Suddenly there was an exultant yell from the enemy. Instinctively
Bansemer knew that one side of the square had given way. Quickly
turning, he rushed to give his aid, and just in time caught the
arm of a native about to slash him with a huge knife. With the two
gripped hands high in the air struggling for mastery, the adversaries
became separated a bit from the rest of the chaotic mass of friend
and foe, swaying out to one side of the plaza, and under the walls
of a convent. Bansemer was facing it; and just at the moment that
he felt his strength giving way and could see a grin of triumph on
the fiendish face, there carne a flash and a report, and his adversary
fell at his feet. Glancing up to ascertain who had fired the shot
that had saved his life, he thought he saw a figure disappearing
from one of the windows. The incident acted as an inspiration.
Gathering together a few men, he reached the Captain's side and
communicated his plan. The opportunity was not to be lost. Groce
gave an order; Connell repeated it. Then interpreting a temporary
lull in the murderous struggle as their vantage, the men with a
cheer, and dragging the field piece, broke for the building; and by
bayoneting and clubbing the insurgents out of the way accomplished
the dash with slight loss. The soldiers hurled themselves against
the stoutly barred door; it fell with a crash.

Guards were stationed and all openings and windows manned. Singularly
enough, these defensive actions seemed at least, temporarily
unnecessary, for the watchers peering out of the windows reported
that the dead alone occupied the recent field of battle. Not a
single Filipino was to be seen on the plaza.

Every village has its convent or barrios. Generally speaking, their