"It was the ridin' did it.

Dave managed his mount just right." And this open praise made the youth from Crumville blush.
"Just wait till Jessie hears how he won," said the shipowner's son.
"She'll weave a laurel crown for his brow and----" "Don't you say a word about it!" cried Dave, and blushed more than ever.
"I didn't win by so very much, anyway." Forward the party went, through the woods, and then in the direction of the foothills beyond.

The race had not hurt the horses in the least, for all of them were tough and used to hard usage.

They were following a well-defined trail, but presently branched off to the southward and commenced to climb the first of the hills.
"That hollow is about quarter of a mile from here," explained the cowboy.

"Be careful now, or your horse will get into a hole, an' maybe break a leg." And then they went forward with added caution, into the midst of a growth of low bushes, dotted here and there with sagebrush.
Presently the cowboy uttered a long, loud whistle and this was answered by somebody near the edge of the ravine.