He spoke as though he took no interest whatever in the matter, but if Ned could have seen his face, he would have found that it was growing whiter every moment. Gus heard the sound of the hoofs plainly enough, but until Ned spoke it never occurred to him that the horses which made the noise might be ridden by men who were in pursuit of himself and his companion. A few seconds later the dogs were aroused and rushed out in a body to salute the approaching horsemen. Ned hoped from the bottom of his heart that they would pass on without stopping, but in this he was disappointed. The horsemen came straight toward the house, the sound of the hoofs ceased suddenly in front of the porch, and a voice that made Ned tremble all over rang out on the air. “Hallo, the house!” came the hail. “Get out, ye brutes!” shouted the squatter; whereupon the dogs scattered and took refuge under the porch. “Alight an’ hitch, strangers. I’ll be thar in a minute!” The boys heard their host moving about the living-room and mending the fire to make it blaze. Then he opened the door and they listened with all their ears to hear what passed between him and the new comers. As there was but one thin board partition (and that was full of wide cracks) between them and the door, they could catch every word that was uttered. “Alight an’ hitch, strangers,” said the squatter, repeating his stereotyped invitation. “You’re welcome to sich as we’ve got, an’ that ain’t none of the best, I can tell you.” “Thank you,” replied the same voice that had hailed the house; and when Ned heard it he trembled again. “If you will let us spread our blankets on your porch, and will give us a bite to eat in the morning, we shall be much obliged. We’ll not ask you to get supper for us. It is too late.” “No occasion, stranger; no occasion,” replied the hospitable squatter. “Ole woman, here’s a couple of hungry gentle_men_ out here who want something to eat. Travellin’ fur, strangers?” “We’ve ridden about seventy-five miles. Have you seen a party of four persons pass this way to-day, one of them a young fellow, riding a dark chestnut horse with white mane and tail, and four white feet?” “Gracious!” thought Ned. “Aha!” said Gus, to himself, at the same time drawing a long breath of relief. “He didn’t say a word about the cattle that were shot, so I have nothing to fear. Ned can look out for number one; that’s what he was going to make me do. But he asked after _four_ persons. Who is the other, I wonder? There were but three of us before George was taken away.” “Ain’t seed no sich,” replied the squatter. “That’s very strange,” said the voice. “They must have come this way, for they are going to Brownsville. The fellow who rode this horse wore a sombrero, high patent leather boots and a buckskin coat with silver buttons. He carried an ivory-handled riding-whip, had silver-plated spurs on his heels, and the horse wore a gold-mounted saddle and bridle.”