Apache Indians -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Western stories
The Mexican, lying upon his belly, saw the moccasined feet first and
guessed the worst, for the moccasins of no two tribes are identical.
Turning his head painfully his eyes moved slowly upward to the savage
face. With a moan of hopelessness he dropped his head to the ground and
commenced to pray. Realizing that not even God could save him from death
at the hands of this Apache, he concerned himself only with matters
pertaining to the salvation of his immortal soul and to be on the safe
side he prayed not only to the gods of his conquerors, but to strange,
heathen gods as well—gods whose names were old before Nazareth.
Shoz-Dijiji saw that a not overlarge tree had fallen upon the
woodchopper, pinioning him in such a way that he could not release
himself. He also guessed that the man was injured. Laying hold of the
tree the Apache, already a giant in strength, raised it easily from the
prostrate form and dragged it to one side. Then he approached the
Mexican and with quick, sensitive fingers examined his body and limbs.
One leg was broken. Otherwise the man was not seriously hurt. However
the broken leg would have proved fatal were help not forthcoming.
The Apache cut away the trouser leg from the injured member, and tore
the cloth into strips. He fashioned splints from twigs and small
branches, and while his victim screamed he set the broken bones,
adjusted the splints, bound them in place with the strips he had torn
from the man’s trousers.
By this time the Mexican was almost convinced against his better
judgment that the Apache did not intend killing him. It was quite
inexplicable, but it seemed a fact, and he waxed eloquent in his
gratitude; but to all that he said Shoz-Dijiji returned but one reply:
“No savvy,” albeit he perfectly understood.
He built a soft bed of pine branches and threw up a rude shelter of
boughs above the injured man. After that he filled the Mexican’s water
bottle, placed it beside him and went away as silently as he had come,
leaving his hereditary enemy still only half convinced that it was not
all part of a diabolical plot to save him for future torture.
Why was it that the Apache did not kill this helpless Mexican? Perhaps
he was moved by sentiments of compassion and brotherly love. Far from
it. The war chief of all the Apaches had warned them not to kill, that
the fears and anger of the foe might be allayed, and that, thus lulled
into the lethargy of false peace, they might become easier prey upon the
occasion of some future raid.
Shoz-Dijiji hated the Mexican with all the bitterness of his savage
nature, but he saw here an opportunity to carry Geronimo’s strategy a
step further than the wily old chieftain had instructed, and by playing
the good Samaritan to impress upon this Mexican and all to whom he
should have an opportunity to narrate his adventure that the Apaches not
only were not upon the warpath, but were thoroughly friendly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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