Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-01
BY RANDALL PARRISH.

smitten men into position OF defense. even
hurled them cheering forward In short swift
charges. so as to clear the front and gain
room in which 10 deploy. out az conf fusion
emerged discipline. confidence. esprit do
corps. The savages skurried away on their
quirt-lashed ponies, beyond range Of those
flaming carhines. while the CavaIrymen.
pausins from vain pursuit. gathered up their
wounded. and reformed their d:sordered
ranks.
Wait till Reno rides into their village"
cried encouraged voices through parChed
lips. Then we'll give them =,'
Safe beyond range OF the troopers light
carbines, the Indians. with their heavier
rifles. kept hurting constant storm nc
lead, hugging the guliies ana spreading out
until there was no rear toward which the
narassed Cavdlrymcn could turn for Sa fety.
One by one. continually under heavy FIRE.
the scattered troops were formed into some
thing more nearly resembling a battle line
Calhoun on the LEFT then kcogh. Smith
and Yates. with Tom Custer holding the ex-
reme right. The position taken was far
from being an Ideal one. yet the best pos
sible under the circumstance. and the ex-
hausted men flung themselves down behind
low ridges, seeking protection from the
Sioux bullets, those assigned to the right
enjoying the advantage of n somewhat
higher elevation. Thus they waited grimly
for the next assault.
Nor was 1t long delayed. Scarcely had
the troopers recovered, refilled their de-
pleted cartridge belts from those of their
dead comrades, when the onslaught came.
l.ashing their ponies into mad Eallop. now
sitting erect the next moment lying hidden
behind the plUnging animals. constantly
screaming their shr!ll cries their guns
brandished in ai:. they swept onward. seek
Ing to crush that thin line in one terrible
onset. But they re ckoaed wrong. The SOL
diers waited their coming. The short
brown-harrCled carb!nes CLEANED at the
level in the sunlight, and then hplched forth
their message OF flame into the very faces
of those reckless horsemen. 1t was not In
flesh and blood to bear such a blow With
screams of rage, the red braves swerVed to
left and right. leaving many a dark, war
bedecked figure lying dead behinl them.
and many a riderless pony skurrNing over
the prairie. Yet their wild ride had not
been altogether in vain: like "A whirlwind
they had struck against Calhoun on the
flank. forcing his troopers to Yield sullen
ground. thus contracting the little semi
circle of defenders, pressing II back against
that central hill. 1t a step nearer the
end, Vet those who fought scarcely realized
its significance. Exultant over their SEEM
ingly successful repulse. tie flung
themselves again upon the earth. their
cheers ringing out above the thud of re-
treating hoofs
we can hold them here, boys until Reno
comes, they shouted to each other.
The skulking red rfiemen crept ever closer
behind the ridges. driving their deadly mis-
sles into those ranks exposed in the open.
Twice squads dashed forth to dislodge these
bands. but were in turn driven Lack. the
line OF fire continually creeping nearer.
clouds OF smoke Concealng tie cautious
marksmen lying prone in the grass. Custer
walked up and down the irregular line. cool,
apparently unmoved speaking words O. APP
proval to officers and men. To the COM
mand of the bugle they discharged two
roaring voleys from their carbines hopeful
that the combined sound might reach the
ears of the tagging Reno. They were hope
full yet, although one troop had only "A ser
geant left in command and the dead bou.es
of their comrades strewed the plain,
Twice those fierce red horsemcn tore
down upon them, forcing the thin. strug-
Cling line back by sheer strength OF over
whelming numbers, yet no m1dly gallop-
The hot brown barrels belcheI forth their
lightnings into those painted faces, and The
swarmS of savagery melted away. The liV-
ing sheltered themselves behind the bodies
of their dead, fighting now in desperation.
their horses stampeded. their ammunition
all gone excepting the few cartridges re-
naming In the waist belts. From lip to lin
passed the one vital question: I'm Gods
name, where is Reno? What has become of
the rest of the boys?'
1t was o'clock. For two long hours they
had been engaged in ceaseless struggle: and
now barely a hundred men. smoke-be-
grimed. thirsty. bleeding. half their car
bines empty. they still formed an impene-
trable ring around their chief. The strug-
gle was over and they realized the fact.
When that wave of savage horsemen swept
forth again it would be TO ride them down
to crush them under their horses pounding
hoofs. They turned their loyal eyes to-
ward him they loved and followed for the
last time, and when he uttered one final
him family. with parched and fcvered lips.
Go be Concluded Tomorrow