not mistaken, for Bogus Charley and Boston Charley spent the night in Gillem's camp, remaining until after the commissioners had gone to the rendezvous.[1]
The place chosen by Jack was a depression among the rocks favorable to an ambuscade, and Meacham, who had not been present when the meeting was determined upon, strenuously objected to placing the commission in so evident a trap, but yielded, as did Dyar, to the wishes of Canb and Thomas, one of whom trusted in the army an the other in God to see them safely through with the conference.[2] So earnest was Riddle not to be blamed for anything which might happen, that he requested all the commissioners and Canby to accompany him to Gillem's tent, that officer being ill, where he might make a formal protest; and where he plainly admitted that he consented to make one of the party rather than be called a coward, and advised that concealed weapons should be carried. To this proposition Canby and Thomas punctiliously objected, but Meacham and Dyar concealed each a small pistol to be used in case of an attack.
At the time appointed, the peace commissioners repaired to the rendezvous, Meacham, Dyar, and Toby riding, and the others walking, followed by Bogus and Boston from the military camp, which gave Jack just double the number of the commissioners, of whom Canby was to be considered as one. All sat down in a semicircular group about a camp-fire. Canby offered the Modocs cigars, which were accepted, and all smoked for a little while. The general then opened the council, speaking in a fatherly way: say-
- ↑ H. Ex. Doc., 122, 139, 43d cong. 1st sess.
- ↑ Canby said that the Modocs dare not attack with Mason's force where it could be thrown into the stronghold before the Modocs could return to it. Thomas said that God almighty would not let any such body of men be hurt that was on as good a mission as that. 'I told him,' says Riddle, 'that he might trust in God, but that I didn't trust any of them Indians.' Meacham, in his Wigwam and Warpath, published two or three years after the war, says that the Modocs, perceiving the doctor's religious bent, pretended to have their hearts softened and to desire peace from good motives, which hypocrisy deceived him. I do not find anything anywhere else to sustain this assertion.
