news. I want to see them as bad as they want to see me. • I don't want Fairchild to be afraid to come out with Mary. I want and hope Mary will come back with message and say yes, just as I have done," Toby Riddle, who interpreted the messages sent by Jack and Sconchin, and who saw through their sinister meaning warned Can by of treachery. And read now, in the light of subsequent events, their intention is plain. Stripped of iteration and verbiage, the messages, while pretending to be for peace, were cunningly arranged to hide a deep-laid scheme. Sconchin affected surprise that the commissioners were so soon offended by the faithlessness of the Modoc leaders, and inquired the name of the officer who was so impatient. Jack wanted peace or war at once, but preferred peace. He promised not to lie to the commissioners if the white men who were sent to him would tell the truth, he of course to be the judge. He was tired of being confined to the lava beds by soldiers on every side of him, and wanted liberty to go to Yainax and to Yreka; after which he would consent to look up a new country for his people, but wished the principal military officers and the peace commissioners to accompany him, while all his people but those he should select to accompany him should be allowed to remain in the lava beds, having first received food and clothing to make them comfortable during his absence. He did not like the demand that he was told had been made for the surrender of the murderers, saying that he had never made any such demand of the white men for killing his people; and proved his magnanimity by the fact that Steele and the intrepreter had slept unharmed in his camp. He was surprised and angry that Steele had not trusted him enough to return again, and wanted Fairchild to come and see him. Though there were profuse professions of a desire for peace, there was little in Jack's message to indicate any degree of humility. On the contrary, the terms, if complied with, would
