"Here is Jack, Captain, you mustn't forget him," said Harry introducing his companion.
"Ah! Jack, glad to meet you," said Lawrence so heartily and cheerily that Jack's heart was at once won. "Anyone that Harry recommends needs nothing more. You are more than welcome."
"I can never hope to equal Harry," replied Jack, modestly, "but where he leads I can follow."
"The trouble is he wants to go ahead where there is danger," laughed Harry.
"I reckon I will have to put leading strings on both of you," replied Lawrence, with a smile.
Just as Lawrence was ready to start for the Ozarks he received a message from General Schofield, saying that Red Jerry and his band were making a great deal of trouble along the Osage; that he had lately surprised and nearly annihilated a force of seventy-five men under a Captain Dunlay, and that the victory had encouraged him to commit further excesses.
"Can't you go and teach him a lesson he won't forget, before you start for the Ozarks?" asked the General.
"Here, what do you think of this, Dan?" asked Lawrence, handing the message to his lieutenant.
"Let's go by all means," replied Dan, his face brightening. "I am just aching to get a chance at that fellow."
"The same here," exclaimed Lawrence.