brought news that Pilar's men were off to the east and the north,
well intrenched and prepared to fall upon the Americans when
they advanced blindly into the trap laid for them. The newspaper
men pricked up their ears, and at once looked to a box of carrier
pigeons which formed a most important part of their pilgrimage. A
fight was at hand, doubtless an important meeting of the clashing
forces. The whole army was waiting for intelligence of Pilar--waiting
with little less anxiety than that which attached itself to the
pursuit of Aguinaldo.

Captain Groce ordered Sergeant Gonnell with a picked squad
to reconnoitre. They scurried off in advance of the company with
instructions to locate the elusive enemy, and open up the secret of
his position. Supposedly, Pilar was ten miles off among the rocky
foothills which guarded the pass through the mountains. As usual,
Bansemer was one of the scouts. He snatched his rations with the
others and went forth eagerly to court the danger and the excitement
that was promised. For days they had had no fighting worthy the name.
Amigos everywhere, villages peopled only by women and children,
treacherous peacefulness on every side; this had been their encounter:
an occasional rifle shot from the rice fields, a crackle of guns
far ahead, a prisoner or two who had not been quick enough in
transforming himself from combatant to friend, that was all. Now,
there seemed to be real fighting ahead.

Pilar was known to have many men--good soldiers all of them. The
native scout gave close and accurate directions as to his position;
it remained for Connell's men to draw him out, if possible. Captain
Groce and the remainder of his eager company did not march until
long after the scouts were on their precarious way.