The buffalo were feeding about four miles from the village, and the chiefs decided that the charge should be made from there.  In this way, the man who had the fastest horse would be the most likely to kill the calf.  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.  He seemed to sail along like a bird.  He passed all the fastest horses, and in a moment he was among the buffalo.  First he picked out the spotted calf, and charging up alongside of it, U-ra-rish! straight flew the arrow.  The calf fell.  The boy drew another arrow, and killed a fat cow that was running by.  Then he dismounted and began to skin the calf, before any of the other warriors had come up.  But when the rider got off the old dun horse, how changed he was!  He pranced about and would hardly stand still near the dead buffalo.  His back was all right again; his legs were well and fine; and both his eyes were clear and bright.

The boy skinned the calf and the cow that he had killed, and then he packed all the meat on the horse, and put the spotted robe on top of the load, and started back to the camp on foot, leading the dun horse.  But even with this heavy load the horse pranced all the time, and was scared at everything he saw.  On the way to camp, one of the rich young chiefs of the tribe rode up by the boy and offered him twelve good horses for the spotted robe, so that he could marry the Head Chief’s beautiful daughter; but the boy laughed at him and would not sell the robe.