Then all the warriors and the young men picked out their best and
fastest horses, and made ready to start. Among those who prepared for
the charge was the poor boy on the old dun horse. But when they saw him,
all the rich young braves on their fast horses pointed at him and said,
"Oh, see; there is the horse that is going to catch the spotted calf;"
and they laughed at him, so that the poor boy was ashamed, and rode off
to one side of the crowd, where he could not hear their jokes and
laughter.
When he had ridden off some little way the horse stopped and turned his
head round, and spoke to the boy. He said, "Take me down the creek, and
plaster me all over with mud. Cover my head and neck and body and legs."
When the boy heard the horse speak, he was afraid; but he did as he was
told. Then the horse said, "Now mount, but do not ride back to the
warriors, who laugh at you because you have such a poor horse. Stay
right here until the word is given to charge." So the boy stayed there.
And presently all the fine horses were drawn up in line and pranced
about, and were so eager to go that their riders could hardly hold them
in; and at last the old crier gave the word, "_Loo-ah!_"--Go! Then the
Pawnees all leaned forward on their horses and yelled, and away they
went. Suddenly, away off to the right, was seen the old dun horse. He
did not seem to run.
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