Chapter XXX

ASSASSINATION——“KAU-TUX-E”——THE DEATH PRAYER
SMOTHERED BY BLOOD——RESCUED.

The Scene near the Council Tent——Several Desperate Modocs
Described——Preparing for the Carnival of Death——The Boy
Murderers and their Weapons——Bogus and Boston Announce the
Approach of the Commission——Why does Meacham Remove his
Overcoat——The Modocs Suspiciously Cordial——Fighting a Battle
with Pride——Appearance of the Commissioners——Hooker Jim’s
Strange Movements——The Intruder Near the Council Tent——The
Butchery for the Time Being Averted——Hooker-Jim’s Ominous
Movements——He puts on Meacham’s Overcoat——“Me old man Meacham
now”——This Act is instantly Interpreted——All are Conscious of
their Impending Doom——Reflections During the Fleeting Moments——
What will General Canby Say——Will he Accede to the Demand of
the Modocs and thus Avert Death——Will he Take the Soldiers
Away——He Breaks the Silence——Duty Dearer than Life——Death
before Dishonor——Dr. Thomas’s Last Speech——What will Captain
Jack do now——Will he Give the Signal——He Changes Places with
Schonchin——The Manner of the Latter——The Attack Begins——
General Canby the First to Fall——His Horrible Death——Dyer is
Shot at by Hooker-Jim——He Makes his Escape——Riddle Pursued by
Black Jim——The Latter Fires at Random——The Reason——The Bloody
Work of Boston and Hooker-Jim——Dr. Thomas’s Tragic End——His
Murderers Taunt him with his Religion——Why don’t he Turn the
Bullets——Schonchin, his Dagger and his Pistol——Meacham
Attacked by Schonchin——Slolux and Shack-Nasty Jim——The
Struggle for Life——Tobey’s Efforts to save Him——The Dreadful
Scene of the Tragedy——Boston as a Scalper——The Squaw Tobey——
Her Strategy——Another Bloody Tragedy Planned but not Executed——
Lethargy followed by Vigorous Action——Meacham Discovered——The
Stretcher——Brandy——“No Time for Temperance Talk”——The Council
Tent a Winding-sheet——Rewards to the Couriers——The
Eighty-three Mile Race——The Gray and the Pinto——The Exultant
Winner 478

CHAPTER XXXI.

HARNESSED LIGHTNING CARRYING AWFUL TIDINGS——HE
MAKES IT——A BROKEN FINGER WON’T DISFIGURE A
CORPSE.

Making Coffins in the Lava Bed——The Patient in the Hospital——A
Broken Finger will not Disfigure a Corpse——The Commotion in
the Modoc Camp——The Disputes——Common Interest a Strong Bond——
The Great Medicine Dance——The Modocs Exultant——The Wife’s
Suspense——The Dreadful News——Its Effect on Wife and Children——
First Robbed by the Government, then its Defenders——Our
Nation’s Perfidy——The Sorrowful Hearts at Home——Prayer and
Praise in Camp——A Lesson for Bigots and Cowards to Learn——The
Medicine Man in the Modoc Camp——He Fires the Modoc Heart——
Capt. Jack Despondent——Long Jim——Novel Scene in the Soldier’s
Camp——The Murder of the Commission to be Avenged——Long Jim
Escapes——Much Powder Wasted——“Nary a Wound” 508