He stopped speaking, and glanced up inquiringly into the face of the
silent messenger, apparently mistaking him for one of his own men.
"Where did you get this?"
"Cheyenne, sir."
"What! Do you mean to say you brought it through from there?"
"Silent Murphy carried it as far as the Powder River. He went crazy
there, and I was compelled to strap him. I brought it the rest of the
way."
"Where is Murphy?"
"Back with the pack-train, sir. I got him through alive, but entirely
gone in the head."
"Run across many hostiles in that region?"
"They were thick this side the Rosebud; all bucks, and travelling
north."
"Sioux?"
"Mostly, sir, but I saw one band wearing Cheyenne war-bonnets."
A puzzled look slowly crept into the strong face of the abrupt
questioner, his stern, commanding eyes studying the man standing
motionless before him, with freshly awakened interest. The gaze of the
other faltered, then came back courageously.
"I recognize you now," Custer said, quietly. "Am I to understand you
are again in the service?"
"My presence here is purely accidental, General Custer. The
opportunity came to me to do this work, and I very gladly accepted the
privilege."
The commander hesitated, scarcely knowing what he might be justified in
saying to this man.
"It was a brave deed, well performed," he said at last, with soldierly
cordiality, "although I can hardly offer you a fitting reward."
The other stood bareheaded, his face showing pale under its sunburn,
his hand trembling violently where it rested against his horse's mane.
"There is little I desire," he replied, slowly, unable to altogether
disguise the quiver in his voice, "and that is to be permitted to ride
once more into action in the ranks of the Seventh."
The true-hearted, impulsive, manly soldier fronting him reddened to the
roots of his fair hair, his proud eyes instantly softening. For a
second Hampton even imagined he would extend his hand, but the other
paused with one step forward, discipline proving stronger than impulse.
"Spoken like a true soldier," he exclaimed, a new warmth in his voice.
"You shall have your wish. Take position in Calhoun's troop yonder."
Hampton turned quietly away, leading his horse, yet had scarcely
advanced three yards before Custer halted him.
"I shall be pleased to talk with you again after the fight," he said,
briefly, as though half doubting the propriety of such words.