Chapter 10: A Chief Dies

Sitting on a hillock beside Victorio, Geronimo’s restless eyes sought the valley beneath, the next hill, and the hills beyond. Often he turned his head to look behind him. The years had taught Geronimo that an enemy might come from anywhere at any time. He who failed to see the enemy first was apt to die swiftly.

Victorio’s eyes searched the hills, too, despite a frown that told of a troubled mind.

“It is possible,” he said as he continued his conversation with Geronimo, “that the Mangus Coloradus who was, leaked out through the white soldier’s bullet hole. We did not bring the same chief from Janos that we took to the medicine man.”

“I have often wondered if the Mexican doctor did not put a spell upon him,” Geronimo remarked. “Many times I have thought of going back to Janos and killing him. But I have thought each time that even Mangus Coloradus could not suffer such a wound without being ill. It is a natural thing.”

“A natural thing,” Victorio agreed, “and for many days he was ill. Remember the snail-pace we were forced to keep when we finally left Janos? It is a good thing we were many, for even Mexicans might have overtaken us. But Mangus Coloradus is ill no longer. Still he counsels that Apaches must make peace with white men or there will be no more Apaches.”

Geronimo said, “He lives much in the spirit world. I entered his wickiup to speak to him, and he said, ‘I am happy to see you once more, Delgadito. Now you must tell our people that we cannot conquer these Americans as we did the Mexicans.’ Ha! Delgadito died many years ago in a battle with Mexicans. Yet Mangus Coloradus talked with him when he should have been talking with me. It chilled me, for I cannot talk with spirits.”

“Nor can I,” said Victorio. “I can talk only with people and be guided only by them and by my own common sense. Good sense tells me that if we do not fight the Americans, they will overrun us and there will be no more Apaches anyway. In spite of the fact that they still war among themselves, they have soldiers to spare for Apache land. White men who come among us are more instead of fewer, but only the Chiricahuas still fight them.”

“Mangus Coloradus points that out,” Geronimo said. “The warriors of Cochise kill and are killed by soldiers, cattle drivers, and rock scratchers who are forever looking for gold. But it is as though every dead white man is a seed from which two more spring up.”