Page:Life Amongst the Modocs.djvu/265



CHAPTER XX.

THE LAST OF THE LOST CABIN.

HESE Indians use but few words. A coward and a liar is the same with them ; they have no distinct terms of expressing the two sins. Sometimes a single eloquent gesture means a whole sentence, and expresses it, too, better than could a multitude of words.

I said to the old chief one day, u Your language is very poor ; it has so few words."

u We have enough. It does not take many words- to tell the truth," he answered.

u Ah, but we have a hundred words to your one. " u Well, you need them."

There was a stateliness in his manner when he said this, and a toss of the head, that meant a whole chapter.

He seemed to say, " Yes, from the number of lies you have told us, from the long treaties