It was,
therefore, with feelings of the utmost confidence that they streamed
toward the place where the race was to be held. They bantered the cowboys
they met unmercifully, but the latter kept their own counsel, and only
smiled in a knowing fashion. Money was bet freely on both sides, and
those who lost stood to lose heavily.
After the boys had finished luncheon, they and Mr. Melton repaired to the
meeting place. The race was to be run around a one-mile oval track, and
five men were entered as contestants. Besides Bert and Johnson, the
winner of the previous race, Jed Barnes, was to race, and two other men
from neighboring ranches. As soon as the boys and Mr. Melton reached the
track they parted, the former seeking out the dressing room, and the
latter securing a seat in the grand stand.
Bert got into his racing togs immediately, and his comrades left him and
walked out to secure seats for themselves. This was soon done, and they
settled themselves, waiting as best they could for the start.
The stand and field filled rapidly until at last, when the gates were
closed, every available space was occupied by a tightly packed, expectant
throng.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129