CHAPTER XXXII.

HORIZONTAL PYROTECHNICS——THE SCALP MIRACLE——KILLED IN PETTICOATS——THE PRESENTIMENT.

Preparations for Another Battle——Stretchers for the Wounded—— Mattresses and Lint——The Wounded Man in the Hospital Expects Company——The Iowa Veteran——The Signal for Battle——It Begins—— Re-echoing of Cannon——The Assault——No Response Yet——Volleys from the Concealed Foe——The Retreat——The Dead and Wounded——The PAT-riotic Sutler——The Walking Sage Brush——The Wounded Pony—— Pat’s Head in Danger——The _Flat_ Assaulted——Lieut. Eagan Falls——The Two Stages——The Remains of the Lamented Dead——The Bereaved Widow and the Stricken Wife——The Wounded Warm Spring Indian——He Ridicules Modoc Powder——The Modocs out of Water—— The Lady Passenger——Sympathy Extended——On Her Way to the Lava Beds——The Welcome Letter——Still Alive, but Handsome No Longer—— The Battle for Water——The Fair-haired Boy——His Terrible Presentiment——Courage Triumphs——His Lost Messages to Friends—— The Dread Reality——The Unexploded Shell does Execution——A Scalp Cut to Suit——The Indian Plays Squaw——He is Suspected and _Numerously_ Scalped——Military Bombast——Mourning for the Dead—— Remains of Canby and Thomas——The Stricken Parent——The Wife’s Disappointment and Anguish——The Modocs Withdraw——The Soldiers Deceived——They Surround Vacant Caves 522