vertheless pretty well tanned, and George assured him that all he
needed was a black moustache and a long goatee to transform him into a
very good-looking Greaser.

Everything being in readiness, Bob mounted George's horse, took the
pack-mule's halter, which his friend passed up to him, and, after giving
Carey instructions to bring up the squad and the prisoners promptly
when he was signalled to do so, he rode slowly away, the new scout
following a short distance in his rear, mounted on Bob's nag.

Arriving at the top of the ridge, Corporal Owens rode over it without
pausing, and had not proceeded far before he became aware that he was
discovered. The squatter got up and came to the end of the porch, the
deserter ceased his chopping and leaned on his axe, and both shaded
their eyes with their hands and looked at him. It was plain that they
were not very well pleased with the result of their observations, for,
after gazing at him for a few seconds, the squatter returned to his seat
and puffed furiously at his pipe, and the deserter resumed his chopping.
At the same moment the dogs appeared in force from under the cabin,
their every action indicating that they had been summoned by the voice
of their master. They looked up at him, wagging their tails vigorously,
and then, encouraged, no doubt, by a low hiss or an order to "hunt 'em
up," began running about with their heads high in the air. Discovering
the approaching horseman, they started for him on the instant, each one
striving to lead in the race and to growl and bark louder than his
companions.

"They don't think much of Greasers in this part of the country," said
Bob to himself; "and I don't blame them. If I were a stock-raiser I
shouldn't feel very hospitably inclined toward a class of men who are
always on the watch for a chance to jump down on me and steal my cattle.
I wonder if I shall have pluck enough to dismount in the midst of all
these dogs and make the arrest?" added Bob as the fierce brutes closed
about him, all of them with their ears laid back close to their heads
and their hair turned the wrong way, and some crouching at his side as
if they were about to spring up and pull him out of his saddle.--"Get
out! If you interfere with my business there won't be as many of you
to-night as there were this morning. Aha! there's one of you out of the
muss already."

[Illustration: BOB CAPTURES THE DESERTER.]

For just here the mule gave a tug at his halter, a