dge and twist around the mountains so they could not befollowed. When they reached the town of Arispe eight men were sent out toparley with them. The Indians killed and then scalped them in plain sight of thevillagers, in order to draw the Mexicans out into an open fight and was successful.The next morning two groups of Calvary and infantry were sent out. Geronimorecognized some of them who took part in the killing of his family, and his hateblazed even more. The battle between the red and white was very fierce and the Mexicans wereshocked at seeing the Indians stand so firmly against them. As the Mexicans triedto push them off the field the Indians would disappear and then reappear inclusters everywhere. Geronimo arranged his men in a hollow circle near the riverwhere they were sheltered by timber. When the Mexicans tried to dislodge themhe threw his men to attack from the rear confusing the Mexicans. However, theMexicans withstood the attack and the fight lasted for two hours. After only eightmen were left, four Mexicans and four Indians, the Indians arrows were all goneand their spears were broken in the bodies of enemies. Left with their bare handsand small knives to fight with, they turned to face the Mexicans who fired andtwo warriors fell. Geronimo and the other Indian turned to flee but his companionwas struck down. Geronimo was left to fight the four Mexican soldiers. He pulleda spear out of a body and killed the closest to him. He stole his saber and killedthe next one. By now he was covered in blood ready to kill the other two but theyhad disappeared. Other Indians saw what took place and rejoiced because themassacre was now avenged. Geronimo was elected war chief of their tribe.Across thousands of square miles of the Great American Desert, Geronimo, along with Chief Juhand a handful of Apache men, women and children, would lead thousands of soldiers of twonations on bloody chase. Consistently outgunned and perenially outmann...
