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sad.”
    â€œI was not with the Mexicans long. As soon as payments were made the Utes took off on fresh horses. That night the Mexicans put us all under a large piece of canvas with guards resting outside on the edges.
    â€œThe territory we were in was familiar to me. As you know my mother was part Hopi. When I was a child we lived and herded our sheep not far from the Hopi village of Oraibi. My mother even taught me a little of their language. I thought if I could only escape, perhaps the Hopis would help me get back to you. Waiting until I was sure everyone was asleep, even the guards, I worked my way carefully out from under the canvas.”
    Hasba hugged her mother tightly. “How scared you must have been.”
    â€œI was so afraid I think I stopped breathing. I crawled on my stomach at first, then when I thought they couldno longer hear me, I ran. I felt the safest thing to do was climb higher on the mesa and find a place to hide. I found a thick stand of juniper trees. Among the trees grew sagebrush and yucca. I tunneled under a clump of brush, pulling it around me so I could not be seen. I hardly noticed how badly I was getting scratched I was so frightened and so anxious to be hidden.”
    â€œDid the Mexicans come looking for you?” Kee asked.
    â€œI am not sure but I think so. I strained to hear and thought I heard horses’ hoofs and men’s voices in the distance. Later, I could tell by the warmth under the brush that sun-bearer was high in the sky. I knew the Mexicans would have left for their own safety and I fell into a heavy sleep. It was dark when I woke up. I was hungry and thirsty. I broke off some pieces of yucca blossom stems to chew. Afterward I felt better and started to walk. I wanted to reach Oraibi because that had been my mother’s village.
    â€œGray streaks of light told me sun-bearer was on his way back when I realized I was on the mesa where the village stood. Then I was afraid the Hopis would not be friendly. I sat down against a large rock and tried to remember the Hopi words my mother taught me.
    â€œBefore long a girl came out of the village carrying a forked stick. She was on her way to work in a cornfield below the mesa. I called a greeting to her. She took me to her father who was chief of the village. I made him understand that I was now his prisoner. ‘Many times,’ he said, ‘Navajos have taken Hopi women and children for slaves. Now that you are here you will stay and work for us. If you do not try to run away we will be good to you. If you try to run away we will kill you’.”
    Wise One sat up. “For many moons I have been saying this stealing of animals and people from other tribes andfrom white people must come to an end. There can be no happiness until people learn to live in peace with one another.”
    â€œLittle Mother, while I was with the Hopis I thought often of the many times you have said that. Now I think the same.”
    Wise One yawned. Gentle Woman said, “I am tired, too. Let us sleep. Tomorrow I will tell you the rest of my story.”
    Kee lay under his sheepskin, thinking. “How weak women are. They are willing to make peace even with the soldiers! There is no peace in my heart. Father did not give in. He must be out there somewhere enduring the hardships, defying the soldiers. I am only a boy. But someday I will be big enough and strong enough to join him. Together we will prove that we can still raid the tribes that had raided us. We will steal whole herds of horses and sheep from them. In my heart I will never give in.”
    On following days, Gentle Woman told her family about life among the Hopi Indians. Though she was a gifted weaver she did not weave while she lived with them. Among the Hopi, the men were the weavers. Mostly she worked in the fields. She was treated as one of the tribe and could have been happy if only her family had been there.
    Gentle Woman said, “News came to