270 ON THE FRONTIER, 



Mojaves did not or could not understand, but supposed the 

 soldiers had come to take their country from them ; and 

 therefore gave notice that unless the troops were imme- 

 diately withdrawn, they would be attacked. And attacked 

 they were in the most plucky manner. It was bow and 

 flint-tipped arrow against gunpowder and bullet; undis- 

 ciplined valour against trained courage. But the Indians 

 had greatly the advantage in numbers, and though totally 

 unused to contend against firearms, pressed the soldiers 

 steadily back to the edge of the " Mesquite " they had 

 taken position in. The situation becoming critical, the 

 officer commanding determined to risk a charge, prepara- 

 tory to which the men were ordered to fix bayonets. 

 Irrataba, then but little past middle age, was giving his 

 orders from a tree-top, where, reckless of the danger of 

 being picked off, he had stationed himself to overlook the 

 engagement, and be the better able to direct the movements, 

 cf his braves. Seeing the bayonets fixed, he called out to 

 his men, " They have stopped up their guns ; give them the 

 knife ; " and his warriors, casting away their bows and arrows, 

 charged. 



Wild yells, flourishes, and savage gestures, intended to 

 strike terror into their foe, are, as a rule, the accompaniment 

 of all Indian attacks, except surprises. The conduct of the 

 Mojaves on this occasion is an instance of their dissimilarity 

 in many things to other tribes. 



The assault was delivered in silence. Heads down, 

 shoulder to shoulder, the Mojave warriors came on with a 

 quick, determined rush. It was gallant but fatal. Re- 

 ceived with a full volley, fired low, they were piled in 



