m forward, went straight aloft,
a gesture instantly repeated by the sergeant, and in two seconds more
the horses, panting a little with excitement, were pawing the turf, and
Drum's voice, low and compelling, ordered, "Count fours!" The next
moment the odd numbers darted forward four yards, and halted. The next,
with carbines swung over their shoulders, numbers one, two, and three
were swinging from saddle, the next all horses were again in one line,
with every fourth trooper still seated in saddle; and the dismounted
men deftly lashing their reins to the headstalls of numbers two and
three, while three himself passed his reins up to number four. Then,
nimbly, with carbines at trail, up came a dozen wiry young fellows in
dusty campaign rig, running swiftly up the slope, and in another moment
were sprawling on their stomachs close to the crest, their slouch hats
flung aside.
And this was what they saw: Before them, to the right front, stretching
away to the north, lay a broad valley, through which meandered a wider,
bigger stream than the familiar Chaduza. It came winding down from the
west before making its sweeping bend to the northward. It was fringed
in spots by cotton-woods, and bare to the very banks in others. It was
desolate and lifeless far as the eye could see, west and north. But
away to the northeast, perhaps seven miles or so, a faint column of
smoke was rising against the skies. Away to the northwest, perhaps a
dozen miles, in alternate puffs, another and narrower smoke column was
rising--Sioux signals, as they knew at once--and right down here before
their eyes, midway between the shining river and the foot of the
northward slope, perhaps two thousand yards out--a little more than a
mile--was coming toward them a four-horse wagon, its white top a wreck,
its struggling team lashed by the whip of the driver and the quirts of
half a dozen dusky outriders, while others still circled and shouted
and urged them on, while afar back on the east bank of the stream other
riders could be seen darting about in keen excitement. All on a sudden,
but by no means all unprepared, "Corporal Pops" and his little command
found themselves facing a new proposition and a band of turbulent
Sioux.
CHAPTER XVI
PROOF POSITIVE OF GUILT
And the first words spoken came from the lips of Sergeant Drum--like
many another old campaigner among the old-time regulars, a privileged
character.
"Didn't I tell ye those fellers
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