ent after bigger gamesuch as bears and mountain lions. The only weapons he used were spears andarrows and he was never injured in a fight with any of them.When he was 17 he was admitted into the council of warriors. He could comeand go as he pleased and was able to sit in at talks, he could get married. Shortlyafter he asked Alope’s father for her name in marriage. They had been lovers fora long time before this. To insult him, her father told Geronimo she was worthmany ponies than he knew Geronimo had. In a few days Geronimo was seenriding up in a cloud of dust driving a herd of ponies. He gave the ponies toAlope’s father and proudly rode off with her. They made a home together not farfrom his mother’s teepee. Alope was not very strong, but she gave Geronimothree children. In the summer of 1858, when he was near the age of 30 he accompanied his tribeto Mexico to trade. They made camp a short distance from a town. When mostof the men rode into town to barter with the citizens, they left only a small guardover their possessions, wives, and children. On their way back they encounteredfugitive women from their tribe who told them Mexicans raided the camp. Theystole their ponies and valuables and killed most of the women and children. Thebraves separated and approached the camp from different directions. Theinformation was true. Geronimo found his wife, three children and mother slain. Geronimo recalls “...there were no lights in camp, so without being noticed Isilently turned away and stood by the river. How long I stood there I do not knowbut when I saw the warriors arranging for council I took my place.” This incidentmarked a turning point in his life-Geronimo learned to hate that day and he neverforgot the lesson the Mexicans taught him.Within a few months three tribes agreed to join them on the warpath. Theytraveled silently and swiftly on foot. Horses would leave too plain a trail and onfoot they could do...
