De Rudio jumped down the creek bank and hid in an excavation while a hail of bullets spattered the water ahead of him and raised a dozen little clouds of dust at his feet.
So heavy had this volley been that the Indians decided that the bullets had done their work, and a wild yell broke from them.
Suddenly the yell changed to another sort of outcry, and the firing abruptly ceased.

Peering out, De Rudio saw Captain Benteen's column coming up over the hill.

He began to hope that his rescue was at hand.
But in a few minutes the soldiers disappeared and the Indians all started off after them.
Just beyond the hill was the noise of a lively battle, and he made up his mind that Reno's command had rallied, and that if he could join them he might be saved.
Working his way softly through the brush he was nearing the summit of the slope when he heard his name whispered and saw three of his own company in the brush.

Two of them were mounted.

The horse of the third had been killed.
The three men remained in the bushes, lying as low as they could and making no sound.