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own men as for those of the Sioux. The insanity and injustice of the situation rose from Dan's heart and gut, threatening to choke him.
    As the columns began to move, he brought his roan beside Custer's white-stockinged sorrel, Vic.
    "There's no need to rush, sir," he said. "My sense is that we should listen to the scouts and exercise caution."
    "Is Bloody Knife in charge here?" Custer shot back.
    He urged the sorrel onward then, galloping down the dusty hillside. As Dan himself drew closer to the columns of troopers, he saw that Custer was conferring animatedly with Benteen and Reno. Suddenly it seemed very hot. Captain Myles Keogh walked his horse, a clayback gelding called Comanche, over to Dan and let out a sigh.
    "What's happened?" Dan drew off his gray slouch hat and raked a hand through his hair.
    "We were still packing when one of the men spotted a few Sioux warriors not far from camp. The worry is that they've already warned the village and it may be scattering as we speak." Keogh stroked his thick mustache. "It would be a damned shame, wouldn't it, if we've come all this way and they escape before we can attack..."
    Custer was yelling, his face alight. "We cannot wait or we shall lose them. We have no choice but to strike now. We'll form the regiment into three battalions so that we may efficiently surround the hostiles and prevent their escape. Major Reno and Captain Benteen will each lead a battalion, and I'll take the third and largest." He waved his hat in the air and declared, "We'll win, boys! I could whip all the Indians on the continent with the Seventh Cavalry!"
    Jeb Campbell, standing a few yards from Dan, could not contain his glee. With a grin that displayed his broken front tooth, he whooped, "It's one helluva day to kill us some Injins!"
    The scene on the hillside was charged with the thrill of impending conflict. Dan wheeled his roan around and went back to Custer. He found the commanding officer flushed, his eyes sparkling, fingers reflexively clenching Vic's reins.
    "Don't waste your breath with more advice," Custer said.
    "This is madness. I know the Sioux, and I can tell you that what the scouts saw this morning was real— not some vision to be scoffed at!"
    "I've been patient with you, Matthews, but I've had enough. I wouldn't have thought you a coward, but—"
    Blue eyes blazing, Dan cut in, "You are wrong! Even though I hate everything that this military exercise stands for, I am prepared to ride into battle if I cannot persuade you to listen to reason. In the meantime, I will do whatever it takes to stop this. The Indians are not cowards; they won't run away if you wait for the other troops to arrive, but if you insist on attacking blindly, it won't be glory that you find."
    A vein stood out on Custer's brow as he leaned toward Dan and ground out, "You could be court-martialed for insulting me this way. As for your offer to join us in battle—I decline ! I want you to get out of here! You can go back to Washington and tell President Grant that if he wants me to have a keeper, he'll have to do the job himself ."Custer was trembling with rage.
    Dan's head throbbed and sweat dripped down his neck as he turned and started to leave. This was the damnedest day of his life, worse than the bloodiest battle in the Civil War, because he could see the outcome and was powerless to stop it. If Custer held only his own fate in the balance, it wouldn't matter, but—
    "Hey, Matthews! Where are you going?"
    He glanced back to see Captain Keogh shading his eyes in the blinding sunlight, his expression quizzical. Rage burned like poison in Dan's gut. "I'm getting the hell out of here!" he shouted back.
    At the top of the hill, he paused for a last look back. The troopers were divided into three battalions now, restless and eager for battle. Some were looking up the hill at him, no doubt wondering why he was leaving at such a moment.
    Although Dan knew that he had done all he could to stop the course of events