CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE EXECUTION——THE ROYAL CHIEF OUT OF CHAINS.

Modocs in the Prison and Stockade——New Hanging-Machine——The Announcement of the Death Sentence——The Fallen Chief——His Speech——Boston Charley’s Speech——Schonchin’s——The Enraged Modocs——The Unfettered Traitors——Scar-faced Charley——A Solemn Scene and an Eloquent Prayer——A White Man in Tears over Red Men’s Sorrows——Once Proud, Now Humble——Thunder-bolt from a Clear Sky——Marble Tomb and Pearly Gate——Jumbled Theology—— Whirling Tempest——Roaring Cannon——Lightning Flashing and Darkened Homes——Passing under the Cloud Alone——Anxious for a Good Seat——Six Graves——Boston has a Rare Privilege——Short Questions and Short Answers——More than Bogus could Stand——A Sheriff among Soldiers——State Rights——United States——A Big Offer for a Corpse——Under the Eye of Uncle Sam——The Prisoners Waiting for Marching Orders——The Command: “Come Forth”——Then and Now——Leaving Living Tombs for Permanent Homes——Solving the Problem of _Six_ Graves and _Four_ Coffins——In Sight of the Scaffold——Last in Crime——First to Mount the Ladder——The Chains Drop Off——Six Graves——Six Ropes——Six Prisoners——Four Coffins—— Four Unfettered Convicts——Suspense Succeeds Certain Death—— Last March——A Single Strand and a Gleaming Axe——On the Drop Waiting——Sitting on a Coffin Watching——Justice Making a Protest——Forty Millions of People Talking at Once——What They Say——The Problem Solved——Justice Surprised——The Last Prayer—— The Drop——Calling the Modoc Roll——The Missing——Where They Are—— Tragedy Ended 636