Page:The Californian volume 1,issue 2.djvu/65

 and miles in length. There are broad chasms over one hundred feet deep. There are perfect arches—keystone and all—suggesting remnants ofa Roman temple. There are odd forms and profiles which would do credit to a gifted sculptor. The ledges often lie parallel, like so many dark, forbidding waves, each ledge dotted with circular, sharp-edged hollows.

The striking characteristics of this wonderful home of the Modocs were outlined in my mind as I stood on the bluff that night. But darkness wrapped the beds in a pall, and I retired to a welcome couch on Mother Earth.

At daylight, we bade farewell to Colonel Mendenhall's command, and rode down a steep trail to the beds. The Colonel and other officers had tried to dissuade General Davis from making the journey, but without success. He said six white men ought to be a match for four Modocs; he did not fear the Modocs; and he had a purpose to serve in passing through the beds with his small party. We advanced into the beds in open order; but every hundred feet or so the intruding ledges forced us into single file. The Modocs kept well in front, and did the scouting. And such scouting! After studying the movements of the savages—and I confess to having watched closely—it was easy to see that Cooper had a clear title to many of the fascinating details in his novels. If one scout halted for a moment, his companions followed suit. The passing of signals was unnecessary. These sons of nature knew each other as they knew nature itself. Near the scene of the Peace Commission massacre, and hardly a mile from the bluff, Huka Jim dropped from his horse and left the animal nibbling at a bush. The other savages adopted the same course. In the twinkling of an eye, there were four riderless horses in sight, but no Indians. Ourparty halted in obedience to a signal from Fairchild. With the aid of a field-glass we saw a man wiggling through a groove in one of the ledges. In a few moments another man was detected crawling toward No. 1. Finally we made out four men in a group, all lying upon the ground, and apparently holding a consultation. The group was broken as quietly as it was formed, and, inside of five minutes, our scouts were again in the saddle and going forward. We took the hint and also resumed our journey. Huka sent Bogus to us with the message that Indian signs had been found—the remains of a fire. But we need not look very sharp, as the fire was two suns old. I am unable to state how Huka reached this conclusion; but I do know, from facts I learned later in the season, that Huka's report was literally correct. The next halt was caused by a quick motion of the hand by this same Huka. He was prostrate on the ground and listening ere we had complied with his gesture. Back came the word that there were animals in motion just beyond a ridge which we were approaching. We were to dismount and await the results of an investigation. The suspense was soon dissipated. The animals were stray cattle.

The trail led us across the northern corner of Jack's stronghold. Here we were often obliged to walk and lead horses. It was hard, tiring work, and I rejoiced when the last barrier of the stronghold was cleared. I now felicitated myself on the fact that the gloomiest portion of the route would soon be passed. A couple more miles and we would be out of the beds and upon a level road following the eastern shore of the lake. But a bitter disappointment was close at hand. Fairchild and the scouts had rounded a rocky point one hundred yards in advance of the other members of the party, and were out of our sight. We in the rear were riding in single file—first a soldier, then the General, then the correspondent, and lastly two soldiers. There was a shot, followed by a savage cry, just beyond the point, and then there were more shots, fired in quick succession, and a series of ear-splitting yells. There was no mistaking the character of the latter. Such emotional yells could come from none but savages. Yelling and dancing are the mediums through which a savage expresses his feelings. We got down from our horses at once. The General was cool and perfectly calm. As the firing increased, his face was illumed with smiles, and his action betokened supreme delight. As we hurried forward he made observations which satisfied me that he looked on the fight, whatever the result might be, as a pleasant feature introduced into the programme for his special delectation. There is no rear for non-combatants in Indian fights. The firing developed in front may prove to be only a feint, and the severest attack generally begins from behind when the troops are advancing upon the enemy. With weapons ready for immediate use we turned the rocky point—to find that our scouts were shooting at the ducks on the lake, and had already bagged a goodly number. The heartiness with which some of us laughed at the humorous features of the affair was quite suggestive.

Thenceforward the ride to Boyle's Camp, which we reached in the gloaming, was devoid of noteworthy incidents. The purposes of our peculiar ride were afterwards told me by General Davis. I hold that they reflect the highest credit upon that noble soldier and true friend. The troops, he said, had necessarily been demoralized by the original successes of the Ma-