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Captured by the Navajos

Chapter 10 THE CORPORALS ARE PROMOTED

Word Count: 2674    |    Released on: 30/11/2017

he height. As they sped on they glanced repeatedly backward, as if fearing pursuit. Higher and hi

imed Frank. "Why are those Navajo boys runnin

t down to the men as soon as we can. The India

gged angle which we had ascended, and hurried to where Ba

y when the three whitewashed boys appeared on their panting and f

ed Baldwin. "Three whitewashed young

voice, in excellent English. "He

ng us, and Henry had sprung from his horse and embraced his brother, leaving a generous coating of yeso upon the army blue. Tears of joy had ploughed two streaks thro

by the chie

to

y might prove baggy on

did he t

itos have an article apiece. My saddle and bridle w

chief take y

hose perfect limbs and handsome face the yeso could not mask, and who sat his horse as if he were a part of the animal. Saying something to him in an undertone, the boy dismounted

great happiness his escape afforded me, and the great

and, and then dropped it to give

uing you as we marched through this country, but

que acted, and I am

shall soon hear; and you will learn that

gan, whom you saw leaving the valley with his warriors, is intending to move d

." Going up to the third boy, he spoke a few words to him in an unknown tongue. The boy sprang to the ground and came forward. "This is Sapoya,"

iend. He addressed me in Navajo, which was interpreted by Manuel: "I am glad to meet one who has helped to open

ountain defiles as rapidly as possible. As soon as the route would permit, Henry and Manuel rode on each side of Frank, and I heard the former ask about Vic. Frank answered in

eft Henry and his friends still in captivity. At the conclusion of my tale Manuel changed his position from the flank to one between the brothers, and, taking a hand of Frank in his left, and one of Henry's in his right

ide between it and the Lithodendron. As we rose above a terrace our attention was attrac

d boys, and they are surprised to meet a troop of cavalry! Viva los Es

ly, our presence was a great surprise to them. Although they greatly outnumbered us, the country was too open for the

NG MANY FRIENDS, TWO TH

em we noticed a solitary warrio

said Manuel. "He want

the fortune of war, but he demanded the return of Sapoya. He said that in a fight with the Utes, ten years before, his people had captured a Cherokee chief, who was visi

repeating the words of the chief, s

all. He brought parents, three horses, and ample clothing to the Navajos; he takes nothing away but the pony he rode. He has shared his blanket and food with his brother, Manuel, for

advancing gave his hand in amity to b

oined the command, "but I should cherish kindlier memories o

e bed of Lithodendron, Frank said, "I do

should not be hurt. I think if her collar had not been taken off at Laguna she would have been killed in a scramble to po

taken quite a liking to C

ould not permit him to be deprived of his pony. Perhaps you saw him, whe

I saw it,"

nry back upon Chiquita, 'He

to remove the yeso, and then dressed themselves in civilized garments, Hen

ved from the four boys would have turned her head; and the boys themselves had no rea

wing morning all the New Mexicans not on duty rode into camp to congratulate the boy

t last withdrew, to repeat the story to her relatives, the corporals and I wrote a letter to Se?ora Perea, to be delivered by her son. In my portion I related the circumstances attending his recovery, detailing the part taken by the boy corporals, the dog, and the troop. I

d Henry closed the letter.

mind telling you that after shivering through two nights without clothes and without enough blankets, bei

e sure, I was a prisoner with him for two days and had something to do about bringing him back, but it all happened without planning. It seems as if God directed

k if you would give Sapoya a chance at school, and if you cannot make a white boy of him make him an educated

he States as instructor in tactics, and will probably go in November. We are intending to ask papa to let us join that school after the Christm

like the comradeship of soldiers who have stood shoulder to shoulder in battle. There i

el will arrive home safe, and tha

in your

y Bur

re Captain Bayard directed the boys to await the detachment of New Mexican cavalry

cavalry camp two half-dressed boys came bounding out to the road-side to once more

the edge of craters of extinct volcanoes, penetrated the mysterious caverns of the cliff-dwellers, fished for trout in a mountain lake, caught axolotl in a tank at the foot of San Francisco Mountain, shot turkeys, grouse, and antelope, and enjoyed the march as only healthy youngsters can. Brenda became a pupil o

s' stay in Prescott removed to a section of land which they took up in Skull Valley, ten miles to the west by the mountain-trail, and twenty-five miles by the only practicable wagon-road. Th

read advancing her young friends from the grade of corporal to that of sergeant, "for soldierly attention to duty on the march, gallant conduct in the aff

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