, 1908-11-19

aide, beside him. the five depleted
troops filed resolutely forward, dream.
ing not of possible defeat. Suddenly
distant shots were heard far on to
their left and rear, and deepening into
q rumble. evidencing = warm engage
ment. The interested troopers lifted
their heads. listening i~ntently, while
eager whispers raI from mGu to man
along the closed files.
Reno is going in, boys; It will b
bur 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
bounded SO far up the stream from
where Reno should have been by that
time. Still 1t might be that those
overhanging 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,
peering at them from concealed ra.
vines; zone marked the rapidly mass
ing hordes, hideous in war-paint,
crowded into nearby coulees n be-
hind protecting hills.
It burst upon them with wild yells
The gloomy ridges blazed into their
startled faces, the dark ravines hurled
ut them skurrying horsemen. while,
wherever their yes turned. they be
held savage forms leaping forth from
hill and coulee. gulch INT rock shad.
ow. Horses fell, or ran about neigh
ing; men flung up their hands and
died In hat first awful minute of con
|sternation, and the little column
seemed to shrivel away az II 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
he'll.
Yet it was scarcely for more than .
4 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
- go ont o. e,miIia~ crdn"s s'aoI-
lng instantly the startled nerves; dis
cipline conquered disorder, and the
shattered column rolled out, as II BY
magic, into the semblance Of . battle
=line.
It was magniicently done. Custer
md his troop commanders brought
their sorely smitten men into q posi-
ton of defense, even hurled them
cheering forward in short, swift
charges. 10 as to clear the front and
Eain room in which to deploy. Out of
confusion emerged discipline, conf
hence, esprit de corps.
Safe beyond the range Of the troop
Drs' light c%arbines, the Indians, with
their heavier rifles. kept hurting .
constant storm of lead. hugging the
Gullies, and spreading out until there
WAS NO ear toward which the harass-
D cavalrymen could tur for safety.
Dine by one continually under q heavy
Ire. the scattered troops were form
ID Into something more nearly re-
bembling a battle line-Calhoun on
khe left, then Keogh. Smith and
fates, with Tom Custer holding the
Extreme right. Thus they waited grim
" for the next assault.
u Nor was it long delayed. Scarcely
bad the troopers recovered, reflled
heir depleted cartridge belts from
those of their dead comrades, when
he onslaught came. The soldiers
rated their coming. The short.
brown-barrelled carbines cleaned at
The level In the sunlight, and then
belched forth their message Of flame
Into the very faces Of those reckless
4orsemen. 1t was not in flesh and
Wood to bear such q blow. With
creams of rage, the red braves
werved to left and right. leaving
nany q dark, war-bedecked figure ly-
Ing dead behind them. and many .
Hderless pony skurrying over the
prairie. Exultant over their seeming
~ successful repulse. the men flung
themselves again upon the earth,
heir cheers ringing out above the
1kud Of ~retreating hoofs.
1--WE can hold them here. boys. until
emo comes" they shouted to each
other.
The skulking rcd riiemen crept
over closer behind the ridges. driving
heir deadly missiles into those ranks
Exposed in the open. To the command
81 the bugle they discharged two
roaring volleys from their carbines.
hopeful that the combined u
might reach the ears Of the tagging
Reno. They were hopeful yet. Al
4 Though one troop had only Q sergeant
left in command. and the dead bodies
Of their comrades strewed the plain.
II was four o'clock. For two long
hours they had been engaged in cease
less struggle, and now barely a nun
dred men, smoke begrimed. thirsty.
bleeding. half their carbines empty
they still formed IN impenetrable ring
around their chief. The struggle was
over, and they realized the fact.
When that wave Of savage horsemen
sxent forth again 1t would be to ride