“I’m sure of it, sir,” Tom responded confidently. “I’ll go to the tepee of his father, the Chief Shaubena, as soon as I leave here.”
“Do that, lad. But now I must acquaint you with the other development I mentioned,—namely, that Captain Van Alstyne will be in command of the detachment.”
“That ain’t welcome news, sir,” said Bill Brown frankly.
“Wow!” exclaimed Tom and Ben expressively.
“It’s this way,” countered Whistler. “Van’s second in rank among the garrison. According to the army code, I had to offer him the charge of the party. He at once accepted. That wrote finis to the matter. I admit that you will find him bull-headed at times, and he has an immense contempt for all Indians; but no one ever questioned his courage. He has a stout heart.”
“Well, Major,” concluded Brown, “we kin only try to make the best o’ what looks like an unpromisin’ sitchiation; but as someone said, ‘When you make a bad barg’in, hug it all the tighter.’”
CHAPTER 9
******************************
Shadows in the Night