P s EN" OS, A MELODRAMA, in two acts, By R. F. RY^N ENOS, A MELODRAMA, IN TWO ACTS, WHITES. Capt. Henry Brentwood, Commander of U. S. Forces, in love with Ilevellah. Benjamin Wright, an Indian Agent. Mr. Grissell, a Settler, and Father of Jennie. Jonathan Buster, a Miner. Whisky Dick, an Indian Hunter. Pat Murphy, a Miner, in love with Jennie. Herman Van Voost, a Prophetical Hollander, also a Miner. Lieutenant Gibb. Little, a Soldier. First Soldier. Mrs. Grissell, the Settler's Wife. Jennie, her Daughter. INDIANS. Enos, a Wandering Ottawa, down on the Whites, in love with Hevellah. Calwawessit, Chief of the Yoshutes, a Friend of the Whites. Aschersee, ^ Talmanetsee, > Chiefs. Yuchamsee, ) Taliattus, Chief of the Shoshones. Hevellah, daughter of Calwawessit, in love with Brentwood. Entered according to Act of Congress, A. D. 1873, by E. F. Etan, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, in.Washington City, D. C.J ¥l|e IIoelo(5^. ^CT I. SCENE I. — Boom in front. Wri&ht in front of /Stage. ^ uuth a paper in his hands, reetds: IVri. " CoFigress " has made ao appropriation of S100,00U, to feed and clothe the iModocs, and to place them on the Reservation. How much of this sum lias found its way into the pockets of Senators, is a question ; bnt what care I as long as it comes like fisli into my net. This I know, that precious little of it will go to the red skin dogs, wlio are only food for powder. I will diminish the cost of feeding by destroy- ing them, and thus secure the balance of this appropi-iation. I wonder why it is that Solo- mon, the second-hand clothier, is not here. He promised to exchange the Government blankets furnislied for the tribes for a common sort, and by which I expect to mak3 a cool $8,000, as commissions. [Enter Servant 07i left, addresses Weight. /Se/'V. Solomon is below, and wants to see you. Wri. Show him in. [Enter Solomon on left, and approaches Wright. Sol. [addressing hini] Goot en morgen, Mr. Wright, tish vary goot bisness prings me liere ; vot you say pout the plankets to exchange ? ^Vri. [to Sol.] The blankets forwarded for Indian use are too line altoo-ether ; an article of much 4 TOE LAST OF THE MODOCS. less value would answer all the purpose, and thus money may be saved. fSoL Sure, sar, me farnisli you von very goot blanket for half dere cost, and give you von goot pig sum to poot — nine dousand dollars — eh ? Mr. Wright, that 's bisness. \_PoJcing him in the ribs, JVri. [cicldressing Sol.] You will not disclose the matter ? Sol. Tish nopody's bisness. W^ri. Mum 's the word. [Exit Solomooi. [Enter Servant, and cvpproaches Wkigi-it, and addresses him. Wri. [in front'] I have made a cool $9,000 by the Jew out of the appropriation. Is there any- thing wrong in tliis? why, no; it's all the rage to steal while one holds office ; and why should not I obtain my share ? My sun is not going to shine always; so I'll make my hay while it shines. [Enter Jones, loho advances toioardsW bigv^t loho bids him he seated. They take seats. Wri. [addressing Jones] Have you made out your bill for cattle furnished the Reservation? I wish to forward it to Washington without delay. [Jones hands him the bill Wri. I find it is $10,000. This will not do. You must double that sum, and give me a voucher as if it were paid. Jwi. But — Wri. See here, there is no buts about the business. 'Tis plain that if you do not accept, others will be found who have no qualms of con- science. tTon. Well, it 's none of my business. [Gives the voucher, and bids him good mo7'n- ing. [Aside] Wright will make this all right, al- THE LAST OF ITIE MODOC3. 5 tlioiigh it 's all wrong. Is it any wonder tliat our Government is coming into contempt, when tliose wlio assume to rule us, despise the honest and tlie unassumino-, and o-ive tlie offices of the land to the unscrupulous and undeserving ? No wonder that tliose who enter into their service develop into tliieves. \_Enter Lieutenant Gibbs. Advances to Weight. Wri. What news from the Council of Indians ? Gib. Obeying your instructions, we drew the red- skins into our encampment, under the pretence that we vfould make a treaty with them ; when there, I ordered my soldiers to fire upon them ; we slew fifty of their braves, squaws and chil- dren. Wri. That is the only way to deal with them ; besides it will save us much trouble ; but we must keep watch of them. They will no doubt make a raid upon the settlements. Gib. It is true. I must away to join my command. yVri. And I to watch their movements. \_Scene shifts. SCENE II. — A moimtain scene. Ilining ccmip. En- ter Pat Muephy, loith a pich axe on his shoulder and a shovel, loho advances to front of stage. Mur. Be the powers, I think I liad a streak of good luck this blessed morning, that will soon en- able yer humble servant to cut liis stick, and leave for the settlement, whoop, and may be its not meeself, thiat'U brake the hearts of all the girls, when they find out that Patt Mur- phy has made his fortin, while that raps callion Jim Murray feels the water coming through liis teeth, the blackguard, wlien Patt Murphy dressed like a gentleman with plenty of goold in his pockets, returns to lay siege to the Citadel of Jennie Grissell's heart which he O THE LAST OP THE MODOCS. thoiiglit to appropriate like a trifle all to him- self when I bad the best claim thereto ? \_jEnter Yax Voost, loho overhears Patt MuEPHY talk. VI V. Well herr you pees again Mister Patt, always looking after the girls. There is Jenny Grissell they say loves you to destraction. How many more hearts liave you broken, you rascal ? Mi{r. Is it me to brake their hearts, git away witli yes : what cj?.n a fellow do when the dariints come accross ye, but to make love to all of them. Troth, Jennie is as purty as a picture as any artist might look at, but lavin all jokes aside, what do you think, will we have trouble with the Indians? [Miter Buster — a Yankee peddler on right loith a pack on his back, and some notions in his hand — talking. J^us. It's a concarned deal of trouble to get through this country, and perilous from Indians and other critters. When 1 left hum I expected to make my fortune in six months, but I am just as far oiF from it as ever, and I am compelled to trudge along with this pack without finding customers. I hear some voices here ! V. Y. {addressing him] Yell, mine friend, wdiat bees you doing down here ? jBus. Selling my wares. Don't you want any of my notions ? [Holds vp a ring to Pat. Mur. You must make a thrade. I'll give you flfty feet in the last chance quartz Company's ledge, for that ring. It will yield hundreds of thou- sands of dollars to the ton. [Hands him a piece of rock. It's speckled all over with goold, and comes out of the ledge in solid chunks. lBu8. Well, stranger, I'll guess I'll swap with you, it's a regular Ruby from Arizona, and is four hundred carats fine. TIIE LAST OF THE MODOCS. 3Iur. Hould my friend. I want you to understand that we are not animals in tliese parts, and do not want your tine carrots. Faix, what would I be doing with your carrots, or parsnips citlier. [Buster and Van Voorst laugh. V. V. He means diamonds, their value is thus de- termined. Mur. Excuse me, faith it's not the larnin that iver troubled me. \_It''s a bargain. They exchange. Bus. [aside — laughs.'] I wonder which of us has the best bai-gain. 1 gave him a piece of glass tor a Ivuby, and have got in return enough of feet to set up a Broker's Board with. 3Iur. [addressing him] You are sure that tlie mine this sthone came out of wasn't salted. JBus. Just as sure as you are, that this mine of yours will yield a iiundred thousand dollars a ton. Mi(r. [aside.] Well, one is as thrue as tlie other. [77ie shouts of Indians are heard. V. V. Bless m.y stars, but here tliey are on us ! 3Iur. Talk of the divil lies sure to appear. That gen- tleman from Holland was mighty close in his expectations. Make haste, there, you min : put sixteen charges into your riiles to save the time of loading ; now then, get behind tlie trees, and when they come, make a yell so loud that they'll think there's the divil's own nest of us. [They secrete themselves behind the trees. Enter six Indians, fiourishhig toniahaicJcs. The miners yell and fire. Tico Indians fall ; exit the rest. Murphy comes down from behind a tree., the rest follow. Mur. Oh tlie blackguards, to die without saying their prayers, or giving us time to send for the Priest. Y.y. Dat is better than goot, I tinks I killed sixteen of dem red skins mine self, mit mine ritle ; she kick so, dat I couldn't see exactly — she near knock me town, by tam. THE LAST OF TIIH MODOCS. Bus. Let me see whether they took my notions ; that wouhl be a worse situation for me. 3Iw\ \_picks up a tomahaicJi\ Shure I'll take this for prize money, anyhow. Boys, we mast clean these fellows out, and thin take lave o' this gay and festive scene for a m.n-e secure place. \_They all seize upon the bodies and carry them off. Exit. [Enter Exos and Calwawessit. E^^os ad- vances to the front of the stage. ^Speaks. Enos. Our race is fast diminishing in numbers. The palefaces have followed us from the rising to the setting sun. We were once as numerous as the leaves iu summer; but now we're like th.e withered leaf of autumn. The blood of the palefaces is in my veins ; but I am not a pale- face, v/ith forked tongue and wicked heart. Oh ! Great Spirit, who looks down from the clouds, and who waters the ground with rain, who filled our rivers and hunting grounds with fisli and game, and who made us strong in heart against our enemies, hear me ! When Avill your anger turn from the red man, and why hast thou left me here, the last of my race, like the lone cedar after the forest burn- ing ? Each moon that passes by diminishes our power, and swift the arrows of the white man pierce our warriors' hearts, and make our wig- Avams empty. We have offered them the pipe of peace, and gave them lands and food ; and how do they repay it ? By destroying our peo- ple with their lightning and strong waters ; by robbing us of our squaws, and di'iving us from the hunting grounds of our fathers. Where are our fathers ? They are gone to the land of spirits, and never will return ; and, if we con- tinue thus inactive, we soon shall follow them. Will you submit to this ? " No ! " Then you will follow me, Enos, the last of the Modocs, to the war path. TTIE LAST OF THE MOBOCS, 9 Ccd. 'T was but a moon since the life of Taliattus, tlie Cliief 's son, was taken by their hands, and the tribes are o*atlierino; to be avenoed. Enos. Look npon me. Am I not alone ? The blood of Enos runs in no man's veins. It is the pale- faces liave done tliis, and tliey exult over tlje ruin they have wrong]) t. You — you, Calwa- wessit, shall see yourself tlie last remaining vestige of your tribe, if we permit the palefaces to dwell among us. Ccd. But they are as numerous as the stars in the sky. Enos. So are the tribes. Is it not better for them to die than see the death of our race by wrongs unnumbered ? If the tribes unite, tlie arrow never pointed at a mark as surely as their fall will come. I see of late your daughter loves their company. The brightest Hower of our forests should not do this. It makes my blood boil to see it. Col. But she loves you, Enos; she shall be yours. ^ But— Enos. The tribes will meet to-night. Let us repair and give them counsel. Ccd. TJie braves do set much value on your words. Let us go. Enos. I '11 follow you. [Exit Ccd. R.] Thus far I have secured the tribes to rise against their op- pressors. Should they refuse to join me in the war path — but they cannot do it. Enos has shaped them to his i)urpose. \_Exit H. SCENE 111.— House of Mr. Grlssell. Enter Gris- SELL lokh CI venison on his shoulder^ and ccdls for his wife. Mr.G. I liave brought you home some venison ; enough to last you a month. The bear-tamer, James Adams, gave me a portion of the proceeds of 10 THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. his Inint. Only think of it ; he killed six deer this morning. 3Irs. G. Wliat a queer man he is. He lives in the forest, away from the habitations of men. I should not wonder but he was crossed in love. ITr. G. You women always consider that when any- thing singular appears in man, that they must have been crossed in love. Do you ima^-ine that they all are as foolish, and act as I have done, dancing after you ? It is their nature. ili?'S. G. Yes ; and it is their nature to run after the girls. What do you think. Well, that Irish- man, Pat Murpliy, is after our Jennie. What an impertinent fellow he is, to make love to my daughter. I wont stand it. Mr. G. And does she love him ? Mrs. G. I can perceive by her of late that she does speak of him frequently, and tries to obtain every opportunity for meeting him. These horrid Irish ; I cannot bear them. Only think of it, that Jenny sliould be compelled to many a blundering, ranting, roaring, tearing Irish- man. Mr. G. I wonder at your prejudice. When I "sought your hand and consent, it v/as witliout anyone's intervention. And, if my daughter loves this man, then she shall have my consent. What if he be an Irishman. Has not an Irishman affec- tions, and will not these overleap all the con- ventional boundaries of country ? M?'S. G. Well, you will have your own way. [Miter Whisky Dick, ti(/ht, with a gun over his shoulder, talhing to himself. X>ic7v. Was n't that a capital shot [hie]. I shot at that redskin [hie], a chief's son, young Taliat- tus. I 've a natural contempt for them [hie] all my [hie] life. What [hie] right have they, I 'd [hie] like to know [hie] in these parts ? Does n't it [hie] belong to Uncle Sam [hie]? THE TAST OF IIIE iSIODOCS. II Thej must go back [hie] to Asia, tlieir [liic] natural country. Mr. G. Again in liquor ? Dick, are you not ashamed tljus to boast your cruelty, and tlnis treat those who are the natural owners of the soil ? We are tlie intruders ; and I should not wonder but all th.e wrongs perpetrated on the cluldren of the forest will one day fall upon our heads. Dick. It wont do to talk this [hie] way. You see [liic], tJie boys on the creek came near lynching a [hie] feller there last night. M'*'. G. Perhaps there was a reason for it ? Dick. Why, no. You see the Injins put a ferry across the river, in opposition to the regular ferry, and they only charged the boys half price for it. Tliis took away the toll from Bob Squire, who, with the boys one line morning, kinder made an attack on the Injins, who made for the woods — I mean those who could ; but very few did. They then burnt their camp. 'T was about this time tliat the United States Agent came along, who took part with the In- jins against the boys ; but the boys would n't stand this. So they took the Agent to the river, to hang him to the first tree ; but luckily his legs were longer tlian his arms, and he got up and escaped. Bus. Mr. Grissell, those acts are a disgrace to our people. Good morning. \^Exit, Dick. Good morning, my boy ; and if any of the boys ask you for where James Sampson, of the Creek is, tell them he's about. l^Exit after them. Gris. We are well rid of that brigand, l)ick, who speaks with such satisfaction of his evil deeds. Cut loose from the restraints of society and religion, such men become more savage than the savages themselves. I promised to meet the old chief Calwawessit, and I must be olF. IMiter Pat Mltephy, 12 IIFE LAST OF THE MODOCS. Mur. Faith and I never thought I'd fall in love, but it is a failing of my ancestors, and sure I'm not to blame for it. Love ! What the divil is it ? Faith, it's meself that don't know what it is. It's a feeling — yes a very strange one, and ever since I saw Jennie Grissell, I have felt my lieart go pit a pat, and everythi:ig I have done since has been wrong side uppermost. There's Brentwood, they say is in love with the Indian Chief's daughter, and that scowling ruffian Enos is jealous of him, and would make mince pie of him if he could only meet him. It's a failing with more men than Pat Murphy, however, that's a consolation. Begad, here she comes with Hevellah, and I'll aside here and surprise her. \_Steps hack behind tree. Enter Jennie Gris- SELa;zr/ Hevellah talking ^and they go to a grass mound and they sit down^ talking. Jen. \to Hev.] Have you ever been in love ? Ilexs. Yes, with the Great Spirit, he who made the earth, the air; wlio heaped the solid mountains to the skies, and covered them with verdure. I love tins, the home of my fathers, given them by the Great Spirit for a dwelling place. Jen. Phsaw ! but don't you love something else ? [Pat comes interri(pting them. Aside. Mur. What a philosopical creature she is, to be sure. Didn't I know all the ancient Sages, either of Greece or Rome, or any other part of the world, could n't send such a Venus into this wilderness on any other condition than that every body who saw the darlint should fall in love with her ? \_Advancing to Miss Grissell.] Good morning, afternoon I mean. Miss Jennie ; I have been overhearing you in your pleasant talk with Miss Calwawassit there, and I am very sorry for breaking in on your meditations, but you know how I love you, Miss Jennie. Faith I would travel over rivers and mountains to THS X.AST OF THE MODOCS. 1 3 see yon, let alone to come from the diggins for that purpose. Jen, Patrick, you are always at some roguish trick. Now I want to know liow many times you have talked this same way to other girls. 3Iur, You don't believe me then : I'll swear by all the tribes between here and New York, that you are the first girl that ever burned a hole in this heart of mine, and I want you to take pity on me, or I '11 soon go to kingdom come on your account. Jen. Surely, 3^ou would not do that? Mw\ Sure I '11 ruin myself entirely, unless you be- come Mistress Murphy ; but it is getting late, and I must see you home, for you might be carried off by the Indians. Jen. I am not afraid, for here is my protector. MuT. Faith, I will protect you, and I would like to see the ugly phiz of any one who Avould dare insult either of you. \Exit Murphy and Jenxy R. Enter Cal- WAWAssET and Grissell. Cal. I am a friend of the pale face, and while the the tribes above were your foes, and gave you peace. What have your people done for ours ? Killed our braves and squaws, and taken our hunting grounds, our elk and salmon, which we shared with you when you were hungry. Gris. But the red men should discriminate between the good and evih Cal. Did thi-y not kill my braves, who never wronged them ? Gris. But our great Chief, the President, will punish them. He is your friend. Cal. Your promises are like the dried grass. I am a Chief as well as he, and I too can punish. .What I say is done. Gris. But our nation is great, and has siich dreadful armies, they carry death as swift as lightning. 2 14 THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. Gal. So is the red man strong. 'T\vere better to meddle with the cubs of yonder bear than stir them np. Do you see yonder settlements? They were our hunting grounds. Who has them now ? Gris. The whites. Gal. Do you see that moon ? Gris. Yes. Gal. Then, before it 's full, these settlements will be in the possession of the red man. YEoiiit R. Gomes doicn. Re-enter Calwa- WESsiT, who is met by Hevellaii. Gal. What brings you here ? addressing her. Hev. I came in search of you. Your face is angry ; why is this ? Are not the palefaces our friends ? Has not tlie great spirit put us both to live togetl.er ? Let us obey his voice, and let them' live in peace. Gal. For you alone, they shall. Hev. 'Tis Enos angers you to this. His counsel's overrun with evil. Gal. He is a brave warrior, and loves you much. Hev. I would tliat he were dead. Go to the council of our friends ; talk and calm them, father. Come. [ Takes him by the arm. Gal. 1 will. iEQ:it both. [Mks. Geissell and her daughter enters. Mrs. G. Here you are, truant. I should not wonder if some wild bear or redskin should carry you off some day. Jen. Wliy, mother, do not talk so ; 't was only a short time since I went out. Mrs. G. A short time ? only two hours. \Enter Buster. Bus. [addressing Mus. G.] Do you want to buy my w^ares, notions, and odds and ends? I have everything from a needle to an anchor. I am a regular walking dry goods, wet goods and hard goods establisliment. I am Buster & Co. all in myself. I sell wares cheap— less than THE LAST OP THE MODOCS. 1$ their cost — for the reason that I do n't pay rent or taxes — all of which is credited to my cus- tomers. I Ve chignons for the ladies ; bustles, hoops, skirts, paniers to make them look plump ; cream which takes oif freckles ; plaster which draws corns out, so that they leave the house, and travel of their own accord, never to return. I iiave powder that gives the ladies' cheeks the look of the red, red, rose. 3frs. G. And do you find fools who buy your wares ? Bus. I do, Mrs. G. Then you cannot get tliem here. The woman who would wear hair robbed from the tenant of some graveyard, deserves the holy scorn, as well as the contempt, of all her sex ; and as for your ])aint, none but vain women — whose rotten hearts are like the painted sepulchres which yield foul odors from within, while without they are all fair — these are the only sort who use such things, and in these solitudes are none of these. [ The sound of a drum is heard. JBu^, [Packing up his icaresl Why, liere are the soldiers. The Indians must be upon us. They have sounded the call to arms. [JEnfer Capt, Brentwood, Ben. Wright, Enos — the latter of lohom is disguised as a Piute Indian^ acting as their interpreter. 3Ir. G. [addressing them.'] You are welcome, gentle- men. Wliich way are you traveling ? JBren. Into the Indian country. [Addressing his command, he gives the order to halt and stack arms, and they are dis- missed for a few minutes. We are ordered here on account of an intended rising of tlie tribes ; but I hope, by persuasion, we will make a treaty with them, which will end all difficulty. [Jonathan Bustee, approaching Brent- wood, who is standing in front of stage. Bus. Good morning, Capting ; you 're on business l6 ' 'niK LAST OF THE MODOCS. early this morning. May I inquire if you think they '11 remove the Indians from the Reserva- tion ? TJiey 're no account, and stop all progress of common schools and churches. They are pagans, too, and wont use the Bible, or take our tracts, or hear our ministers. Hren. How are you so much interested in them ? Bus. Well, you see, Capting, the last Congress, through the aid and for the profit of Senators, issued $600,000 worth of scrip; which, owing to our civil war, was reduced down to ten cents on the dollar. I purchased with others a large share of tliis. I have located this scrip on tlie Reservation of the Indians, and I would give a small share of my claim to get rid of them, because I expect to make my fortune by the operation. Bren. It is just such fellows as you are who have brought ruin on our country, retarded its settle- ment, and goaded on those Indians to madness by your treachery and avarice ; and you would think to bribe me! Get you out, you rascal, and never show your face where I 'm about ! [Buster sneahs out on left, icith his 'pack on his bac/c. Bren. [addressing soldiers, orders^ Attention, com- pany ; take arms. Shoulder arms. Right face forward by file right ; march. [Exit Bren. and soldiers L. THE LAST OF ITIE MODOCS. 1 7 ^OT II. SCENE I. — Moimtain scene, icith rocks in front. Soldiers; tents. Weight at L. \, 2 E. Enter Weight. Exos disguised as a Piute Indian, and soldiers arranging their ccm%p. IVi'i. Here will I rest my weary limbs ; and now to despatch this Piute on his journey. [To Exos] You say 't is but a-half moon's journey to where the tribes assemble ? E?ios. 'T is so ; depend on me ; I will bring them here. IVri. Then, at your p^eril, do our bidding, or not a man of you shall live. [Aside] I sliall watch you nevertheless. Would it not be better for you to have companions? Some of my men will bear you company. Enos. This will show your confidence. [Aside] He thinks I am a woman, and would frighten me witli his big words. I soon will have his scalp. Wri. [addressing them] Which of you would volun- teer to accompany the Piute ? [Capt. Brextwood, Whisky Dick and Lit- tle volunteer for this pur ^jose. ^Vri. [aside to them] See that you would watch this Indian well. Do not let him proceed a step without you are present, and once in the Indian camp, beware tlseir treachery. JBren. We will be careful. [Exit Heentwood and others following Exos. R. Wri, [addressing Gib.] We will camp here to-night. See that you make a proper disposal of your men, and by all means, between this hour and morning, renew your pickets. We are on dan- 1 8 THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. gerous ground, and will lose nothing by pre- caution. Gib. \to Wri.] Think you this Indian will prove faithful? My conhdence is somewhat shaken by what I saw at the house of Grissell. 1F"H. What did you observe there ? Gib. He looked sullen, bit his lips, and spoke in monosyllables. Wri. Tliis is nothing : he is true, I warrant it. [They retire to rest. Enter Exos L. with a rijie. JS'/ios. The serpent never charmed to its coils, its prey with half of the appetite with which I've drawn those vipers to my net. I feel unsatis- iied till the parched earth drinks up their blood, and wait to hear the death rattle beckoning their evil spirits to the shades where the tor- mentors dwell. \^Enter Whisky Dick, and another soldier drimJc rests in front loith a bottle of lohis- hy in his hand and nmsket. Dich.\ wonder wh.ere that dirty Indian is [liic] ? Did not he [hie] come this [hie] way ? I tell you, [hie, hie] taint safe [hie] in his vicinity and the [hie] best tiling he can do is to [hie] cut it as soon [hie] as possible. Dont you [hie] think so, [addressing other soldiers.^^ Lit. [soldier'] You talk like a fool. If you do n't go better than this, you w411 be food for the coyo- tes before morning. Dick. You [hie] think I 'm drunk : well, you were never more mistaken in [hie] your life [hie]. It 's you that 's drunk. [They stagger outside the scene, a7id leave. Wei. asleep is dreaming. W^ri. See, they come. They creep along the grass ; Ha ! There goes a victim. Yillians ! Take off your hands. Let go, I say : by the — [He falls back asleep. Mios. [to Indians in a low t07ie.'] Behold your dreaded THE LAST OF TEE MODOCS. 1 9 foe ; I have caught hira in my net. \_Takes his knife and feels the Uncle.'] Now my good blade which never rested in your sheath while pale faced foes w^ere on your track, drink lustily of their foul blood, and let the wolves receive thc- oifering of your revenge. [To Indians.'] Now to your work. Him for me. \_They attach the soldiers and slay them. Enos attacks Wm., v;Ao grasps his knife, and lecqys to his feet. A struggle ensues, in v^hich Wki. addressing Exos, says : JVri. Ha ! villain ! T?'eacherous red skin dog ! Is tliis the way you have deceived and led us to the slaughter ? I]nos.\^addressing him lohile struggling.l Evil one! How dare yon speak. You wliose moccasins are colored with stains of red men's blood! You now shall meet your fate. \_They struggle. fight, and Wei. is killed. Enos. \standing averts v>^^ Thus does the work pro- ceed. Where are your Treaties now ? Your gibes, your threats, your mighty speeches ? Speak ! Your forked tongue black lies is silent. 'Twas but a few hours since he was more terrible than the fierce lion of the foi-est : now be is like the blasted pine. Yaddressing Indians.] Take away their vile carcasses — but gi e tlieni no burial ; let no brave wail ov-er them, and let wolves enjoy their feast, and carrion crows grow fat upon their bodies. The task is but begun nov/, let us to the counsel of the chiefs. \_Exit all e?zcept Exos.] \Enter Hevellah addressing Enos. Hev. What brings Enos in this path ? Has he been at the Council and left his escort there so soon? Enos. [^addressing her.] Yes, with the foot of the deer has Enos travelled in the war path : and what brings Hevellah here so far from her father's wis: warn ? 20 THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. Hev. So that I may pee the Council of the Chiefs, and hear them talk. Enos.l have dared all things for your pake. Have sought to speak my deep unbounded love for the lily of the tribes, for you, Hevellah, I would brave all danger to prove it. Hev. Would you wish to prove your love for me ? Then see that cliff, \points to a ridge of rocks]. There is on its tall summit a flower growing, which is so tender, that at the touch of man it dies. If you can bring it to me in all its life, 'twill be a test your love- is true, or false. Enos, Then I'll scale the rocks and find it. \_IIe as- cends.'] Hev. My white brave Brentwood ought to be this way on his return. Should he meet the eye of Enos in this forest, some one of them would die. I wish he would come. [Miter Brextwood, loho sees Hevellah, and he advances to her, catching her in his arms.] Hev. Hush! there is danger here. Enos is yonder, be quick. There is danger here ! Brent. I fear not him, or any danger. It would ill become the soldier to fear. We can taste of death but once, while cowards daily die. Hev. 'Tis true, the warrior never thinks of peril, but • like tlie cliffs which skirt the ocean base, and raise their summits to the skies, laughs at the angry billows as they dash against their feet and waste their ire in foam. But if the hunter, forewarned of danger in his trail, from every bush of which a tliousand panthers were eager to lap his blood, and that still he would proceed, would this be courage ? Brent. This would be rashness. Hev. Then listen to me. The half-breed Enos soon will come this way. He hates the white man, and his jealous nature might spend his fury on your liead. l-HE LAST OF THE MODOCS. 21 £rent. Do you fear his coming? Deem 3^011 his in- tents base ? Tell me, and by this sword I will chastise him, [touches his sworcT\. Sev. The deer was never hunted in the chase as tins half-breed pursues me. The little of the white man's blood wliich courses in h.is veins, adds but to his natural ferocity ; and tlien his will ! It is a law which knows no boundaries. •To disobey him is death. His word is great among the tribes. Brent. Would you not wish to rid yourself of such a monster ? Hev. I would. Invent. Then come with me to our fortress, there you will be safe from his advances. Hev. See, he comes this way! Secrete yourself by yonder tree until he leaves. [^He secretes himself. JEnos descends and cuh vcmces toiunrds JTevellah. ITev. Well* how did Enos succeed — did he get the flower? Mios. I did, but it withered at my touch. ITev. Just as my love for you has withered. Bnos. You mock me ! Hev. I hate you ! be gone. Enos [^Attemj^ts to seize her by the hand, addressing her] You shall be my squaw or die ! {^She screams. A shot is fired by Brent- wood. He lets her go, and fiies aioay, leaving her. Beentwood advances to Hevellah. a Soldier adv mces, on left, panting and bloioing. JBrent. [addressing hini] What's the matter? Sol. The guide by iiis treaclicry has wrought cm- ruin, while our party were asleep. The half- breed, with a party of Indians, surprised and killed every one, except myself. Brent. This forebodes danger to us, w^e must away [Exit all. THE I.AST OF THE MODOCS. SCENE 11. — Back scene, ivoods; fall of loater from rocks. Enter Hevellah and Calwawessit. Hev, Now are Qiy strong suspicions realized. Will they make war upon the pale faces, on those that did us good as well as evil ? No ! this is against tlie custom of our tribe, who ever were a terror to their foes, as they were ever true to their friends. [Addresstiig Cahoaioessit] Will you allow this, father? You promised me you would not. Now, in the name of the Great Spirit, see that our friends are spared, Cal. They shall not harm your friends; and if they do, this withered trunk shall destroy them. But see, the chiefs do come this way; their war whoop echoes in the hills. I must secrete my- self, lest my purpose might be suspected. [Calwawessit retires behind' a tree. Hev- ellah alone. Hev). There is no viper crawls these foi;ests half so evil as this half-breed. I will try and divert him from his purpose to incite the tribes to dig up the hatchet and proceed in the war-path against the pale faces. {Enter Enos. Exos addressing Hevellah.] Enos. What are you here for ? Hev. To ask mei-cy for my friends, Mr. Grissell and his daughters. Enos. Go, get you to your father's wigwam. When we take their scalps, I then will talk to you. You seem to love the white faces so well, that you would give up the red man and your father for them. Hev. It is false ; your black heart speaks a lie. Enos. [ Takes her by the arm and shakes her, says'] You, too, would spit upon me, defy my anger, tell me I speak with lying tongue. [ Cahoaioessit leaves the tree/ comes to front, seizing Exes, and raises his tomahcnok over him. Cal. I have a mind to strike you down to the earth ras LAST OF THE MODOCS. 23 You are a coward to attack my violet thus. AVliat claim liave you upon her ? E710S SliC loves the jjalefaces better tlian her kindred, and I, who seek to avenge you and the red man's wrongs, liave reason to complain of this. Cal. [fAddressing Enos] Go to your lodge, and let me hear no more of this, or either you or I must die. It ill becomes a brave, and would-be chief, to thus abuse the child of him to whom he owes his life. [^3Ieeting of the Council. Chiefs enter^ one by one^ and take their j-'ositions in the fol- low in g order : Calwawessit, TaLIATTUS, . ACHERSEE, YUCHAMSEE, TaLMANTSEE. Tal [rising'] Our Father, the Great Spirit, is angry with his people. His voice comes to us in the lightning of the clouds. No more we cast our nets for salmon — they have left our rivers, never to return. No more our young braves join tlie hunt in quest of elk, for tliey have lied be3^ond the mountains. Death and hunger stare us in the face, and daily do our people fall by the firewater, or the thunder of the pale- faces. What shall we do ? Turn deafly from the counsel of the Great Spirit, or obey his voice ? I liave spoken. \_Sits. Yiich. [rising] Wliat do we meet for, braves ? For what do we wear the medicine robes ? Is it to speak of those who came amongst us with oily tongues, and for whom we have lighted the l^ipe, and received as brothers ? We opened our Irunting grounds to the ] alefaces, and gave them meat and skins, for they were poor; while they, in return, gave us firewater ; and, with their false hearts and forked tongues, they have seduced our people from the war and hunting paths. Cal. [rising] Hear my voice : I am the oldest chief 24 THE LAST OP THE MODOCS. among you ; and, on to-morrow, may die. See the numerous wounds I have received in battle for your sakes. I liave mingled with you in bloody war, and felt its effects. I have smoked the pipe of peace with you, and know its bless- ings. I have listened to your talk, and saw how your ears were strained when Taliattus spoke of our wrongs. His words are true ; but, then, all the palefaces are not evil. Some of them are our friends. They hang out to us the flag of peace, and say that they will give us food, and that their great cliief will punish all the wrongs which the black hearts have put upon us. 'T is true, our young men seek their medicine, and fall by their strong water. 'T is also true they kill our people. But let us see what they will say upon the matter. When strangers are amongst us, th.e Great Spirit makes their presence sacred. Let us not pro- voke his anger. You have heard me. [Sits. Yiich. [rises] Cliisfs, let us not waste our time in talk. These palefaces are our natural enemies ; but let us do as Calwawessit says ; besides, the mountains now grow white ; and elk is scarce, indeed. There are none upon our trail. [E]iter Entos. In his hand are two S3al2:>s. He approaches the Council. Enos. [aside] Now comes the trial of my skill — the longed-for moment of my life. Oh ! for a thousand tongues, each one of which would speak my purpose, stir up their sluggish blood with all-devouring rage, and waken from the sl^^!|%)f death our murdered kinsmen. (7a^. Who dares come within our sacred circle ? Yuch. 'T is Enos. Let us hear him. l\l. Wl-.at says Enos? Enos. [adnancing] Cliiefs and warriors, hear me : As the Great Spirit above will guide your coun- cils, Enos, the last of the Modocs, speaks to you. His people have long since gone to the THE TiAST OF THE MODOCS. 25 Land of Spirits, and are only seen thi'ough the mists. There is no more left to hear their spirits' voice, except tlie weeping clouds which water the ground. My fathers lived beyond the mountams, and, for a thousand moons, they hunted there, and made war upon their enemies, for they were brave : but then came the pale- faces in tlieir big canoes, and they vanished like mists. So shall it also be with you, unless the tribes come against them like the gathering clouds. Our streams have long been muddy, and the evil spirit has spouted floods of dark- ness over the sky, making us drowsy and inac- tive. Our once bright spears have lost their lustre, and lie neglected in our wigwams as toys for children ; while w^e resemble more the dead than living warriors. Chiefs, Enos is as weak as a sapling, and is bowed down before tlie spirits of his fathers, whose scarred limbs were monuments, and around whose wigwams hung tlie scalp of many a foe. The white cldef, Wright, bid me come to your councils — he who but six moons since invited our brotlier chiefs and braves, the Modocs, to come with peace into his lodge. They met with good assurance, trusting in his lying tongue; then it was that, bent upon a bloodv purpose, he murdered them. All. He did. JEnos. jSTay. more than this. He boasted of the deed, and wished that all ttieir race Avould follow them. Will not these things arouse your anger, stir up your sluggish blood to speedy action, and, with a general rising of the tribes, avenge your wrongs. What I have said is true ; this you all know ; and hence, did Enos, knowing of those wrongs, avenge them ? The tomahawk of Enos never sleeps in his solitary war path. While you sit in council, he scalps his enemies [s/ioios the scalps]. Will my words 26 THE I;AST OF l^HE MODOCS. pass like the idle winds, or will you arise, dig lip the hatchet, and be avenged ? Ach, Well hath Enos spoken. If 't is our fate to fall in war, we shall be welcome to the happy hunt- ing grounds. 'T is cowardly to live, if thus we live. Our wigv/ams are empty. N'o more our squaws and children welcome us when we return from tlie hunt. Where are our warriors ? Will we sit here like dogs — we, who never knew Avhat fear was ? Let not our ears be tickled by their words, which are like the dried grass ; but let us open our eyes, and kill the snakes who have crept into our lodges. \^They make a circle of fire, 'mth pole in cen- tre, lolth scalps and notches in the corners, to shoiu hoiD many scalps they have taken in battle. The Chiefs form a circle round the fire, and brandish their tomahaioks. Tal. ISTow, to invoke the aid of the Great Spirit against our foes. Let us mingle in the mystic rites. Tuc. Warriors round this mystic ring, Let us bring our offering. Tal. What sliall it be? Tuli. Two scalps of white men here I see. Let these then our oifering be. Spirit of the red man, come From beyond tlie setting sun ! \^All stoop and jilace their ears to the ground, then rise, mur\ All. Listen to the Spirit's voice, Bidding the red man rejoice ; Arm your brothers with the thunder. S^IIere peals of thunder. Let the mountains burst asunder, liaise the storm witli lightning Hashes. \^B:erefoUotcsfiashes of lightning. .. Burn the dwellings into ashes. Drive the pale faces from our homes. Midst their sighs and dying groans THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. 27 Convert your hearts to thongs of steel, That cliiidren's wails you will not feel. [ Voice from the fire Voice. Earthly brothers, should you fail, Woe, woe follows in the red man's trail. Eno8. To arms ! To arms ! We must, we shall pre- vail. \Indians enter and form half -circle at hacJc^ around Chiefs. One or tvno have Indian drums^ luhich they heat. The rest chant as folloios, to which the Chiefs dance around the fire, the jjrhicipcd feature of which is the postures ;] Chiefs and warriors, let us prepare our medicine; Let us sharpen our spears and arrows, so that They will enter the hearts of our foes. Let our buried tomahawks be made bright. Let the Evil Spirit darken the eyes of the pale Faces, so tliat he shall be made great who takes The most scalps of our enemies in war. Whooplo, lo, lo, lo, lo. Enos. [aside.'] They have sent their Commissioners to make terms with us, telling us tliat our great chief, at Washington, means our good. But what assurance have we of the future, judging them by the past ? They have broken their treaties with us, hired men to rob us, and now they say. We will send you to a barren land far away from the homes of our fathers, where there are no elk and salmon : and for what ? To give our lands to their race, and to make room for their advance. Rather let us die on the war path. Whooplo, lo, lo, lo ! l^Exit all. SCENE 111.— House of 3Irs. Grissell at L., 2, E. Same as scene third, first act. Mur. [with a gun on his shoulder.'] Oh ! bad cess to me, but it 's misfortune that 's got a long 28 THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. tail. Out of the frying-pan into the fire ! I escaped from the savages when they took Mrs. Grissell and her daughters prisoners, havhig shot one of them dead as a door-nail myself, but they were too powerful strong for us. I wonder where the ruffians took my Jennie and her mother. If I had only help, I'd rescue them myself. Whist, who comes there ? [^Hears a step7\ Who the devil 's that ? Begorra ! I '11 get behind this tree, and look out for him. {^Eiiter Beentwood.] A red skin, and alone ; I '11 talk to him, that is to say if he will under- stand me. \^ELe comes doion. Brent. As I live, here is Patt. Murphy. What on earth brought 3'ou here ? Are you not afraid the Indians will take your scalp ? Mur. Faith, it would be little loss, Captain, when £uch disasters have come upon us. Which way are you going, and what the devil are you doing in that rig ? JBfcnt.To rescue, if possible, the settler's wife and daughter. Mur. What, Jennie and her mother ? Is she alive anywhere? And do you know where they are ? Bre7it. Yes ; we had information at Fort Montgom- ery that they were a short distance from here, that they were to be put to death by order of the chiefs, but through the aid of Hevellah, they were released. I disguised myself in this way to aid their rescue. We must be cautious if we will accomplish our mission. Mur. I take that office on myself, to release Mrs. Grissell and her daughter. Brent. Audi. I '11 take Hevellah from them. \_Exit MuEPHY and Beentwood. IShots are fired, and Beentwood and Pat MuKPHY enter, bringing with them Mes. Geissell, Jennie and Hevellah. Brent. We had a narrow escape from the savarfres in THE LAST OF IHE MODOCS. 29 making the rescue, and probably will be follow- ed by them, for which we must make all preparation. - Mr s.G. [addressing Brextwood] How thankful we are to you and Pat for tlii-s deliverance. \_And addressing Hp:vellah] And you, who have by your pleading saved our lives fi-om a horrible death. We cannot know how we can repay the debt. But, tlien, wliat a cruel death they gave my husband, my only succor and solace! This house is now no loiiger tlie habitation it once was, but the house of mourjiing. tTeri. Cheer up, mother ; do not give way to such sorrow. Do you not recollect the words you taught me ? " Grieve not always ; there 's a season made to dry our sorrow up. Nature gives us ample reason to make sweet the bitter cup." JPat. [addressing her, and leaning over Jennie] Do n't be sorrowful now ; Ave have no time for it ; we 're not out of danger yet. And then I and Jennie will be your protectors. Went we, Jennie [Addressing her^ ? Jen. Of course we will ; and mother will surely have no more prejudice against an Irishman who saved her and her daughter's life. £ren. Now, let us enter the house. I ordered the men at the fort to proceed to help us ; and they must be here soon ; and, until they come, let us take shelter. Mur. Troth, that 's a good idea. When the redskins find their prisoners missing, they will follow them ; and it would n't do, at all, at all, to fall again into their hands. [They enter the house. [Miter Exos loith Scout and Calwawesstt. Scout with his head to the ground — he feels loith his hands. /Speaks to Exos. jScout. They must hp.ve come this way. I see the footprints. Two palefaces and two squaws. Cal. One of these must be Hevellah. 3© THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. Enos, I told you she loved the paleface better than her kindred. They were taken hence by them. Cal. It cannot be. Eno8^ Worse things than this have been. Have they not robbed us of everything ; and when we ask them back, do they not put rilies at our heads ? What cause have you to wonder ? The only cause to wonder is that they have spared our lives so long. They seek to drag us down to base submission, and would have us like a beaten cur — begging them for mercy. What can we expect ? Was it last moon they com- menced to wrong the red man ? No ! More than two hundred moons have looked upon our wrongs. When they came amongst us, we were a mighty people — our hunting grounds extended so far that no one knew their bound- aries. These things have made of Enos an un- ci] ained tiger. I will seek revenge until their blood shall How as yonder river. Cal. What you have said is true. Enos. And yet you ask to spare them ! They are like rank weeds. Having once taken root, the more j^^ou cut them down the more they grow and flourish, until 3^ou root them, roots and all, out of the soil. We must now take their wig- wam. But first let us examine if they are within, they may be secreted here. [Ends, with Indians^ try to get at the door. A shot is fired fr 0771 idithin,at lohich one of the Indians falls. Enos enters the house; a tussel inside; he is pushed out by Brentwood and Murphy ; a struggle ensues between Enos and Brentwood, and also between Murphy and an Indian. Brentwood gets Enos down, and stabs him with his sword; he struggles and speaks. Enos. Oh ! that I had died by the lightning, or was overcome by the crushing mountains. But TH1<: Lx\ST OF THE MODOOS. 3 1 by t]]e Iiaiids of sucli a foe [he grasji)S his knife ^ and endeavors to craiol toward^'-^ Brextwood] that I, Enos, tlie last of the Modocs, sliould fall by the hands of a pale face. I^o, no ! I s])all yet live to be revenged. Hevellali, too, a traitor ! Curses on tlieni ! May tlie sun re- fuse to give its light, and heaven's thunder and lightning scorch them into cinders. All ! see the sky turns black. I see it. The lightning 's come. It strikes them. See ! they fall ! Ha, ha, Jia ! I liave lived to be revenged. Oh, that I had died by the lightning ! [lie dies. [The Soldiers, who were expected hy Brent- wood, arrive and file on each side, mii'- roundiny the Indians with leveled mus- kets, compel them to surrender. Mur. [pointing at Exos.] Now, then, ends your dirty existence, you spalpeen. Ye 's did nothing but set the country in an uproar, you black- guard; and it 's the likes of ye's ought to have died by the rope, instead of by the hands of a gintleman and a soldier. [^4 sergeant — one of the soldiers — hands Brextwood a letter, ivJio reads : Brent, [reads to troops] at attention. Attention com- pany ! I have received a general order fi-oni the President, commanding that all Indians, taken prisoners, must be ]:)ro])erly cared for, clothed, fed, taught useful trades, and be brouglit under tlie humanizing intluen(;es of our civilization. Humanity demands tliat some- I thing should be done to save the red man from I extermination. [Addressing the soldiers] I endorse those reasons, and I must say that most of all wars against the Indians liave originated in the cupidity and advice of the false men of the white race, who under false ]Jcas have of- ten, for their own prolit, produced and festered those Indian wars. I want you, therefore, to oive three rousini!; cheers for President Grant's 32 THE LAST OF THE MODOCS. policy to the Indians. [ Three cheers are given, [Pat Murphy, Miss Getssell, Captain Brentwood, and Hevellah, with Cal- WAAVESsiT, advance to the front of the stage ^ in the folloioing order : Captain Brentwood on the right with Hevellah. Calwawessit in the center, and Pat Murphy on the left with Jennie Grissell. Pat Murphy speaks. Mur. And now, you have heard the story of how true love runs smooth, reversing the proverb. Let me say, that under our government the weak and the strong should be equally pro- tected, and no undue advantage should be taken, even of an Irishman, who always stands ready to shed his blood for the stars and stripes — tlie country which has given him a liome and ])rotection. I have shown by my union with Jennie that the harp and green flag of Erin can be united with the stars and stripes, on which union we ask your blessing. Bren. And may the love which was mutually borne between this Indian girl and me, prove that true worth is not confined by any narrow boundaries, and that is true beauty which is most unadorned. Cal. And may the blessings of the Great Spirit descend upon the union of my daughter with this brave, and may it prove the commencement of tlie healing up of the long bleeding wounds and feuds of the white and the red man. [Med Fire Tableau. curtain falls. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 017 400 136 4 • Pep '/'' - '\. 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