Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/263

248 EQUALS JT3LES VEKNB. THoee -whotiAVB read Jules Verne's "Forty Thou- sand Leagues Under the Sea" will aUow that the race as described is not near so marvellous as Nero having to dig through the Nol'th Pole so as to get his vessel through. We shaill not take up your time vrith a separate recital of each canoe race, sufB.ce it to say that there were two, four, eight and as high as sixteen paddles to a canoe All these barks were made from buffalo skins. At the close of the day's exercises the Spaniards are resting in the cool of the eveniiig, which in Kansas lasts for nearly two hours after the sun goes down; no doubt this is owing to the absence of mountains. And you can rest assured they had numerous visitors, one of which was introduced to Alonso, Goronado and Monte by Ysopete. It was Long Arrow, the Osage, who won the prize. He had asked Ysopete if he would not present him to the Big Chief, so here he is stand- ing erect in the presence of the officers. Ysopete is making them understand the wishes of Long Arrow; i. e., to be permitted to shoot the lightning bow. Af- ter speaking with the commander and procuring his persmision, Alonso tells Monte to bring his harque- bus, vfhich is carefuUy primed in case of accident, and the party, and of course many spectators, go a short distance from camp, and a target of bones is soon thrown up with the skuU of a buffalo on the apex for thie thing to be aimed at. The Indian of the "Strong Men" (Osages) is given directions how to handle the weapon, being admonished not to puU the trif^ger until he sights along the barrel, and standing