Now would be a good time to attack them, said
Na-chi-ta,while they are drunk.
The next time you hear a owl, he said, youjust
telegraph President Cleveland and let me sleep.
I shall not go back to live upon a reservation. You
would not listen to Shoz-Dijijithen, but now you must.
He knelt upon the red blanket he had thrown off
when battleseemed imminent and took careful aim.
The eyes appraised the four cow ponies and sized
upthe grazing herd. It was Ne-jeunee that was tied before the hogan of her
father.
Gian-nah-tah and Shoz-Dijiji must live for one
another.
Another bullet pierced Gian-nah-tahs
body.
So old Nan-tan-des-la-par-en will pay fifty dollars
for my head, eh?
Its meat will carry us throughuntil we can find
cattle in Chihuahua.
The eyes appraised the four cow ponies and sized
upthe grazing herd.
Therewas no moon, and light clouds obscured the
stars.
I, said Shoz-Dijiji, shall pray always to the god
of myfathers. Those who rode in front fired as they charged. The others looked
about, drawingtheir pistols.
Stern, grim, relentless, the cavalry pursued. Yet
one by one thefriends that I love are taken from me.
There are Apaches who would kill their ownfathers
for fifty dollars. Then we must separate and go in different
directions.
Very well, you may return it to its owner. I have
just come from the camp of the scouts, he said.
None of them hadseen him die, but they knew that he
was dead. Lieutenant King put his hands above his head.
Now,if we go back with them to Fort Bowie, how do
we know thatthey will not put us in prison. There waseven laughter, low pitched lest
it reach across the nightto the ears of an enemy.
Hisfleet feet have borne me from the clutches of
many anenemy.
Nejeunee has carried me through many battles. Some
day they will, but it will take more thanfifty years.
Theheart of Shoz-Dijiji is sad, as are the hearts
of allApaches.