“The trail to the left,” repeated Ben, and turned to his company. “Forward, boys,—left oblique!” he shouted, and on they went again, past the nipa huts and down a trail leading along the edge of a rich plantation. Several more huts were passed, but the inmates were nothing but women and children, and offered no resistance. Then at a distance could be seen a stone wall, as if the insurgents had endeavored to construct a rude fortification in a great hurry.
The company was going at the stone wall pell-mell when Ben called a sudden halt. “To the right, boys, and come at the end of the wall,” were his orders, and the command swept around as desired.
Bang! The report was hardly expected, and with it half a dozen of the stones composing the rude fortification gave way, disclosing a cannon made of a bored-out tree-trunk, wound round and round with telegraph wire stolen from the lines along the railroad. This wooden cannon had been heavily charged with cartridges, old nails, and bits of iron, and the first discharge rent the mouth into a dozen pieces.
“That was a narrow shave!” cried Gilmore, as he and Ben looked around, to find all the company unharmed. “Who ever supposed the rascals would put up such a job as that on us?”
“They’ll do anything,” replied the young captain. “But that isn’t a new idea. Wooden cannons were used in the Civil War, so I’ve been told.”
With the discharge of the wooden gun, the rebels concealed behind the stone fortification had fled. The Americans now made after them, more “hot-footed” than ever, and the incessant crack of firearms was followed by many a groan and yell of pain as over a dozen Filipinos went down, three to their death.
At the fork mentioned by Major Morris, Ben 96 brought his company to a halt. All were panting for breath, for the brush at close quarters had put them on their mettle. The rest of the battalion soon came up, and the other battalions followed, from another road, and then the regiment, with the other troops, pushed on into Angat.
Much to the astonishment of all, the beautiful town, with its century-old churches and quaint government buildings, was found practically deserted. The only inhabitants left were a few women and a handful of aged men, all of whom said they would do anything for the Americanos if they were spared their lives. These frightened people were soon put at ease, and then an inspection of the captured place was instituted.
In various places, such as the vaults of convents and government buildings, huge quantities of pilai, that is, unhulled rice, were found. Some of the rice was confiscated for army use, and a large quantity was distributed to the natives who gradually drifted in, saying they wanted to be friendly, and that they were starving.