oral's guard could have held it, for the Moros inside the fort who
were still capable of fighting were throwing down their weapons in
despair.

"Round the prisoners up, Lieutenant Prescott," commanded Captain
Freeman. "I'll take some of your men and the Gatling to the gate to help
Lieutenant Holmes."

In truth the Gatling was now sadly needed at the gate, for Lieutenant
Holmes was having the fight of his life. Swarms of fanatic Moros were
attempting to rush the small party of regulars.

The Gatling, placed in a position commanding the gate and sweeping all
in front of it, soon checked the desperate attack at this point. The
Moros could yet swarm the walls on all sides, however. The fight was far
from won.

There was a chance still to close the huge wooden gate, and this Captain
Freeman, with a few of his men, succeeded in doing just as the Gatling
was withdrawn.

Suddenly it occurred to Captain Freeman that the night was passing and
that the first dull light of day was creeping over the scene.

At the commanding officer's side Sergeant Hal Overton reported, saluting
and saying:

"Sir, I have a suggestion to offer."

"State it, Sergeant."

"It seems like an almost dastardly thing to do, sir, but the death of
the datto stopped the fighting inside. Wouldn't it be a good plan, sir,
since the datto is assuredly dead, to have his body placed upon the top
of the wall and hurled over to the Moros outside? When they behold that
sight they may feel that their cause is gone."

"That is the best suggestion that could be made. You attend to it,
Sergeant."

"Very good, sir."

Lieutenant Prescott paused for a moment in the shelter of the datto's
porch. It had been warm work, and the young West Pointer was mopping his
face with his handkerchief.

At this juncture Hal appeared with four men.

"Pardon me, sir," he said, saluting the lieutenant, "I am acting by
Captain Freeman's orders."

With that the young sergeant pointed to the datto's body. The four men
lifted it, carrying it from the porch. Prescott asked no question, but
watched with interest what followed.

Across the yard Hal's squad bore the datto's body, to a point of the
walls where the regulars were making their fiercest fight to repulse the
Moros outside.

"Two of you climb up on the wall," Hal ordered. "The other two pass the
body up."

This was done.

"Over with it," Sergeant Hal commanded, and the body was hurled to the
ground outside.

An in