to race Ute ponies--mebbe so Ute win ponies--white man walk
back, Antelope heap smart. Plan big race, big dance and big games among
the braves. Susan she put Antelope up to it, beat all Indians and white
men, win Susan for his wife, carry her off to his tepee where she sing
songs in twilight. But Antelope tell Chiquita he no race--just make
believe. Antelope wait for Chiquita, but"--and she stopped abruptly with
the frightened look of a startled deer as she gazed again into Jack's
face.

"When race?" he asked.

"Three moons."

"About August," said Jack to himself. Then aloud, as a bright thought
came to him, "Does Chiquita sabe name of white man's ponies?"

"Me sabe one," she replied.

"Jack sabe one heap fast pony in Middle Park. 'Brown Dick,'--run like
the forked lightning out of the clouds."

Chiquita looked surprised and interrogatively answered, "Mebbe so 'Brown
Dick' beat 'em Ute ponies, white man ride back?"

At which Jack laughed heartily. Chiquita continued: "That is the pony
Antelope think no run much, heap fast, but Ute beat him. Antelope bet
money, beads, buckskin, two ponies and other Utes bet heap lot."

"Has Yamanatz bet anything yet?" asked Jack.

"Yamanatz don't know--wait Jack come--Jack tell Yamanatz what to do."

Jack knew the horse well and all the people interested in the races and
decided to stay and see the sport. Even had Yamanatz desired to go to
the big mine, they would go later. On reference to his calendar he found
a total eclipse of the sun would take place in August and he desired to
see the Indians under this phenomenon as well as in their sports, and
witness the struggles for the hand of Susan.

Upon arrival at the Indian village Yamanatz greeted Jack in the
customary fashion. It was not long before they arranged to wait for the
August festivities, then start for the desert mine from the Agency, to
which point the Rock Creek village moved a short time after Jack's
arrival.

During the three months Jack spent his time prospecting, hunting, and
studying Indian character. Chiquita made rapid strides in her studies
under his tutorship and by the time set for the races she could converse
very well in English and read ordinary words. Jack watched the ponies
and the athletic braves as preparation was made for the great event.

For days the frontiersmen along the reservation border had been wending
their way to the Agency. Gamblers and confidence men from the nearest
mining camp