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The rancheros fed the horses on corn which they had brought in small sacks. Texas Smith kept watch, suffered no Apache to touch him, had his pistols always cocked, and stood ready to sell life at the highest price. Coronado walked deliberately to a retired spot with Manga Colorada, Delgadito, and two other chiefs, and made known his propositions.
Barring a short struggle by half a dozen braves to recover the young chief's body, the contest was over; and in two minutes more the Apaches were half a mile distant, looking on in sulky silence while the train crawled toward the protecting bluff. "Hurrah!" shouted Thurstane. "That was quick work. Delgadito doesn't take his punishment well."
At this moment, while the train was still a little over two miles from the foot of the bluff, and the Apache camp more than three miles to the rear, Texas Smith shouted, "The cusses hev got the news." It was true; the foremost riders, or perhaps only the messengers, of Manga Colorada had readied Delgadito; and a hundred warriors were swarming after the train to avenge their fallen comrades.
Shortly after the safe arrival of the train at the base of the Moqui bluff, and while the repulsed and retreating warriors of Delgadito were still in sight two strange Indians cantered up to the park of wagons.
"There are over a hundred warriors," said Thurstane. "Apaches," added one of the Mexican herdsmen. "What band?" "Manga Colorada or Delgadito." "I supposed they were in Bernalillo." "That was three weeks ago," put in Coronado. He was in profound thought.
"Where is Delgadito?" "Delgadito went the other side of the mountain. They were both going to fight the Moquis." "So we shall find Delgadito in the Moqui valley?" "I think so, Señor." After a moment of reflection Coronado added, "You will stay with us and take care of mules. I will do well by you." "Thanks, Señor. Many thanks." Coronado rejoined Thurstane and told his news.
Thurstane, keeping his horse beside Clara's, watched the lean figure and restless, irritable face of Delgadito, not ten yards distant. Mrs. Stanley had halted helplessly so near an Apache boy that he might have thrust her through with his lance had he not been solely intent upon water. It was fortunate for the emigrants that they had reached the stream a few seconds the sooner.
Just beyond the nose of the sandstone promontory there was a bivouac of half naked, dark-skinned horsemen, recognizable at a glance as Apaches. It was undoubtedly the band of Delgadito. The camp was half a mile distant. The Indians, evidently surprised at the appearance of the train, were immediately in commotion.
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