from a conviction that the Modocs in their caves were invincible; or otherwise the proposition must be a trick to get them out of their stronghold. Jack made a counter proposition, to be forgiven and left in the lava beds. He had only twenty -three warriors, he said, forgetting that on the previous evening Steele had seen sixty-nine at the council. He Avanted Meacham and Applegate, with six men, unarmed, to come on the following day and shake hands with him in conclusion of a peace.
On returnincr from this interview Steele advised the commissioners to cease all negotiations until the Indians should themselves solicit terms; that the Modocs thought the white men were afraid of them, and carried on negotiations solely in the hope of getting Canby and Gillem, Meacham and Applegate in their power, in which event they could certainly kill them. As for himself he would not take the risk again of going to the Modocs.
The second report of Steele produced a decided change in the prospects of the commission, and Meacham at once telegraphed Delano that the Modocs rejected all offers, and that their proposal to meet in full force two of the commissioners and six men, unarmed, in the lava beds signified treachery; that the commissioners were still willing to meet the Modocs, but not on their terms; that the Indians had been reenforced from some source; that protection had been offered to all who would come out of the lava beds; but that the commicsion was a failure and he waited for instructions.
To this candid statement Delano telegraphed that he did not believe the IModocs meant treachery; that the mission should not be a failure; that he believed he understood the unwillingness of the Modocs to confide in him, and that negotiations should be continued. How the honorable secretary came to know so much my authorities do not say. Canby telegraphed to Sherman on the 5th that the reports from
