272 ON THE FRONTIER 



law, should have attempted to deceive them so grossly? 

 There was only one possible solution. The whites, the 

 better to secure the destruction of the Mojaves, had cun- 

 ningly conjured the soul out of the chief's body and re- 

 placed it by a lying devil ; and to knock him on the head, 

 burn him to ashes, and throw these into the river, was the 

 only safe course to pursue. Fortunately, before this deci- 

 sion was acted upon a notice of his danger came to the 

 ears of Irrataba, and he took refuge with his friends in the 

 Fort. It was only after a lapse of considerable time, and 

 as a result of no little diplomatic ability on his part, that 

 Irrataba was able to go amongst his people again in safety ; 

 and it was still longer before he recovered his lost influence 

 over them. 



Irrataba was getting to be an old man when I last saw 

 him, but was still straight and hearty. Having been for a 

 long time in daily intercourse with the garrison, he could 

 make himself quite understood in English, and compre- 

 hended everything said to him in that language ; and 

 being very communicative where he gave his confidence, 

 I often enjoyed long conversations with him. He habitually 

 wore the dress, or rather undress, of his nation ; and neither 

 carried insignia, ornament, nor weapon, but was distinguished 

 by being always accompanied by his body-guard. Irrataba's 

 body-guard consisted of an imposing force of one, and 

 such an one ! I will describe him. The body-guard was 

 a powerful, well-built, six-foot Indian. His uniform I 

 enumerate all the articles of apparel a breech-clout, which 

 as a mark of distinction had long overlapping ends dang- 

 ling down, both before and behind, to below the knees; a 



