Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/221

208 i SPiaCTACLB SSUPBltNATrttAlJ. ediouts, laughter, in.fact, tlio natives apylaudod to the enterl^iBecer'i^heaFts ' Gor/Seiit. There are onlj*' twenty-four to talro part in the tanrnament in the afternoon, so that leaves six horses and six men who have no part, so it has been ar- ranged to have a horse race. The six men stripped of tiieir soldier gear now come riding out toward the race course^ and although the spectacle just wit- 'nessed was a wonder, yet owing to the people having only recently seen horses, they were carried away when they saw them, not that these six animals were 'anything extra, for notwithstanding they were above the average breed, yet the finest horses in the world wiU make a sorry aiapearance to be compelled to work on grass alone. Of course, ahorse will fatten up if running loose on the plains; but if taken right o& the range and compelled to make a hard ride or drive, it would soon play out. But to the Indians these six flying animals were marvelous. Our Spaniards real- jlzed that it would not do ^o make the distance too long on account of the condition of the animals, so the race was soon over. But now the fun is to begin, for it has been pre- arranged with Ysopete that after the race he is to go to Chief Tatar rax and request him to select young men of his people to ride the horses in a race, the same as did the soldiers . Then the big chief harangued the people, vociferously announcing the kindness of the visitors and extolling them for their sldll, but ends Ilia speech by informing them of the offer, and requests all those who, desire to undertake the ordeal to present themselves before him; but just as soon as