"I speak no madness," said Geronimo. "And I do not think that even Chief Gray Wolf can catch me now that I know he is here. We saw _you_ coming." "As you shall see me go," Whoa promised. "I have ridden this far to ask you to go with us." "Whither?" "Far to the south, where no white soldier ever has been or ever shall be," Whoa said. Geronimo said, "I do not think I would like the south." "I say no more," said Whoa. Whoa caught his pony and rode away. Geronimo knew a great sorrow. Whoa was frightened. Because he feared, he was willing to see through the eyes of others rather than find out for himself how things truly were. It was indeed a sad thing. [Illustration] Two days later the scout announced another friend. In twenty minutes, Ana, Benito's wife, climbed the hill to Geronimo's camp. "Why are you here?" Geronimo demanded. "I bear a message from Chief Gray Wolf," said Ana. Geronimo said, "It has come to my ears that Chief Gray Wolf killed all the followers of Benito. Yet you, Benito's wife, are not dead." "We did indeed fight some of Chief Gray Wolf's Apache scouts," said Ana. "They were commanded by the white chiefs, Crawford and Gatewood. They surprised us in our camp, and we thought they came for war. But they came for peace, and though they killed a few of us because we fought them, they took most of us prisoner and treated us very well. "The men remain prisoners. But the children have freedom of Chief Gray Wolf's camp and all women have been sent forth with the message Chief Gray Wolf has for all Apaches. That is why I am here." "And what is this message?" Geronimo asked. "Return to Arizona and live in peace." Geronimo asked, "Was Chato in Benito's camp when Gray Wolf's scouts came?" "Chato was there," Ana said. "And what says Chato to the message?" "Chato and Benito have agreed to return," said Ana. "So have Zele and Naiche. I know not of the others." "She lies," Francisco warned. Geronimo said, "Women do not lie about their husbands. Would Chief Gray Wolf speak with me?" "He would," said Ana. "Where?" Ana used a stick to trace a map on the ground. Geronimo studied it, rubbed it out with his moccasin, and nodded. "Eat and rest," he told Ana. "Then go to Chief Gray Wolf and say Geronimo will come in four days." In four days, carrying his Winchester repeating rifle and wearing a belt full of bullets, Geronimo approached the meeting place an hour after sunrise. He looked straight ahead only, for anything else might betray him. His warriors, who had left camp while night still held, were hidden all about. But they were to attack only if there was treachery. [Illustration]