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uncertain journey, they ht easily miss Custer's column That which

would have been quickly decided had he been alone became a most serious

problem when considered in connection with the insane, helpless scout

But then, there were the despatches! Theyof Murphy forth on so dangerous a ride;

other lives, ay, the result of the entire caht depend upon

their early delivery Hampton had been a soldier, the spirit of the

service was still with hiht him to final

decision Unless they were halted by Sioux bullets, they would push on

toward the Big Horn, and Custer should have the papers

He knelt down beside Murphy, unbuckled the leather despatch-bag, and

rebuckled it across his own shoulder Then he set to work to revive

the prostrate laring; the ugly face bore the expression of abject fear The htened at the dark His

ceaseless babbling, his incessant cries of terror, only rendered h a region overrun

with hostiles But Hampton had resolved