The fat boy managed to get an early helping by pushing his way through
the crowd of hungry men that had gathered about the savory roast.
When there was anything to eat, Stacy Brown would always be found in
the front rank.
Just as they got started with the meal, a volley of shots sounded up
the valley and a band of half a dozen cowboys, yelling, whooping and
shouting came racing down on the Jessup ranch.
With a wild "y-e-o-w!" they circled the roast ox, then bringing their
ponies up sharply, threw themselves from their saddles and greedily
attacked the portions that were quickly handed out to them.
This barbecue and day of sports was one looked forward to by the
cowmen with keen anticipation. Two a year were given on the Jessup
ranch, one after the midsummer round up, and another late in the fall.
"This is great," confided Tad to Tom Phipps, as the two seated
themselves on the grass to eat the good things set before them.
"It seems so to me. I don't get out of the mountains very often. I
wish I could ride the way you boys do. You ride very well."
"We have to. At first some of us came a few croppers," laughed Ned,
who had overheard the conversation. "Chunky had the most trouble, his
legs being so short that it's difficult for him to reach the
stirrups."
"I fell off," interjected the fat boy.
"That's a habit of his," laughed Ned.
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