"And after that?"

She covered her face with her hands.

"It was all a dream of continuous horror, yet through it all, I do not
recall consciousness of physical torture. I seemed to be mentally
numbed, my brain a blank. It was a realization of my father's guilt
more than my own danger which affected me--that and his death. They
were not unkind nor brutal. Indeed I do not clearly recall that I was
even spoken to, except when some necessary order was given. One night
I heard them discuss what should be done with me; that I was to be
hidden away in Black Kettle's camp. Generally Dupont spoke to the
Indians in their own tongue, but that night he thought me asleep. I--I
had no hope left--not even faith that you could ever rescue me."

Hamlin's hand clasped hers firmly, but his eyes were riveted on
something in the distance.

"Wait," he said, checking his horse, "what is that? See; down in the
valley of the creek! Is it not a moving body of men?"




CHAPTER XXXIV

THE ADVANCE OF CUSTER

The Sergeant swung down from the saddle and forced both ponies back
below the crest of the hill, his swift glance sweeping back over their