four o'clock
Suspecting that she would have Mrs. Hunter and Esther for lunch , if they were present , I avoided our party and took dinner with Mrs. Booth . Meanwhile Uncle Lance detailed Deweese and Happersett to handle my horses , allowing us five vaqueros , and distributing the other men as assistants to our other three contestants . The day was an ideal one for the contests , rather warm during the morning , but tempered later by a fine afternoon breeze . It was after four o'clock when I was called , with Waugh 's man still in the lead . Forming a small circle at the starting-point , each of our vaqueros led a pair of horses , in bridles only , around a ring , -- constantly having in hand eight of my mount of ten . As handlers , I had two good men in our _ segundo _ and Dan Happersett . I crossed the line amid the usual shouting with a running start , determined , if possible , to lower the record of Red Earnest .