chapter 111 



RIDING THE BULL 



Hard by the platform in a corral to my left was a fine 

 young bull which was to be my present for the best turned 

 out Moran, and all were by this time interested to know 

 the result of the competition. It was no easy task for me 

 even with the assistance of the chiefs to pick out the best 

 looking warrior. A double circle had been formed and we 

 first reviewed the front rank. Those that were in the run- 

 ning were motioned forward and gradually by a process 

 of elimination we reduced the competitors to ten. Now 

 the real diflSculty of the task presented itself and it was 

 here that the chiefs came to my assistance. After long 

 and serious deliberation finally the winning warrior was 

 selected. 



This Herculean Adonis, now quite unabashed, set him- 

 self the task of choosing the most beautiful damsel. With 

 great expedition and little or no hesitation he selected 

 ten of the thousand competitors for the beauty contest. 

 It was of interest to notice their facial beauty was not by 

 any manner of means regarded as being the most im- 

 portant factor. As far as I could judge this Moran was 

 considering the tout ensemble. 



At this stage some of the old chiefs could not refrain 



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