"Now, see here, young fellow, you can't throw any bluff into me," said the fellow, approaching Ted with one shoulder raised.
"You let him alone. He's all right, and has got as much right to talk as you have," said another man, elbowing his way up.
He was one of those who had bet on Hatrack, and Ted recognized him as the foreman of the Running Water horse ranch.
"Well, the gal stole the race fer these fellers, an' we ain't goin' ter stand fer it. They needn't think they kin bring any o' their gals in here to do their dirty work. They all look alike to us."
"See here," said Ted coolly, "let me give you a piece of advice. Leave the young lady out of it, or I'll give you something else to think about for a while."
"Rats fer you," said the fellow, snapping his fingers under Ted's nose.
He picked himself from the ground ten feet away, wiping his bleeding nose and wondering what had happened to him.
"Say, boy," said the foreman of the Running Water, "that was as pretty and clean a blow as ever I see. You can handle them mitts o' yours right handy."
A score of men had rushed up and surrounded Ted and Kit, all shouting and gesticulating at the same time.
Meantime, Ben was having his troubles in the judges' stand.