Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/297

280 FmST KETTLE IN NEBRASKA In 1854, the Kansas and Nebraska Bill was in ev- eryone's mquth, as the saying goes, and was the fore- runner of the Pro- and Anti-Slavery party, Know- nothinjg-ism, etc., all ending in war. Kansas was carved out of Nebraska in this bUl. Now on this fine July morning the Pawnees and visiting Indians are astir early, getting ready for the day's celebration. ^The Spaniards are taking it easy, as they are to be entertained. It has heen discovered that the horses gave most satisfaction to the natives, and on that account it has been arranged for twenty- five to be ridden by Indians in a race, and the geineral offering as a reward an iron kettle which he concludes to discard in order to lighten the baggage, since he is beginning to make calculations for a flying try) home- ward; and anotheir thing, he discovers that presents are getting scarce, and h« has yet two of the prin- cipal cities to visit, and he knows for practical use this stew pan will be quite an acquisition. Jt has beeii suggested to the chief to have the horse race first, inthes cool of the morning. The chief had re- quested Goronado to arrange how the racing siiall be conducted. It is young chief Tatarrax who has com- mand of his father's fifty warriors, and as you know, he and Ysopete are great chums, so Ysopete on the road has secured permission of Alonso to let the young Indian ride the pack mule in order that he may acquire the art; and many times Alonso has in- vited the young fellow to take a ride on B^ieca. So he is the best, in fact the only rider, among the natives. Acting upon a suggestion run across in an old