Gus, who was whistling softly to himself, made no reply to this question, although his companion was sure he had heard it. His silence was enough to excite Ned’s suspicions, and to thoroughly frighten him, also. Did Gus intend to desert him? If so, what would he (Ned) do when he was left to himself? “I’ve made him mad and I don’t know how to get him good-natured again,” was Ned’s mental reflection. “If I can only keep him with me until father comes to Brownsville, he can clear out and welcome. I must keep a close watch over him or he’ll come up minus some fine morning.” While these thoughts were passing through Ned’s mind, he caught up his saddle and bridle and hurried out to put them on his horse. CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. It was a very unsociable pair who rode away from the woods that afternoon. Ned, who knew that he could not take care of himself, tried his best to heal the breach that had been caused between himself and his companion, by the hasty and ungenerous words he had uttered the night before, but Gus repelled all his advances. Knowing that his old friend would drop him again as soon as he could find some one else to lean on, Gus would have nothing to say to him; so Ned gave up in despair, and rode along in silence. We may add that this was the way they travelled every day, until they reached Brownsville. Gus stopped for the night when and where he pleased, resumed his journey in the morning when he got ready, and never consulted Ned, who was at liberty to follow or stay behind, just as he chose. The boys soon found the trail which they had no difficulty in following, for it was as plain as a wagon road. Indeed, it was a wagon road, for it was used by the settlers and army teamsters in hauling goods up and down the river. Gus at once set off at a sharp gallop and Ned lumbered along a few paces in his rear. They rode in this way until the sun sank out of sight, and the shadows of twilight began to deepen into the gloom of night, and Gus was telling himself that there was a fair prospect that they would be obliged to go supperless to bed, when his eyes were gladdened by the sight of a rancho a little distance away. Urging his horse forward at a faster pace, he drew up in front of the building a moment later, and was welcomed by a half a dozen ill-looking curs, which ran out and barked at him vociferously. “Hallo, in there!” shouted Gus, hardly believing that he could make himself heard above the din raised by the angry pack which surrounded him. “Anybody at home?” “Get out, ye brutes!” roared a voice from the inside. “Alight an’ hitch, strangers.”