I forgot to say I'd like to make it a quarter dash." "A quarter dash it is," Jeff agreed derisively as Bud turned to answer the summons of the music which was beginning again.
The racing enthusiasts lingered outside, and Bud smiled to himself while he whirled Honey twice around in an old-fashioned waltz.

He had them talking about him, and wondering about his horse.

When they saw Smoky they would perhaps call him a chancey kid.

He meant to ask Pop about Skeeter, though Pop seemed confident that Smoky would win against anything in the valley.
But on the other hand, he had seen in his short acquaintance with Little Lost that Pop was considered childish--that comprehensive accusation which belittles the wisdom of age.

The boys made it a point to humor him without taking him seriously.