f the whole State--at least its
men--was assembled within the big stockade. There were a few women--just
enough to add decorum to the crowd. They were for the most part the
wives or sisters or sweethearts of those who were to contest for prizes,
but as Mose rode around the course he passed "the princess" sitting in
her shining barouche and waving a handkerchief. He pretended not to see
her, though it gave him pleasure to think that the most
brilliantly-dressed woman on the grounds took such interest in him.
Another man would have ridden up to her carriage, but Mose kept on
steadily to the judge's stand, where he found a group of cowboys
discussing the programme with Haney, the marshal of the day.

Mose already knew his dangerous rival--a powerful and handsome fellow
called Denver Dan, whose face was not unlike his own. His nose was
straight and strong, his chin finely modeled, and his head graceful, but
he was heavier, and a persistent flush on his nose and in his eyelids
betrayed the effects of liquor. His hands were small and graceful and he
wore his hat with a certain attractive insolence, but his mouth was
cruel and his eyes menacing. When in liquor he was known to be
ferocious. He was mounted on a superbly pointed grade broncho, and all
his hangings were of costly Mexican workmanship and betrayed use.

"The first thing is a 'packing contest,'" read Haney.

"Oh, to h----l with that, I'm no packer," growled Dan.

"I try that," said Mose; "I let nothing get away to-day."

"Entrance fee one dollar."

"Here you are." Mose tossed a dollar.

"Then 'roping and holding contest.'"

"Now you're talking my business," exclaimed Dan.

"There are others," said Mose.

Dan turned a contemptuous look on the speaker--but changed his
expression as he met Mose's eyes.

"Howdy, Mose?"

"So's to sit a horse," Mose replied in a tone which cut. He was not used
to being patronized by men of Dan's set.

The crowd perceived the growing rivalry between the two men and winked
joyously at each other.

At last all was arranged. The spectators were assembled on the rude
seats. The wind, sweet, clear, and cool, came over the smooth grassy
slopes to the west, while to the east, gorgeous as sunlit marble, rose
the great snowy peaks with huge cumulus clouds--apparently standing on
edge--peeping over their shoulders from behind. Mose observed them and
mentally calculated that it would not shower till three in the
afternoon.

In the