Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/134

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UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON

"The Filipinos!" burst out Walter, as he, too, saw the enemy. "Run, Si, run, before it is too late!" Hand in hand they sped down the side of the mountain stream, over rocks and through the brush. Often they plunged into the water, and once Walter fell flat, wetting himself from head to feet. But still they kept on, until both were winded.

"I—I can't go on no further nohow!" gasped the Yankee youth. "I'm tuckered out. Go on an' save yourself." And he staggered up against a near-by tree.

"We must go on, Si—we simply must!" insisted Walter. "Come, perhaps we'll find some place where we can hide."

Thus urged, the Yankee boy essayed to go on. But his breath came short and painful, and he staggered as if ready to go down at each instant.

In the meantime the natives were drawing closer, and several of them had leaped down into the ravine and were coming up in the immediate rear. One stopped to shoot an arrow at them, but the shaft flew wide of its mark in the semi-darkness.

Seeing that Si could go but a little further at the most, Walter strained his eyes to catch sight of some spot where they might hide. The ravine was widen-