tive safety, while the besiegers were exposed at every turn or advance.
The press and pubHc alternated between expressing apprehension of Indian raids and condemnation of military maneuvres, and seemed to favor a proposal of certain rash spirits for hunting down the miserable remnant of Modocs at so much per scalp, as the cheapest and surest way of settling the difficulty. In dealing with fiends, fiendish measures were allowable, they argued. Regular warfare was evidently inefficient, and would involve the needless sacrifice of blood and money.
The military naturally scouted the imputation cast on their ability, notwithstanding repeated missteps. During the first march toward the new Modoc retreat, they allowed themselves to be surprised by the enemy, which fell upon the reconnoitering force of Major Thomas, and scattered it in confusion, with the loss of twenty-two killed, and a number of wounded, while only one Modoc perished, through his own carelessness. The result was another period of inaction, to await reenforcements, during which the soldiers freely expressed their lack of confidence in officers whose only achievements seemed to be leading them into traps.
Lack of water compelled the Modocs once more to seek a new refuge. On their way to Snow mountains they came upon a detachment sent to head them off from so undesirable a direction. In the effort to stampede this force, like that of Major Thomas, they were foiled, partly through the promptness of the Warm Spring Indians. The pursuit by the soldiers was, moreover, so hot that the attacking band lost its horses, together with the reserve ammunition. Thus crippled, they were obliged to turn toward Indian Springs, there to be speedily surrounded by the troops. In this dilemma they negotiated through Fairchild, offering to surrender to him if promised their lives. This was agreed to, and on May 22d Fairchild brought in seventy captives, including a
