“Yes,” said Mr. Gilbert, heaving a deep sigh and fastening his eyes on the floor, “I know all about it. The settlers are going to meet at Cook’s to-morrow and talk it over. They are very angry, and I don’t know what they will make up their minds to do.” “Are you going to be at Cook’s with them?” “Of course. I am as much interested in the matter as anybody.” “Well, you will do your best for Ned, won’t you? He is my cousin, you know. You won’t let them hurt him, will you?” “I’ll do the best I can, certainly; but you might as well try to stem the Rio Grande with a straw, as to stand in the way of a whole settlement, when every man in it has made up his mind to a particular course of action. It was a most outrageous act, and Ned richly deserves punishment.” “I know it; but if the settlers are such friends to me they will let him off this time, and I’ll promise that he will never do the like again. Remember, Mr. Gilbert, that he is young and foolish, and that when the horse came into his possession he didn’t know it was stolen.” “Horse!” exclaimed Mr. Gilbert, opening his eyes. “Stolen! What are you talking about, George!” “What are _you_ talking about, Mr. Gilbert?” asked the boy, slowly raising himself on his elbow, and gazing steadily into the face of his friend. “Why, I refer to something that happened this afternoon in Ned’s wheat field, when Ned and that Yankee friend of his shot down Cook’s cattle,” answered Mr. Gilbert. “What!” exclaimed George, jumping to his feet in great excitement. “Do you mean to tell me that Ned has been shooting stock?” “That’s just what he has done, and that is what I was talking about. Cook caught him in the very act.” “Worse and worse!” said George, sinking back on the lounge again. “Tell me all about it. I want to hear the whole story so that I may know just how to act.” “That is all there is to tell,” was Mr. Gilbert’s reply. “Ned and his friend found Cook’s cattle in the wheat field, and shot two of them, killing one and severely wounding the other.” “He did it with his eyes open,” said George. “He has often threatened it, and I told him just what would happen.” “You said something about a horse,” remarked Mr. Gilbert, when the boy paused. “Yes. Ned met a stranger somewhere and traded horses with him; and when the owner came to our rancho that night, Ned wouldn’t give the horse up.” “That is something I hadn’t heard of,” said Mr. Gilbert, while an expression of surprise and anxiety settled on his face. “Now, tell me your story from beginning to end. If you want my advice I must know everything.”