It was raining so heavily that even the guards at the datto's gate had relaxed their vigilance.
So Sergeant Hal Overton was within thirty feet of the gate when one of the six sentries, peering outside, caught sight of him, yelled and held his rifle at aim.
"Detachment charge!" yelled Sergeant Hal Overton.
With a low-uttered yet enthusiastic yell the twelve regulars piled in after their sergeant.
There was short, sharp firing at the gate. Then the Americans drove that guard in, killing four of them and holding the gate.
Now there was wild yelling inside the fort. Lights flashed from the principal building in the enclosure. Sergeant Hal waited only long enough to realize that Lieutenant Prescott's command had come up when he shouted to his own men:
"Follow me to the datto's house! He's the fellow we want."
Fifty natives howling wildly had thrown themselves around the house of the Datto Hakkut and had opened fire on the soldiers by the time that Hal and his few men reached the spot.
"Fight your way through 'em, men!" commanded Hal.
"Bring your men back, Sergeant!" shouted Captain Freeman in Hal's ear. "We've got the Gatling ready. I'll show you something better."