Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/491

 linglow's body, which one of the Indian volunteers, a son of old Schonchin, bound upon a horse,

Ivan Applegate's party were scattered over several miles of country looking for the dead. Two men, Charles Monroe and George Fisck, were left with a wagon at the Brotherton place to find the body of Schroeder. When they saw the party of Modocs and Klamaths approaching, with their leader disguised as an Indian, supposing them to be the enemy, they fled into the cover of the tall sage-brush and concealed themselves until undeceived by the voice of Applegate, when they joined him and went with him to the house. While Applegate looked over the premises his Indian volunteers sat outside on their horses, and Fisck returned to his search for the missing bodies. Being in the stable, Applegate heard loud shrieks, and looking out saw Fisck riding at the top of his speed, pursued by Scarface Charley and fifteen others. At Schroeder's cabin some of the savages halted to set fire to it, while Scarface kept up the pursuit of Fisck, who finally gained the stable, which Applegate had already began to fortify, piling up logs to strengthen the wall, while three of his Modocs stood guard outside.

As the enemy approached, the guards fired. The fire was returned, when Scarface passed by, and stopped about four hundred yards away to counsel with his party. In order to gain time, Applegate directed Jim Sconchin to go out to them and hold a parley. That Applegate had the most entire confidence in his Indian allies was shown by this action; for had Jim the least desire to join the enemy, some of whom were his relatives, the opportunity was furnished. So far was he from betraying his almost single-handed white leader, that he quite deceived Scarface and his followers, pretending to them to have a party of sympathizers at the stable, and offering to bring them out to confer with him.

During this conference Jim learned that the hostile