As they started down the long hill, Gray Dog began to whimper and run ahead of the family. “Call him back, Kee,” Wise One said. He is itching to herd those sheep. He may get into trouble.” Two soldiers with guns were walking up and down near the corrals.
Kee shouted at Gray Dog. The dog returned, whimpering and running in circles around Kee. The boy put down the things he was carrying. He took the dog’s head in his hands. “I know how you feel about the sheep. Someday we will get some sheep again for you to herd. Now stay with me.”
Hasba said, “I wish we could tell which are our sheep. They were our friends. In those big corrals they all look alike.”
“I hate the white man for stealing them.” Kee told his grandmother.
“Hate will not bring back the sheep,” Wise One said. “Hate can do nothing but hurt the one who hates.”
On the way down the hill they stopped to talk with several family groups who had set up camp. A few had tents supplied by the army. With the large number of Navajos arriving daily the supply had soon been exhausted. Some Indians had made brush shelters. Others camped on open ground with only blankets or pieces of canvas for protection.
Wise One asked each group if anyone had seen Strong Man or heard what happened to him. No one knew anything about him.
A chilly wind began to blow by the time they reached the bottom of the hill. Wise One was anxious to find a place to camp before the winter day ended. Opposite the fort parade grounds she saw a narrow wash. A few families were camped at the opening. Leading Small Burro, she skirted around the campers and went into the wash until she came to a scraggly little juniper tree growing sideways out of the bank. She tied the donkey to the tree and began to unload. “We will be warmer down here in the wash than on the hill. It will protect us from the wind.”
Bugle notes sounded through the chill winter air. A woman called up the wash, “Old One, that is the call for us to go to the fort for food. Bring something to carry it in.”
Wise One carried two flat round baskets when she and the children lined up with other Navajos on the parade grounds. At the doorway of an adobe warehouse where supplies were handed out, a soldier dumped a dipperful of white stuff into one basket. Another soldier dumped a dipperful of red beans into the other, and a third soldier handed Kee a small slab of bacon. Wise One gave Hasba a basket to carry. “What is this white stuff, Grandmother? Is it to eat?”
Kee put a pinch of it in his mouth. He spit and spit. “It is poison, I think.”
A woman behind Wise One spoke. “No, it is not poison. It is flour. The white people use it all the time. A soldier told us to mix a little water with it and cook it in thin cakes on a hot rock. It does not taste good but it is something to eat.”
The bone-weary family reached their camp. Kee held a little of the flour on his palm for Gray Dog. The dog turned his head away. “It must be poison, Grandmother. Gray Dog has too much sense to eat it. Shall I dump it out?”
“No indeed, child. No food should ever be wasted. Tomorrow I will find a way to fix it. Tonight I am too tired to think.” Wise One gave each of them a little food from the sacks she brought from their home. Spreading the sheepskins behind a blanket hung from the juniper tree, the three lay down close together with the rest of their blankets over them.
Chapter Seven
A Happy Surprise
The next morning, Kee saw a Navajo digging with a shovel he had obtained at the fort. Kee had never seen one before, having always used a pointed stick to dig around the corn. He borrowed the shovel and marveled at how much dirt it would hold. He and Wise One dug a hole in the hard bank of the wash behind the juniper tree. It took a long time, but they dug far enough to get their sheepskins inside. By stretching a blanket over the opening, they had a shelter from winter storms.
Each day saw new arrivals at the fort. Kee went among them, asking each family about his father. None had seen him or heard anything about him.
As the days began to lengthen, the cold grew less severe. With Gray Dog, Kee helped to herd sheep for the Navajos who were lucky enough to bring some to the fort. Being used to vast space with miles between hogans, they disliked the cramped conditions around the fort. They were happier when they could be away with the sheep.
One night Kee was awakened in the dugout by something touching his face. Thinking it was Gray Dog, he said, “Lie down and go to sleep or go outside.”
He heard a chuckle, then a quiet voice said, “I am not Gray Dog. I am your mother, Gentle Woman.”
Kee sat up quickly. He had to be dreaming. Yet someone’s arms were tenderly holding him. He couldn’t see his mother sitting beside him but he knew it was no dream. The feeling of her gentle arms was real. He buried his face on her shoulder and hugged her.
Though she scarcely remembered her mother, Hasba cried with happiness. Crawling to her mother’s lap, she patted her face and stroked her hair.
Wise One pulled back the blanket over the opening to let in a little moonlight. She did not seem surprised at seeing Gentle Woman. “You are very thin. Are you hungry now?” she asked.
“I am too excited and happy to feel hunger now. Tell me all about Strong Man.”
Wise One told her that Strong Man left the cave in the canyon and they had not seen or heard about him since. “My son is a proud man. He will not come unless he is captured.”
Kee could see tears shining on his mother’s face. He asked, “How did you find us, Mother? How did you escape your enemies?”
Gentle Woman said, “Let us all lie down together under the blankets and I will tell you what has happened to me since I was taken away from you.”
Hasba cuddled into her mother’s arms as she began her story. “We can be glad, Kee, that you had a sore foot and could not go herding that day. You might have been captured with me and sold into slavery. Six Ute horsemen surrounded me.”
Kee spoke up, “When it began to grow dark that night, Father went looking for you. At first he could not believe it was raiders because even though the sheep were scattered, none had been stolen.”
“These Utes were in too big a hurry to bother with sheep. They had plans to meet Mexican slave traders on the mesa above the Hopi villages.”
“Were the Utes mean to you?” Wise One asked.
“I knew it was no use to struggle. I was tied on a horse so I could lean forward and grasp its mane. They rode fast and long, stopping only to let the horses rest and to steal one more woman herder and her daughter. Sun-bearer was almost ready to leave the sky the next day when we reached the mesa. Mexican slave traders were already camped there. The smell of mutton cooking made us ravenous, we were so hungry. We were fed and allowed to rest while the Utes and Mexicans haggled over how much we were worth. I could tell the Utes were anxious to get away. After all, they were in Hopi country. There was also the chance Navajos would follow and get back their women.”
Wise One told her, “Many raids were made to find you. Always Strong Man came home sad.”
“I was not with the Mexicans long. As soon as payments were made the Utes took off on fresh horses. That night the Mexicans put us all under a large piece of canvas with guards resting outside on the edges.
“The territory we were in was familiar to me. As you know my mother was part Hopi. When I was a child we lived and herded our sheep not far from the Hopi village of Oraibi. My mother even taught me a little of their language. I thought if I could only escape, perhaps the Hopis would help me get back to you. Waiting until I was sure everyone was asleep, even the guards, I worked my way carefully out from under the canvas.”
Hasba hugged her mother tightly. “How scared you must have been.”
“I was so afraid I think I stopped breathing. I crawled on my stomach at first, then when I thought they could no longer hear me, I ran. I felt the safest thing to do was climb higher on the mesa and find a place to hide. I found a thick stand of juniper trees. Among the trees grew sagebrush and yucca. I tunneled under a clump of brush, pulling it around
me so I could not be seen. I hardly noticed how badly I was getting scratched I was so frightened and so anxious to be hidden.”
“Did the Mexicans come looking for you?” Kee asked.
“I am not sure but I think so. I strained to hear and thought I heard horses’ hoofs and men’s voices in the distance. Later, I could tell by the warmth under the brush that sun-bearer was high in the sky. I knew the Mexicans would have left for their own safety and I fell into a heavy sleep. It was dark when I woke up. I was hungry and thirsty. I broke off some pieces of yucca blossom stems to chew. Afterward I felt better and started to walk. I wanted to reach Oraibi because that had been my mother’s village.
“Gray streaks of light told me sun-bearer was on his way back when I realized I was on the mesa where the village stood. Then I was afraid the Hopis would not be friendly. I sat down against a large rock and tried to remember the Hopi words my mother taught me.
“Before long a girl came out of the village carrying a forked stick. She was on her way to work in a cornfield below the mesa. I called a greeting to her. She took me to her father who was chief of the village. I made him understand that I was now his prisoner. ‘Many times,’ he said, ‘Navajos have taken Hopi women and children for slaves. Now that you are here you will stay and work for us. If you do not try to run away we will be good to you. If you try to run away we will kill you’.”
Wise One sat up. “For many moons I have been saying this stealing of animals and people from other tribes and from white people must come to an end. There can be no happiness until people learn to live in peace with one another.”
“Little Mother, while I was with the Hopis I thought often of the many times you have said that. Now I think the same.”
Wise One yawned. Gentle Woman said, “I am tired, too. Let us sleep. Tomorrow I will tell you the rest of my story.”
Kee lay under his sheepskin, thinking. “How weak women are. They are willing to make peace even with the soldiers! There is no peace in my heart. Father did not give in. He must be out there somewhere enduring the hardships, defying the soldiers. I am only a boy. But someday I will be big enough and strong enough to join him. Together we will prove that we can still raid the tribes that had raided us. We will steal whole herds of horses and sheep from them. In my heart I will never give in.”
On following days, Gentle Woman told her family about life among the Hopi Indians. Though she was a gifted weaver she did not weave while she lived with them. Among the Hopi, the men were the weavers. Mostly she worked in the fields. She was treated as one of the tribe and could have been happy if only her family had been there.
Gentle Woman said, “News came to the village that white soldiers were hunting Navajos and wanted Utes and Hopis to lead them to Navajo hiding places. When I learned the Navajos were surrendering at Fort Defiance to be taken to Fort Sumner, a long way to the east, I knew I must escape or I might never see my family again.
“I hid a small buckskin bag under a rock in a field. For many days I put bits of dried meat, corn and dried berries in it. One dark night I left the village. Hiding by day, walking by night, I ate whatever shoots and berries I could find to make the food in the sack last. After many nights I found the fort. A soldier frightened me half to death with his gun.”
“They will not shoot any Navajos,” Kee said. “Kit Carson made that promise when we were at the camp near the canyon.”
“Well, I did not know that,” Gentle Woman replied. “I was afraid because I could not make the soldier understand I was looking for you. Then Long Earrings came where the soldier was guarding. He told me where I could find you.”
Chapter Eight
The Long Walk Begins
One day Long Earrings came to talk to Kee. “Is your dog good at herding sheep?”
Kee looked proudly at his dog, and declared. “Gray Dog is the best herd dog in all Navajoland.”
Long Earrings grinned. “I am sure you speak the truth. We will soon be starting on the long journey to Fort Sumner. It will be too far and too hard a trip for Wise One to walk. If you and your dog will help herd the army sheep on the journey, I can ask for a place for Wise One to ride in one of the wagons.”
Kee bristled. “I am Navajo. I will not herd the sheep the soldiers have stolen from the Navajos! Grandmother can ride on Small Burro. I have promised Eagle Feather I will help him. A Navajo does not break a promise.”
“These are difficult times,” Long Earrings said. “We must learn to compromise. Eagle Feather has only a few sheep. The army has many.”
“But he has no dog to keep them together. Besides, he is my friend.”
Long Earrings shrugged as he walked away, saying. “But if we cooperate, the army’s sheep will feed us along the way.”
Covered wagons, each with a team of oxen were drawn up near the fort. Wagons bulged with sacks of flour, sacks of beans, sides of bacon, casks of water. They were so loaded down that only a few old people could ride. Some lucky Navajos still had horses to ride. Those having a few sheep and goats chose to walk with their grazing herd. Most of the Diné were on foot.
Early on March 6, 1864, the first caravan climbed slowly out of the valley at Fort Defiance to follow roads made by army ox carts. Thirty wagons piled with rations were followed by 2,400 Navajos, 400 horses, and 3,000 sheep.
Before starting the trek Gentle Woman said, “Our journey will be long. Let us try always to stay close together. Having each other is the most important thing in our lives. With so many people and animals it would be easy to lose one another.”
Small Burro complained at being loaded again. Wise One walked beside him to gently soothe his hurt feelings. There was no room on him for her to ride.
The first day seemed very long to Kee. Though he and Gray Dog were kept busy herding Eagle Feather’s sheep, he kept wondering how long the journey would take. Would it be too far for Wise One and Hasba to walk? What kind of place was it that they were going to? Would there be shelter there and enough to eat?
Finally, after a day that seemed like forever, they reached their first campsite. The wagons were drawn into a large circle. Navajos were herded inside the circle. Kee angrily eyed the soldiers who kept watch outside the circle, seeing that no one escaped.
The Diné shared what little wood they could find within their area and built fires to cook the rations handed out by the soldiers.
The next morning when Kee, Hasba, and Gray Dog went to help Eagle Feather get his sheep on the move they found him kicking and shouting at a ewe that refused to get up. As soon as Eagle Feather saw Kee he shouted, “Tell your dog to nip this sheep and get it started.”
Running to the sheep, Hasba saw a tiny, newborn lamb nestled beside the ewe. She turned in anger to Eagle Feather. “Of course she will not leave her lamb.”
“She will have to leave it,” Eagle Feather replied. “The lamb is too little and puny to walk. It will not live anyway. She must come without it.”
Hasba’s eyes flashed. “It will live. I will carry it, then it’s mother will come along.”
Eagle Feather laughed. “All right, I give the lamb to you. Carry it if you like.”
“Oh, sister,” Kee said, “We have a long way to go. You get tired without carrying anything. Besides it is so puny it cannot live.”
Hasba did not bother to answer. She already had the tiny lamb in her arms. The ewe quickly stood up. After nuzzling her baby she walked contentedly at Hasba’s side.
By this time Gentle Woman and Wise One had come to see what was keeping the children. “Look Mother, look Grandmother, this lamb is mine. Eagle Feather gave it to me.”
Wise One clicked her tongue. “The lamb is very weak but we will save it for you if we can.”
“I will carry it all the way,” Hasba said.
Gentle Woman shook her head. “My child, the lamb will be half grown by the time we get there, I think.”
“It will not be good for you or the lamb to carry it,” Wise One said, “Come with me.” Wal
king over to Small Burro she rearranged the bundles on his back so there was a small empty hollow space in the center. When she put the lamb there, it cuddled down happily. “Now the lamb is as safe as in a cradle board,” she said.
Small Burro snorted as he looked at the ewe walking beside him.
Chapter Nine
The Long Walk Continues
On the third day of the walk, Wise One stood for some time looking over the landscape in all directions. She smiled. “We are not far from Bear Spring. I remember this country from when I was a child.” Patting Small Burro on the flank she said, “You will find much good food here, my beauty.”
The next day they reached the valley of Bear Spring. Wise One was surprised to find that the United States now had a cavalry outpost nearby, called Fort Wingate.
Word was passed along that there would be a stopover here to grease the wagons, repair harnesses, and replenish rations. The Navajos were allowed to spread out in the direction of the spring. Kee was happy to see that there were many pine, juniper, and oak trees here. As he gazed around, the faint red color in the surrounding mesas made him almost feel at home. While Gentle Woman made a neat camp, he gathered a stack of the abundant wood for their fires.
The days of rest came to an end all too soon, and the bugle blew once more. Kee had hoped they would stay at Bear Spring. His father could easily catch up with them there.
Hasba’s lamb had gained enough strength to walk a short distance beside its mother. As soon as the lamb showed signs of tiring, she asked her grandmother to put it on Small Burro’s back.
The long caravan traveled slowly eastward, progressing about fifteen miles each day. When camp was made within sight of snow-capped Mount Taylor, Wise One became very upset. Looking at the mountain’s long slope she said, “That mountain is the southern sacred mountain. The sacred mountains were placed by the Holy People as boundaries for the Diné. Surely we will not be forced to live beyond them!”
Navajo Long Walk Page 3
