uld go down into a
dug-out to capture six armed men after one of them had given positive
proof that he was not afraid to shoot. That bullet-hole in your coat is
a badge of honor. Now, I have just thought of something: I have brought
with me a full suit of Mexican clothes, and also a saddle and bridle of
the Mexican pattern. You are just about my size--"

"That's the very idea--nothing could be better," exclaimed Bob, as he
arose to his feet and led the way toward the place where he had left his
men. "It will disguise me completely, won't it? I can ride up and get
between him and the house before he suspects anything, can't I? But how
about the squatter?"

"I'll join you as soon as I see that you have corralled your man,"
replied George. "And you had better tell your followers to hold
themselves in readiness to come up promptly when I signal to them from
the top of the ridge."

The troopers awaited the boys' return with no little impatience, for the
long consultation they had held on the ridge convinced them that their
officer had discovered something on the other side of it. Bob gave them
a wink and a nod, which instead of satisfying their curiosity only
increased it, and then, to the surprise of all of them, began to divest
himself of his outer clothing, while George threw off the canvas
covering that protected his pack, and drew out of it an elegant
silver-mounted saddle and bridle, and also a suit of clothes made in the
height of the Mexican fashion.

"If that man of yours is at all sharp he will notice those army-brogans
the first thing, and so you had better pull them off and put on these,"
said George, tossing a pair of light patent-leather shoes toward Bob.
"There are the spurs. You had better take my horse too, for that 'U. S.'
brand on your own nag would give you away in a minute. Now go easy, like
an honest Greaser who is going about his legitimate business. Take my
mule with you, for if you try to separate him from the horse he'll raise
row enough to scare all the deserters out of the State."

It is wonderful what an alteration is sometimes made in one's appearance
by a mere change of clothing. After Bob had got into the Mexican suit
and exchanged his cap for the wide sombrero with its gaudy cord and
tassel, it was doubtful if there was one among his brother-troopers who
would have recognized him if he had chanced to meet him unexpectedly.
Although he was not quite yellow enough for a Mexican, he was
ne