ten o'clock
He slowed down when he began to draw near to the horse and rider , and for an hour kept his distance while he waited for Hiram to reach another dry lake that was nearer to Ragtown than the first . When the rider ahead had reached it and was galloping across if , Drummond speeded up , reached the lake in turn , and at last was able to make a wide half circle over land where no greasewood grew to impede the course of the car . The lake was a large one , and by driving at close to sixty miles an hour and skirting its edge , he reached the road again a mile ahead of Hiram , and sped on toward home to break the news of defeat to Lucy Dalles . At ten o'clock he reached Ragtown , having driven recklessly . `` Somebody 's spilled the beans ! '' was his stormy beginning . `` We 're gypped .