266 THE MODOK. 
faces, and they are consummate judges of human nature. They know well 
when there is weakness in the enemy’s camp. They judged the Great 
Father in Washington by the sons whom he sent. 
In fact, Captain Jack went back to the reservation once on condition 
that the Mukaluk should not be allowed to insult him as a coward. But 
this guarantee was not kept, the old course of ignominious taunts and 
abuse began again. Jack withdrew a second time, declaring he would not 
remain in a home which was no home, and with an agent who had no heart. 
There were changes of agents and changes of policies. The Indians 
knew not what to depend on. They were disgusted and defiant. Old 
Skonchin and his faithful hundred were removed to a new reservation at 
Yainax, where they were out of the reach of their hereditary tormentors, 
and were allowed to live in peace. But this change came too late. 
In a sudden spasm of vigor a detachment of thirty-five soldiers was 
sent to Jack’s camp, and on the fatal 29th of November, 1872, they took 
him by surprise. There was bloodshed. The torch of the Modok war was 
lighted, and it flamed up with a fearful burning. They fought with unpar- 
alleled heroism for their homes, but were crushed by superior power; and 
their fallen chiefs were held to a stern and awful accountability to laws 
which they had no hand or voice in making, and whose spirit and substance 
had been as wantonly violated by the conquering race as by themselves. 
