The old horse Ebenezer had beaten Twinkleheels in the race to the bars.
While Johnnie Green slipped their halters on them, and they munched the
oats that he gave them, neither of them spoke. Johnnie mounted Ebenezer
bareback; and leading Twinkleheels, he turned down the lane.
"You're not as slow as I thought you were," Twinkleheels said to
Ebenezer as they drew near the barn. "And somehow I couldn't seem to get
to running smoothly. I'd like to race you again. I think I could beat
you next time."
"Perhaps you could," said Ebenezer. "I don't often run nowadays. But I
did running enough when I was younger. I used to race at the county
fair, every fall."
"Did you ever win a race at the fair?" Twinkleheels inquired.
"Yes!" Ebenezer answered. "Yes! I can remember winning a race now and
then."
"He never lost a race in his whole life!" cried the Muley Cow, who was
walking just ahead of them. "Ebenezer used to be known as the fastest
horse in these parts. He had a record."