ted a long time, and I was forgotten. About
twilight I managed to break loose, and I escaped by hiding in the
undergrowth. My brother, who was on the other side of town,
escaped in much the same way."

"Sounds improbable, very improbable!" muttered the lieutenant.

Suddenly an old sergeant, who had been standing near, listening
attentively, exclaimed:

"Look at the boy's wrists, lieutenant! They've got just the
marks than an Indian rawhide would make!"

Dick impulsively held up his wrists, from which the bandages had
fallen without his notice. A deep red ring encircled each, and
it was obvious from their faces that others believed, even if the
lieutenant did not. But he, too, dropped at least a part of his
disbelief.

"I cannot deny your story of being captives among the Sioux," he
said, "because you are white and the look of your eyes is honest.
But you must be mistaken about Custer. They cannot all have
fallen; it was your excitement that made you think it."

Dick did not insist. He was the bearer of bad news, but he would
not seek to make others believe it if they did not wish to do
so. The dreadful confirmation would come soon enough.

"Take them away, Williams," said the lieutenant to the sergeant,
"and give them food and drink. They look as if they needed it."

The sergeant was kindly, and he asked Dick and Albert many
questions as he led them to a point farther back on the bluff
beyond the rifle shots of the Sioux, who were now firing heavily
in the darkness upon Reno's command, the troops driven off from
the far side of the town, and the commands of Benteen and
McDougall, which had formed a junction with Reno. It was evident
that he believed all Dick told him, and his eyes became heavy
with sorrow.

"Poor lads!" he murmured. "And so many of them gone!"

He took them to a fire, and here both of them collapsed
completely. But with stimulants, good food, and water they
recovered in an hour, and then Dick was asked to tell again what
he had seen to the chief officers. They listened attentively,
but Dick knew that they, too, went away incredulous.

Throughout the talk Dick and Albert heard the sound of pick and
spade as the men continued to throw up the earthworks, and there
was an incessant patter of rifle fire as the Sioux crept forward
in the darkness, firing from every tree, or rock, or hillock, and
keeping up a frightful yelling, half of menace and half of
triumph. But their bullets