Four hours later the column was at barracks, from which the women were escorted into Bantoc, where there was a military guard, and where they could stop with friends.
Just before dark an escort of twenty men, guarding two wagons, marched into Bantoc. Sergeant Hal had asked and secured permission to head the escort, for he wanted to see his chum, Sergeant Noll Terry.
"Well, so you've been doing some real fighting," demanded Noll in a tone of friendly envy.
"Yes," assented Hal.
"The Moros are not such very classy fighters, are they?"
"They're good enough for me," Hal Overton answered. "I don't mind their rifle fire, but I can do very well with the least possible number of brushes against their cold steel."
"But our fellows have their bayonets."
"Yes; but wait until you have to face a rush against those murderous creeses. I can't tell you much about it. It sounds tame in the telling, Noll, but you'll know all about it when you have to go up against it. How have things been here in Bantoc?"
"Bad," Noll replied, with a shake of his head.
"Any serious trouble?"