Of course everybody was now talking horse.

Major North remarked that if Tall Bull could beat the Pawnees' fast horse, I could break his whole command.
The next day the troops were paid off, the Pawnees with the rest, and for two or three days they did nothing but run horse-races, as all the recently captured horses had to be tested to find out the swiftest among them.

Finally the Pawnees wanted to run their favorite horse against Tall Bull, and I accordingly arranged a race with them.

They raised three hundred dollars and bet it on their horse, while of course, I backed Tall Bull with an equal amount, and in addition took numerous side bets.

The race was a single dash of a mile, and Tall Bull won it without any difficulty.