The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-12-12
CHAPTER XXX.
On the LittIo Biz Horn.

y trOC'. guarding, much to their en-
phaticaLy EXPIRE -sed disgust, the more
slowly moving rack-train, were follow
ing Cu-.er's advancing column of
hcrseme1 Gown the right bank Of the
Little ~ Horn. The troopers, car
/ bines a, knee. sitting erect in their
saddles, their faces browned by the
/ hot winds of the plains, were riding
steadily northward Beside them,
/ mounted upon rangy chestnut, Brant
kept his watchful eyes on those scat
tered nankers dotting the summit of
the nearby bluff. Suddenly one of
! these waved his hand eagerly, and the
lieutenant went dashing up the sharp
/ ascent
What ia it, now, Lane?"
"Somethin' movin' out yOnder. sir"
| and the trooper pointed into the south
east. They're down in a coulee now.
| reckon; but will be up on a ridge
agin in minute. got sight of 'em
twice afore l waved"
The officer gazed earnestly in the
| direction indicated, and was almost
. Immediately rewarded by the glimpse
Of some indistinct, dark figures dimly
showing against the lighter back
ground Of sky
White men" he announced. short
". Come with me"
At brisk trot they rode out. the
trooper tagging a pace to the rear, the
watchful eyes Of both men sweeping
suspiciously across the prairie. The
two parties met suddenly upon the
summit Of a sharp ridge and Brant
drew in his horse with an exclamation
of establishment 1t was a pathetic
, spectacle he stared at-a horse scarce
ly able to stagger forward on his back,
with feet strapped securely beneath
and hands bound to the high pommel,
the lips grinning ferociously. perched
misshapen creature clothed as
I man. Beside these, hatless, his shoes
barely holding together, man of
slender figure and sunburnt face held
the bridle-rein. An instant they gazed
at each other. the young officers eyes
/ filled with sympathetic horror, the
other staring alphabetically at his res
cuer
My God. Can this be you, Hamp-
ton? What does II mean Why are
you here?'
Hampton, leaning against the trem-
bling horse to keep erect, slowly lifted
his hand in semblance of military
salute. Dispatches from Cheyenne
This is Murphy-went crazy out yon-
der For Gods sake--water, food"
Your canteen. Lane" exclaimed
Brant Now hold this cup" and he
dashed into it a liberal supply Of
brandy from a pocket-fask Drink
that all down. Hampton"
The man did mechanically as he
was ordered hisshand never relaxing
its grasp of the rein. Then a CLEAN
Of reawakened intelligence appeared
in his eyes; he glanced up into the
leering countenance of Murphy, and
then back at those others. Give me
another for him
Brant handed TO him the filed cup,
noting as he did so the strange steadi-
ness Of the hand which accepted it.
Hampton lifted the tin to the figure in
the saddle.
Drink it," he commanded, CURLY,
every drop!"
For an instant the maniac glared
back at him sullenly; then he appear
ed to shrink in terror, and drank
swiftly.
we can make the rest of the way
now Hampton announced, quietly
Lord, but this has been a trip!"
Lane dismounted at Brant's order
and assisted Hampton to climb into
the vacated saddle. Then the trooper
grasped the rein of Murphy's horse
and the little party started toward
where the pack-train was hidden in
the valley.
rs Custer here?" said Hampton.
mo; that is, not with my party. We
are guarding the pack-train. The 9TH
ers are ahead, and Custer, with five
troops, has moved to the right. He
is somewhere among those ridges
back Of the bluff"
The man turned and looked where
the officer pointed, shading his eyes
with his hand
Can you give me fresh horse, a
bite to eat, and cup of coffee, down
there?" he asked, anxiously. you
see I've got to go on"
Go on? Good God! man. do you
realize what you are saying? Why,
| you can hardly sit the saddle! You
carry dispatches, you say? Well,
there are plenty of good men in my
troop who will volunteer to take them