routed from their
beds in the middle of the night.

The morning light increased, though it was still dim, and the first
vague shapes near the ledge began to take more definite shape.

"We won't need to wait more than five minutes more, Sergeant Hupner,"
declared the captain.

Cortland stood holding his watch close to his face. As soon as he could
read the time he turned to whisper:

"Now, Overton, lead us up to the exact spot from which you had your
interview with the fellow Branders."

"Shall the men load, sir?" whispered Sergeant Hupner.

"Yes; full magazines."

As silently as possible the men of the little searching party slipped
back the bolts of their pieces and loaded.

"Go ahead, Overton," whispered Captain Cortland.

Just behind Soldier Hal stepped the company commander himself, watching
every footstep in order not to step on any loose stone that might sound
a premature alarm.

Yet one man among them slipped and made a noise. It was trifling, but
almost instantly a whistle sounded ahead.

Without even thinking to wait for orders Hal returned the whistle.

"That you, Tip?" called the voice of an invisible man. "Good for you,
lad. We thought you was a goner."

Hal did not answer further, for Captain Cortland broke in:

"Rush 'em, men! We've got 'em."

"Ho! The blazes you have!" sounded a rough voice ahead. "Come on,
boys--it's the sojers! Give it to 'em!"

Almost in an instant the crevices between the rocks ahead were full of
red flashes.

Bullets sped, struck rocks with spiteful thuds and flattened out before
bounding into the air again.

"Lie down, men!" shouted Captain Cortland. "Give it to the rascals as
long as they shoot at us."

All in a moment this rock-strewn spot had become a bedlam of discharging
firearms.

Two regulars were hit before they could find cover from which to fire.
These men, however, made no outcry, but, finding themselves unable to
handle their rifles, lay quietly where they had fallen until the time
came for them to have attention.

Though he had sharply ordered his men to lie down, Captain Cortland did
nothing of the sort himself. Instead, with his revolver drawn, he stood
up, peering ahead and trying to get sight of the scoundrels beyond.

Bullets flew all about the captain, many of them passing his head. But
he stood there calmly until he caught just the opportunity for which he
had waited.

Then his pistol spoke, and a groan beyond showed that he had be