The captain asked her question of the Indians, and one of them replied
that the chief had refused large offers heretofore, and would
doubtless continue to do so.
"Cannot you scare him by a threat?" asked Henry.
"I will try it, corporal," answered the captain. Then, turning to the
Navajos, he continued: "Tell the chief, Elarnagan, that it is not the
part of a brave warrior to cause grief and sorrow to women and
children; tell him that the great chief at Santa Fe is fast bringing
this war to a close, and that two-thirds of his people are already on
the reservation at Bosque Rodondo; tell him that when he
surrenders--which will not be long from now--if the boy Manuel is not
brought in safe he will be severely punished."
"Thank you," said Henry.
The Indians left in a northerly direction.
At guard-mounting Captain Bayard announced that, owing to the recent
fatiguing marches and the lack of good water, we would go no farther
than Navajo Springs the following day, and that we would not break
camp before eight o'clock.
This announcement was received with pleasure; for since leaving Agua
Fria little water had been drunk, it being either muddy, stagnant, or
alkaline.
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