THE ADVANCE OF CUSTER
The Sergeant swung down from the saddle and forced both ponies back
below the crest of the hill, his swift glance sweeping back over their
trail. Then he gazed again searchingly into the valley below.
"What is it?" she questioned.
"A moving column of horsemen, soldiers from their formation, for
Indians never march in column of fours. They are too far away for me
to be certain yet. What troops can be away out here?"
"Wasn't there to be a winter campaign against Black Kettle?" she
questioned. "It was the rumor at Dodge. Perhaps--"
"Why, yes, that must be it," he interrupted eagerly. "Custer and the
Seventh. What luck! And I'll be in it with the boys after all."
"Shall we not ride to meet them?"
"Soon, yes; only we need to be certain first."
"Are you not?" and she rose in her stirrups. "I am sure they are
cavalrymen. Now you can see clearly as they climb the hill."
"There is no doubt," he admitted, "a single troop ahead of the main
body; the others will be beyond the bend in the stream."
He stepped back, where he could look directly into her face.
"They are soldiers all right, but that was not what I wanted to be so
certain about. When we ride down there, Molly girl, we shall be
swallowed up into the old life once more, the old army life."
"Yes."
"Perhaps you do not realize how different it will all be from out here
alone together."
"Why should it be different?"
"I shall be again a soldier in the ranks, under orders, and you Major
McDonald's daughter."
"But--but--" her eyes full of appeal.
"No, little girl," he explained quickly, reaching up and touching her
gently; "we are never going to say anything about that to those down
there--his comrades in arms. It is going to be our secret. I am glad
you told me; it has brought us together as, perhaps, nothing else
could, but there is no reason why the world should ever know. Let them
think he died defending his trust. Perhaps he did; what you overheard
might have been said for a purpose, but, even if it were true, he had
been driven to it by a merciless woman. It is ours to defend, not
blacken his memory."
She bent slowly down until her cheek touched his.
"I--I thought you would say that," she returned slowly, "but what else
you said is not so--there will never again be a barrier of rank between
us." She straightened in the saddle, looking down into his eyes.
"Whoever the officer may be in command of that detachment, I want you
to tell him all."
"All?"
"Yes, that we are engaged; I am proud to have them know."
The truth was shining in her eyes, glowing on her cheeks. She leaned
forward.
"Kiss me, and believe!"
"Molly, Molly," he whispered. "Never will I doubt again."
They could perceive the blue of the overcoats as they rode over the
ridge, and at their sudden appearance the little column of horsemen
came to a halt. Hamlin flung up one hand in signal, and the two urged
their ponies down the side of the hill. Three men spurred forth to
meet them, spreading out slightly as though still suspicious of some
trick, but, as they drew near, the leader suddenly waved his hand, and
they dashed forward.
"Hamlin! Glad to see you again," the first rider greeted the Sergeant
cordially. "Can this be Major McDonald's daughter."
"Yes, Major Elliott; I can repeat the story as we ride along, sir. You
are the advance of Custer's expedition, I presume?"
"We are; the others are some miles behind, moving slowly so that the
wagons can keep within touch. Wonderful the way those wagons have
pushed ahead over the rough country. Have only missed camp twice since
we left Dodge."
"When was that, sir?"
"Before the blizzard all except your troop were at Camp Supply; they
had joined since, and it was then we heard about your trip down here.
What became of your men, Sergeant?"
"Wasson and one private were killed, sir; the other private was frozen
so badly I had to leave him in shelter on the Cimarron."
"By gad, it sounds interesting; and so you tackled the villains alone,
and had some fight at that before rescuing Miss McDonald. Well, the
story will keep until we make camp again. However," and he bent low
over the lady's hand, "I must congratulate Miss McDonald on her
escaping without any serious injury."
"That is not all I should be congratulated upon, Major Elliott," she
said quietly.
"No--eh--perhaps I do not understand."
"I desire that you shall; I refer to my engagement to Sergeant Hamlin."
The officer glanced in some bewilderment from her face to that of the
silent trooper.
"You--you mean matrimonial?" he stammered, plainly embarrassed, unable
so suddenly to grasp the peculiar situation. "Hamlin, what--what does
this mean?"
"Miss Molly and I have known each other for some time," explained the
Sergeant bluntly. "Out here alone we discovered we were more than
friends. That is all, sir."
For an instant Elliott hesitated, held by the strange etiquette of
rank, then the gentleman conquered the soldier, and he drew off his
glove, and held out his hand.
"I can congratulate you, Miss McDonald," he exclaimed frankly. "I have
known Sergeant Hamlin for two years; he is a soldier and a gentleman."
The red blood swept into her cheeks, her eyes brightening.
"He is my soldier," she replied softly, "and the man I love."
They rode together down the steep hillside covered with its mantle of
snow to join the little body of troopers halted in the valley. Only
once did Elliott speak.
"You know Black Kettle's camp, Sergeant?"
"We were almost within sight of it, sir. I saw his pony herd
distinctly."
"Where was that?"
"On the Canadian, close to the mouth of Buffalo Creek."
"Did you learn anything as to the number of Indians with him?"
"Nothing definite, but it is a large encampment, not all Cheyennes."
"So we heard, but were unable to discover the exact situation. We have
been feeling our way forward cautiously. I fear it is going to be my
unpleasant duty to separate you and Miss McDonald. We shall need your
services as guide, and the lady will be far better off with the main
column. Indeed some of the empty wagons are to be sent back to Camp
Supply to-night, and probably Custer will deem it best that she return
with them. This winter campaigning is going to be rough work, outside
of the fighting. You know Custer, and his style; besides Sheridan is
himself at Camp Supply in command."
"You hear, Molly?"
"Yes; of course, I will do whatever General Custer deems best. Are
there any women at Camp Supply, Major?"
"Yes, a few; camp women mostly, although there may be also an officer's
wife or two--19th Kansas volunteers."
"Then it will be best for me to go there, if I can," she smiled. "I am
desperately in need of clothes."
"I suspected as much. I will arrange to give you a guard at once. And
you, Sergeant? As you are still under special orders, I presume I have
no authority to detain you in my command."
"I prefer to remain, sir," grimly. "Dupont, Miss McDonald's captor, is
alive and in Black Kettle's camp. We still have a feud to settle."
"Good; then that is arranged; ah, Miss McDonald, allow me to present
Lieutenant Chambers. Lieutenant, detail three men to guard the lady
back to the main column. Have her taken to General Custer at once."
"Very well, sir; and the command?"
Elliott looked at the Sergeant inquiringly.
"That is for Sergeant Hamlin to determine; he has just been scouting
through that country, and will act as guide."
The Sergeant stood for a moment motionless beside his horse studying
the vista of snow-draped hillside. The region beyond the crest of the
ridge unrolled before his memory.
"Then we will keep directly on up this valley, sir," he said at last.
"It's Wolf Creek, is it not? We shall be safer to keep out of sight
to-day, and this depression must lead toward the Canadian. May I
exchange mounts with one of those men going back, Major? I fear my
pony is about done."
"Certainly."
There was no opportunity for anything save a simple grasp of the hand,
ere Molly rode away with her escort. Then the little column of
troopers moved on, and Hamlin, glancing backward as he rode past, took
his place in advance beside Major Elliott.