r houses and send his pursuers off on the wrong trail.

After Bob and his troopers had ridden about fifteen miles, and had
shouted and sung off a little of their surplus enthusiasm, they relapsed
into silence and settled down to business. They halted on the top of
every ridge to survey the country before them, and called at every
ranche that lay along their route; but nothing was to be seen or heard
of Bristow and his party. About noon they came within sight of a
squatter's cabin, and Bob decided to stop there and eat dinner. The
owner of the cabin was at home, and he welcomed the horsemen with every
appearance of cordiality.

"Alight an' hitch, strangers," said he, when he had succeeded in
quieting the small army of dogs which came out from under the cabin to
dispute the further advance of the troopers. "You're as welcome as the
flowers in May."

"Thank you," said Bob as he swung himself from his saddle. "We intend to
stop here and rest for an hour or so. We'll boil our coffee and cook our
rations on your stove, if you have no objections."

"I ain't got no stove," replied the squatter hastily--"leastways, none
that you can do cookin' on," he added, with some confusion, when he saw
Bob and one or two of his men look up at the stovepipe which projected
above the roof.

"All right!" replied the corporal, silencing by a look one of the
troopers who was about to say something. "Then we shall have to build a
fire outside; but that will do just as well, for we are used to cooking
our grub in that way.--Now, Carey, if you and Loring will skirmish
around and find some wood and start the coffee-pot going, we will look
out for your nags."

"Corporal," whispered one of the troopers, "there's a bug under that
chip. In other words, this old rascal has some reason for wishing to
keep us out of his cabin."

"Say nothing out loud," replied Bob with a warning gesture. "We are on
the right track, and I know it. If we fail now, it will be through our
own blundering."

Having seen the horses staked out, Bob walked back to the cabin, and
found the squatter in conversation with Carey and Loring. His first
words indicated that he had been trying to pump them, but without
success.

"Say, soldier, where might you be a-travellin' to?" he asked as Bob
came up. "I asked them two fellows, an' they told me I had better ask
you."

"We are looking for seven deserters who passed this way some time this
morning," answered Bob. "They were o