CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
"Have your men fix their bayonets, Lieutenant Prescott!" commandedCaptain Freeman. "Fall in, men! We'll take the datto on the rush!"
As the Moros, reinforced by two score more who had rushed to the aid oftheir leader, drew up for a last desperate stand before the house, thedoor opened.
A stream of light from inside illuminated the scene.
Out bounded a man past middle age and of imposing appearance. Not evenhis rich costume and flashing jewels were needed to proclaim that thisman was the datto himself.
Behind Hakkut came another and younger man, the datto's sword-bearer.
Hakkut was carrying his own heavy, straight-edged sword. For a moment ortwo he stood blinking upon the scene of carnage and death below him ashe halted on his porch. Then his gaze swept to the regulars behind themachine gun, standing alert with bayonets fixed, ready for that solitaryword "charge!"
Instantly the datto turned and shouted something to the younger man withhim.
In another moment the datto had placed the hilt of his sword against theflooring of the porch, the point of the weapon up. The younger man kneltswiftly, holding the sword in this position. Drawing back, the DattoHakkut hurled himself forward with great force, falling upon the point.Then he tottered sideways, tumbling to the floor of the porch. Theyounger man without hesitation drove a needle-pointed creese three timesinto his ruler's breast. Withdrawing the knife, the sword-bearer thenkilled himself.
"Charge, Lieutenant Prescott!" called Captain Freeman.
"Charge!" repeated the lieutenant. The line of bayonets swept forward,but news of the death of the datto had already reached his would-bedefenders. The regulars swept through, meeting little resistance, forhope had left the Moros with the passing of their savage prince.
In a twinkling the datto's house was in the hands of the regulars. Now acorporal's guard could have held it, for the Moros inside the fort whowere still capable of fighting were throwing down their weapons indespair.
"Round the prisoners up, Lieutenant Prescott," commanded CaptainFreeman. "I'll take some of your men and the Gatling to the gate to helpLieutenant Holmes."
In truth the Gatling was now sadly needed at the gate, for LieutenantHolmes was having the fight of his life. Swarms of fanatic Moros wereattempting to rush the small party of regulars.
The Gatling, placed in a position commanding the gate and sweeping allin front of it, soon checked the desperate attack at this point. TheMoros could yet swarm the walls on all sides, however. The fight was farfrom won.
There was a chance still to close the huge wooden gate, and this CaptainFreeman, with a few of his men, succeeded in doing just as the Gatlingwas withdrawn.
Suddenly it occurred to Captain Freeman that the night was passing andthat the first dull light of day was creeping over the scene.
At the commanding officer's side Sergeant Hal Overton reported, salutingand saying:
"Sir, I have a suggestion to offer."
"State it, Sergeant."
"It seems like an almost dastardly thing to do, sir, but the death ofthe 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 topof the wall and hurled over to the Moros outside? When they behold thatsight 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'sporch. It had been warm work, and the young West Pointer was mopping hisface with his handkerchief.
At this juncture Hal appeared with four men.
"Pardon me, sir," he said, saluting the lieutenant, "I am acting byCaptain Freeman's orders."
With that the young sergeant pointed to the datto's body. The four menlifted it, carrying it from the porch. Prescott asked no question, butwatched with interest what followed.
Across the yard Hal's squad bore the datto's body, to a point of thewalls where the regulars were making their fiercest fight to repulse theMoros outside.
"Two of you climb up on the wall," Hal ordered. "The other two pass thebody up."
This was done.
"Over with it," Sergeant Hal commanded, and the body was hurled to theground outside.
An instant later there was a shout that was soon changed to a wail. Inthe growing daylight several of the Moro fighters had recognized thegrisly message that had been hurled to them. Half a dozen fighting mendropped their weapons, picked up the datto's body and hurried off withit to a grove beyond.
Within two minutes the fighting had stopped. The Moros had fled to thegrove, from which a loud, nerve-racking wailing now ascended.
Captain Freeman climbed to the top of the wall.
"We could wipe them out by the hundreds with the Gatling now," heremarked grimly. "However, I fancy it won't be necessary."
In half an hour the wailing of the Moros had ceased. They had gonefarther away, and the regulars were content to remain behind the walls.While half of the effective troops were left on the walls, the otherhalf prepared and ate their breakfast from the abundant food suppliesfound in the fort. After that the other half breakfasted.
That forenoon Lieutenant Holmes was sent out with a scouting force ofthirty men. Two hours later he returned, stating that he had been unableto find any signs of the enemy.
In the afternoon Lieutenant Prescott and thirty men marched back tocamp. There they found the transport wagons and horses uninjured, andreturned with them to the fort after having set the half dozen nativeprisoners free.
"I fancy the cruel war is over, gentlemen," remarked Captain Freemanthat evening to his two younger officers. "These Moros, like othersemi-savages, fight with heart only when they have a great leader. Inthis way, the Datto Hakkut was a great man. For ten years he has beenthe scourge of northern Mindanao, but now we shall have a rest from him.He will never again disturb the peace of the island."
Early the following morning Lieutenant Prescott was sent out at the headof forty men, Hal and Noll accompanying him. Unless attacked by superiorforce this detachment was to remain out all day, scouting through thecountry for signs of the enemy.
In the morning two native villages were found close to the principalroad through the mountains. As the natives appeared to have no weapons,and offered no trouble, they were not molested.
"You may be sure, though, Sergeant Overton," remarked LieutenantPrescott, "that very nearly all of the men we have seen so far to-dayserved lately under the datto. However, if they have learned a lesson,and are now bent on peace, we won't molest them."
In the afternoon, as the detachment, moving at route step, reached thecrest of a hill those in advance came upon a party of Moros camped in agrove by the road. These men, perhaps fifty in number, were preparing ameal. They displayed no weapons.
"These men were undoubtedly recent fighters, too," remarked LieutenantPrescott. "However, we'll look them over to make sure that they have noweapons now."
Hardly had the two sergeants started on their tour of inspection whenone man leaped suddenly from his seat on the ground and made off on arun.
"There's the man we want!" yelled Hal. "Vicente Tomba, I call upon youto halt and surrender!"
But Tomba, for it was he, continued to run fleetly.
"Bring that man down, if he won't stop!" commanded Lieutenant Prescottsternly.
"Halt, Tomba, or we fire!" shouted Hal. "Ready, men! Aim! fire!"
Seven rifles spoke, almost in unison. Vicente Tomba pitched forward,then fell. When examined he was found to have received four bulletwounds. As he was dead, the soldiers buried him then and there.
"Men who are found in Tomba's company are subjects for suspicion,"remarked Lieutenant Prescott dryly. "Though we've found no weapons withthis crowd we'll round 'em up and take 'em in."
This was done. Captain Freeman decided to read these natives a lessonand then let them go.
br /> "Why not make the rascals most humbly salute the Flag, sir?" suggestedSergeant Overton respectfully. "I still have the Flag that the Morosinsulted."
"A good idea," nodded the commanding officer. "Get the Flag, Sergeant."
Over the late datto's fort the Stars and Stripes soon fluttered. Thetroops were paraded to do the emblem honor. Then the Moro prisoners wereforced to pay it humble reverence, after which they were allowed, ontheir hands and knees, to crawl out of the fort and find their libertyoutside.
"I'm sorry the datto didn't live a little longer," murmured Sergeant Halto his chum. "I'd have enjoyed seeing him salute the Flag fifty timesand then crawl away on his knees."
The following morning Captain Freeman marched his column back over themany miles that lay between them and Bantoc. On a later morning of themarch the dusty column passed Draney's plantation. That adventurerboldly hailed the officers as the troops marched by.
"I hear you've killed the datto," was the planter's greeting.
"Yes," responded Captain Freeman dryly. "There are a few others, though,who deserve the same fate."
"We'll mix it up with that scoundrel yet," muttered Hal to his chum.
Back in Bantoc all was quiet again. Cerverra had been released with areprimand that he was not likely to forget. Now that the datto was gone,the spirit was lacking for insurrection, and that part of Mindanaosettled down to quiet.
For how long? Undoubtedly the reader will discover in the next volume ofthis series--a volume that will be filled with the lively doings of ourArmy in the Philippines. This great tale will be published under thetitle, "$1; Or, A Chance to Win Officers' Commissions." In thisforthcoming narrative the reader will meet several old friends and willrenew their acquaintance in the most startling situations.
THE END
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