sheet off, or, as Chip put it, "took a month off."

Saddles were gone over, oiled and polished, and when at last the
longed-for day arrived every preparation had been made to celebrate it
fittingly. Everybody on the ranch was up before the sun, and after a
hasty breakfast they sallied forth to town.

The three comrades rode with them, and the cowboys surrounded them as a
sort of bodyguard. Mr. Melton was not able to accompany them, as he had
some pressing business affairs to attend to, but he had promised to reach
town before the running race, which was not to take place until the
afternoon, was "pulled off."

It was a beautiful day and the ranchmen were in high spirits. They
laughed and shouted and indulged in rough horse-play like a crowd of
school-boys out for a lark, and the boys did their full share to add to
the general gaiety. The long miles slipped unnoticed behind them, and the
sun was not far above the eastern horizon when the party cantered into
Helena.

The town was gaily bedecked in honor of the occasion. The houses were
draped with flags and bunting, and in many cases long colored streamers
fluttered from the windows and roofs.

The cowboys set spurs to their ponies, and swept down the street like
a veritable cyclone. They met other parties who had just arrived, and
exchanged greetings with the many friends among them. There was an air
of merry-making and good-fellowship in the air that was infectious, and
everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves.