Page:Life Amongst the Modocs.djvu/371

 e city itself.

There we were to strike the first blow. The plan was to move the whole available Indian force to the edge of the settlement and there leave the main body. Then I was to take the flower of the force, mounted on the swiftest horses, and, descending upon the town suddenly, attack, sack, and burn it to the ground.

We had had many a lesson in this mode of warfare from the whites and knew perfectly well how the work was to be done.

I mounted a strong, fleet horse and set out. On reaching the mountain s rim overlooking the valley I was struck by the peaceful scene below me. All the fertile plain was dotted yellow, and brown, and green from fields of grain. It looked like some great map. Peace and plenty all the way across the valley to the city lying on the other side, and thirty miles ahead.

At dusk I came to a quiet farm-house and asked for hospitality.

The old settler came bustling out bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, as if he was coming to welcome a son.

He took care of my horse, hurried me into the house, hurried his good wife about the kitchen, and I soon was seated at the table of a Christian eating a Christian meal.

It was the first for a long, long time ; I fell to thinking as of old, and held down my head.

After supper the old man sat and talk