Navajo Long Walk

by Armstrong, Nancy M.

  Wise One sat down beside the fire pit, her head in her hands. For a short time it was quiet in the cave, then Hasba began to cry. Wise One gently cradled her in her arms. Rocking from side to side she said, “We are the Diné. Our ancestors lived in this land for hundreds of years. The white man cannot know how much we love our home of red rocks and gray desert within the circle of the four sacred mountains. It is ours. No good can come of driving us out.”

  Suddenly Kee was filled with hatred. White soldiers had taken their herd of sheep. They must find a way of getting revenge. “My father is right,” he said. “We must never surrender.”

  Chapter Three

  Soldiers Find the Canyon

  Many families were hiding in caves in the canyon. Navajo scouts told them that white soldiers were often seen on the rim of the canyon searching for ways to get down the steep sides. Kee knew that farther up the canyon, trails known only to Indians wound around, the steep rocks. It was possible to get out of the canyon on foot or horseback, but these trails were dangerous because they were so steep and narrow.

  Food was scarce. Already frost had killed what crops were left in the gardens. Women of the same clan as Wise One came in the night begging for food to feed their children. Wise One told Kee and Hasba that sharing had always been an important part of their way of life. It had helped the Navajos as well as other tribes survive many hardships in the past. Kee was not surprised when she said that they must share as much of their food as they could.

  It was not safe to let the animals out to graze where they could be seen from the rim. Each night Kee and his father went into the canyon to cut grass for them.

  Finally, one by one, Strong Man killed their sheep. There were so few of them that they hated to see even one of them go. Winter was coming and it was cool enough so the meat would keep. They ate only small amounts so it would last as long as possible, and Wise One used the bones and marrow to make soup.

  Gray Dog gnawed at what remained of the bones, and kept himself alive mostly by catching mice, pack rats, and chipmunks. Once Kee saw him catch a small black, tuft-eared squirrel.

  When five of the six sheep had been eaten, the children knew the last one had to go. They ate only a little corn meal that day, with a few of last year’s piñon nuts and some bitter juniper berries mixed in, and Kee knew that although his father never showed his grief, Strong Man’s feelings about killing the last of the sheep were as strong as his own. Kee watched as Hasba put her arms around the sheep, talked to it, and cried into the wool on its neck. Kee stood by, showing no emotion. He was glad his father did not see the tears that trickled down his face. When he was helping Strong Man skin and dress out the sheep, he noticed that Hasba was nowhere to be seen.

  The goat ate any dry grass and brush Kee could find for it, but it got thin and quit giving any milk. When all the mutton was gone, the goat had to be eaten, too. Although some winters in the canyon were without snow, it snowed often that year of 1864, adding to the misery of the hungry Navajos.

  Late one night, the scout, Long Earrings, came to Strong Man’s cave to warn him that Kit Carson, with four hundred soldiers, was setting up camp at the west mouth of the canyon. The canyon had two branches and Long Earrings asked Strong Man to ride up one branch while he rode up the other. “Tell the people to put out their fires in the daytime, hide any animals they have, and keep out of sight.”

  After Strong Man rode away, Wise One said, “Kee, go and bring Small Burro into the cave.”

  Kee called Gray Dog from the back of the cave to go with him. He said to his grandmother, “Do not worry. We shall all be safe here together.”

  Wise One sighed. “Safety is not much use, child, if we are to starve.”

  Strong Man did not return that night. Hasba cried because he was not there when she awoke. “He is hiding today. He will come tonight,” Kee said. “Do not be afraid.” But Strong Man did not come that night either.

  The following day, when afternoon shadows were filling the canyon, the three in the cave saw soldiers and mules floundering through snow toward the west end of the canyon. White soldiers had somehow discovered a way in from the east end, and were on their way to join Kit Carson at the west end.

  The path along the stream bed was covered with thin ice. At times the mules’ hoofs broke through the ice. The animals rolled and struggled to keep their footing. Men slipped and fell. Watching from the cold cave, Kee laughed at their struggles. He could tell from the way Wise One made soft little clickings with her tongue that she was sorry for the white men. He wondered how she could be. They were the cause of all their troubles. Then, to Kee’s great surprise, he saw many Navajo men, women, and children, following the soldiers. They were surrendering! Kee could feel only contempt for them.

  Chapter Four

  Time to Surrender

  The following morning was gloomy, threatening more snow. Strong Man had not returned. Wise One brought their only sack of dried corn from the storage space at the back of the cave. She gave each of the children a small handful for their breakfast. She gave Gray Dog a smaller handful, then searched out a few corn husks for Small Burro. She sat and looked sorrowfully at the children as she slowly chewed her small portion of the hard corn. Then she folded their sheepskins and blankets and laid them across Small Burro’s back.

  “Where are we going?” Kee asked, but Wise One did not answer. Kee worried as he helped her carry their few belongings out of the cave and stack them neatly near Small Burro. He understood why his grandmother would feel that they must now try to escape from the canyon, but where would they go? There was no safer place. He wanted to ask again, but he knew she would not talk until she was ready.

  Finally, she sat on a rock ledge just outside the cave and, holding her thin arms out toward Hasba and Kee, she beckoned them to her. Hasba ran and sat on her grandmother’s lap. Kee followed and tried to read his grandmother’s eyes as he waited quietly for her to speak.

  Finally, Wise One reached out and took his hand. “We are going to the white soldier’s camp. To make peace with them is the only way left to us.”

  Kee stiffened and pulled away. “No, Grandmother. No! We can’t do that. Father would be very angry!”

  Hasba cried. “We cannot leave here, Grandmother. Father will not know where we are. He will not be able to find us.”

  “He will find us, little one. He will know there is no other place for us to go. Let us start now before more snow comes.”

  Wise One tied her cooking pot and water jug on Small Burro’s back, and carried the sack of precious corn herself. Kee guided the donkey over the rocks down to the trail. “You could ride behind the things or Small Burro,” he said to his grandmother.

  “No, it is enough for him to carry our belongings. He is too weak to carry me, too.”

  Upon reaching the garden patch, they were horrified to discover all their peach trees had been cut down. The day before Kee had heard chopping sounds echoing along the canyon walls and decided the soldiers must be gathering fire wood. Now he saw they had been destroying the peach trees, another way of starving the Navajos into surrender, and making sure they did not try to come back.

  Wise One walked among the fallen trees looking as if she had just lost many good friends. Kee could not look at her unhappy face. Anger rose up within him. He held back. He wanted nothing to do with the cruel soldiers. How could they do this to people who had done them no harm? He wanted to drag Grandmother and Hasba back to the cave, to run away and try to hide in the mountains, anywhere. He was sure Wise One must hate the soldiers as much as he, but he also knew she would say it was better to cooperate with them than to starve or freeze alone in the mountains.

  Wise One walked on to the brush-covered summer hogan. Mice had built a nest inside, away from the snow. Gray Dog was happy to discover them. Small Burro pawed the ground finding a few soggy cornstalks under the snow, but the family found nothing they could use.

  Walking was not difficult since the snow had been tra
mpled into a trail by men and mules the day before. Before they saw the soldiers’ camp that dark, stormy afternoon, they could smell meat cooking. Kee’s stomach churned, and growled. He looked at Hasba, and their steps quickened a little. Then Hasba stopped, saying, “It is the white man’s food. They will not give us any.”

  Kee’s heart thumped as they neared the camp. He knew Hasba was afraid also. If Wise One felt fear she did not show it. They were almost to the first tent when a Navajo they knew by the name of Many Goats appeared. “Greetings, Wise One.” he said, “You show wisdom in coming here. Where is Strong Man?”

  “Long Earrings asked him to take messages to our people. When he is finished, he will come to find us.”

  With all his heart, Kee hoped what Wise One said was true. He was afraid his father had been killed by white soldiers, or had gone away from Navajoland rather than surrender.

  Many Goats said, “Come with me. I will take you to Colonel Carson. Do not be afraid. He treats kindly the Navajos who surrender. I will tell you what he says, and will tell him what you say.”

  “You are a smart man to learn the white man’s language,” Wise One said.

  “Someday all Navajos will learn it, I think,” Many Goats replied.

  A look of scorn crossed Kee’s face. To himself he said, “Here is one Navajo who will not learn the white man’s ugly language.”

  Colonel Carson was not big. He would scarcely have reached Strong Man’s shoulder. In a quiet voice he spoke to Many Goats, who then said, “Colonel Carson is glad you have come. He hopes all Navajos will come. He want us all to gather at Fort Defiance. There we will be fed until plans can be made for us to go to Fort Sumner, which will be our new home.”

  Kee thought, “He only asks us to give up our home and our way of life. How would he feel if someone asked the same of him?”

  What kind of meat Strong Man’s family ate that night they could not tell. Most likely, it was horse or oxen stewing in the big vessels on the campfires. They were given their fill of the tough meat with a bit left over for Gray Dog.

  The tired family rolled up in their sheepskins on the ground, between two tents. Wise One rested with her head on Small Burro’s side. He was stretched out full length soaking up the warmth of the fire. Gray Dog curled up with Kee. The boy ached with longing for his father. He strongly felt the Diné, a proud people, should not be sleeping at the white man’s fire.

  Chapter Five

  Back to the Mesa

  Kee was still sleeping soundly when the shrill notes of a bugle startled him to his feet. Small Burro jumped up dumping Wise One’s head on the ground. Gray Dog barked. Hasba screamed and clutched Wise One. They were not the only ones to jump in fear. Navajos who had been in camp a few days laughed at all the frightened ones, telling them the cause of the harsh sound and helping them to laugh at their fears.

  Many Goats shouted to the Navajos to gather in front of Colonel Carson’s tent. He told them what Kit Carson said: “You Navajos must go to Fort Defiance where you will be fed and receive warm blankets. I am going there now with a few of my soldiers. You are to follow us. I know those of you who have no horses cannot travel as fast as we can. I trust you. Set your own pace. Navajos who do not come to the fort will be hunted until they are all destroyed.”

  Walking with Wise One and Hasba back to the tree where Small Burro was tethered, Kee thought about his father. Strong Man knew many good hiding places in different parts of Navajoland. Carson’s men would have a hard time finding him, unless he had already been killed before he was able to escape from the canyon.

  Wise One said, “We will not hurry after the soldiers. I know the way to Fort Defiance. When we were young, your grandfather and I went there to camp. After the white men made the fort, we were told to keep out of the green meadow there or our sheep and horses would be shot. We never went there again.”

  The Navajos began following the soldiers out of the grove to the narrow trail that led up to the canyon rim. A soldier stood at the beginning of the trail, handing each Indian a chunk of dried meat. When Kee received his piece, Gray Dog stood up on his hind legs, pleading with his large, dark eyes. Kee broke off a small piece for him. The soldier reached into his bag for a chunk and threw it on the ground. A surprised expression crossed Kee’s face. If he had not seen it, he would never have believed a white man could be so kind to a dog.

  Before long, more than two hundred Indians were strung out in a long line following the soldiers. Sun on the canyon rim had melted much of the snow. Small Burro foraged along the sides of the road. Kee kept wishing Wise One would say, “We will turn off at our hogan,” but she walked in silence. Gray Dog began ranging in the direction of the hogan. He would stand a long distance away, head thrown back sniffing, then circle back to Kee. After the dog had done this several times Kee said, “Grandmother, let us go and look at our hogan. Perhaps we shall find some food we can use for our journey.”

  Wise One smiled. “All the way I have been wondering whether or not we should visit our hogan. Now you have all decided for me.”

  Then Small Burro turned off the road in the direction of the hogan with Gray Dog beside him. Gray Dog was puzzled by the absence of sheep. He ran in and out of the empty corral looking for them. Small Burro waited patiently at the hogan until he was unloaded, then trotted into the brush shelter in his corral. He lay down with a sigh of contentment. He was home once more.

  Soon a blazing fire made with dry wood found in the hogan, warmed them outside. Corn meal mush with bits of dried meat Wise One had saved warmed them inside. “Grandmother” Hasba said, “Please let us stay here where we can be happy and where Father can find us. I do not want to go to the white man’s camp.”

  “None of us want to go, little one. You will find as you go through life you must often do things you do not want to do. A few days here and we would be without food. Your father is not ready to surrender to the white man. He will not come back here. We will stay one night. Kee, get the ladder your father made.” She pointed to the top log on the wall. “I seem to remember hiding some sacks of corn there.”

  Kee found three small buckskin sacks. One held dried corn, one dried peaches and the third piñon nuts.

  Too soon for all of them tomorrow became today. After stretching and yawning loudly, Wise One said, “Go and bring Small Burro to the hogan so we can load him.”

  Wise One and Hasba had the blankets and sheepskins folded and the packs ready for each to carry when Kee pulled aside the door blanket saying, “Grandmother, Small Burro will not come. I have coaxed and threatened him but he will not budge.”

  “Is anything the matter with him?” Wise One asked.

  “Not that I can see. He is standing, but he will not leave his shelter.”

  “He wants me to coax him.” Wise One put her head out of the hogan and clicked her tongue. “Come along, little bad burro.” Then she set all their belongings outside the hogan ready to load. Still Small Burro did not come.

  Grandmother went to the shelter followed by the children. As soon as she was close enough, Small Burro nuzzled her arm. She scratched his ears and rubbed his muzzle. “Now come along, bad boy, we are in a hurry.” Small Burro braced his feet. He would not move.

  Kee said, “Of all the stupid animals, a stubborn burro is the stupidest. Gray Dog would never act like that.”

  Wise One walked out of the enclosure and picked up a stick. She shook it in front of Small Burro. “Come out of that shelter or for the first time in your life I shall beat you.” She tugged at the rope.

  The donkey moved his long ears back and forth, rolled his eyes, but did not budge. Grandmother walked back and whacked Small Burro on the flank as hard as she could.

  The children’s mouths flew open. They were as surprised as the donkey. Before Wise One could drop the stick and get hold of the rope, Small Burro trotted out of the shelter to the hogan and stood still to be loaded.

  All morning, as they trudged along the road, Wise One held Small Burro�
�s lead rope. She kept telling him what a fine burro he was. She pointed to bits of grass poking through the thin layer of snow and waited for him to eat them. He occasionally nuzzled her shoulder to let her know she was forgiven.

  Chapter Six

  On to Fort Defiance

  When afternoon shadows began to lengthen, Wise One pointed to a clump of piñon trees away from the trail. “We will camp there for the night,” she said.

  Kee hunted pieces of bark and twigs to start a fire. Soon they were warming themselves as they rested on sheepskins. Gray Dog had his head against Kee’s leg. Suddenly he threw his head back and sniffed, then dashed away through the trees. Anxious to see what Gray Dog had scented, Kee ran after him.

  When he came to an open space away from the trees, Kee saw Gray Dog had killed a rabbit and was about to tear it apart. The boy knew the dog was hungry and he hated to take the rabbit away from him. But they were all hungry. Kee shouted at Gray Dog. With one paw on the rabbit the dog looked up, then bent his head again to tear at it. Kee shouted angrily, “Get away.” Tail between his legs, Gray Dog slunk away. Picking up the rabbit, Kee hurried back to camp. The dog followed at a distance.

  On seeing the rabbit, Hasba clapped her hands. Wise One found her knife and knelt to skin it. Kee could see his dog lying some distance away watching. “Grandmother, Gray Dog caught the rabbit for himself. I took it away from him. He is hungry, too.”

  Wise One stood up. Pushing Kee’s black hair away from his forehead, she said, “He is a good dog. We will give him his share of the rabbit.”

  At dawn the next morning the little family was walking again. About the middle of the afternoon they came out on the brow of a hill overlooking the valley where Fort Defiance stood. They gazed down on a group of log and adobe buildings, a collection of old mud pigsties, and corrals filled with hundreds of sheep.