And if he is thrown, then
Solano will be forfeit to the other, who must ride him also. There will
be other sports and other prizes, Valencia, and others may contest in
riding, in the lassoing and tying of wild steers, in running. But say
that Don Jose Pacheco and the Senor Jack Allen will contest with riatas
for the possession of Solano.' Ah, Senor--"
"Ah, Valencia, why not scatter some of your enthusiasm over the other
camp-fires?" Dade broke in quizzically. "Go and proclaim it, then. Tell
the San Vincente men, and the Las Uvas, and all the other vaqueros."
Valencia, grinned and departed, leaving behind him in the loose sand
tracks more than three feet apart to show how eager was his obedience;
and Dade sat down upon a dead log that had been dragged to the Picardo
camp-fire, to consider how this new phase of the affair would affect the
temper of the people who owned such warm hearts and such hot heads.
A fiesta, with the duelo fought openly under the guise of a contest for
the medal and a prize which was well worth any man's best
efforts--surely, Don Andres was wily, as Valencia said. But with all the
people of the valley there to see, their partisanship inflamed by the
wine of festivity and the excitement of the sports themselves--what
then?
Dade thoughtfully rolled a corn-husk cigarette, and tried to peer into
the future. As it looked to him, he and Jack were rather between the
devil and the deep sea.
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