Read Online Navajo Long Walk by Nancy M. Armstrong - Free Book Online

to the river and hunt some tree bark and roots that might darken the wool. I also need a bucket of water to heat the dye.”
    The family worked together until warm blanket dresses had been made for the women and Hasba. A blanket was made for Kee to wear around his shoulders.
    Strong Man’s family was lucky to have the warm clothing. Snow and sleet blew early across the open plains that first winter at the fort. Because of the crop failure, rations had to be cut. Sickness spread among the Navajos. Unhappiness at being so far from their beloved homeland caused old ones to give up in despair. Many died.
    Early each morning, Kee lifted the corner of the canvas over the dugout and climbed out. Whether snow, rain, sleet, wind, or sunshine met him, he trudged to the fort. His one happiness was taking care of Smoke. His fondness for the horse grew each day.
    Only a small number of boys faithfully attended school now that winter had come. For Kee, the hours passed quickly. After school, he ran errands for Captain Harris. With great patience, the captain explained what he wanted done. This extra contact with white people improved Kee’s English. Captain Harris talked to Kee about his own son, Jeff. Kee soon understood that the boy lived with his mother in the place where the wagons came from with the supplies. It was many days’ journey by ox team from the fort. Kee understood it had been many moons since the captain had seen Jeff. “He will be about the same age and size as you are, Kee,” CaptainHarris said. “He writes me letters and tells me about his school and his friends. I miss him very much.”
    Kee could not understand all the words, but he understood the captain loved and missed his son. He loved and missed his father with an ache that grew stronger all the time. He would never tell any white man about his father. He still had hopes that Strong Man had escaped capture and was hiding somewhere in one of the many canyons in Navajoland, although Gentle Woman said it was more likely that he had been killed.
    One morning at the stables, Kee’s soldier friend who had saved Wise One and given him the canvas, pointed to Kee’s shoulder blanket. “Would your mother weave me a blanket like that?”
    Kee shook his head. “No wool.”
    The soldier took Kee to his quarters and showed him skeins of red and blue yarn he had ordered from St. Louis. “Can your mother weave this into a blanket?”
    Kee nodded. He knew Gentle Woman would love the bright colors and be happy to do something for the soldier who had befriended them.
    â€œGood,” said the soldier. “When it is done, I’ll send the blanket to my mother.”
    Gentle Woman’s loom was seldom idle after that. Several soldiers sent for yarn. She wove blankets to send to their wives and mothers. Building a small fire in the pole shelter she wove even on the coldest days. A little meat or bread from the soldier’s rations often found it’s way to Gentle Woman’s dugout. When bits of yarn were left over she was allowed to keep them. She hoarded them carefully, hoping some day to have enough to make a bright blanket for their own use.

Chapter Sixteen
Cold, Hunger, and
Comanche Raiders
    When at last spring arrived, the leaves began to bud, and once again birds sang in the cotton-wood trees. A new feeling of hope spread among the Navajos. Hoping to grow more food this year, they worked hard at cleaning the irrigation ditches and planting crops.
    But Fort Sumner had been built on lands belonging to the Comanche Indians. The Comanche now resented this and began raiding the north and south ends of the reservation.
    â€œWhy should they attack us?” Gentle Woman asked. “It is not our fault that we are here.”
    â€œHow would we feel if the army moved the Comanche into Navajoland?” Wise One answered.
    â€œWe’d kill them,” Kee said, bringing the point of his finger around his