"General," I replied, "why not wait until the scouts get a little
nearer? When they are about to charge on the two men, I will take
fifteen soldiers, dash down and cut them off from their main body. That
will prevent them from going back to report, and the others will fall
into our trap."
The general at once saw the possibilities of the scheme. "If you can do
that, Cody, go ahead," he said.
I at once rushed back to the command and jumped on my horse.
With fifteen of the best men I could pick in a hurry I returned to the
point of observation. I placed myself and my men at the order of
General Merritt, and asked him to give me the word at the proper time.
He was diligently studying the country before him with his
field-glasses. When he thought the Indians were as close to the
unsuspecting scouts as was safe, he sang out:
"Go on now, Cody, and be quick about it. They are going to charge on
the couriers."
The two soldiers were not more than a hundred yards from us. The
Indians, now making ready to swoop down, were a hundred yards further
on.
We tore over the bluffs and advanced at a gallop. They saw us and gave
battle. A running fight lasted for several minutes, during which we
drove them back a fairly safe distance and killed three of their
number.
The main body of the Cheyennes had now come into plain sight, and the
men who escaped from us rode back toward it.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268