“He is my soldier,” she replied softly, “and the man I love.”

They rode together down the steep hillside covered with its mantle of snow to join the little body of troopers halted in the valley.  Only once did Elliott speak.

“You know Black Kettle’s camp, Sergeant?”

“We were almost within sight of it, sir.  I saw his pony herd distinctly.”

“Where was that?”

“On the Canadian, close to the mouth of Buffalo Creek.”

“Did you learn anything as to the number of Indians with him?”

“Nothing definite, but it is a large encampment, not all Cheyennes.”

“So we heard, but were unable to discover the exact situation.  We have been feeling our way forward cautiously.  I fear it is going to be my unpleasant duty to separate you and Miss McDonald.  We shall need your services as guide, and the lady will be far better off with the main column.  Indeed some of the empty wagons are to be sent back to Camp Supply to-night, and probably Custer will deem it best that she return with them.  This winter campaigning is going to be rough work, outside of the fighting.  You know Custer, and his style; besides Sheridan is himself at Camp Supply in command.”

“You hear, Molly?”

“Yes; of course, I will do whatever General Custer deems best.  Are there any women at Camp Supply, Major?”

“Yes, a few; camp women mostly, although there may be also an officer’s wife or two—­19th Kansas volunteers.”

“Then it will be best for me to go there, if I can,” she smiled.  “I am desperately in need of clothes.”

“I suspected as much.  I will arrange to give you a guard at once.  And you, Sergeant?  As you are still under special orders, I presume I have no authority to detain you in my command.”

“I prefer to remain, sir,” grimly.  “Dupont, Miss McDonald’s captor, is alive and in Black Kettle’s camp.  We still have a feud to settle.”

“Good; then that is arranged; ah, Miss McDonald, allow me to present Lieutenant Chambers.  Lieutenant, detail three men to guard the lady back to the main column.  Have her taken to General Custer at once.”

“Very well, sir; and the command?”

Elliott looked at the Sergeant inquiringly.

“That is for Sergeant Hamlin to determine; he has just been scouting through that country, and will act as guide.”

The Sergeant stood for a moment motionless beside his horse studying the vista of snow-draped hillside.  The region beyond the crest of the ridge unrolled before his memory.

“Then we will keep directly on up this valley, sir,” he said at last.  “It’s Wolf Creek, is it not?  We shall be safer to keep out of sight to-day, and this depression must lead toward the Canadian.  May I exchange mounts with one of those men going back, Major?  I fear my pony is about done.”

“Certainly.”

There was no opportunity for anything save a simple grasp of the hand, ere Molly rode away with her escort.  Then the little column of troopers moved on, and Hamlin, glancing backward as he rode past, took his place in advance beside Major Elliott.