"Don't know nothing 'bout no uniform," growled the squatter; "ain't none
here."

"I know better," answered Bob. "There is one here, and I must have it.
You can either bring it out yourself or I shall search for it; and I
give you fair warning that if I turn my boys loose in your shanty
they'll handle things rough.--Now, what shall I do if that threat
doesn't start him?" said Bob to himself. "I'll search the cabin and take
the consequences; that's what I'll do."

"Come, Peasley, save yourself trouble by bringing out the uniform," said
George. "There's no use in being a fool."

The squatter evidently began to think so too, for he sullenly rose from
his seat and went into the cabin, coming out again in a few minutes with
a bundle of clothing, which he threw spitefully down upon the porch. Bob
quietly picked it up, and, carrying it down to Bryant, commanded him to
pull off the squatter's clothes and put on his own; and Bryant at once
complied, for he knew that if he did not Bob would detail two or three
men to make the exchange for him. The new prisoner was then ordered to
fall in with the rest, and the cavalcade once more took up its line of
march for the fort; but a short stop was made as soon as they were out
of sight of the squatter's cabin, during which Bob pulled off his
disguise and put on his own garments.

"If I am ever obliged to wear this suit, I hope it will serve me as well
as it has served you to-day," said George as he stowed the Mexican
costume away in his pack and placed the silver-mounted saddle and bridle
on top of it. "I didn't think it would so soon be brought into use."

"If it hadn't been for that same suit I might have got myself into
trouble," said Bob. "Knowing where Bryant was, I never should have gone
back to the fort without him, and if he had taken refuge in the house I
might have gone in after him. What the colonel would have said to me if
I had done that, I don't know."

During the ride to the fort Bob Owens, to quote from the troopers,
"laughed all over." It was plain to everybody that he was highly elated
over the results of the expedition, as he had an undoubted right to be.
The pursuit and capture of the deserters had been conducted with
considerable skill, and with as much determination as any veteran
officer could have exhibited. Now that the danger was over, and his
efforts to carry out the orders of his superior had been crowned with
complete success, Bob was rather proud of