Evening star., 1939-12-31

the two couriers came racing into
camp. Orders were snapped out,
and men began rushing toward the
picket lines. Horses were hur-
riedly saddled and combat equip.
ment gathered. And presently the
cavalcade was moving across the
Bad Lands in the face Of a bluster.
ing wind.
The rescue columns consisted Of
Troops F and I. They moved at a
trot, remembering Custer and Fet-
terman.
Near the head of the column rode
1t. Cheever, his body jerking to the
ragged trot of his mount Once he
thought he caught the ripple of mus
kerry in the distance. He listened
intently; it was difficult to Judge
sound over the laundering hoofs
of two troops. Then he heard the
unmistakable blast Of many weap-
ons in unison. "Volley FIRE" he re-
fected. Trapped soldiers usually
fire in volleys The sound carries
its plea for aid farther than indi-
vidual weapons. That means Howe
is in tough spot"
An orderly from the squadron COM
mander galloped up.
Maj. Tupper's compliments, sir.
He directs the lieutenant to send
20 men out as advance guard"
The offcer hesitated. He hated
to detail a score Of men on a mis-
sion such as that. 1t would be their
duty, OF course, to prod out any
ambuscades; to die if necessary, a
sacrifice to save the main body from
surprise. He wouldn't send a man
anywhere he wouldn't go himself.
Himself! Why not? There were
no orders against that.
Thundered Ahead.
Hastily signaling the closest troop
ers to accompany him, the lieu
tenant spurred his horse to .
gallop. The little command thun-
dered ahead, a mile, miles in front
Of the squadron. The firing was
closer now.
1t. Cheever motioned his men to
spread out as skirmishers. Some
thing looked incorrect about the de-
tail. He should have more men than
that. He counted, and then he
counted again. Good Lord!" he
calculated. Thirteen! That spells
bad luck for some one"
They moved nearer to the crack.
ling OF firearms. White River
couldn't be far away, and that
shooting proved that some of the
soldiers still survived.
They reached the summit of q
high bluff. There, a hundred feet
below precipitous cliff, was White
River. It was an awesome sight.
The cold water churned about the
ragged chunks Of ice that choked.
the river from bank to bank. But,
what was more important, 1t.
Cheever could see Indians gathering
on the opposite side.
A narrow and treacherous trail
offered the only approach to the
stream. 1t cut steeply down the
hanks Of the cliff, like a goat trail.
In places the men would be forced
to descend in single file, making a
target as plain as clay pigeons in
shooting gallery.
Recognized His Job,
The lieutenant wasn't thinking of
himself. This was his job and it
was up to him to do it. But 2 miles
behind was the rest of the squadron.
The Indians across the river were
increasing rapidly. BY the time
Maj. Tupper and his two troops
arrived the Sioux would be strong
enough to pick the cavalrymen off
one at a time as they slipped down
the steep incline.
He glanced quickly from the In
dians to the river. There was no
sign of ford anywhere. Could his
men and horses swim that icy cur
rent in the face Of hostile fire? There
was only one way to find out.
Follow mel" he shouted. The
dozen men negotiated the descent
behind Cheever. A few shots were
fired by the surprised Sioux. They
couldn't believe their eyes. The
maneuver was impossible!
1t. Cheever paused at the river
bank. The water looked deadly cold
(see RENTFRoW. Page B-SJ