IX
THE HORRID DEED OF CHUNTZ
General Crook had ridden back to Fort Whipple, on his mule “Apache,” and General Howard had left in the ambulance driven by “Dismal Jeems,” for Camp Apache and the White Mountain reservation.
He had another good scheme. He was collecting Indians from among the tribes, to take them with him to Washington and the Great White Father, that they might understand how many and powerful the white people were.
Old Santos had agreed to go, for the Arivaipas. The Pimas were sending their teacher, the Reverend Mr. Cook, and Louis the interpreter, and the young chief Antonito. The Papagos were sending their chief, Ascencion. The Date Creek Apache-Mohaves or Yavapais were sending Charlie and José.
Concepcion Equierre went from the Arivaipa agency, to translate Apache.
The general expected to get some of the Sierra Blanca or White Mountain Apaches, at the Camp Apache reservation; and to invite the Chiricahuas, also. He arrived safely at Camp Apache, and there added to his party Chiefs Miguel of the one eye, Pedro and Es-ki-tis-tsla; but he failed to find any Chiricahuas.
So he proceeded by wagon and mule, without them.
“I’d shorely like to see those Injuns’ faces when the hull party strikes the railroad at Santy Fee!” chuckled Jack Long. “They’ll think the Old Nick is to tow ’em with his tail up.”
For Santa Fe of New Mexico Territory was the nearest point east of Camp Grant reached by a railroad.