Apache Indians -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Western stories
As they passed on toward the farther hills Shoz-Dijiji saw a coyote
giving them a wide berth as it slunk down toward the ranch.
That night they crossed the border into New Mexico and camped in
timbered mountains by a running spring. Here they killed a mule and
feasted, for at last they felt reasonably safe from pursuit.
A few days later they came to their home camp and that night there was
dancing and feasting in honor of the victorious warriors and a great
deal of boastful recounting of valorous deeds and displaying of loot.
Another mule was killed and cooked and presents were given to each
member of the tribe. It was a memorable night. Tomorrow the work of the
squaws would commence, for all the remaining mules must be killed, their
meat jerked, their hides cured and the meat packed away in them for
future use.
Little Ish-kay-nay, cross-legged upon the ground, tore at a large piece
of mule meat with her strong, white teeth. A lock of glossy black hair
fell across her face and tickled her nose. She pushed it back with a
greasy hand.
But if her teeth were occupied with the feast her eyes were not—they
followed the figure of a handsome youth who moved about with the swagger
of a warrior, though it was noticeable that he kept out of the paths of
the warriors, swaggering most where the squaws and the children might
see.
Closer and closer to Ish-kay-nay his wanderings led him, yet he seemed
quite unconscious of her presence, until presently, without a word, he
came and squatted at her side. He did not speak. Ish-kay-nay did not
speak. Perhaps each wondered at the change that had come over their
relations. When the youth had gone away a few weeks before they had been
playfellows. There had never been reserve between them. Ish-kay-nay had
seemed like another boy to Shoz-Dijiji.
Now she seemed different. It seemed to Shoz-Dijiji that he was almost
afraid of her. To Ish-kay-nay there seemed a difference, too, but, being
a woman, she was less mystified than Shoz-Dijiji and she was not afraid.
She must only appear to be afraid.
Presently, timorously apparently, she extended her piece of mule meat
toward him and with his teeth he tore off a mouthful. Enjoined from
speech by necessity they sat there, side by side, chewing upon the tough
and fibrous flesh.
Ish-kay-nay looked up from beneath her tousled shock, caught his eye and
smiled. Then she looked down quickly and giggled. Shoz-Dijiji grinned
and leaned a little closer until his naked shoulder touched hers. Again
Ish-kay-nay looked up to smile, and down to giggle, shrugging her
shapely shoulders.
Laboriously the youth untied a soiled bundle that he had carried for
many days fastened to his loin cloth. It was wrapped in a bit of the
tail of a cotton shirt that Manuel, the freighter, had bought in
Guaymas.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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