en a
successful marksman.

"Squad, rise!" shot out the commander's order. "Charge!"

Crouching low, the soldiers sprang suddenly forward.

"Halt! Lie down," continued Cortland. He had gained sixty feet by his
rush without loss of a man. "Fire only when you see something to shoot
at. Commence firing at will."

Now the firing slackened, though it was not less deadly. Even the
scoundrels ahead slowed down their fire, as though they found their
weapons becoming hot.

Captain Cortland was in no hurry. He meant to have the scoundrels, dead
or alive, but he did not intend to risk his own men needlessly. The army
officer knew it was now only a question of time. Nor did he fear running
out of ammunition, for the greater part of his small command was not yet
in action, but posted beyond.

The daylight grew stronger; then the upper rim of the sun peeped over
the horizon, sending its rays into the sky.

"Cease firing," commanded Cortland at last. Then he called over the
rocks.

"Are you fellows ready to surrender to United States forces?"

"Not until we're all dead," came the taunting reply.

"Then we'll try to accommodate you by killing you with as little delay
as possible," called back the captain. Then, to his own little force he
added:

"Men, advance as you see opportunity. Fire whenever you see anything to
aim at."

Steadily the regulars crawled forward, a foot or a yard at a time.

As they moved they tried, Indian fashion, to find new cover behind rocks
over which they could aim and fire.

Hal and Noll, not ten feet apart, occasionally glanced at each other
after firing.

Both young rookies were thoroughly enjoying this actual taste of
fighting life.

It was not many minutes before the advancing handful of soldiers were
within seventy or eighty feet of the rocks that sheltered the rascals.

Then suddenly they saw three crouching figures begin to retreat among
the rocks.

With a cheer the attacking force went forward, crouching.

But just then three rifles from out beyond spoke, and bullets whistled
past the scoundrels from a new quarter.

"Great smoke, boys!" bellowed one of the fugitives hoarsely. "The sojers
have us hemmed in on all sides."

"Yes, we have," shouted Captain Cortland. "Do you want to surrender?"

"Make your men stop shooting or moving, and give us two minutes to
think."

"We'll keep on advancing and firing until we have your surrender,"
retorted Captain Cortland grimly. "Whenev