annon spoke up, sending a shell into the ditch outside the stockade.

"Hullo, they have a cannon after all," thought Captain Moore. He called
Dilberry to him. "Can you get the range of that piece?" he asked.

"I can try, sir."

"Then do it, and if you can disable the piece so much the better."

At once the head gunner ran off and sighted one of the cannon of the
fort with care.

A few seconds later the cannon spoke up with a report that rang in the
boys' ears for long after. The ball sped straight into the timberland
and cut down a heavy sapling growing beside the piece the enemy were
reloading. One desperado was killed instantly and another badly injured.

"A fair shot!" said the young captain. "Try it again," but before
Dilberry could do so the cannon was withdrawn from sight.

After this came another lull, as if desperadoes and Indians were
considering what to do next.

"It's a wonder they don't make a rush," said Joe, "if they have so many
in their command."

"Nobody cares to risk an advance in the open, Joe," said old Benson.
"More than likely they won't try to do much until dark."

Again the Indian drums were rolling, coupled with shrill warwhoops.

Then, with a wild yelling and a brandishing of rifles, about a hundred
and fifty red men burst from cover and ran toward the stockade.

"They are coming!" was the cry.

"Stand firm, men, don't waste your ammunition!" Captain Moore cried. He
turned to the gunner. "Let them have it, Dilberry!"

Bang! the cannon boomed out again, and the shot tore through the
advancing horde of Indians, laying four of them low.

Then came a volley from the red men, followed by the discharge of the
piece in the hands of the desperadoes. The splinters flew in several
directions around the stockade and one soldier was seriously wounded.
The cannon ball grazed the flagstaff, and presently it was seen to
totter.

"Look out!" roared old Benson to Joe, and as he spoke down came the
Stars and Stripes on the heads of Joe and Darry, and a section of the
flagstaff with it.

"The flag is down!" A score of voices took up the cry, and a yell of
triumph came from the Indians and desperadoes.

"It's not going to remain down!" cried old Benson, and began to climb
what remained of the pole. He carried the halyard with him, and soon,
with the aid of the two boys, he had the glorious Stars and Stripes once
more in position.

In the meantime the soldiers under Captain Moore were busy. T