All these incidents attracted my attention—­everything being new to me—­and became firmly impressed upon my memory.  My father, being unaccustomed to the ways of such rough people, acted very cautiously; and as they were all very anxious to bet on their own horse, he could not be induced to wager a very large sum on Little Gray, as he was afraid of foul play.

“Wa-al, now, stranger,” exclaimed one of the crowd, “what kind o’critter have you got anyhow, as how you’re afraid to back him up very heavy?”

“I’ll bet five to one agin the emergrant’s, gray,” said another.

“I’m betting the same way.  I’ll go yer five hundred dollars agin a hundred that the gray nag gits left behind.  Do I hear any man who wants to come agin me on them yer terms?” shouted still another.

“Hi! yer boys, give the stranger a chance.  Don’t scare him out of his boots,” said a man who evidently was afraid that my father might back out.

Father had but little to say, however, and would not venture more than fifty dollars on the result of the race.

“Gentlemen, I am only racing my horse for sport,” said he, “and am only betting enough to make it interesting.  I have never seen Little Gray run, and therefore don’t know what he can do;” at the same time he was confident that his horse would come in the winner, as he had chosen an excellent rider for him.

Finally all the preliminaries of the contest were arranged.  The judges were chosen and the money was deposited in the hands of a stake-holder.  The race was to be a single dash, of a mile.  The horses were brought side by side and mounted by their riders.

At the signal—­“One, two, three, go!”—­off they started like a flash.  The Missouri horse took the lead for the first quarter of a mile; at the half-mile, however, he began to weaken.  The Missourians shouted themselves hoarse in urging their horse, but all to no avail.  The Little Gray passed him and continued to leave him farther and farther behind, easily winning the race.

The affair created a great deal of enthusiasm; but the race was conducted with honor and fairness, which was quite an agreeable surprise to my father, who soon found the Missourians to be at heart very clever men—­thus showing that outside appearances are sometimes very deceptive; they nearly all came up and congratulated him on his success, asked him why he had not bet more money on the race, and wanted to buy Little Gray.

“Gentlemen,” said he, “when I drove up here and arranged for this race, I felt confident that my horse would win it.  I was among entire strangers, and therefore I only bet a small amount.  I was afraid that you would cheat me in some way or other.  I see now that I was mistaken, as I have found you to be honorable men.”

“Wa-all, you could have broke me” said the man who wanted to bet the five hundred dollars to one hundred, “for that there nag o’ yourn looks no more like a runner nor I do.”