When they had approached a little nearer the two men put their horses into a gallop, and dashed into camp. One of them threw his bridle to his companion, and swinging himself out of his saddle hurried up to George and placed his hand on his shoulder just as the boy, aroused out of a sound sleep by the clatter of the horses’ hoofs, raised himself on his elbow to see what was the matter. He saw a bearded face bending over him, and felt a strong grasp on his collar. His two companions were sitting up on their blankets looking on with mouths and eyes wide open. Ned probably did not consider this incident a part of the “lark” he had been talking about, for he was trembling like a leaf. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” demanded George, as soon as he could speak. “We’re somebody who won’t harm you so long as you do just as you’re told!” replied the man. “We came after you—that’s what’s we are doin’ here!” “Well, now that you have found me, what do you want with me?” asked George. “We want you to get on your hoss an’ take a ride with us. Thar’s somebody over on the other side of the river who wants to see you powerful bad!” George arose slowly to his feet and looked first at the man who held him by the collar, and then at the man who sat in his saddle. He knew who they were before he asked them, and he knew, too, who it was on the other side of the river who wanted to see him. He was caught at last, and there was no chance for escape. There was but one course open to him, and that was to submit and trust to luck. “Answer another question while you are about it,” said George. “Are you Fletcher’s men?” “What do you know about Fletcher?” demanded the ruffian, in surprise. “I know all about him, and I know what he wants of me, too.” “Who told you?” asked his captor, still more astonished. “That’s my business!” answered George, who knew better than to mention Springer’s name. “Now, what in the world does this mean?” whined Ned, who just then recovered his power of speech. “Who are these men, George, and what are they going to do with us?” “We aint agoin’ to do nothing with you an’ the other feller thar,” said the man, pointing at Gus, “so you don’t need to get so white an’ act so powerful skeered. This yere is the chap we’ve been lookin’ fur. Now you two can lay thar an’ sleep jest as long as you please, an’ then you can strike out fur Brownsville, and nobody won’t say a word to you.” “But what are you going to do with George? Are you going to take him away and leave us alone?” “That’s about the way it looks now.” “How are we going to find our way without a guide? We don’t know the road!” “You don’t need to know it, ‘cause you can’t miss it. It’s as plain as the nose on your face.”