“Perhaps, chico mio (my little one),” grandly promised Jimmie.
To Francisco, Jimmie was an important person, who had lived with the Cochise Chiricahuas, and called the chief’s son “chi-kis-n” or brother, and spoke Apache, and soon was going to be a real arriero or else a scout, with the American soldiers.
Aside from a few scouting expeditions, the winter at Camp Grant had been quiet. The agency for the Arivaipas and Pinals was in operation, at the mouth of the Arivaipa Canyon about a mile east; a Mr. Ed Jacobs was the agent.
Nevertheless, Chief Es-kim-en-zin’s people were still afraid; they had not forgotten the attack by the Tucson crowd. They came in around the agency buildings every day, but every evening they went back up into the canyon, where they might defend themselves.
The Peace Policy and the visit by Commissioner Colyer had not proved an entire success. A great many Indians were still out. The Arizona newspapers insisted that as long as General Crook was forbidden to drive the outlaw Indians from their hiding-places, the bad hearts who were simply using the reservations would feel that they might do as they pleased, also.
There had been attacks upon ranches and mines and stage stations in south and north both; the legislature had called upon Congress for better protection to Arizona; and General Crook was all ready. He was only waiting.
“I think that the Apache is painted in darker colors than he deserves, and that his villainies arise more from a misconception of facts than from his being worse than other Indians,” had reported the general, after studying the situation. And he had added: “I am satisfied that a sharp, active campaign against him would not only make him one of the best Indians in the country, but it would also save millions of dollars to the Treasury, and the lives of many innocent whites and Indians.”
The Indians on the reservations were complaining of food and slack treatment; in New Mexico Chief Victorio of the Warm Springs and Chief Cochise of the Chiricahuas had refused to be changed from the Cañada Alamosa; so the Government was sending out another peace commissioner. Brevet Major-General O. O. Howard, to try to satisfy everybody.
He was to make especial effort to talk with Cochise, who so far had declined to talk at all. Cochise and Geronimo had claimed that they were willing to live with Chief Victorio on the Warm Spring reservation, but they had run away from Mr. Colyer, in fear of the soldiers. They rarely went near the army post, there, Fort Craig, and orders had been given that the soldiery should leave them alone, so that they would continue peaceful and contented, among the Warm Springs.
The President had hoped that Cochise would talk with General Howard, who was a great chief like himself. Now Cochise was “out” again!