The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-24

down the rlyer,' enough remained TO
keep up a CALLING FIRE, and hold Reno
strictly on the defensive.
As the men lay exposed to the con-
tinuous shipping fire, above the sur
rounding din we're borne to their ears
the reports Of distant guns. 1t came
distinctly from the northwardi grow
ing heavier and more continuous.
None among them doubted Its omlnous
meaning. Custer was already engaged
in hot action at the right Of the Indian
village. Why were they kept lying
there in idleness? Why were they not
pushed forward to do their part? They
looked into each others faces, God!
They were 300 now; they could sweep
aside like chaft that fringe Of red
skirmishers Il only they got the word!
Officer after officer, unable to restrain
his impatence, strobe back across the
blur summit, amid whistling bullets,
and personally begged the major to
speak the one word which should hurl
them to the rescue. They cried like
women, they swore through clinched
teeth, they openly exhibited their con-
tempt for such a commander, yet the
discipline OF army service made active
disobedlence impossible. They went
reluctantly back, as helpless as chill
dren.
It was four o'clock, the shadows of
the western bluffs already darkening
the river bank. Suddenly a faint cheer
ran along the lines, and the men lifted
themselves to gaze up the river. Urg-
Ing the tired animals to trot, the
strong hand Of trooper grasping
every halterstrap, Brant was swing.
ing his long pack-train up the smoke
wreathed valley. The outridlng flank
ers exchanged constant shots with the
skulking sayages hiding in every ra-
vine and coulee. Pausing only to pro-
tect their wounded, fighting their way
step by step, N troop ran the gantlet
and came charging into the cheering
lines with every pound Of their treas
ure safe. Weir of D, whose dlsmount-
ed troopers held that portion Of the
line, strobe pace forward to greet
the leader, and as the extended hands
of the officers met, there echoed down
to them from the north the reports Of
two heavy yolleys, fired in rapid sue
cession. The sounds were clear, dis
tlnctly audible even above the uproar
of the valley. The heavy eyes Of the
two soldiers met, their duststreaked
faces flushed.
THAT was a signal, Clusters signal
for help!" the younger man cried, i'm
pulslyely, his voice full Of agony. For
Gods sake, Weir, what are you fell
lows waiting here for?"
The other uttered a groan, his hand
flung in contempt back toward the
blur summit 1.-THE cowardly fool
won't move; he's whipped to death
now"
Reno, you mean? Whipped? You
haven't lost 20 men. Is this the Sew
enth?-skulklng here under cover
while Custer begs help? Doesn't the
man know3 Doesn't he understand?
BY heaven, III face him myself! I'll
make him act even II 1 have to damn
him to his face"
He swung his horse with jerk to
the left, but even as the spurs touched,
Weir grasped the taut rein firmly. I,
TITS no use, Brant, It's been done;
we've all been at him. He's simply
lost his head. Know? OF course he
knows. Martini struck US. Just below
here, as we were coming in, with a .
message from Custer. 1t would have
stirred the blood of anyone but him
oh, God! IFS terrible"
"a message? What was it,"
Cook wrote It, and addressed 1t to
Benteen. It read: Come on. Big vii.
lage. Be quick. Bring packs And
then, p. S.-Bring packs That means
they want ammunition badly; they're
fighting to the death out yonder, and
they need powder. oh, the coward!"
Brant's eyes ran down the waiting
line Of his own men, sitting their sad
dies beside the halted pack animals.