By means of spears and pistols, the miserable brutes (I refer to the cattle) are so lacerated that they are soon exhausted by loss of blood and the frantic pace at which they have tried to elude their pursuers. When one falls, the Indians try to urge it on, by goading, to another race; but when they fail in this, they stand over the fallen beast and torment it until death ends its miseries. The squaws are then turned out to get the carcases into camp and cut them up. There are sometimes frightful contests among them for choice portions of the animal; and a couple of them may frequently be seen hacking at each other with knives over a tender sirloin. the last animal is killed, the Indians return to their lodges; their bloodthirstiness whetted to such an edge that the only wonder is that they can be restrained from massacring the entire post.

When

The Indian Department still does the most extraordinary things. Very lately, two chiefs, named respectively, Santanta and Big Tree, both vile Indian murderers, were captured and imprisoned, instead of being hanged. After some correspondence between the Governor of Texas and the Indian Department, in which the latter almost begged that the prisoners should be released, Santanta and Big Tree were restored to their miserable tribes. And now news has arrived, as might have been expected, that Big Tree has shown his grati

tude by leaving the 'reservation' and going again on the war-path-robbing and murdering wherever he can. Western men all agree that there is but one policy to be adopted towards the red man, and that policy consists in the use of the rifle and the revolver. Scalp 'em fust

and talk to 'em after,' is the sentiment. The Indian Commission lately wanted the Sioux Indians to abandon their reservations in Nebraska and Wyoming. Red Cloud, their chief, had the impudence to demand eleven hundred stand of arms, and one hundred choice white women for squaws. The commissioners offered some arms, but declined to give the women, although it was thought at the time that it would be a fine opportunity for getting rid of the female suffragists. The chances are, they would have received a lesson on woman's rights' which they would not easily have forgotten.

There are in all ninety-two reservations, and the tract known as Indian Territory is so extensive that it would hold 250,000 Indians, giving 150 acres to each man, woman, and child; but they care not for acres without buffaloes.

Even the best Indian agents lack the force and power which savages alone respect. At present, if an Indian suffers wrong he is much more likely to go for redress to the officer commanding the nearest military post than to his agent. In the one case, he sees with his own eyes evidence of a force to compel obedience,

whereas, in the other, he sees nothing of the kind. They do not know what influences direct the so-called policy of the Government, and they see in its shiftiness only inefficiency. This brings about the question, why is not the Indian Bureau under the conduct of the War Department, instead of under that of the Department of the Interior? Such men as General Sheridan and other able military officers would soon sweep away the race of Indian agents and save the country many a life, as well as many a dollar.

It seems evident, while the policy is pursued of treating the Indians as nations or tribes of a character sufficiently independent to entitle them to the right of making treaties, while they are yet to be supported more or less by the Government, that they should remain in the charge of that branch of Government to which the country looks for the enforcement of the terms of the treaty on the part of the Indians; and that branch is the War Department. The military forces are stationed on or near the frontiers, where they can most securely keep in check the raids and forays of the red men; and it is right that they should have some voice in preventing needless Indian warfare, which is more fraught with hardship and danger than any other, and affords less of that opportunity which is the soldier's highest incentive, and which confers his truest reward.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE MODOCS.

Treachery-Treaties-War-Murders-Modoc success-Peace Commission-Captain Jack-An interview-Warning-Murder of the Peace Commissioners-Marvellous escape-Lower Klamath Lake-The camp -The Lava Beds-Panic-Savage squaws-Warm Spring IndiansSurrender-Execution-Pelicans-Graves-After dark.

THE Modocs are an offshoot of the Klainath Indians, a tribe which has always evinced a quarrelsome and warlike spirit. During one of their insurrections a chief of the name of Modocus broke off with his followers from the rest of the tribe, and established an independent nation.

In 1864, some horses having been stolen from the white settlers, a war was commenced against the Modocs. In the course of this war numbers of emigrants were waylaid, tortured, and slain, and in consequence a company of white men proceeded to the Modoc country to avenge these wrongs. After first trying poison, and failing, they got the Indians to agree to a 'peace-talk.' The Indians arrived at the appointed meeting-place and laid down their bows. Upon a signal being given, the whites, with a treachery only

equalled later by the murder of the Peace Commissioners, opened fire on the Indians, and forty out of forty-five were slain. In the same year a treaty was made with Schonchin and Captain Jack, chief and subchief of the band, in which they agreed to take up their residence on the 'reservation.' After a short time they got tired of their new quarters and returned to the old ones. Several unsuccessful attempts were then made to get them to return to the Klamath reservation; and in 1869 the Superintendent determined that if possible Captain Jack, who had then become chief, should, with his followers, be sent back. A message was dispatched, asking him to meet the Superintendent half-way. The answer returned was to the effect, that if the Superintendent wished to see Captain Jack he must come to him.

The Superintendent then visited the Modocs, and found the chief surrounded by seventy or eighty warriors. A feast was proposed, but declined-for Jack well remembered the poisoned banquet of 1864. Finally, however, he consented to return to the Klamath reservation, on condition that he should be allowed to choose his own dwelling-place. But the medicineman' objected to this, and, drawing his revolver, said that they would not go there at all.

After some discussion, Jack retired to his camp to hold a council, at which, as was afterwards found out,