noon
The insurgents had been gone from the position less than two hours . Treachery faced the little squad of Americans on every side , but they did not falter . Connell scattered his men and they stole carefully into the fastnesses , finding on all sides evidences of hasty departure . Before noon they were far up in the hills , everywhere met by the physical assurance that the enemy was not far ahead of them . Behind them came Captain Groce and his men and the two correspondents . Amigos along the mountain road gave information that was not worth having . A deserted village showed signs of the passage and finally there was proof ahead that Pilar had stopped to give battle .