“I think that every one of you know that I’m willing to accept recommendations from the most junior second lieutenant in the regiment, provided that recommendation comes to me in the proper form.
“But it has come to my attention that, during the march out from Ft. Lincoln, my official actions have been talked about, and criticized, by officers of this regiment in contact with officers of General Terry’s staff.
“I don’t like that, gentlemen. I don’t like that one bit.” Custer held up his finger. “And I’m telling you now that all such criticisms must stop at once. If you have something to say to me, be man enough to say it to my face. Because know this. Anyone I find guilty of such behavior will be dealt with to the fullest extent that army regulations will allow.”
“General,” Benteen said. “Will you not be kind enough to inform us of the names of those officers who are guilty of this? I mean, it seems to me as if you are lashing at the shoulders of all to get to a few.”
“Colonel Benteen,” Custer replied, using Benteen’s brevet rank. “I am not here to be chastised by you. And even though the relationship you and I have isn’t of the warmest personal nature, I can tell you, for your own gratification, I will state that none of my remarks have been directed toward you.”
“Thank you, sir, for clearing that up.”
“Gentlemen, return to your commands. We came only twelve miles today. I intend, by an early start and hard marching, to make up for that tomorrow.”
As the officers left, Custer called out to Falcon. “Colonel MacCallister, will you remain for a moment, sir?”
Falcon nodded, then stood by as the regimental officers disappeared into the dark.
“Falcon,” Custer said. “While I refused the offer of Gatling guns, I do not relish the prospect of a Gatling gun being used against us. At first, I wasn’t worried, but the fact that Gibbon lost a box of fifty-caliber Gatling gun ammunition has reawakened my concern. I would like for you to take one of the Indian scouts with you and range out some distance from the column to see if you can locate that gun.”
“All right,” Custer replied.
“You can take White Swan, Curly, Bloody Knife, or anyone you choose. Or, if you wish, you can even take one of the white scouts.”
“I would like to take Dorman,” Falcon said.
Custer chuckled. “So, you choose to take the black white scout.”
“Yes. As you know, we scouted together before and we worked well together. I trust him in dangerous situations.”
“I understand your reasoning,” Custer said. “If you want Dorman, then by all means, take him.”
“Then, with your permission, General, I’ll get Dorman and we’ll leave now,” Falcon said. He started away from Custer’s tent, but Custer called out to him.
“Falcon?”
“Yes, General?”
“This is the twenty-second. If at all possible, I would like for you to rejoin the column by dark on the twenty- fourth.”
“It might take a little longer than that,” Falcon replied. “What about evening of the twenty-fifth?”
“That might be too late,” Custer replied without further amplification.
Falcon found Dorman checking a skewered rabbit that was suspended over a campfire.
“Damn, you do have good timing,” Dorman teased. “Here, I thought I was going to have this rabbit all to myself, and you show up. I guess I’ll have to share it with you.”
Dorman pulled the rabbit off the skewer, then tossed it back and forth from hand to hand for a few moments.
“Is it hot?” Falcon asked with a chuckle.
“No, I’m just playing a little game of pitch and catch,” Dorman replied, laughing.
Finally, the rabbit cooled enough for him to hold it, and he tore into two pieces, giving one piece to Falcon.
“You may not want to share that when you hear what I have to ask,” Falcon said.
“If that’s the case, maybe I’d better share it with you before you tell me what you have in mind,” he said.
Falcon took a bite of the rabbit. “Oh, this is good,” he said. “What did you do to it?”
“I rubbed in cayenne and salt,” Dorman said.
For a moment, the two men ate in silence, enjoying the food.
“Are you goin’ to tell me, or not?”
“It isn’t what I’m going to tell you. It’s what I’m going to ask you,” Falcon said. “I’m going out on a scout, away from the regiment. I want you to go with me.”
“We’re goin’ to look for that other gun, aren’t we?” Dorman asked.
“Yes, we are.”
“Yeah, I heard that Gibbon lost a case of ammunition. You think the Indians got it?”
“I think we have to assume they did. If they didn’t, we haven’t lost anything by looking for them. If they did and we don’t look for them, we could well ride into an ambush, and I don’t have to tell you how much damage that gun could do on a column of men.”
