Lethargy followed by Vigorous Action——Meacham Discovered——The Stretcher——Brandy——“No Time for Temperance Talk”——The Council Tent a Winding-sheet——Rewards to the Couriers——The Eighty-three Mile Race——The Gray and the Pinto——The Exultant Winner 478 CHAPTER XXXI. HARNESSED LIGHTNING CARRYING AWFUL TIDINGS——HE MAKES IT——A BROKEN FINGER WON’T DISFIGURE A CORPSE. Making Coffins in the Lava Bed——The Patient in the Hospital——A Broken Finger will not Disfigure a Corpse——The Commotion in the Modoc Camp——The Disputes——Common Interest a Strong Bond—— The Great Medicine Dance——The Modocs Exultant——The Wife’s Suspense——The Dreadful News——Its Effect on Wife and Children—— First Robbed by the Government, then its Defenders——Our Nation’s Perfidy——The Sorrowful Hearts at Home——Prayer and Praise in Camp——A Lesson for Bigots and Cowards to Learn——The Medicine Man in the Modoc Camp——He Fires the Modoc Heart—— Capt. Jack Despondent——Long Jim——Novel Scene in the Soldier’s Camp——The Murder of the Commission to be Avenged——Long Jim Escapes——Much Powder Wasted——“Nary a Wound” 508 CHAPTER XXXII. HORIZONTAL PYROTECHNICS——THE SCALP MIRACLE——KILLED IN PETTICOATS——THE PRESENTIMENT. Preparations for Another Battle——Stretchers for the Wounded—— Mattresses and Lint——The Wounded Man in the Hospital Expects Company——The Iowa Veteran——The Signal for Battle——It Begins—— Re-echoing of Cannon——The Assault——No Response Yet——Volleys from the Concealed Foe——The Retreat——The Dead and Wounded——The PAT-riotic Sutler——The Walking Sage Brush——The Wounded Pony—— Pat’s Head in Danger——The _Flat_ Assaulted——Lieut. Eagan Falls——The Two Stages——The Remains of the Lamented Dead——The Bereaved Widow and the Stricken Wife——The Wounded Warm Spring Indian——He Ridicules Modoc Powder——The Modocs out of Water—— The Lady Passenger——Sympathy Extended——On Her Way to the Lava Beds——The Welcome Letter——Still Alive, but Handsome No Longer—— The Battle for Water——The Fair-haired Boy——His Terrible Presentiment——Courage Triumphs——His Lost Messages to Friends—— The Dread Reality——The Unexploded Shell does Execution——A Scalp Cut to Suit——The Indian Plays Squaw——He is Suspected and _Numerously_ Scalped——Military Bombast——Mourning for the Dead—— Remains of Canby and Thomas——The Stricken Parent——The Wife’s Disappointment and Anguish——The Modocs Withdraw——The Soldiers Deceived——They Surround Vacant Caves 522 CHAPTER XXXIII.