Ned exhibited the greatest astonishment and terror, while Gus sat staring blankly before him, as if he could hardly realize what was going on. The former, George noticed, did not ask what the men intended to do with him, after they had taken him across the river. All he wanted to know, was how he and Gus were going to find their way to Brownsville without a guide. “O now, I don’t know what to do,” cried Ned, sinking back on his blanket and covering his face with his hands. “Be a man in the first place,” said George, who was surprised at his cousin’s want of courage. “You have nothing to cry over. Your way is perfectly plain, but if you miss it, can’t you stop at some of the ranchos along the road and ask the people to set you right? But there’s one thing I want to speak to you about. I say! You don’t care if I change clothes with him, do you?” he added, addressing the man who held him by the collar. “What do you want to do it for?” asked that worthy. “Because it may help him.” “I don’t reckon it’ll do any harm, will it, Sam?” inquired the man, appealing to his companion. Sam looked down at the horn of his saddle, and after considering the matter, said he didn’t think it would. “All right. Let go my collar,” said George. “Why do you hang on to me in that fashion?” “I was told to look out for you,” answered the ruffian, “an’ I’m jest goin’ to do it!” He let go his prisoner’s collar, but he kept close beside him when the latter walked over to the place where his cousin was lying on his blanket. “You had better give me those silver buttons and all the rest of your finery,” said George, “for they are much too conspicuous for you to wear. Those ranchemen are not going to give up that horse, and they may follow you clear to Brownsville. I believe I could take you through all right; but as I can’t go with you, you will be left to depend upon yourself, and you can’t take too many precautions.” The hint that there was still a possibility of pursuit and capture by the ranchemen, brought Ned to his feet in great haste. The thought that perhaps his cousin might get himself into trouble by wearing those same silver buttons never entered his head, nor would he have paid any attention to it if it had. He cared for nobody but himself, and he was quite willing to part with his nobby suit, and put on his cousin’s coarse clothing, if by so doing, he could secure his own safety. The exchange was soon effected, the cattle-thief standing so close to George’s elbow all the while that flight would have been impossible, even if the boy had thought of such a thing, and although Ned cut a sorry figure in his new rig, his cousin’s appearance was vastly improved. The nobby suit, which was rather large for Ned, fitted him as though it had been made on purpose for him, and Gus, while he looked at him, wondered why he had never before noticed that George was a very handsome young fellow.