Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/329

312 312 AIJONSO UWDERTAKMS A TASK. an excellent opportunity to display his superb horse- manship and superiority in the use of the lance and sword. The authority heretofore cited then graphically describes how Kahled so arranged his speed, that he would only permit one of the twenty to come at him singly, he governing th(? speed of his steed so a^ to select his man, while retreating toward his own army^ and out of the twenty thirteen were unhorsed, all in plain view of the thousands who witnessed the glor- ious feat of valor. Alonso knew he had as fine a horse as was ever jrossible for man to back, and since his eighteenth year had practiced the necessary quick turns and ab- rupt stops in imitation of the great Kahled, who had been frequently spoken of to him by her. In fact, he ha i inany times been in the arena of the Arabs at horn >, and had every confidence in his ability to un- d rtake the task of unhorsing ten of the troop. Not only vrere the natives excited about the contest, but the Spaniards were more so, for it was an unusual t lirg to them, and there was a good deal of specula* tion as to the outcome, few if any thinking it i>ossible for one man to put ten men hors de combat. ■ At the request of Alonso, the officers were to take no part; he did this because, at the bottom of his heart, he had nj doubt of his ability to even unhorse the hardy eld war veteran, Jaramillo, yet more Coronado, who had not had the experience which the redoubtable captaiii had. So ten of the rank and file volunteered to be th« attacking party. It was arranged that the exhibiting should be about as was enacted at the memorable real