Perhaps his chief diversion was pony racing; and many a round of
ammunition, many a necklace of glass beads, magical berries, and roots,
bits of the valued duklij came into his possession because of the speed
of Nejeunee and other swift ponies of his string.
Shoz-Dijiji, gauged by the standards of Apachedom, was wealthy. He
possessed a large herd, fine raiment, the best of weapons and “jewelry”
that was the envy of all. Many a scheming mother and lovelorn maiden set
a cap for him, but the Black Bear was proof against all their wiles.
Sometimes his father, Geronimo, or his mother, Sons-ee-ah-ray,
reproached him, telling him that it was not fitting that a rich and
powerful war chief should be without women to wait upon him. They told
him that it was a reflection on them; but Shoz-Dijiji only shrugged his
shoulders and grunted, saying that he did not want to be bothered with
women and children. Only Shoz-Dijiji and Gian-nah-tah knew the truth.
Just off the reservation was a place known locally as the Hog Ranch,
though the only swine that frequented it were human; and while a single
member of the family Suidæ would have tended to elevate its standing in
the community it was innocent of even this slight claim to decency.
Its proprietor was what is still known in the vernacular of the
Southwest as a tinhorn. “Dirty” Cheetim had tried prospecting and horse
stealing, but either of these vocations were dependent for success upon
a more considerable proportion of courage and endurance than existed in
his mental and physical endowment.
His profits were derived through the exploitation of the pulchritude of
several blondined ladies from the States and about an equal number of
dusky senoritas from below the border, from cheating drunken soldiers
and cowboys at cards, from selling cheap, adulterated whiskey to his
white patrons openly and to Indians surreptitiously. It was whispered
that he had other sources of revenue which Washington might have found
interesting had it been in any measure interested in the welfare of the
Indians, but how can one expect overworked Christian congressmen to
neglect their electorate in the interests of benighted savages who have
no votes?
However, it seemed strange to those who gave it any thought that such a
place as “Dirty” Cheetim’s Hog Ranch should receive even the passive
countenance of the Indian Agent.
Tall and straight, silently on moccasined feet, an Apache brave stepped
through the doorway of the Hog Ranch. Pausing within he let his quick,
keen glance pass rapidly over the faces of the inmates. The place was
almost deserted at this hour of the day. Two Mexicans, an American
cowboy, and a soldier were playing stud at a table in one corner of the
room. Two other soldiers and two girls were standing at the bar, behind
which one of “Dirty” Cheetim’s assistants was officiating. One of the
soldiers turned and looked at the Indian.
“Hello, Black Bear!” he called. “Have a drink?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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