the fire flew, it sint up a blaze like powdher burnin'. I'm afther thinkin'—"
Dan Casey got no further, for just then there was a flash and a roar in the grass not fifty yards from where the young captain and his corporal were standing. One private was badly burned and ran off shrieking with pain.
"They have mined this field!" ejaculated Ben, and ran with all speed to Major Morris. "Major, we must retreat!" he yelled.
"Retreat? Are you mad, Captain Russell?" cried the commander of the first battalion.
"No, I am not mad. This field has been mined—some of the powder just went off. If we—"
Boom! It was another explosion, and not a great distance from where Major Morris stood. The air was filled with flying stones and dirt, and it must be acknowledged that many of those close at hand turned pale. Here was something new in Filipino warfare.
"Dot peats poisoned veils," came from Carl Stummer. "Vot've do—go ahead annahow?"
Another roar followed, and the command was ordered to retreat with all possible speed. At this the rebels let out a mad yelling, thinking the day
