The other bowed, his face instantly brightening. "I thank you
sincerely."
The perplexed commander stood motionless, gazing after the receding
figure, his face grown grave and thoughtful. Then he turned to the
wondering adjutant beside him.
"You never knew him, did you, Cook?"
"I think not, sir; who is he?"
"Captain Nolan--you have heard the story."
The younger officer wheeled about, staring, but the despatch bearer had
already become indistinguishable among the troopers.
"Is that so?" he exclaimed, in evident surprise. "He has a manly face."
"Ay, and he was as fine a soldier as ever fought under the flag,"
declared Custer, frankly. "Poor devil! The hardest service I was ever
called upon to perform was the day we broke him. I wonder if Calhoun
will recognize the face; they were good friends once."
He stopped speaking, and for a time his field-glasses were fastened
upon a small section of Indian village nestled in the green valley.
Its full extent was concealed by the hills, yet from what the watchers
saw they realized that this would prove no small encampment.
"I doubt if many warriors are there," he commented, at last. "They may
have gone up the river to intercept Reno's advance, and if so, this
should be our time to strike. But we are not far enough around, and
this ground is too rough for cavalry. There looks to be considerable
level land out yonder, and that coulée ought to lead us into it
without peril of observation from below. Return to your commands,
gentlemen, and with the order of march see personally that your men
move quietly. We must strike quick and hard, driving the wedge home
with a single blow."
His inquiring gaze swept thoughtfully over the expectant faces of his
troop commanders. "That will be all at present, gentlemen; you will
require no further instructions until we deploy. Captain Calhoun, just
a word, please."
The officer thus directly addressed, a handsome, stalwart man of middle
age, reined in his mettlesome horse and waited.
"Captain, the messenger who has just brought us despatches from
Cheyenne is a civilian, but has requested permission to have a share in
this coming fight. I have assigned him to your troop."
Calhoun bowed.
"I thought it best to spare you any possible embarrassment by saying
that the man is not entirely unknown to you."
"May I ask his name?"
"Robert Nolan."
The strong, lion-like face flushed under its tan, then quickly lit up
with a smile. "I thank you. Captain Nolan will not suffer at my
hands."