AN INDIAN HORSE RA CE. 1 59 



wad was, in this instance, the white horse. Lipbrown, in an improvised 



man's point of attack. It was the jockey suit, nervous and excited, 



real stake, the ostensible one being stood at Ossian's head, conversing in 



three ponies against a steer. low tones with Beckett. The crowd 



For a time Howling Bull would at the starting place— mostly white 

 not bet money. He declared he had soldiers — was beginning to chaff the 

 none so persistently that it required two managers, when the Indian 

 all of his brother-in-law's persuasive dashed up, placing his horse beside 

 powers to induce him to finally pro- the other. The rider was entirely 

 duce the roll. When it came it was naked, except as to a breech clout 

 found to be much larger than the and a few beaded and porcupine- 

 others imagined it would be, and quilled ornaments about his head 

 they had to scratch around pretty and neek. His face, painted in the 

 lively to cover it. If the race went highest style of Indian art, glistened 

 against them neither would touch a in the strong sunlight as if it was 

 cent of pay for over a year. The or- varnished, giving him an uncanny 

 ders for it were in the trader's safe. look. 



Lipbrown, who handled the Troop His horse was about as much 

 horse, had been a hanger-on about dressed as the rider was undressed. 

 English racing stables previous to Strips of beaded and colored buck- 

 embracing a military career, and had, skin were braided in with his tail 

 he said, ridden in the great races, and mane ; his face was painted 

 True to his training he enveloped his bright yellow, with a border of white; 

 preparations for the race with New- his hoofs and legs, half way up 

 market secrecy and mystery. Howl- to his knees, were blaek, while over 

 ing Bull was as open as the other was his sides and quarters marks as <>i 

 close. Tegante remained with the blood-red hands were scattered. A 

 herd and, as far as one could see, was blanket, fastened on by a surcingle, 

 not handled at all. and an elaborately fringed and oth- 



The course was from a point near erwise ornamented headstall com- 



the stockade across the plain to and pleted his toilet. Taken altogether, 



around a low hill, and back to the the pair did not look like man and 



starting point — about two miles. As horse, but like the creatures of a 



the hour for the race drew near, the nightmare. 



plain about the course was well cov- Howling Bull beckoned to a boy 

 ered with Indian men, women, and of about 12 standing near, and when 

 children, mounted and afoot. It was he approached threw him on Tegan- 

 ration day at the Agency and that, te. This brought an excited protest 

 with the presence of the Commission, from the other side. Calm and im- 

 had drawn an unusually large num- passive the red man listened to it. and 

 ber together, 6,000 to 8,000, practic- when the judges ruled against him la- 

 ally all of them in gala dress. They took the boy down and mounted 

 made a brave show, moving about in himself. 



their paint and beads ; dashing here At the word they wen- oil. I Issian 

 and there ; running short races; call- at first leading by a couple of lengths 

 ing to each other, and trying to cross or more. At the first quarter 

 the course kept clear by the Agency te's fantastic nose was opposite lap- 

 police. A New Yorker, a guest of brown's knee, at the half mile it was 

 the captain's, and Hungry Snake, an still there, and Beckett's heart beat 

 old chief, were the starters and as he saw how easily he kept hi- po- 

 judges. The First Sergeant was sition. As they passed oul of sight 

 posted on the hill, to see that every- at the turn of the hill the Ian 

 thing went straight while the horses sickened, for he could see that 1. 

 were out of sight of the judges. gante's rider was not letting hin 

 I All was ready, except that Howl- As they came into view again I p 

 ing Bull had not appeared with his brown's face was white, for, tr 



