HERE was a time when the runners of K'yákime was famed above those of all the cities of the Valley of Shíwina for their strength, endurance and swiftness of foot. In running the stick race they overcame all the runners of the other towns, and the people of K'yákime were wealthy as the result of the betting.

Now the people of Hálona and Mátsaki did not give up easily. They ran again and again only to be beaten, and to lose their large piles of goods and precious things. They became so poor that at last there was nothing left but the bare necessities of life.

So the people of the two towns called a council and the old men and the runners gathered and talked over a means where by the runners of K'yákime might be humbled. They thought of all the wise men and beings they knew of, and they finally decided that for both wisdom and cunning, the Gopher led all the others; so they sent a young man to find the old Gopher who lived on the side of the hill near which the race-course began. He was out sunning himself, and finishing a cellar; and when the young man approached him, he called out, — "Ha, grandson! Don't bother me this morning. I am busy digging my cellar."

The young man begged him to stop his work for a moment, and listen to the important message he brought from his people. The old Gopher stopped his digging, and after the youth had spoken, he sat down and thought for a little while.

"Go back, my grandson," he said, "and tell your people to challenge the runners of K'yâkime to run the race of the kicked stick with a single runner whom they have chosen, the fourth day from this day. Tell your people also that I will run the race for them, providing only that the runners of K'yákime will let me go my own way, on my own road, which as you know, runs underground."

The youth thanked the old Gopher and was about to return to the council when the fat-sided, heavy-cheeked old fellow called out to him, "Tell your people also that they shall bet for me only two things red paint and sacred yellow pollen. These shall be my payment for the trouble I am taking."

The young man returned to the others and reported what the Gopher had said. The people of Mátsaki and Hálona sent a challenge to K'yákime for a race, saying, — "We bet all that we have against what you have won from us from time to time; that our runner, the Gopher, who lives beside the beginning of our race-course, will beat you in the race. The race will take place in four days, and the only condition we name is, that the Gopher shall be permitted to run in his own way, on his own road, which is underground."

The runners of K'yákime accepted the challenge at once, and only asked that the Gopher appear on the surface occasionally, that they might know where he was.

So it was arranged, and the Gopher was told of the wish of the runners.

That night the old Gopher went to his younger brother, old like himself, heavy-cheeked, gray-and-brown coated, and dusty with diggings of his cellars.

"My younger brother," said the old one, "In four days I am to run a race. I shall start at the beginning of the race-course of the people of K'yákime, over there, which is near my home, as you know. There I shall dig two holes; one at the beginning of the race-course, the other a little farther on. Now, here at your home, near the Place of the Scratching Bushes, you must dig a hole, down below where the race-course passes your place, and another hole a little beyond the first. The means by which they will know me as one of the racers, will be a red plume tied to my head. You also must get a red plume and tie it to your head. When you hear the thundering of the feet of the racers, run out and show yourself for a minute, and rush into the other hole as fast as you can."

"I understand what you want me to do, and it will give me great pleasure to help take down the pride of those haughty runners of K'yâkime," replied the younger brother.

The old Gopher went out to the Sitting Place of the Red Shell, where lived another of his younger brothers, who looked just like him. He told him exactly the same thing he had told the first younger brother, and this one also promised to help him beat the runners of K'yâkime.

He went on still farther to the place called K'opákyau, where dwelt another younger brother. He gave the same directions to him; and also to still another younger brother who lived near the two broad pillars of the Sacred Mountain, the last turning place of the race-course. Then he hurried to the last brother who lived just below K'yákime where the race-course ended. This brother was quite as cunning as the old one himself, and after they had finished talking over the matter, he went back and settled himself comfortably in his nest.

Bright and early on the fourth day preparations were made for the race. The runners of K'yákime had been fasting and training in the sacred houses, and they were very fine to see as they came out into the sunshine with their hair tied with yucca fiber, and carrying their stick. Then came the people of Mátsaki and Hálona who gathered on the plain, and there they waited. But they did not have to wait long, for soon the old Gopher appeared in their midst, popping out of the ground, and on his head was a little red feather.

He placed the stick which they had prepared for him on the ground, where he could grab it with his teeth easily, then he said, "Of course you will excuse me if I do not kick my stick, since my feet are so short that I could not do so. On the other hand, you do not have to dig your way as I do. Therefore, we are evenly matched."

The runners of K'yákime laughed at the old Gopher, and asked him why he did not ask for some privilege instead of talking about things which meant nothing to them.

At last the word was given. With a yell and a spring, off dashed the racers of K'yákime, gaily kicking their stick before them. Grabbing his stick in his teeth, the old Gopher plunged into the ground.

The people of Hálona and Mátsaki were really afraid that their runner would be beaten, and they ran to a neighboring hill, and watched breathlessly for him to appear somewhere in the course of the race.

Away over the plain in a cloud of dust swept the runners of K'yákime. They were already far off, when suddenly, some distance before them, out of the ground in the middle of the race-course, popped the old Gopher, to all appearances, the red feather dusty, but waving proudly on his forehead. After looking round at the runners, he plunged into the ground again, and the people of Mátsaki and Hálona shouted their applause.

Now the runners of K'yákime could hardly believe that the Gopher was really ahead of them, and they redoubled their efforts. When they came to the Place of the Red Shell, somewhat muddy round the eyes and nose, the old Gopher popped out of the ground again. The red feather was heavy with dirt, but still waving on his forehead.

On rushed the runners, and they had no sooner neared K'opákyau than again they saw the Gopher in advance of them, now apparently covered with sweat, for this cunning brother had gotten some water which he rubbed over his fur and made it all muddy, as though he were perspiring and had already begun to grow tired. He came out of his hole and jumped into the other less quickly than the others had done. The runners, who were not far behind him, raised a great shout and pushed ahead.

Just when they were sure that they had passed him and were nearing the last turning place, almost in their midst appeared a very bedraggled and worn-out old Gopher, and they saw the red feather on his head smeared with mud and all flattened out.

Finally, the original old Gopher, who had been quietly sleeping during this time, got up and shook himself. He then soaked himself in water from the tip of his nose to the end of his short tail, and then wallowed in the dirt until he was well plastered with mud.

A great shout was raised by the people, as, with half closed eyes, he crawled out at the end of the goal far ahead of the runners who were rapidly approaching.

Great was the feasting and rejoicing in the two cities, and the runners of K'yâkime lost all of their winnings for the first time. And what was worse for them, their pride suffered at having been beaten by an old fat-cheeked Gopher.

And the people of Hálona and Mátsaki carried much sacred yellow corn-pollen and red paint to the old Gopher and his brothers, and they were contented.