"
"Let 'em think so. It won't be a professional race horse--at least, not
in this country--that we will put in, but jest ole Hatrack, an' if he
don't win the race by a city block I'll eat him, hoofs an' all."
"Put us next, Bud," said Ben.
"That's what," said Kit. "You've sure got a trick concealed somewhere.
What is it?"
"No, I haven't," said Bud. "But if I wuz a bettin' man I know what hoss
I'd back to win."
That was all the boys could get out of him on the subject, but they were
convinced none the less that Bud had a secret concerning the horse, and
that they would learn what it was in good time.
The race was to be held at the fair grounds, and was to be a dash of
three hundred yards.
Cap Norris would not consent to a longer race, although Bud said he
would run Hatrack any distance up to a quarter of a mile, but the
innocent old man with the long whiskers objected to running his horse a
long distance.
As the hour approached for the race, the grounds began to fill up.
Several races between Indian ponies took place to keep the crowd amused
until the big race of the day was to come off.
Pages:
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331