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209 HOBSB RACE ON THE PRAIRIES. 209 it was understood what was offered, there was hurry- mg and urgent scrambling to get to the front by hun- dreds of young fellows, for let it be recoi^ded', they knew not what fear waS, and such an opportunity was not often afforded them to display their willingness to participate in a hazardous undertaking, for so it looked to them, but so numerous were the volunteers that the chief was in a dilemma, so turned to the other chiefs and announced that he had a solution of the difficulty, and then informed all the people that he had concluded to designate his youngest son as a representative of his own people, but recommended that the chief men of the tribes present be permitted to iappoint a rider, so the Osages, Pawnees, Missouris and Omahas each named one; but one horse ,$till lacked a rider. At this juncture an old chief whis- pered to Tatarrax to let all the young men who were before him race and see who should have the oppor- tunity, so hurriedly arrangements were made for the race of the "Six Hundred," but there was more room than there was for the charge of that many at Bala- klava, the distance being a mound pointed out by the Sachem about a mile away where they were in- structed to make for, the necessary judges having been appointed to see fair play. It was the Spaniards' turn to become interested, as they never had and never will again witness such a sight. There was no pre-arrangement who should win, as is frequently the case with modern racing, both foot and horse, so every man and boy put forth his very utmost, and there were in that company many who could have outstripped the celebrated In-