Part 20 (1/2)

Now Bert put on top of the soap boxes Harry's canvas schoolbag stuffed full of papers.

”This is the United States mail,” he said. ”We will understand that the coach has stopped for a few minutes.”

Sable was going along splendidly by this time, and everybody said what a pretty little horse he was.

”He's goin' to steal the mail box now!” whispered Flossie to Freddie.

”I hope Sable won't fall or anything.”

Snap! snap! went the whip as the horse ran faster and faster.

All of a sudden Tom got a good tight hold on the reins, then he pulled up alongside of the mail coach, leaned over, grabbed the mail bag, and spurred his horse at full speed around the ring.

”Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted everybody.

”Well done!” called Uncle Daniel.

”Couldn't be better!” exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey.

Tom waved his hat now and patted Sable affectionately, as all good riders do when their horses have done well in the ring.

The men admired the little horse so much they came up and asked the ”cowboy” a lot of questions about him, how old he was and who broke him in.

”One more number,” called Bert. ”The chariot race.”

At this all took their seats again, and out trotted two clowns, Jack and August, each riding in a little goat wagon.

The goats were decorated with the Fourth of July buntings and the wagons had the tailboards out and were tipped up like circus chariots.

The clowns pulled up in line.

”One, two, three!” called Bert, with a really big revolver up in the air.

”Ready! Set! Go!” Bang! went the revolver (a blank cartridge, of course) and away started the chariots.

Jack wore a broad green belt and August had yellow. Jack darted ahead!

”Go it, green!” shouted one group of boys.

”Pa.s.s him, orange!” called another crowd.

Now August pa.s.sed Jack just as they crossed the line.

”One!” called Bert. ”We will have ten rounds.”

In the next the wagons kept almost even until just within a few feet of the line, then Jack crossed first.

”Two!” called Bert, while all the boys shouted for their favorite.

In the next three or four turns the riders divided even. Finally the last round was reached and the boys had tied; that is, both were even when the round started. This of course made the race very interesting, as both had equal chances of winning.