nd yards of here," declared Captain Freeman in the
hearing of a large part of his command. "The datto has us all in a bunch
and he'll hang to us until he has wiped us out."

"I don't believe he can do it, sir," retorted Lieutenant Greg Holmes.

"No; but the brown rascal thinks he can, which amounts to the same thing
as far as he is concerned. Mr. Holmes, you may safely take my word for
it that the datto has made up his own mind not to allow one of us ever
to get back in safety to Bantoc."

Late in the afternoon the five soldiers who had been slain were placed
in a row at the top of the hill.

"Too bad we haven't a Flag to drape the poor fellows with," said Captain
Freeman sorrowfully.

"We have a Flag with us, sir," spoke up Hal, saluting.

"Where is it, Sergeant?"

"In a small parcel in one of the ammunition wagons, sir."

"How does it happen to be there, Sergeant?"

"I put it in myself, sir. It's the Flag that the Moros hauled down from
the flagstaff over the schoolhouse near Seaforth's--the Flag they
slashed and danced upon. I picked it up at that time, sir; and when we
started on this expedition I placed the Flag in one of the wagons."

"Why did you do that, Sergeant?"

"Because I was in hopes that before we get through with this expedition,
sir, we'd find a chance to make Datto Hakkut and his men salute the
American Flag."

"Bring the Flag here, Sergeant."

Hal brought it, and its tattered folds were so laid that some remnant of
the bunting touched each of the five bodies of the slain soldiers.

Assembling half his command, while the other half watched in the
trenches, Captain Freeman read the prayers and the service for the dead.
Three volleys were fired over the graves after the slain men had been
laid in them. Bugler Swanson blew "taps," after which the graves were
carefully filled and the tops sodded so that roving Moros would not
afterwards find and desecrate these graves, sacred to the American
people. All in good time the American military authorities would send
and exhume these remains, transferring them to marked resting places in
military cemeteries.

Before supper Captain Freeman summoned his two officers in council with
him.

"I want to talk with you young gentlemen," began the captain, "for the
reason that, of course, by the fortunes of war, I may be removed at any
moment. If anything happens to me Mr. Prescott is to be regarded as
ranking officer. Now, I want you both to understand