George, who was accustomed to sudden surprises and always expecting them, did not seem to be at all disturbed by this very unpleasant piece of news. Although he had never had any experience with raiders, he was brave and self-reliant, knew just what to do in any emergency that might arise while he was on the plains, and felt abundantly able to take care of himself. He ran his eye over the letter and postscript once more, to make sure that he had read them aright, and then walked back to his fire and sat down. He did not spend any more time in repairing the cabin, for he knew now that he should not occupy it that night. When his supper was cooked, he ate it with great deliberation; after which he put out his fire and returned to the pack-saddle all the articles he had taken out of it. There was a goodly supply of bacon and coffee left, and this George intended should serve him for his next morning’s breakfast. “I may be out of reach of wood and water by the time I grow hungry,” thought he, as he buckled the pack-saddle and made it ready for Bony’s back. “I can’t stop here to-night, for the timber is by no means a safe place to camp when there are Indians about. I wish Zeke had told me which way they were going when he saw them, for I don’t want to run right in among them before I know it!” As soon as Bony’s burden was adjusted and Ranger had been saddled and bridled, George mounted and rode rapidly away from the grove, holding a straight course for Catfish Falls, but making no effort to find Zeke’s trail. In fact, he did not want to find it, and if he had stumbled upon it accidentally, he would have ridden away from it with all haste. The vicinity of that trail was as dangerous a place as the grove he had just left. A band of raiders might strike it at any time, and follow it up for the purpose of capturing the herd, and George, if he chanced to be in the way, would run the risk of being captured, too. The boy rode rapidly as long as he could distinguish objects about him, and when the darkness had shut him out from the view of any skulking Indian or Mexican, who might chance to be watching him from a distance, he slackened his pace and turned off at right angles with the course he had been pursuing. He rode about a mile in this direction, and then went into camp, staking out his horse and mule, and lying down to sleep, with his poncho for a bed, his saddle for a pillow and his hair lasso for a protection from the visitors of which his cousin Ned stood so much in fear, the rattlers. He slept soundly, too, relying upon Ranger and Bony to arouse him, in case any one approached his camp, and awoke at the first peep, of day, refreshed and invigorated. A couple of hard biscuits, added to the coffee and bacon he had saved from his last night’s supper, furnished him with as good a breakfast as he cared for, and when it had been disposed of, George was ready to begin his day’s journey.