not consent to come out of the lava beds to hold a council, nor would Fairchild agree that the commissioners should go unarmed into the lava beds. Fairchild therefore returned without having come to any arrangement; and with him came several of the worst of Jack's band, Hooker Jim, Curly-headed Doctor, and Shacknasty Jim, who wished to make terms with Lalake, the old chief of the Klamaths, for the return of a band of sixty horses which the Klamaths had taken from the Modocs during the war, and which Lalake now promised to restore. No one had any authority to interfere or to prevent the Modocs thus supplying themselves with horses, while pretending to be waiting to make peace with the agents of the government.
On the arrival of Roseborough and Steele the board of commissioners met, when the terms of peace which should be presented to Jack were discussed. The discussion resulted in offering a general amnesty to all Modocs, on condition of their full and complete surrender, and consent to remove to a distant reservation within the limits of Oregon or California; all commissioners voting for these terms except Meacham. Fairchild was also instructed to say that Canby would make peace and conclude terms, Meacham also dissenting from this proposition.
With these instructions Steele proceeded, on the 5th of March, in company with R. H. Atwell, a newspaper reporter, Fairchild, and the interpreters. Riddle and his wife Toby, to the Modoc stronghold, and had a conference with the head men concerning the acceptance of these propositions of the peace commission. Captain Jack gave his consent to the terms offered, and as Steele supposed accepted for his band, though there was evidently some dissatisfaction on the part of a portion of his men. As Steele had but little knowledge of the Modoc language, and as Jack spoke no English except a few English names of things, Steele was deceived as to the real import of
