The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-07-24

u AOpCs o1o yCt IAO uOuOl ISuudlub
with the regiment. Miss Molly Nc.
Donald, the toast Of old Fort Dodge,
whose bright eyes have won all your
hearts, has given hers to Sergeant
Hamlin of the Seventh. And now
again, boys, to the honor Of the regi.
ment!"
Out of the buzz of conversation and
the hearty words Of congratulation,
Hamlin emerged bewildered, finding
himself again facing Custer, whose
manner had as swiftly changed into
the brusque note Of command.
81 have met you before, Sergeant"
he said slowly, before your assign,
ment to the Seventh, / think. l am
not sure where; were you in the Shen.
andoah?"
Il was, SIR"
AT Winchester"
q" saw you first at Cedar Creek,
General Custer; l brought a flag"
That's it; I have the incident
clearly before me now. You were a
lieutenant-colonel?"
"Of the Fourth Texas, SIR"
Exactly; I think I heard later-but
never mind that now. Sheridan re-
members you; he even mentioned
your name to me a few weeks ago. No
doubt that was what caused me to
recognize your face again after all
these years. How long have you been
in our service?"
Orc,1r otna1 &h1 rro~ n1nenI
For a moment the two men looked
into each others faces, the command
er smiling, the enlisted man at re-
spectful attention.
&" will talk with you at some future
time, Sergeant" Custer said at last,
resuming his seat On a log. Nov we
shall have to consider tomorrow's
march. Were you within sight of
Black Kettles camp?"
mo, sir; only Of his pony herd
out in the valley of the Canadian"
"Where would you suppose the
camp situated"
"Above, behind the bluffs, about
the mouth of Buffalo Creek"
Custer drew the map toward him
scrutinizing it carefully.
"You may be right, Of course" he
commented, his glance on the faces OF
the officers, "but this does not agree
with the understanding at Camp Sup.
ply, nor the report Of our Indian
scouts. We supposed Black Kettle to
be farther south on the Washita. How
large was the pony herd?"
. I'VE were not near enough to count
the animals, sir, but there must have
been two hundred head"
"A large party then, at least. What
do you say, Corbin?"
The scout addressed. conspicuous
in his buffalo skin coat, leaned against
the tent-pole, his black whiskers NOV.
ing industriously as he chewed.
oval Gineral," he said slowly, "1
know this we're Brick Hamlin, an
he's a right smart plainsman, sojer eel
no sojer. If he says he saw tibet POM
herd, her he sure did. Thet means q
considerable bunch O. Injuns thar, er
~rtharabouts. Now I know Black Ket
ties outfit Is down on the Washita, sc
the only conclusion is that this yere
band tibet the Sergeant stirred up is
some new tribe er other, a-driftin'
down frum the north. I reckon If we
ride up ther valley We'll hit their trail
an it'll lead straight down to them
,Cheyennes."
Custer took time to consider this
explanation, spreading the field map
out on his knees, and measuring the
distance between the streams. No
one in the little group spoke. although
several leaned forward eagerly. The
chief was not a man to ask advice; he
preferred to decide for himself. Sud
denly he Strengthened up and threw
back his head to look about.
I'm my judgment Corbin is right
gentlemen" he said i~mpetuously. 81
had intended crossing here, but In
stead we will go further up stream.
There Is doubtless a ford near Buffalo
Creek, and If we can strike an Indian
trail leading to the Washita, we can
follow easily by night, or day, and II
is bound to terminate at Black Ket.
SoAP AsOIoAh W yOoA aoOPci
and be ready to march at daybreak.
Major Elliott, you VIII take the ad.
vance again, at least three hours
ahead of the main column. Move with
caution, your iankers well out; both
Hamlin and Corbin will go with you.
Are there any Questions?"
Full field eQuipment?" asked q
voice.
Certainly, although in case Of 90.
ing into action the o~vercoats will be
discarded. Look over your ammuni-
ton carefully tonight"
They fled out of the tent one by
one, some Of the older officers paus-
ing q moment to speak with Hamlin.
his W captain extending his hand
cordially, with q warm word Of COM
mendation. The Sergeant and Major
Elliott alone remained.
III ] strike . fresh trail. General"
asked the latter, "am I to press for
ward OF rait for the main bodyf"