Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/223

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210 FOOT RACK ON THB,PBAII?IE, dian "Deerfoot,"- who made such a furor all over Europe with his wonderful endurance. But half way toward the goal the contest, plainly shows that only fifty are in the race^ and upon reaching the turning point fifteen are about the number who are reaUy in the contest, and most of the others stop and look on; and now there is a battle royal, for these young bloods each know his capacity and has faith that he can win, so a fearful pace is kept up toward the hom- ing; gradually a few draw away, and eighty rods (one- fourth mile) from the finish four only are neck and neck. They fairly fly, on, qn; neither of the boys seem to be able to forge ahead, but the pride of a young Indian from the distant great city of the Twen- ty-four seems to fairly give him wings. The thought flashes through his brain how he can take for his "fetich or medicine" the flying animal; if he can only win the race and then have the opportunity to mount the big elk without horns! These grand Indian- desires in mind, and his ambition to have the right to use such a medicine all his Hfe, impelled him forward the necessary distance to make him the victor, amid the tumultuous applause of the. Europeans in their customary manner and the Indians by stomping their feet and jumping up and down while chanting some words in unison with their feet. But Ysopete is more elated than any present, for this eighteen-year-old boy is from his home city; he kaows his father and mother; so contrary to the cus- tom of the Indian, for like the Greeks of old, they cultivate an austerity of expression and actions, for to the Indian it is efEeminate to give way to emotion.