"Imprisonment in Florida for you and your families," Lieutenant Gatewood
said.
"Is he mad?" Geronimo flared angrily. "His soldiers have pursued me for
many months, and we have fought them many times. Many soldiers have died
in these fights, but not a single Apache has been killed by white
soldiers. Does your General Miles not know that we are capable of
carrying on the fight?"
"He knows," Lieutenant Gatewood said. "But if you fail to surrender,
General Miles has another offer. He will hunt you down and kill every
one of you if it takes another fifty years."
"Take a message to your General Miles," Geronimo said. "Tell him that we
will return to Arizona if we may go back to our homes in the White
Mountains, and if we may live there as we did before fleeing into
Mexico."
"That is childish talk, Geronimo," Lieutenant Gatewood said. "You have
had many opportunities to prove that you would live in peace on the
reservation. There will not be another chance. General Miles' orders
stand. Accept imprisonment in Florida or be killed by soldiers."
"We may also kill soldiers," Geronimo reminded him.
"That you have proven many times," Lieutenant Gatewood admitted. "But
you remember the times of long ago, when for every white man in Arizona
there were a hundred Apaches. Now, for every Apache, there are two
hundred white men and more to come. You cannot kill all the soldiers."
"Nor can they kill us," Geronimo said. "My terms stand. We return to the
White Mountains and live as we once lived, or we continue the war."
Lieutenant Gatewood turned suddenly to Naiche and smiled. "I saw your
mother and daughter, Naiche, just after they came in with Chihuahua's
band. They have been sent to Florida with the rest, but both inquired
about you."
"Are they well?" Naiche asked eagerly.
"Very well," Lieutenant Gatewood said. "They wish you to surrender so
that you may join them, and I am to remind you that an enemy more
merciless than any soldiers lies in wait. It is winter that is just
ahead. Geronimo, do I have your final answer?"