Pete O"Leary"s column had been in the Rifles camp for about an hour. Pete conferred with Colonel Watie. Wille organised space where the men could bivouac. Palmer Brown worked with the wranglers on the care of the horses.
Jock and Jim moved back and forth outside their quarters, anxious to find out what had happened. They saw Buster approaching from the direction of the Colonel"s quarters.
“You boys had better come with me.”
“What"s wrong, Sergeant? Tell us,” Jim said.
Buster grabbed Jim by the shoulder. “Follow me, son – an" you an" all, Jock.”
The boys waited outside the Colonel"s quarters while Pete spoke to Stand Watie. Willie paused on his way in, removed his slouch hat and issued a curt, “How do, boys?” He didn"t wait for a reply.
“What the Hell is wrong with him?” Jim asked.
“
