across the
prairie, heading now for the cottonwoods, while others still faced and
fired on the far blue skirmish line. The fierce wind, sweeping across
the direction of the attack, deadened all sound of hoof or war chant,
but there was no mistaking the signs, no doubt of the intent, when, in a
little moment more, the earth began to tremble beneath the dancing pony
feet, telling, almost with the swiftness of sight, that the grand
advance had again begun. But other eyes were watching too. Other
soldiers, keen campaigners as these at the Elk, were there afield, and
almost at the moment the wild barbaric horde burst yelling into their
eager gallop, and before the dust cloud hid the distant slopes beyond,
the exultant shout went up from the captain's lips, as he threw down his
glass and grabbed his carbine. "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.

Now, with heavier losses than had befallen Wayne in '76, Ray's command
beheld with almost tranquil hearts the coming of the fierce array in
final charge. Behind them, not two miles, to be sure, rode in swift,
well-order