Free Navajo Long Walk by Nancy M. Armstrong Page A

too short to reach over the brush to get hold of Jeff. “Wait, I get rope.”
    He wormed his way back to the top of the wash. Smoke stood at the edge watching for him. Kee unwound the rope hanging from the saddle, then tied one end securely to the horn. Holding the other end, he went back to Jeff. “I will toss a rope to you. Hold it until I climb to the top again. Smoke will pull you off the yucca. Then he will stand still until you pull yourself out of the wash by holding to the rope.”
    Kee tossed the rope. It fell short of Jeff’s hands the first time but the next time it fell across his body and he found it.
    As soon as Kee was at the top again, he put Smoke in position to pull away from the wash. Cupping his handsto his mouth, he shouted, “We are ready to pull. It will hurt bad.”
    At Kee’s command, Smoke pulled slowly forward. A horrible scream rose from the wash as Jeff was jerked off the yucca. Kee shuddered, knowing how much it was hurting Jeff. “Stop,” the white boy screamed.
    Kee stopped the horse, gently patting Smoke’s face and talking softly so he would stand still. He was about to go back and try to help Jeff when he saw the white boy’s head and arms appear above the wash. He ran to help pull him over the edge. At the top, Jeff let go of the rope and collapsed face down in the dirt. His shirt was in shreds, his back a mass of bleeding scratches. Kee knelt beside him. “Rest here. I will go to the fort. Your father will bring a wagon.”
    Jeff raised his head slightly. “Wait, Kee. In a minute I can ride Smoke.”
    Kee said, “I did not know a white boy could be so brave.”
    When Jeff stood up, Kee helped him into the saddle. “I will lead Smoke. I might hurt your back if I ride behind you.”
    â€œI’ll lean forward so you don’t touch my back. I want you to ride too.”
    As they rode slowly, Kee said, “Now I take you to my grandmother. She will put her medicine on your many scratches. It will sting but it will heal them.”
    â€œI guess I can take it,” Jeff replied. “It can’t hurt worse than yucca thorns.”

Chapter Eighteen
Little Mare Enters Kee’s Life
    Kee stiffened with fear when they reached the river. He was glad the white boy could not see his face. Once on shore, he let his breath out quietly and turned Smoke downriver.
    Gentle Woman was sitting on the ground weaving at her loom when the boys reached the dugout. On seeing Jeff’s back, she shook her head sadly, telling Kee that his grandmother was down inside the dugout. Before Kee could pull back the canvas cover, Wise One’s head appeared above ground. “Grandmother, this is the son of my captain. He is hurt. Will you help him?”
    Wise One smiled and disappeared. Almost as soon as she was out of sight she reappeared up the wooden ladder carrying a clay bowl with ointment. She spread it gently on Jeff’s back. Knowing how the ointment smarted, Kee watched the white boy. Though he winced and drew his breath between his teeth, Jeff did not cry out.
    On the way back to the fort Jeff asked, “Do Navajos always live in homes like yours?”
    Kee bristled. “In Navajoland we do not live in holes in the ground like prairie dogs. There we can get logs to build hogans.”
    â€œYou don’t like it here, do you?”
    â€œNo Navajo likes it here.”
    â€œAfter living in St. Louis, I kind of like this open country.”
    â€œWe do not like this flat land that everywhere looks the same,” Kee said. “Navajoland has mountains and mesas covered with pines and juniper trees. Our hogans are not muddy holes in the ground. There our sheep grow fat. Our corn ripens. In the bottom of our red rock canyon peach trees grow. Here is nothing.”
    â€œWhen I grow up, I want to be an explorer like Colonel Kit Carson. Then I’ll come to see your country.”
    The boys had come close to