"Gentlemen," he commented to the little group gathered about him, yet
without glancing up from the paper in his hand, "Crook was defeated
over on the Rosebud the seventeenth, and forced to retire. That will
account for the unexpected number of hostiles fronting us up here,
Cook; but the greater the task, the greater the glory. Ah, I thought
as much. I am advised by the Department to keep in close touch with
Terry and Gibbons, and to hold off from making a direct attack until
infantry can arrive in support. Rather late in the day, I take it,
when we are already within easy rifle-shot. I see nothing in these
orders to interfere with our present plans, nor any military necessity
for playing hide and seek all Summer in these hills. That looks like a
big village down yonder, but I have led the dandy Seventh into others
just as large."
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.
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