Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-09-19
CHAPTER xxxvn.
-The BattIe wIth ,tI,e Indlsns.


Corbin had gone with the detach-
MIA Joe" was with the other in the
valley, but Hamlin remained with the
chief. About them was profound 81
lence, the men standing beside the1I
horses. There was nothing to do but
wait. every nerve at high tension
The wintry air grew colder, but the
troopers were not allowed to make the
slightest noise, not even to swing
their arms or stamp their feet. After
the last detachment swept silently out
into the night. there still remained
four hours of daylight. No one knew
what had occurred; the various
troops had melted away into the darI
and disappeared. No word, no sount
had come back They could only wait
in faith on their comrades. The men
were dismounted, each holding his
own horse in instant readiness for ac'
ton. Not few, wearied with the
days work, while still clinging to their
brides, wrapped the capes of their
oyercoats over their heads and threw
IAGu1SCktCS QOWu AL INC 0AAWy dAAN ANAS
asleep.
At the first sight of dawn Hamlin
was sent down the line to arouse them.
Overcoats were taken off and strapped
to the saddles, carbines loaded and
slung, pistols examined and looscned
in their holsters, saddles recinched,
and curb chains carefully looked after.
This was the work of but few mo
ments, the half-frozen soldiers NOV
ing with an eagerness that sent the
hot blood coursing iercely through
numbed limbs. To the whispered com
mand to mount, running from lip to
lip along the line, the men sprang
joyously into their saddles, their
quickened ears and eager eyes ready
for the signal.
Slowly, at a walk, Custer led them
forward toward the crest of the hill.
where the Usage guide watched
through the spectral light of dawn
the doomed village beneath. TO the
uplift of hand the column halted,
and Custer and his bugler went for
ward. A step behind crouched the
Sergeant, grasping tho reins of three
horses. while little to the right, be-
yond theS sweep of the coming charge,
waited the regimental band.
Peering over the crest, the leader
saw through the dina haze. scarcely
five hundred yards distant, dOtting the
north bank of the Washita for more
than quarter of a mile. the Indian
village. There was about it scarcely
a sign of human life. From the top
of two or three of the tepees light
wreaths of smoke hOated languidly
out on the wintry air. and beyond the
pony herd was restIessly moving
Even as he gazed, half convinced that
the Indians had been warned. the vii
lage deserted. the sharp report of
rifle rang out in the distance.
Hamlin saw the General spring up
right, his lips uttering the sharp con-
mand, Sound the charge!" Even
while the piercing blare of the bugle
cut the frosty air, there was a jingle
OF steel as the troopers behind spurred
forward Almost at the instant the
three dismounted men were in saddle
Custer waved his hand at the band,
shouted PLAY" and TO the rollicking
air OF Garry Owen the eager col
umn Of horsemen broke into q mad
gallop, and with ringing cheers and
mighty rush, swept over the ridge
straight down into the startled village
To Hamlin, at Clusters side. reins in
his teeth, revolver in either hand.
what followed was scarcely memory
L. remained afterward as a blurred.
indistinct picture of action. changing
lines. He heard the answering cat
Of three bugles: the deafening thld
of horses, hoofs; the converging cheers
of excited troopers; the mingling ring
of revolver shots; a sharp order cleay
ing the turmoil, the wild neigh OF q
stricken horse; the cultural yelis OF
Indians leaping from their tepees irro
the open. Then he was in the heEyt
OF the village, firing with both hands,
before him, about him, half-naked say
ages fighting desperately, striking at
him with knives. firing from the shei-
ter of tepees, springing at him with
naked hands In fierce effort to draG
him from the saddle. 1t was all COZ
fusion, chaos, babble of noise, h;s
eyes blinded by. CLINT Of steel and glare
of fire. The impetus of their rush car-
ried them irresistibly forward over
and through tents they rode, across tlsr
bodies Of living and dead; men reele5
and fell from saddles: riderleSs horses
swept on unguided; reyolvers emptiel
we're flung aside, and hands closed
hard On sabre hits. Foot by foot.
yard by yard, they drove the wedge
of their charge, until they swept
through the fringe of tepees, out into
the stampeded pony herd.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)
The faith that counts is the kiac