The Story of Geronimo
Copyright© 2025 by Jim Kjelgaard
Chapter 17: A Gallant Soldier
Sitting in the shade of some pines on the rim of a lofty mountain, Geronimo stared down at Mexico’s Bavispe River. From the mountain top the river looked like a silver ribbon that followed the curves of the valley and gave back the sparkle of the sun.
Geronimo shook his head. When he was a medicine man, he had tried in vain to see the visions that should appear to all shamans. Though he was no longer a shaman, visions came now.
He saw that long past day when he had stolen Delgadito’s war horse to fight a duel of stallions with the son of Ponce. Again he went with Delgadito on the raid, and saw the two Papagoes who had come to steal horses. Once more he lived in his mother’s wickiup, and knew the love that had warmed him there. Next followed his happy days with Alope, but not the massacre at Kas-Kai-Ya.
Then the battle that avenged the massacre, the ambush of the California Volunteers in Apache Pass, and the battles that had been since.
He thought of all that had passed since his first fight with the two Papagoes. Geronimo had been twelve years old then. He was fifty-eight now. He had known forty-six years of war.
More visions came. Geronimo saw old Mangus Coloradus, leaving the Mimbreno village to surrender to the white man. He saw Cochise, who fought fiercely for ten years after the death of Mangus Coloradus but finally gave in too.
No more visions appeared. Geronimo turned to Naiche, who sat beside him.
“You told me that you long to see your wife, your children, your relatives,” he said.
“I do,” said Naiche. “Have you no wish again to visit your blood kin?”
“No one awaits me—”
Geronimo was interrupted by the whistle of a hawk, the sentry’s signal that an enemy came. The sentry signaled again, the enemy was not in force.
The women and children ran to hurry the horses into hiding. The men hid themselves where they could ambush their foe. In less than a half minute, not one of Geronimo’s band and no horses could be seen.
Presently two Apaches appeared. One was Kieta, who had deserted Geronimo while raiding in Arizona. The second was a warrior named Martine.
When the pair was well within the ambush, Geronimo and his hidden warriors sprang up. Kieta and Martine stood motionless. But both knew that, if either raised a weapon, both would die.
Geronimo said, “It is good to see you again, Kieta.”
“I am here because I like you, Geronimo,” Kieta said, “and I like you because you led us well. I know you bear me no ill will because I left you and returned to San Carlos.”
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