Ned replied that it was, but he forgot to introduce the two boys to each other, and so did Uncle John. There was something about George that made them forget it. When they came to look at him they saw that he was very much excited, and that his face wore an expression they had never seen there before. They could not tell whether he was frightened or troubled. “Why, George!” exclaimed Uncle John, in some alarm. “What is the matter? Any bad news? Are the Indians or Mexicans——” “Yes, I have bad news,” interrupted George, almost impatiently, “and but little time to tell it in. Ned, you and your friend must pack up and leave this rancho, and this county, too, without the loss of an hour’s time. You are in danger, and I have placed myself in danger by coming here to tell you of it!” The boy’s words produced the utmost surprise and consternation among those who listened to them. CHAPTER XII. A NARROW ESCAPE. George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting. He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether. If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact. But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans. They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous. George and his herdsman made an early start on the following morning, and the third night found them at Catfish Falls. They now felt perfectly safe, for the raiders had never been known to penetrate so far into the country. Their depredations were principally confined to the counties bordering on the river, it being their object to stampede all the stock they could find in one night’s raid, and drive it across the river into Mexico, before the settlers could gather in sufficient numbers to pursue them. They tried as hard to avoid a fight as the ranchemen did to overtake them.