THE WEST SHORE.
133
Having discovered a village among the tule's at the where a cave opened into the rocks. Here the inhabi
mouth of -Lost River, the whites made a night attack tantsof the village had taken shelter, tying thoir horses
upon it The Indiana became aware of their approach, in front of it, whero they could protect them with their
and opposed their crossing of the river with a cloud of arrows while lying concoaled in tho cave. The white
nrrows. Nevertholoan, the men charged boldly ugiubs ou opened lire upon them from the top of the lodge of rooks,
foot, just as the gray light of dawn began to make objects at a distance of a hundred yards, and the savagos re
visible, and the Modocs fled in a panic and hid them- turned the fire, shooting thoir arrows with Buch force and
selves among the tules. The water was about two feet precision that Beveral of the men were wounded. They
deep, and cold almost to the point of freezing. It was soon discovered that thoir shields of tule nwhoB were not
then found that the rancheria was on an island in the bullet-proof, and retreated within tho shelter of the cave
lake; but the men waded out to it and surrounded the with the loss of several warriors. One stalwart brave,
village, capturing about thirty prisoners, only three of probably a Medicine Man who desired to exhibit his
whom were men. They spent the entire day in searching supernatural powers, emorgod from the cave bo envoi
the tules along the banks of the river and on the lake oped in shields that he resembled an animated basket
shore for the secreted braves. The fugitives plunged Behind their protecting fronts he felt so secure that he
into the icy water when discovered, and Bought new walked boldly forth and defied his assailants, only to lie
hiding places, if fortunate enough to escape the bullets laid low by a well-aimed shot from the bluff alxivo.
that were sent after them. Many were routed out and After this exploit not an Indian ventured from tho cave
some fifteen killed in this way; nor did the men entirely again. '
escape injury, for Beveral of them, as well as some of How to dislodge them from thoir holo became tho
their horses, were wounded with arrows shot by the con- next question. The men wore out of provisions and
cealed savages. ' oould not besiege the cavo, tho rocky and desert country
They returned at night to their camp with their affording no game or other moans of subsistence of which
prisoners, where they remained several days. One night they could avail themselves. A smudge was suggested,
as Wright approached the fire to light his pipe, one of Hurriedly gathering logs and brush, tho mon cautiously
the three braves arose and asked him for a smoke.' pushed them over the edge of the bluff at the mouth of
Wright made no response, but stooped down to get a the cave and sot fire to the heap. The Iudians could not
lighted stick, when the Indian pushed him over and fled, prevent this, for they were closoly cooikhI up In the
w i, i,5b w .J cmvo infant rmnmit The cave bv the riflos of the men who stood guard opHsito.
fugitive was soon overtaken, and, turning about, dealt his From out the dark recesses of the cavern the imprisoned
pursuer a blow with his fist, receiving in return a deadly savages maintained a close watch upon the i besiegers, and
thrust from a knife. Dragging the dead body after him, each head or arm that was exinmed in adding fuel to tho
Wright returned to camp, when the women set up a howl blazing pile was saluted with a shower of arrows, and
that continued till daylight, effectually banishing sleep one of the mon was severely wounded in this way.
from the eyelids of their captors. The prisoners had The boat and smoke rushed into the entrant in such
always maintained that the guilty Indians were members volume that any one but a Modoc Indian would have
of another rancheria, and finally, upon the promise of been suffocated or roasted. They prorated themselves
liberty, agreed to lead the men to the village of the rob- upon their faces to breathe tho little fresh air that came
bors. The women and children were released, and with in along the .bottom of the cave, and with a courage born
the two remaining braves for guides, the little party of desperation, resolved to perish there rather tow go
started in search of the rancheria. It was about the 1st out to be slaughtered by their enemies. 11 o attack
of November, and bitterly cold, buow covering the ground upon them had been so sudden and ne
to the depth of six inches. The horses broke through had forgotten , to ke water with them into ho re reat
the hard Lst that had formal on the snow, rendering JSSJ
.. ..it .... T..J iu t.,u t.v .font smoke. They could have held out but a little longer,
into tne celebrated .Lava ueoa bouiu ui xum xj, - . ,Mnu,iLir tnln
a dozen Indians were discovered, some of whom hastened when they were ovorjoyed to
to warn the village of dancer, while the others took their departure. The men had kept up a roasting nro
,Z&!JT.!, ,1M ,1 diH.lmr.od for twenty-four hours; but being out of provisions, ove
muter uemnu roc8 uuu juu. , ., jj t f fcfl f np,,Ij(,H and
their arrows at the advancing J t lg I TnM0 straiU to which tho enemy hod
within range. A SlL reduced, they had rolled a last contribution u,
for a long time, the savages falling steadily back towara J Jl uVm up lMt m f mrch for
the village. This was situated on a plateau and along a the burning pile u en u.
"Tr, . T. . av Wtlv Yreka. To rush out into the rresli air, scalier me ...aa-
cresceni .eage oi roc, wu . , TT bg log, and brush, and moisten their parched throat
to a depth of about twenty feet Jine ,edg dratty,lt- 0, wotor, were the first act- of the
what appeared to be the smooth bed of .stream It was w g
icape
men further.