CHAPTER VIII.
WITH THE NAVAJO TRIBE
After a couple of days we came to Fort Wingate, which controls theNavajo Indian Reservation. We camped here for a day to have some repairwork done to our wagons, and I took a stroll over the hills afterrabbits and returned to camp at nightfall. Don Juan told me that he hadbeen visited by a number of Indians, who had bartered him some blanketsand buckskins and he was highly pleased thereat.
The next morning we started early and traveled until noon. SeveralIndians had been following us for some time, and as soon as we madecamp they squatted at our fire, while others were continually arriving,some afoot, but most of them on horseback. Manuelito, a grand-lookingchief, rode into camp on the finest Indian pony I had ever seen. It wasbeautifully caparisoned; the saddle, bridle, and trappings were coveredwith silver mountings. This was by far the most gorgeously dressedNavajo I had ever met. He wore tight-fitting knickerbockers ofjet-black buckskin, which resembled velvet, with a double row of silverbuttons, set as close as possible on the outward seams, from top tobottom. On his legs from knee to ankle he wore homespun woolenstockings and his feet were covered by beaded moccasins of yellow,smoke-tanned buckskin. His bright red calico shirt was literallycovered with silver ornaments and his ears were pierced with heavysilver rings, at least three inches in diameter. His wrists and armswere heavy with massive silver bracelets and others, carved from astone, which resembled jade. About his neck he wore strings of wampumand glass beads, garnets, and bits of turquoise. The turquoise andgarnet is found here in places known only to these Indians. His fingerswere encircled by many rings, but the finest ornament he possessed washis body belt of great disks of silver, the size of tea saucers. Allthis jewelry was of a fair workmanship, such as is made by Navajosilversmiths out of coin silver. In fact, these Indians prefer silverto gold for purposes of personal adornment. The blanket which thisIndian wore around his waist was worth at least two hundred dollars;never have I seen its equal in beauty of pattern and texture.
The chief dismounted and withdrew with Don Juan behind a wagon for atalk, as I presumed. They reappeared soon, and the chief mounted hissteed and cavorted around our camp as one possessed. Furiously lashinghis horse, he scattered our cooking utensils and acted in a mostprovoking manner generally. I noticed then that the noble chief wasintoxicated, and when I questioned Don Juan sharply, he admitted thathe had given the Indian some whiskey, and on the day before as well. Iwarned the Don to have no further dealings with these Indians andadvised him to break camp at once in order to avoid trouble. I informedhim also that he had committed a serious crime by selling liquor toIndians and that he was liable to be arrested at any time should apatrol from the fort happen our way. As the Mexican was frightened now,we took to the road in a hurry and traveled until a late hour thatnight. In fact, we did not stop until the cattle were exhausted.
Hardly had we prepared our camp and were sitting around our fire, whena horde of Indians appeared, clamoring for whiskey. As they were armedand threatening, Don Juan became so terrified that he climbed to theinterior of a wagon to comply with the demand of the savages. When Isaw this, I drew my rifle from its place under my bedding and placed itin readiness. Plainly I saw Don Juan come out of the wagon with themischievous stone jug, as this happened in the bright light of our campfire. That will never do, thought I, and quickly drawing my revolver, Ipersuaded the Don to drop the jug, incidentally smashing it with a 44caliber bullet, taking care not to hurt anybody; and this was easilydone, as the jug was a large one, it held three gallons.Instantaneously I grabbed my Winchester, and with my back against awagon stood ready for action. The Indians uttered a howl ofdisappointment when they saw the jug collapse and its precious contentswasted, but were silenced by an exclamation of their chief. After anexcited pow-wow between themselves, they disappeared among the hills inthe shadows of the night.
"Muchas gracias, senor Americana," said Don Juan, "quien sabe?" Whatwould have happened if the Indians had gotten the liquor, which I darednot refuse them; but I think this ends our troubles. We passed asleepless night, and long before sunrise Don Juan made preparations forour departure.
When the herders rounded up the cattle, they found that several yoke ofoxen were missing, and greatly alarmed, they said that they believedthe Indians had stolen them during the night. Don Juan did not appearto be very anxious to search for the missing cattle himself, so he sentout the herders again after breakfast. They returned with the report ofhaving found the tracks of Indians who had apparently driven the cattletoward the hills, and stated that they were afraid to follow, fearingfor their lives.
As it was nearly noon by this time, we cooked our dinner, and whiledoing so were visited again by a number of the Indians. Don Juanintimated to them that several of his oxen had strayed off during thenight, and the Navajos kindly offered to go in search of them for aremuneration. They demanded a stack of tortillas a foot high and a sackof flour. Nolens-volens, squatted Don Mestal before the fire and bakedbread for the wily Indians as a ransom for his cattle. Of course thenthe missing oxen were soon brought up, and we lost no time in gettingunder way.
Until midnight we traveled, as Don Juan was very anxious to get awayfrom the reservation of these Indians, which is seventy-five milesacross. This night we experienced a repetition of the tactics of thenight before, as regarded the safety of our herd, but Don Juan had topay a higher ransom in the morning. While we were awaiting the arrivalof the Indians with our lost steers, Chief Manuelito honored us againwith his presence. He sat down at our fire, and producing a greasy deckof Spanish playing cards, he challenged Don Juan to a game of monte.That was an irresistible temptation for my companion. By the smilingexpression of his wizened features I divined that he thought he saw hischance for revenge. Manuelito undoubtedly had a strain of sportingblood in his veins, as he offered to stake his horses, blankets,squaws, and everything he had against the Mexican's wagons and cargo. Iwarned Don Juan to have a care, as I knew the cunning of the Navajotribe, having dealt with them before, and advised him to play the trapshe had bought from them with liquor against a chipper little squaw whowas richly dressed and had come with Chief Manuelito, mounted on awhite pony. I believed her to be the chief's daughter. When sheunderstood the import of the conversation, she looked haughtily and ina disdainful manner at Don Juan, but appeared to be pleased with me andeyed me with symptoms of curiosity. Of course, I expected her to defyDon Juan to take her, and simply ride off in case he should win thegame. At any rate, I meant to take her under my protection, ifnecessary, and send her home to her people. In fact, the liquor whichDon Juan had sold these Indians had belonged to me and had beenpresented to me by a friend as an antidote for possible snake bites onthe road to Arizona.
The gambling began, and my Mexican companions became so engrossed inthe enjoyment of their alluring national game of monte that they forgoteverything else. The drivers were as interested as their employer andbet the poor trinkets they possessed on the result of the game. Therearrived more Indians continually, and I observed a familiar faceamongst these and saw that I myself was recognized. The game was endedas I had foreseen, with Don Juan as the loser. He was an easy prey forthese Indians, who are as full of tricks as the ocean is of water.
Then Chief Manuelito, who was highly elated with his victory over theMexican, challenged me to a game in a very overbearing and provokingmanner. I replied that I despised the game of monte, which was perhapsgood enough for Mexicans and Indians, but was decided by chance; Iboasted that I was ready to bet anything I had on my skill at shootingwith the rifle, and challenged him and his whole tribe to the sportwhich was worthy of men, a shooting match. I think Manuelito would haveaccepted my challenge without hesitation and in great glee if he hadnot been restrained by the Indian whom I have mentioned before ashaving just arrived and recognized me. This Indian said something tothe chief, which seemed to interest and excite them all. ChiefManuelito advanced, and extending his hand in greeting, said that hehad often wished to meet me, the wiz
ard who had beaten the championmarksman of the Navajo tribe.
Several years before I had in the town of Cubero, at the request ofMexican friends, shot a target match with the most renowned marksman ofthe Navajo tribe, my pistol being pitted against the Navajo's rifle,and had beaten him with a wonderful shot to the discomfiture anddistress of a trading band of Indians, who bet on their champion'sprowess and lost their goods to the knowing Mexicans.
The chief then requested me to favor them with an exhibition of myskill. I readily assented and directed them to put up a target. Theyplaced a flat rock against the trunk of a pine tree at so great adistance that it was barely distinguishable to the naked eye. I guessedthe distance and my shot fell just below the mark. Then I raised thehind sight of my Winchester a notch and the next shot shattered thestone to pieces. At this the Indians went wild. They had thought itimpossible for any man to perform this feat of marksmanship, and weremost enthusiastic in the profession of their admiration. Gladly wouldthey have adopted me into their tribe as a great chief or medicine manhad I wished to ally myself to them. There was the opportunity of alifetime, but I did not embrace it.
As the sun was now low in the heavens, I advised Don Juan to remain incamp for the night and spoke to Chief Manuelito, expressing my wish topass through his country unmolested and without delay. The chiefassured me of his protection and bade us have no care. We slept soundlythat night, a band of Indians guarding our camp and herd under ordersof Manuelito, who had become my stanch friend and admirer. Thefollowing day we came to the end of the reservation and soon crossedthe boundary line of New Mexico into Arizona.
Tales of Aztlan; The Romance of a Hero of Our Late Spanish-American War, Incidents of Interest from the Life of a Western Pioneer and Other Tales Page 8