farmer in that region would venture to do any tiling on his land until the Modoc difficulty should be settled. Fears were entertained that the Piutes, Pitt Rivers, and Snakes, aggregating two or three thousand warriors, would be induced by Jack's success in resisting- the United States authorities to commence hostilities, and combine with him in a war which might become general. Already that portion of the Nez Perces who had always been disaffected toward the treaty of 1855 were making trouble in the Wallow wa valley, on the eastern border of the state. No formal treaty had ever been made between the government and the Indians subdued by General Crook's operations a few years previous, who now openly rejoiced over the rumors that Captain Jack still defied the power of the soldiers who had conquered them, and the inhabitants were already calling for protection by petitions to the governor. That this threatening , attitude of the Indians was directly due to the influence of the peace commission all were aware; and hence arose the opposition of those not immediately interested in having the Modocs punished for crimes committed by them. Of the importance of these matters to his state Meacham was fully cognizant; and having become convinced that no satisfactory terms could be made with the Modocs, he was quite willing the whole problem should be left with the military for solution. Bat he was not permitted to dispose of the enterprise into which he had brought himself and others in that way. Instead of that, Odeneal, who declined, and then Dyar, was appointed on the commission in the pla^e made vacant by the resignation of Case, and Jesse Applegate's place was filled by E. Thomas, a method ist clergyman of Petaluma, he being the choice of Canby. Thus the commission was reorganized.
The day after Jack's failure to keep his word with the commissioners, a reconnoissance of the lava beds
