Aha! An Indian in a red blanket had reined his pony short, and was staring at the ground. Now he began to trot in a small circle. A signal! The Indians on right and left of him hastened in.
"Here"s where we"d better look out," Scout Gruard sharply warned.
"That fellow has found our trail, and they"ll be after us in five minutes."
"What"s the best thing to do, then?" coolly asked Lieutenant Sibley.
The scouts knew the country, and in a pinch their advice was good.
"Well, we"ve just one chance of escape. That is, to make into the mountains and try to cross them. But we"ll have to prepare for the worst."
There was no escape into the open; the Sioux blocked the way. They had the detachment pocketed against the mountains, fifty miles from help.
To attempt a running fight, or a stand, would result in a surround, with the enemy pouring in a fire from every rise or else cutting off the water supply.
"Very well," the lieutenant agreed.
They went down to where the troopers and Packer John Becker were waiting and wondering.
Lieutenant Sibley spoke briefly. They had read bad news in his grave young face.
"Men, the Indians have discovered us. We"ll have to do some fighting.
If we can make an honorable escape, all together, we"ll do it. But if that proves impossible, let no man surrender. Die in your tracks, for these Indians will show no mercy."
The bronzed countenances of a few of the men paled a trifle; but as soldiers they were ready to do their best, obey orders and trust in their leaders.
"All right, sir." That was all they said.
"Mount."
Away they trotted at a smart pace, Scout Gruard guiding, west by north, directly for the nearest slope of the first range. Carbines thumped, bridles jingled, leather squeaked, the horses" hoofs clattered on the sandstone ledges. They emerged from the last of the reddish defiles and proceeded to climb--up, up, up into the pines. The going was steep, and the horses puffed and groaned.
Gazing back, they might see the Sioux a mile behind, and below, bunched in council, and looking and gesturing. They appeared uncertain whether to pursue.
Soon Frank turned into an old, narrow pony trail, pointing still westward as if to cross the first range.
"This is an old Sioux hunting trail," he called, over his shoulder, to the lieutenant and Reporter Finerty. "It leads clear to the snowy range. If we can get there our chances are pretty fair."
The trail was good. They pushed on at a trot, never sparing the horses. They began to feel more hopeful. The Sioux were out of sight; there were no sounds of pursuit; was it possible that they had been let off? As everybody knew, the Plains Indians rarely ventured far into the mountains, except on quick forays against enemies who did not expect them.
After five miles more, Scouts Gruard and Big Bat stopped. The column had climbed almost to the top of the first range.
"Do you want to rest the horses, lieutenant?"
"Yes, if it"s safe. What do you think?"
"Bat and I"ve about decided that those fellows have quit. We"ve given them the slip. They"re not likely to risk attacking us in the high country. So you can take a breathing spell. We"ve a hard trip ahead."
"Dismount," Lieutenant Sibley ordered.
The word was welcome. The horses were badly winded, and the men were hungry and thirsty, for they had had an early breakfast and the sun beat down hotly.
Noon camp was made here in a little park, where amidst the surrounding trees the gra.s.s grew long and the flowers nodded. The sweaty horses were unsaddled and picketed short, to graze; coffee was set upon small fires, to boil; sentries had been posted, and the other men were permitted to stretch out, in the shade.
Everything seemed very peaceful, but--!
At any rate, they all might talk and laugh and sip their coffee and doze, and believe that they had outwitted the Sioux. In about an hour and a half they saddled up and rode on, still heading from the Sioux and into the mountains.
Where they were going, n.o.body knew save Scouts Gruard and Big Bat.
Frank led, with Big Bat close behind him. Then came the lieutenant, and Reporter Finerty, and in long single file the troopers, with Packer John Becker closing the rear.
It was a splendid country, of cl.u.s.tered pines, scattered rocks and huge ledges, sunny, flowery parks, cold streams in the valleys, and tremendous, long slopes rising, before, to the white crest of the snowy main range of the Big Horn Mountains.
In mid-afternoon they were leisurely winding through a park lying between the front range and the main range. There was timber on the left, or south-west; rocks and timber on the right; and timber before, with the snow caps towering above.
Not a sound had been heard, to signal danger--when suddenly John Becker spurred up along the file, from the rear.
"The Indians, lieutenant! Here they are!"
What! Yes! War bonnets were moving rapidly through the trees and high rocks, quartering behind on the right. The troopers quickened, to close their intervals--for the column had strung out. Every hand dropped to its carbine b.u.t.t.
"Keep well to the left, against that timber," shouted Scout Gruard.
"Bang-g-g!" He had been answered by a volley. There were Indians among the rocks and trees, on the right, within two hundred yards. The bullets whined and stung; wounded horses reared and plunged--Reporter Finerty"s mount stumbled to its knees.
"To the left, men! Quick!"
Half wheeling, they dashed for the edge of the timber, there; gained it safely; under cover of the branches sprang to earth and faced about, guns ready. Lieutenant Sibley took command.
"Give them a few shots, sergeant, till we can tie our horses."
At the carbine reports the Indians in sight, out in the park, dived for shelter.
"Now tie your horses short, to the trees, men."
That was done.
"As skirmishers. Take intervals right and left. Keep under cover.
Fire carefully, only when you see a mark. Don"t waste ammunition."
The skirmish line ran in a semi-circle, from south-east to northwest, through the edge of the timber. There were many fallen trees, as if a storm or a forest fire had swept through; that closed the way to the horses, but furnished good breastworks.
The battle had opened in a hurry. The bullets from the Indians pattered like hail, sending the bark flying, and drumming upon the bare trunks of the breastworks. The heavy carbines stanchly replied.
Horses reared again, and screamed and fell, kicking. The Indians were making certain of the cavalry mounts. That was the first job--to put the enemy afoot.
The attackers were Sioux and Cheyennes both. How they had come in so cunningly, was a mystery. Gruard thought it was an accident; they were not the same Indians who had been sighted, below. But that cut no figure.
The head chief wore white buckskin and an imposing war bonnet. He might be glimpsed, now and then, as he darted about, placing his warriors.
"White Antelope, that," a.s.serted Gruard. "Eh, Bat?"
"Think so," Big Bat nodded.