Show AM INDIAN HORSE RACE how ld big prin for hi trib iry an elderly indian of great dignity of presence steps into the ring and with a graceful iro throws his long read blanket to the ground and drops on his knees before it to receive the wages of such as desire to make them men walk up and throw in silver dollars and every sort of personal property imaginable aj winchester rifle and a large nickle plated colts re volver are laid on the grass by a cowboy and an indian and then each goes away it was a wager and I 1 though th y might well have confidence in their stakeholder mother earth two ponies tied bead and head were led aside and left horse against horse no excitement cit ement seemed to prevail near me a little half mexican Co mauche boy began to disrobe until he stood clad only in shirt and breechcloth breech cloth his father add some whispered admonition and then lead up a roan pony prancing with impatience and evidently fully conscious of the work cut out for him that day with a bound the little fellow landed on the neck of the poney only halfway up but his toes caught on the upper muscles of the donys leg and like monkey he clambered up and was in his seat the pony was as bare as a wild horse except for a bridle and loped away with his graceful little rider sitting like a rock no not like a rock but limp and unconcerned and as full of the motion of the horse as the horses tail or any other part of him A kiowa with loose hair and great coarse face broke away from the group and galloped up the prairie until he stopped at what was to be the starting point at the usual distance of two arrow flights and a he was followed by half a dozen ponies at an easy lope bearing their half naked jockeys the indian spectators sat about on their ponies as unmoved in countenance as oysters being natural gamblers and stoical as such should be while the cowboys whispered amlung themselves the bay stal lion there said one man to me as he pointed to a racer and hes never been beaten its his walkover and ive got my gun up on him with an injun it was to be a flying start and they jockeyed a good deal and could not seem to get off but presently a puff of smoke came from the rifle held aloft by the kiowa starter and his horse reared the report reached us and with a scurry the live ponies came away from the scratch followed by a cloud of dust the buirts quirts flew through the air at every jump the ponies bunched and pattered away at a nameless rate for the quarter race pony is quick of stride nearer and nearer they came the riders lying low on their horses necks whipping and ki yia yi ing the dust in their wake swept backward and upward and with a rush they came over the scratch with the roan pony ahead and roy little mexican fellow holding his quirt aloft and bia little eyes snapping with the nervous excitement cit ement of the great event he had beaten the invincible bay stallion the pride of this comanche tribe and as he road back to his father hie face had the settled calm which nothing could penetrate and which befitted his dignity as young runner |