"Just gone off with the chief to look at things over on the other front.
The colonel is hopping. He is bound to have those Indians out of there
or drop a-trying. They'll be back in a minute. The general had a rousing
fight with Dull Knife's people down the river last evening. You missed
it again, Hull: all the ----th were there but F and K,--and of course
old Firewater wants to make as big a hit here."

"The ----th fighting down the river last night?" asks Hull, in amaze.

"Yes,--swept clean round them and ran 'em into the stream, they say. I
wish we had them where we could see 'em at all. You don't get the
glimpse of a head, even; but all those rocks are lined with the beggars.
Damn them!" says the adjutant, feelingly.

"We'll get our chance _here_, then," replies Hull, reflectively. "I'll
creep up and take a look at it. Take my horse, orderly."

He is back in two minutes, graver than before, but his bearing is
spirited and firm. Hayne watches him with kindling eye.

"You'll take me in with you when you charge?" he asks.

"It is no place to charge there. The ground is all cut up with ravines
and gullies, and they've got a cross-fire that sweeps it clean. We'll
probably go in on the other flank; it's more open there. Here comes the
chief now."

Two officers come riding hastily around a projecting point of the slope
and spur at rapid gait towards the spot where the cavalry have