INTRODUCTION. xxxv 



Vain were the attempts of the officers to keep the Indians 

 from the commanding points. They were soon again in 

 possession of every post, and then Eeno saw that he 

 must mount and charge through timber, or, surrounded, 

 be cut off from the reserves. The retreat became a wild 

 scramble for life, the Indians rising up on every side, and 

 each trooper as he galloped was the target for a dozen 

 rifles. But fast as he pressed his horse the Indian pony 

 was swifter still, and often the cavalryman had to contend 

 with five or six painted warriors. Thus the retreat, at 

 first hurried, assumed the aspect of a rout, and really 

 became a race for the ford and life. The Indians fell 

 fast under the revolvers of the cavalry, as they followed 

 undaunted in pursuit. A strong party of the Eed Men 

 holding the ford attempted to bar the passage, but were 

 ridden down in the wild flight ; then the troopers crossed 

 the river and dashed up the opposite bank under a deadly 

 fire of the Sioux, now filling the woods which skirt the 

 river. It was at the ford, which is narrow, that the loss was 

 heaviest, for the crush prevented a quick passage ; but as 

 soon as the foremost soldiers crowned the hill they dis- 

 mounted and opened fire on the Indians to cover the 

 passage of their comrades, and presently the reserve left 

 on the bluffs came up. The Indians crowded into the 

 river both above and below the ford, and drawing toge- 

 ther charged the hill, when they met with severe punish- 

 ment at the hands of the fresh troops now brought into 

 action. 



A troop was detached along the crest of the hill to 

 obtain intelligence of Ouster ; but at every step opposi- 

 tion strengthened till the officer was recalled in the fear 

 his men would be surrounded and cut off. For some 

 time Eeno was left in comparative peace. Two hours 

 passed ; still there was no news of Ouster. Another 

 hour ; and then Eeno began to devise means for an 



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