Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-04-04


puIsively, his voice full of agony. For
Gods sake. Weir, what are you fol-
lows waiting here for?"
The other uttered groan, his hand
flung in contempt back toward the
BLUM summit The cowardly fool
won't move; he's whipped to death
now
Reno, you mean? Whipped? You
haven't lost 90 men. Is this the Sew
enth ?-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, eve n if 1 have to damn
him to his face
He swung his horse with a jerk to
the left. but ever. as the spurs touched,
Weir grasped tt e taut rein firmly.
Its no use. Isrant. 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 wtre coming in, with
message from Custer. 1t would have
stirred the bloc d of anyone but him
oh, God, it's errible.''
"A message? What was it?''
Cook wrote il. and addressed it to
Benteen. 1t read: Come on. Big vii
lage- Be quick. Bring packs And
then, p. S.-Brin /, 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.
He leaned over and dropped one hand
heavily on Weir's shoulder. The
rest of you can do as you please, but
n troop is going to take those ammu-
milton packs to Custer if there's any
possible way to get through, orders or
no orders" He Strengthened UP in the
saddle, and his voice sounded down
the wearied line like the blast of a
trumpet.
Attention! troop, Right face;
dress. Number four bring forward
the ammunition packs. No, leave the
others where they are; move lively,
meni"
He watched them swing like magic
into formation, their dust-begrimed
faces lighting up with animation. They
knew their officer, and this meant bus
mess.
"Unsling carbines-1oadi''
Weir, the veteran soldier, glanced
down that steady line of ready troop
ers, and then back to Brant's face.
DO you mean it? Are you going up
those bluffs? Good Heavens, man, it
will mean courtmartial.''
Custer commands the Seventh.
command the pack-train, said Brant.
His orders are to bring up the packs.
Perhaps 1 can't get through alone, but
I'll try. Better a courtmartial than to
fail those men out there. Going? OF
course I'm going. Into line-take in
STRAIGHTFORWARD"
Attention, D troop" 1t was Weir's
voice, eager and determined now. Like
an undammed current his orders rang
out above the uproar, and in moment
the gallant troopers of N and d, some
on foot, some in saddle, were rushing
up the face of the bluff, their officers
leading, the precious ammunition
packs at the center, all alike scram-
bling for the summit, inspite of the
cracking of Indian rifles from every
side. Painting, breathless from the
hard climb, their carbines splitting fire
while the rapidly massing savages be-
gan circling their exposed position,
the little band fought their way for
ward hundred yards. Then they
halted, blocked by the numbers bar
ring their path, glancing back anx-
iously in hope that their effort would
encourage others to join them. They
could do it; they could do it if only
the rest of the boys would come. They
poured in their volleys and waited.
But Reno made no move. Weir and
Brant, determined to hold every inch
thus gained, threw the dismounted
men on their faces behind every pro-
lection of earth and encircled the
ridge with flame. If they could not
advance, they would not. be driven
back. Messenger after messenger,
taking life in hand, was sent skurry-
ing down the bluff, to beg reinforce
ments to push on for the rescue.
swearing it was possible. But it was
after five o'clock before Reno moved.
Then cautiously he advanced his col
| umn toward where and d troops yet
held desperately to the exposed ridge
He came too late. That distant firing
had ceased, and all need for further
advance had ended. Scarcely had re-
Inducements attained the summit be-
fore the torrent of savagery burst
screeching on their front.
From point to point the grim strug-
gle ragged, till nightfall wrought par
tial cessation. The wearied troopers
stretched out their lines SO as to pro-
tect the packs and-the field hospital.
| threw themselves on the ground, dig