In the present volume the reader is asked to follow the fortunes of both Larry and Ben in two important expeditions of that gallant soldier, General Henry W. Lawton, the first directed against Santa Cruz on the Laguna de Bay, where the insurgents were left badly scattered, and the second from Manila to San Isidro, a winding advance of about one hundred and fifty miles through the jungle, iv which took twenty days to complete, and during which time twenty-two battles were fought and twenty-eight towns were captured, along with large quantities of army stores and the like. This latter expedition was one of the most daring of its kind, and could not have been pushed to success had not the man at its head been what he was, a trained Indian fighter of our own West, and one whose nerve and courage were almost beyond comprehension. Small wonder it was that when, later on, General Lawton was killed on the firing line, General Otis cabled, “Great loss to us and to his country.”

As in the previous volumes of this series, the author has endeavored to be as accurate, historically, as possible, and for this reason has examined the reports of the officers high in command, as well as listened to many tales related by the returning soldiers themselves. It is therefore hoped that if any errors have crept in they may not be of sufficient magnitude to hurt the general usefulness of the work from an historical standpoint. As a story of adventure, the writer trusts it will find equal favor with those that have preceded it in the series.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

Newark, N. J.,
March 1, 1900.

v

CONTENTS

I.Dismaying News[1]
II.Something about the Situation at Malolos[10]
III.An Adventure on the Pasig River[20]
IV.The Gap in the Firing Line[30]
V.An Encounter at the River[41]
VI.In which Luke Striker is Wounded[52]
VII.The Retreat to the Rice-house[61]
VIII.A Prisoner of the Filipinos[70]
IX.The Advance into the Jungle[81]
X.The Taking of Angat[91]
XI.The Crossing of the Rio Grande River[101]
XII.Something about a Poisoned Well[112]
XIII.In which a Flag of Truce is fired Upon[122]
XIV.Surrounded by the Enemy[132]
XV.The Escape from the Burning House[141]
XVI.News from Home[150]
XVII.In and out of a Strange Pitfall[160]
XVIII.The Adventure at the Mill-house[169]
XIX.News of Larry[179]
XX.The Advance upon Maasin[189]
XXI.Camping Over a Powder Magazine[199]
XXII.The Result of an Ambush[208]
XXIII.The Tornado in the Cane-brake[218]
XXIV.The Flight for Liberty[227]
XXV.The Caves under the Mountain[235]
XXVI.Boxer the Scout[244]
XXVII.The Departure of the Olympia[257]
XXVIII.The Advance upon San Isidro[267]
XXIX.Larry is sentenced to be Shot[280]
XXX.A Rescue under Difficulties[292]
XXXI.The Fall of San Isidro—conclusion[305]

vi