Also the
thing Dade told them sounded strange to these hot-blooded ones, who had
looked forward to a whirlwind battle, with dust and swirling riatas and
no law except the law of chance and superior skill and cunning.
"The two who will fight with riatas for the medalla oro and for the
prize which Don Andres offers to the victor," he began, "have agreed
upon certain rules which each has promised to observe faithfully, that
skill rather than luck may be the chief factor in the fight. These are
the rules of the contest:
"None but those two, Don Jose Pacheco and Senor Allen, will be permitted
within the square we have marked off for them after the first signal
shot is fired. They will toss a coin for first position and will start
from opposite ends of the ground. At the signal, which will be a pistol
shot, they will mount and ride with the center rope between them. Upon
meeting"--he stopped long enough for a quick smile--"they will try what
they can do. If both miss, they will coil their riatas and hang them
from the horn, and ride on to the end; there they will dismount and wait
for the second signal for starting.
"They will repeat these maneuvers until the contest is decided, one way
or the other, but at no time will they start before the signal is given.
"Remember, no one else will be permitted inside the line, at any time;
also, neither of the contestants may pass the dividing line unless he
has the other at his mercy--when--he may cross if he chooses.
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