"All right," the scout said. "But don't leave no horses here!"
"I won't. But we must travel fast so I'll leave the pack mules."
"Then leave a guard too."
"I'll need every man," the lieutenant said.
"S'pose the Apaches come here?" the scout asked.
"They won't," the lieutenant said. "They're too cowardly. Geronimo and
every last one of his men are running for Mexico. We must overtake them.
Geronimo's the last Apache war chief! When he's captured or killed, it
will mean an end to Indian wars here in the Southwest! The least I'll
get out of this is a captain's rating, and perhaps even a major's!"
The scout said, "If I'm asked, I'll say I told you 'twas a fool thing to
do."
"Say what you please," the lieutenant said. "I know what I'm doing."
The soldiers followed the scout, who in turn followed the back trail of
the horses. When they found the place where the horses had been loosed,
the lieutenant thought, they would also find helpless Apaches on foot.
When the soldiers were out of sight, Geronimo signaled his men forward.
They drank at the water hole. Then they rummaged hastily through the
packs and tents and took all the rifles and ammunition they could find.
Minutes later, each warrior was mounted on a mule. Geronimo led them
into rough and rocky ground where mules could travel but horses could
not.
Long before the young lieutenant brought his men back to their camp,
every Apache was safe.