The woods had been quiet for some forty-five minutes as the detachment waited to see what would happen. Scout Michael Strongbow was locked in a turmoil of grief and rage after learning his friend Charlie Wolf had been killed. He peered into the trees, hoping the enemy would make a quick appearance. The young Kiowa wanted to kill as many of the them as he could.
The eerie quietness under the trees continued undisturbed; not a rustle of grass, the crack of a twig nor the chirp of a bird could be heard. Suddenly Red Moon was startled. He signaled for quiet as he listened. The Kiowa-Comanche scout moved carefully forward while using the trees for cover. He stopped, brought his carbine up to his shoulder and fired. A yell sounded and the sound of people running away through the woods could be heard.
“Ever’body stay here,” Hawkins ordered. “Except Mr. Dooley and Jesse. You two come with me.”
The three joined Red Moon who pointed to a spot three yards away. The body of a Mexican soldier lay spread out on his back. Hawkins walked over and knelt next to the corpse, giving it a careful inspection. Ludlow, Red Moon and Jesse joined him.
Jesse asked, “What d’we have here, Mack?”
“Look at this fellow’s uniform,” Hawkins said. “It’s dark blue with red epaulets, red pocket flaps, red cuffs and there’s red stripes down the sides of his britches.”
Ludlow walked over and picked up the man’s headgear. “There’s a metal insignia on this leather helmet. It’s an eagle holding a snake in its talons.”
“It’s the same design as is on their flag,” Jesse remarked.
Hawkins grasped the man’s Mauser rifle and stood up. He shook it and the leather sling rattled. “Do you hear that? And the stock is shiny with linseed oil rubbed into it.”
Jesse was puzzled. “What does all that mean to you, Mack?”
“This sling will snap while performing the manual of arms,” Hawkins said. “It’s real impressive when drilling. The linseed oil gives the stock a dark mahogany look. Most impressive and very regimental. The glaring red on a dark blue uniform stands out like a recruiting poster.”
Ludlow knew what Hawkins meant. “In other words, sir, he’s a parade ground soldier, isn’t he?”
“Yeah,” Hawkins answered. “He’s what a field soldier would look at and say, ‘He’s pretty, but can he fight?’”
Jesse was still confused. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“It means I’m going to change tactics in this battle,” Hawkins said. “What we are going to do, gentlemen, is begin hunting and killing.”
“What about bandits?” Red Moon asked.
“They’re obviously all dead,” Hawkins replied. “I got a quick count on ’em up there and the number we mowed down pretty much indicates there’s no more.”
“You’re right, sir,” Ludlow said. “I’ll bet my bottom dollar that these soldiers ordered them into that reckless charge to draw fire away from themselves.”
Hawkins nodded his agreement. “They used it as a distraction to spread out around us for an envelopment.”
The quartet returned to the rest of the detachment.
“Ever’body listen up,” Hawkins said, keeping his voice just above a whisper. “It appears we’re facing some fancy pants son of a bitches who are playing at real soldiering. So here’s what we’re gonna do. We’ll get in a diamond formation for all around security and go after those fancy pants. We’ll dare ’em to fight.” He paused and glanced around at the eager faces. “Mr. Dooley and Scout Strongbow, you two will be on point but stick close to the rest of us so you don’t get too far ahead.”
Michael was satisfied with the arrangement. He and the lieutenant would be the first to make contact with the enemy.
Hawkins continued his instructions. “The left side will be Sergeant Eagle Heart at the front and Corporal Tall Bear to the rear. Corporal Swift Horse and Red Moon will man the right flank with Red Moon following. I want Corporal Tall Bear and Red Moon to cover the rear as well. We don’t want anybody sneaking up on us, so you two look backward now and then.”
Ludlow was happy to see the captain setting things up for an aggressive reply to the threats they faced. Hawkins was always at his best in such situations.
“Now!” the captain stated emphatically. “Make sure your magazines have five rounds loaded. Check your ammo belts so that there’s no empty pockets on the front one. You don’t want to have to go for the second or third belts to fumble for bullets you need. Speed in locking, loading and firing is gonna be real essential from now on.”
Everyone followed the instructions to the letter, adjusting their personal arrangement of bullets for easy access.
When all was ready, Hawkins gave the order to form up. Ludlow and Michael walked up ahead, then stopped at the maximum distance they could be without losing sight of the detachment. Hawkins checked the men, happy to see his orders were fully understood.
“Let’s go to war!” the captain exclaimed.
Ludlow and Michael moved forward slowly and quietly, maintaining as much silence as possible as they began the ascent back to the top of Cupula Mountain. Ludlow raised his hand at various times, signaling everyone to squat down for a short session of watching and listening.
Although the procedure was repetitive, it sure as hell wasn’t boring. Each halt was bringing them closer to the enemy. After a slow, plodding half hour it was Michael who caught the flash of bright red and dark blue in the trees off to the left front. He pointed and Ludlow also saw the uniform; then another. The lieutenant turned, noting that the entire detachment was looking at him with intense interest. He followed proper procedure and raised his carbine over his head, then pointed it at the Mexicans. This was the U.S. Army’s way of silently communicating that the enemy was in sight and in which direction.
The diamond formation evolved into a skirmish line as the detachment moved forward to make contact. Ludlow and Michael sighted a man urinating against the side of a tree. Both fired simultaneously, their bullets kicking him sideways. He tumbled into the urine-soaked forest grass.
The rest of the detachment now showed up to see a group of the fancy soldiers staring at them in shock and surprise. Quick shooting felled several while the others fled upward into the trees toward the camp.
Hawkins ordered a halt because of the possibility of running into rear guard actions. The four Mexican soldiers lay close together, all dead. Michael kicked the closest corpse and spat in its face.
“All right,” Hawkins said. “Form up again.”
The hunt continued as Ludlow and Michael followed the trail of the panicky soldiers. The sounds of their getaway were easy to hear. Fifteen minutes later, silence once again lay over the mountainside.
“Halt!” Hawkins commanded, then called in the two point men. “They’ve stopped somewhere up higher. I assume two things. The first is that they’re not going to try to outflank us or we’d hear ’em. Second they’ve set up an ambush and I’m willing to bet it’s no more than a desperate grouping together. So here we go again. Let’s form back into a skirmish line. Mr. Dooley, you and Scout Strongbow do what you do best.”
Ludlow and Michael moved out on point. But this time they got down on their hands and knees, keeping their heads down below the height of the brush. They moved in turn, one covering the other, as they inched along the track of the enemy soldiers. The rest of the detachment, staying on their feet, used the trees for cover as the unit advanced behind the pair, ready to act when they made contact with their quarry.
A Mauser rifle was fired from the left front, the bullet zipping between Ludlow and Michael. Both damned themselves for being caught unawares, but returned fire. More shooting burst out as the rest of the detachment joined the fighting.
The opposing groups were less than five yards apart with each man firing as fast as he could. The circumstances of the fight had trapped them all into a do-or-die situation, neither side being able to safely withdraw.
Several of the Mexican soldiers were hit and second later a round slammed into Jesse’s neck. The Texas ranger staggered back under the impact of the bullet and was dead before he hit the ground.
Michael Strongbow advanced at an angle, then swung over to surprise three of the enemy. He was able to shoot them all. Then he quickly knelt and continued to work bolt and trigger to pick off two more.
Corporal Swift Horse was struck by a bullet. He went down and tried to get up, but collapsed. The crescendo of firing increased. Ludlow Dooley was hit in the right forearm, sending his carbine flying as he was spun around by the impact. He tried to draw his pistol, but couldn’t get his right hand to function. He quickly drew the Colt revolver with his left and clumsily fired the weapon until shock caused him to sink to his knees.
Suddenly there was no more fusillades from the enemy. The only shooting was being done by the five men in the detachment still standing.
“Cease fire!” Hawkins bellowed.
Echoes of the volleys died off as the captain led Sergeant Eagle Heart, Corporal Tall Bear and Scouts Red Moon and Michael Strongbow forward. They found the Mexicans in a tight cluster on the ground. One badly wounded soldier moaned and gasped. This was First Sergeant of the Guard Platas. He looked at Michael, pleading silently for mercy with his eyes. The young Kiowa scout put him out of his misery with a shot to the forehead.
Ludlow Dooley, holding onto his wounded arm, staggered over. He was still dazed, but made a super effort to maintain control over his fading consciousness. “I think…sir…I think that…mission accomplished.”
“You’re right, Mr. Dooley,” Hawkins said. He turned to Corporal Tall Bear. “Help the lieutenant down the mountain to the horses. The rest of us are going back up to the camp to check things out.”
Tall Bear took Ludlow by the arm and they began the descent.
~*~
Sub-Comandante Santiago Gomez had made a quick withdrawal from the fight the moment he perceived an imminent defeat. He had scrambled wildly through the woods up to the camp while the battle raged. When he arrived, he rushed over to the corral to his horse, fearing that any minute the diablos americanos would catch up with him.
He quickly slipped a bridle on the animal and led it out of the enclosure. Then he leaped up on the horse, galloping bareback to the trail that led down to the desert floor.