 No longer did the keen eyes of scouts watch
thetrails leading away into the lands of their enemies.
Perhaps they are calling a council,, suggested
Geronimo. The young bucksgrinned and giggled at Ish-kay-nay, who tittered and hid
hereyes behind her hand. About this sat several old warriors armed with long,
toughsticks.
About the guardhouse wereother armed soldiers. Thus
lived the tribe in the dangerous insecurity and laxityof peace.
Ish-kay-nay had seemed like another boy
toShoz-Dijiji. Rolling over andover the Mexican finally succeeded in getting on top
of theApache. His ear had told him that the ponies were runningwildly; therefore
they must be frightened.
Faintlyfrom afar came the rolling of distant
thunder, scarcelyheard. In nearby tepees the braves who were to start the dance
putthe last touches to their toilets. Geronimo mused over the question before he
replied.
The boy opened the buckskin bag in which he kept
histreasures.
It is the country that Usen gave tothe Apaches when
he created them.
But Shoz-Dijiji and Gian-nah-tah knew that it was
notthunder. No oneseemed to be able to enlighten him.
So Shoz-Dijiji set out alone and afoot for the fort
at SanCarlos.
From severaltepees young men sprang, leaping high
in air, turning,twisting, bending, whooping.
Geronimo, puffing at a cigarette,looked down at the
boy. Again and again the quick knife of the Be-don-ko-he wasplunged
home.
Driving themwas a detachment of Mexican troopers
and in their rear rodethe balance of the company. At anyrate the principals in the
matter did not know. The Yuma slave woman cooked tortillas by a fire of her
ownmaking.
I gave No-po-so the many ponies that he had
askedfor Alope and took her with me.
From it he drew a silver crucifix and a rosary.
Again and again the quick knife of the Be-don-ko-he wasplunged home. The last
vestigeof youth had fallen from him. You saw me after the battle, said
Geronimo.
Tell him it is because he left Apache Pass
withoutpermission, replied the officer.
That is the work of men, of warriors, exclaimed the
other.
Hes an Indian, they said, and the only good Indian
is adead Indian.
His teacher made diligent inquiry which alwaysended
against the dead wall of an Indian, No savvy. Then headdressed himself directly to
the senior officer, ignoringthe interpreters.
Fordays at a time the ponies pastured without a
guard.
The Yuma slave woman cooked tortillas by a fire of
her ownmaking.
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