anaged to advance,
undetected, to a point from which Captain Freeman could dimly make out
the mud walls of the datto's fort.

"Take the same twelve men of the advance guard, Sergeant Overton,"
whispered Captain Freeman, after he had given directions regarding the
carrying of the wounded so that they would be as well protected as
possible from slashing by Moro swords or creeses during the attack about
to be made. "With your men, Sergeant, gain the gate of the fort.
Remember, at no matter what cost, you must get your party inside and
hold the gate. We'll be on the spot the moment we hear the first sound
of your attack."

"Now, then, men," Hal instructed his own detachment, "we won't march
forward, and we won't skulk, either. We'll simply stroll along. The
instant that I hear any sound showing that we're discovered, I'll give
the order to charge. When that order comes--remember that we simply must
fight our way through the gate of the fort."

Then he gave the order for the forward movement. Hal placed himself at
the head of his detachment, the post of greatest danger.

It was raining so heavily that even the guards at the datto's gate had
relaxed their vigilance.

So Sergeant Hal Overton was within thirty feet of the gate when one of
the six sentries, peering outside, caught sight of him, yelled and held
his rifle at aim.

"Detachment charge!" yelled Sergeant Hal Overton.

With a low-uttered yet enthusiastic yell the twelve regulars piled in
after their sergeant.

There was short, sharp firing at the gate. Then the Americans drove that
guard in, killing four of them and holding the gate.

Now there was wild yelling inside the fort. Lights flashed from the
principal building in the enclosure. Sergeant Hal waited only long
enough to realize that Lieutenant Prescott's command had come up when he
shouted to his own men:

"Follow me to the datto's house! He's the fellow we want."

Fifty natives howling wildly had thrown themselves around the house of
the Datto Hakkut and had opened fire on the soldiers by the time that
Hal and his few men reached the spot.

"Fight your way through 'em, men!" commanded Hal.

"Bring your men back, Sergeant!" shouted Captain Freeman in Hal's ear.
"We've got the Gatling ready. I'll show you something better."

Swiftly the regulars dodged back. Sergeant Noll was at the breech of the
Gatling.

R-r-r-r-rip! rattled out that rapid-fire machine, and the fire swept
mercilessly into th