The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-12-26
CHAPTER XX%|V.


umn of cayalrymen moved silently
forward down the concealing couIee
toward the more open ground beyond.
Clusters plan was surprise, the sudden
shifting OF that village in the valley
from the rear by the quick charge Of
his horsemer. From man to man the
whispered purpose travelled down the
ranks, the eager troopers greeting the
welcome message with kindling eyes.
1t was the old way Of the Seventh.
and they knew it well
With Custer riding at he head Of
the column, and only a little to the
rear of the advance scouts, his adult
ant Cook, together with a volunteer
aide. beside him. the ave depleted
troops filed resolutely forward. dream
ing not of possible defeat Suddenly
distant shots were heard far off to
their left and rear. and deepening into
a rumble, eyidencing a warm engage
ment. The interested troopers lifted
their heads, listening intently while
eager whispers ran from man to man
along the closed files
Reno is going in. boys; it will be
our turn next"
Close up, Quiet there, lads,
quiet" officer after officer passed the
word of command.
Yet there were those among them
who felt a strange dread-that firing
sounded so far up the stream from
where Reno should have been by that
time. Still it might be that those
oyerhanging bluffs would mufie and
defect the reports. All about them
lowered death in dreadful guise None
among them saw those cruel, spying
eyes watching from distant ridges.
peerins at them from concealed ra-
vines; none marked the rapidly mass
ing hordes. hideous in wsr-paint,
crowded into nearby coulees and be-
hind protecting hills
1t burst upon them with wild yens
The gloomy ridges blazed into their
startled faces. the dark ravines hurled
at them skurrying horsemen while,
wherever their eyes turned. they be
held savage forms lcaping forth from
hill and coulea. gulch and rock shad-
ow. Horses fell, or ran about neigh
ing; men flung up their hands and
died in that first awful minute of CON
sterration. and the little column
seemed to shrivel away as if consum-
ed by the fame which struck it, front
and flank and rear 1t was as if those
men had ridden into the mouth of
hell.
Yet it was scarcely for more than a
minute. Men trained. strong, clear of
brain. were in those stricken lines
men who had seen Indian battle be-
fore The recoil came, swift as had
been the surprise Voice after voice
rang out old familiar orders. steady
ing instantly the startled nerves; dis
cipline conquered disorder, and the
shattered column rolled out as if by
magic, into the semblance of battle
line.
1t was magnifcently done Custer
and his troop commanders brought
their sorely smitten men into a posi-
ton of defense even hurled them
cheering forward in short, swift
charges, so as to clear the front and
gain room in which to deploy Out of
confusion emerged discipline, conf
dence, esprit de corps
Safe beyond the range of the troop
ers' light carbines, the Indians, with
their heavier rifles, kept hurting a
constant storm of lead. hugsing the
gullies, and spreading out until there
was no rear toward which the harass-
ed cavalrymen could turn for safety
One by one, continually under heavy
fire, the scattered troops were form
ed into something more nearly re-
sembling battle line-Calhoun on
the left, then Keogh, Smith and
Yates, with Tom Custer holding the
extreme right Thus they waited grim
ly for the next assault
Nor was it long delayed. Scarcely
had the troopers recovered, reflled
their depleted cartridge belts from
those of their dead comrades, wi. /
the onslaught came The soldic 5
waited their coming. The ST. {,
brown-barrelled carbines CLEANED at
the level in the sunlight, and ten
DtlCnSu lOl III lHfI- lHcSStSt Vi name
into the very faces of those reckless
horsemen. II was not in flesh and
blood to bear such a blow With
screams Of rage, the red raves
swerved to left and right aving
many a dark, warbedecked f~lre ly-
ing dead behind them, and any a
riderless pony skurrying over the
prairie. Exultsnt over their eming-
ly successful repulse, the M flung
themselves again upon the earth,
their cheers ringing out owe the
thud of retreating hoofs.
I'VE can hold them here. boys, until
Reno comes" they shouted to each
other.
The skulking red rihelcn crept
ever closer behind the rides driving
their deadly missiles into hose ranks
exposed in the open. To the command
Of the bugle they discharged two
roaring volleys from their carbines,
hopeful that the combined sound
might reach the ears of the tagging
Reno. They were hopeful yet, al
though enc troep had only serEsaAt