Page:Life Amongst the Modocs.djvu/370

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kes of Pit


river. This was in the heart of the Indian country, and almost on the spot where the three corners of the lands of the three tribes met, and he could from this point reach the principal valleys and the great eastern plains of the Indians with but little trouble.

A new and most desperate undertaking now entered my mind. It was impossible to dislodge the military from the Indian country as things then stood. I resolved to " carry the war into Africa."

I laid my plan before the Modocs, and they, poor devils, made desperate with the long and wasting struggle, were mad with delight.

It was resolved to gather the Indian forces together, send the women and children into the caves to hide and subsist as best they could, leave our own homes, and then boldly descend upon the white settlements. This we were certain would draw the enemy, for a time at least, from our country.

I never witnessed such enthusiasm. These battle- scarred, worn-out, ragged, half-starved Indians arose under the thought of the enterprise as if touched by inspiration.

I was to go down to Yreka, note the approaches to town, the probable strength of the place, the proper time to attack, while they gathered their forces together for the campaign and disposed of the women and children.

The attack was to be made on th