“You must remember that that was more than six months ago and great changes have taken place since then.”
“I don’t question that fact, but the Apaches are the worst desperadoes when roused that ever cursed this continent.”
“By the way, captain, how was it you learned of that intended raid? I was here at home and never knew of it until you came back with the news.”
“I have never been able to find out the exact means by which the news reached the ears of Lieutenant Decker and his troopers. I was coming from Fort Reno, when I met him and two of his scouts, Mendez and Cemuri, who were hunting for the hostiles. I presume that he got it from those two White Mountain Apaches, who are the shrewdest fellows at that business I ever knew. The lieutenant virtually admitted as much to me, though he never gave the particulars.”
“What has become of Mendez and Cemuri?”
“They have remained on the reservation, like the loyal fellows they are, but they are so useful to the colonel that he keeps them continually within call. There are several peculiarities about those scouts.”
“What are they?”
“Both are so addicted to that infernal tiswin, that there’s no saying when they will not make themselves helpless from drinking it, and the next is that they seem to have become fond of Maroz and Ceballos, two other Apaches.”
Captain Murray smiled.