er you want to surrender tell
me so and raise your hands high in the air."

"Wait a min----"

"Keep on firing, men," called Captain Cortland.

"Hold on! We give in, Cap."

"Cease firing, men," called the commander of B Company. "Now you fellows
jump up and show yourselves with your hands reaching for the sky."

Three rough-looking figures clambered up on rocks, holding their empty
hands as high as they could get them. One of them had his neck bound,
and there was blood on his clothing. This was the first man whom Hal had
wounded back of Captain Ruggles's quarters at the beginning of the fray.

"Stand just that way until we reach you," ordered the army officer.
"Close in on them, men, and fire if you see one of them reach for a
weapon."

But the trio plainly had no further intentions in the way of fighting.
They waited, sullen-faced and silent, until the soldiers had reached
them and had taken away their weapons.

"You have handcuffs, Sergeant?" inquired the captain.

Hupner and Corporal Cotter both produced the steel bracelets. The three
rogues were swiftly handcuffed.

"You'll find our boss over yonder," nodded one of the men. "He's bad
hit, too."

They found the fellow, nearly unconscious, but groaning, his right
shoulder badly shattered by the bullet from Captain Cortland's revolver.

"Sergeant," directed B Company's commander, "send a messenger back to
the post for hospital men and an ambulance. You can report that two of
our own men have been hit."

The leader of the scoundrels was lifted and carried back where the two
men of B Company lay. Captain Cortland directed such aid as could be
given on the spot to all of the wounded men.

"Shall I call in the men I posted, sir?" inquired Hupner.

"Not yet, Sergeant. There may be others of this gang hidden somewhere
among the rocks. But you may take three men and search for others."

Within ten minutes the search had been made thoroughly. No more of the
evil band had been found.

"We'll go back just as soon as the ambulance arrives and the wounded
have been taken care of," announced Captain Cortland.

Hal, at that moment, had his eye on one of the prisoners. He saw a gleam
of satisfaction show in the fellow's eyes.

"May I speak, sir?" asked Private Overton, saluting Captain Cortland.

"Yes," nodded the officer.

"May some of us remain behind them, sir, to search all this ground
over?"

"For what, Overton?"

"It doesn't seem likely, sir, that