Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/323

THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 305 and trouble them no more; or, if they wished, he would trade with them for their furs and feathers. To this the chiefs gave their assent, and while one was sent to fetch the women and the property, the other three were detained as hostages. Wright s company had by this time dwindled to eighteen men. When the chief returned to his camp, instead of bringing with him the captive women and the stolen stock, he brought only a few broken down horses and a shotgun; but he was accompanied by forty-five warriors. When remonstrated with for this violation of his pledge, he replied that Wright had required three hostages, and now, his men greatly outnumbering Wright's he should hold him and his company as hostages for the good conduct of the white people. The place where Wright was encamped was near the stone ford of Lost river, on the north side, the Modocs encamping on the same side. The situation was critical, it being plain that a net was spread for him which would surely close about him unless he met the danger with a desperate measure. The order issued for the night was for six men at midnight to silently cross the ford, a natural bridge at this season of the year,— and hide themselves in the artemisia which covered the plain. At the firing of a signal gun in the dawning they were to attack simultaneously the Indians who lay between them. The order was scrupulously obeyed, the men rushing upon the surprised Indians at the crack of Wright's gun, finishing the fight with their pistols. In twenty minutes the battle was over, and forty Indians lay slain. Wright had four men wounded, who were carried on litters made of guns lashed together fifteen miles, and an express sent to Yreka for aid. On the return of the company to that place—thin, sun-browned, and nearly naked—they were received with bonfires and banquets. The only regret felt was that the two captive women were left to the fiendish cruelty which no one doubted would end their lives before they could be rescued. As a matter of fact, they never were seen alive, but years after their bleaching