The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-09-03

later called q "charge'0 was heavy,
the effect demoralizing; but those who
escaped found a spot well suited for
defense. Even as they swung down
from of their wounded, painting horses
and flung themselves fiat upon their
faces to sweep with hastily 1eveled
carbines the i've banks below, Ben
teen came trotting CALAMITY down the
valley to their aid, his troopers fresh
and eager to be thrown forward on
the firing-line. The worst was over.
md IKE middened lions, the rallied
hoieiers Of the Seventh, cursing their
folly, turned to strike and slay.
A line of skirmishers was hastily
thrown forward along the edge Of the
BLUM, while volunteers. urged by he
agonized cries of the wounded, en-
deavored vainly to procure a supply
of water from the river. Again and
again they made the effort, only to be
driven back by the deadly Indian rife
fire. By three o'clock, although the
down the river, enough remained to
keep up a calling fire, and hold Reno
strictly on the defensive.
AS la0 ASA lay 04pOSSu " Tue COHs
tinuous shipping fire, above the sur
rounding din were borne to their ears
the reports of distant guns. It came
distinctly from the northward, grow
ing heavier and more continuous.
None among them doubted its ominous
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 400 now; they could sweep
aside like chaff that fringe Of red
skirmishers if only they got the word!
Officer after officer, unable to restrain
his Impotence, strobe back across the
bluff summit, mid whistling bullets,
and personally begged the major to
speak the one word which should hurl
them to the rescse. 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
d~isobedience impossible. They went
reluctantly back, as helpless as chill
dren.
1t 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 a trot, the
strong hand Of q trooper grasping
every halter-strap, Brant was swing
ing his long pack-train up the smoke
wreathed valley. The outriding flank
ers exchanged constant shots with the
skulking savages hiding in every "a
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 dismount-
ed troopers held that portion of the
line, strobe a 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 volleys, fred in rapid sue
cession. The sounds were clear, dis
tinctly audible even above the uproar
of the valley. The heavy Eyes of the
two soldiers met, their du-st-streaked
faces flushed.
THAT was a signal. Clusters signal
" ASlp. Lie yOuASS1 mdA CIlCds LII
pulsively. 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
bluff summit. THE cowardly fool
won't move; he's whipped to death
now"
Reno, you mean? Whipped? You
L----s - 0n r AL1- c.
emil ?-skulking here under cover
while Custer begs help? Doesn't the
man know? Doesn't he understand?
By heaven, I'll face him myself! I'll
make him act, even if l have to damn
him to his face"
He swung his horse with a jerk to
he left, but even as the spurs touched,
Weir grasped the a u rein firmly.
Its 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 q
message from Custer. 1t would have
stirred the blood OF anyone but him
oh, Godi it's terrible"
"a message? What was it,"
Cook wrote it, and addressed 1t to
Benteen. 1t read: Come on. Big vii
lage. Be quick. Bring packs And
then, F. S.-Bring packs That mean
they want ammunition badly; they're
fighting to the death out yon1er, and
they nee 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.
Sne@