Like the sunshine he is, with his hair of gold; and the
tail that waves to his heels is like the ripples on the bay at sunrise.
Who wins the duelo shall have Solano for his own, and shall ride him
before all the people; for such is the patron's word. From his own lips
I heard it! Me, I think that will be the greatest sport of all, for he
is wild as the deer on the mountain slopes--that yellow caballo, and
strong as the bull which the patron will choose to fight the grizzly he
will bring from the mountains.
"Listen, Senor! The mother of Solano was a she-devil under the saddle,
and killed two men by throwing herself upon them; and the sire was
Satanas, of whom stories are told around the camp-fires as far south as
San Luis Obispo.
"Ah, he is wise, the patron! 'Then let them also prove their courage in
other ways. Let the victor pray to the saints and ride Solano, who is
five years old and has never felt the riata since he left his mother's
side--who was a devil.' Me, I heard the soul of the patron speak thus,
while the lips of the patron said to me:
"'Go back to the rodeo, Valencia, and proclaim to all that I will give
the grand fiesta with sports to please all. Tell them that already two
have agreed to contest with riatas for a prize--' Look you, Senor, how
wily is the patron!--'And for the prize I name the gelding, Solano, who
has never known weight of saddle. Tell them, Valencia, that the victor
shall ride his prize for all the crowd to see.
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