"That will be all right, Sergeant--if you will remember that, in case of emergency, you are to return hastily to your proper place in the line." "Thank you; I will, sir." "Very good, Sergeant." Once more saluting, Noll hastened up forward. "You have a message?" asked Hal. "No; but I have the lieutenant's permission to walk with you." "I'm glad of it, chum. Talking makes the walking easier." "Walking--yes," grumbled Noll. "I'm afraid that's about all we're going to get out of this hike." "Never pray for a fight, Noll. It's all right when it has to be, but any real fight always means the last hour for some good fellows." "I'm no hog for a fight," grunted Terry, "but I'd like to have just a little real practice, after the long, long time I've had to put in preparing for it." "Hm!" smiled Sergeant Hal. "I could almost qualify as a member of a peace society. _I_ don't care how long it is before the next fight. I'd hate to see it come along this stretch of road." "Why?" "Well, look over at our left, Noll. Below us is a deep gully, with a swift stream flowing. Beyond it is that wooded ledge. Any number of Moros could conceal themselves there and fire at us, and we couldn't reach 'em with the bayonet. Ahead----" Sergeant Hal may have finished, but, if he did, his voice was drowned out by the savage clamor of yells ahead. Barely a hundred yards beyond the point came a rushing mob of Moros, shooting and brandishing creeses. From the wooded, inaccessible ledge to the left came a sudden, rapid firing that made the air hot with bullets directed at Uncle Sam's men. CHAPTER XIX HAL TURNS THE GATLING GUN LOOSE "Gatling gun to the head of the line! Lie down, men!" Two men dropped even before the order had been given, for Moro bullets had found them. After firing volleys, the "point" and advance guard fell back on the run. "Take the infantry fire at this point, Sergeant Overton!" commanded Lieutenant Prescott briskly. "Open magazines! Load magazines!" shouted Sergeant Hal to the men in the swiftly formed front rank. "Ready, aim! At will, point-blank range--fire!" Prettily enough the American fire opened on the Moros rushing down the narrow path. The centre of the American column, at Lieutenant Holmes's order, opened fire across the gully at the wooded ambush on the left. Captain Freeman took up his stand a little forward of the centre, where he could watch the fire in both directions. "Hurry up that Gatling gun, Prescott." "Yes, sir." Prescott and two privates were working at lightning speed to get the Gatling placed. Then the lieutenant fed in a belt of ammunition. "Sergeant Terry, relieve Sergeant Overton in charge of the advancing firing line. Overton, come here." "Yes, sir," responded Hal, running up and saluting. Lieutenant Prescott was just finishing the sighting of the Gatling.