There were other bands of Chiricahuas, under other chiefs—Na-na and Chihuahua (Chi-wah-wah) and Loco, and so forth. Na-na was the oldest of all; he was nearly eighty, and had been wounded many times in battle—yes, as many as fifteen times. Chihuahua was stout and good-natured. Loco was thin and quite bow-legged.
In the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, which were the south end of the Chiricahua Range, were the Nedni Apaches, under old Chief Juh, or “Whoa.” Chief Cochise and Chief Juh frequently went to war together against the Mexicans.
Northeastward, or in western New Mexico lived the Chi-hen-ne—the Ojo Caliente (Oho Cal-i-en-te) or Warm Spring Apaches, under Chief Victorio. With Chief Victorio’s people the Cochise people had long been as brothers.
The woman who had charge of Jimmie was Nah-da-ste. She was a sister of Geronimo. Her husband had been killed in battle with the Mexicans. The warrior who had captured Jimmie was Geronimo’s younger brother Porico, or “White Horse.”
Nah-che, Jimmie’s chi-kis-n, was the youngest son of Chief Cochise. Geronimo the war chief liked him very much. His name meant “meddlesome,” for he had been a mischievous baby. In about three years, or when he was seventeen, if he had proved himself worthy in the hunt and on the long trail, he would be admitted into the councils as a warrior.
The same with another boy, Chato. He was called Chato, or “Flat-nose,” because he had been kicked in the face by a mule.
Taza, Nah-che’s elder brother, already was a warrior and would be head chief, probably, after Cochise his father died. But that was not certain; head chiefs were elected and not born.
As for the red-headed, one-eyed blue-eyed boy——
“His name is Red-head,” said Nah-che. “He is not one of us. He is part Mexican and part American. He was captured a long time ago by some of our men, but he lives with the White Mountains now, in the north. The White Mountains are at peace, on their land where the new American fort is being built.”