Page:The Indian History of the Modoc War.djvu/129

This page needs to be proofread.


lie says to Black Jim, "but if you people think I killed Ellen's man or caused his death, you know what to do. Shoot me. I promise you if you do not kill me at the first volley, I will return the fire, for I just as leave may die fighting my own men as to die fighting soldiers. I know I will be killed anyway, in battle, or I know I shall be hung if I am captured, so you see I am not afraid of death. You men are the very men that drove me to kill General Canby and now you want to blame me for Ellen's man's death. Let me tell you that he died in action on the battlefield like a man. Now tell me, some of

Warm Spring- U. S. Indian Scout on the lookout for the Mo- docs during the Modoc War; Indian name, Loa-kum Ar-nuk.

you, how am I the cause of his death?" Black Jim at this in- stant threw the butt of his gun to his shoulder, saying, "I will stop your talk, you coward."

Weium, known now to you as Faithful William, jumped and caught Black Jim's rifle and said, "None of that, Jim. Don't shoot Jack. You have your desire. You wanted to shoot soldiers all the time. Our chief wanted peace. There is plenty of soldiers left yet. You have not killed all of them, so go and shoot soldiers to your heart's content. I will not let