84 



For a year he drilled his Indian starters and judges, and 

 then Smith arrived. They raced for an immense pile of furs 

 against a lot of guns, provisions and ammunition. At the 

 finish the Indian judges came forward and said Smith's 

 horse had won by about a head. Smith was ready to collect 

 the stakes when the Indians at the start came forward and 

 declared that Smith got off by about five feet the best. In 

 those days they measured up the start and finish, and the 

 best horse won. 



"You red-skinned devil," said Smith, "you know you 

 have been training those scoundrels to do that for a year 

 past.'' 



But the bet stood all right and Coffee collected the stakes. 

 It was the last time Smith ever brought a horse to that 

 country. 



