The hardest fight during the day occurred when Miller was endeavoring to form a junction with the Warm Spring scouts, and failed As he was crossing a chasm, the Modocs suddenly appeared and cut him off with thirteen men. They fortified themselves, and fought desperately until about four in the afternoon, when, shells beginning to fall in that vicinity, they left cover and ran into the lines amid a shower cf bullets, losing two men killed and one wounded. Atjabi in the evening^ the Modocs made a movement to break through the lines and get to the lake, but were checked by a heavy fire from the troops. The second day ended with some further advances made upon the Modoc stronghold, and the mortar batteries in better position. The blaze of musketry along the lake shore in the closing^ enoaoement at nine o'clock in the evening was likened to the darting of flames on a burning prairie seen at night. Once more the troops remained over night in the field, having nothing warm with their rations but coffee served to them hot.
The condition of the Modocs must have been very miserable, henmied in as they were, cut off from water, and not allowed a moment's rest from flvinof shells. Those who watched them throug-h fieldglasses during the day said that they ran from one point of rocks to another back and forth, with no apparent motive, seemingly dismayed by the peril that environed them. But the work of extermination did not go on as Gillem desired. The Warm Spring warriors reported killing four Modocs and losing one of their own men. How many were killed in their caves was unknown. The casualties on the part of the troops in the two days' fight amounted to seventeen, only five being killed.
Caught thus in his own trap, the time had come when Captain Jack should surely be put to death. On the morning of the 17th the lines met without impcciment, and closed in on the stronghold, finding few
