You will this day prove yourselves worthy of Grant and Thomas." They were about to cheer, but he checked it with the simple gesture of a raised hand.

Then they did a thing that only a beloved leader could inspire.

Every man in the regiment, resting his carbine across the pommel of his saddle, drew his heavy cavalry saber and made it whirl in coils of glittering light about his head.
The great pulse in Dick's throat leaped as he saw.

The long double line seemed to give back a double flash of flame.

Not a word was said, and then eight hundred sabers rattled together as they were dropped back into their scabbards.