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close the huge wooden gate, and this Captain Freeman, with a few of his men, succeeded in doing just as the Gatling was withdrawn.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 instant later there was a shout that was soon changed to a wail. In the growing daylight several of the Moro fighters had recognized the grisly message that had been hurled to them. Half a dozen fighting men dropped their weapons, picked up the datto's body and hurried off with it to a grove beyond. Within two minutes the fighting had stopped. The Moros had fled to the grove, 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," he remarked grimly. "However, I fancy it won't be necessary." In half an hour the wailing of the Moros had ceased. They had gone farther away, and the regulars were content to remain behind the walls. While half of the effective troops were left on the walls, the other half prepared and ate their breakfast from the abundant food supplies found in the fort. After that the other half breakfasted. That forenoon Lieutenant Holmes was sent out with a scouting force of thirty men. Two hours later he returned, stating that he had been unable to find any signs of the enemy.