ainst the peace and dignity of the people
of the U.S. in general, and Arizona in particular, received with native
dignity at the entrance to his canvas lodge callers and even
congratulations--for great was the desire to see him--and, unbailed,
unhampered, untrammelled by fetter, guard or shackle, calmly awaited
his examination before the Great Chief with the coming of the morrow.
Soldiers like Crook and the staff of his training knew 'Tonio and his
lineage, and unlike Willett, valued his word.

And early on that morrow Willett reappeared, delivered certain
despatches at the office long before office hours, betook himself to
his quarters for bath, shave and breakfast, and behind closed doors and
shrouded windows, awaited the summons if needed to appear before the
department commander. His narrative long since had been reduced to
writing. Between him and black-bearded Wickham there had been one
significant interview, never till long afterwards given even to
intimates on the general's staff. As for 'Tonio, to no one less would
he plead his cause than the department commander himself, the Great
White Chief.

Never in the chronicles of that sun-blistered land, home of the
scorpion and rattlesnake, the Apache and tarantula, had that sun shone
on scene so dramatic as that the Exiles long referred to as "'Tonio's
Trial," and never, perhaps, was trial held with less of the panoply and
observance of the law and more assurance of entire justice.

It was a great chief trying a great chief. The powerful commander of
the department sitting in judgment on the once powerful head of a
warlike band, long since scattered, absorbed, merged in neighboring
tribes, worn down in ceaseless battling against surrounding forces and
implacable Fate. Crook knew the Indian as it was given few men to know
him, and in his own simple, straightforward way generally dealt with
the Indian direct. But here was a case, as he well understood, where he
who had once moved the monarch of these silent, encircling mountains,
stood accused of treachery to the hand that had fed, sheltered and
uplifted him, to the Great Father whose service he had sought, to the
white chiefs, old and young, whom he had sworn to obey. If guilty he
deserved the extent of the law, if innocent, the fullest vindication of
the highest power he and his people knew and recognized. To no mere
captain or even post commander would 'Tonio plead. To no agency
official would he trust himself or