240' ■ rMDIAN BOWMEN. erous contestants, a set of judges having been ap- pointed for each animal, and only one shaft is allowed each man at a distance of about sixty paces, and the ten best bowmen are selected from the ten targets, and these are the ones who really are to make the test. A new target is put at seventy paces, and each of the men whose arrow lodges in any part of the ani- mal's body is permitted to continue to shoot, so when the last of the ten have had their opportunity it is found that six are still in the contest, so the beast is moved to seventy-five paces and only four succeed. Now it is eighty paces, and a new rule prevails, that the shaft which strikes nearest a designated spot back of the shoulder (the most vital part of the ani- mal) is to be considered best. And now it is that the powerful Osage Indian, Long Atrow, displays his su- perior strength and proficiency, for his bolt strikes SG near the spot th%t no others can beat it, but al- though Long Arrow is the victor he requests the tar- get to be carried to 100 paces, and then with a mighty strong arm and sure aim one of his long arrows fly from his powerful bow, which comes very near not the "Bull's Eye" but the buU's thigh, thus entitling him to the hatchet and chain with the silver dollar hanging therefrom. Now we are to witness a fast race over a hundred yard track; there are twenty-two starters, and in- stead of a standing start they resort to the customary holding on to sticks, so that there can be no jock- eying. The runners recede, from the mark in order to get a good and fair start. Being read3', a twig,
