Geronimo said wistfully, "I too, for I have longed to see Arizona once more and have a good fight with American soldiers."
"Let us wish Chato all success," Francisco said.
Geronimo said, "He will have it. Benito rides with him, and twenty-six picked warriors."
"Were I there, there would be twenty-seven picked warriors," Francisco bragged.
Geronimo grunted sourly and lay down to sleep. A half hour later he was awakened by Francisco's hand on his shoulder.
"They come," said Francisco.
Geronimo sat up and looked down the slope to see some thirty soldiers climbing it. All led their horses, and they stopped often to rest. Geronimo turned to Francisco.
"These are not the rurales we once fought," he said. "Rurales never came so deeply into the Sierra Madres. If they did, they were never so foolish as to be caught in daylight on a slope such as this."
Francisco asked disinterestedly, "Who are they?"
Geronimo said, "It has come to my ears that they have been sent from a far-off place known as Mexico City. The Nan-Tan, the chief, of Mexico City has at last discovered and is greedy for the gold and silver to be found here. He has sent his soldiers to protect it. Ha!"