"I have the second slip," was the quiet reply.
The cowboys broke into loud exclamations of disapproval.
"Fair is fair, boys," warned Mr. Jessup. "You all had your chance and you lost."
"Yes, that's right," agreed the foreman. "You fellows will have to swallow your pills without making faces."
The man Cravath was now talking with the cowboy who had drawn the other slip. He was one of the men Chunky had won from, though Tad did not know it at the moment.
Tom Phipps pushing his way up to the lad informed him of this fact, and drawing Tad to one side whispered something to him.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Cravath owns one of the ponies that came near winning the race. He is not a very good-natured man and I imagine they are putting up some plan to get even with you boys," warned Tom.
"I'm not afraid. They won't let them do anything unfair," said Tad. "Besides, I ought to be able to take care of myself, by this time, though I haven't been doing much with the rope of late. Is that chap an expert roper?"
"I couldn't say as to that. But he's big and strong—"