That night the braves got gloriously drunk. Today
he was a scout under orders from Cochise.
He knew that he could do so; therewas no guess work
about it. Theenemy was ten miles south of camp, Shoz-Dijiji was ten milesnorth.
There was a twinklein his blue eyes as he nodded to them.
They are both young, butso too was Go-yat-thlay
when first he went upon the wartrail. Come out, Juh, he cried, and Shoz-Dijiji will
kill you! Only the trees and the birds and thesquirrels, it seemed, inhabited this
sylvan world. Ish-kay-nay should have been a boy, said Shoz-Dijiji,laughing, for
already she is a mighty hunter.
He is, too, as good an Apacheas you or I. This was
buta fraction of the countless things that Shoz-Dijiji knewabout his own country.
Nakay-do-klunni will bless itin the morning.
The squaws gathered up their few
belongingspreparatory to taking to the mountains if hard pressed. Theothers grunted
acknowledgment of the truth of thatstatement. Hisheart was in no mood for play nor
for any of the softerthings of life.
You lie, Juh, he said; I am not a
white-eyes.
With my own eyes I, Victorio, saw him slay
andscalp. Shoz-Dijiji did not return to the women and children.
Often the old war chief talked to Shoz-Dijiji of
theexploits of his people.
With thetwang of the string the arrow leaped to its
mark and afterit came Shoz-Dijiji.
They layaround the camp and there was much
quarreling.
Instead he walked alone out of the camp andup a
gaunt, parched canyon. Why not make capital of his enemys predicament?
Instantly the whole pack was after him and
Ish-kay-nay wasin the van.
Knee to knee raced Shoz-Dijiji andIsh-kay-nay. They
were Apachesand they were on the high road to becoming warriors.
Say that he is not white or Shoz-Dijiji will kill
you! Firelight glistened uponsweat-sreaked bodies. Better wouldit have been to have
spent days and nights in preparation,but now this could not be. Make your medicine,
strongmedicine, in the high places.
Therewas little noise, but there seemed to be a
great deal ofconfusion. The squaws, watching, movedrestlessly, the spell of the
dance was taking its hold uponthem. Did he not warn the tribes and save them fromthe
Mexicans.
Stolidly, without a change ofexpression, they
turned and walked away. Send then for all the great chiefs of the
Apaches.
It was a largegrave with its sides walled up with
stone to a height ofthree feet. And always there was the wailingand the sound of the
es-a-da-ded.
Shoz-Dijiji andGian-nah-tah await the answer of the
great war chief of theApaches.