It's business.

Dad's promised us three dollars for every scalp, an' we're aimin' to make a stake.

We didn't git a blamed thing, to-day, though." Sister's painful and despairing expression was blissfully ignored as Jimmy stealthily flicked the long romal at the end of his bridle reins against Midnight's flank.
"Gee!" observed the tickled youngster, as Kitty gave all her attention to restraining the fretting and indignant horse, "ol' Midnight is sure some festive, ain't he ?" "I'll race you both to the big gate," challenged Kitty.
"For how much ?" demanded Jimmy quickly.
"You got to give us fifty yards start," declared Conny, leaning forward in his saddle and shortening his reins.
"If I win, you boys go straight to bed to-night, when it's time, without fussing," said Kitty, "and I'll give you to that oak bush yonder." "Good enough! You're on!" they shouted in chorus, and loped away.
As they passed the handicap mark, another shrill, defiant yell came floating back to where Kitty sat reining in her impatient Midnight.

At the signal, the two ponies leaped from a lope into a full run, while Kitty loosed the restraining rein and the black horse stretched away in pursuit.

Spurs ring, shouting, entreating, the two lads urged their sturdy mounts toward the goal, and the pintos answered gamely with all that they had.