whose houses they halted could give them no information concerning the
raiders. They had been on that side of the river, and had gone back
empty-handed, and that was all the ranchemen knew about the matter. This
made it plain that Bob's gallant dash had not been without its effect.
It had frightened the thieves so thoroughly that they dared not stop to
pick up any of the cattle they found in their way.

Bob and his troopers camped that night near a farm-house whose owner was
so delighted to see the five prisoners they had brought with them, and
to learn of the success that had attended them ever since Captain
Clinton sent them off by themselves, that he insisted on giving them a
seat at his table. The next morning he gave them a breakfast; but the
first squad who went in--which included Bob and George--had scarcely
taken possession of their chairs when one of the sentries was heard
calling lustily for the corporal of the guard. Bob excused himself and
ran out, only to return again almost immediately and startle everybody
with the order, "Boots and saddles!" George jumped up from the table,
wondering what was the matter. When he reached the porch he found out.
About a mile up the trail was a long column of blue-coats coming down at
a sweeping trot.

"They are our boys, and they are after the Greasers," exclaimed Bob, as
George came down the steps. "It's lucky we are here, for you are the
very man they want if they are going across the river.--Catch up, boys,
and fall in just as we do when we are on the march, only face to the
left, so as to front the column when it comes up."

If we have a reader who is familiar with cavalry tactics, he will have
discovered, long before this time, that Corporal Owens was not at all
particular as to the orders he gave, provided he could make his men act
to suit him. When in the presence of his superiors he always gave the
proper commands, in order to save himself from the reproof that would
have promptly followed the slightest departure from the tactics; but
when he was in command of a scouting-party he was decidedly free and
easy. Even an old trooper might have been puzzled over this last order,
but the men who had marched with him so many miles were quick to catch
his meaning and prompt to carry out his wishes; so that when the whole
available cavalry force of Fort Lamoine, numbering two hundred men, came
sweeping by the farm-house a few minutes later, with Captain Clinton
riding at t