all that," he opined, "but it takes more than an amateur to beat this
sharp. The boy would be out of his class, I reckon, if he came up against
this yere sprinter."

The others seemed inclined to agree with Chip's view of the matter, but
Sandy demurred. "I've been watchin' that lad," he said, "an' I've noticed
he don't usually go around shootin' off his mouth about nothin'. Seems t'
me before we pass up his proposition it might be a good idea to look up
his friends an' see what they say about it."

"Waal, thet's only fair," remarked one of the cowboys known to his mates
only as "Bud." "I vote we make Sandy an' Chip a committee o' two to see
Trent an' Henderson an' question them on this yere p'int. Yuh don't want
to fergit thet if we _could_ find somebody thet could beat this Helena
candidate we'd have it on them effete citizens so bad they'd wear
mournin' fer a year."

This consideration had great weight with the others, and they all
assented to Bud's proposition. It was agreed that at the first
opportunity Sandy and Chip should question Tom and Dick on the subject of
Bert's running abilities, and so the matter was dropped for the present.

The "committee," however, kept it in mind, and when, as they were
returning to the bunkhouse that same evening, Chip and Sandy espied Dick
and Tom at no great distance, riding along in leisurely fashion, they
immediately hailed them.

On hearing their names called the two friends looked around, and, seeing
the ranchmen beckoning to them, cantered over in their direction, and
quickly reached the spot on which they were standing.