"No danger!" muttered Pandy, falling back again, "no danger. Cuss me ef thet don't sound odd. Three hundred agin three thousand! Taint like ther old days now; then reds war reds, but now az they've got rifles and kin use 'em better than our men, ther devils. Lord forgive me, but I must say that I never hearn o' sich a reckless thing. Pandy Ellis air a goin' ter see it through, though, ef he does go under. Time's 'bout nigh up anyhow, might az well larf an' grow fat, az ther feller sez. Don't think o' Bolly, but jist yell an' sail in. Hooray!" and the ranger gave a subdued shout as the wild excitement seized upon him. Major Reno was left behind with his three companies. Further to the left, some two miles away, was Captain Belton with three more companies. As Custer and his ill-fated three hundred rode gallantly away, vanishing behind the crown of the bluffs, some of those who remained may have entertained suspicions of the dreadful result that was soon to follow, but no time was granted to realize what these conjectures amounted to. The Indians had gathered thickly on the opposite bank, and Major Reno at once gave the word to go forward. Fording the river in the midst of a fire so deadly that several saddles were emptied, the soldiers reached the other shore. Once on _terra firma_ they formed and then charged. As the bugles rang out it was a glorious sight to see that compact body of men dash forward like an avalanche, clearing the way before them as if they were invincible. Alas! that such a gallant charge should have been in vain. Overwhelming numbers opposed the troops; the horses could not even move forward, and, brave to the core, the men threw themselves to the ground and fought on foot. It was a terrible struggle, but could not last long. Finding that the number of the Indians was far more than had been even imagined, and realizing that to continue the struggle would mean the sacrifice of every man in the command, Major Reno reluctantly gave the order to remount, and the three companies crossed the river again under a harassing fire, sadly depleted in number. Just then Captain Belton came up with his men, but seeing the madness of attempting to assail the infuriated horde of red demons, savage at their success and the sight of blood, he wisely retired, and joined Reno, who had taken up a position on one of the bluffs back of the river bank. CHAPTER IV. BRAVE CUSTER'S LAST SHOT. "Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the left of them, Cannon in the front of them, Volleyed and thundered. Onward through shot and shell, Into the mouth of hell, They who had fought so well, Rode the six hundred." --_Charge of the Light Brigade._