Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/233

220 TENSE MOMENTS FOR THE INDIANS blood, admonishing them to remember the necessity of being careful not to maim each other, as they were a few among thousands of strangers. After which the man as a Priest, and not as Herald, knelt down in the presence of that throng of people and prayed the Almighty to keep any from being injured; and asking for his blessing upon the men who are about to participate in the coming ordeal.

The command is now given for each troop to proceed toward their respective stations, and while en route are arranging the form of attack, and the selection of one to command. Coronado is designated to direct the one party, and on the suggestion of Alonso, Sergeant Maldonado is to command the other. Coronado's twelve decide to place the commander and Jaramillo in the center, and they are by the majority vote to endeavor to engage Alonso and Maldonado, but the other dozen decide to place Alonso and their commander three horses from the ends, and it is especially agreed that each man is to choose the most favorable opportunity to unhorse a man, regardless of who he is, the reason assigned being that it would handicap them to be compelled to select a certain opponent. The messengers, who are running backward forward to keep the herald informed, finally give the word that each party is ready, and the sound of the pistol is heard vibrating over the prairies; but watch these men, for it is a tense moment for these twenty-four, who have all smelt powder many times, yet this kind of excitement is more trying on the nervous system than going into a real fight, but they are, and in fact must be, intensely in earnest to acquire