Safe beyond range of the troopers' light carbines, the Indians, with

their heavier rifles, kept hurling a constant storm of lead, hugging

the gullies, and spreading out until there was no rear toward which the

harassed cavalrymen could turn for safety. One by one, continually

under a heavy fire, the scattered troops were formed into something

more nearly resembling a battle line--Calhoun on the left, then Keogh,

Smith, and Yates, with Tom Custer holding the extreme right. The

position taken was far from being an ideal one, yet the best possible

under the circumstances, and the exhausted men flung themselves down

behind low ridges, seeking protection from the Sioux bullets, those

assigned to the right enjoying the advantage of a somewhat higher

elevation. Thus they waited grimly for the next assault.

Nor was it long delayed. Scarcely had the troopers recovered, refilled

their depleted cartridge belts from those of their dead comrades, when

the onslaught came. Lashing their ponies into mad gallop, now sitting

erect, the next moment lying hidden behind the plunging animals,

constantly screaming their shrill war-cries, their guns brandished in

air, they swept onward, seeking to crush that thin line in one terrible

onset. But they reckoned wrong. The soldiers waited their coming.

The short, brown-barrelled carbines gleamed at the level in the

sunlight, and then belched forth their message of flame into the very

faces of those reckless horsemen. It was not in flesh and blood to

bear such a blow. With screams of rage, the red braves swerved to left

and right, leaving many a dark, war-bedecked figure lying dead behind

them, and many a riderless pony skurrying over the prairie. Yet their

wild ride had not been altogether in vain; like a whirlwind they had

struck against Calhoun on the flank, forcing his troopers to yield

sullen ground, thus contracting the little semicircle of defenders,

pressing it back against that central hill. It was a step nearer the

end, yet those who fought scarcely realized its significance. Exultant

over their seemingly successful repulse, the men flung themselves again

upon the earth, their cheers ringing out above the thud of retreating

hoofs.

"We can hold them here, boys, until Reno comes," they shouted to each

other.

The skulking red riflemen crept ever closer behind the ridges, driving

their deadly missiles into those ranks exposed in the open. Twice

squads dashed forth to dislodge these bands, but were in turn driven

back, the line of fire continually creeping nearer, clouds of smoke

concealing the cautious marksmen lying prone in the grass. Custer

walked up and down the irregular line, cool, apparently unmoved,

speaking words of approval to officers and men. To the command of the

bugle they discharged two roaring volleys from their carbines, hopeful

that the combined sound might reach the ears of the lagging Reno. They

were hopeful yet, although one troop had only a sergeant left in

command, and the dead bodies of their comrades strewed the plain.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024