Page:Life Amongst the Modocs.djvu/338

 ur rights

was reached. I told them that they had not won the fight at all ; that the soldiers stood their ground, and now had possession of the field of battle.

An old Indian sitting back in a crevice of the rock called out, u Ah! what matters a few steps of ground when there is so much?"

I saw my little Republic going to pieces even before it had been fairly launched, and slept but little that night.

At midnight women were dispatched to the various camps, to give glowing accounts of the action, and also to bring provisions and whatever ammunition and arms could be had.

That night I proposed that I should cross the river with a few Indians, proceed to a temporary military camp near Hat Creek, state distinctly what the Indians desired, and try and get some recogni tion of their rights before they should be driven to the wall.

They would not at first consent to imperil any of their number in this way. They wanted me to go again and attempt once more to get a supply of arms and ammunition. They said that from the first I had promised this, and that now it was the only thing that would save them.

At last it was agreed that I should select four Indians, go at first to the military camp myself with the Indians a little in the background, so as to have some chance for their lives in case of treachery, and see what I could do; failing in my negotiations, I was to