A Spotted Robe was Big Medicine among the Pawnees, and the chief sent a crier through the village announcing that a charge should be made from the village, and the brave who brought back the spotted robe might marry his beautiful daughter.

And the young brave mounted his old dun horse to take part in the race, but the others laughed at him and he drew aside. Then to his surprise the horse turned his head and spoke: "Take me to the stream and plaster me with mud ; my legs, my head and my back," and to the creek that flowed hard by he went and did as he was directed.

At the cry "Loo-ah" (go) they were away. The old dun horse covered with mud seemed rejuvenated. He sped away so fast that to some of the others he seemed to fly, and when the advanced portion of the charge reached the scene where the herd had been they found the young brave skinning the spotted calf, and he had also killed a fine fat cow.

One by one the other braves came back to the village, and as they came, they rode by the lodge of the boy's grandmother to tell her of his good fortune, but she thought they were jesting and answered them angrily. When the young brave came up with the old dun horse snorting and prancing, laden with buffalo meat and a great robe, for her, and the spotted robe which he retained for himself, she could hardly believe her senses. But in the frail tepee there was joy that night.