he go down and tell the assemblage under the
front gallery that they would better return to whist--or whatever game
was in progress when the alarm was given. The colonel could not invite
them in as matters stood, and they slowly dispers