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.
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