his visitors, who he knew were actuated by a desire to save him as well as the white men, he conducted himself in a friendly manner, even lending Fairchild a horse to ride, his own having strayed, or having been stolen by Jack's band.
In this conference Jack reiterated his charges against the Indian department, and denied all responsibility in the matter of the fight of the 29th of November, saying that the troops fired first; also denying that he or Scarface had had anything to do with the murder of the settlers which followed, saying that Long Jim was accountable for those atrocities; pretending to be quite above killing settlers, and able to fight armed men. The result of the conference was twofold. It gave Jack an opportunity to gain over the Hot Creeks who accompanied Fairchild and through them the whole band; and it convinced the military that no terms need be demanded of the Modocs until they could enforce an unconditional surrender. War was inevitable; and the settlers along^ the route from Lost river to Fairchild's immediately removed their families to Yreka, while those in other parts of the country were removed to Rogue River valley. Men who must remain in isolated localities surrounded themselves with stockades.
When Colonel Wheaton received the letter of Superintendent Odeneal, before referred to, it found him confined to his bed with quinsy. He immediately answered that steps had already been taken to concentrate, if necessary, all the available mounted men of Harney, Bidwell, Warner, and Klamath to compel the removal of Jack's band to the reservation, should they resist; but he trusted there would be no serious difficulty when the attempt came to be made.
In reply to the letter of Colonel Green informing him of Jack's refusal to move, or even to listen to any further parley on the subject, and of Superintendent Odeneal's. requisition for a force to intimidate him,
