“Hooray! Let ’em have it!” yelled Herc, as he saw the insurgents begin to waver.
Filled now with foolhardy bravery, the government troops began to leap into the line of the insurgent fire, capering and shouting exultingly. Several lost their lives in this way before the boy could check them.
Suddenly there came the sound of hoofs behind them. The boys turned, to face a young officer.
“Who is in command of this battery?” he demanded.
As nobody answered, Ned assumed the responsibility.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I have ridden over from the other hill to find out,” explained the officer. “We are driving back the insurgents there, and were threatened with them on this flank when your magnificent fire turned them. Your name, senor?”
Luckily a desperate charge by the insurgents obviated the necessity of Ned’s replying at that instant. Led by de Guzman himself, the insurrectos swept forward in a desperate effort to capture the hill by main force. But the guns were too much for them. Half way to the foot of the hill their ranks wavered and broke. The advance turned suddenly into a wild, demoralized rush for safety. But nowhere could they find it. Attacked on the left flank by the infantry, and on the rear by Colonel Lazard’s cavalry, the insurgents were driven back toward the mountains, dozens being killed in the rout.