The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-18
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ARR0WHEAD'S VICTORY.
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Il
as 8n article O. attire.
| SO Arrowhead owned the Cat, a fleet
| nutle indian pony, and his enemy
| owned another. Everywhere Man
| with-a-tail" had boasted that he would
| win his race on the Fourth, especially
sneering at the pretensions OF Arrow
| head, who had entered the Cat. In
| such Indian races men and boys run
| together.
| And now, I'm the morning auiet
| Charlie and Arrowhead had gone out
10 give the Cat a las. s.rial, and Arrow
head had been hurt and what was 20
| be done?
Charlie appeared az lunch and aston
ished the Colonel by not knowing who
had won any OF the events of the morn
ing.
II couldn't attend" said Charlie.
with admirable gravity. II was en-
gagged on important business"
Now Charlie" said his mamma,
you've been In some mischief. What
have you been doing? The idea OF you
not seeing even the base ball game. and
you were so excited about it."
II WAS sorry 10 miss that" said the
boy, with a sigh, but YOU know. Col
onel, IL is often necessary to sacrifice
ones own desires TO a sense OF duty.
viii you excuse me? I have the most
urgent things 10 attend TO-"
III
They were at the course; everybody
except the unlucky men on guard was
at the course, and everybody WAS yell
ing and cheer ng and Laughing. The
Colonel was al about like "A little boy,
ON his big sorrel charger directing
things with enthusiasm. Mrs. Allen
was there I'm her carriage, and got so
excited that she never noticed oeat
Charlie was not near her on has pony.
"Man-wi la -tail," seated sto ,dly ON
his racing pony, was also marveling in
wardly at the absence OF Arrowhead.
and innumerable friends we've asking
each other, Where on earth's the Col
onel S ntu?" Charne was popular
boy. even if he were mischievous. and
Mrs. Allen got nervous, as one officer
after another cantered up 10 pay his
respects always ending his speech with
a by the way, where is Charlie?
We've missed him all day"
Where is ne, Colonel" she demand
ed Of the G. .. DO send out 10 look
for him"
Not at all" the old man answered.
Hell turn up all right"
He may be drowned" said the
mother. ''and you can not expect Ar
rowhead 20 be there TO save him every
time. Which reminds me tnat Arrow
head will know where Charlie Is. Ar
rowhead!" cried the lady
Its all right. my dear" said the 4.
o. Il gave him permission. That
young scoundrel on the reserve, Man
with-a-tail. has been taCntirS him be-
cause he belongs 70 the mission. | be-
1ieve Ittle Arrowhead can beat him
riding or shooting
Now, the course arranged for he
Fourth OF July fun was only used that
one day in the year. II was mile
IN length, with turn at the half,
where the river ran, and at that turn
there was a lump of cottonwood. As
the whoie race could be viewed from
the starting line or the winning post,
everyone gatheysed about these points,
and the turn was deserted.
II was the last event Of the day be-
fore parade. az the sun was gently
descending toward the distant noun
tans.
The reds. eight In number each ON
mis- fieetesat pony. gathered at the post,
where the young officer stood with z
pistol, at whose crack the riders were
to be off. They were all young men.
Man with "A tail the youngest. about 10
years old. They all rode bareback,
without stirrups. and only a watering
bride to guide their restless little
horses.
Their costumes We're to say the least,
scanty. Their long black hair i'm many
cases fioated loose in the wind. They
each wore a shirt but their long. brown,
wiry legs gripped the ponies sides
unadorned by any riding breechesT They
were TO all intent. parts and members
each Of the pony beneath him.
They answered 10 their names and |
were duly entered for the race, when q |
shout arose from the crowd.
Hold on. Where's Charles chum? |
Where's Arrowhead? Where's the Cat? |
Where's Arrowhead? Where's the |
Cat?"
HE will not race with his fathers |
people" grunted an old Indian. He is |
n mission boy. He does not wear the |
blanket. He is too proud
I'VE can not wait" cried the starter, |
when suddenly from over a bluff came |
gently loping the Cat and on its back.
Arrowhead. His neat clothes were cast |
aside In all respects ne was like the |
other riders save that his shirt-all |
clean, but until he reached |
the post he wore blanket. His legs !
were brown, his face was brown, but |
his ifaiF-asas remarkably-shert for an
Indian. He rode up, was entered, |
hustled into place in a second, before
anyone had time TO examine closely |
him or his pony.
an-with-a-tail looked disappointed 1
and sullen, for the prize was a big |
money one, and he quickly put his hand |
10 his breast where his shirt had pock-
IT'S and patted them as IL TO make sure
he had not lost anything.
Crack went the pistol. and they
were off. and the crowd yelled and
,heered. The ruck OF them went away |
as IL they had only 200 yards TO g.. but |
Man-with-a-tail ana Arrowhead held
back more wisely. IL was n wild scene. |
rhe Indians did not ride like jockeys. |
They sat almost straight up. their shirt |
ails and long hair streaming behind. |
heir faces aiiame with the ferocity of
savage rivalry and their black eyes
cleaning like those of beasts IN rage.
rhe little ponies, lasned by singing !
Whips. sped along like jack-rabbits.
rhe crowd yelled; the ladies rose up i'm
heir carriages half afraid.
Down the course they tore, and be-
ore a quarter Of the distance was done
he more furious Of the leaders had lost
heir place. and slowly and surely.
was pulling up. and
arrowhead was close behind Then |
rose sundry cries from the spectators
Look at Arrowhead! See l~w he's
fnDufppr Ia xt.If |