xclaimed Zeke contemptuously. "Sorry, ain't he? Wants to lead
a better life, don't he? Well, it's mighty little chance he'll have if
he makes a business of bumpin' up agin me the way he did this mornin', I
bet you."

"He couldn't help it; Jake and Bob threw him against you. I know he is
in earnest, for he has proved it. He came to the ranch to tell me that
my old friend Fletcher is coming over to capture me next full moon, and
he has now gone down to warn the officer in command at Eagle Pass that
an attempt will soon be made to liberate the murderers who are in jail
there.--Good-morning, Mr. Gilbert. I have stopped to say good-bye."

"Why don't you slap your foot down an' tell him he sha'n't go, Gilbert?"
demanded Zeke.

"I am as sorry to have him go as you are," replied Mr. Gilbert. "But it
is to our interest to do all we can to break up this raiding business,
and George can do more than any of us. In fact, he is the only one in
the settlement who can do anything, for you know the colonel wouldn't
accept the services of our company of Rangers when we offered them to
him.--Come in, George, and say good-bye to Mrs. Gilbert and the girls."

This was soon done, for the boy did not like to linger over the parting;
but still, it was much harder for him to take leave of these good
friends than he thought it would be. The whole family accompanied him to
the door, and when he came out Zeke turned his back to him.

"Say good-bye to me," said George, giving him a pat on the shoulder;
"it's your last chance."

"I don't care if it is," shouted the old fellow; "I won't do it."

"Then I will say it to you: Good-bye, Zeke. It will be a long time
before I see you again, if indeed I ever do, but I never shall forget
you. You have been a good friend to me."

This was altogether too much for the honest herdsman. He faced quickly
about, and, seizing George's hand with a grip that brought tears to his
eyes, churned it up and down like a pump-handle. Then he dropped it and
turned away, while George, without saying another word, vaulted into his
saddle and rode off. Zeke watched him as long as he remained in sight,
and then in broken accents addressed the silent group who stood in the
doorway:

"Thar's that there boy."--here he waved his hand in the direction in
which George had disappeared--"he was all I had, an' now he's gone off
to fight them Greasers without askin' me would I let him go. I toted him
in them there arms when he wa