The Race for Silver Tree

“Come on, Zelta, hurry!” Running Fox said, sneaking a look at Silver Tree as he urged his horse forward.  “If you hurry, she will be allowed to marry me, since her father believes that the daughter of a chief deserves better than me.”  He glanced at Leaping Wolf, remembering how the other man had looked when he had offered marriage to Silver Tree.  “I have to win.”  His words were carried away by the wind, and as he spoke, Zelta nosed closer and closer to Leaping Wolf’s horse.1

Silver Tree stood by her father, outwardly calm, but inwardly a torrent of emotions, anxious and worried that Leaping Wolf would win by treachery.  Her father, the chief, approved of Leaping Wolf because of his strength and smooth tongue.  As she watched, Running Fox, his long black hair flying on the wind created from his speed, spoke to Zelta, and the horse moved forward even more swiftly than before.  Silently she whispered, “Run, Zelta, run!  Run for me and for the happiness of Fox!”2

Suddenly, just as Zelta drew even with Leaping Wolf’s black Appaloosa, Leaping Wolf reached out and struck Zelta’s tender ears.  Enraged, Zelta pulled ahead and crossed the line, winning the race by a hand’s-breadth.  Silver Tree had turned to her father when Zelta was struck, crying “Foul, foul!” but she turned back in time to see Running Fox and Zelta pull ahead and win the race.3

“See, Father!” she cried eagerly.  “See, Running Fox is twice the brave that Leaping Wolf is, and he won, even though Leaping Wolf cheated and struck Zelta!  Is that not the proof of a true warrior, Father?  Winning, even against unfair tactics?  Leaping Wolf should be punished for such cruelty, and I would never marry a man such as him, who is so determined to win that he will do anything, even resort to cheating.”4

As she spoke, the two braves slowed their horses and began to cool them off, Running Fox happily, with a smile of true love for his expression, and Leaping Wolf with a scowl on his face, pulling away from the people who had come up to him and heading for the woods that surrounded the camp.5

Running Fox, after cooling Zelta, came over to Silver Tree and took her hand.  “Chief Little Mountain, I have won the race and by leave of my winning, I claim Princess Silver Tree as my bride!”  He took her other hand, smiling down at her, and kissed her, then led her over to Zelta and lifted her onto the mare’s back.  6

And as it was then, thus shall it always be!7