CHAPTER XXX.

ASSASSINATION——“KAU-TUX-E”——THE DEATH PRAYER SMOTHERED BY BLOOD——RESCUED.

The Scene near the Council Tent——Several Desperate Modocs Described——Preparing for the Carnival of Death——The Boy Murderers and their Weapons——Bogus and Boston Announce the Approach of the Commission——Why does Meacham Remove his Overcoat——The Modocs Suspiciously Cordial——Fighting a Battle with Pride——Appearance of the Commissioners——Hooker Jim’s Strange Movements——The Intruder Near the Council Tent——The Butchery for the Time Being Averted——Hooker-Jim’s Ominous Movements——He puts on Meacham’s Overcoat——“Me old man Meacham now”——This Act is instantly Interpreted——All are Conscious of their Impending Doom——Reflections During the Fleeting Moments—— What will General Canby Say——Will he Accede to the Demand of the Modocs and thus Avert Death——Will he Take the Soldiers Away——He Breaks the Silence——Duty Dearer than Life——Death before Dishonor——Dr. Thomas’s Last Speech——What will Captain Jack do now——Will he Give the Signal——He Changes Places with Schonchin——The Manner of the Latter——The Attack Begins—— General Canby the First to Fall——His Horrible Death——Dyer is Shot at by Hooker-Jim——He Makes his Escape——Riddle Pursued by Black Jim——The Latter Fires at Random——The Reason——The Bloody Work of Boston and Hooker-Jim——Dr. Thomas’s Tragic End——His Murderers Taunt him with his Religion——Why don’t he Turn the Bullets——Schonchin, his Dagger and his Pistol——Meacham Attacked by Schonchin——Slolux and Shack-Nasty Jim——The Struggle for Life——Tobey’s Efforts to save Him——The Dreadful Scene of the Tragedy——Boston as a Scalper——The Squaw Tobey—— Her Strategy——Another Bloody Tragedy Planned but not Executed—— Lethargy followed by Vigorous Action——Meacham Discovered——The Stretcher——Brandy——“No Time for Temperance Talk”——The Council Tent a Winding-sheet——Rewards to the Couriers——The Eighty-three Mile Race——The Gray and the Pinto——The Exultant Winner 478