two o'clock
`` This was what it was for ; how did the heathens know it was coming ? '' By mutual agreement , at length , the race was postponed for two hours , which , under such a sun , would bring the track back nearly to normal ; and since the Indians had had the Buckskin shod , it was the same for both . It was decided that the start should be made when the sun was over Inyan Kara , the tallest of the hills in sight to the west ; this meant , as nearly as possible , at four o'clock . At two o'clock all the world seemed there . There were mounted Indians -- men and women -- by thousands , and at least a thousand mounted whites besides the soldiers . The plain was dotted with life and colour from far beyond the Indian camp to Fort Ryan ; but the centre of all was the racetrack ; and camped alongside , or riding or sitting near , was the thickest group of folk of both races , bound to lose no glimpse of the stirring contest . The delay made for new excitement ; the nerve strain became greater as each hour passed .