ear, by having several Nebraska cow-boys race on steers.
The people for twenty miles around Oak Creek, had seen bull fights, wild
steer breaking, and all sorts of horse-racing, but never had they
witnessed a steer race.

It proved very exciting, as the men who rode the animals were gayly
trapped out and made a great noise when the race started. Their shouting
and wildly waving hats, added no little to the frenzy of the steers. One
animal tripped and threw his rider, and another balked outright and
began to stampede. Finding he could not dislodge the encumbrance that
clung to his back, he suddenly threw himself and rolled.

Every one screamed, but the rider was alert and the moment the steer
touched the earth, he was up on his feet, bowing and smiling. A wild
cheering greeted him, but he had no claim to the prize, as that went to
the rider who won the race.

Polly and Eleanor became well-acquainted with Jim and Kenneth during
those two days at the fair, and when it was time to say good-by, the
boys felt as if they were losing two old chums.

"We have to ride across the desert to-morrow, you know," explained Jim,
regretfully.

"That's so! where will you work next?" asked Tom.

"From Rabbitt's Ear Inn to the Highway," said Kenneth.

"And when will you be back again? When can you come to Pebbly Pit again
to visit us?" asked Eleanor.

"We may not be there again this summer, as our work now leads away from
this section. In fact, the Boss says, if the cold does not come too
early to interfere, he wants to finish his survey all along the other
side of the desert, this year," explained Kenneth.

"Oh pshaw! then we won't have any more good times," said Eleanor,
poutingly.

"But we will when we all meet in New York," reminded Jim.

Tom looked from one to the other, for here was news!

"Never mind that, Tom--it's a secret with us!" laughed Eleanor.

"I'm sure it must be, for John never said a word about it to me. And if
you girls were going with Anne Stewart, he would have told me," replied
Tom.

"You know the old adage, 'Plans of mice and men go astray,' but it did
not say 'Plans of girls and mice.' So my plan will come out fine,
you-all wait and see!"

"Yes, I reckon we _will_ wait!" laughed Polly, incredulously.

CHAPTER XII

NOLLA'S PLANS DEVELOP

The days passed joyously at Pebbly Pit, until John and Tom declared they
must return to their work beyond Denver. They had been postponing their
depart