William Hepworth Dixon, White Conquest: Volume 1

[256] Grey Eagle fights like a Cheyenne warrior, but Colonel Miles has a hundred sabres and a howitzer under his command, After holding to their line five hours, the savage chief falls back. Captain Overton's company pursues him for twenty miles, and then gives up the chase, having secured one part of his prize in the two girls, Adelaide and Julia, who are found in one of the Indian tents. On hearing that these girls are left behind, Grey Eagle turns his horse, and rushes on Overton's troop, meaning to cut a lane through them, and retake the girls; but the American troops close up, and baffle his attacks. Again he turns, and dashes on the line of sabres, filling those hardy frontier soldiers with respect. At length, the savage wheels and flies. Once on the wing, no man and horse armed in American fashion can hope to overtake his flight.

Next morning, a hundred picked men, commanded by Captain Niel, are placed on their trail, with orders to recover the two young ladies, Lucy and Ada, from their savage captors. Leavenworth, Kansas, and America, they are told, expect these ladies at their hands. Looking at their clenched teeth and knitted brows, there is no need to ask a