"It's all right, men! The major's coming
at their heels. Now let 'em have it!"
In former days there had been scenes of wild rejoicing, sometimes of
deep emotion, when relief came to some Indian-besieged detachment of the
old regiment. Once, far to the south in the wild, romantic park country
of Colorado, a strong detachment had been corralled for days by an
overwhelming force of Utes. Their commander,--a dozen of their best
men,--all the horses killed and many troopers sorely wounded. They had
been rescued at last by their skilled and gallant colonel, after a long
and most scientific march by both night and day. Another time, still
farther in their past, and yet within a dozen years, away down the broad
valley of the very stream of which this little Elk was a tributary, the
Cheyennes had hemmed in and sorely hammered two depleted troops that
owed their ultimate rescue to the daring of the very officer who so
coolly, confidently headed the defence this day--to a night ride through
the Indian lines that nearly cost him his brave young life, but that
brought Captain Truscott with a fresh and powerful troop sweeping in to
their succor with the dawn. Then there had been men who strained other
men to their hearts and who shed tears like women, for gallant comrades
had bitten the dust in the desperate fighting of the day before, and
hope itself had almost gone--with the ammunition of the beleaguered
command.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174