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THE TEXAN SCOUTS

A Story of the Alamo and Goliad

by

JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER

Author of _The Texan Star_, _The Quest of the Four_, _The Scouts of theValley_, etc. 

Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. New York

1913

 FOREWORD

 "THE TEXAN SCOUTS, " WHILE A COMPLETE STORY IN ITSELF, CONTINUES THE FORTUNES OF NED FULTON AND HIS FRIENDS, WHO WERE THE CENTRAL CHARACTERS IN "THE TEXAN STAR. "

CONTENTS

 CHAPTER

 I. IN THE STORM

 II. THE CAPTIVES

 III. THE FIGHT WITH URREA

 IV. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

 V. SANTA ANNA'S ADVANCE

 VI. FOR FREEDOM'S SAKE

 VII. THE HERALD OF ATTACK

 VIII. IN THE ALAMO

 IX. THE FLAG OF NO QUARTER

 X. CROCKETT AND BOWIE

 XI. THE DESPERATE DEFENCE

 XII. BEFORE THE DICTATOR

 XIII. TO THE LAST MAN

 XIV. THE NEWS OF THE FALL

 XV. IN ANOTHER TRAP

 XVI. FANNIN'S CAMP

 XVII. THE SAD SURRENDER

XVIII. THE BLACK TRAGEDY

 XIX. THE RACE FOR THE BOAT

 XX. THE CRY FOR VENGEANCE

CHAPTER I

IN THE STORM

The horseman rode slowly toward the west, stopping once or twice toexamine the wide circle of the horizon with eyes that were trained tonote every aspect of the wilderness. On his right the plains melted awayin gentle swell after swell, until they met the horizon. Their brownsurface was broken only by the spiked and thorny cactus and stray bitsof chaparral. 

On his left was the wide bed of a river which flowed through the sand, breaking here and there into several streams, and then reuniting, onlyto scatter its volume a hundred yards further into three or fourchannels. A bird of prey flew on strong wing over the water, dipped andthen rose again, but there was no other sign of life. Beyond, thecountry southward rolled away, gray and bare, sterile and desolate. 

The horseman looked most often into the south. His glances into thenorth were few and brief, but his eyes dwelled long on the lonely landthat lay beyond the yellow current. His was an attractive face. He wasyoung, only a boy, but the brow was broad and high, and the eyes, graveand steady, were those of one who thought much. He was clad completelyin buckskin, and his hat was wide of brim. A rifle held in one hand layacross the pommel of his saddle and there were weapons in his belt. Twolight, but warm, blankets, folded closely, were tied behind him. Thetanned face and the lithe, strong figure showed a wonderful degree ofhealth and strength. 

Several hours passed and the horseman rode on steadily though slowly. His main direction was toward the west, and always he kept the river twoor three hundred yards on his left. He never failed to search the plainson either side, but chiefly in the south, with the eager, intent gazethat missed nothing. But the lonesome gray land, cut by the coilingyellow river, still rolled before him, and its desolation and chillstruck to his heart. It was the depth of the Texan winter, and, attimes, icy gusts, born in far mountains, swept across the plains. 

The rider presently turned his horse toward the river and stopped on alow bluff overlooking it. His face showed a tinge of disappointment, asif his eyes failed to find objects for which they sought. Again he gazedlong and patiently into the south, but without reward. 

He resumed his ride parallel with the river, but soon stopped a secondtime, and held up an open hand, like one who tests the wind. The air wasgrowing perceptibly colder. The strong gusts were now fusing into asteady wind. The day, which had not been bright at any time, was turningdarker. The sun was gone and in the far north banks of mists and vaporwere gathering. A dreary moaning came over the plain. 

Ned Fulton, tried and brave though he was, beheld the omens with alarm. He knew what they portended, and in all that vast wilderness he wasalone. Not a human being to share the danger with him! Not a hand tohelp!

He looked for chaparral, something that might serve as a sort ofshelter, but he had left the last clump of it behind, and now he turnedand rode directly north, hoping that he might find some deep depressionbetween the swells where he and his horse, in a fashion, could hide. 

Meanwhile the Norther came down with astonishing speed. The temperaturefell like a plummet. The moan of the wind rose to a shriek, and coldclouds of dust were swept against Ned and his horse. Then snow mingledwith the dust and both beat upon them. Ned felt his horse shiveringunder him, and he shivered, too, despite his will. It had turned so darkthat he could no longer tell where he was going, and he used the widebrim of his hat to protect himself from the sand. 

Soon it was black as night, and the snow was driving in a hurricane. Thewind, unchecked by forest or hill, screamed with a sound almost human. Ned dismounted and walked in the lee of his horse. The animal turned hishead and nuzzled his master, as if he could give him warmth. 

Ned hoped that the storm would blow itself out in an hour or two, buthis hope was vain. The darkness did not abate. The wind rose instead offalling, and the snow thickened. It lay on the plain several inchesdeep, and the walking grew harder. At last the two, the boy and thehorse, stopped. Ned knew that they had come into some kind of adepression, and the full force of the hurricane passed partly over theirheads. 

It was yet very dark, and the driving snow scarcely permitted him toopen his eyes, but by feeling about a little he found that one side ofthe dip was covered with a growth of dwarf bushes. He led the horse intothe lower edge of these, where some protection was secured, and, crouching once more in the lee of the animal, he unfolded the twoblankets, which he wrapped closely about himself to the eyes. 

Ned, for the first time since the Norther rushed down upon him, feltsecure. He would not freeze to death, he would escape the fate thatsometimes overtook lone hunters or travelers upon those vast plains. Warmth from the blankets began gradually to replace the chill in hisbones, and the horse and the bushes together protected his face from thedriven snow which had been cutting like hail. He even had, in somedegree, the sense of comfort which one feels when safe inside four wallswith a storm raging past the windows. The horse whinnied once and rubbedhis nose against Ned's hand. He, too, had ceased to shiver. 

All that afternoon the Norther blew with undiminished violence. After awhile the fall of snow thinned somewhat, but the wind did not decrease. Ned was devoutly thankful for the dip and the bushes that grew withinit. Nor was he less thankful for the companionship of his horse. It wasa good horse, a brave horse, a great bay mustang, built powerfully andwith sinews and muscles of steel. He had secured him just after takingpart in the capture of San Antonio with his comrades, Obed White and theRing Tailed Panther, and already the tie between horse and rider hadbecome strong and enduring. Ned stroked him again, and the horse, twisting his neck around, thrust his nose under his arm. 

"Good old boy! Good fellow!" said Ned, pinching his ear. "We were lucky, you and I, to find this place. "

The horse neighed ever so gently, and rubbed his nose up and down. Aftera while the darkness began to increase. Ned knew that it was not a newdevelopment of the storm, but the coming of night, and he grew anxiousagain. He and his horse, however secure at the present moment, could notstay always in that dip among the bushes. Yet he did not dare to leaveit. Above on the plain they would receive the full sweep of the wind, which was still bitterly cold. 

He was worn by the continued buffetings of blast and snow, but he didnot dare to lie down, even in the blankets, lest he never wake again, and while he considered he saw darker shadows in the darkness above him. He gazed, all attention, and counted ten shadows, following one another, a dusky file. He knew by the set of their figures, short and stocky, that they were Mexicans, and his heart beat heavily. These were thefirst Mexicans that any one had seen on Texan soil since the departureof Cos and his army on parole from captured San Antonio. So the Mexicanshad come back, and no doubt they would return in great force!

Ned crouched lower, and he was very glad that the nose of the horse wasstill under his arm. He would not have a chance to whinny to his kindthat bore the Mexicans. But the horse made no attempt to move, and Nedwatched them pass on and out of sight. He had not heard the sound offootsteps or voices above the wind, and after they were gone it seemedto him that he had seen a line of phantoms. 

But he was sure that his own mortal eyes had beheld that for which hewas looking. He and his comrades had been watching the Rio Grande to seewhether the Mexicans had crossed, and now he at least knew it. 

He waited patiently three or four hours longer, until the wind died andthe fall of snow ceased, when he mounted his horse and rode out of thedip. The wind suddenly sprang up again in about fifteen minutes, butnow it blew from the south and was warm. The darkness thinned away asthe moon and stars came out in a perfect sky of southern blue. Thetemperature rose many degrees in an hour and Ned knew that the snowwould melt fast. All danger of freezing was past, but he was as hungryas a bear and tired to death. 

He unwrapped the blankets from his body, folded them again in a smallpackage which he made fast to his saddle, and once more stroked the noseof his horse. 

"Good Old Jack, " he murmured--he had called him Old Jack after AndrewJackson, then a mighty hero of the south and west, "you passed throughthe ordeal and never moved, like the silent gentleman that you are. "

Old Jack whinnied ever so softly, and rubbed his nose against the boy'scoat sleeve. Ned mounted him and rode out of the dip, pausing at the topof the swell for a long look in every direction. The night was nowpeaceful and there was no noise, save for the warm wind that blew out ofthe south with a gentle sighing sound almost like the note of music. Trickles of water from the snow, already melting, ran down the crests. Lighter and lighter grew the sky. The moon seemed to Ned to be poiseddirectly overhead, and close by. New stars were springing out as thelast clouds floated away. 

Ned sought shelter, warmth and a place in which to sleep, and to securethese three he felt that he must seek timber. The scouts whom he hadseen were probably the only Mexicans north of the Rio Grande, and, as hebelieved, there was not one chance in a thousand of meeting such enemiesagain. If he should be so lucky as to find shelter he would sleep therewithout fear. 

He rode almost due north for more than two hours, seeing patches ofchaparral on both right and left. But, grown fastidious now and notthinking them sufficient for his purpose, he continued his northerncourse. Old Jack's feet made a deep sighing sound as they sank in thesnow, and now there was water everywhere as that soft but conqueringsouth wind blew steadily over the plain. 

When he saw a growth of timber rising high and dark upon a swell hebelieved that he had found his place, and he urged his horse to renewedspeed. The trees proved to be pecans, aspens and oaks growing so denselythat he was compelled to dismount and lead Old Jack before they couldforce an entrance. Inside he found a clear space, somewhat like theopenings of the north, in shape an irregular circle, but not more thanfifteen feet across. Great spreading boughs of oaks had protected it sowell that but little snow had fallen there, and that little had melted. Already the ground in the circle was drying. 

Ned uttered an exclamation of relief and gratitude. This would be hiscamp, and to one used to living in the wilderness it furnished goodshelter. At one edge of the opening was an outcropping of flat rock nowquite dry, and there he would spread his bed. He unsaddled and unbridledhis horse, merely tethering him with a lariat, and spread the horseblanket upon the flat rock. He would lie upon this and cover himselfwith his own blankets, using the saddle as a pillow. 

But the security of the covert tempted the boy, who was now as hungry asa bear just come from winter quarters. He felt weak and relaxed afterhis long hours in the snow and storm, and he resolved to have warm foodand drink. 

There was much fallen wood among the trees, and with his strong huntingknife he whittled off the bark and thin dry shavings until he had a fineheap. Working long with flint and steel, he managed to set fire to theshavings, and then he fed the flames with larger pieces of wood untilhe had a great bed of glowing coals. A cautious wilderness rover, learning always from his tried friends, Ned never rode the plainswithout his traveling equipment, and now he drew from his pack a smalltin coffee pot and tiny cup of the same material. Then with quick andskillful hands he made coffee over the coals and warmed strips of deerand buffalo meat. 

He ate and drank hungrily, while the horse nibbled the grass that grewwithin the covert. Glorious warmth came again and the worn feelingdeparted. Life, youthful, fresh and abounding, swelled in every vein. 

He now put out all the coals carefully, throwing wet leaves upon them, in order that not a single spark might shine through the trees to beseen by an enemy upon the plain. He relied upon the horse to givewarning of a possible approach by man, and to keep away wolves. 

Then he made his bed upon the rock, doing everything as he had arrangedit in his mind an hour before, and, wrapped in his blankets, fell intothe soundest of sleeps. The south wind still blew steadily, playing alow musical song among the trees. The beads of water on the twigs andthe few leaves that remained dried fast. The grass dried, too, andbeyond the covert the snow, so quick to come, was equally quick to go. 

The horse ceased to nibble the grass, looked at the sleeping boy, touched his blankets lightly with his nose, and walked to the other sideof the opening, where he lay down and went to his own horse heaven ofsleep. 

It was not many hours until day and Old Jack was a light sleeper. Whenhe opened his eyes again he saw a clear and beautiful winter day of thefar south. The only clouds in the sky were little drifting bits of finewhite wool, and the warm wind still blew. Old Jack, who was in realityYoung Jack, as his years were not yet four, did not think so much of thecovert now, as he had already eaten away all the grass within the littleopening but his sense of duty was strong. He saw that his human masterand comrade still slept, apparently with no intention of awakening atany very early date, and he set himself to gleaning stray blades ofgrass that might have escaped his notice the night before. 

Ned awoke a little after the noon hour, and sprang to his feet indismay. The sun was almost directly over his head, showing him how lateit was. He looked at his horse as if to reproach his good comrade fornot waking him sooner, but Old Jack's large mild eyes gave him such agaze of benignant unconcern that the boy was ashamed of himself. 

"It certainly was not your fault, " he said to his horse, "and, afterall, it probably doesn't matter. We've had a long sound sleep and rest, and I've no doubt that both of us will profit by it. Nothing seems to beleft in here for you to eat, but I'll take a little breakfast myself. "

He did not relight the fire, but contented himself with cold food. Thenresaddling, he left the grove and rode northward again until he came toa hill, or, rather, a swell, that was higher than the rest. Here hestopped his horse and took a glance at the sun, which was shining withuncommon brilliancy. Then he produced a small mirror from the pocket ofhis hunting shirt and held it in such a position that it made a focus ofthe sun's rays, throwing them in a perfect blazing lance of light. 

He turned the flaming lance around the horizon, until it completed thecircle and then he started around with it again. Meantime he was keepinga close watch upon every high point. A hill rose in the north, and helooked at it longest, but nothing came from it. There was another, butlower, hill in the west, and before he had completed the second roundwith his glass a light flashed from it. It was a brilliant light, almostlike a sheaf of white incandescent rays. He lowered his own mirror andthe light played directly upon his hill. When it ceased he sent backanswering rays, to which, when he stopped, a rejoinder came in likefashion. Then he put the little mirror back in the safe pocket of hishunting shirt and rode with perfect confidence toward that western hill. 

The crest that Ned sought was several miles away, although it lookedmuch nearer in the thin clear air of the plains, but he rode now atincreased speed, because there was much to draw him on. Old Jack seemedto share in his lightness of spirit, raising his head once and neighing, as if he were sending forth a welcome. 

The boy soon saw two figures upon the hill, the shapes of horse and man, outlined in black against the sun, which was now declining in the west. They were motionless and they were exaggerated into gigantic statureagainst the red background. Ned knew them, although the distance was fartoo great to disclose any feature. But signal had spoken truly tosignal, and that was enough. Old Jack made a fresh burst of speed andpresently neighed once more. An answering neigh came back from the hill. 

Ned rode up the slope and greeted Obed White and the Ring Tailed Pantherwith outstretched hands. 

"And it's you, my boy, " said Obed, his eyes glistening. "Until we sawyour signal we were afraid that you might have frozen to death in theNorther, but it's a long lane that has no happy ending, and here we are, all three of us, alive, and as well as ever. "

"That's so, " said the Panther, "but even when the storm was at its worstI didn't give up, Ned. Somehow, when things are at the blackest I'malways hopin'. I don't take any credit fur it. I was just born with thatkind of a streak in me. "

Ned regarded him with admiration. The Ring Tailed Panther was certainlya gorgeous object. He rode a great black horse with a flowing mane. Hewas clad completely in a suit of buckskin which was probably without amatch on the border. It and his moccasins were adorned with thick rowsof beads of many colors, that glittered and flashed as the sunlightplayed upon them. Heavy silver spurs were fastened to his heels, and hishat of broad brim and high cone in the Mexican fashion was heavy withsilver braid. His saddle also was of the high, peaked style, studdedwith silver. The Panther noticed Ned's smile of appraisement and smiledback. 

"Ain't it fine?" he said. "I guess this is about the beautifullestoutfit to be found in either Texas or Mexico. I bought it all in honorof our victory just after we took San Antonio, and it soothes my eyesand makes my heart strong every time I look at it. "

"And it helps out the prairies, " said Obed White, his eyes twinkling. "Now that winter has made 'em brown, they need a dash of color and thePanther gives it to 'em. Fine feathers don't keep a man from being a manfor a' that. What did you do in the storm, Ned?"

"I found shelter in a thick grove, managed to light a fire, and sleptthere in my blankets. "

"We did about the same. "

"But I saw something before I reached my shelter. "

"What was that?" exclaimed the two, noting the significance in Ned'stone. 

"While I was waiting in a dip I saw ten Mexican horsemen ride by. Theywere heavily armed, and I've no doubt they were scouts belonging to somestrong force. "

"And so they are back on this side of the Rio Grande, " said Obed Whitethoughtfully. "I'm not surprised. Our Texans have rejoiced too early. The full storm has not burst yet. "

The Panther began to bristle. A giant in size, he seemed to grow larger, and his gorgeous hunting suit strained at the seams. 

"Let 'em come on, " he said menacingly. "Let Santa Anna himself lead 'em. We Texans can take care of 'em all. "

But Obed White shook his head sadly. 

"We could if we were united, " he said, "but our leaders have taken tosquabbling. You're a Cheerful Talker, Panther, and you deserve both yournames, but to tell you the honest truth I'm afraid of the Mexicanadvance. "

"I think the Mexicans probably belonged to Urrea's band, " said Ned. 

"Very likely, " said Obed. "He's about the most energetic of theirpartisan leaders, and it may be that we'll run against him pretty soon. "

They had heard in their scouting along the Rio Grande that youngFrancisco Urrea, after the discovery that he was a spy and hiswithdrawal from San Antonio with the captured army of Cos, had organizeda strong force of horsemen and was foremost among those who were urginga new Mexican advance into Texas. 

"It's pretty far west for the Mexicans, " said the Panther. "We're on theedge of the Indian country here. "

But Obed considered it all the more likely that Urrea, if he meditated araid, would come from the west, since his approach at that point wouldbe suspected the least. The three held a brief discussion and soon cameto an agreement. They would continue their own ride west and look forUrrea. Having decided so, they went into the task heart and soul, despite its dangers. 

The three rode side by side and three pairs of skilled eyes examined theplain. The snow was left only in sheltered places or among the trees. But the further they went the scarcer became the trees, and before nightthey disappeared entirely. 

"We are comin' upon the buffalo range, " said the Panther. "A hundredmiles further west we'd be likely to strike big herds. When we'rethrough fightin' the Mexicans I'm goin' out there again. It's the lifefur me. "

The night came, dark and cold, but fortunately without wind. They campedin a dip and did not light any fire, lying as Ned had done the nightbefore on their horse blankets and wrapping themselves in their own. Thethree horses seemed to be contented with one another and made no noise. 

They deemed it wise now to keep a watch, as they might be near Urrea'sband or Lipans might pass, and the Panther, who said he was not sleepyat all, became sentinel. Ned, although he had not risen until noon, wassleepy again from the long ride, and his eyes closed soon. The lastobject that he saw was the Panther standing on the crest of the swelljust beyond them, rifle on shoulder, watching the moonlit plains. ObedWhite was asleep already. 

The Panther walked back and forth a few times and then looked down athis comrades in the dip. His trained eyes saw their chests rising andfalling, and he knew that they were far away in the land of Nowhere. Then he extended his walk back and forth a little further, scanningcarefully the dusky plain. 

A light wind sprang up after a while, and it brought a low but heavy andmeasured tread to his ears. The Panther's first impulse was to awakenhis friends, because this might be the band of Urrea, but he hesitated amoment, and then lay down with his ear to the earth. When he rose hisuneasiness had departed and he resumed his walk back and forth. He hadheard that tread before many times and, now that it was coming nearer, he could not mistake it, but, as the measured beat indicated that itwould pass to one side, it bore no threat for his comrades or himself. 

The Panther did not stop his walk as from a distance of a few hundredyards he watched the great buffalo herd go by. The sound was so steadyand regular that Ned and Obed were not awakened nor were the horsesdisturbed. The buffaloes showed a great black mass across the plain, extending for fully a mile, and they were moving north at an even gait. The Panther watched until the last had passed, and he judged that therewere fully a hundred thousand animals in the herd. He saw also the bigtimber wolves hanging on the rear and flanks, ready to cut out straycalves or those weak from old age. So busy were the wolves seeking achance that they did not notice the gigantic figure of the man, rifle onshoulder, who stood on the crest of the swell looking at them as theypassed. 

The Panther's eyes followed the black line of the herd until itdisappeared under the northern rim of darkness. He was wondering why thebuffaloes were traveling so steadily after daylight and he came to theconclusion that the impelling motive was not a search for new pastures. He listened a long time until the last rumble of the hundred thousanddied away in a faint echo, and then he awakened his comrades. 

"I'm thinkin', " he said, "that the presence of Urrea's band made thebuffaloes move. Now I'm not a Ring Tailed Panther an' a Cheerful Talkerfor nothin', an' we want to hunt that band. Like as not they've beendoin' some mischief, which we may be able partly to undo. I'm in favorof ridin' south, back on the herd track an' lookin' for 'em. "

"So am I, " said Obed White. "My watch says it's one o'clock in themorning, and my watch is always right, because I made it myself. We'vehad a pretty good rest, enough to go on, and what we find may be worthfinding. A needle in a haystack may be well hid, but you'll find it ifyou look long enough. "

They rode almost due south in the great path made by the buffalo herd, not stopping for a full two hours when a halt was made at a signal fromthe Panther. They were in a wide plain, where buffalo grass yet grewdespite the winter, and the Panther said with authority that the herdhad been grazing here before it was started on its night journey intothe north. 

"An' if we ride about this place long enough, " he said, "we'll find thereason why the buffaloes left it. "

He turned his horse in a circuit of the plain and Ned and Obed followedthe matchless tracker, who was able, even in the moonlight, to note anydisturbance of the soil. Presently he uttered a little cry and pointedahead. Both saw the skeleton of a buffalo which evidently had beenkilled not long and stripped of its meat. A little further on they sawanother and then two more. 

"That tells it, " said the Panther succinctly. "These buffaloes werekilled for food an' most likely by Mexicans. It was the shots that setthe herd to runnin'. The men who killed 'em are not far away, an' I'mnot a Ring Tailed Panther an' a Cheerful Talker if they don't belong toUrrea's band. "

"Isn't that a light?" said Ned, pointing to the west, "or is it afirefly or something of the kind?"

A glowing spark was just visible over the plain, but as it neither movednor went out the three concluded that it was made by a distant fire. 

"I think it's in chaparral or among trees, " said Obed, "or we would seeit more plainly. It's a poor camp fire that hides its light under abushel. "

"I think you're right an' it must be chaparral, " said the Panther. "Butwe'll ride toward it an' soon answer our own questions. "

The light was more than a mile away and, as they advanced slowly, theysaw it grow in size and intensity. It was surely a campfire, but nosound that they could yet hear came from it. They did not expect to hearany. If it was indeed Urrea and his men they would probably be sleepingsoundly, not expecting any foe to be near. The Panther now dismounted, and the other two did likewise. 

"No need to show too high above the plain, " he said, "an' if we have torun it won't take a second to jump back on our horses. "

Ned did not take the bridle of his horse as the others did. He knew thatOld Jack would follow as faithful as any dog to his master, and he wasright. As they advanced slowly the velvet nose more than once pressedtrustfully against his elbow. 

They saw now that an extensive growth of chaparral rose before them, from the center of which the light seemed to be shining. The Panther laydown on the prairie, put his ear to the ground, and listened a longtime. 

"I think I hear the feet of horses movin' now an' then, " he said, "an'if so, one of us had better stay behin' with ours. A horse of theirsmight neigh an' a horse of ours might answer. Yon can't tell. Obed, Iguess it'll be for you to stay. You've got a most soothin' dispositionwith animals. "

"All right, " said Obed philosophically, "I'd rather go on, but, if it'sbetter for me to stay, I'll stay. They also serve who stand and hold thereins. If you find you've got to leave in a hurry I'll be here waiting. "

He gathered up the reins of the three horses and remained quietly on theplain, while Ned and the Panther went forward, making straight for thelight. 

When they came to the edge of the chaparral they knelt among the bushesand listened. Now both distinctly heard the occasional movement ofhorses, and they saw the dusky outlines of several figures before thefire, which was about three hundred yards away. 

"They are bound to be Mexicans, " whispered the Panther, "'cause thereare no Texans in this part of the country, an' you an' me, Ned, mustfind out just who they are. "

"You lead the way, Panther, " said Ned. "I'll follow wherever you go. "

"Then be mighty careful. Look out for the thorns an' don't knock yourrifle against any bush. "

The Panther lay almost flat. His huge figure seemed to blend with theearth, and he crept forward among the thorny bushes with amazing skill. He was like some large animal, trained for countless generations to slipthrough thickets. Ned, just behind him, could hear only the faintestnoise, and the bushes moved so little that one, not knowing, might havecredited it to the wind. 

The boy had the advantage of following in the path made by the man'slarger figure, and he, too, was successful in making no sound. But hecould hear the stamp of horses' feet clearly now, and both to left andright he caught glimpses of them tethered in the thickets. His comradestopped at last. They were not more than a hundred yards from the firenow, and the space in front of them was mostly open. The Panther, crouching among the bushes, raised his finger slowly and pointed towardthe fire. 

Ned, who had moved to one side, followed the pointing finger and sawUrrea. He was the dominant figure in a group of six or seven gatheredabout the flames. He was no longer in any disguise, but wore anofficer's gorgeous uniform of white and silver. A splendid cocked hatwas on his head, and a small gold hilted rapier swung by his side. 

It may have been partly the effect of the night and the red flame, butthe face of Urrea had upon Ned an effect much like that of Santa Anna. It was dark and handsome, but full of evil. And evil Ned knew Urrea tobe. No man with righteous blood in his veins would play the spy andtraitor as he had done. 

"I could shoot him from here, " whispered the Panther, who evidently wasinfluenced in a similar way, "then reach our horses an' get away. Itmight be a good deed, an' it might save our lives, Ned, but I'm not ableto force myself to do it. "

"Nor I, " said Ned. "I can't shoot an enemy from ambush. "

Urrea and the other men at the fire, all of whom were in the dress ofofficers, were in a deep talk. Ned inferred that the subject must be ofmuch importance, since they sat awake, discussing it between midnightand morning. 

"Look beyond the fire at the figures leanin' against the trees, "whispered the Panther. 

Ned looked and hot anger rose in his veins. 

CHAPTER II

THE CAPTIVES

Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used tothe dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozenmen, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees. Theywere prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans. Hisblood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins. They had been captured byUrrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans wererebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unlessrescue came. 

"What shall we do?" he whispered. 

"Nothing now, " replied the Panther, in the same soft tone, "but if youan' Obed are with me we'll follow this crowd, an' maybe we can get theTexans away from 'em. It's likely that Urrea will cross the Rio Grandean' go down into Mexico to meet Cos or Santa Anna. Are you game enoughto go, Ned? I'm a Ring Tailed Panther an' a roarin' grizzly bear, but Idon't like to follow all by myself. "

"I'm with you, " said Ned, "if I have to go all the way back to the Cityof Mexico, an' I know that I can speak for Obed, too. "

"I jest asked as a matter of form, " said the Panther. "I knowed beforeaskin' that you an' Obed would stick to me. "

There was a sudden gust of wind at that moment and the light of the firesprang higher. The flames threw a glow across the faces of theprisoners. Most of them were asleep, but Ned saw them very distinctlynow. One was a boy but little older than himself, his face pale andworn. Near him was an old man, with a face very uncommon on the border. His features were those of a scholar and ascetic. His cheeks were thin, and thick white hair crowned a broad white brow. Ned felt instinctivelythat he was a man of importance. 

Both the boy and the man slept the sleep of utter exhaustion. 

Urrea rose presently and looked at his prisoners. The moonlight wasshining on his face, and it seemed to Ned to be that of some masterdemon. The boy was far from denying many good qualities to the Mexicans, but the countenance of Urrea certainly did not express any of them thatnight. It showed only savage exultation as he looked at the bound men, and Ned knew that this was a formidable enemy of the Texans, one whowould bring infinite resources of cunning and enterprise to crush them. 

Urrea said a few words to his officers and then withdrew into a smalltent which Ned had not noticed hitherto. The officers lay down in theirblankets, but a dozen sentinels watched about the open space. Ned andthe Panther crept slowly back toward the plain. 

"What is our best plan, Panther?" whispered the hoy. 

"We can't do anything yet but haul off, watch an' then follow. Thechaparral runs along for a mile or two an' we can hide in the north endof it until they march south an' are out of sight. Then we'll hang on. "

They found Obed standing exactly where they had left him, the reins ofthe three horses in his hands. 

"Back at last, " he said. "All things come to him who waits long enough, if he doesn't die first. Did you see anything besides a lot of Mexicanvaqueros, fuddled with liquor and sound asleep?"

"We did not see any vaqueros, " replied the Panther, "but we saw Urreaan' his band, an' they had among them a dozen good Texans bound fast, men who will be shot if we three don't stand in the way. You have tofollow with us, Obed, because Ned has already promised for you. "

The Maine man looked at them and smiled. 

"A terribly good mind reader, that boy, Ned, " he said. "He knew exactlywhat I wanted. There's a lot of things in the world that I'd like to do, but the one that I want to do most just now is to follow Urrea and thatcrowd of his and take away those Texans. You two couldn't keep me fromgoing. "

The Panther smiled back. 

"You are shorely the right stuff, Obed White, " he said. "We're onlythree in this bunch, but two of 'em besides me are ring-tailed panthers. Now we'll just draw off, before it's day, an' hide in the chaparral upthere. "

They rode a mile to the north and remained among dense bushes untildaylight. At dawn they saw a column of smoke rise from Urrea's camp. 

"They are cookin' breakfast now, " said the Panther. "It's my guess thatin an hour they'll be ridin' south with their prisoners. "

The column of smoke sank after a while, and a couple of hours later thethree left the chaparral. From one of the summits they dimly saw a massof horsemen riding toward Mexico. 

"There's our men, " said the Panther, "an' now we'll follow all day atthis good, safe distance. At night we can draw up closer if we want todo it. "

The Mexicans maintained a steady pace, and the three pursuers followedat a distance of perhaps two miles. Now and then the swells completelyshut Urrea's band from sight, but Ned, Obed and the Panther followed thebroad trail without the slightest difficulty. 

"They'll reach the river before noon, " said the Panther. "There ain'tany doubt now that they're bound for Mexico. It's jest as well for whatwe want to do, 'cause they're likely to be less watchful there than theyare in Texas. "

The band of Urrea, as nearly as they could judge, numbered about fifty, all mounted and armed well. The Mexicans were fine horsemen, and withgood training and leadership they were dangerous foes. The three knewthem well, and they kept so far behind that they were not likely to beobserved. 

It was only a half hour past noon when Urrea's men reached the RioGrande, and without stopping made the crossing. They avoided thequicksands with experienced eyes, and swam their horses through the deepwater, the prisoners always kept in the center of the troop. Ned, Obedand the Panther watched them until they passed out of sight. Then they, too, rode forward, although slowly, toward the stream. 

"We can't lose 'em, " said the Panther, "so I think we'd better stay outof sight now that they're on real Mexican soil. Maybe our chance willcome to-night, an' ag'in maybe it won't. "

"Patience will have its perfect rescue, if we only do the right things, "said Obed. 

"An' if we think hard enough an' long enough we're bound to do 'em, orI'm a Ring Tailed Panther an' a Cheerful Talker fur nothin', " said thePanther. 

Waiting until they were certain that the Mexicans were five or six milesahead, the three forded the Rio Grande, and stood once more on Mexicansoil. It gave Ned a curious thrill. He had passed through so much inMexico that he had not believed he would ever again enter that country. The land on the Mexican side was about the same as that on the Texan, but it seemed different to him. He beheld again that aspect of infiniteage, of the long weariness of time, and of physical decay. 

They rode more briskly through the afternoon and at darkness saw thecamp fires of Urrea glimmering ahead of them. But the night was notfavorable to their plans. The sky was the usual cloudless blue of theMexican plateau, the moon was at the full and all the stars were out. What they wanted was bad weather, hoping meanwhile the execution of theprisoners would not be begun until the Mexicans reached higher authoritythan Urrea, perhaps Santa Anna himself. 

They made their own camp a full two miles from Urrea's, and Obed and thePanther divided the watch. 

Urrea started early the next morning, and so did the pursuing three. Thedawn was gray, and the breeze was chill. As they rode on, the wind roseand its edge became so sharp that there was a prospect of anotherNorther. The Panther unrolled from his pack the most gorgeous serapethat Ned had ever seen. It was of the finest material, colored a deepscarlet and it had a gold fringe. 

"Fine feathers are seen afar, " said Obed. 

"That's so, " said the Panther, "but we're not coming near enough to theMexicans for them to catch a glimpse of this, an' such bein' the caseI'm goin' to put it between me an' the cold. I'm proud of it, an' when Iwrap it aroun' me I feel bigger an' stronger. Its red color helps me. Ithink I draw strength from red, just as I do from a fine, tender buffalosteak. "

He spoke with much earnestness, and the other two did not contradicthim. Meanwhile he gracefully folded the great serape about hisshoulders, letting it fall to the saddle. No Mexican could have worn itmore rakishly. 

"That's my shield and protector, " he said. "Now blow wind, blow snow, I'll keep warm. "

It blew wind, but it did not blow snow. The day remained cold, but theair undoubtedly had a touch of damp. 

"It may rain, and I'm sure the night will be dark, " said Obed. "We mayhave our chance. Fortune favors those who help themselves. "

The country became more broken, and the patches of scrub forestincreased in number. Often the three rode quite near to Urrea's men andobserved them closely. The Mexicans were moving slowly, and, as theAmericans had foreseen, discipline was relaxed greatly. 

Near night drops of rain began to fall in their faces, and the sun setamong clouds. The three rejoiced. A night, dark and wet, had come soonerthan they had hoped. Obed and Ned also took out serapes, and wrappedthem around their shoulders. They served now not only to protect theirbodies, but to keep their firearms dry as well. Then they tethered theirhorses among thorn bushes about a mile from Urrea's camp, and advancedon foot. 

They saw the camp fire glimmering feebly through the night, and theyadvanced boldly. It was so dark now that a human figure fifty feet awayblended with the dusk, and the ground, softened by the rain, gave backno sound of footsteps. Nevertheless they saw on their right a fieldwhich showed a few signs of cultivation, and they surmised that Urreahad made his camp at the lone hut of some peon. 

They reckoned right. They came to clumps of trees, and in an openinginclosed by them was a low adobe hut, from the open door of which alight shone. They knew that Urrea and his officers had taken refugethere from the rain and cold and, under the boughs of the trees orbeside the fire, they saw the rest of the band sheltering themselves asbest they could. The prisoners, their hands bound, were in a group inthe open, where the slow, cold rain fell steadily upon them. Ned's heartswelled with rage at the sight. 

Order and discipline seemed to be lacking. Men came and went as theypleased. Fully twenty of them were making a shelter of canvas and thatchbeside the hut. Others began to build the fire higher in order to fendoff the wet and cold. Ned did not see that the chance of a rescue wasimproved, but the Panther felt a sudden glow when his eyes alighted uponsomething dark at the edge of the woods. A tiny shed stood there and hiskeen eyes marked what was beneath it. 

"What do you think we'd better do, Panther?" asked Obed. 

"No roarin' jest now. We mustn't raise our voices above whispers, butwe'll go back in the brush and wait. In an hour or two all theseMexicans will be asleep. Like as not the sentinels, if they post any, will be asleep first. "

They withdrew deeper into the thickets, where they remained closetogether. They saw the fire die in the Mexican camp. After a while allsounds there ceased, and again they crept near. The Panther was agenuine prophet, known and recognized by his comrades. Urrea's men, having finished their shelters, were now asleep, including all thesentinels except two. There was some excuse for them. They were in theirown country, far from any Texan force of importance, and the night couldscarcely have been worse. It was very dark, and the cold rain fell witha steadiness and insistence that sought and finally found every openingin one's clothing. Even the stalking three drew their serapes closer, and shivered a little. 

The two sentinels who did not sleep were together on the south side ofthe glade. Evidently they wished the company of each other. They werenow some distance from the dark little shed toward which the Panther wasleading his comrades, and their whole energies were absorbed in anattempt to light two cigarritos, which would soothe and strengthen themas they kept their rainy and useless watch. 

The three completed the segment of the circle and reached the littleshed which had become such an object of importance to the Panther. 

"Don't you see?" said the Panther, his grim joy showing in his tone. 

They saw, and they shared his satisfaction. The Mexicans had stackedtheir rifles and muskets under the shed, where they would be protectedfrom the rain. 

"It's queer what foolish things men do in war, " said Obed. "Whom thegods would destroy they first deprive of the sense of danger. They donot dream that Richard, meaning the Panther, is in the chaparral. "

"If we approach this shed from the rear the sentinels, even if theylook, will not be able to see us, " said the Panther. "By the great hornspoon, what an opportunity! I can hardly keep from roarin' an' ravin'about it. Now, boys, we'll take away their guns, swift an' quiet. "

A few trips apiece and all the rifles and muskets with their ammunitionwere carried deep into the chaparral, where Obed, gladly sacrificing hisown comfort, covered them against the rain with his serape. Not a signhad come meanwhile from the two sentinels on the far side of the camp. Ned once or twice saw the lighted ends of their cigarritos glowing likesparks in the darkness, but the outlines of the men's figures were verydusky. 

"An' now for the riskiest part of our job, the one that counts themost, " said the Panther, "the one that will make everything else afailure if it falls through. We've got to secure the prisoners. "

The captives were lying under the boughs of some trees about twentyyards from the spot where the fire had been built. The pitiless rain hadbeaten upon them, but as far as Ned could judge they had gone to sleep, doubtless through sheer exhaustion. The Panther's plan of action wasswift and comprehensive. 

"Boys, " he said, "I'm the best shot of us three. I don't say it in anyspirit of boastin', 'cause I've pulled trigger about every day forthirty years, an' more'n once a hundred times in one day. Now you twogive me your rifles and I'll set here in the edge of the bushes, thenyou go ahead as silent as you can an' cut the prisoners loose. Ifthere's an alarm I'll open fire with the three rifles and cover theescape. "

Handing the rifles to the Panther, the two slipped forward. It was agrateful task to Ned. Again his heart swelled with wrath as he saw thedark figures of the bound men lying on the ground in the rain. Heremembered the one who was youthful of face like himself and he soughthim. As he approached he made out a figure lying in a strainedposition, and he was sure that it was the captive lad. A yard or twomore and he knew absolutely. He touched the boy on the shoulder, whispered in his ear that it was a friend, and, with one sweep of hisknife, released his arms. 

"Crawl to the chaparral there, " said Ned, in swift sharp tones, pointingthe way. "Another friend is waiting at that point. "

The boy, without a word, began to creep forward in a stiff and awkwardfashion. Ned turned to the next prisoner. It was the elderly man whom hehad seen from the chaparral, and he was wide awake, staring intently atNed. 

"Is it rescue?" he whispered. "Is it possible?"

"It is rescue. It is possible, " replied Ned, in a similar whisper. "Turna little to one side and I will cut the cords that bind you. "

The man turned, but when Ned freed him he whispered:

"You will have to help me. I cannot yet walk alone. Urrea has alreadygiven me a taste of what I was to expect. "

Ned shuddered. There was a terrible significance in the prisoner's tone. He assisted him to rise partly, but the man staggered. It was evidentthat he could not walk. He must help this man, but the others werewaiting to be released also. Then the good thought came. 

"Wait a moment, " he said, and he cut the bonds of another man. 

"Now you help your friend there, " he said. 

He saw the two going away together, and he turned to the others. He andObed worked fast, and within five minutes the last man was released. Butas they crept back toward the chaparral the slack sentinels caughtsight of the dusky figures retreating. Two musket shots were fired andthere were rapid shouts in Mexican jargon. Ned and Obed rose to theirfeet and, keeping the escaped prisoners before them, ran for thethickets. 

A terrific reply to the Mexican alarm came from the forest. A volley ofrifle and pistol shots was fired among the soldiers as they sprang totheir feet and a tremendous voice roared:

"At 'em, boys! At 'em! Charge 'em! Now is your time! Rip an' t'ar an'roar an' chaw! Don't let a single one escape! Sweep the scum off theface of the earth!"

The Ring Tailed Panther had a mighty voice, issuing from a mightythroat. Never had he used it in greater volume or to better purpose thanon that night. The forest fairly thundered with the echoes of the battlecry, and as the dazed Mexicans rushed for their guns only to find themgone, they thought that the whole Texan army was upon them. In anotherinstant a new terror struck at their hearts. Their horses and mules, driven in a frightful stampede, suddenly rushed into the glade and theywere now busy keeping themselves from being trampled to death. 

Truly the Panther had spent well the few minutes allotted to him. Hefired new shots, some into the frightened herd. His tremendous voicenever ceased for an instant to encourage his charging troops, and toroar out threats against the enemy. Urrea, to his credit, made anattempt to organize his men, to stop the panic, and to see the nature ofthe enemy, but he was borne away in the frantic mob of men and horseswhich was now rushing for the open plain. 

Ned and Obed led the fugitives to the place where the rifles and musketswere stacked. Here they rapidly distributed the weapons and then brokeacross the tree trunks all they could not use or carry. Another minuteand they reached their horses, where the Panther, panting from his hugeexertions, joined them. Ned helped the lame man upon one of the horses, the weakest two who remained, including the boy, were put upon theothers, and led by the Panther they started northward, leaving thechaparral. 

It was a singular march, but for a long time nothing was said. The soundof the Mexican stampede could yet be heard, moving to the south, butthey, rescuers and rescued, walked in silence save for the sound oftheir feet in the mud of the wind-swept plain. Ned looked curiously atthe faces of those whom they had saved, but the night had not lightened, and he could discern nothing. They went thus a full quarter of an hour. The noise of the stampede sank away in the south, and then the Pantherlaughed. 

It was a deep, hearty, unctuous laugh that came from the very depths ofthe man's chest. It was a laugh with no trace of merely superficial joy. He who uttered it laughed because his heart and soul were in it. It wasa laugh of mirth, relief and triumph, all carried to the highest degree. It was a long laugh, rising and falling, but when it ceased and thePanther had drawn a deep breath he opened his mouth again and spoke thewords that were in his mind. 

"I shorely did some rippin' an' roarin' then, " he said. "It was the bestchance I ever had, an' I guess I used it. How things did work for us!Them sleepy sentinels, an' then the stampede of the animals, carryin'Urrea an' the rest right away with it. "

"Fortune certainly worked for us, " said Ned. 

"And we can find no words in which to describe to you our gratitude, "said the crippled man on the horse. "We were informed very clearly byUrrea that we were rebels and, under the decree of Santa Anna, would beexecuted. Even our young friend here, this boy, William Allen, would nothave been spared. "

"We ain't all the way out of the woods yet, " said the Panther, notwishing to have their hopes rise too high and then fall. "Of courseUrrea an' his men have some arms left. They wouldn't stack 'em all underthe shed, an' they can get more from other Mexicans in these parts. Whenthey learn from their trailers how few we are they'll follow. "

The rescued were silent, save one, evidently a veteran frontiersman, whosaid:

"Let 'em come. I was took by surprise, not thinkin' any Mexicans wasnorth of the Rio Grande. But now that I've got a rifle on one shoulderan' a musket on the other I think I could thrash an acre-lot full of'em. "

"That's the talk, " said Obed White. "We'll say to 'em: 'Come one, comeall, this rock from its firm base may fly, but we're the boys who'llnever say die. '"

They relapsed once more into silence. The rain had lightened a little, but the night was as dark as ever. The boy whom the man had calledWilliam Allen drew up by the side of Ned. They were of about the sameheight, and each was as tall and strong as a man. 

"Have you any friends here with you?" asked Ned. 

"All of them are my friends, but I made them in captivity. I came toTexas to find my fortune, and I found this. "

The boy laughed, half in pity of himself, and half with genuine humor. 

"But I ought not to complain, " he added, "when we've been saved in themost wonderful way. How did you ever happen to do it?"

"We've been following you all the way from the other side of the RioGrande, waiting a good chance. It came to-night with the darkness, therain, and the carelessness of the Mexicans. I heard the man call youWilliam Allen. My name is Fulton, Edward Fulton, Ned to my friends. "

"And mine's Will to my friends. "

"And you and I are going to be friends, that's sure. "

"Nothing can be surer. "

The hands of the two boys met in a strong grasp, signifying a friendshipthat was destined to endure. 

The Panther and Obed now began to seek a place for a camp. They knewthat too much haste would mean a breakdown, and they meant that thepeople whom they had rescued should have a rest. But it took a long timeto find the trees which would furnish wood and partial shelter. It wasObed who made the happy discovery some time after midnight. Turning totheir left, they entered a grove of dwarf oaks, covering a half acre orso, and with much labor and striving built a fire. They made it a bigfire, too, and fed it until the flames roared and danced. Ned noticedthat all the rescued prisoners crouched close to it, as if it were agiver of strength and courage as well as warmth, and now the lightrevealed their faces. He looked first at the crippled man, and thesurprise that he had felt at his first glimpse of him increased. 

The stranger was of a type uncommon on the border. His large featuresshowed cultivation and the signs of habitual and deep thought. His thickwhite hair surmounted a broad brow. His clothing, although torn bythorns and briars, was of fine quality. Ned knew instinctively that itwas a powerful face, one that seldom showed the emotions behind it. Therest, except the boy, were of the border, lean, sun-browned men, dressed in tanned deerskin. 

The Panther and Obed also gazed at the crippled man with greatcuriosity. They knew the difference, and they were surprised to findsuch a man in such a situation. He did not seem to notice them at first, but from his seat on a log leaned over the fire warming his hands, whichNed saw were large, white and smooth. His legs lay loosely against thelog, as if he were suffering from a species of paralysis. The others, soaked by the rain, which, however, now ceased, were also hovering overthe fire which was giving new life to the blood in their veins. The manwith the white hands turned presently and, speaking to Ned, Obed and thePanther, said:

"My name is Roylston, John Roylston. "

Ned started. 

"I see that you have heard of it, " continued the stranger, but withoutvanity. "Yes, I am the merchant of New Orleans. I have lands and otherproperty in this region for which I have paid fairly. I hold the deedsand they are also guaranteed to me by Santa Anna and the MexicanCongress. I was seized by this guerilla leader, Urrea. He knew who Iwas, and he sought to extract from me an order for a large sum of moneylying in a European bank in the City of Mexico. There are various waysof procuring such orders, and he tried one of the most primitivemethods. That is why I cannot walk without help. No, I will not tellwhat was done. It is not pleasant to hear. Let it pass. I shall walkagain as well as ever in a month. "

"Did he get the order?" asked Obed curiously. 

Roylston laughed deep in his throat. 

"He did not, " he said. "It was not because I valued it so much, but mypride would not permit me to give way to such crude methods. I mustsay, however, that you three came just in time, and you have done a mostmarvelous piece of work. "

Ned shuddered and walked a little space out on the plain to steady hisnerves. He had never deceived himself about the dangers that the Texanswere facing, but it seemed that they would have to fight every kind offerocity. When he returned, Obed and the Panther were building the firehigher. 

"We must get everybody good and dry, " said the Panther. "Pursuit willcome, but not to-night, an' we needn't worry about the blaze. We've foodenough for all of you for a day, but we haven't the horses, an' for thatI'm sorry. If we had them we could git away without a doubt to the Texanarmy. "

"But not having them, " said Obed, "we'll even do the best we can, if theMexicans, having run away, come back to fight another day. "

"So we will, " said a stalwart Texan named Fields. "That Urrea don't getme again, and if I ain't mistook your friend here is Mr. Palmer, betterknown in our parts as the Ring Tailed Panther, ain't he?"

Ned saw the Panther's huge form swell. He still wore the great serape, which shone in the firelight with a deep blood-red tinge. 

"I am the Ring Tailed Panther, " he said proudly. 

"Then lemme shake your hand. You an' your pards have done a job to-nightthat ain't had its like often, and me bein' one of them that's profitedby it makes it look all the bigger to me. "

The Panther graciously extended an enormous palm, and the great palm ofFields met it in a giant clasp. A smile lighted up the somber face ofMr. Roylston as he looked at them. 

"Often we find powerful friends when we least expect them, " he said. 

"As you are the worst hurt of the lot, " said the Panther, "we're goingto make you a bed right here by the fire. No, it ain't any use sayin'you won't lay down on it. If you won't we'll jest have to put you down. "

They spread a blanket, upon which the exhausted merchant lay, and theycovered him with a serape. Soon he fell asleep, and then Fields said toNed and his comrades:

"You fellows have done all the work, an' you've piled up such a mountainof debt against us that we can never wipe it out. Now you go to sleepand four of us will watch. And, knowin' what would happen to us if wewere caught, we'll watch well. But nothing is to be expected to-night. "

"Suits us, " said Obed. "Some must watch while others sleep, so runs theworld away. Bet you a dollar, Ned, that I'm off to Slumberland beforeyou are. "

"I don't take the bet, " said Ned, "but I'll run you an even race. "

In exactly five minutes the two, rolled in their own blankets, sleptsoundly. All the others soon followed, except four, who, unlike theMexicans, kept a watch that missed nothing. 

CHAPTER III

THE FIGHT WITH URREA

Morning came. Up rose the sun, pouring a brilliant light over thedesolate plains. Beads of water from the rain the night before sparkleda little while and then dried up. But the day was cold, nevertheless, and a sharp wind now began to search for the weakest point of every one. Ned, Obed and the Panther were up betimes, but some of the rescued stillslept. 

Ned, at the suggestion of the Panther, mounted one of the horses androde out on the plain a half mile to the south. Those keen eyes of hiswere becoming all the keener from life upon the vast rolling plains. Butno matter how he searched the horizon he saw only a lonesome cactus ortwo shivering in the wind. When he returned with his report theredoubtable Panther said:

"Then we'll just take our time. The pursuit's goin' to come, but sinceit ain't in sight we'll brace up these new friends of ours with hotcoffee an' vittles. I guess we've got coffee enough left for all. "

They lighted the fire anew and soon pleasant odors arose. The rescuedprisoners ate and drank hungrily, and Mr. Roylston was able to limp alittle. Now that Ned saw him in the full daylight he understood moreclearly than ever that this was indeed a most uncommon man. The brow andeyes belonged to one who thought, planned and organized. He spoke littleand made no complaint, but when he looked at Ned he said:

"You are young, my boy, to live among such dangers. Why do you not gonorth into the states where life is safe?"

"There are others as young as I, or younger, who have fought or willfight for Texas, " said Ned. "I belong here and I've got powerfulfriends. Two of them have saved my life more than once and are likely todo so again. "

He nodded toward Obed and the Panther, who were too far away to hear. Roylston smiled. The two men were in singular contrast, but each wasstriking in his way. Obed, of great height and very thin, butexceedingly strong, was like a steel lath. The Panther, huge in everyaspect, reminded one, in his size and strength, of a buffalo bull. 

"They are uncommon men, no doubt, " said Roylston. "And you expect toremain with them?"

"I'd never leave them while this war lasts! Not under anycircumstances!"

Ned spoke with great energy, and again Roylston smiled, but he said nomore. 

"It's time to start, " said the Panther. 

Roylston again mounted one of the horses. Ned saw that it hurt his prideto have to ride, but he saw also that he would not complain whencomplaints availed nothing. He felt an increasing interest in a man whoseemed to have perfect command over himself. 

The boy, Will Allen, was fresh and strong again. His youthful frame hadrecovered completely from all hardships, and now that he was free, armed, and in the company of true friends his face glowed with pleasureand enthusiasm. He was tall and strong, and now he carried a good riflewith a pistol also in his belt. He and Ned walked side by side, and eachrejoiced in the companionship of one of his own age. 

"How long have you been with them?" asked Will, looking at Obed and thePanther. 

"I was first with Obed away down in Mexico. We were prisoners togetherin the submarine dungeon of San Juan de Ulua. I'd never have escapedwithout him. And I'd never have escaped a lot more things without him, either. Then we met the Panther. He's the greatest frontiersman in allthe southwest, and we three somehow have become hooked together. "

Will looked at Ned a little enviously. 

"What comrades you three must be!" he said. "I have nobody. "

"Are you going to fight for Texas?"

"I count on doing so. "

"Then why don't you join us, and we three will turn into four?"

Will looked at Ned, and his eyes glistened. 

"Do you mean that?" he asked. 

"Do I mean it? I think I do. Ho, there, Panther! You and Obed, just aminute or two!"

The two turned back. Ned and Will were walking at the rear of the littlecompany. 

"I've asked Will to be one of us, " said Ned, "to join our band and toshare our fortunes, good or bad. "

"Can he make all the signs, an' has he rid the goat?" asked the Panthersolemnly. 

"Does he hereby swear never to tell any secret of ours to Mexican orIndian?" asked Obed. "Does he swear to obey all our laws and by-lawswherever he may be, and whenever he is put to the test?"

"He swears to everything, " replied Ned, "and I know that he is the kindto make a trusty comrade to the death. "

"Then you are declared this minute a member of our company in goodstandin', " said the Panther to Will, "an' with this grip I give youwelcome. "

He crushed the boy's hand in a mighty grasp that made him wince, andObed followed with one that was almost equally severe. But the boy didnot mind the physical pain. Instead, his soul was uplifted. He was nowthe chosen comrade of these three paladins, and he was no longer alonein the world. But he merely said:

"I'll try to show myself worthy. "

They were compelled to stop at noon for rather a long rest, as walkingwas tiresome. Fields, who was a good scout, went back and looked forpursuers, but announced that he saw none, and, after an hour, theystarted again. 

"I'm thinkin', " said the Panther, "that Urrea has already organized thepursuit. Mebbe he has pow'ful glasses an' kin see us when we can't seehim. He may mean to attack to-night. It's a lucky thing for us that wecan find timber now an' then. "

"It's likely that you're right about to-night, " said Obed, "but there'sno night so dark that it doesn't have its silver lining. I guesseverybody in this little crowd is a good shot, unless maybe it's Mr. Roylston, and as we have about three guns apiece we can make it mightyhot for any force that Urrea may bring against us. "

They began now to search for timber, looking especially for some clumpof trees that also inclosed water. They did not anticipate any greatdifficulty in regard to the water, as the winter season and the heavyrains had filled the dry creek beds, and had sent torrents down thearroyos. Before dark they found a stream about a foot deep running oversand between banks seven or eight feet high toward the Rio Grande. Amile further on a small grove of myrtle oaks and pecans grew on its leftbank, and there they made their camp. 

Feeling that they must rely upon their valor and watchfulness, and notupon secrecy, they built a fire, and ate a good supper. Then they putout the fire and half of them remained on guard, the other half going tosleep, except Roylston, who sat with his back to a tree, his injuredlegs resting upon a bed of leaves which the boys had raked up for him. He had been riding Old Jack and the horse had seemed to take to him, butafter the stop Ned himself had looked after his mount. 

The boy allowed Old Jack to graze a while, and then he tethered him inthe thickest of the woods just behind the sleeping man. He wished thehorse to be as safe as possible in case bullets should be flying, and hecould find no better place for him. But before going he stroked his noseand whispered in his ear. 

"Good Old Jack! Brave fellow!" he said. "We are going to have troubloustimes, you and I, along with the others, but I think we are going toride through them safely. "

The horse whinnied ever so softly, and nuzzled Ned's arm. Theunderstanding between them was complete. Then Ned left him, intending totake a position by the bank of the creek as he was on the early watch. On the way he passed Roylston, who regarded him attentively. 

"I judge that your leader, Mr. Palmer, whom you generally call thePanther, is expecting an attack, " said the merchant. 

"He's the kind of man who tries to provide for everything, " replied Ned. 

"Of course, then, " said Roylston, "he provides for the creek bed. TheMexican skirmishers can come up it and yet be protected by its banks. "

"That is so, " said the Panther, who had approached as he was speaking. "It's the one place that we've got to watch most, an' Ned an' me aregoin' to sit there on the banks, always lookin'. I see that you've gotthe eye of a general, Mr. Roylston. "

The merchant smiled. 

"I'm afraid I don't count for much in battle, " he said, "and least ofall hampered as I am now. But if the worst comes to the worst I can sithere with my back to this tree and shoot. If you will kindly give me arifle and ammunition I shall be ready for the emergency. "

"But it is your time to sleep, Mr. Roylston, " said the Panther. 

"I don't think I can sleep, and as I cannot I might as well be of use. "

The Panther brought him the rifle, powder and bullets, and Roylston, leaning against the tree, rifle across his knees, watched with brighteyes. Sentinels were placed at the edge of the grove, but the Pantherand Ned, as arranged, were on the high bank overlooking the bed of thecreek. Now and then they walked back and forth, meeting at intervals, but most of the time each kept to his own particular part of the ground. 

Ned found an oak, blown down on the bank by some hurricane, and as therewas a comfortable seat on a bough with the trunk as a rest for his backhe remained there a long time. But his ease did not cause him to relaxhis vigilance. He was looking toward the north, and he could see twohundred yards or more up the creek bed to a point where it curved. Thebed itself was about thirty feet wide, although the water did not have awidth of more than ten feet. 

Everything was now quite dry, as the wind had been blowing all day. Butthe breeze had died with the night, and the camp was so still that Nedcould hear the faint trickle of the water over the sand. It was a fairnight, with a cold moon and cold stars looking down. The air was fullof chill, and Ned began to walk up and down again in order to keep warm. He noticed Roylston still sitting with eyes wide open and the rifleacross his lap. 

As Ned came near in his walk the merchant turned his bright eyes uponhim. 

"I hear, " he said, "that you have seen Santa Anna. "

"More than once. Several times when I was a prisoner in Mexico, andagain when I was recaptured. "

"What do you think of him?"

The gaze of the bright eyes fixed upon Ned became intense andconcentrated. 

"A great man! A wickedly great man!"

Roylston turned his look away, and interlaced his fingers thoughtfully. 

"A good description, I think, " he said. "You have chosen your wordswell. A singular compound is this Mexican, a mixture of greatness, vanity and evil. I may talk to you more of him some day. But I tell younow that I am particularly desirous of not being carried a prisoner tohim. "

He lifted the rifle, put its stock to his shoulder, and drew a bead. 

"I think I could hit at forty or fifty yards in this good moonlight, " hesaid. 

He replaced the rifle across his knees and sighed. Ned was curious, buthe would not ask questions, and he walked back to his old position bythe bank. Here he made himself easy, and kept his eyes on the deeptrench that had been cut by the stream. The shadows were dark againstthe bank, but it seemed to him that they were darker than they had beenbefore. 

Ned's blood turned a little colder, and his scalp tingled. He wasstartled but not afraid. He looked intently, and saw moving figures inthe river bed, keeping close against the bank. He could not see faces, he could not even discern a clear outline of the figures, but he had nodoubt that these were Urrea's Mexicans. He waited only a moment longerto assure himself that the dark moving line was fact and not fancy. Then, aiming his rifle at the foremost shape, he fired. While the echoof the sharp crack was yet speeding across the plain he cried:

"Up, men! up! Urrea is here!"

A volley came from the creek bed, but in an instant the Panther, Obed, Will and Fields were by Ned's side. 

"Down on your faces, " cried the Panther, "an' pot 'em as they run! Sothey thought to go aroun' the grove, come down from the north an'surprise us this way! Give it to 'em, boys!"

The rifles flashed and the dark line in the bed of the creek now brokeinto a huddle of flying forms. Three fell, but the rest ran, splashingthrough the sand and water, until they turned the curve and wereprotected from the deadly bullets. Then the Panther, calling to theothers, rushed to the other side of the grove, where a second attack, led by Urrea in person, had been begun. Here men on horseback chargeddirectly at the wood, but they were met by a fire which emptied morethan one saddle. 

Much of the charge was a blur to Ned, a medley of fire and smoke, ofbeating hoofs and of cries. But one thing he saw clearly and neverforgot. It was the lame man with the thick white hair sitting with hisback against a tree calmly firing a rifle at the Mexicans. Roylston hadtime for only two shots, but when he reloaded the second time he placedthe rifle across his knees as before and smiled. 

Most Mexican troops would have been content with a single charge, butthese returned, encouraged by shouts and driven on by fierce commands. Ned saw a figure waving a sword. He believed it to be Urrea, and hefired, but he missed, and the next moment the horseman was lost in theshadows. 

The second charge was beaten back like the first, and severalskirmishers who tried to come anew down the bed of the creek were alsoput to flight. Two Mexicans got into the thickets and tried to stampedethe horses, but the quickness of Obed and Fields defeated their aim. Oneof the Mexicans fell there, but the other escaped in the darkness. 

When the second charge was driven back and the horses were quieted thePanther and Obed threshed up the woods, lest some Mexican musketeershould lie hidden there. 

Nobody slept any more that night. Ned, Will and the Panther kept a sharpwatch upon the bed of the creek, the moon and stars fortunately aidingthem. But the Mexicans did not venture again by that perilous road, although toward morning they opened a scattering fire from the plain, many of their bullets whistling at random among the trees and thickets. Some of the Texans, crawling to the edge of the wood, replied, but theyseemed to have little chance for a good shot, as the Mexicans lay behinda swell. The besiegers grew tired after a while and silence came again. 

Three of the Texans had suffered slight wounds, but the Panther andFields bound them up skillfully. It was still light enough for thesetasks. Fields was particularly jubilant over their success, as he had aright to be. The day before he could look forward only to his ownexecution. Now he was free and victorious. Exultantly he hummed:

 You've heard, I s'pose, of New Orleans, It's famed for youth and beauty; There are girls of every hue, it seems, From snowy white to sooty. Now Packenham has made his brags, If he that day was lucky, He'd have the girls and cotton bags In spite of Old Kentucky. 

 But Jackson, he was wide awake, And was not scared at trifles, For well he knew Kentucky's boys, With their death-dealing rifles. He led them down to cypress swamp, The ground was low and mucky; There stood John Bull in martial pomp, And here stood old Kentucky. 

"Pretty good song, that of yours, " said the Panther approvingly. "Wheredid you get it?"

"From my father, " replied Fields. "He's a Kentuckian, an' he fit at NewOrleans. He was always hummin' that song, an' it come back to me afterwe drove off the Mexicans. Struck me that it was right timely. "

Ned and Will, on their own initiative, had been drawing all the fallenlogs that they could find and move to the edge of the wood, and havingfinished the task they came back to the bed of the creek. Roylston, therifle across his knees, was sitting with his eyes closed, but he openedthem as they approached. They were uncommonly large and bright eyes, andthey expressed pleasure. 

"It gratifies me to see that neither of you is hurt, " he said. "This hasbeen a strange night for two who are as young as you are. And it is astrange night for me, too. I never before thought that I should befiring at any one with intent to kill. But events are often too powerfulfor us. "

He closed his eyes again. 

"I am going to sleep a little, if I can, " he said. 

But Ned and Will could not sleep. They went to Ned's old position at theedge of the creek bed, and together watched the opening dawn. They sawthe bright sun rise over the great plains, and the dew sparkle for alittle while on the brown grass. The day was cold, but apparently it hadcome with peace. They saw nothing on the plain, although they had nodoubt that the Mexicans were waiting just beyond the first swell. ButNed and Will discerned three dark objects lying on the sand up the bedof the creek, and they knew that they were the men who had fallen in thefirst rush. Ned was glad that he could not see their faces. 

At the suggestion of the Panther they lighted fires and had warm foodand coffee again, thus putting heart into all the defenders. Then thePanther chose Ned for a little scouting work on horseback. Ned found OldJack seeking blades of grass within the limits allowed by his lariat. But when the horse saw his master he stretched out his head and neighed. 

"I think I understand you, " said Ned. "Not enough food and no water. Well, I'll see that you get both later, but just now we're going on alittle excursion. "

The Panther and Ned rode boldly out of the trees, and advanced a shortdistance upon the plain. Two or three shots were fired from a pointbehind the first swell, but the bullets fell far short. 

"I counted on that, " said the Panther. "If a Mexican has a gun it'smighty hard for him to keep from firing it. All we wanted to do was touncover their position an' we've done it. We'll go back now, an' waitfur them to make the first move. "

But they did not go just yet. A man on horseback waving a large whitehandkerchief appeared on the crest of the swell and rode toward them. Itwas Urrea. 

"He knows that he can trust us, while we don't know that we can trusthim, " said the Panther, "so we'll just wait here an' see what he has tosay. "

Urrea, looking fresh and spirited, came on with confidence and salutedin a light easy fashion. The two Americans did not return the salute, but waited gravely. 

"We can be polite, even if we are enemies, " said Urrea, "so I say goodmorning to you both, former friends of mine. "

"I have no friendship with spies and traitors, " growled the Panther. 

"I serve my country in the way I think best, " said Urrea, "and you mustremember that in our view you two are rebels and traitors. "

"We don't stab in the back, " said the Panther. 

Urrea flushed through his swarthy skin. 

"We will not argue the point any further, " he said, "but come at once tothe business before us. First, I will admit several things. Your rescueof the prisoners was very clever. Also you beat us off last night, but Inow have a hundred men with me and we have plenty of arms. We are boundto take you sooner or later. "

"Then why talk to us about it?" said the Panther. 

"Because I wish to save bloodshed. "

"Wa'al, then, what do you have to say?"

"Give us the man, Roylston, and the rest of you can go free. "

"Why are you so anxious to have Roylston?"

Ned eagerly awaited the answer. It was obvious that Roylston had ratherminimized his own importance. Urrea flicked the mane of his mustang witha small whip and replied:

"Our President and General, the illustrious Santa Anna, is extremelyanxious to see him. Secrets of state are not for me. I merely seek to domy work. "

"Then you take this from me, " said the Panther, a blunt frontiersman, "my comrades an' me ain't buyin' our lives at the price of nobodyelse's. "

"You feel that way about it, do you?"

"That's just the way we feel, and I want to say, too, that I wouldn'ttake the word of either you or your Santa Anna. If we was to give up Mr. Roylston--which we don't dream of doin'--you'd be after us as hot an'strong as ever. "

Urrea's swarthy cheeks flushed again. 

"I shall not notice your insults, " he said. "They are beneath me. I am aMexican officer and gentleman, and you are mere riders of the plains. "

"All the same, " said the Panther grimly, "if you are goin' to talk youhave to talk with us. "

"That is true, " said Urrea lightly, having regained complete control ofhis temper. "In war one cannot choose his enemies. I make you theproposition once more. Give us Roylston and go. If you do not accept weshall nevertheless take him and all of you who do not fall first. Remember that you are rebels and traitors and that you will surely beshot or hanged. "

"I don't remember any of them things, " said the Panther grimly. "What Ido remember is that we are Texans fightin' fur our rights. To hang a manyou've first got to catch him, an' to shoot him you've first got to hithim. An' since things are to be remembered, remember that what you aretryin' to do to us we may first do to you. An' with that I reckon we'llbid you good day, Mr. Urrea. "

Urrea bowed, but said nothing. He rode back toward his men, and Ned andthe Panther returned to the grove. Roylston was much better that morningand he was able to stand, leaning against a tree. 

"May I ask the result of your conference, " he said. 

"There ain't no secret about it, " replied the Panther, "but themMexicans seem to be almighty fond of you, Mr. Roylston. "

"In what way did they show it?"

"Urrea said that all of us could go if we would give up you. "

"And your answer?"

The Panther leaned forward a little on his horse. 

"You know something about the Texans, don't you, Mr. Roylston?"

"I have had much opportunity to observe and study them. "

"Well, they've got plenty of faults, but you haven't heard of thembuyin' their lives at the price of a comrade's, have you?"

"I have not, but I wish to say, Mr. Palmer, that I'm sorry you returnedthis answer. I should gladly take my chances if the rest of you couldgo. "

"We'd never think of it, " said the Panther. "Besides, them Mexicanswouldn't keep their word. They're goin' to besiege us here, hopin' maybethat starvation or thirst will make us give you up. Now the first thingfor us to do is to get water for the horses. "

This presented a problem, as the horses could not go down to the creek, owing to the steep high banks, but the Texans soon solved it. The cliffwas soft and they quickly cut a smooth sloping path with their knivesand hatchets. Old Jack was the first to walk down it and Ned led him. The horse hung back a little, but Ned patted his head and talked to himas a friend and equal. Under such persuasion Old Jack finally made theventure, and when he landed safely at the bottom he drank eagerly. Thenthe other two horses followed. Meanwhile two riflemen kept a keen watchup and down the creek bed for lurking Mexican sharpshooters. 

But the watering of the horses was finished without incident, and theywere tethered once more in the thicket. Fields and another man kept awatch upon the plain, and the rest conferred under the trees. ThePanther announced that by a great reduction of rations the food could bemade to last two days longer. It was not a cheerful statement, as theMexicans must know the scanty nature of their supplies, and would waitwith all the patience of Indians. 

"All things, including starvation, come to him who waits long enough, "said Obed White soberly. 

"We'll jest set the day through, " said the Panther, "an' see what turnsup. "

But the day was quite peaceful. It was warmer than usual and bright withsunshine. The Mexicans appeared on some of the knolls, seemingly near inthe thin clear air, but far enough away to be out of rifle shot, andbegan to play cards or loll on their serapes. Several went to sleep. 

"They mean to show us that they have all the time in the world, " saidNed to Will, "and that they are willing to wait until we fall like ripeapples into their hands. "

"Do you think they will get us again?" asked Will anxiously. 

"I don't. We've got food for two days and I believe that something willhappen in our favor within that time. Do you notice, Will, that it'sbeginning to cloud up again? In winter you can't depend upon brightsunshine to last always. I think we're going to have a dark night andit's given me an idea. "

"What is it?"

"I won't tell you, because it may amount to nothing. It all depends uponwhat kind of night we have. "

The sun did not return. The clouds banked up more heavily, and in theafternoon Ned went to the Panther. They talked together earnestly, looking frequently at the skies, and the faces of both expressedsatisfaction. Then they entered the bed of the creek and examined itcritically. Will was watching them. When the two separated and Ned cametoward him, he said:

"I can guess your idea now. We mean to escape to-night up the bed of thecreek. "

Ned nodded. 

"Your first guess is good, " he said. "If the promise of a dark nightkeeps up we're going to try. "

The promise was fulfilled. The Mexicans made no hostile movementthroughout the afternoon, but they maintained a rigid watch. 

When the sun had set and the thick night had come down the Panther toldof the daring enterprise they were about to undertake, and all approved. By nine o'clock the darkness was complete, and the little band gatheredat the point where the path was cut down into the bed of the creek. Itwas likely that Mexicans were on all sides of the grove, but the Pantherdid not believe that any of them, owing to bitter experience, wouldenter the cut made by the stream. But, as leader, he insisted upon theleast possible noise. The greatest difficulty would be with the horses. Ned, at the head of Old Jack, led the way. 

Old Jack made the descent without slipping and in a few minutes theentire force stood upon the sand. They had made no sound that any onecould have heard thirty yards away. 

"Now Mr. Roylston, " whispered the Panther to the merchant, "you get onNed's horse an' we'll be off. "

Roylston sighed. It hurt his pride that he should be a burden, but hewas a man of few words, and he mounted in silence. Then they movedslowly over the soft sand. They had loaded the extra rifles and musketson the other two horses, but every man remained thoroughly armed andready on the instant for any emergency. 

The Panther and Obed led. Just behind them came Ned and Will. They wentvery slowly in order to keep the horses' feet from making any sound thatlistening Mexican sentinels might hear. They were fortunate in the sand, which was fine and soundless like a carpet. Ned thought that theMexicans would not make any attempt upon the grove until late at night, and then only with skirmishers and snipers. Or they might not make anyattempt at all, content with their cordon. 

But it was thrilling work as they crept along on the soft sand in thedarkness and between the high banks. Ned felt a prickling of the blood. An incautious footstep or a stumble by one of the horses might bring thewhole Mexican force down upon them at any moment. But there was noincautious footstep. Nor did any horse stumble. The silent processionmoved on, passed the curve in the bed of the creek and continued itscourse. 

Urrea had surrounded the grove completely. His men were on both sides ofthe creek, but no sound came to them, and they had a healthy respectfor the deadly Texan rifles. Their leader had certainly been wise indeciding to starve them out. Meanwhile the little procession in the bedof the creek increased its speed slightly. 

The Texans were now a full four hundred yards from the grove, and theirconfidence was rising. 

"If they don't discover our absence until morning, " whispered Ned toWill, "we'll surely get away. "

"Then I hope they won't discover it until then, " said Will fervently. "Idon't want to die in battle just now, nor do I want to be executed inMexico for a rebel or for anything else. "

They were now a full mile from the grove and the banks of the creek weredecreasing in height. They did not rise anywhere more than three or fourfeet. But the water increased in depth and the margin of sand wasnarrower. The Panther called a halt and they listened. They heard nosound but the faint moaning of the wind among the dips and swells, andthe long lone howl of a lonesome coyote. 

"We've slipped through 'em! By the great horn spoon, we've slippedthrough 'em!" said the Panther exultantly. "Now, boys, we'll take to thewater here to throw 'em off our track, when they try to follow it in themornin'. "

The creek was now about three feet in depth and flowing slowly like moststreams in that region, but over a bed of hard sand, where the trace ofa footstep would quickly vanish. 

"The water is likely to be cold, " said the Panther, "an' if any fellowis afraid of it he can stay behind and consort with the Mexicans whodon't care much for water. "

"Lead on, Macduff, " said Obed, "and there's nobody who will cry 'hold, enough. '"

The Panther waded directly into the middle of the stream, and all theothers followed. The horses, splashing the water, made some noise, butthey were not so careful in that particular now since they had put amile between themselves and the grove. In fact, the Panther urged themto greater speed, careless of the sounds, and they kept in the water fora full two miles further. Then they quit the stream at a point where thesoil seemed least likely to leave traces of their footsteps, and stoodfor a little while upon the prairie, resting and shivering. Then theystarted at a rapid pace across the country, pushing for the Rio Grandeuntil noon. Then Fields stalked and shot an antelope, with which theyrenewed their supply of food. In the afternoon it rained heavily, but bydark they reached the Rio Grande, across which they made a dangerouspassage, as the waters had risen, and stood once more on the soil ofTexas. 

"Thank God!" said Will. 

"Thank God!" repeated Ned. 

Then they looked for shelter, which all felt they must have. 

CHAPTER IV

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

It proved a difficult matter to find shelter. All the members of thelittle group were wet and cold, and a bitter wind with snow began towhistle once more across the plain. But every one strove to be cheerfuland the relief that their escape had brought was still a tonic to theirspirits. Yet they were not without comment upon their condition. 

"I've seen hard winters in Maine, " said Obed White, "but there you wereready for them. Here it tricks you with warm sunshine and then withsnow. You suffer from surprise. "

"We've got to find a cabin, " said the Panther. 

"Why not make it a whole city with a fine big hotel right in the centerof it?" said Obed. "Seems to me there's about as much chance of one asthe other. "

"No, there ain't, " said the Panther. "There ain't no town, but there arehuts. I've rid over this country for twenty year an' I know somethin'about it. There are four or five settlers' cabins in the valleys of thecreeks runnin' down to the Rio Grande. I had a mighty good dinner at oneof 'em once. They're more'n likely to be abandoned now owin' to the waran' their exposed situation, but if the roofs haven't fell in any of 'emis good enough for us. "

"Then you lead on, " said Obed. "The quicker we get there the happier allof us will be. "

"I may not lead straight, but I'll get you there, " replied the Pantherconfidently. 

Roylston, at his own urgent insistence, dismounted and walked a littlewhile. When he betook himself again to the back of Old Jack he spokewith quiet confidence. 

"I'm regaining my strength rapidly, " he said. "In a week or two I shallbe as good as I ever was. Meanwhile my debt to you, already great, isaccumulating. "

The Panther laughed. 

"You don't owe us nothin', " he said. "Why, on this frontier it's oneman's business to help another out of a scrape. If we didn't do that wecouldn't live. "

"Nevertheless, I shall try to pay it, " said Roylston, in significanttones. 

"For the moment we'll think of that hut we're lookin' for, " said thePanther. 

"It will be more than a hut, " said Will, who was of a singularlycheerful nature. "I can see it now. It will be a gorgeous palace. Itsname will be the Inn of the Panther. Menials in gorgeous livery willshow us to our chambers, one for every man, where we will sleep betweenwhite sheets of the finest linen. "

"I wonder if they will let us take our rifles to bed with us, " said Ned, "because in this country I don't feel that I can part with mine, evenfor a moment. "

"That is a mere detail which we will discuss with our host, " said Obed. "Perhaps, after you have eaten of the chicken and drunk of the wine atthis glorious Inn of the Panther, you will not be so particular aboutthe company of your rifle, Mr. Fulton. "

The Panther uttered a cry of joy. 

"I've got my b'arin's exactly now, " he said. "It ain't more'n four milesto a cabin that I know of, an' if raiders haven't smashed it it'll giveus all the shelter we want. "

"Then lead us swiftly, " said Obed. "There's no sunset or anything togive me mystical lore, but the coming of that cabin casts its shadowbefore, or at least I want it to do it. "

The Panther's announcement brought new courage to every one and theyquickened their lagging footsteps. He led toward a dark line of timberwhich now began to show through the driving snow, and when they passedamong the trees he announced once more and with exultation:

"Only a mile farther, boys, an' we'll be where the cabin stands, orstood. Don't git your feelin's too high, 'cause it may have been wipedoff the face of the earth. "

A little later he uttered another cry, and this was the most exultant ofall. 

"There she is, " he said, pointing ahead. "She ain't been wiped away bynobody or nothin'. Don't you see her, that big, stout cabin ahead?"

"I do, " said young Allen joyously, "and it's the Inn of the Panther assure as you live. "

"But I don't see any smoke coming out of the chimney, " said Ned, "andthere are no gorgeous menials standing on the doorstep waiting for us. "

"It's been abandoned a long time, " said the Panther. "I can tell that byits looks, but I'm thinkin' that it's good enough fur us an' mightywelcome. An' there's a shed behind the house that'll do for the horses. Boys, we're travelin' in tall luck. "

The cabin, a large one, built of logs and adobe, was certainly aconsoling sight. They had almost reached the limit of physicalendurance, but they broke into a run to reach it. The Panther and Nedwere the first to push open a heavy swinging door, and they entered sideby side. It was dry within. The solid board roof did not seem to bedamaged at all, and the floor of hard, packed earth was as dry as a bonealso. At one end were a wide stone fireplace, cold long since, and agood chimney of mud and sticks. There were two windows, closed withheavy clapboard shutters. 

There was no furniture in the cabin except two rough wooden benches. Evidently the original owners had prepared well for their flight, but itwas likely that no one had come since. The lonely place among the treeshad passed unobserved by raiders. The shed behind the cabin was also ingood condition, and they tethered there the horses, which were gladenough to escape from the bitter wind and driving snow. 

The whole party gathered in the cabin, and as they no longer fearedpursuit it was agreed unanimously that they must have luxury. In thiscase a fire meant the greatest of all luxuries. 

They gathered an abundance of fallen wood, knocked the snow from it andheaped it on either side of the fireplace. They cut with infinitedifficulty dry shavings from the inside of the logs in the wall of thehouse, and after a full hour of hard work lighted a blaze with flint andsteel. The rest was easy, and soon they had a roaring fire. Theyfastened the door with the wooden bar which stood in its place and letthe windows remain shut. Although there was a lack of air, they did notyet feel it, and gave themselves up to the luxury of the glowing heat. 

They took off their clothes and held them before the fire. When theywere dry and warm they put them on again and felt like new beings. Strips of the antelope were fried on the ends of ramrods, and they ateplentifully. All the chill was driven from their bodies, and in itsplace came a deep pervading sense of comfort. The bitter wind yet howledwithout and they heard the snow driven against the door and windows. The sound heightened their feeling of luxury. They were like a troop ofboys now, all of them--except Roylston. He sat on one of the piles ofwood and his eyes gleamed as the others talked. 

"I vote that we enlarge the name of our inn, " said Allen. "Since ourleader has black hair and black eyes, let's call it the Inn of the BlackPanther. All in favor of that motion say 'Aye. '"

"Aye!" they roared. 

"All against it say 'no. '"

Silence. 

"The Inn of the Black Panther it is, " said Will, "an' it is the mostwelcome inn that ever housed me. "

The Panther smiled benevolently. 

"I don't blame you boys for havin' a little fun, " he said. "It does feelgood to be here after all that we've been through. "

The joy of the Texans was irrepressible. Fields began to pat and threeor four of them danced up and down the earthen floor of the cabin. Willwatched with dancing eyes. Ned, more sober, sat by his side. 

However, the highest spirits must grow calm at last, and gradually thesinging and dancing ceased. It had grown quite close in the cabin now, and one of the window shutters was thrown open, permitting a rush ofcool, fresh air that was very welcome. Ned looked out. The wind wasstill whistling and moaning, and the snow, like a white veil, hid thetrees. 

The men one by one went to sleep on the floor. Obed and Fields keptwatch at the window during the first half of the night, and the Pantherand Ned relieved them for the second half. They heard nothing but thewind, and saw nothing but the snow. Day came with a hidden sun, and thefine snow still driven by the wind, but the Panther, a good judge ofweather, predicted a cessation of the snow within an hour. 

The men awoke and rose slowly from the floor. They were somewhat stiff, but no one had been overcome, and after a little stretching of themuscles all the soreness disappeared. The horses were within the shed, unharmed and warm, but hungry. They relighted the fire and broiled morestrips of the antelope, but they saw that little would be left. ThePanther turned to Roylston, who inspired respect in them all. 

"Now, Mr. Roylston, " he said, "we've got to agree upon some course ofaction an' we've got to put it to ourselves squar'ly. I take it that allof us want to serve Texas in one way or another, but we've got onlythree horses, we're about out of food, an' we're a long distance fromthe main Texas settlements. It ain't any use fur us to start to rippin'an' t'arin' unless we've got somethin' to rip an' t'ar with. "

"Good words, " said Obed White. "A speech in time saves errors nine. "

"I am glad you have put the question, Mr. Palmer, " said Roylston. "Ouraffairs have come to a crisis, and we must consider. I, too, wish tohelp Texas, but I can help it more by other ways than battle. "

It did not occur to any of them to doubt him. He had already establishedover them the mental ascendency that comes from a great mind used todealing with great affairs. 

"But we are practically dismounted, " he continued. "It is winter and wedo not know what would happen to us if we undertook to roam over theprairies as we are. On the other hand, we have an abundance of arms andammunition and a large and well-built cabin. I suggest that we supplyourselves with food, and stay here until we can acquire suitable mounts. We may also contrive to keep a watch upon any Mexican armies that may bemarching north. I perhaps have more reason than any of you for hasteningaway, but I can spend the time profitably in regaining the use of mylimbs. "

"Your little talk sounds mighty good to me, " said the Panther. "In fact, I don't see anything else to do. This cabin must have been built an'left here 'speshully fur us. We know, too, that the Texans have all gonehome, thinkin' that the war is over, while we know different an' mebbewe can do more good here than anywhere else. What do you say, boys? Dowe stay?"

"We stay, " replied all together. 

They went to work at once fitting up their house. More firewood wasbrought in. Fortunately the men had been provided with hatchets, in thefrontier style, which their rescuers had not neglected to bring away, and they fixed wooden hooks in the walls for their extra arms andclothing. A half dozen scraped away a large area of the thin snow andenabled the horses to find grass. A fine spring two hundred yards awayfurnished a supply of water. 

After the horses had eaten Obed, the Panther and Ned rode away in searchof game, leaving Mr. Roylston in command at the cabin. 

The snow was no longer falling, and that which lay on the ground wasmelting rapidly. 

"I know this country, " said the Panther, "an' we've got four chances forgame. It may be buffalo, it may be deer, it may be antelope, and it maybe wild turkeys. I think it most likely that we'll find buffalo. We'reso fur west of the main settlements that they're apt to hang 'roun'here in the winter in the creek bottoms, an' if it snows they'll take tothe timber fur shelter. "

"And it has snowed, " said Ned. 

"Jest so, an' that bein' the case we'll search the timber. Of course bigherds couldn't crowd in thar, but in this part of the country wegen'rally find the buffalo scattered in little bands. "

They found patches of forest, generally dwarfed in character, and lookeddiligently for the great game. Once a deer sprang out of a thicket, butsped away so fast they did not get a chance for a shot. At length Obedsaw large footprints in the thinning snow, and called the Panther'sattention to them. The big man examined the traces critically. 

"Not many hours old, " he said. "I'm thinkin' that we'll have buffalosteak fur supper. We'll scout all along this timber. What we want is ayoung cow. Their meat is not tough. "

They rode through the timber for about two hours, when Ned caught sightof moving figures on the far side of a thicket. He could just see thebacks of large animals, and he knew that there were their buffalo. Hepointed them out to the Panther, who nodded. 

"We'll ride 'roun' the thicket as gently as possible, " he said, "an'then open fire. Remember, we want a tender young cow, two of 'em if wecan get 'em, an' don't fool with the bulls. "

Ned's heart throbbed as Old Jack bore him around the thicket. He hadfought with men, but he was not yet a buffalo hunter. Just as theyturned the flank of the bushes a huge buffalo bull, catching their odor, raised his head and uttered a snort. The Panther promptly fired at ayoung cow just beyond him. The big bull, either frightened or angry, leaped head down at Old Jack. The horse was without experience withbuffaloes, but he knew that those sharp horns meant no good to him, andhe sprang aside with so much agility that Ned was almost unseated. 

The big bull rushed on, and Ned, who had retained his hold upon hisrifle, was tempted to take a shot at him for revenge, but, rememberingthe Panther's injunction, he controlled the impulse and fired at a youngcow. 

When the noise and confusion were over and the surviving buffaloes hadlumbered away, they found that they had slain two of the young cows andthat they had an ample supply of meat. 

"Ned, " said the Panther, "you know how to go back to the cabin, don'tyou?"

"I can go straight as an arrow. "

"Then ride your own horse, lead the other two an' bring two men. We'llneed 'em with the work here. "

The Panther and Obed were already at work skinning the cows. Ned sprangupon Old Jack, and rode away at a trot, leading the other two horses bytheir lariats. The snow was gone now and the breeze was almost balmy. Ned felt that great rebound of the spirits of which the young are socapable. They had outwitted Urrea, they had taken his prisoners fromhim, and then had escaped across the Rio Grande. They had found shelterand now they had obtained a food supply. They were all good comradestogether, and what more was to be asked?

He whistled as he rode along, but when he was half way back to the cabinhe noticed something in a large tree that caused him to stop. He saw theoutlines of great bronze birds, and he knew that they were wild turkeys. Wild turkeys would make a fine addition to their larder, and, haltingOld Jack, he shot from his back, taking careful aim at the largest ofthe turkeys. The huge bird fell, and as the others flew away Ned waslucky enough to bring down a second with a pistol shot. 

His trophies were indeed worth taking, and tying their legs togetherwith a withe he hung them across his saddle bow. He calculated that thetwo together weighed nearly sixty pounds, and he rode triumphantly whenhe came in sight of the cabin. 

Will saw him first and gave a shout that drew the other men. 

"What luck?" hailed young Allen. 

"Not much, " replied Ned, "but I did get these sparrows. "

He lifted the two great turkeys from his saddle and tossed them to Will. The boy caught them, but he was borne to his knees by their weight. Themen looked at them and uttered approving words. 

"What did you do with the Panther and Obed?" asked Fields. 

"The last I saw of them they had been dismounted and were being chasedover the plain by two big bull buffaloes. The horns of the buffaloeswere then not more than a foot from the seats of their trousers. So Icaught their horses, and I have brought them back to camp. "

"I take it, " said Fields, "that you've had good luck. "

"We have had the finest of luck, " replied Ned. "We ran into a group offifteen or twenty buffaloes, and we brought down two fine, young cows. Icame back for two more men to help with them, and on my way I shot theseturkeys. "

Fields and another man named Carter returned with Ned. Young Allen wasextremely anxious to go, but the others were chosen on account of theirexperience with the work. They found that Obed and the Panther hadalready done the most of it, and when it was all finished Fields andCarter started back with the three horses, heavily laden. As the nightpromised to be mild, and the snow was gone, Ned, Obed and the Pantherremained in the grove with the rest of their food supply. 

They also wished to preserve the two buffalo robes, and they staked themout upon the ground, scraping them clean of flesh with their knives. Then they lighted a fire and cooked as much of the tender meat as theywished. By this time it was dark and they were quite ready to rest. Theyput out the fire and raked up the beds of leaves on which they wouldspread their blankets. But first they enjoyed the relaxation of thenerves and the easy talk that come after a day's work well done. 

"It certainly has been a fine day for us, " said Obed. "Sometimes I liketo go through the bad days, because it makes the good days that followall the better. Yesterday we were wandering around in the snow, and wehad nothing, to-day we have a magnificent city home, that is to say, thecabin, and a beautiful country place, that is to say, this grove. I canadd, too, that our nights in our country place are spent to theaccompaniment of music. Listen to that beautiful song, won't you?"

A long, whining howl rose, sank and died. After an interval they heardits exact duplicate and the Panther remarked tersely:

"Wolves. Mighty hungry, too. They've smelled our buffalo meat and theywant it. Guess from their big voices that they're timber wolves and notcoyotes. "

Ned knew that the timber wolf was a much larger and fiercer animal thanhis prairie brother, and he did not altogether like this whining soundwhich now rose and died for the third time. 

"Must be a dozen or so, " said the Panther, noticing the increasingvolume of sound. "We'll light the fire again. Nothing is smarter than awolf, an' I don't want one of those hulkin' brutes to slip up, seize afine piece of buffalo and dash away with it. But fire will hold 'em. Howa wolf does dread it! The little red flame is like a knife in hisheart. "

They lighted four small fires, making a rude ring which inclosed theirleafy beds and the buffalo skins and meat. Before they finished the taskthey saw slim dusky figures among the trees and red eyes glaring atthem. The Panther picked up a stick blazing like a torch, and made asudden rush for one of the figures. There was a howl of terror and asound of something rushing madly through the bushes. 

The Panther flung his torch as far as he could in the direction of thesounds and returned, laughing deep in his throat. 

"I think I came pretty near hittin' the master wolf with that, " he said, "an' I guess he's good an' scared. But they'll come back after a while, an' don't you forget it. For that reason, I think we'd better keep awatch. We'll divide it into three hours apiece, an' we'll give you thefirst, Ned. "

Ned was glad to have the opening watch, as it would soon be over anddone with, and then he could sleep free from care about any watch tocome. The Panther and Obed rolled in their blankets, found sleep almostinstantly, and the boy, resolved not to be a careless sentinel, walkedin a circle just outside the fires. 

Sure enough, and just as the Panther had predicted, he saw the red eyesand dusky forms again. Now and then he heard a faint pad among thebushes, and he knew that a wolf had made it. He merely changed from theoutside to the inside of the fire ring, and continued his walk. With thefire about him and his friends so near he was not afraid of wolves, nomatter how big and numerous they might be. 

Yet their presence in the bushes, the light shuffle of their feet andtheir fiery eyes had an uncanny effect. It was unpleasant to know thatsuch fierce beasts were so near, and he gave himself a reassuring glanceat the sleeping forms of his partners. By and by the red eyes meltedaway, and he heard another soft tread, but heavier than that of thewolves. With his rifle lying in the hollow of his arm and his finger onthe trigger he looked cautiously about the circle of the forest. 

Ned's gaze at last met that of a pair of red eyes, a little furtherapart than those of the wolves. He knew then that they belonged to alarger animal, and presently he caught a glimpse of the figure. He wassure that it was a puma or cougar, and so far as he could judge it was abig brute. It, too, must be very hungry, or it would not dare the fireand the human odor. 

Ned felt tentatively of his rifle, but changed his mind. He rememberedthe Panther's exploit with the firebrand, and he decided to imitate it, but on a much larger scale. He laid down his rifle, but kept his lefthand on the butt of the pistol in his belt. Then selecting the largesttorch from the fire he made a rush straight for the blazing eyes, thrusting the flaming stick before him. There was a frightened roar, andthen the sound of a heavy body crashing away through the undergrowth. Ned returned, satisfied that he had done as well as the Panther andbetter. 

Both the Panther and Obed were awake and sitting up. They lookedcuriously at Ned, who still carried the flaming brand in his hand. 

"A noise like the sound of thunder away off wakened me up, " said thePanther. "Now, what have you been up to, young 'un?"

"Me?" said Ned lightly. "Oh, nothing important. I wanted to make someinvestigations in natural history out there in the bushes, and as Ineeded a light for the purpose I took it. "

"An' if I'm not pressin' too much, " said the Panther, in mock humility, "may I make so bold as to ask our young Solomon what is naturalhistory?"

"Natural history is the study of animals. I saw a panther in the bushesand I went out there to examine him. I saw that he was a big fellow, buthe ran away so fast I could tell no more about him. "

"You scared him away with the torch instead of shooting, " said Obed. "Itwas well done, but it took a stout heart. If he comes again tell him Iwon't wake up until it's time for my watch. "

He was asleep again inside of a minute, and the Panther followed himquickly. Both men trusted Ned fully, treating him now as an experiencedand skilled frontiersman. He knew it, and he felt proud and encouraged. 

The panther did not come back, but the wolves did, although Ned now paidno attention to them. He was growing used to their company and theuncanny feeling departed. He merely replenished the fires and satpatiently until it was time for Obed to succeed him. Then he, too, wrapped himself in his blankets and slept a dreamless sleep until day. 

The remainder of the buffalo meat was taken away the next day, butanticipating a long stay at the cabin they continued to hunt, both onhorseback and on foot. Two more buffalo cows fell to their rifles. Theyalso secured a deer, three antelope and a dozen wild turkeys. 

Their hunting spread over two days, but when they were all assembled onthe third night at the cabin general satisfaction prevailed. They hadranged over considerable country, and as game was plentiful and notafraid the Panther drew the logical conclusion that man had been scarcein that region. 

"I take it, " he said, "that the Mexicans are a good distance east, andthat the Lipans and Comanches are another good distance west. Just thesame, boys, we've got to keep a close watch, an' I think we've got moreto fear from raidin' parties of the Indians than from the Mexicans. Allthe Mexicans are likely to be ridin' to some point on the Rio Grande tomeet the forces of Santa Anna. "

"I wish we had more horses, " said Obed. "We'd go that way ourselves andsee what's up. "

"Well, maybe we'll get 'em, " said the Panther. "Thar's a lot of horseson these plains, some of which ought to belong to us an' we may find away of claimin' our rights. "

They passed a number of pleasant days at the cabin and in hunting andforaging in the vicinity. They killed more big game and the dressedskins of buffalo, bear and deer were spread on the floor or were hung onthe walls. Wild turkeys were numerous, and they had them for food everyday. But they discovered no signs of man, white or red, and they wouldhave been content to wait there had they not been so anxious toinvestigate the reported advance of Santa Anna on the Rio Grande. 

Roylston was the most patient of them all, or at least he said theleast. 

"I think, " he said about the fourth or fifth day, "that it does not hurtto linger here. The Mexican power has not yet gathered in full. As forme, personally, it suits me admirably. I can walk a full two hundredyards now, and next week I shall be able to walk a mile. "

"When we are all ready to depart, which way do you intend to go Mr. Roylston?" asked Ned. 

"I wish to go around the settlements and then to New Orleans, " repliedRoylston. "That city is my headquarters, but I also have establishmentselsewhere, even as far north as New York. Are you sure, Ned, that youcannot go with me and bring your friend Allen, too? I could make men ofyou both in a vast commercial world. There have been greatopportunities, and greater are coming. The development of this mightysouthwest will call for large and bold schemes of organization. It isnot money alone that I offer, but the risk, the hopes and rewards of agreat game, in fact, the opening of a new world to civilization, forsuch this southwest is. It appeals to some deeper feeling than thatwhich can be aroused by the mere making of money. "

Ned, deeply interested, watched him intently as he spoke. He sawRoylston show emotion for the first time, and the mind of the boyresponded to that of the man. He could understand this dream. The imageof a great Texan republic was already in the minds of men. It possessedthat of Ned. He did not believe that the Texans and Mexicans could everget along together, and he was quite sure that Texas could never returnto its original position as part of a Mexican state. 

"You can do much for Texas there with me in New Orleans, " said Roylston, as if he were making a final appeal to one whom he looked upon almost asa son. "Perhaps you could do more than you can here in Texas. "

Ned shook his head a little sadly. He did not like to disappoint thisman, but he could not leave the field. Young Allen also said that hewould remain. 

"Be it so, " said Roylston. "It is young blood. Never was there a truersaying than 'Young men for war, old men for counsel. ' But the time maycome when you will need me. When it does come send the word. "

Ned judged from Roylston's manner that dark days were ahead, but themerchant did not mention the subject again. At the end of a week, whenthey were amply supplied with everything except horses, the Pantherdecided to take Ned and Obed and go on a scout toward the Rio Grande. They started early in the morning and the horses, which had obtainedplenty of grass, were full of life and vigor. 

They soon left the narrow belt of forest far behind them, maintaining analmost direct course toward the southeast. The point on the river thatthey intended to reach was seventy or eighty miles away, and they didnot expect to cover the distance in less than two days. 

They rode all that day and did not see a trace of a human being, butthey did see both buffalo and antelope in the distance. 

"It shows what the war has done, " said the Panther. "I rode over thesesame prairies about a year ago an' game was scarce, but there were somemen. Now the men are all gone an' the game has come back. Cur'us howquick buffalo an' deer an' antelope learn about these things. "

They slept the night through on the open prairie, keeping watch byturns. The weather was cold, but they had their good blankets with themand they took no discomfort. They rode forward again early in themorning, and about noon struck an old but broad trail. It was evidentthat many men and many wagons had passed here. There were deep ruts inthe earth, cut by wheels, and the traces of footsteps showed over abelt a quarter of a mile wide. 

"Well, Ned, I s'pose you can make a purty good guess what this means?"said the Panther. 

"This was made weeks and weeks ago, " replied Ned confidently, "and themen who made it were Mexicans. They were soldiers, the army of Cos, thatwe took at San Antonio, and which we allowed to retire on parole intoMexico. "

"There's no doubt you're right, " said the Panther. "There's no otherforce in this part of the world big enough to make such a wide an'lastin' trail. An' I think it's our business to follow these tracks. What do you say, Obed?"

"It's just the one thing in the world that we're here to do, " said theMaine man. "Broad is the path and straight is the way that leads beforeus, and we follow on. "

"Do we follow them down into Mexico?" said Ned. 

"I don't think it likely that we'll have to do it, " replied the Panther, glancing at Obed. 

Ned caught the look and he understood. 

"Do you mean, " he asked, "that Cos, after taking his parole and pledginghis word that he and his troops would not fight against us, would stopat the Rio Grande?"

"I mean that an' nothin' else, " replied the Panther. "I ain't talkin'ag'in Mexicans in general. I've knowed some good men among them, but Iwouldn't take the word of any of that crowd of generals, Santa Anna, Cos, Sesma, Urrea, Gaona, Castrillon, the Italian Filisola, or any ofthem. "

"There's one I'd trust, " said Ned, with grateful memory, "and that'sAlmonte. "

"I've heard that he's of different stuff, " said the Panther, "but it'sbest to keep out of their hands. "

They were now riding swiftly almost due southward, having changed theircourse to follow the trail, and they kept a sharp watch ahead forMexican scouts or skirmishers. But the bare country in its winter brownwas lone and desolate. The trail led straight ahead, and it would havebeen obvious now to the most inexperienced eye that an army had passedthat way. They saw remains of camp fires, now and then the skeleton of ahorse or mule picked clean by buzzards, fragments of worn-out clothingthat had been thrown aside, and once a broken-down wagon. Two or threetimes they saw little mounds of earth with rude wooden crosses stuckupon them, to mark where some of the wounded had died and had beenburied. 

They came at last to a bit of woodland growing about a spring thatseemed to gush straight up from the earth. It was really an open grovewith no underbrush, a splendid place for a camp. It was evident thatCos's force had put it to full use, as the earth nearly everywhere hadbeen trodden by hundreds of feet, and the charred pieces of wood wereinnumerable. The Panther made a long and critical examination ofeverything. 

"I'm thinkin', " he said, "that Cos stayed here three or four days. Allthe signs p'int that way. He was bound by the terms we gave him at SanAntonio to go an' not fight ag'in, but he's shorely takin' his timeabout it. Look at these bones, will you? Now, Ned, you promisin' scoutan' skirmisher, tell me what they are. "

"Buffalo bones, " replied Ned promptly. 

"Right you are, " replied the Panther, "an' when Cos left San Antonio hewasn't taking any buffaloes along with him to kill fur meat. They staidhere so long that the hunters had time to go out an' shoot game. "

"A long lane's the thief of time, " said Obed, "and having a big marchbefore him, Cos has concluded to walk instead of run. "

"'Cause he was expectin' somethin' that would stop him, " said thePanther angrily. "I hate liars an' traitors. Well, we'll soon see. "

Their curiosity became so great that they rode at a swift trot on thegreat south trail, and not ten miles further they came upon theunmistakable evidences of another big camp that had lasted long. 

"Slower an' slower, " muttered the Panther. "They must have met amessenger. Wa'al, it's fur us to go slow now, too. "

But he said aloud:

"Boys, it ain't more'n twenty miles now to the Rio Grande, an' we canhit it by dark. But I'm thinkin' that we'd better be mighty keerful nowas we go on. "

"I suppose it's because Mexican scouts and skirmishers may be watching, "said Ned. 

"Yes, an' 'specially that fellow Urrea. His uncle bein' one of SantaAnna's leadin' gen'rals, he's likely to have freer rein, an', as weknow, he's clever an' active. I'd hate to fall into his hands again. "

They rode more slowly, and three pairs of eyes continually searched theplain for an enemy. Ned's sight was uncommonly acute, and Obed and thePanther frequently appealed to him as a last resort. It flattered hispride and he strove to justify it. 

Their pace became slower and slower, and presently the early twilight ofwinter was coming. A cold wind moaned, but the desolate plain was brokenhere and there by clumps of trees. At the suggestion of the Pantherthey rode to one of these and halted under cover of the timber. 

"The river can't be much more than a mile ahead, " said the Panther, "an'we might run into the Mexicans any minute. We're sheltered here, an'we'd better wait a while. Then I think we can do more stalkin'. "

Obed and Ned were not at all averse, and dismounting they stretchedthemselves, easing their muscles. Old Jack hunted grass and, findingnone, rubbed Ned's elbow with his nose suggestively. 

"Never mind, old boy, " said Ned, patting the glossy muzzle of hisfaithful comrade. "This is no time for feasting and banqueting. We arehunting Mexicans, you and I, and after that business is over we mayconsider our pleasures. "

They remained several hours among the trees. They saw the last red glowthat the sun leaves in the west die away. They saw the full darknessdescend over the earth, and then the stars come trooping out. After thatthey saw a scarlet flush under the horizon which was not a part of thenight and its progress. The Panther noted it, and his great facedarkened. He turned to Ned. 

"You see it, don't you? Now tell me what it is. "

"That light, I should say, comes from the fires of an army. And it canbe no other army than that of Cos. "

"Right again, ain't he, Obed?"

"He surely is. Cos and his men are there. He who breaks his faith whenhe steals away will have to fight another day. How far off would you saythat light is, Panther?"

"'Bout two miles, an' in an hour or so we'll ride fur it. The night willdarken up more then, an' it will give us a better chance for lookin' anlistenin'. I'll be mightily fooled if we don't find out a lot that'sworth knowin'. "

True to Obed's prediction, the night deepened somewhat within the hour. Many of the stars were hidden by floating wisps of cloud, and objectscould not be seen far on the dusky surface of the plain. But theincreased darkness only made the scarlet glow in the south deepen. Itseemed, too, to spread far to right and left. 

"That's a big force, " said the Panther. "It'll take a lot of fires tomake a blaze like that. "

"I'm agreeing with you, " said Obed. "I'm thinking that those are thecamp fires of more men than Cos took from San Antonio with him. "

"Which would mean, " said Ned, "that another Mexican army had come northto join him. "

"Anyhow, we'll soon see, " said the Panther. 

They mounted their horses and rode cautiously toward the light. 

CHAPTER V

SANTA ANNA'S ADVANCE

The three rode abreast, Ned in the center. The boy was on terms ofperfect equality with Obed and the Panther. They treated him as a manamong men, and respected his character, rather grave for one so young, and always keen to learn. 

The land rolled away in swells as usual throughout a great part ofTexas, but they were not of much elevation and the red glow in the southwas always in sight, deepening fast as they advanced. They stopped atlast on a little elevation within the shadow of some myrtle oaks, andsaw the fires spread before them only four or five hundred yards away, and along a line of at least two miles. They heard the confused murmurof many men. The dark outlines of cannon were seen against thefirelight, and now and then the musical note of a mandolin or guitarcame to them. 

"We was right in our guess, " said the Panther. "It's a lot bigger forcethan the one that Cos led away from San Antonio, an' it will take a heapof rippin' an' t'arin' an' roarin' to turn it back. Our people don'tknow how much is comin' ag'in 'em. "

The Panther spoke in a solemn tone. Ned saw that he was deeply impressedand that he feared for the future. Good cause had he. Squabbles amongthe Texan leaders had reduced their army to five or six hundred men. 

"Don't you think, " said Ned, "that we ought to find out just exactlywhat is here, and what this army intends?"

"Not a doubt of it, " said Obed. "Those who have eyes to see should notgo away without seeing. "

The Panther nodded violently in assent. 

"We must scout about the camp, " he said. "Mebbe we'd better divide an'then we can all gather before day-break at the clump of trees backthere. "

He pointed to a little cluster of trees several hundred yards back ofthem, and Ned and Obed agreed. The Panther turned away to the right, Obed to the left and Ned took the center. Their plan of dividing theirforce had a great advantage. One man was much less likely than three toattract undue attention. 

Ned went straight ahead a hundred yards or more, when he was stopped byan arroyo five or six feet wide and with very deep banks. He lookedabout, uncertain at first what to do. Obed and the Panther had alreadydisappeared in the dusk. Before him glowed the red light, and he heardthe distant sound of many voices. 

Ned quickly decided. He remembered how they had escaped up the bed ofthe creek when they were besieged by Urrea, and if one could leave by anarroyo, one could also approach by it. He rode to the group of treesthat had been designated as the place of meeting, and left his horsethere. He noticed considerable grass within the ring of trunks, and hewas quite confident that Old Jack would remain there until his return. But he addressed to him words of admonition:

"Be sure that you stay among these trees, old friend, " he said, "becauseit's likely that when I want you I'll want you bad. Remain and attend tothis grass. "

Old Jack whinnied softly and, after his fashion, rubbed his nose gentlyagainst his master's arm. It was sufficient for Ned. He was sure thatthe horse understood, and leaving him he went back to the arroyo, whichhe entered without hesitation. 

Ned was well armed, as every one then had full need to be. He wore asombrero in the Mexican fashion, and flung over his shoulders was agreat serape which he had found most useful in the winter. With hisperfect knowledge of Spanish and its Mexican variants he believed thatif surprised he could pass as a Mexican, particularly in the night andamong so many. 

The arroyo led straight down toward the plain upon which the Mexicanswere encamped, and when he emerged from it he saw that the fires whichat a distance looked like one continuous blaze were scores in number. Many of them were built of buffalo chips and others of light wood thatburned fast. Sentinels were posted here and there, but they kept littlewatch. Why should they? Here was a great Mexican army, and there wascertainly no foe amounting to more than a few men within a hundredmiles. 

Ned's heart sank as he beheld the evident extent of the Mexican array. The little Texan force left in the field could be no match for such anarmy as this. 

Nevertheless, his resolution to go through the Mexican camp hardened. Ifhe came back with a true and detailed tale of their numbers the Texansmust believe and prepare. He drew the brim of his sombrero down a littlefurther, and pulled his serape up to meet it. The habit the Mexicans hadof wrapping their serapes so high that they were covered to the nose wasfortunate at this time. He was now completely disguised, without theappearance of having taken any unusual precaution. 

He walked forward boldly and sat down with a group beside a fire. Hejudged by the fact that they were awake so late that they had but littleto do, and he saw at once also that they were Mexicans from the farsouth. They were small, dark men, rather amiable in appearance. Twobegan to play guitars and they sang a plaintive song to the music. Theothers, smoking cigarritos, listened attentively and luxuriously. Nedimitated them perfectly. He, too, lying upon his elbow before thepleasant fire, felt the influence of the music, so sweet, so murmurous, speaking so little of war. One of the men handed him a cigarrito, and, lighting it, he made pretense of smoking--he would not have seemed aMexican had he not smoked the cigarrito. 

Lying there, Ned saw many tents, evidence of a camp that was not for theday only, and he beheld officers in bright uniforms passing among them. His heart gave a great jump when he noticed among them a heavy-set, darkman. It was Cos, Cos the breaker of oaths. With him was another officerwhose uniform indicated the general. Ned learned later that this wasSesma, who had been dispatched with a brigade by Santa Anna to meet Coson the Rio Grande, where they were to remain until the dictator himselfcame with more troops. 

The music ceased presently and one of the men said to Ned:

"What company?"

Ned had prepared himself for such questions, and he moved his handvaguely toward the left. 

"Over there, " he said. 

They were fully satisfied, and continued to puff their cigarritos, resting their heads with great content upon pillows made of theirsaddles and blankets. For a while they said nothing more, happilywatching the rings of smoke from their cigarritos rise and melt into theair. Although small and short, they looked hardy and strong. Nednoticed the signs of bustle and expectancy about the camp. UsuallyMexicans were asleep at this hour, and he wondered why they lingered. But he did not approach the subject directly. 

"A hard march, " he said, knowing that these men about him had come avast distance. 

"Aye, it was, " said the man next on his right. "Santiago, but was itnot, José?"

José, the second man on the right, replied in the affirmative and withemphasis:

"You speak the great truth, Carlos. Such another march I never wish tomake. Think of the hundreds and hundreds of miles we have tramped fromour warm lands far in the south across mountains, across bare and windydeserts, with the ice and the snow beating in our faces. How I shivered, Carlos, and how long I shivered! I thought I should continue shiveringall my life even if I lived to be a hundred, no matter how warmly thesun might shine. "

The others laughed, and seemed to Ned to snuggle a little closer to thefire, driven by the memory of the icy plains. 

"But it was the will of the great Santa Anna, surely the mightiest manof our age, " said Carlos. "They say that his wrath was terrible when heheard how the Texan bandits had taken San Antonio de Bexar. Truly, I amglad that I was not one of his officers, and that I was not in hispresence at the time. After all, it is sometimes better to be a commonsoldier than to have command. "

"Aye, truly, " said Ned, and the others nodded in affirmation. 

"But the great Santa Anna will finish it, " continued Carlos, who seemedto have the sin of garrulity. "He has defeated all his enemies inMexico, he has consolidated his power and now he advances with a mightyforce to crush these insolent and miserable Texans. As I have said, hewill finish it. The rope and the bullet will be busy. In six monthsthere will be no Texans. "

Ned shivered, and when he looked at the camp fires of the great army hesaw that this peon was not talking foolishness. Nevertheless his mindreturned to its original point of interest. Why did the Mexican armyremain awake so late?

"Have you seen the President?" he asked of Carlos. 

"Often, " replied Carlos, with pride. "I fought under him in the greatbattle on the plain of Guadalupe less than two years ago, when wedefeated Don Francisco Garcia, the governor of Zacatecas. Ah, it was aterrible battle, my friends! Thousands and thousands were killed and allMexicans. Mexicans killing Mexicans. But who can prevail against thegreat Santa Anna? He routed the forces of Garcia, and the City ofZacatecas was given up to us to pillage. Many fine things I took thatday from the houses of those who presumed to help the enemy of ourleader. But now we care not to kill Mexicans, our own people. It is onlythe miserable Texans who are really Gringos. "

Carlos, who had been the most amiable of men, basking in the firelight, now rose up a little and his eyes flashed. He had excited himself by hisown tale of the battle and loot of Zacatecas and the coming slaughter ofthe Texans. That strain of cruelty, which in Ned's opinion always layembedded in the Spanish character, was coming to the surface. 

Ned made no comment. His serape, drawn up to his nose, almost met thebrim of his sombrero and nobody suspected that the comrade who sat andchatted with them was a Gringo, but he shivered again, nevertheless. 

"We shall have a great force when it is all gathered, " he said atlength. 

"Seven thousand men or more, " said José proudly, "and nearly all of themare veterans of the wars. We shall have ten times the numbers of theTexans, who are only hunters and rancheros. "

"Have you heard when we march?" asked Ned, in a careless tone. 

"As soon as the great Santa Anna arrives it will be decided, I doubtnot, " said José. "The general and his escort should be here bymidnight. "

Ned's heart gave a leap. So it was that for which they were waiting. Santa Anna himself would come in an hour or two. He was very glad thathe had entered the Mexican camp. Bidding a courteous good night to themen about the fire, he rose and sauntered on. It was easy enough for himto do so without attracting attention, as many others were doing thesame thing. Discipline seldom amounted to much in a Mexican army, and soconfident were both officers and soldiers of an overwhelming victorythat they preserved scarcely any at all. Yet the expectant feelingpervaded the whole camp, and now that he knew that Santa Anna was cominghe understood. 

Santa Anna was the greatest man in the world to these soldiers. He hadtriumphed over everything in their own country. He had exhibitedqualities of daring and energy that seemed to them supreme, and hisimpression upon them was overwhelming. Ned felt once more that littleshiver. They might be right in their view of the Texan war. 

He strolled on from fire to fire, until his attention was arrestedsuddenly by one at which only officers sat. It was not so much the groupas it was one among them who drew his notice so strongly. Urrea wassitting on the far side of the fire, every feature thrown into clearrelief by the bright flames. The other officers were young men of abouthis own age and they were playing dice. They were evidently in high goodhumor, as they laughed frequently. 

Ned lay down just within the shadow of a tent wall, drew his serapehigher about his face, and rested his head upon his arm. He would haveseemed sound asleep to an ordinary observer, but he was never more wideawake in his life. He was near enough to hear what Urrea and his friendswere saying, and he intended to hear it. It was for such that he hadcome. 

"You lose, Francisco, " said one of the men as he made a throw of thedice and looked eagerly at the result. "What was it that you were sayingabout the general?"

"That I expect an early advance, Ramon, " replied Urrea, "a briefcampaign, and a complete victory. I hate these Texans. I shall be gladto see them annihilated. "

The young officer whom he called Ramon laughed. 

"If what I hear be true, Francisco, " he said, "you have cause to hatethem. There was a boy, Fulton, that wild buffalo of a man, whom theycall the Panther, and another who defeated some of your finest plans. "

Urrea flushed, but controlled his temper. 

"It is true, Ramon, " he replied. "The third man I can tell you is calledObed White, and they are a clever three. I hate them, but it hurts mypride less to be defeated by them than by any others whom I know. "

"Well spoken, Urrea, " said a third man, "but since these three arefighters and will stay to meet us, it is a certainty that our generalwill scoop them into his net. Then you can have all the revenge youwish. "

"I count upon it, Ambrosio, " said Urrea, smiling. "I also hope that weshall recapture the man Roylston. He has great sums of money in theforeign banks in our country, and we need them, but our illustriouspresident cannot get them without an order from Roylston. The generalwould rather have Roylston than a thousand Texan prisoners. "

All of them laughed, and the laugh made Ned, lying in the shadow, shiveronce more. Urrea glanced his way presently, but the recumbent figure didnot claim his notice. The attention of his comrades and himself becameabsorbed in the dice again. They were throwing the little ivory cubesupon a blanket, and Ned could hear them click as they struck together. The sharp little sound began to flick his nerves. Not one to cherishresentment, he nevertheless began to hate Urrea, and he included in thathatred the young men with him. The Texans were so few and poor. TheMexicans were so many, and they had the resources of a nation more thantwo centuries old. 

Ned rose by and by and walked on. He could imitate the Mexican gaitperfectly, and no one paid any attention to him. They were absorbed, moreover, in something else, because now the light of torches could beseen dimly in the south. Officers threw down cards and dice. Menstraightened their uniforms and Cos and Sesma began to form companies inline. More fuel was thrown on the fires, which sprang up, suffusing allthe night with color and brightness. Ned with his rifle at salute fellinto place at the end of one of the companies, and no one knew that hedid not belong there. In the excitement of the moment he forgot allabout the Panther and Obed. 

A thrill seemed to run through the whole Mexican force. It was the mostimpressive scene that Ned had ever beheld. A leader, omnipotent intheir eyes, was coming to these men, and he came at midnight out of thedark into the light. 

The torches grew brighter. A trumpet pealed and a trumpet in the campreplied. The Mexican lines became silent save for a deep murmur. In thesouth they heard the rapid beat of hoofs, and then Santa Anna came, galloping at the head of fifty horsemen. Many of the younger officersran forward, holding up torches, and the dictator rode in a blaze oflight. 

Ned looked once more upon that dark and singular face, a face daring andcruel, that might have belonged to one of the old conquistadores. In thesaddle his lack of height was concealed, but on the great white horsethat he rode Ned felt that he was an imposing, even a terrible, figure. His eyes were blazing with triumph as his army united with torches to dohim honor. It was like Napoleon on the night before Austerlitz, and whatwas he but the Napoleon of the New World? His figure swelled and thegold braid on his cocked hat and gorgeous uniform reflected the beams ofthe firelight. 

A mighty cheer from thousands of throats ran along the Mexican line, andthe torches were waved until they looked like vast circles of fire. Santa Anna lifted his hat and bowed three times in salute. Again theMexican cheer rolled to right and to left. Santa Anna, still sitting onhis horse, spread out his hands. There was instant silence save for thedeep breathing of the men. 

"My children, " he said, "I have come to sweep away these miserableTexans who have dared to raise the rebel flag against us. We will punishthem all. Houston, Austin, Bowie and the rest of their leaders shallfeel our justice. When we finish our march over their prairies it shallbe as if a great fire had passed. I have said it. I am Santa Anna. "

The thunderous cheer broke forth again. Ned had never before heard wordsso full of conceit and vainglory, yet the strength and menace werethere. He felt it instinctively. Santa Anna believed himself to be thegreatest man in the world, and he was certainly the greatest in Mexico. His belief in himself was based upon a deep well of energy and daring. Once more Ned felt a great and terrible fear for Texas, and the thinline of skin-clad hunters and ranchmen who were its sole defence. Butthe feeling passed as he watched Santa Anna. A young officer rushedforward and held his stirrup as the dictator dismounted. Then thegenerals, including those who had come with him, crowded around him. Itwas a brilliant company, including Sesma, Cos, Duque, Castrillon, Tolsa, Gaona and others, among whom Ned noted a man of decidedly Italianappearance. This was General Vincente Filisola, an Italian officer whohad received a huge grant of land in Texas, and who was now second incommand to Santa Anna. 

Ned watched them as they talked together and occasionally the crowdparted enough for him to see Santa Anna, who spoke and gesticulated withgreat energy. The soldiers had been drawn away by the minor officers, and were now dispersing to their places by the fires where they wouldseek sleep. 

Ned noticed a trim, slender figure on the outer edge of the group aroundSanta Anna. It seemed familiar, and when the man turned he recognizedthe face of Almonte, the gallant young Mexican colonel who had been kindto him. He was sorry to see him there. He was sorry that he should haveto fight against him. 

Santa Anna went presently to a great marquée that had been prepared forhim, and the other generals retired also to the tents that had been setabout it. The dictator was tired from his long ride and must not bedisturbed. Strict orders were given that there should be no noise in thecamp, and it quickly sank into silence. 

Ned lay down before one of the fires at the western end of the campwrapped as before in his serape. He counterfeited sleep, but nothing wasfurther from his mind. It seemed to him that he had done all he could doin the Mexican camp. He had seen the arrival of Santa Anna, but therewas no way to learn when the general would order an advance. But hecould infer from Santa Anna's well-known energy and ability that itwould come quickly. 

Between the slit left by the brim of his sombrero and his serape hewatched the great fires die slowly. Most of the Mexicans were asleepnow, and their figures were growing indistinct in the shadows. But Ned, rising, slouched forward, imitating the gait of the laziest of theMexicans. Yet his eyes were always watching shrewdly through the slit. Very little escaped his notice. He went along the entire Mexican lineand then back again. He had a good mathematical mind, and he saw thatthe estimate of 7, 000 for the Mexican army was not too few. He also sawmany cannon and the horses for a great cavalry force. He knew, too, thatSanta Anna had with him the best regiments in the Mexican service. 

On his last trip along the line Ned began to look for the Panther andObed, but he saw no figures resembling theirs, although he was quitesure that he would know the Panther in any disguise owing to his greatsize. This circumstance would make it more dangerous for the Pantherthan for either Obed or himself, as Urrea, if he should see so large aman, would suspect that it was none other than the redoubtablefrontiersman. 

Ned was thinking of this danger to the Panther when he came face to facewith Urrea himself. The young Mexican captain was not lacking invigilance and energy, and even at that late hour he was seeing that allwas well in the camp of Santa Anna. Ned was truly thankful now thatMexican custom and the coldness of the night permitted him to cover hisface with his serape and the brim of his sombrero. 

"Why are you walking here?" demanded Urrea. 

"I've just taken a message to General Castrillon, " replied Ned. 

He had learned already that Castrillon commanded the artillery, and ashe was at least a mile away he thought this the safest reply. 

"From whom?" asked Urrea shortly. 

"Pardon, sir, " replied Ned, in his best Spanish, disguising his voice asmuch as possible, "but I am not allowed to tell. "

Ned's tone was courteous and apologetic, and in ninety-nine cases out ofa hundred Urrea would have contented himself with an impatient word ortwo. But he was in a most vicious temper. Perhaps he had been rebuked bySanta Anna for allowing the rescue of Roylston. 

"Why don't you speak up?" he exclaimed. "Why do you mumble your words, and why do you stand in such a slouching manner. Remember that a soldiershould stand up straight. "

"Yes, my captain, " said Ned, but he did not change his attitude. Thetone and manner of Urrea angered him. He forgot where he was and hisdanger. 

Urrea's swarthy face flushed. He carried in his hand a small ridingwhip, which he switched occasionally across the tops of his tall, military boots. 

"Lout!" he cried. "You hear me! Why do you not obey!"

Ned stood impassive. Certainly Urrea had had a bad half hour somewhere. His temper leaped beyond control. 

"Idiot!" he exclaimed. 

Then he suddenly lashed Ned across the face with the little riding whip. The blow fell on serape and sombrero and the flesh was not touched, butfor a few moments Ned went mad. He dropped his rifle, leaped upon theastonished officer, wrenched the whip from his hands, slashed him acrossthe cheeks with it until the blood ran in streams, then broke it in twoand threw the pieces in his face. Ned's serape fell away. Urrea hadclasped his hands to his cheeks that stung like fire, but now herecognized the boy. 

"Fulton!" he cried. 

The sharp exclamation brought Ned to a realization of his danger. Heseized his rifle, pulled up the serape and sprang back. Already Mexicansoldiers were gathering. It was truly fortunate for Ned that he wasquick of thought, and that his thoughts came quickest when the dangerwas greatest. He knew that the cry of "Fulton!" was unintelligible tothem, and he exclaimed:

"Save me, comrades! He tried to beat me without cause, and now he wouldkill me, as you see!"

Urrea had drawn a pistol and was shouting fiery Mexican oaths. Thesoldiers, some of them just awakened from sleep, and all of them dazed, had gathered in a huddle, but they opened to let Ned pass. Excessive andcruel punishment was common among them. A man might be flogged half todeath at the whim of an officer, and instinctively they protected theircomrade. 

As the Mexican group closed up behind him, and between him and Urrea, Ned ran at top speed toward the west where the arroyo cut across theplain. More Mexicans were gathering, and there was great confusion. Everybody was asking what was the matter. The boy's quick wit did notdesert him. There was safety in ignorance and the multitude. 

He quickly dropped to a walk and he, too, began to ask of others whathad caused the trouble. All the while he worked steadily toward thearroyo, and soon he left behind him the lights and the shouting. He nowcame into the dark, passed beyond the Mexican lines, and entered the cutin the earth down which he had come. 

He was compelled to sit down on the sand and relax. He was exhausted bythe great effort of both mind and body which had carried him through somuch danger. His heart was beating heavily and he felt dizzy. But hiseyes cleared presently and his strength came back. He considered himselfsafe. In the darkness it was not likely that any of the Mexicans wouldstumble upon him. 

He thought of the Panther and Obed, but he could do nothing for them. Hemust trust to meeting them again at the place appointed. He looked atthe Mexican camp. The fires had burned up again there for a minute ortwo, but as he looked they sank once more. The noise also decreased. Evidently they were giving up the pursuit. 

Ned rose and walked slowly up the arroyo. He became aware that the nightwas very cold and it told on his relaxed frame. He pulled up the serapeagain, and now it was for warmth and not for disguise. He stopped atintervals to search the darkness with his eyes and to listen for noises. He might meet with an enemy or he might meet with one of his friends. Hewas prepared for either. He had regained control of himself both bodyand mind, and his ready rifle rested in the hollow of his arm. 

He met neither. He heard nothing but the usual sighing of the prairiewind that ceased rarely, and he saw nothing but the faint glow on thesouthern horizon that marked the Mexican camp where he had met hisenemy. 

He left the arroyo, and saw a dark shadow on the plain, the figure of aman, rifle in hand, Ned instantly sprang back into the arroyo and thestranger did the same. A curve in the line of this cut in the earth nowhid them from each other, and Ned, his body pressed against the bank, waited with beating heart. He had no doubt that it was a Mexicansentinel or scout more vigilant than the others, and he felt his danger. 

Ned in this crisis used the utmost caution. He did not believe that anyother would come, and it must be a test of patience between him and hisenemy. Whoever showed his head first would be likely to lose in the duelfor life. He pressed himself closer and closer against the bank, andsought to detect some movement of the stranger. He saw nothing and hedid not hear a sound. It seemed that the man had absolutely vanishedinto space. It occurred to Ned that it might have been a mere figment ofthe dusk and his excited brain, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Hehad seen the man and he had seen him leap into the arroyo. There couldbe no doubt of it. 

There was another long wait, and the suspense became acute. The man wassurely on the other side of that curve waiting for him. He was heldfast. He was almost as much a prisoner as if he lay bound in the Mexicancamp. It seemed to him, too, that the darkness was thinning a little. Itwould soon be day and then he could not escape the notice of horsemenfrom Santa Anna's army. He decided that he must risk an advance and hebegan creeping forward cautiously. He remembered now what he hadforgotten in the first moments of the meeting. He might yet, evenbefore this sentinel or scout, pass as a Mexican. 

He stopped suddenly when he heard a low whistle in front of him. Whileit could be heard but a short distance, it was singularly sweet. Itformed the first bars of an old tune, "The World Turned Upside Down, "and Ned promptly recognized it. The whistle stopped in a moment or two, but Ned took up the air and continued it for a few bars more. Then, allapprehension gone, he sprang out of the arroyo and stood upon the bank. Another figure was projected from the arroyo and stood upon the bankfacing him, not more than twenty feet away. 

Simultaneously Obed White and Edward Fulton advanced, shook hands andlaughed. 

"You kept me here waiting in this gully at least half an hour, " saidObed. "Time and I waited long on you. "

"But no longer than I waited on you, " said Ned. "Why didn't you think ofwhistling the tune sooner?"

"Why didn't you?"

They laughed and shook hands again. 

"At any rate, we're here together again, safe and unharmed, " said Ned. "And now to see what has become of the Panther. "

"You'd better be lookin' out for yourselves instead of the Panther, "growled a voice, as a gigantic figure upheaved itself from the arroyoeight or ten yards behind them. "I could have picked you both off whileyou were standin' there shakin' hands, an' neither of you would neverhave knowed what struck him. "

"The Panther!" they exclaimed joyously, and they shook hands with himalso. 

"An' now, " said the Panther, "it will soon be day. We'd better make furour horses an' then clear out. We kin tell 'bout what we've seen an'done when we're two or three miles away. "

They found the horses safe in the brushwood, Old Jack welcoming Ned witha soft whinny. They were in the saddle at once, rode swiftly northward, and none of them spoke for a half hour. When a faint tinge of grayappeared on the eastern rim of the world the Panther said:

"My tale's short. I couldn't get into the camp, 'cause I'm too big. Thevery first fellow I saw looked at me with s'picion painted all over him. So I had to keep back in the darkness. But I saw it was a mighty bigarmy. It can do a lot of rippin', an' t'arin', an' chawin'. "

"I got into the camp, " said Obed, after a minute of silence, "but as I'mnot built much like a Mexican, being eight or ten inches too tall, menwere looking at me as if I were a strange specimen. One touch ofdifference and all the world's staring at you. So I concluded that I'dbetter stay on the outside of the lines. I hung around, and I saw justwhat Panther saw, no more and no less. Then I started back and I struckthe arroyo, which seemed to me a good way for leaving. But before I hadgone far I concluded I was followed. So I watched the fellow who wasfollowing, and the fellow who was following watched me for about a year. The watch was just over when you came up, Panther. It was long, but it'sa long watch that has no ending. "

"And I, " said Ned, after another wait of a minute, "being neither sotall as Obed nor so big around as the Panther, was able to go about inthe Mexican camp without any notice being taken of me. I saw Santa Annaarrive to take the chief command. "

"Santa Anna himself?" exclaimed the Panther. 

"Yes, Santa Anna himself. They gave him a great reception. After a whileI started to come away. I met Urrea. He took me for a peon, gave me anorder, and when I didn't obey it tried to strike me across the face witha whip. "

"And what did you do?" exclaimed the two men together. 

"I took the whip away from him and lashed his cheeks with it. I wasrecognized, but in the turmoil and confusion I escaped. Then I had theencounter with Obed White, of which he has told already. "

"Since Santa Anna has come, " said the Panther, "they're likely to moveat any moment. We'll ride straight for the cabin an' the boys. "

CHAPTER VI

FOR FREEDOM'S SAKE

Evidently the horses had found considerable grass through the night, asthey were fresh and strong, and the miles fell fast behind them. At thegait at which they were going they would reach the cabin that night. Meanwhile they made plans. The little force would divide and messengerswould go to San Antonio, Harrisburg and other points, with the news thatSanta Anna was advancing with an immense force. 

And every one of the three knew that the need was great. They knew howdivided counsels had scattered the little Texan army. At San Antonio, the most important point of all, the town that they had triumphantlytaken from a much greater force of Mexicans, there were practically nomen, and that undoubtedly was Santa Anna's destination. Unconsciouslythey began to urge their horses to great and yet greater speed, untilthe Panther recalled them to prudence. 

"Slower, boys! slower!" he said. "We mustn't run our horses out at thestart. "

"And there's a second reason for pulling down, " said Ned, "since there'ssomebody else on the plain. "

His uncommon eyesight had already detected before the others the strangepresence. He pointed toward the East. 

"Do you see that black speck there, where the sky touches the ground?"he said. "If you'll watch it you'll see that it's moving. And look!There's another! and another! and another!"

The Panther and Obed now saw the black specks also. The three stopped onthe crest of a swell and watched them attentively. 

"One! two! three! four! five! six! seven! eight! nine! ten! eleven!twelve! thirteen!" counted the far-sighted boy. 

"An' them thirteen specks are thirteen men on horseback, " continued thePanther, "an' now I wonder who in the name of the great horn spoon theyare!"

"Suppose we see, " said Obed. "All things are revealed to him wholooks--at least most of the time. It is true that they are more thanfour to our one, but our horses are swift, and we can get away. "

"That's right, " said the Panther. "Still, we oughtn't to take the riskunless everybody is willin'. What do you say, Ned?"

"I reply 'yes, ' of course, " said the boy, "especially as I've an ideathat those are not Mexicans. They look too big and tall, and they sittoo straight up in their saddles for Mexicans. "

"Them ideas of yours are ketchin', " said the Panther. "Them fellers maybe Mexicans, but they don't look like Mexicans, they don't act likeMexicans, an' they ain't Mexicans. "

"Take out what isn't, and you have left what is, " said Obed. 

"We'll soon see, " said Ned. 

A few minutes more and there could be no further doubt that the thirteenwere Texans or Americans. One rode a little ahead of the others, whocame on in an even line. They were mounted on large horses, but the manin front held Ned's attention. 

The leader was tall and thin, but evidently muscular and powerful. Hishair was straight and black like an Indian's. His features were angularand tanned by the winds of many years. His body was clothed completelyin buckskin, and a raccoon skin cap was on his head. Across his shoulderlay a rifle with a barrel of unusual length. 

"Never saw any of them before, " said the Panther. "By the great hornspoon, who can that feller in front be? He looks like somebody. "

The little band rode closer, and its leader held up his hand as a signof amity. 

"Good friends, " he said, in a deep clear voice, "we don't have veryclose neighbors out here, and that makes a meeting all the pleasanter. You are Texans, I guess. "

"You guess right, " said the Panther, in the same friendly tone. "An' areyou Texans, too?"

"That point might be debated, " replied the man, in a whimsical tone, "and after a long dispute neither I nor my partners here could say whichwas right and which was wrong. But while we may not be Texans, yet wewill be right away. "

His eyes twinkled as he spoke, and Ned suddenly felt a strong liking forhim. He was not young and, despite his buckskin dress and carelessgrammar, there was something of the man of the world about him. But heseemed to have a certain boyishness of spirit that appealed strongly toNed. 

"I s'pose, " he continued, "that a baptism will make us genuine Texans, an' it 'pears likely to me that we'll get that most lastin' of allbaptisms, a baptism of fire. But me an' Betsy here stand ready for it. "

He patted lovingly the stock of his long rifle as he spoke the word"Betsy. " It was the same word "Betsy" that gave Ned his suddenknowledge. 

"I'm thinking that you are Davy Crockett, " he said. 

The man's face was illumined with an inimitable smile. 

"Correct, " he said. "No more and no less. Andy Jackson kept me fromgoing back to Washington, an' so me an' these twelve good friends ofmine, Tennesseans like myself, have come here to help free Texas. "

He reached out his hand and Ned grasped it. The boy felt a thrill. Thename of Davy Crockett was a great one in the southwest, and here he was, face to face, hands gripped with the great borderer. 

"This is Mr. Palmer, known all over Texas as the Panther, and Mr. ObedWhite, once of Maine, but now a Texan, " said Ned, introducing hisfriends. 

Crockett and the Panther shook hands, and looked each other squarely inthe eye. 

"Seems to me, " said Crockett, "that you're a man. "

"I was jest thinkin' the same of you, " said the Panther. 

"An' you, " said Crockett to Obed White, "are a man, too. But theycertainly do grow tall where you come from. "

"I'm not as wide as a barn door, but I may be long enough to reach thebottom of a well, " said Obed modestly. "Anyway, I thank you for thecompliment. Praise from Sir Davy is sweet music in my ear, indeed. Andsince we Texans have to stand together, and since to stand together wemust know about one another, may I ask you, Mr. Crockett, which way youare going?"

"We had an idea that we would go to San Antonio, " said Crockett, "butI'm never above changin' my opinion. If you think it better to gosomewhere else, an' can prove it, why me an' Betsy an' the whole crowdare ready to go there instead. "

"What would you say?" asked the Panther, "if we told you that Santa Annaan' 7, 000 men were on the Rio Grande ready to march on San Antonio?"

"If you said it, I'd say it was true. I'd also say that it was a thingthe Texans had better consider. If I was usin' adjectives I'd call italarmin'. "

"An' what would you say if I told you there wasn't a hundred Texansoldiers in San Antonio to meet them seven thousand Mexicans comin'under Santa Anna?"

"If you told me that I'd say it was true. I'd say also, if I was usin'adjectives, that it was powerful alarmin'. For Heaven's sake, Mr. Panther, the state of affairs ain't so bad as that, is it?"

"It certainly is, " replied the Panther. "Ned Fulton here was all throughtheir camp last night. He can talk Mexican an' Spanish like lightnin'an' he makes up wonderful--an' he saw their whole army. He saw old SantaAnna, too, an' fifty or a hundred generals, all covered with gold lace. If we don't get a lot of fightin' men together an' get 'em quick, Texaswill be swept clean by that Mexican army same as if a field had beencrossed by millions of locusts. "

It was obvious that Crockett was impressed deeply by these bluntstatements. 

"What do you wish us to do?" he asked the Panther. 

"You an' your friends come with us. We've got some good men at a cabinin the woods that we can reach to-night. We'll join with them, raise asmany more as we can, spread the alarm everywhere, an' do everythingpossible for the defence of San Antonio. "

"A good plan, Mr. Panther, " said Crocket. "You lead the way to thiscabin of yours, an' remember that we're servin' under you for the timebein'. "

The Panther rode on without another word and the party, now raised fromthree to sixteen, followed. Crockett fell in by the side of Ned, andsoon showed that he was not averse to talking. 

"A good country, " he said, nodding at the landscape, "but it ain't likeTennessee. It would take me a long time to git used to the lack of hillsan' runnin' water an' trees which just cover the state of Tennessee. "

"We have them here, too, " replied Ned, "though I'll admit they'rescattered. But it's a grand country to fight for. "

"An' as I see it we'll have a grand lot of fightin' to do, " said DavyCrockett. 

They continued at good speed until twilight, when they rested theirhorses and ate of the food that they carried. The night promised to becold but clear, and the crisp air quickened their blood. 

"How much further is it?" asked Crockett of Ned. 

"Fifteen or eighteen miles, but at the rate we're going we should bethere in three hours. We've got a roof. It isn't a big one, and we don'tknow who built it, but it will shelter us all. "

"I ain't complainin' of that, " rejoined Davy Crockett. "I'm a lover offresh air an' outdoors, but I don't object to a roof in cold weather. Always take your comfort, boy, when it's offered to you. It saves wearan' tear. "

A friendship like that between him and Bowie was established alreadybetween Ned and Crockett. Ned's grave and serious manner, the result ofthe sufferings through which he had gone, invariably attracted theattention and liking of those far older than himself. 

"I'll remember your advice, Mr. Crockett, " he said. 

A rest of a half hour for the horses and they started riding rapidly. After a while they struck the belt of forest and soon the cabin was notmore than a mile away. But the Panther, who was still in the lead, pulled up his horse suddenly. 

"Boys, " he exclaimed, "did you hear that?"

Every man stopped his horse also and with involuntary motion bentforward a little to listen. Then the sound that the Panther had heardcame again. It was the faint ping of a rifle shot, muffled by thedistance. In a moment they heard another and then two more. The soundscame from the direction of their cabin. 

"The boys are attacked, " said the Panther calmly, "an' it's just as wellthat we've come fast. But I can't think who is after 'em. There wascertainly no Mexicans in these parts yesterday, an' Urrea could notpossibly have got ahead of us with a raidin' band. But at any rate we'llride on an' soon see. "

They proceeded with the utmost caution, and they heard the faint ping ofthe rifles a half dozen times as they advanced. The nostrils of thePanther began to distend, and streaks of red appeared on his eyeballs. He was smelling the battle afar, and his soul rejoiced. He had spent hiswhole life amid scenes of danger, and this was nature to him. Crockettrode up by his side, and he, too, listened eagerly. He no longer carriedBetsy over his shoulder but held the long rifle across the pommel of hissaddle, his hand upon hammer and trigger. 

"What do you think it is, Panther?" he asked. Already he had fallen intothe easy familiarity of the frontier. 

"I can't make it out yet, " replied the Panther, "but them shots shorelycame from the cabin an' places about it. Our fellows are besieged, butI've got to guess at the besiegers, an' then I'm likely to guess wrong. "

They were riding very slowly, and presently they heard a dozen shots, coming very clearly now. 

"I think we'd better stop here, " said the Panther, "an' do a littlescoutin'. If you like it, Mr. Crockett, you an' me an' Ned, here, willdismount, slip forward an' see what's the trouble. Obed will takeCommand of the others, an' wait in the bushes till we come back with thenews, whatever it is. "

"I'll go with you gladly, " said Davy Crockett. "I'm not lookin' fortrouble with a microscope, but if trouble gets right in my path I'm notdodgin' it. So I say once more, lead on, noble Mr. Panther, an' if Betsyhere must talk she'll talk. "

The Panther grinned in the dusk. He and Davy Crockett had instantlyrecognized congenial souls, each in the other. 

"I can't promise you that thar'll be rippin' an' t'arin' an' roarin' an'chawin' all the time, " he said, "but between you an' me, Davy Crockett, I've an' idee that we're not goin' to any sort of prayer meetin' thistime of night. "

"No, I'm thinkin' not, " said Crockett, "but if there is a scene ofturbulence before us lead on. I'm prepared for my share in it. Thedebate may be lively, but I've no doubt that I'll get my chance tospeak. There are many ways to attract the attention of the Speaker. Pardon me, Mr. Panther, but I fall naturally into the phrases oflegislative halls. "

"I remember that you served two terms in Congress at Washington, " saidthe Panther. 

"An' I'd be there yet if it wasn't for Andy Jackson. I wanted my way inTennessee politics an' he wanted his. He was so stubborn an' headstrongthat here I am ready to become a statesman in this new Texas which isfightin' for its independence. An' what a change! From marble halls inWashington to a night in the brush on the frontier, an' with an unknownenemy before you. "

They stopped talking now and, kneeling down in a thicket, began to creepforward. The cabin was not more than four or five hundred yards away, but a long silence had succeeded the latest shots, and after an advanceof thirty or forty yards they lay still for a while. Then they heard twoshots ahead of them, and saw little pink dots of flame from theexploding gunpowder. 

"It cannot be Mexicans who are besieging the cabin, " said Ned. "Theywould shout or make some kind of a noise. We have not heard a thing butthe rifle shots. "

"Your argyment is good, " whispered the Panther. "Look! Did you see thatfigure passin' between us an' the cabin?"

"I saw it, " said Davy Crockett, "an' although it was but a glimpse an'this is night it did not seem to me to be clad in full Christianraiment. I am quite sure it is not the kind of costume that would beadmitted to the galleries of Congress. "

"You're right, doubly right, " said the Panther. "That was an Injun yousaw, but whether a Comanche or a Lipan I couldn't tell. The boys arebesieged not by Mexicans, but by Injuns. Hark to that!"

There was a flash from the cabin, a dusky figure in the woods leapedinto the air, uttered a death cry, fell and lay still. 

"An', as you see, " continued the Panther, in his whisper, "the boys inthe house are not asleep, dreamin' beautiful dreams. Looks to me as ifthey was watchin' mighty sharp for them fellers who have broke up theirrest. "

Crack! went a second shot from the house, but there was no answeringcry, and they could not tell whether it hit anything. But they soon sawmore dark figures flitting through the bushes, and their own positiongrew very precarious. If a band of the Indians stumbled upon them theymight be annihilated before they gave their besieged comrades any help. 

"I make the motion, Mr. Panther, " said Crockett, "that you form a speedyplan of action for us, an' I trust that our young friend Ned here willsecond it. "

"I second the motion, " said Ned. 

"It is carried unanimously. Now, Mr. Panther, we await your will. "

"It's my will that we git back to the rest of the men as soon as we can. I reckon, Mr. Crockett, that them Tennesseans of yours wouldn't head inthe other direction if a fight grew hot. "

"I reckon that wild horses couldn't drag 'em away, " said Crockett dryly. 

"Then we'll go back an' j'in 'em. "

"To hold a caucus, so to speak. "

"I don't know what a cow-cuss is. "

"It's Congressional for a conference. Don't mind these parliamentaryexpressions of mine, Mr. Panther. They give me pleasure an' they hurtnobody. "

They reached the Tennesseans without interruption, and the Pantherquickly laid his plan before them. They would advance within a quarterof a mile of the cabin, tie their horses in the thickest of the brush, leave four men to guard them, then the rest would go forward to help thebesieged. 

Crockett's eyes twinkled when the Panther announced the campaign in afew words. 

"Very good; very good, " he said. "A steering committee could not havedone better. That also is parliamentary, but I think you understand it. "

They heard detached shots again and then a long yell. 

"They're Comanches, " said the Panther. "I know their cry, an' I guessthere's a lot of them. "

Ned hoped that the shout did not mean the achieving of some triumph. They reached presently a dense growth of brush, and there the horseswere tied. Four reluctant Tennesseans remained with them and the restcrept forward. They did not hear any shot after they left the horsesuntil they were within three hundred yards of the house. Then anapparition caused all to stop simultaneously. 

A streak of flame shot above the trees, curved and fell. It was followedby another and another. Ned was puzzled, but the Panther laughed low. 

"This can't be fireworks on election night, " said Davy Crockett. "Itseems hardly the place for such a display. "

"They're fireworks, all right, " said the Panther, "but it's not electionnight. You're correct about that part of it. Look, there goes the fourthan' the fifth. "

Two more streaks of flame curved and fell, and Ned and Crockett werestill puzzled. 

"Them's burnin' arrers, " said the Panther. "It's an old trick of theInjuns. If they had time enough they'd be sure to set the cabin on fire, and then from ambush they'd shoot the people as they ran out. But whatwe're here for is to stop that little game of theirs. The flight of thearrers enables us to locate the spot from which they come an' therewe'll find the Comanches. "

They crept toward the point from which the lighted arrows were flying, and peering; from the thicket saw a score or more of Comanches gatheredin the bushes and under the trees. One of the Tennesseans, seeking abetter position, caused a loud rustling, and the alert Comanches, instantly taking alarm, turned their attention to the point from whichthe sound had come. 

"Fire, boys! Fire at once!" cried the Panther. 

A deadly volley was poured into the Comanche band. The Indians replied, but were soon compelled to give way. The Panther, raising his voice, shouted in tremendous tones:

"Rescue! Rescue! We're here, boys!"

The defenders of the cabin, hearing the volleys and the shouts of theirfriends, opened the door and rushed out of the cabin, rifle in hand. Caught between two forces, the Comanches gave up and rushed to theplain, where they had left their ponies. Jumping upon the backs ofthese, they fled like the wind. 

The two victorious parties met and shook hands. 

"We're mighty glad to see you, Panther, " said Fields, grinning. "Youdon't look like an angel, but you act like one, an' I see you've broughta lot of new angels with you. "

"Yes, " replied the Panther, with some pride in his voice, "an' the firstof the angels is Davy Crockett. Mr. Crockett, Mr. Fields. "

The men crowded around to shake hands with the renowned Davy. Meanwhilea small party brought the four Tennesseans and the horses. Fortunatelythe Comanches had fled in the other direction. But it was not all joy inthe Texan camp. Two silent figures covered with serapes were stretchedon the floor in the cabin, and several others had wounds, although theyhad borne their part in the fighting. 

"Tell us how it happened, " said the Panther, after they had setsentinels in the forest. 

"They attacked us about an hour after dark, " replied Fields. "We knewthat no Mexicans were near, but we never thought of Indians raidingthis far to the eastward. Some of the men were outside looking afterjerked meat when they suddenly opened fire from the brush. Two of theboys, Campbell and Hudson, were hurt so badly that they died after theywere helped into the house by the others. The Comanches tried to rush inwith our own men, but we drove them off and we could have held the cabinagainst 'em forever, if they hadn't begun to shoot the burning arrows. Then you came. "

Campbell and Hudson were buried. Ned had been welcomed warmly by Allen, and the two boys compared notes. Will's face glowed when he heard ofNed's adventures within the Mexican lines. 

"I could never have done it, " he said. "I couldn't have kept steadyenough when one crisis after another came along. I suppose this means, of course, that we must try to meet Santa Anna in some way. What do youthink we can do, Ned?"

"I don't know, but just at present I'm going to sleep. The Panther, DavyCrockett and Obed will debate the plans. "

Ned, who was becoming inured to war and danger, was soon asleep, butWill could not close his eyes. He had borne a gallant part in thedefense, and the sounds of rifle shots and Indian yells still resoundedin his excited ear. He remained awake long after he heard the heavybreathing of the men about him, but exhausted nerves gave way at lastand he, too, slept. 

The next morning their news was debated gravely by all. There was notone among them who did not understand its significance, but it was hardto agree upon a policy. Davy Crockett, who had just come, and who waspractically a stranger to Texas, gave his opinions with hesitation. 

"It's better for you, Mr. Panther, an' you, Mr. White, to make themotions, " he said, "an' I an' my Tennesseans will endorse them. But itseems, boys, that if we came for a fight it is offered to us the momentwe get here. "

"Yes, " said the twelve Tennesseans all together. 

"I shall be compelled to leave you, " said Roylston. "Pray, don't thinkit's because I'm afraid to fight the Mexicans. But, as I told youbefore, I can do far greater good for the Texan cause elsewhere. As I amnow as well as ever, and I am able to take care of myself, I think Ishall leave at once. "

"I've known you only a few hours, Mr. Roylston, " said Crockett, "butI've knocked around a hard world long enough to know a man when I seehim. If you say you ought, you ought to go. "

"That's so, " said the Panther. "We've seen Mr. Roylston tried more thanonce, and nobody doubts his courage. "

A good horse, saddled and bridled, and arms and ammunition, were givento Roylston. Then he bade them farewell. When he was about twenty yardsaway he beckoned to Ned. When the boy stood at his saddle bow he saidvery earnestly:

"If you fall again into the hands of Santa Anna, and are in danger ofyour life, use my name with him. It is perhaps a more potent weapon thanyou think. Do not forget. "

"I will not, " said Ned, "and I thank you very much, Mr. Roylston. But Ihope that no such occasion will arise. "

"So do I, " said Roylston with emphasis. Then he rode away, a square, strong figure, and never looked back. 

"What was he saying, Ned?" asked Will, when the boy returned. 

"Merely promising help if we should need it, hereafter. "

"He looks like a man who would give it. "

After some further talk it was decided that Ned, Will, Obed and thePanther should ride south to watch the advance of Santa Anna, whileCrockett, Fields and the remainder should go to San Antonio and raisesuch troops as they could. 

"An' if you don't mind my sayin' it to you, Mr. Crockett, " said thePanther, "keep tellin' 'em over an' over again that they have need tobeware. Tell 'em that Santa Anna, with all the power of Mexico at hisback, is comin'. "

"Fear not, my good friend, " said Davy Crockett. "I shall tell them everyhour of the day. I shall never cease to bring the information before thefull quorum of the House. Again I am parliamentary, but I think youunderstand, Mr. Panther. "

"We all understan', " said the Panther, and then Crockett rode away atthe head of the little troop which tacitly made him commander. Ned'seyes followed his figure as long as he was in sight. Little did he dreamof what was to pass when they should meet again, scenes that one couldnever forget, though he lived a thousand years. 

"A staunch man and true, " said Obed. "He will be a great help to Texas. "

Then they turned back to the cabin, the four of them, because they didnot intend to go forth until night. They missed their comrades, but thecabin was a pleasant place, well stored now with meat of buffalo, deerand wild turkey. Floor and walls alike were covered with dressed skins. 

"Why not fasten it up just as tightly as we can before we go away, "said Allen. "The Comanches are not likely to come back, the war isswinging another way, and maybe we'll find it here handy for us againsome day. "

"You're talkin' sense, Will Allen, " said the Panther. "It's been ashelter to us once, and it might be a shelter to us twice. The smell ofthe meat will, of course, draw wolves an' panthers, but we can fix it sothey can't get in. "

Taking sufficient provisions for themselves, they put the rest high upon the rafters. Then they secured the windows, and heaped logs beforethe door in such a manner that the smartest wolves and panthers in theworld could not force an entrance. As they sat on their horses in thetwilight preparatory to riding away, they regarded their work with greatcontent. 

"There it is, waiting for us when we come again, " said Obed White. "It'sa pleasant thing to have a castle for refuge when your enemies aremaking it too hot for you out in the open. "

"So it is, " said the Panther, "and a man finds that out more than oncein his life. "

Then they turned their horses and rode southward in the dusk. But beforelong they made an angle and turned almost due west. It was theirintention to intersect the settlements that lay between the Rio Grandeand San Antonio and give warning of the approach of Santa Anna. 

They went on steadily over a rolling country, mostly bare, but withoccasional clumps of trees. 

CHAPTER VII

THE HERALD OF ATTACK

About midnight they rode into the thickest part of the woods that theycould find, and slept there until day. Then they continued their coursetoward the west, and before night they saw afar small bands of horsemen. 

"What do you say they are?" asked the Panther of Ned when they beheldthe first group. "Seems to me they are Mexican. "

Ned looked long before returning an answer. Then he replied withconfidence:

"Yes, they are Mexicans. The two men in the rear have lances, and noTexan ever carried such a weapon. "

"Then, " said Obed White, "it behooves us to have a care. We're scoutsnow and we're not looking for a battle. He who dodges the fight and runsaway may live to scout another day. "

The Mexican horsemen were on their right, and the four continued theirsteady course to the west. They were reassured by the fact that theMexicans were likely to take them in the distance for other Mexicans. Itbecame evident now that Santa Anna was taking every precaution. He wassending forward scouts and skirmishers in force, and the task of thefour was likely to become one of great danger. 

Toward night an uncommonly raw and cold wind began to blow. That winterwas one of great severity in Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, notedalso for its frequent Northers. Although the time for the Texan springwas near at hand, there was little sign of it. Not knowing what else todo they sought the shelter of timber again and remained there a while. By and by they saw for the second time a red glow in the south, and theyknew that it came from the camp fires of Santa Anna. But it was now manymiles north of the Rio Grande. Santa Anna was advancing. 

"He's pressin' forward fast, " said the Panther, "an' his skirmishers arescourin' the plain ahead of him. We've got to keep a sharp lookout, because we may run into 'em at any time. I think we'd better agree thatif by any luck we get separated an' can't reunite, every fellow shouldride hard for San Antonio with the news. "

The plan seemed good to all, and, after a long wait, they rode toanother clump of trees four or five hundred yards further south. Herethey saw the red glow more plainly. It could not be more than two milesaway, and they believed that to approach any nearer was to imperil theirtask. Before the first light appeared the next day they would turn backon San Antonio as the heralds of Santa Anna's advance. 

The four sat on their horses among the trees, darker shadows in theshadow. Beyond the little grove they saw the plain rolling away on everyside bare to the horizon, except in the south, where the red glow alwaysthreatened. Ned rode to the western edge of the grove in order to get abetter view. He searched the plain carefully with his keen vision, buthe could find no sign of life there in the west. 

He turned Old Jack in order to rejoin his comrades, when he suddenlyheard a low sound from the east. He listened a moment, and then, hearingit distinctly, he knew it. It was the thud of hoofs, and the horsemenwere coming straight toward the grove, which was two or three hundredyards in width. 

Owing to the darkness and the foliage Ned could not see his comrades, but he started toward them at once. Then came a sudden cry, the rapidbeat of hoofs, the crack of shots, and a Mexican body of cavalry dashedinto the wood directly between the boy and his comrades. He heard oncethe tremendous shout of the Panther and the wild Mexican yells. Twohorsemen fired at him and a third rode at him with extended lance. 

It was Old Jack that saved Ned's life. The boy was so startled that hisbrain was in a paralysis for a moment. But the horse shied suddenly awayfrom the head of the lance, which was flashing in the moonlight. Nedretained both his seat and his rifle. He fired at the nearest of theMexicans, who fell from his saddle, and then, seeing that but onealternative was left him he gave Old Jack the rein and galloped from thegrove into the west. 

Amid all the rush and terrific excitement of the moment, Ned thought ofhis comrades. It was not possible for him to join them now, but theywere three together and they might escape. The Panther was a wonderfulborderer, and Obed White was not far behind him. He turned his attentionto his own escape. Two more shots were fired at him, but in both casesthe bullets went wide. Then he heard only the thud of hoofs, but thepursuing horsemen were very near. 

Something whizzed through the air and instinctively he bent forwardalmost flat on the neck of Old Jack. A coiling shape struck him on thehead, slipped along his back, then along the quarters of his horse andfell to the ground. He felt as if a deadly snake had struck at him, andthen had drawn its cold body across him. But he knew that it was alasso. The Mexicans would wish to take him alive, as they might securevaluable information from him. Now he heard them shouting to oneanother, every one boasting that his would be the successful throw. AsNed's rifle was empty, and he could not reload it at such speed, theyseemed to fear nothing for themselves. 

He looked back. They numbered seven or eight, and they were certainlyvery near. They had spread out a little and whenever Old Jack veered ayard or two from the pursuers some one gained. He saw a coil of rope flythrough the air and he bent forward again. It struck Old Jack on thesaddle and fell to the ground. Ned wondered why they did not fire now, but he remembered that their rifles or muskets, too, might be empty, andsuddenly he felt a strange exultation. He was still lying forward on hishorse's neck, and now he began to talk to him. 

"On! On! Old Jack, " he said, "show 'em the cleanest heels that were everseen in Texas! On! On! my beauty of a horse, my jewel of a horse! Wouldyou let miserable Mexican ponies overtake you? You who were neverbeaten! Ah, now we gain! But faster! faster!"

It seemed that Old Jack understood. He stretched out his long neck andbecame a streak in the darkness. A third Mexican threw his lasso, butthe noose only touched his flying tail. A fourth threw, and the noosedid not reach him at all. 

They were far out on the plain now, where the moonlight revealedeverything, and the horse's sure instinct would guide. Ned felt Old Jackbeneath him, running strong and true without a jar like the most perfectpiece of machinery. He stole a glance over his shoulder. All theMexicans were there, too far away now for a throw of the lasso, butseveral of them were trying to reload their weapons. Ned knew that ifthey succeeded he would be in great danger. No matter how badly theyshot a chance bullet might hit him or his horse. And he could afford forneither himself nor Old Jack to be wounded. 

Once more the boy leaned far over on his horse's neck and cried in hisear:

"On, Old Jack, on! Look, we gain now, but we must gain more. Show tothem what a horse you are!"

And again the great horse responded. Fast as he was going it seemed toNed that he now lengthened his stride. His long head was thrust outalmost straight, and his great body fairly skimmed the earth. But theMexicans hung on with grim tenacity. Their ponies were tough andenduring, and, spread out like the arc of a bow, they continuallyprofited by some divergence that Old Jack made from the straight line. Aware of this danger Ned himself, nevertheless, was unable to tellwhether the horse was going in a direct course, and he let him have hishead. 

"Crack!" went a musket, and a bullet sang past Ned's face. It grazed OldJack's ear, drawing blood. The horse uttered an angry snort and fairlyleaped forward. Ned looked back again. Another man had succeeded inloading his musket and was about to fire. Then the boy remembered thepistol at his belt. Snatching it out he fired at the fellow with theloaded musket. 

The Mexican reeled forward on his horse's neck and his weapon dropped tothe ground. Whether the man himself fell also Ned never knew, because hequickly thrust the pistol back in his belt and once more was lookingstraight ahead. Now confidence swelled again in his heart. He hadescaped all their bullets so far, and he was still gaining. He wouldescape all the others and he would continue to gain. 

He saw just ahead of him one of the clumps of trees that dotted theplain, but, although it might give momentary protection from the bulletshe was afraid to gallop into it, lest he be swept from his horse's backby the boughs or bushes. But his direct course would run close to theleft side of it, and once more he sought to urge Old Jack to greaterspeed. 

The horse was still running without a jar. Ned could not feel a singlerough movement in the perfect machinery beneath him. Unless wounded OldJack would not fail him. He stole another of those fleeting glancesbackward. 

Several of the Mexicans, their ponies spent, were dropping out of therace, but enough were left to make the odds far too great. Ned nowskimmed along the edge of the grove, and when he passed it he turned hishorse a little, so the trees were between him and his nearest pursuers. Then he urged Old Jack to his last ounce of speed. The plain racedbehind him, and fortunate clouds, too, now came, veiling the moon andturning the dusk into deeper darkness. Ned heard one disappointed crybehind him, and then no sound but the flying beat of his own horse'shoofs. 

When he pulled rein and brought Old Jack to a walk he could see or hearnothing of the Mexicans. The great horse was a lather of foam, his sidesheaving and panting, and Ned sprang to the ground. He reloaded his rifleand pistol and then walked toward the west, leading Old Jack by thebridle. He reckoned that the Mexicans would go toward the north, thinking that he would naturally ride for San Antonio, and hence hechose the opposite direction. 

He walked a long time and presently he felt the horse rubbing his nosegently against his arm. Ned stroked the soft muzzle. 

"You've saved my life. Old Jack, " he said, "and not for the first time. You responded to every call. "

The horse whinnied ever so softly, and Ned felt that he was not alone. Now he threw the bridle reins back over the horse's head, and then thetwo walked on, side by side, man and beast. 

They stopped at times, and it may be that the horse as well as the boythen looked and listened for a foe. But the Mexicans had melted awaycompletely in the night. It was likely now that they were going in theopposite direction, and assured that he was safe from them for the timeNed collapsed, both physically and mentally. Such tremendous exertionsand such terrible excitement were bound to bring reaction. He began totremble violently, and he became so weak that he could scarcely stand. The horse seemed to be affected in much the same way and walked slowlyand painfully. 

Ned saw another little grove, and he and the horse walked straighttoward it. It was fairly dense, and when he was in the center of it hewrapped his rifle and himself in his serape and lay down. The horse sankon his side near him. He did not care for anything now except to securerest. Mexicans or Comanches or Lipans might be on the plain only a fewhundred yards away. It did not matter to him. He responded to no emotionsave the desire for rest, and in five minutes he was in a deep sleep. 

Ned slept until long after daylight. He was so much exhausted that hescarcely moved during all that time. Nor did the horse. Old Jack had runhis good race and won the victory, and he, too, cared for nothing but torest. 

Before morning some Lipan buffalo hunters passed, but they took nonotice of the grove and soon disappeared in the west. After the dawn adetachment of Mexican lancers riding to the east to join the force ofSanta Anna also passed the clump of trees, but the horse and man lay inthe densest part of it, and no pair of Mexican eyes was keen enough tosee them there. They were answering the call of Santa Anna, and theyrode on at a trot, the grove soon sinking out of sight behind them. 

Ned was awakened at last by the sun shining in his face. He stirred, recalled in a vague sort of way where he was and why he was there, andthen rose slowly to his feet. His joints were stiff like those of an oldman, and he rubbed them to acquire ease. A great bay horse, saddle onhis back, was searching here and there for the young stems of grass. Nedrubbed his eyes. It seemed to him that he knew that horse. And a finebig horse he was, too, worth knowing and owning. Yes, it was Old Jack, the horse that had carried him to safety. 

His little store of provisions was still tied to the saddle and he atehungrily. At the end of the grove was a small pool formed by thewinter's rains, and though the water was far from clear he drank hisfill. He flexed and tensed his muscles again until all the stiffness andsoreness were gone. Then he made ready for his departure. 

He could direct his course by the sun, and he intended to go straight toSan Antonio. He only hoped that he might get there before the arrival ofSanta Anna and his army. He could not spare the time to seek hiscomrades, and he felt much apprehension for them, but he yet had theutmost confidence in the skill of the Panther and Obed White. 

It was about two hours before noon when Ned set out across the plain. Usually in this region antelope were to be seen on the horizon, butthey were all gone now. The boy considered it a sure sign that Mexicandetachments had passed that way. It was altogether likely, too, so hecalculated, that the Mexican army was now nearer than he to San Antonio. His flight had taken him to the west while Santa Anna was movingstraight toward the Texan outworks. But he believed that by steadyriding he could reach San Antonio within twenty-four hours. 

The afternoon passed without event. Ned saw neither human beings norgame on the vast prairie. He had hoped that by some chance he might meetwith his comrades, but there was no sign of them, and he fell back onhis belief that their skill and great courage had saved them. Seeking todismiss them from his thoughts for the time in order that he mightconcentrate all his energies on San Antonio, he rode on. The horse hadrecovered completely from his great efforts of the preceding night, andonce more that magnificent piece of machinery worked without a jar. OldJack moved over the prairie with long, easy strides. It seemed to Nedthat he could never grow weary. He patted the sinewy and powerful neck. 

"Gallant comrade, " he said, "you have done your duty and more. You, atleast, will never fail. "

Twilight came down, but Ned kept on. By and by he saw in the east, andfor the third time, that fatal red glow extending far along the duskyhorizon. All that he had feared of Santa Anna was true. The dictator wasmarching fast, whipping his army forward with the fierce energy that wasa part of his nature. It was likely, too, that squadrons of his cavalrywere much further on. A daring leader like Urrea would certainly bemiles ahead of the main army, and it was more than probable that bandsof Mexican horsemen were now directly between him and San Antonio. 

Ned knew that he would need all his strength and courage to finish histask. So he gave Old Jack a little rest, although he did not seem toneed it, and drew once more upon his rations. 

When he remounted he was conscious that the air had grown much colder. Achill wind began to cut him across the cheek. Snow, rain and wind haveplayed a great part in the fate of armies, and they had much to do withthe struggle between Texas and Mexico in that fateful February. Ned'sexperience told him that another Norther was about to begin, and he wasglad of it. One horseman could make much greater progress through itthan an army. 

The wind rose fast and then came hail and snow on its edge. The red glowin the east disappeared. But Ned knew that it was still there. TheNorther had merely drawn an icy veil between. He shivered, and the horseunder him shivered, too. Once more he wrapped around his body thegrateful folds of the serape and he drew on a pair of buckskin gloves, apart of his winter equipment. 

Then he rode on straight toward San Antonio as nearly as he couldcalculate. The Norther increased in ferocity. It brought rain, hail andsnow, and the night darkened greatly. Ned began to fear that he wouldget lost. It was almost impossible to keep the true direction in such adriving storm. He had no moon and stars to guide him, and he wascompelled to rely wholly upon instinct. Sometimes he was in woods, sometimes upon the plain, and once or twice he crossed creeks, thewaters of which were swollen and muddy. 

The Norther was not such a blessing after all. He might be goingdirectly away from San Antonio, while Santa Anna, with innumerableguides, would easily reach there the next day. He longed for thosefaithful comrades of his. The four of them together could surely find away out of this. 

He prayed now that the Norther would cease, but his prayer was of noavail. It whistled and moaned about him, and snow and hail werecontinually driven in his face. Fortunately the brim of the sombreroprotected his eyes. He floundered on until midnight. The Norther wasblowing as fiercely as ever, and he and Old Jack were brought up by athicket too dense for them to penetrate. 

Ned understood now that he was lost. Instinct had failed absolutely. Brave and resourceful as he was he uttered a groan of despair. It wastorture to be so near the end of his task and then to fail. But thedespair lasted only a moment. The courage of a nature containing genuinegreatness brought back hope. 

He dismounted and led his horse around the thicket. Then they came to apart of the woods which seemed thinner, and not knowing anything else todo he went straight ahead. But he stopped abruptly when his feet sank insoft mud. He saw directly before him a stream yellow, swollen andflowing faster than usual. 

Ned knew that it was the San Antonio River, and now he had a clue. Byfollowing its banks he would reach the town. The way might be long, butit must inevitably lead him to San Antonio, and he would take it. 

He remounted and rode forward as fast as he could. The river curved andtwisted, but he was far more cheerful now. The San Antonio was like agreat coiling rope, but if he followed it long enough he would certainlycome to the end that he wished. The Norther continued to blow. He andhis horse were a huge moving shape of white. Now and then the snow, coating too thickly upon his serape, fell in lumps to the ground, but itwas soon coated anew and as thick as ever. But whatever happened henever let the San Antonio get out of his sight. 

He was compelled to stop at last under a thick cluster of oaks, where hewas somewhat sheltered from the wind and snow. Here he dismounted again, stamped his feet vigorously for warmth and also brushed the snow fromhis faithful horse. Old Jack, as usual, rubbed his nose against theboy's arm. 

The horse was a source of great comfort and strength to Ned. He alwaysbelieved that he would have collapsed without him. As nearly as he couldguess the time it was about halfway between midnight and morning, and inorder to preserve his strength he forced himself to eat a little more. 

A half hour's rest, and remounting he resumed his slow progress by theriver. The rest had been good for both his horse and himself, and theblood felt warmer in his veins. He moved for some time among trees andthickets that lined the banks, and after a while he recognized familiarground. He had been in some of these places in the course of the siegeof San Antonio, and the town could not be far away. 

It was probably two hours before daylight when he heard a sound whichwas not that of the Norther, a sound which he knew instantly. It was thedull clank of bronze against bronze. It could be made only by one cannonstriking against another. Then Santa Anna, or one of his generals, despite the storm and the night, was advancing with his army, or a partof it. Ned shivered, and now not from the cold. 

The Texans did not understand the fiery energy of this man. They wouldlearn of it too late, unless he told them, and it might be too late eventhen. He pressed on with as much increase of speed as the nature of theground would allow. In another hour the snow and hail ceased, but thewind still blew fiercely, and it remained very cold. 

The dawn began to show dimly through drifting clouds. Ned did not recalluntil long afterward that it was the birthday of the great Washington. By a singular coincidence Santa Anna appeared before Taylor with avastly superior force on the same birthday eleven years later. 

It was a hidden sun, and the day was bleak with clouds and drivingwinds. Nevertheless the snow that had fallen began to disappear. Ned andOld Jack still made their way forward, somewhat slowly now, as they werestiff and sore from the long night's fight with darkness and cold. Onhis right, only a few feet away, was the swollen current of the SanAntonio. The stream looked deep to Ned, and it bore fragments of timberupon its muddy bosom. It seemed to him that the waters rippled angrilyagainst the bank. His excited imagination--and full cause therewas--gave a sinister meaning to everything. 

A heavy fog began to rise from the river and wet earth. He could not seefar in front of him, but he believed that the town was now only a mileor two away. Soon a low, heavy sound, a measured stroke, came out of thefog. It was the tolling of the church bell in San Antonio, and for somereason its impact upon Ned's ear was like the stroke of death. A strangechilly sensation ran down his spine. 

He rode to the very edge of the stream and began to examine it for apossible ford. San Antonio was on the other side, and he must cross. But everywhere the dark, swollen waters threatened, and he continued hiscourse along the bank. 

A thick growth of bushes and a high portion of the bank caused himpresently to turn away from the river until he could make a curve aboutthe obstacles. The tolling of the bell had now ceased, and the fog waslifting a little. Out of it came only the low, angry murmur of theriver's current. 

As Ned turned the curve the wind grew much stronger. The bank of fog wassplit asunder and then floated swiftly away in patches and streamers. Onhis left beyond the river Ned saw the roofs of the town, now glisteningin the clear morning air, and on his right, only four or five hundredyards away, he saw a numerous troop of Mexican cavalry. In the figure atthe head of the horsemen he was sure that he recognized Urrea. 

Ned's first emotion was a terrible sinking of the heart. After all thathe had done, after all his great journeys, hardships and dangers, he wasto fail with the towers and roofs of San Antonio in sight. It was thetriumphant cry of the Mexicans that startled him into life again. Theyhad seen the lone horseman by the river and they galloped at once towardhim. Ned had made no mistake. It was Urrea, pressing forward ahead ofthe army, who led the troop, and it may be that he recognized the boyalso. 

With the cry of the Mexicans ringing in his ears, the boy shouted to OldJack. The good horse, as always, made instant response, and began torace along the side of the river. But even his mighty frame had beenweakened by so much strain. Ned noticed at once that the machineryjarred. The great horse was laboring hard and the Mexican cavalry, comparatively fresh, was coming on fast. It was evident that he wouldsoon be overtaken, and so sure were the Mexicans of it that they did notfire. 

There were deep reserves of courage and fortitude in this boy, deeperthan even he himself suspected. When he saw that he could not escape byspeed, the way out flashed upon him. To think was to do. He turned hishorse without hesitation and urged him forward with a mighty cry. 

Never had Old Jack made a more magnificent response. Ned felt the mightymass of bone and muscle gather in a bunch beneath him. Then, ready toexpand again with violent energy, it was released as if by the touch ofa spring. The horse sprang from the high bank far out into the deepriver. 

Ned felt his serape fly from him and his rifle dropped from his hand. Then the yellow waters closed over both him and Old Jack. They came upagain, Ned still on the horse's back, but with an icy chill through allhis veins. He could not see for a moment or two, as the water was in hiseyes, but he heard dimly the shouts of the Mexicans and several shots. Two or three bullets splashed the water around him and another struckhis sombrero, which was floating away on the surface of the stream. 

The horse, turning somewhat, swam powerfully in a diagonal course acrossthe stream. Ned, dazed for the moment by the shock of the plunge from aheight into the water, clung tightly to his back. He sat erect at first, and then remembering that he must evade the bullets leaned forward withthe horse's neck between him and the Mexicans. 

More shots were fired, but again he was untouched, and then the horsewas feeling with his forefeet in the muddy bank for a hold. The nextinstant, with a powerful effort, he pulled himself upon the shore. Theviolent shock nearly threw Ned from his back, but the boy seized hismane and hung on. 

The Mexicans shouted and fired anew, but Ned, now sitting erect, racedfor San Antonio, only a mile away. 

CHAPTER VIII

IN THE ALAMO

Most of the people in San Antonio were asleep when the dripping figureof a half unconscious boy on a great horse galloped toward them in thatmomentous dawn. He was without hat or serape. He was bareheaded and hisrifle was gone. He was shouting "Up! Up! Santa Anna and the Mexican armyare at hand!" But his voice was so choked and hoarse that he could notbe heard a hundred feet away. 

Davy Crockett, James Bowie and a third man were standing in the MainPlaza. The third man, like the other two, was of commanding proportions. He was a full six feet in height, very erect and muscular, and with fullface and red hair. He was younger than the others, not more thantwenty-eight, but he was Colonel William Barrett Travis, a NorthCarolina lawyer, who was now in command of the few Texans in SanAntonio. 

The three men were talking very anxiously. Crockett had brought wordthat the army of Santa Anna was on the Texan side of the Rio Grande, butit had seemed impossible to rouse the Texans to a full sense of theimpending danger. Many remained at their homes following their usuvocations. Mr. Austin was away in the states trying to raise money. Dissensions were numerous in the councils of the new government, and theleaders could agree upon nothing. 

Travis, Bowie and Crockett were aware of the great danger, but eventhey did not believe it was so near. Nevertheless they were full ofanxiety. Crockett, just come to Texas, took no command and sought tokeep in the background, but he was too famous and experienced a man notto be taken at once by Travis and Bowie into their councils. They werediscussing now the possibility of getting help. 

"We might send messengers to the towns further east, " said Travis, "andat least get a few men here in time. "

"We need a good many, " said Bowie. "According to Mr. Crockett theMexican army is large, and the population here is unfriendly. "

"That is so, " said Travis, "and we have women and children of our own toprotect. "

It was when he spoke the last words that they heard the clatter of hoofsand saw Ned dashing down the narrow street toward the Main Plaza. Theyheard him trying to shout, but his voice was now so hoarse that he couldnot be understood. 

But Ned, though growing weaker fast, knew two of the men. He could neverforget the fair-haired Bowie nor the swarthy Crockett, and he gallopedstraight toward them. Then he pulled up his horse and half fell, halfleaped to the ground. Holding by Old Jack's mane he pulled himself intoan erect position. He was a singular sight The water still fell from hiswet hair and dripped from his clothing. His face was plastered with mud. 

"Santa Anna's army, five thousand strong, is not two miles away!" hesaid. "I tell you because I have seen it!"

"Good God!" cried Bowie. "It's the boy, Ned Fulton. I know him well. What he says must be truth. "

"It is every word truth!" croaked Ned. "I was pursued by their vanguard!My horse swam the river with me! Up! Up! for Texas!"

Then he fainted dead away. Bowie seized him in his powerful arms andcarried him into one of the houses occupied by the Texans, where menstripped him of his wet clothing and gave him restoratives. But Bowiehimself hurried out into the Main Plaza. He had the most unlimitedconfidence in Ned's word and so had Crockett. They and Travis at oncebegan to arrange the little garrison for defence. 

Many of the Texans even yet would not believe. So great had been theirconfidence that they had sent out no scouting parties. Only a day or twobefore they had been enjoying themselves at a great dance. The boy whohad come with the news that Santa Anna was at hand must be distraught. Certainly he had looked like a maniac. 

A loud cry suddenly came from the roof of the church of San Fernando. Two sentinels posted there had seen the edge of a great army appear uponthe plain and then spread rapidly over it. Santa Anna's army had come. The mad boy was right. Two horsemen sent out to reconnoiter had to raceback for their lives. The flooded stream was now subsiding and only thedepth of the water in the night had kept the Mexicans from taking cannonacross and attacking. 

Ned's faint was short. He remembered putting on clothing, securing arifle and ammunition, and then he ran out into the square. From manywindows he saw the triumphant faces of Mexicans looking out, but he paidno attention to them. He thought alone of the Texans, who were nowdisplaying the greatest energy. In the face of the imminent and deadlyperil Travis, Crockett, Bowie and the others were cool and were actingwith rapidity. The order was swiftly given to cross to the Alamo, theold mission built like a fortress, and the Texans were gathering in abody. Ned saw a young lieutenant named Dickinson catch up his wife andchild on a horse, and join the group of men. All the Texans had theirlong rifles, and there were also cannon. 

As Ned took his place with the others a kindly hand fell upon hisshoulder and a voice spoke in his ear. 

"I was going to send for you, Ned, " said Bowie, "but you've come. Perhaps it would have been better for you, though, if you had been leftin San Antonio. "

"Oh, no, Mr. Bowie!" cried Ned. "Don't say that. We can beat off anynumber of Mexicans!"

Bowie said nothing more. Much of Ned's courage and spirit returned, buthe saw how pitifully small their numbers were. The little band thatdefiled across the plain toward the Alamo numbered less than one hundredand fifty men, and many of them were without experience. 

They were not far upon the plain when Ned saw a great figure comingtoward him. It was Old Jack, who had been forgotten in the haste andexcitement. The saddle was still on his back and his bridle trailed onthe ground. Ned met him and patted his faithful head. Already he hadtaken his resolution. There would be no place for Old Jack in the Alamo, but this good friend of his should not fall into the hands of theMexicans. 

He slipped off saddle and bridle, struck him smartly on the shoulder andexclaimed:

"Good-by, Old Jack, good-by! Keep away from our enemies and wait forme. "

The horse looked a moment at his master, and, to Ned's excited eyes, itseemed for a moment that he wished to speak. Old Jack had never beforebeen dismissed in this manner. Ned struck him again and yet moresharply. 

"Go, old friend!" he cried. 

The good horse trotted away across the plain. Once he looked back as ifin reproach, but as Ned did not call him he kept on and disappeared overa swell. It was to Ned like the passing of a friend, but he knew thatOld Jack would not allow the Mexicans to take him. He would fight withboth teeth and hoofs against any such ignominious capture. 

Then Ned turned his attention to the retreat. It was a little band thatwent toward the Alamo, and there were three women and three children init, but since they knew definitely that Santa Anna and his great armyhad come there was not a Texan who shrank from his duty. They had beenlax in their watch and careless of the future, faults frequent inirregular troops, but in the presence of overwhelming danger they showednot the least fear of death. 

They reached the Alamo side of the river. Before them they saw the hewnstone walls of the mission rising up in the form of a cross and facingthe river and the town. It certainly seemed welcome to a little band ofdesperate men who were going to fight against overwhelming odds. Nedalso saw not far away the Mexican cavalry advancing in masses. Theforemost groups were lancers, and the sun glittered on the blades oftheir long weapons. 

Ned believed that Urrea was somewhere in one of these leading groups. Urrea he knew was full of skill and enterprise, but his heart filledwith bitterness against him. He had tasted the Texan salt, he had brokenbread with those faithful friends of his, the Panther and Obed White, and now he was at Santa Anna's right hand, seeking to destroy the Texansutterly. 

"Looks as if I'd have a lot of use for Old Betsy, " said a whimsicalvoice beside him. "Somebody said when I started away from Tennessee thatI'd have nothing to do with it, might as well leave my rifle at home. But I 'low that Old Betsy is the most useful friend I could have justnow. "

It was, of course, Davy Crockett who spoke. He was as cool as a cake ofice. Old Betsy rested in the hollow of his arm, the long barrelprojecting several feet. His raccoon skin cap was on the back of hishead. His whole manner was that of one who was in the first stage of amost interesting event. But as Ned was looking at him a light suddenlyleaped in the calm eye. 

"Look there! look there!" said Davy Crockett, pointing a long finger. "We'll need food in that Alamo place, an' behold it on the hoof!"

About forty cattle had been grazing on the plain. They had suddenlygathered in a bunch, startled by the appearance of so many people, andof galloping horsemen. 

"We'll take 'em with us! We'll need 'em! Say we can do it, Colonel!"shouted Crockett to Travis. 

Travis nodded. 

"Come on, Ned, " cried Crockett, "an' come on the rest of youfleet-footed fellows! Every mother's son of you has driv' the cows homebefore in his time, an' now you kin do it again!"

A dozen swift Texans ran forward with shouts, Ned and Davy Crockett attheir head. Crockett was right. This was work that every one of themknew how to do. In a flash they were driving the whole frightened herdin a run toward the gate that led into the great plaza of the Alamo. Theswift motion, the sense of success in a sudden maneuver, thrilled Ned. He shouted at the cattle as he would have done when he was a small boy. 

They were near the gate when he heard an ominous sound by his side. Itwas the cocking of Davy Crockett's rifle, and when he looked around hesaw that Old Betsy was leveled, and that the sure eye of the Tennesseanwas looking down the sights. 

Some of the Mexican skirmishers seeing the capture of the herd by thedaring Texans were galloping forward to check it. Crockett's fingerpressed the trigger. Old Betsy flashed and the foremost rider fell tothe ground. 

"I told that Mexican to come down off his horse, and he came down, "chuckled Crockett. 

The Mexicans drew back, because other Texan rifles, weapons that theyhad learned to dread, were raised. A second body of horsemen chargedfrom a different angle, and Ned distinctly saw Urrea at their head. Hefired, but the bullet missed the partisan leader and brought downanother man behind him. 

"There are good pickings here, " said Davy Crockett, "but they'll soon betoo many for us. Come on, Ned, boy! Our place is behind them walls!"

"Yes, " repeated Bowie, who was near. "It's the Alamo or nothing. Nomatter how fast we fired our rifles we'd soon be trod under foot by theMexicans. "

They passed in, Bowie, Crockett and Ned forming the rear guard. Thegreat gates of the Alamo were closed behind them and barred. For themoment they were safe, because these doors were made of very heavy oak, and it would require immense force to batter them in. It was evidentthat the Mexican horsemen on the plain did not intend to make any suchattempt, as they drew off hastily, knowing that the deadly Texan rifleswould man the walls at once. 

"Well, here we are, Ned, " said the cheerful voice of Davy Crockett, "an'if we want to win glory in fightin' it seems that we've got the biggestchance that was ever offered to anybody. I guess when old Santa Annacomes up he'll say: 'By nations right wheel; forward march the world. 'Still these walls will help a little to make up the difference betweenfifty to one. "

As he spoke he tapped the outer wall. 

"No Mexican on earth, " he said, "has got a tough enough head to buttthrough that. At least I think so. Now what do you think, Ned?"

His tone was so whimsical that Ned was compelled to laugh despite theirterrible situation. 

"It's a pity, though, " continued Crockett, "that we've got such a bigplace here to defend. Sometimes you're the stronger the less ground youspread over. "

Ned glanced around. He had paid the Alamo one hasty visit just after thecapture of San Antonio by the Texans, but he took only a vague lookthen. Now it was to make upon his brain a photograph which nothing couldremove as long as he lived. 

He saw in a few minutes all the details of the Alamo. He knew alreadyits history. This mission of deathless fame was even then more than acentury old. Its name, the Alamo, signified "the Cottonwood tree, " butthat has long since been lost in another of imperishable grandeur. 

The buildings of the mission were numerous, the whole arranged, according to custom, in the form of a cross. The church, which was nowwithout a roof, faced town and river, but it contained arched rooms, andthe sacristy had a solid roof of masonry. The windows, cut for the needsof an earlier time, were high and narrow, in order that attackingIndians might not pour in flights of arrows upon those who should beworshipping there. Over the heavy oaken doors were images and carvingsin stone worn by time. 

To the left of the church, beside the wing of the cross, was the plazaof the convent, about thirty yards square, with its separate walls morethan fifteen feet high and nearly four feet thick. 

Ned noted all these things rapidly and ineffaceably, as he and Crocketttook a swift but complete survey of their fortress. He saw that theconvent and hospital, each two stories in height, were made of adobebricks, and he also noticed a sallyport, protected by a little redoubt, at the southeastern corner of the yard. 

They saw beyond the convent yard the great plaza into which they haddriven the cattle, a parallelogram covering nearly three acres, inclosedby a wall eight feet in height and three feet thick. Prisons, barracksand other buildings were scattered about. Beyond the walls was a smallgroup of wretched jacals or huts in which some Mexicans lived. Waterfrom the San Antonio flowed in ditches through the mission. 

It was almost a town that they were called upon to defend, and Ned andCrockett, after their hasty look, came back to the church, the strongestof all the buildings, with walls of hewn stone five feet thick andnearly twenty-five feet high. They opened the heavy oaken doors, enteredthe building and looked up through the open roof at the sky. ThenCrockett's eyes came back to the arched rooms and the covered sacristy. 

"This is the real fort, " he said, "an' we'll put our gunpowder in thatsacristy. It looks like sacrilege to use a church for such a purpose, but, Ned, times are goin' to be very hot here, the hottest we ever saw, an' we must protect our powder. "

He carried his suggestion to Travis, who adopted it at once, and thepowder was quickly taken into the rooms. They also had fourteen piecesof cannon which they mounted on the walls of the church, at the stockadeat the entrance to the plaza and at the redoubt. But the Texans, frontiersmen and not regular soldiers, did not place much reliance uponthe cannon. Their favorite weapon was the rifle, with which they rarelymissed even at long range. 

It took the Texans but little time to arrange the defence, and then camea pause. Ned did not have any particular duty assigned to him, and wentback to the church, which now bore so little resemblance to a house ofworship. He gazed curiously at the battered carvings and images over thedoor. They looked almost grotesque to him now, and some of themthreatened. 

He went inside the church and looked around once more. It was old, veryold. The grayness of age showed everywhere, and the silence of thedefenders on the walls deepened its ancient aspect. But the Norther hadceased to blow, and the sun came down, bright and unclouded, through theopen roof. 

Ned climbed upon the wall. Bowie, who was behind one of the cannon, beckoned to him. Ned joined him and leaned upon the gun as Bowie pointedtoward San Antonio. 

"See the Mexican masses, " he said. "Ned, you were a most timely herald. If it had not been for you our surprise would have been total. Look howthey defile upon the plain. "

The army of Santa Anna was entering San Antonio and it was spread outfar and wide. The sun glittered on lances and rifles, and brightened thebronze barrels of cannon. The triumphant notes of a bugle came acrossthe intervening space, and when the bugle ceased a Mexican band beganto play. 

It was fine music. The Mexicans had the Latin ear, the gift for melody, and the air they played was martial and inspiring. One could marchreadily to its beat. Bowie frowned. 

"They think it nothing more than a parade, " he said. "But when SantaAnna has taken us he will need a new census of his army. "

He looked around at the strong stone walls, and then at the resolutefaces of the men near him. But the garrison was small, pitifully small. 

Ned left the walls and ate a little food that was cooked over a firelighted in the convent plaza. Then he wandered about the place lookingat the buildings and inclosures. The Alamo was so extensive that he knewTravis would be compelled to concentrate his defense about the church, but he wanted to examine all these places anyhow. 

He wandered into one building that looked like a storehouse. Theinterior was dry and dusty. Cobwebs hung from the walls, and it wasempty save for many old barrels that stood in the corner. Ned lookedcasually into the barrels and then he uttered a shout of joy. A score ofso of them were full of shelled Indian corn in perfect condition, ahundred bushels at least. This was truly treasure trove, more valuablethan if the barrels had been filled with coined gold. 

He ran out of the house and the first man he met was Davy Crockett. 

"Now what has disturbed you?" asked Crockett, in his drawling tone. "Haven't you seen Mexicans enough for one day? This ain't the time tosee double. "

"I wish I could see double in this case, Mr. Crockett, " replied Ned, "because then the twenty barrels of corn that I've found would beforty. "

He took Crockett triumphantly into the building and showed him thetreasure, which was soon transferred to one of the arched rooms besidethe entrance of the church. It was in truth one of the luckiest findsever made. The cattle in the plaza would furnish meat for a long time, but they would need bread also. Again Ned felt that pleasant glow oftriumph. It seemed that fortune was aiding them. 

He went outside and stood by the ditch which led a shallow stream ofwater along the eastern side of the church. It was greenish in tint, butit was water, water which would keep the life in their bodies while theyfought off the hosts of Santa Anna. 

The sun was now past the zenith, and since the Norther had ceased toblow there was a spring warmth in the air. Ned, conscious now that hewas stained with the dirt and dust of flight and haste, bathed his faceand hands in the water of the ditch and combed his thick brown hair aswell as he could with his fingers. 

"Good work, my lad, " said a hearty voice beside him. "It shows that youhave a cool brain and an orderly mind. "

Davy Crockett, who was always neat, also bathed his own face and handsin the ditch. 

"Now I feel a lot better, " he said, "and I want to tell you, Ned, thatit's lucky the Spanish built so massively. Look at this church. It's gotwalls of hewn stone, five feet through, an' back in Tennessee we build'em of planks a quarter of an inch thick. Why, these walls would turnthe biggest cannon balls. "

"It surely is mighty lucky, " said Ned. "What are you going to do next, Mr. Crockett?"

"I don't know. I guess we'll wait on the Mexicans to open the battle. Thar, do you hear that trumpet blowin' ag'in? I reckon it means thatthey're up to somethin'. "

"I think so, too, " said Ned. "Let's go back upon the church walls, Mr. Crockett, and see for ourselves just what it means. "

The two climbed upon the great stone wall, which was in reality aparapet. Travis and Bowie, who was second in command, were therealready. Ned looked toward San Antonio, and he saw Mexicans everywhere. Mexican flags hoisted by the people were floating from the flat roofs ofthe houses, signs of their exultation at the coming of Santa Anna andthe expulsion of the Texans. 

The trumpet sounded again and they saw three officers detach themselvesfrom the Mexican lines and ride forward under a white flag. Ned knewthat one of them was the young Urrea. 

"Now what in thunder can they want?" growled Davy Crockett. "There canbe no talk or truce between us an' Santa Anna. If all that I've heard ofhim is true I'd never believe a word he says. "

Travis called two of his officers, Major Morris and Captain Martin, anddirected them to go out and see what the Mexicans wanted. Then, meetingNed's eye, he recalled something. 

"Ah, you speak Spanish and Mexican Spanish perfectly, " he said. "Willyou go along, too?"

"Gladly, " said Ned. 

"An', Ned, " said Davy Crockett, in his whimsical tone, "if you don'ttell me every word they said when you come back I'll keep you on breadan' water for a week. There are to be no secrets here from me. "

"I promise, Mr. Crockett, " said Ned. 

The heavy oaken doors were thrown open and the three went out on footto meet the Mexican officers who were riding slowly forward. Theafternoon air was now soft and pleasant, and a light, soothing wind wasblowing from the south. The sky was a vast dome of brilliant blue andgold. It was a picture that remained indelibly on Ned's mind like manyothers that were to come. They were etched in so deeply that neither thecolors nor the order of their occurrence ever changed. An odor, a touch, or anything suggestive would make them return to his mind, unfaded andin proper sequence like the passing of moving pictures. 

The Mexicans halted in the middle of the plain and the three Texans metthem. The Mexicans did not dismount. Urrea was slightly in advance ofthe other two, who were older men in brilliant uniforms, generals atleast. Ned saw at once that they meant to be haughty and arrogant to thelast degree. They showed it in the first instance by not dismounting. Itwas evident that Urrea would be the chief spokesman, and his mannerindicated that it was a part he liked. He, too, was in a fine uniform, irreproachably neat, and his handsome olive face was flushed. 

"And so, " he said, in an undertone and in Spanish to Ned, "we are hereface to face again. You have chosen your own trap, the Alamo, and it isnot in human power for you to escape it now. "

His taunt stung, but Ned merely replied:

"We shall see. "

Then Urrea said aloud, speaking in English, and addressing himself tothe two officers:

"We have come by order of General Santa Anna, President of Mexico andCommander-in-Chief of her officers, to make a demand of you. "

"A conference must proceed on the assumption that the two parties to itare on equal terms, " said Major Morris, in civil tones. 

"Under ordinary circumstances, yes, " said Urrea, without abating hishaughty manner one whit, "but this is a demand by a paramount authorityupon rebels and traitors. "

He paused that his words might sink home. All three of the Texans feltanger leap in their hearts, but they put restraint upon their words. 

"What is it that you wish to say to us?" continued Major Morris. "If itis anything we should hear we are listening. "

Urrea could not subdue his love of the grandiose and theatrical. 

"As you may see for yourselves, " he said, "General Santa Anna hasreturned to Texas with an overpowering force of brave Mexican troops. San Antonio has fallen into his hands without a struggle. He can takethe Alamo in a day. In a month not a man will be left in Texas able todispute his authority. "

"These are statements most of which can be disputed, " said Major Morris. "What does General Santa Anna demand of us?"

His quiet manner had its effect upon Urrea. 

"He demands your unconditional surrender, " he said. 

"And does he say nothing about our lives and good treatment?" continuedthe Major, in the same quiet tones. 

"He does not, " replied Urrea emphatically. "If you receive mercy it willbe due solely to the clemency of General Santa Anna toward rebels. "

Hot anger again made Ned's heart leap. The tone of Urrea was almostinsufferable, but Major Morris, not he, was spokesman. 

"I am not empowered to accept or reject anything, " continued MajorMorris. "Colonel Travis is the commander of our force, but I am quitepositive in my belief that he will not surrender. "

"We must carry back our answer in either the affirmative or thenegative, " said Urrea. 

"You can do neither, " said Major Morris, "but I promise you that if theanswer is a refusal to surrender--and I know it will be such--a singlecannon shot will be fired from the wall of the church. "

"Very well, " said Urrea, "and since that is your arrangement I seenothing more to be said. "

"Nor do I, " said Major Morris. 

The Mexicans saluted in a perfunctory manner and rode toward SanAntonio. The three Texans went slowly back to the Alamo. Ned walkedbehind the two men. He hoped that the confidence of Major Morris wasjustified. He knew Santa Anna too well. He believed that the Texans hadmore to fear from surrender than from defence. 

They entered the Alamo and once more the great door was shut and barredheavily. They climbed upon the wall, and Major Morris and Captain Martinwent toward Travis, Bowie and Crockett, who stood together waiting. Nedpaused a little distance away. He saw them talking together earnestly, but he could not hear what they said. Far away he saw the three Mexicansriding slowly toward San Antonio. 

Ned's eyes came back to the wall. He saw Bowie detach himself from theother two and advance toward the cannon. A moment later a flash camefrom its muzzle, a heavy report rolled over the plain, and then cameback in faint echoes. 

The Alamo had sent its answer. A deep cheer came from the Texans. Ned'sheart thrilled. He had his wish. 

The boy looked back toward San Antonio and his eyes were caught bysomething red on the tower of the Church of San Fernando. It rose, expanded swiftly, and then burst out in great folds. It was a blood-redflag, flying now in the wind, the flag of no quarter. No Texan would bespared, and Ned knew it. Nevertheless his heart thrilled again. 

CHAPTER IX

THE FLAG OF NO QUARTER

Ned gazed long at the great red flag as its folds waved in the wind. Achill ran down his spine, a strange, throbbing sensation, but not offear. They were a tiny islet there amid a Mexican sea which threatenedto roll over them. But the signal of the flag, he realized, merely toldhim that which he had expected all the time. He knew Santa Anna. Hewould show no quarter to those who had humbled Cos and his forces at SanAntonio. 

The boy was not assigned to the watch that night, but he could not sleepfor a long time. Among these borderers there was discipline, but it wasdiscipline of their own kind, not that of the military martinet. Ned wasfree to go about as he chose, and he went to the great plaza into whichthey had driven the cattle. Some supplies of hay had been gathered forthem, and having eaten they were now all at rest in a herd, packed closeagainst the western side of the wall. 

Ned passed near them, but they paid no attention to him, and going on heclimbed upon the portion of the wall which ran close to the river. Somedistance to his right and an equal distance to his left were sentinels. But there was nothing to keep him from leaping down from the wall or theoutside and disappearing. The Mexican investment was not yet complete. Yet no such thought ever entered Ned's head. His best friends, WillAllen, the Panther and Obed White, were out there somewhere, if theywere still alive, but his heart was now here in the Alamo with theTexans. 

He listened intently, but he heard no sound of any Mexican advance. Itoccurred to him that a formidable attack might be made here, particularly under the cover of darkness. A dashing leader like theyounger Urrea might attempt a surprise. 

He dropped back inside and went to one of the sentinels who was standingon an abutment with his head just showing above the wall. He was a youngman, not more than two or three years older than Ned, and he was glad tohave company. 

"Have you heard or seen anything?" asked Ned. 

"No, " replied the sentinel, "but I've been looking for 'em down thisway. "

They waited a little longer and then Ned was quite sure that he saw adim form in the darkness. He pointed toward it, but the sentinel couldnot see it at all, as Ned's eyes were much the keener: But the shapegrew clearer and Ned's heart throbbed. 

The figure was that of a great horse, and Ned recognized Old Jack. Nothing could have persuaded him that the faithful beast was not seekinghis master, and he emitted a low soft whistle. The horse raised hishead, listened and then trotted forward. 

"He is mine, " said Ned, "and he knows me. "

"He won't be yours much longer, " said the sentinel. "Look, there's aMexican creeping along the ground after him. "

Ned followed the pointing finger, and he now noticed the Mexican, avaquero, who had been crouching so low that his figure blurred with theearth. Ned saw the coiled lariat hanging over his arm, and he knew thatthe man intended to capture Old Jack, a prize worth any effort. 

"Do you think I ought to shoot him?" asked the sentinel. 

"Not yet, at least, " replied Ned. "I brought my horse into this danger, but I think that he'll take himself out of it. "

Old Jack had paused, as if uncertain which way to go. But Ned felt surethat he was watching the Mexican out of the tail of his eye. Thevaquero, emboldened by the prospect of such a splendid prize, creptcloser and closer, and then suddenly threw the lasso. The horse's headducked down swiftly, the coil of rope slipped back over his head, and hedashed at the Mexican. 

The vaquero was barely in time to escape those terrible hoofs. Buthowling with terror he sprang clear and raced away in the darkness. Thehorse whinnied once or twice gently, waited, and, when no answer came tohis calls, trotted off in the dusk. 

"No Mexican will take your horse, " said the sentinel. 

"You're right when you say that, " said Ned. "I don't think another willever get so near him, but if he should you see that my horse knows howto take care of himself. "

Ned wandered back toward the convent yard. It was now late, but a clearmoon was shining. He saw the figures of the sentinels clearly on thewalls, but he was confident that no attack would be made by the Mexicansthat night. His great tension and excitement began to relax and he feltthat he could sleep. 

He decided that the old hospital would be a good place, and, taking hisblankets, he entered the long room of that building. Only the moonlightshone there, but a friendly voice hailed him at once. 

"It's time you were hunting rest, Ned, " said Davy Crockett. "I saw youwanderin' 'roun' as if you was carryin' the world on your shoulders, butI didn't say anything. I knew that you would come to if left toyourself. There's a place over there by the wall where the floor seemsto be a little softer than it is most everywhere else. Take it an' enjoyit. "

Ned laughed and took the place to which Crockett was pointing. Thehardness of a floor was nothing to him, and with one blanket under himand another over him he went to sleep quickly, sleeping the nightthrough without a dream. He awoke early, took a breakfast of fresh beefwith the men in the convent yard, and then, rifle in hand, he mountedthe church wall. 

All his intensity of feeling returned with the morning. He was eager tosee what was passing beyond the Alamo, and the first object that caughthis eye was the blood-red flag of no quarter hanging from the tower ofthe Church of San Fernando. No wind was blowing and it drooped in heavyscarlet folds like a pall. 

Looking from the flag to the earth, he saw great activity in the Mexicanlines. Three or four batteries were being placed in position, andMexican officers, evidently messengers, were galloping about. The flatroofs of the houses in San Antonio were covered with people. Ned knewthat they were there to see Santa Anna win a quick victory and takeimmediate vengeance upon the Texans. He recognized Santa Anna himselfriding in his crouched attitude upon a great white horse, passing frombattery to battery and hurrying the work. There was proof that hispresence was effective, as the men always worked faster when he came. 

Ned saw all the Texan leaders, Travis, Bowie, Crockett and Bonham, watching the batteries. The whole Texan force was now manning the wallsand the heavy cedar palisade at many points, but Ned saw that for thepresent all their dealings would be with the cannon. 

Earthworks had been thrown up to protect the Mexican batteries, and theTexan cannon were posted for reply, but Ned noticed that his comradesseemed to think little of the artillery. In this desperate crisis theyfondled their rifles lovingly. 

He was still watching the batteries, when a gush of smoke and flame camefrom one of the cannon. There was a great shout in the Mexican lines, but the round shot spent itself against the massive stone walls of themission. 

"They'll have to send out a stronger call than that, " said Davy Crockettcontemptuously, "before this 'coon comes down. "

Travis went along the walls, saw that the Texans were shelteringthemselves, and waited. There was another heavy report and a secondround shot struck harmlessly upon the stone. Then the full bombardmentbegan. A half dozen batteries rained shot and shell upon the Alamo. Theroar was continuous like the steady roll of thunder, and it beat uponthe drums of Ned's ears until he thought he would become deaf. 

He was crouched behind the stone parapet, but he looked up often enoughto see what was going on. He saw a vast cloud of smoke gathering overriver and town, rent continually by flashes of fire from the muzzles ofthe cannon. The air was full of hissing metal, shot and shell poured ina storm upon the Alamo. Now and then the Texan cannon replied, but notoften. 

The cannon fire was so great that for a time it shook Ned's nerves. Itseemed as if nothing could live under such a rain of missiles, but whenhe looked along the parapet and saw all the Texans unharmed his couragecame back. 

Many of the balls were falling inside the church, in the convent yardand in the plazas, but the Texans there were protected also, and as faras Ned could see not a single man had been wounded. 

The cannonade continued for a full hour and then ceased abruptly. Thegreat cloud of smoke began to lift, and the Alamo, river and town cameagain into the brilliant sunlight. The word passed swiftly among thedefenders that their fortress was uninjured and not a man hurt. 

As the smoke rose higher Ned saw Mexican officers with glasses examiningthe Alamo to see what damage their cannon had done. He hoped they wouldfeel mortification when they found it was so little. Davy Crockett kneltnear him on the parapet, and ran his hand lovingly along the barrel ofBetsy, as one strokes the head of a child. 

"Do you want some more rifles, Davy?" asked Bowie. 

"Jest about a half dozen, " replied Crockett. "I think I can use thatmany before they clear out. "

Six of the long-barreled Texan rifles were laid at Crockett's feet. Nedwatched with absorbed interest. Crockett's eye was on the nearestbattery and he was slowly raising Betsy. 

"Which is to be first, Davy?" asked Bowie. 

"The one with the rammer in his hand. "

Crockett took a single brief look down the sights and pulled thetrigger. The man with the rammer dropped to the earth and the rammerfell beside him. He lay quite still. Crockett seized a second rifle andfired. A loader fell and he also lay still. A third rifle shot, almostas quick as a flash, and a gunner went down, a fourth and a man at awheel fell, a fifth and the unerring bullet claimed a sponger, a sixthand a Mexican just springing to cover was wounded in the shoulder. ThenCrockett remained with the seventh rifle still loaded in his hands, asthere was nothing to shoot at, all the Mexicans now being hidden. 

But Crockett, kneeling on the parapet, the rifle cocked and his fingeron the trigger, watched in case any of the Mexicans should exposehimself again. He presented to Ned the simile of some powerful animalabout to spring. The lean, muscular figure was poised for instantaction, and all the whimsicality and humor were gone from the eyes ofthe sharpshooter. 

A mighty shout of triumph burst from the Texans. Many a good marksmanwas there, but never before had they seen such shooting. The greatreputation of Davy Crockett, universal in the southwest, was justifiedfully. The crew of the gun had been annihilated in less than a minute. 

For a while there was silence. Then the Mexicans, protected by theearthwork that they had thrown up, drew the battery back a hundredyards. Even in the farther batteries the men were very careful aboutexposing themselves. The Texans, seeing no sure target, held their fire. The Mexicans opened a new cannonade and for another half hour the roarof the great guns drowned all other sounds. But when it ceased and thesmoke drifted away the Texans were still unharmed. 

Ned was now by the side of Bowie, who showed great satisfaction. 

"What will they do next?" asked Ned. 

"I don't know, but you see now that it's not the biggest noise thathurts the most. They'll never get us with cannon fire. The only way theycan do it is to attack the lowest part of our wall and make a bridge oftheir own bodies. "

"They are doing something now, " said Ned, whose far-sighted visionalways served him well. "They are pulling down houses in the town nextto the river. "

"That's so, " said Bowie, "but we won't have to wait long to see whatthey're about. "

Hundreds of Mexicans with wrecking hooks had assailed three or four ofthe houses, which they quickly pulled to pieces. Others ran forward withthe materials and began to build a bridge across the narrow San Antonio. 

"They want to cross over on that bridge and get into a position at oncecloser and more sheltered, " said Bowie, "but unless I make a big mistakethose men at work there are already within range of our rifles. Shall weopen fire, Colonel?"

He asked the question of Travis, who nodded. A picked band of Mexicansunder General Castrillon were gathered in a mass and were rapidlyfitting together the timbers of the houses to make the narrow bridge. But the reach of the Texan rifles was great, and Davy Crockett wasmerely the king among so many sharpshooters. 

The rifles began to flash and crack. No man fired until he was sure ofhis aim, and no two picked the same target. The Mexicans fell fast. Infive minutes thirty or forty were killed, some of them falling into theriver, and the rest, dropping the timbers, fled with shouts of horrorfrom the fatal spot. General Castrillon, a brave man, sought to drivethem back, but neither blows nor oaths availed. Santa Anna himself cameand made many threats, but the men would not stir. They preferredpunishment to the sure death that awaited them from the muzzles of theTexan rifles. 

The light puffs of rifle smoke were quickly gone, and once more the townwith the people watching on the flat roofs came into full view. A windburst out the folds of the red flag of no quarter on the tower of thechurch of San Fernando, but Ned paid no attention to it now. He waswatching for Santa Anna's next move. 

"That's a bridge that will never be built, " said Davy Crockett. "'Livean' learn' is a good sayin', I suppose, but a lot of them Mexicansneither lived nor learned. It's been a great day for 'Betsy' here. "

Travis, the commander, showed elation. 

"I think Santa Anna will realize now, " he said, "that he has neither apromenade nor a picnic before him. Oh, if we only had six or sevenhundred men, instead of less than a hundred and fifty!"

"We must send for help, " said Bowie. "The numbers of Santa Annacontinually increase, but we are not yet entirely surrounded. If theTexans know that we are beleaguered here they will come to our help. "

"I will send messengers to-morrow night, " said Travis. "The Texans aremuch scattered, but it is likely that some will come. "

It was strange, but it was characteristic of them, nevertheless, that noone made any mention of escape. Many could have stolen away in the nightover the lower walls. Perhaps all could have done so, but not a singleTexan ever spoke of such a thing, and not one ever attempted it. 

Santa Anna moved some of his batteries and also erected two new ones. When the work on the latter was finished all opened in anothertremendous cannonade, lasting for fully an hour. The bank of smoke washeavier than ever, and the roaring in Ned's ears was incessant, but hefelt no awe now. He was growing used to the cannon fire, and as it didso little harm he felt no apprehension. 

While the fire was at its height he went down in the church and cleanedhis rifle, although he took the precaution to remain in one of thecovered rooms by the doorway. Davy Crockett was also there busy with thesame task. Before they finished a cannon ball dropped on the floor, bounded against the wall and rebounded several times until it finallylay at rest. 

"Somethin' laid a big egg then, " said Crockett. "It's jest as well tokeep a stone roof over your head when you're under fire of a few dozencannon. Never take foolish risks, Ned, for the sake of showin' off. That's the advice of an old man. "

Crockett spoke very earnestly, and Ned remembered his words. Bonhamcalled to them a few minutes later that the Mexicans seemed to bemeditating some movement on the lower wall around the grand plaza. 

"Like as not you're right, " said Crockett. "It would be the time to tryit while our attention was attracted by the big cannonade. "

Crockett himself was detailed to meet the new movement, and he led fiftysharpshooters. Ned was with him, his brain throbbing with the certaintythat he was going into action once more. Great quantities of smoke hungover the Alamo and had penetrated every part of it. It crept into Ned'sthroat, and it also stung his eyes. It inflamed his brain and increasedhis desire for combat. They reached the low wall on a run, and foundthat Bonham was right. A large force of Mexicans was approaching fromthat side, evidently expecting to make an opening under cover of thesmoke. 

The assailants were already within range, and the deadly Texan riflesbegan to crack at once from the wall. The whole front line of theMexican column was quickly burned away. The return fire of the Mexicanswas hasty and irregular and they soon broke and ran. 

"An' that's over, " said Crockett, as he sent a parting shot. "It waseasy, an' bein' sheltered not a man of ours was hurt. But, Ned, don'tlet the idea that we have a picnic here run away with you. We've got towatch an' watch an' fight an' fight all the time, an' every day moreMexicans will come. "

"I understand, Mr. Crockett, " said Ned. "You know that we may never getout of here alive, and I know it, too. "

"You speak truth, lad, " said Crockett, very soberly. "But remember thatit's a chance we take every day here in the southwest. An' it's pleasantto know that they're all brave men here together. You haven't seen anyflinchin' on the part of anybody an' I don't think you ever will. "

"What are you going to do now?" asked Ned. 

"I'm goin' to eat dinner, an' after that I'll take a nap. My advice toyou is to do the same, 'cause you'll be on watch to-night. "

"I know I can eat, " said Ned, "and I'll try to sleep. "

He found that his appetite was all right, and after dinner he lay downin the long room of the hospital. Here he heard the cannon of Santa Annastill thundering, but the walls softened the sound somewhat and made itseem much more distant. In a way it was soothing and Ned, although surethat he could not sleep, slept. All that afternoon he was rocked intodeeper slumber by the continuous roar of the Mexican guns. Smoke floatedover the convent yard and through all the buildings, but it did notdisturb him. Now and then a flash of rifle fire came from the Texans onthe walls, but that did not disturb him, either. 

Nature was paying its debt. The boy lying on his blankets breatheddeeply and regularly as he slept. The hours of the afternoon passed oneby one, and it was dark when he awoke. The fire of the cannon had nowceased and two or three lights were burning in the hospital. Crockettwas already up, and with some of the other men was eating beefsteak at atable. 

"You said you'd try to sleep, Ned, " he exclaimed, "an' you must havemade a big try, 'cause you snored so loud we couldn't hear Santa Anna'scannon. "

"Why, I'm sure I don't snore, Mr. Crockett, " said Ned, red in the face. 

"No, you don't snore, I'll take that back, " said Davy Crockett, when thelaugh subsided, "but I never saw a young man sleep more beautifully an'skillfully. Why, the risin' an' fallin' of your chest was as reg'lar asthe tickin' of a clock. "

Ned joined them at the table. He did not mind the jests of those men, asthey did not mind the jests of one another. They were now like closeblood-kin. They were a band of brethren, bound together by theunbreakable tie of mortal danger. 

Ned spent two-thirds of the night on the church wall. The Mexicans letthe cannon rest in the darkness, and only a few rifle shots were fired. But there were many lights in San Antonio, and on the outskirts twogreat bonfires burned. Santa Anna and his generals, feeling that theirprey could not escape from the trap, and caring little for the peons whohad been slain, were making a festival. It is even said that Santa Annaon this campaign, although he left a wife in the city of Mexico, exercised the privileges of an Oriental ruler and married another amidgreat rejoicings. 

Ned slept soundly when his watch was finished, and he awoke again thenext day to the thunder of the cannonade, which continued almost withoutcessation throughout the day, but in the afternoon Travis wrote aletter, a noble appeal to the people of Texas for help. He stated thatthey had been under a continual bombardment for more than twenty-fourhours, but not a man had yet been hurt. "I shall never surrender orretreat, " he said. "Then I call on you in the name of liberty, ofpatriotism, and of everything dear to the American character, to come toour aid with all dispatch. " He closed with the three words, "Victory ordeath, " not written in any vainglory or with any melodramatic appeal, but with the full consciousness of the desperate crisis, and a quietresolution to do as he said. 

The heroic letter is now in the possession of the State of Texas. Mostof the men in the Alamo knew its contents, and they approved of it. Whenit was fully dark Travis gave it to Albert Martin. Then he looked aroundfor another messenger. 

"Two should go together in case of mishap, " he said. 

His eye fell upon Ned. 

"If you wish to go I will send you, " he said, "but I leave it to yourchoice. If you prefer to stay, you stay. "

Ned's first impulse was to go. He might find Obed White, Will Allen andthe Panther out there and bring them back with him, but his secondimpulse told him that it was only a chance, and he would abide withCrockett and Bowie. 

"I thank you for the offer, but I think, sir, that I'll stay, " he said. 

He saw Crockett give him a swift approving glance. Another was quicklychosen in his stead, and Ned was in the grand plaza when they droppedover the low wall and disappeared in the darkness. His comrades and helistened attentively a long time, but as they heard no sound of shotsthey were sure that they were now safe beyond the Mexican lines. 

"I don't want to discourage anybody, " said Bowie, "but I'm not hopingmuch from the messengers. The Texans are scattered too widely. "

"No, they can't bring many, " said Crockett, "but every man counts. Sometimes it takes mighty little to turn the tale, and they may turnit. "

"I hope so, " said Bowie. 

The Mexican cannon were silent that night and Ned slept deeply, awakingonly when the dawn of a clear day came. He was astonished at thequickness with which he grew used to a state of siege and imminentdanger. All the habits of life now went on as usual. He ate breakfastwith as good an appetite as if he had been out on the prairie with hisfriends, and he talked with his new comrades as if Santa Anna and hisarmy were a thousand miles away. 

But when he did go upon the church wall he saw that Santa Anna had begunwork again and at a new place. The Mexican general, having seen that hisartillery was doing no damage, was making a great effort to get withinmuch closer range where the balls would count. Men protected by heavyplanking or advancing along trenches were seeking to erect a batterywithin less than three hundred yards of the entrance to the main plaza. They had already thrown up a part of a breastwork. Meanwhile the Texansharpshooters were waiting for a chance. 

Ned took no part in it except that of a spectator. But Crockett, Bowieand a dozen others were crouched on the wall with their rifles. Presently an incautious Mexican showed above the earthwork. It wasCrockett who slew him, but Bowie took the next. Then the other riflesflashed fast, eight or ten Mexicans were slain, and the rest fled. Oncemore the deadly Texan rifles had triumphed. 

Ned wondered why Santa Anna had endeavored to place the battery there inthe daytime. It could be done at night, when it was impossible for theTexans to aim their rifles so well. He did not know that the pride ofSanta Anna, unable to brook delay in the face of so small a force, hadpushed him forward. 

Knowing now what might be done at night, Ned passed the day in anxiety, and with the coming of the twilight his anxiety increased. 

CHAPTER X

CROCKETT AND BOWIE

Unluckily for the Texans, the night was the darkest of the month. Nobonfires burned in San Antonio, and there were no sounds of music. Itseemed to Ned that the silence and darkness were sure indications ofaction on the part of the foe. 

He felt more lonely and depressed than at any other time hitherto in thesiege, and he was glad when Crockett and a young Tennesseean whom hecalled the Bee-Hunter joined him. Crockett had not lost any of hiswhimsical good humor, and when Ned suggested that Santa Anna was likelyto profit by the dark he replied:

"If he is the general I take him to be he will, or at least try, butmeanwhile we'll just wait, an' look, an' listen. That's the way to findout if things are goin' to happen. Don't turn little troubles into bigones. You don't need a cowskin for a calf. We'll jest rest easy. I'mmighty nigh old enough to be your grandfather, Ned, an' I've learned totake things as they come. I guess men of my age were talkin' this sameway five thousand years ago. "

"You've seen a lot in your life, Mr. Crockett, " said Ned, to whom theTennesseean was a great hero. 

Crockett laughed low, but deep in his throat, and with much pleasure. 

"So I have! So I have!" he replied, "an', by the blue blazes, I can sayit without braggin'. I've seen a lot of water go by since I was runnin''roun' a bare-footed boy in Tennessee. I've ranged pretty far from eastto west, an' all the way from Boston in the north to this old mission, an' that must be some thousands of miles. An' I've had some big times inNew York, too. "

"You've been in New York, " said Ned, with quick interest. "It must be agreat town. "

"It is. It's certainly a bulger of a place. There are thousands an'thousands of houses, an' you can't count the sails in the bay. I saw theCity Hall an' it's a mighty fine buildin', too. It's all marble on theside looking south, an' plain stone on the side lookin' north. I askedwhy, an' they said all the poor people lived to the north of it. That'sthe way things often happen, Ned. An' I saw the great, big hotel JohnJacob Astor was beginnin' to build on Broadway just below the City Hall. They said it would cost seven hundred thousand dollars, which is anall-fired lot of money, that it would cover mighty nigh a whole block, an' that there would be nothin' else in America comin' up to it. "

"I'd like to see that town, " said Ned. 

"Maybe you will some day, " said Crockett, "'cause you're young. Youdon't know how young you look to me. I heard a lot there, Ned, aboutthat rich man, Mr. Astor. He got his start as a fur trader. I guess hewas about the biggest fur trader that ever was. He was so active thatall them animals that wore furs on their backs concluded they might aswell give up. I heard one story there about an otter an' a beavertalkin'. Says the otter to the beaver, when he was tellin' the beavergood-by after a visit: 'Farewell, I never expect to see you again, mydear old friend. ' 'Don't be too much distressed, ' replies the beaver, 'you an' I, old comrade, will soon meet at the hat store. '"

Ned and the Bee-Hunter laughed, and Crockett delved again into his pastlife and his experiences in the great city, relatively as great then tothe whole country as it is now. 

"I saw a heap of New York, " he continued, "an' one of the things I likedbest in it was the theaters. Lad, I saw the great Fanny Kemble playthere, an' she shorely was one of the finest women that ever walked thistroubled earth. I saw her first as Portia in that play of Shakespeare'scalled, called, called----"

"'The Merchant of Venice, '" suggested Ned. 

"Yes, that's it, 'The Merchant of Venice, ' where she was the womanlawyer. She was fine to see, an' the way she could change her voice an'looks was clean mirac'lous. If ever I need a lawyer I want her to actfor me. She had me mad, an' then she had me laughin', an' then she hadthe water startin' in my eyes. Whatever she wanted me to see I saw, an'whatever she wanted me to think I thought. An' then, too, she was manykinds of a woman, different in turn. In fact, Ned, she was just like ahandsome piece of changeable silk--first one color an' then another, butalways clean. "

He paused and the others did not interrupt him. 

"I don't like cities, " he resumed presently. "They crowd me up too much, but I do like the theater. It makes you see so many things an' so manykinds of people that you wouldn't have time to see if you had to travelfor 'em. We don't have much chance to travel right now, do we, Bee-Hunter?"

"A few hundred yards only for our bodies, " replied the youngTennesseean, "but our spirits soar far;

 "'Up with your banner, Freedom, Thy champions cling to thee, They'll follow where'er you lead them To death or victory. Up with your banner, Freedom. '"

He merely hummed the words, but Ned caught his spirit and he repeated tohimself: "Up with your banner, Freedom. "

"I guess you've heard enough tales from an old fellow like me, " saidCrockett. "At least you won't have time to hear any more 'cause theMexicans must be moving out there. Do you hear anything, Ned?"

"Nothing but a little wind. "

"Then my ears must be deceivin' me. I've used 'em such a long time thatI guess they feel they've got a right to trick me once in a while. "

But Ned was thinking just then of the great city which he wanted to seesome day as Crockett had seen it. But it seemed to him at that moment asfar away as the moon. Would his comrades and he ever escape from thosewalls?

His mind came back with a jerk. He did hear something on the plain. Crockett was right. He heard the tread of horses and the sound of wheelsmoving. He called the attention of Crockett to the noises. 

"I think I know what causes them, " said Crockett. "Santa Anna isplanting his battery under the cover of the night an' I don't see, boys, how we're goin' to keep him from doin' it. "

The best of the Texan sharpshooters lined the walls, and they firedoccasionally at indistinct and flitting figures, but they were quitecertain that they did no execution. The darkness was too great. Travis, Bowie and Crockett considered the possibility of a sortie, but theydecided that it had no chance of success. The few score Texans would beoverwhelmed in the open plain by the thousands of Mexicans. 

But all the leaders were uneasy. If the Mexican batteries were broughtmuch closer, and were protected by earthworks and other fortifications, the Alamo would be much less defensible. It was decided to send anothermessenger for help, and Ned saw Bonham drop over the rear wall and slipaway in the darkness. He was to go to Goliad, where Fannin had 300 menand four guns, and bring them in haste. 

When Bonham was gone Ned returned to his place on the wall. For hours heheard the noises without, the distant sound of voices, the heavy clankof metal against metal, and he knew full well that Santa Anna wasplanting his batteries. At last he went to his place in the long room ofthe hospital and slept. 

When dawn came he sprang up and rushed to the wall. There was thebattery of Santa Anna only three hundred yards from the entrance to themain plaza and to the southeast, but little further away, was another. The Mexicans had worked well during the night. 

"They're creepin' closer, Ned. They're creepin' closer, " said Crockett, who had come to the wall before him, "but even at that range I don'tthink their cannon will do us much harm. Duck, boy, duck! They're goin'to fire!"

The two batteries opened at the same time, and the Mexican masses in therear, out of range, began a tremendous cheering. Many of the balls andshells now fell inside the mission, but the Texans stayed well undercover and they still escaped without harm. The Mexican gunners, in theirturn, kept so well protected that the Texan riflemen had little chance. 

The great bombardment lasted an hour, but when it ceased, and the smokelifted, Ned saw a heavy mass of Mexican cavalry on the eastern road. 

Both Ned and Crockett took a long look at the cavalry, a fine body ofmen, some carrying lances and others muskets. Ned believed that herecognized Urrea in the figure of their leader, but the distance was toogreat for certainty. But when he spoke of it to Crockett the Tenesseeanborrowed Travis' field glasses. 

"Take these, " he said, "an' if it's that beloved enemy of yours you cansoon tell. "

The boy, with the aid of the glasses, recognized Urrea at once. Theyoung leader in the uniform of a Mexican captain and with a cocked andplumed hat upon his head sat his horse haughtily. Ned knew that he wasswelling with pride and that he, like Santa Anna, expected the trap toshut down on the little band of Texans in a day or two. He felt somebitterness that fate should have done so much for Urrea. 

"I judge by your face, " said Crockett whimsically, "that it is Urrea. But remember, Ned, that you can still be hated and live long. "

"It is indeed Urrea, " said Ned. "Now what are they gathering cavalry outthere for? They can't expect to gallop over our walls. "

"Guess they've an idea that we're goin' to try to slip out an' they'reshuttin' up that road of escape. Seems to me, Ned, they're comin' soclose that it's an insult to us. "

"They're almost within rifle shot. "

"Then these bad little Mexican boys must have their faces scorched as alesson. Just you wait here, Ned, till I have a talk with Travis an'Bowie. "

It was obvious to Ned that Crockett's talk with the commander and hissecond was satisfactory, because when he returned his face was in abroad grin. Bowie, moreover, came with him, and his blue eyes werelighted up with the fire of battle. 

"We're goin' to teach 'em the lesson, Ned, beginnin' with a b c, " saidCrockett, "an' Jim here, who has had a lot of experience in Texas, willlead us. Come along, I'll watch over you. "

A force of seventy or eighty was formed quickly, and hidden from theview of the Mexicans, they rushed down the plaza, climbed the low wallsand dropped down upon the plain. The Mexican cavalry outnumbered themfour or five to one, but the Texans cared little for such odds. 

"Now, boys, up with your rifles!" cried Bowie. "Pump it into 'em!"

Bowie was a product of the border, hard and desperate, a man of manyfierce encounters, but throughout the siege he had been singularlygentle and considerate in his dealings with his brother Texans. Now hewas all warrior again, his eyes blazing with blue fire while he shoutedvehement words of command to his men. 

The sudden appearance of the Texan riflemen outside the Alamo look Urreaby surprise, but he was quick of perception and action, and hiscavalrymen were the best in the Mexican army. He wheeled them into linewith a few words of command and shouted to them to charge. Bowie's meninstantly stopped, forming a rough line, and up went their rifles. Urrea's soldiers who carried rifles or muskets opened a hasty andexcited fire at some distance. 

Ned heard the bullets singing over his head or saw them kicking up dustin front of the Texans, but only one of the Texans fell and but few werewounded. The Mexican rifles or muskets were now empty, but the Mexicanlancers came on in good order and in an almost solid group, the yellowsunlight flashing across the long blades of their lances. 

It takes a great will to face sharp steel in the hands of horsementhundering down upon you, and Ned was quite willing to own afterwardthat every nerve in him was jumping, but he stood. All stood, and at thecommand of Bowie their rifles flashed together in one tremendousexplosion. 

The rifles discharged, the Texans instantly snatched out their pistols, ready for anything that might come galloping through the smoke. Butnothing came. When the smoke lifted they saw that the entire front ofthe Mexican column was gone. Fallen men and horses were thick on theplain and long lances lay across them. Other horses, riderless, weregalloping away to right and left, and unhorsed men were running to therear. But Urrea had escaped unharmed. Ned saw him trying to reform hisshattered force. 

"Reload your rifles, men!" shouted Bowie. "You can be ready for thembefore they come again!"

These were skilled sharpshooters, and they rammed the loads home withstartling rapidity. Every rifle was loaded and a finger was on everytrigger when the second charge of Urrea swept down upon them. No need ofa command from Bowie now. The Texans picked their targets and firedstraight into the dense group. Once more the front of the Mexican columnwas shot away, and the lances fell clattering on the plain. 

"At 'em, boys, with your pistols!" shouted Bowie. "Don't give 'em asecond chance!"

The Texans rushed forward, firing their pistols. Ned in the smoke becameseparated from his comrades, and when he could see more clearly hebeheld but a single horseman. The man was Urrea. 

The two recognized each other instantly. The Mexican had the advantage. He was on horseback and the smoke was in Ned's eyes, not his own. With ashout of triumph, he rode straight at the boy and made a fierce sweepwith his cavalry saber. It was fortunate for Ned that he was agile ofboth body and mind. He ducked and leaped to one side. He felt the swishof the heavy steel over his head, but as he came up again he fired. 

Urrea was protected largely by his horse's neck, and Ned fired at thehorse instead, although he would have greatly preferred Urrea as atarget. The bullet struck true and the horse fell, but the rider leapedclear and, still holding the saber, sprang at his adversary. Nedsnatched up his rifle, which lay on the ground at his feet, and receivedthe slash of the sword upon its barrel. The blade broke in two, andthen, clubbing his rifle, Ned struck. 

It was fortunate for Urrea, too, that he was agile of mind and body. Hesprang back quickly, but the butt of the rifle grazed his head and drewblood. The next moment other combatants came between, and Urrea dashedaway in search of a fresh horse. Ned, his blood on fire, was rushingafter him, when Bowie seized his arm and pulled him back. 

"No further, Ned!" he cried. "We've scattered their cavalry and we mustget back into the Alamo or the whole Mexican army will be upon us!"

Ned heard far away the beat of flying hoofs. It was made by the horsesof the Mexican cavalry fleeing for their lives. Bowie quickly gatheredtogether his men, and carrying with them two who had been slain in thefight they retreated rapidly to the Alamo, the Texan cannon firing overtheir heads at the advancing Mexican infantry. In three or four minutesthey were inside the walls again and with their comrades. 

The Mexican cavalry did not reappear upon the eastern road, and theTexans were exultant, yet they had lost two good men and their joy soongave way to more solemn feelings. It was decided to bury the slain atonce in the plaza, and a common grave was made for them. They were thefirst of the Texans to fall in the defence, and their fate made a deepimpression upon everybody. 

It took only a few minutes to dig the grave, and the men, laid side byside, were covered with their cloaks. While the spades were yet at workthe Mexican cannon opened anew upon the Alamo. A ball and a bomb fell inthe plaza. The shell burst, but fortunately too far away to hurtanybody. Neither the bursting of the shell nor any other part of thecannonade interrupted the burial. 

Crockett, a public man and an orator, said a few words. They weresympathetic and well chosen. He spoke of the two men as dying for Texas. Others, too, would fall in the defence of the Alamo, but their bloodwould water the tree of freedom. Then they threw in the dirt. WhileCrockett was speaking the cannon still thundered without, but every wordcould be heard distinctly. 

When Ned walked away he felt to the full the deep solemnity of themoment. Hitherto they had fought without loss to themselves. The deathof the two men now cast an ominous light over the situation. The Mexicanlines were being drawn closer and closer about the Alamo, and he wascompelled to realize the slenderness of their chances. 

The boy resumed his place on the wall, remaining throughout theafternoon, and watched the coming of the night. Crockett joined him, andtogether they saw troops of Mexicans marching away from the main body, some to right and some to left. 

"Stretchin' their lines, " said Crockett. "Santa Anna means to close usin entirely after a while. Now, by the blue blazes, that was a closeshave!"

A bullet sang by his head and flattened against the wall. He and Neddropped down just in time. Other bullets thudded against the stone. Nevertheless, Ned lifted his head above the edge of the parapet and tooka look. His eyes swept a circle and he saw little puffs of smoke comingfrom the roofs and windows of the jacals or Mexican huts on their sideof the river. He knew at once that the best of the Mexican sharpshootershad hidden themselves there, and had opened fire not with muskets, butwith improved rifles. He called Crockett's attention to this point ofdanger and the frontiersman grew very serious. 

"We've got to get 'em out some way or other, " he said. "As I saidbefore, the cannon balls make a big fuss, but they don't come so oftenan' they come at random. It's the little bullets that have the sting ofthe wasp, an' when a man looks down the sights, draws a bead on you, an'sends one of them lead pellets at you, he gen'rally gets you. Ned, we'vegot to drive them fellers out of there some way or other. "

The bullets from the jacals now swept the walls and the truth ofCrockett's words became painfully evident. The Texan cannon fired uponthe huts, but the balls went through the soft adobe and seemed to do noharm. It was like firing into a great sponge. Triumphant shouts camefrom the Mexicans. Their own batteries resumed the cannonade, whiletheir sheltered riflemen sent in the bullets faster and faster. 

Crockett tapped the barrel of Betsy significantly. 

"The work has got to be done with this old lady an' others like her, " hesaid. "We must get rid of them jacals. "

"How?" asked Ned. 

"You come along with me an' I'll show you, " said Crockett. "I'm goin' tohave a talk with Travis, an' if he agrees with me we'll soon wipe outthat wasps' nest. "

Crockett briefly announced his plan, which was bold in the extreme. Sixty picked riflemen, twenty of whom bore torches also, would rush outat one of the side gates, storm the jacals, set fire to them, and thenrush back to the Alamo. 

Travis hesitated. The plan seemed impossible of execution in face of thegreat Mexican force. But Bowie warmly seconded Crockett, and at last thecommander gave his consent. Ned at once asked to go with the daringtroop, and secured permission. The band gathered in a close body by oneof the gates. The torches were long sticks lighted at the end andburning strongly. The men had already cocked their rifles, but knowingthe immense risk they were about to take they were very quiet. Ned waspale, and his heart beat painfully, but his hand did not shake. 

The Texan cannon, to cover the movement, opened fire from the walls, andthe riflemen, posted at various points, helped also. The Mexicancannonade increased. When the thunder and crash were at their height thegate was suddenly thrown open and the sixty dashed out. Fortunately thedrifting smoke hid them partially, and they were almost upon the jacalsbefore they were discovered. 

A great shout came from the Mexicans when they saw the daring Texansoutside, and bullets from the jacals began to knock up grass and dustabout them. But Crockett himself, waving a torch, led them on, shouting:

"It's only a step, boys! It's only a step! Now, let 'em have it!"

The Texans fired as they rushed, but they took care to secure good aim. The Mexicans were driven from the roofs and the windows and then theTexans carrying the torches dashed inside. Every house containedsomething inflammable, which was quickly set on fire, and two or threehuts made of wood were lighted in a dozen places. 

The dry materials blazed up fast. A light wind fanned the flames, whichjoined together and leaped up, a roaring pyramid. The Mexicans, who hadlately occupied them, were scuttling like rabbits toward their mainforce, and the Texan bullets made them jump higher and faster. 

Crockett, with a shout of triumph, flung down his torch. 

"Now, boys, " he cried. "Here's the end of them jacals. Nothin' on earthcan put out that fire, but if we don't make a foot race back to theAlamo the end of us will be here, too, in a minute. "

The little band wheeled for its homeward rush. Ned heard a great shoutof rage from the Mexicans, and then the hissing and singing of shellsand cannon balls over his head. He saw Mexicans running across the plainto cut them off, but his comrades and he had reloaded their rifles, andas they ran they sent a shower of bullets that drove back their foe. 

Ned's heart was pumping frightfully, and myriads of black specks dancedbefore his eyes, but he remembered afterward that he calculated how farthey were from the Alamo, and how far the Mexicans were from them. Anumber of his comrades had been wounded, but nobody had fallen and theystill raced in a close group for the gate, which seemed to recede asthey rushed on. 

"A few more steps, Ned, " cried Crockett, "an' we're in! Ah, there go ourfriends!"

The Texan cannon over their heads now fired into the pursuing Mexicanmasses, and the sharpshooters on the walls also poured in a deadly hail. The Mexicans recoiled once more and then Crockett's party made good thegate. 

"All here!" cried Crockett, as those inside held up torches. He ran overthe list rapidly himself and counted them all, but his face fell when hesaw his young friend the Bee-Hunter stagger. Crockett caught him in hisarms and bore him into the hospital. He and Ned watched by his sideuntil he died, which was very soon. Before he became unconscious hemurmured some lines from an old Scotch poem:

 "But hame came the saddle, all bluidy to see. And hame came the steed, but never hame came he. "

They buried him that night beside the other two, and Ned was more solemnthan ever when he sought his usual place in the hospital by the wall. Ithad been a day of victory for the Texans, but the omens, nevertheless, seemed to him to be bad. 

The next day he saw the Mexicans spreading further and further about theAlamo, and they were in such strong force that the Texans could not nowafford to go out and attack any of these bands. A light cold rain fell, and as he was not on duty he went back to the hospital, where he sat insilence. 

He was deeply depressed and the thunder of the Mexican cannon beat uponhis ears like the voice of doom. He felt a strange annoyance at thereports of the guns. His nerves jumped, and he became angry with himselfat what he considered a childish weakness. 

Now, and for the first time, he felt despair. He borrowed a pencil and asheet of paper torn from an old memorandum book and made his will. Hispossessions were singularly few, and the most valuable at hand was hisfine long-barreled rifle, which he left to his faithful friend, ObedWhite. He bequeathed his pistol and knife to the Panther, and hisclothes to Will Allen. He was compelled to smile at himself when he hadfinished his page of writing. Was it likely that his friends would everfind this paper, or, if finding it, was it likely that any one of themcould ever obtain his inheritance? But it was a relief to his feelingsand, folding the paper, he put it in the inside pocket of his huntingshirt. 

The bombardment was renewed in the afternoon, but Ned stayed in hisplace in the hospital. After a while Davy Crockett and several othersjoined him there. Crockett as usual was jocular, and told more storiesof his trips to the large eastern cities. He had just finished ananecdote of Philadelphia, when he turned suddenly to Ned. 

"Boy, " he said, "you and I have fought together more than once now, an'I like you. You are brave an' you've a head full of sense. When you growolder you'll be worth a lot to Texas. They'll need you in the council. No, don't protest. This is the time when we can say what is in us. TheMexican circle around the Alamo is almost complete. Isn't that so, boys?"

"It is. "

"Then I'll say what we all know. Three or four days from now the chanceswill be a hundred to one against any of us ever gettin' out of here. An'you're the youngest of the defence, Ned, so I want you to slip outto-night while there's yet time. Mebbe you can get up a big lot of mento come to our help. "

Ned looked straight at Crockett, and the veteran's eyes wavered. 

"It's a little scheme you have, " said Ned, "to get me out of the way. You think because I'm the youngest I ought to go off alone at night andsave my own life. Well, I'm not going. I intend to stay here and fightit out with the rest of you. "

"I meant for the best, boy, I meant for the best, " said Crockett. "I'man old fellow an' I've had a terrible lot of fun in my time. About asmuch, I guess, as one man is entitled to, but you've got all your lifebefore you. "

"Couldn't think of it, " said Ned lightly; "besides, I've got a passwordin case I'm taken by Santa Anna. "

"What's that?" asked Crockett curiously. 

"It's the single word 'Roylston. ' Mr. Roylston told me if I were takenby Santa Anna to mention his name to him. "

"That's queer, an' then maybe it ain't, " said Crockett musingly. "I'veheard a lot of John Roylston. He's about the biggest trader in thesouthwest. I guess he must have some sort of a financial hold on SantaAnna, who is always wantin' money. Ned, if the time should ever come, don't you forget to use that password. "

The next night was dark and chilly with gusts of rain. In the afternoonthe Mexican cannonade waned, and at night it ceased entirely. The Alamoitself, except for a few small lights within the buildings, was keptentirely dark in order that skulking sharpshooters without might notfind a target. 

Ned was on watch near one of the lower walls about the plaza. He wrappedhis useful serape closely about his body and the lower part of his facein order to protect himself from the cold and wet, and the broad brim ofhis sombrero was drawn down to meet it. The other Texans on guard wereprotected in similar fashion, and in the flitting glimpses that Nedcaught of them they looked to him like men in disguise. 

The time went on very slowly. In the look backward every hour in theAlamo seemed to him as ten. He walked back and forth a long time, occasionally meeting other sentinels, and exchanging a few words withthem. Once he glanced at their cattle, which were packed closely under arough shed, where they lay, groaning with content. Then he went back tothe wall and noticed the dim figure of one of the sentinels going towardthe convent yard and the church. 

Ned took only a single glance at the man, but he rather envied him. Theman was going off duty early, and he would soon be asleep in a warmplace under a roof. He did not think of him again until a full hourlater, when he, too, going off duty, saw a figure hidden in serape andsombrero passing along the inner edge of the plaza. The walk and figurereminded him of the man whom he had seen an hour before, and he wonderedwhy any one who could have been asleep under shelter should havereturned to the cold and rain. 

He decided to follow, but the figure flitted away before him down theplaza and toward the lowest part of the wall. This was doubly curious. Moreover, it was ground for great suspicion. Ned followed swiftly. Hesaw the figure mounting the wall, as if to take position there as asentinel, and then the truth came to him in a flash. It was Urreaplaying the congenial role of spy. 

Ned rushed forward, shouting. Urrea turned, snatched a pistol and fired. The bullet whistled past Ned's head. The next moment Urrea dropped overthe wall and fled away in the darkness. The other sentinels were notable to obtain a shot at him. 

CHAPTER XI

THE DESPERATE DEFENCE

Ned's report created some alarm among the defenders of the Alamo, but itpassed quickly. 

"I don't see just how it can help 'em, " said Crockett. "He's found outthat we're few in number. They already knew that. He's learned that theAlamo is made up of a church an' other buildings with walls 'roun' them. They already knew that, too, an' so here we all are, Texans an'Mexicans, just where we stood before. "

Nevertheless, the bombardment rose to a fiercer pitch of intensity thenext day. The Mexicans seemed to have an unlimited supply of ammunition, and they rained balls and shells on the Alamo. Many of the shells didnot burst, and the damage done was small. The Texans did not reply fromthe shelter of their walls for a long time. At last the Mexicans camecloser, emboldened perhaps by the thought that resistance was crushed, and then the Texan sharpshooters opened fire with their long-barreledrifles. 

The Texans had two or three rifles apiece, and they poured in a fast anddeadly fire. So many of the Mexicans fell that the remainder retreatedwith speed, leaving the fallen behind them. But when the smoke liftedothers came forward under a white flag, and the Texans allowed them totake away their dead. 

The cannonade now became spasmodic. All the Mexican cannon would firecontinuously for a half hour or so, and then would ensue a silence ofperhaps an hour. 

In the afternoon Bowie was taken very ill, owing to his great exertions, and a bed was made for him in the hospital. Ned sat there with him awhile. The gentle mood that had distinguished the Georgian throughoutthe siege was even more marked now. 

"Ned, " he said, "you ought to have gone out the other night when wewanted you to go. Fannin may come to our help or he may not, but even ifhe should come I don't think his force is sufficient. It would merelyincrease the number of Texans in the trap. "

"I've quite made up my mind that I won't go, " said Ned. 

"I'm sorry, " said Bowie. "As for me, it's different. I'm a man ofviolence, Ned. I don't deny it. There's human blood on my hands, andsome of it is that of my own countrymen. I've done things that I'd liketo call back, and so I'm glad to be here, one of a forlorn hope, fighting for Texas. It's a sort of atonement, and if I fall I think itwill be remembered in my favor. "

Ned was singularly impressed. Crockett had talked in much the same way. Could these men, heroes of a thousand dangers, have really given up? Notto give up in the sense of surrender, but to expect death fighting? Butfor himself he could not believe such a thing possible. Youth was toostrong in him. 

He was on the watch again for part of the next night, and he andCrockett were together. They heard sounds made by the besiegers on everyside of them. Mexicans were calling to Mexicans. Bridle bits rattled, and metal clanked against metal. 

"I suppose the circle is complete, " said Ned. 

"Looks like it, " said Crockett, "but we've got our cattle to eat an'water to drink an' only a direct attack in force can take us. They canbang away with their cannon till next Christmas an' they won't shake ourgrip on the Alamo. "

The night was fairly dark, and an hour later Ned heard a whistle. Crockett heard it, too, and stiffened instantly into attention. 

"Did that sound to you like a Mexican whistling?" he asked. 

"No, I'd say it came from American lips, and I'd take it also for asignal. "

"An' so it is. It's just such a whistle as hunters use when they want totalk to one another without words. I've whistled to my pardners that wayin the woods hundreds of times. I think, Ned, that some Texans are athand waitin' a chance to slip in. "

Crockett emitted a whistle, low but clear and penetrating, almost likethe song of a night bird, and in a half minute came the rejoinder. Hereplied to it briefly, and then they waited. Others had gathered at thelow plaza wall with them. Hidden to the eyes, they peered over theparapet. 

They heard soft footsteps in the darkness, and then dim forms emerged. Despite the darkness they knew them to be Texans, and Crockett spokelow:

"Here we are, boys, waitin' for you! This way an' in a half minuteyou're in the Alamo!"

The men ran forward, scaled the wall and were quickly inside. They wereonly thirty-two. Ned had thought that the Panther, Obed, and Will Allenmight be among them, but they were not there. The new men were shakinghands with the others and were explaining that they had come fromGonzales with Captain Smith at their head. They were all well armed, carried much ammunition, and were sure that other parties would arrivefrom different points. 

The thirty-two were full of rejoicings over their successful entry, butthey were worn, nevertheless, and they were taken into one of thebuildings, where food and water were set before them. Ned stood by, aneager auditor, as they told of their adventures. 

"We had a hard time to get in here to you, " said Captain Smith, "andfrom the looks of things I reckon we'll have as hard a time to get out. There must be a million Mexicans around the Alamo. We tried to get up abigger force, but we couldn't gather any more without waiting, and wethought if you needed us at all you needed us in a hurry. "

"Reckon you're right about the need of bein' in a hurry, " said Crockett. "When you want help you want it right then an' there. "

"So you do, " said Smith, as he took a fresh piece or steak, "and we hadit in mind all the time. The wind was blowing our way, and in theafternoon we heard the roaring of cannon a long distance off. Then as wecame closer we heard Mexicans buzzing all around the main swarm, scoutsand skirmishers everywhere. 

"We hid in an arroyo and waited until dark. Then we rode closer andfound that there would never be any chance to get into the Alamo onhorseback. We took the saddles and bridles off our horses, and turnedthem loose on the prairie. Then we undertook to get in here, but it wastouch and go. I tell you it was touch and go. We wheeled and twisted andcurved and doubled, until our heads got dizzy. Wherever we went we foundMexicans, thousands of 'em. "

"We've noticed a few ourselves, " said Crockett. 

"It was pretty late when we struck an opening, and then not being surewe whistled. When we heard you whistle back we made straight for thewall, and here we are. "

"We're mighty glad to see you, " said Crockett, "but we ain't welcomin'you to no picnic, I reckon you understand that, don't you, Jim Smith?"

"We understand it, every one of us, " replied Smith gravely. "We heardbefore we started, and now we've seen. We know that Santa Anna himselfis out there, and that the Mexicans have got a big army. That's thereason we came, Davy Crockett, because the odds are so heavy againstyou. "

"You're a true man, " said Crockett, "and so is every one of these withyou. "

The new force was small--merely a few more for the trap--but theybrought with them encouragement. Ned shared in the general mentaluplift. These new faces were very welcome, indeed. They gave fresh vigorto the little garrison, and they brought news of that outside world fromwhich he seemed to have been shut off so long. They told of numerousparties sure to come to their relief, but he soon noticed that they didnot particularize. He felt with certainty that the Alamo now had all thedefenders that it would ever have. 

Repeated examinations from the walls of the church confirmed Ned in hisbelief. The Mexican circle was complete, and their sheltered batterieswere so near that they dropped balls and shells whenever they pleasedinside the Alamo. Duels between the cannon and the Texan sharpshooterswere frequent. The gunners as they worked their guns were forced to showthemselves at times, and every exposure was instantly the signal for aTexan bullet which rarely missed. But the Mexicans kept on. It seemedthat they intended to wear out the defenders by the sheer persistencyof their cannon fire. 

Ned became so hardened to the bombardment that he paid little attentionto it. Even when a ball fell inside the Alamo the chances were severalhundred to one that it would not hit him. He had amused himself with amathematical calculation of the amount of space he occupied comparedwith the amount of space in the Alamo. Thus he arrived at the result, which indicated comparatively little risk for himself. 

The shrewdest calculations are often wrong. As he passed through theconvent yard he met Crockett, and the two walked on together. But beforethey had gone half a dozen steps a bomb hissed through the air, fell androlled to their feet. It was still hissing and smoking, but Ned, drivenby some unknown impulse, seized it and with a mighty effort hurled itover the wall, where it burst. Then he stood licking his burned fingersand looking rather confusedly at Crockett. He felt a certain shynessover what he had done. 

The veteran frontiersman had already formed a great affection for theboy. He knew that Ned's impulse had come from a brave heart and a quickmind, and that he had probably saved both their lives. He took a greatresolution that this boy, the youngest of all the defenders, should besaved. 

"That was done well, Ned, " he said quietly. "I'm glad, boy, that I'veknown you. I'd be proud if you were a son of mine. We can talk plainlyhere with death all around us. You've got a lot in that head of yours. You ought to make a great man, a great man for Texas. Won't you do whatI say and slip out of the Alamo while there's still a chance?"

Ned was much moved, but he kept his resolution as he had kept it before. He shook his head. 

"You are all very good to me here, " he said. "Mr. Bowie, too, has askedme to go, but if I should do so and the rest of you were to fall I'd beashamed of myself all the rest of my life. I'm a Texan now, and I'mgoing to see it through with the rest of you. "

"All right, " said Crockett lightly. "I've heard that you can lead ahorse to the water, but you can't make him drink, an' if a boy don'twant to go you can't make him go. So we'll just go into this littleimprovised armory of ours, an' you an' I will put in our time moldin'bullets. "

They entered one of the adobe buildings. A fire had been built on thehearth, and a half dozen Texans were already busy there. But theyquickly made room for Crockett and Ned. Crockett did not tell Ned thattheir supplies of powder and lead were running low, and that they mustreduce their fire from the walls in order that they might havesufficient to meet an attack in force. 

But it was a cheerful little party that occupied itself with moldingbullets. Ned put a bar of lead into a ladle, and held it over the fireuntil the bar became molten. Then he poured it into the mold until itwas full, closed it, and when he opened it again a shining bulletdropped out. He worked hour after hour. His face became flushed with theheat, but with pride he watched his heap of bullets grow. 

Crockett at last said they had done enough for one day, and Ned was gladwhen they went outside and breathed the fresh air again. There was nofiring at that time, and they climbed once more upon the church wall. Ned looked out upon the scene, every detail of which was so familiar tohim now. But conspicuous, and seeming to dominate all, was the blood-redflag of no quarter floating from the tower of the church of SanFernando. Wind and rain had not dimmed its bright color. The menace inits most vivid hue was always there. 

Travis, who was further along the wall with a pair of strong fieldglasses, came back and joined Ned and Crockett. 

"If you would like to see Santa Anna you can, " he said to Ned. "He is onthe church of San Fernando now with his generals looking at us. Takethese glasses and your gaze may meet his. "

Ned took the glasses, and there was Santa Anna standing directly underthe folds of the banner with his own glasses to his eyes, studying theAlamo and its defenders. About him stood a half dozen generals. Ned'sheart swelled with anger. The charm and genius of Santa Anna made himall the more repellent now. Ned knew that he would break any promise ifit suited him, and that cunning and treachery were his most potenttools. 

Santa Anna, at that very moment, was discussing with Sesma, Cos, Gaonaand others the question of an immediate assault with his whole army uponthe Alamo. They had heard rumors of an advance by Fannin with help forthe Texans, but, while some of the younger spirits wished prompt attack, Santa Anna decided on delay. 

The dictator doubted whether Fannin would come up, and if he did hewould merely put so many more rats in the trap. Santa Anna felt securein his vast preponderance of numbers. He would take the Texans in hisown good time, that is, whenever he felt like it. He did not care tohurry, because he was enjoying himself greatly in San Antonio. Capableof tremendous energy at times, he gave himself up at other times toBabylonian revels. 

Ned handed the glasses to Crockett, who also took a long look. 

"I've heard a lot of Santa Anna, " he said, "an' maybe I'll yet meet himeye to eye. "

"It's possible, " said Travis, "but, Davy, we've got to wait on theMexicans. It's always for them to make the move, and then we'll meet itif we can. I wish we could hear from Bonham. I'm afraid he's beentaken. "

"Not likely, " said Crockett. "One man, all alone, an' as quick of eyean' foot as Bonham, would be pretty sure to make his way safely. "

"I certainly hope so, " said Travis. "At any rate, I intend to send outanother letter soon. If the Texans are made to realize our situationthey will surely come, no matter how far away they may be. "

"I hope they will, " said Crockett. But Ned noticed that he did not seemto speak with any great amount of confidence. Balancing everything aswell as he could, he did not see how much help could be expected. TheTexan towns were tiny. The whole fringe of Texan settlements was small. The Texans were but fifty or sixty thousands against the seven or eightmillions of Mexico, and now that they knew a great Mexican army was inTexas the scattered borderers would be hard put to it to defendthemselves. He did not believe that in any event they could gather aforce great enough to cut its way through the coil of Santa Anna'smultitude. 

But Travis' faith in Bonham, at least, was justified. The next night, about halfway between midnight and morning, in the darkest hour, a manscaled the wall and dropped inside the plaza. It proved to be Bonhamhimself, pale, worn, covered with mud and dust, but bringing gladtidings. Ned was present when he came into the church and was met byTravis. Bowie, Crockett and Smith. Only a single torch lighted up thegrim little group. 

"Fannin has left Goliad with 300 men and four cannon to join us, " Bonhamsaid. "He started five days ago, and he should be here soon. With hisrifles and big guns he'll be able to cut his way through the Mexicansand enter the Alamo. "

"I think so, too, " said Travis, with enthusiasm. 

But Ned steadily watched Bowie and Crockett. They were the men ofexperience, and in matters such as these they had minds of uncommonpenetration. He noticed that neither of them said anything, and thatthey showed no elation. 

Everybody in the Alamo knew the next day that Bonham had come fromFannin, and the whole place was filled with new hope. As Ned reckoned, it was about one hundred and fifty miles from San Antonio de Bexar toGoliad; but, according to Bonham, Fannin had already been five days onthe way, and they should hear soon the welcome thunder of his guns. Heeagerly scanned the southeast, in which direction lay Goliad, but theonly human beings he saw were Mexicans. No sound came to his ears butthe note of a Mexican trumpet or the crack of a vaquero's whip. 

He was not the only one who looked and listened. They watched that dayand the next through all the bombardment and the more dangerous riflefire. But they never saw on the horizon the welcome flash from any ofFannin's guns. No sound that was made by a friend reached their ears. The only flashes of fire they saw outside were those that came from themouths of Mexican cannon, and the only sounds they heard beyond theAlamo were made by the foe. The sun, huge, red and vivid, sank in theprairie and, as the shadows thickened over the Alamo, Ned was sure inhis heart that Fannin would never come. 

 * * * * *

A few days before the defenders of the Alamo had begun to scan thesoutheast for help a body of 300 men were marching toward San Antonio deBexar. They were clad in buckskin and they were on horseback. Theirfaces were tanned and bore all the signs of hardship. Near the middle ofthe column four cannon drawn by oxen rumbled along, and behind them camea heavy wagon loaded with ammunition. 

It was raining, and the rain was the raw cold rain of early spring inthe southwest. The men, protecting themselves as well as they could withcloaks and serapes, rarely spoke. The wheels of the cannon cut greatruts in the prairie, and the feet of the horses sank deep in the mud. 

Two men and a boy rode near the head of the column. One of these wouldhave attracted attention anywhere by his gigantic size. He was dressedcompletely in buckskin, save for the raccoon skin cap that crowned histhick black hair. The rider on his right hand was long and thin with thecalm countenance of a philosopher, and the one on his left was an eagerand impatient boy. 

"I wish this rain would stop, " said the Panther, his ensanguined eyeexpressing impatience and anger. "I don't mind gettin' cold an' I don'tmind gettin' wet, but there is nothin' stickier or harder to ploughthrough than the Texas mud. An' every minute counts. Them boys in thatAlamo can't fight off thousands of Mexicans forever. Look at themsteers! Did you ever see anything go as slow as they do?"

"I'd like to see Ned again, " said Will Allen. "I'd be willing to take mychance with him there. "

"That boy of ours is surely with Crockett and Bowie and Travis and theothers, helping to fight off Santa Anna and his horde, " said Obed White. "Bonham couldn't have made any mistake about him. If we had seen Bonhamhimself we could have gone with him to the Alamo. "

"But he gave Ned's name to Colonel Fannin, " said Will, "and so it's sureto be he. "

"Our comrade is certainly there, " said Obed White, "and we've got tohelp rescue him as well as help rescue the others. It's hard not tohurry on by ourselves, but we can be of most help by trying to push onthis force, although it seems as if everything had conspired againstus. "

"It shorely looks as if things was tryin' to keep us back, " exclaimedthe Panther angrily. "We've had such a hard time gettin' these mentogether, an' look at this rain an' this mud! We ought to be at Bexarright now, a-roarin', an' a-t'arin', an' a-rippin', an' a-chawin' amongthem Mexicans!"

"Patience! Patience!" said Obed White soothingly. "Sometimes the morehaste the oftener you trip. "

"Patience on our part ain't much good to men sixty or eighty miles away, who need us yelling' an' shootin' for them this very minute. "

"I'm bound to own that what you say is so, " said Obed White. 

They relapsed into silence. The pace of the column grew slower. The menwere compelled to adapt themselves to the cannon and ammunition wagon, which were now almost mired. The face of the Panther grew black asthunder with impatience and anger, but he forced himself into silence. 

They stopped a little while at noon and scanty rations were doled out. They had started in such haste that they had only a little rice anddried beef, and there was no time to hunt game. 

They started again in a half hour, creeping along through the mud, andthe Panther was not the only man who uttered hot words of impatienceunder his breath. They were nearing the San Antonio River now, andFannin began to show anxiety about the fort. But the Panther waswatching the ammunition wagon, which was sinking deeper and deeper intothe mire. It seemed to him that it was groaning and creaking too mucheven for the deep mud through which it was passing. 

The driver of the ammunition wagon cracked his long whip over the oxenand they tugged at the yoke. The wheels were now down to the hub, andthe wagon ceased to move. The driver cracked his whip again and again, and the oxen threw their full weight into the effort. The wheels slowlyrose from their sticky bed, but then something cracked with a reportlike a pistol shot. The Panther groaned aloud, because he knew what hadhappened. 

The axle of the wagon had broken, and it was useless. They distributedthe ammunition, including the cannon balls, which they put in sacks, aswell as they could, among the horsemen, and went on. They did notcomplain, but every one knew that it was a heavy blow. In two more hoursthey came to the banks of the muddy San Antonio, and stared in dismay atthe swollen current. It was evident at once to everybody that thepassage would be most difficult for the cannon, which, like theammunition wagon, were drawn by oxen. 

The river was running deep, with muddy banks, and a muddy bottom, and, taking the lightest of the guns, they tried first to get it across. Manyof the men waded neck deep into the water and strove at the wheels. Butthe stream went completely over the cannon, which also sank deeper anddeeper in the oozy bottom. It then became an effort to save the gun. ThePanther put all his strength at the wheel, and, a dozen others helping, they at last got it back to the bank from which they had started. 

Fannin, not a man of great decision, looked deeply discouraged, but thePanther and others urged him on to new attempts. The Panther, himself, as he talked, bore the aspect of a huge river god. Yellow water streamedfrom his hair, beard, and clothing, and formed a little pool about him. But he noticed it not at all, urging the men on with all the fieryenergy which a dauntless mind had stored in a frame so great andcapable. 

"If it can be done the Panther will get the guns across, " said Will toObed. 

"That's so, " said Obed, "but who'd have thought of this? When we startedout we expected to have our big fight with an army and not with ariver. "

They took the cannon into the water a second time, but the result wasthe same. They could not get it across, and with infinite exertion theydragged it back to the bank. Then they looked at one another in despair. They could ford the river, but it seemed madness to go on without thecannon. While they debated there, a messenger came with news that theinvestment of the Alamo by Santa Anna was now complete. He gave whatrumor said, and rumor told that the Mexican army numbered ten or twelvethousand men with fifty or sixty guns. Santa Anna's force was so greatthat already he was sending off large bodies to the eastward to attackTexan detachments wherever they could be found. 

Fannin held an anxious council with his officers. It was an open talk onthe open prairie, and anybody who chose could listen. Will Allen andObed White said nothing, but the Panther was vehement. 

"We've got to get there!" he exclaimed. "We can't leave our people todie in the Alamo! We've got to cut our way through, an', if the worstcomes to the worst, die with them!"

"That would benefit nobody, " said Fannin. "We've made every human effortto get our cannon across the river, and we have failed. It would notprofit Texas for us to ride on with our rifles merely to be slaughtered. There will be other battles and other sieges, and we shall be needed. "

"Does that mean we're not goin' on?" asked the Panther. 

"We can't go on. "

Fannin waved his hand at the yellow and swollen river. 

"We must return to Goliad, " he said, "I have decided. Besides, there isnothing else for us to do. About face, men, and take up the march. "

The men turned slowly and reluctantly, and the cannon began to ploughthe mud on the road to Goliad, from which they had come. 

The Panther had remounted, and he drew to one side with Will and Obed, who were also on their horses. His face was glowing with anger. Neverhad he looked more tremendous as he sat on his horse, with the waterstill flowing from him. 

"Colonel Fannin, " he called out, "you can go back to Goliad, but as forme an' my pardners, Obed White an' Will Allen, we're goin' to Bexar, an'the Alamo. "

"I have no control over you, " said Fannin, "but it would be much betterfor you three to keep with us. "

"No, " said the Panther firmly. "We hear the Alamo callin'. Into theriver, boys, but keep your weapons an' ammunition dry. "

Their horses, urged into the water, swam to the other bank, and, withoutlooking back the three rode for San Antonio de Bexar. 

 * * * * *

While the Panther, Obed White and Will Allen were riding over theprairie, Ned Fulton sat once more with his friend. Davy Crockett, in oneof the adobe buildings. Night had come, and they heard outside thefitful crackle of rifle fire, but they paid no attention to it. Travis, at a table with a small tallow candle at his elbow, was writing his lastmessage. 

Ned was watching the commander as he wrote. But he saw no expression ofdespair or even discouragement on Travis' fine face. The letter, which amessenger succeeded in carrying through the lines that night, breathed anoble and lofty courage. He was telling again how few were his men, andhow the balls and bombs had rained almost continuously for days upon theAlamo. Even as his pen was poised they heard the heavy thud of a cannon, but the pen descended steadily and he wrote:

"I shall continue to hold it until I get relief from my countrymen, orperish in its defence. "

He wrote on a little longer and once more came the heavy thud of a greatgun. Then the pen wrote:

"Again I feel confident that the determined spirit and desperate courageheretofore exhibited by my men will not fail them in the last struggle, and, although they may be sacrificed to the vengeance of a Gothic enemy, the victory will cost that enemy so dear that it will be worse than adefeat. "

"Worse than a defeat!" Travis never knew how significant were the wordsthat he penned then. A minute or two later the sharp crack of a halfdozen rifles came to them, and Travis wrote:

"A blood-red flag waves from the church of Bexar and in the camp aboveus, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels. "

They heard the third heavy thud of a cannon, and a shell, falling in thecourt outside, burst with a great crash. Ned went out and returned witha report of no damage. Travis had continued his letter, and now hewrote:

"These threats have no influence upon my men, but to make all fight withdesperation, and with that high-souled courage which characterizes thepatriot who is willing to die in defence of his country, liberty and hisown honor, God and Texas. 

"Victory or death. "

He closed the letter and addressed it. An hour later the messenger wasbeyond the Mexican lines with it, but Travis sat for a long time at thetable, unmoving and silent. Perhaps he was blaming himself for nothaving been more watchful, for not having discovered the advance ofSanta Anna. But he was neither a soldier nor a frontiersman, and sincethe retreat into the Alamo he had done all that man could do. 

He rose at last and went out. Then Crockett said to Ned, knowing that itwas now time to speak the full truth:

"He has given up all hope of help. "

"So have I, " said Ned. 

"But we can still fight, " said Crockett. 

The day that followed was always like a dream to Ned, vivid in someways, and vague in others. He felt that the coil around the Alamo hadtightened. Neither he nor any one else expected aid now, and they spokeof it freely one to another. Several who could obtain paper wrote, asNed had done, brief wills, which they put in the inside pockets of theircoats. Always they spoke very gently to one another, these wild spiritsof the border. The strange and softening shadow which Ned had noticedbefore was deepening over them all. 

Bowie was again in the hospital, having been bruised severely in a fallfrom one of the walls, but his spirit was as dauntless as ever. 

"The assault by the Mexicans in full force cannot be delayed muchlonger, " he said to Ned. "Santa Anna is impatient and energetic, and hesurely has brought up all his forces by this time. "

"Do you think we can beat them off?" asked Ned. 

Bowie hesitated a little, and then he replied frankly:

"I do not. We have only one hundred and seventy or eighty men to guardthe great space that we have here. But in falling we will light such aflame that it will never go out until Texas is free. "

Ned talked with him a little longer, and always Bowie spoke as if thetime were at hand when he should die for Texas. The man of wild anddesperate life seemed at this moment to be clothed about with the mantleof the seer. 

The Mexican batteries fired very little that day, and Santa Anna'ssoldiers kept well out of range. They had learned a deep and lastingrespect for the Texan rifles. Hundreds had fallen already before them, and now they kept under cover. 

The silence seemed ominous and brooding to Ned. The day was bright, andthe flag of no quarter burned a spot of blood-red against the blue sky. Ned saw Mexican officers occasionally on the roofs of the higherbuildings, but he took little notice of them. He felt instinctivelythat the supreme crisis had not yet come. They were all waiting, waiting. 

The afternoon drew its slow length away in almost dead silence, and thenight came on rather blacker than usual. Then the word was passed forall to assemble in the courtyard. They gathered there, Bowie dragginghis sick body with the rest. Every defender of the Alamo was present. The cannon and the walls were for a moment deserted, but the Mexicanswithout did not know it. 

There are ineffaceable scenes in the life of every one, scenes which, after the lapse of many years, are as vivid as of yesterday. Such, thelast meeting of the Texans, always remained in the mind of Ned. Theystood in a group, strong, wiry men, but worn now by the eternalvigilance and danger of the siege. One man held a small torch, whichcast but a dim light over the brown faces. 

Travis stood before them and spoke to them. 

"Men, " he said, "all of you know what I know, that we stand alone. Nohelp is coming for us. The Texans cannot send it or it would have come. For ten days we have beaten off every attack of a large army. Butanother assault in much greater force is at hand. It is not likely thatwe can repel it. You have seen the red flag of no quarter flying dayafter day over the church, and you know what it means. Santa Anna nevergives mercy. It is likely that we shall all fall, but, if any man wishesto go, I, your leader, do not order him to stay. You have all done yourduty ten times over. There is just a chance to escape over the walls andin the darkness. Now go and save your lives if you can. "

"We stay, " came the deep rumble of many voices together. One man slippedquietly away a little later, but he was the only one. Save for him, there was no thought of flight in the minds of that heroic band. 

Ned's heart thrilled and the blood pounded in his ears. Life wasprecious, doubly so, because he was so young, but he felt a strangeexaltation in the face of death, an exaltation that left no room forfear. 

The eyes of Travis glistened when he heard the reply. 

"It is what I expected, " he said. "I knew that every one of you waswilling to die for Texas. Now, lads, we will go back to the walls andwait for Santa Anna. "

CHAPTER XII

BEFORE THE DICTATOR

Ned's feeling of exaltation lasted. The long siege, the incessant dangerand excitement, and the wonderful way in which the little band of Texanshad kept a whole army at bay had keyed him up to a pitch in which he wasnot himself, in which he was something a little more than human. Suchextraordinary moments come to few people, and his vivid, imaginativemind was thrilled to the utmost. 

He was on the early watch, and he mounted the wall of the church. Thedeep silence which marked the beginning of the night still prevailed. They had not heard any shots, and for that reason they all felt that themessenger had got through with Travis' last letter. 

It was very dark that night and Ned could not see the red flag on thetower of the church of San Fernando. But he knew it was there, waving alittle in the soft wind which blew out of the southwest, herald ofspring. Nothing broke the silence. After so much noise, it was ominous, oppressive, surcharged with threats. Fewer lights than usual burned inthe town and in the Mexican camp. All this stillness portended to Nedthe coming storm, and he was right. 

His was a short watch, and at 11 o'clock he went off duty. It was silentand dark in the convent yard, and he sought his usual place for sleep inthe hospital, where many of the Texans had been compelled to go, notmerely to sleep, but because they were really ill, worn out by so manyalarms, so much fighting and so much watching. But they were all nowasleep, overpowered by exhaustion. Ned crept into his own dark littlecorner, and he, too, was soon asleep. 

But he was awakened about four hours later by some one pulling hard athis shoulder. He opened his eyes, and stared sleepily. It was Crockettbending over him, and, Bowie lying on his sick bed ten feet away, hadraised himself on his elbow. The light was so faint that Ned couldscarcely see Crockett's face, but it looked very tense and eager. 

"Get up, Ned! Get up!" said Crockett, shaking him again. "There's greatwork for you to do!"

"Why, what is it?" exclaimed the boy, springing to his feet. 

"It's your friends, Roylston, an' that man, the Panther, you've beentellin' me about, " replied Crockett in quick tones. "While you wereasleep a Mexican, friendly to us, sneaked a message over the wall, sayin' that Roylston, the Panther, an' others were layin' to the eastwith a big force not more'n twenty miles away--not Fannin's crowd, butanother one that's come down from the north. They don't know whetherwe're holdin' out yet or not, an' o' course they don't want to riskdestruction by tryin' to cut through the Mexican army to reach us whenwe ain't here. The Mexican dassent go out of San Antonio. He won't tryit, 'cause, as he says, it's sure death for him, an' so somebody must goto Roylston with the news that we're still alive, fightin' an' kickin'. Colonel Travis has chose you, an' you've got to go. No, there's noletter. You're just to tell Roylston by word of mouth to come on withhis men. "

The words came forth popping like pistol shots. Ned was swept off hisfeet. He did not have time to argue or ask questions. Bowie also added afresh impetus. "Go, Ned, go at once!" he said. "You are chosen for agreat service. It's an honor to anybody!"

"A service of great danger, requirin' great skill, " said Crockett, "butyou can do it, Ned, you can do it. "

Ned flushed. This was, in truth, a great trust. He might, indeed, bringthe help they needed so sorely. 

"Here's your rifle an' other weapons an' ammunition, " said Crockett. "The night's at its darkest an' you ain't got any time to waste. Comeon!"

So swift was Crockett that Ned was ready almost before he knew it. TheTennesseean never ceased hurrying him. But as he started, Bowie calledto him:

"Good-by, Ned!"

The boy turned back and offered his hand. The Georgian shook it withunusual warmth, and then lay back calmly on his blankets. 

"Good-by, Ned, " he repeated, "and if we don't meet again I hope you'llforget the dark things in my life, and remember me as one who was doinghis best for Texas. "

"But we will meet again, " said Ned. "The relieving force will be here intwo or three days and I'll come with it. "

"Out with you!" said Crockett. "That's talk enough. What you want to donow is to put on your invisible cap an' your seven league boots an' golike lightnin' through the Mexican camp. Remember that you can talktheir lingo like a native, an' don't forget, neither, to keep alwaysabout you a great big piece of presence of mind that you can use on amoment's notice. "

Ned wore his serape and he carried a pair of small, light but very warmblankets, strapped in a pack on his back. His haversack contained breadand dried beef, and, with his smaller weapons in his belt, and hisrifle over his shoulder, he was equipped fully for a long and dangerousjourney. 

Crockett and the boy passed into the convent yard. 

The soft wind from the southwest blew upon their faces, and from thehigh wall of the church a sentinel called: "All's well!" Ned felt anextraordinary shiver, a premonition, but it passed, unexplained. He andCrockett went into the main plaza and reached the lowest part of thewall. 

"Ought I to see Colonel Travis?" asked Ned, as they were on the way. 

"No, he asked me to see to it, 'cause there ain't no time to waste. It'sabout three o'clock in the mornin' now, an' you've got to slip throughin two or three hours, 'cause the light will be showin' then. Now, Ned, up with you an' over. "

Ned climbed to the summit of the wall. Beyond lay heavy darkness, and heneither saw nor heard any human being. He looked back, and extended hishand to Crockett as he had to Bowie. 

"Good-by, Mr. Crockett, " he said, "you've been very good to me. "

The great brown hand of the frontiersman clasped his almostconvulsively. 

"Aye, Ned, " he said, "we've cottoned to each other from the first. Ihaven't knowed you long, but you've been like a son to me. Now go, an'God speed you!"

Ned recalled afterward that he did not say anything about Roylston'srelieving force. What he thought of then was the deep feeling inCrockett's words. 

"I'm coming back, " he said, "and I hope to hunt buffalo with you overthe plains of a free Texas. "

"Go! go! Hurry, Ned!" said Crockett. 

"Good-by, " said Ned, and he dropped lightly to the ground. 

He was outside the Alamo after eleven days inside, that seemed in theretrospect almost as many months. He flattened himself against the wall, and stood there for a minute or two, looking and listening. He thoughthe might hear Crockett again inside, but evidently the Tennesseean hadgone back at once. In front of him was only the darkness, pierced by asingle light off toward the west. 

Ned hesitated. It was hard for him to leave the Alamo and the friendswho had been knitted to him by so many common dangers, yet his errandwas one of high importance--it might save them all--and he must do it. Strengthening his resolution he started across an open space, walkinglightly. As Crockett had truly said, with his perfect knowledge of thelanguage he might pass for a Mexican. He had done so before, and he didnot doubt his ability to do so again. 

He resolved to assume the character of a Mexican scout, looking into thesecrets of the Alamo, and going back to report to Santa Anna. As headvanced he heard voices and saw earthworks from which the muzzles offour cannon protruded. Behind the earthwork was a small fire, and heknew that men would be sitting about it. He turned aside, not wishing tocome too much into the light, but a soldier near the earthwork hailedhim, and Ned, according to his plan, replied briefly that he was on hisway to General Santa Anna in San Antonio. 

But the man was talkative. 

"What is your name?" he asked. 

"Pedro Miguel Alvarado, " replied Ned on the spur of the moment. 

"Well, friend, it is a noble name, that of Alvarado. "

"But it is not a noble who bears it. Though a descendant of the greatAlvarado, who fought by the side of the glorious and mightyconquistador, Hernando Cortez, I am but a poor peasant offering my lifedaily for bread in the army of General Santa Anna. "

The man laughed. 

"You are as well off as I am, " he said. "But what of the wicked Texans?Are they yet ready to surrender their throats to our knives? The dogshold us over long. It is said that they number scarce two hundred withinthe mission. Truly they fight hard, and well they may, knowing thatdeath only is at the end. "

Ned shuddered. The man seemed to take it all so lightly. But he repliedin a firm voice:

"I learned little of them save that they still fight. I took care not toput myself before the muzzle of any of their rifles. "

The Mexican laughed again. 

"A lad of wisdom, you, " he said. "They are demons with their rifles. When the great assault is made, many a good man will speed to his longhome before the Alamo is taken. "

So, they had already decided upon the assault. The premonition withinthe Alamo was not wrong. It occurred to Ned that he might learn more, and he paused. 

"Has it been finally settled?" he asked. "We attack about three daysfrom now, do we not?"

"Earlier than that, " replied the Mexican. "I know that the time has beenchosen, and I think it is to-morrow morning. "

Ned's heart beat heavily. To-morrow morning! Even if he got through, howcould he ever bring Roylston and the relief force in time?

"I thank you, " he said, "but I must hurry with my report. "

"Adios, Señor, " said the man politely, and Ned repeated his "Adios" inthe same tone. Then he hurried forward, continually turning in towardthe east, hoping to find a passage where the Mexican line was thinnest. But the circle of the invaders was complete, and he saw that he mustrely upon his impersonation of a Mexican to take him through. 

He was in a fever of haste, knowing now that the great assault was tocome so soon, and he made for a point between two smoldering camp firesfifty or sixty yards apart. Boldness only would now avail, and with thebrim of his sombrero pulled well down over his face he walkedconfidently forward, coming fully within the light of the fire on hisleft. 

A number of Mexican soldiers were asleep around the fire, but at least ahalf dozen men were awake. They called to Ned as he passed and heresponded readily, but Fortune, which had been so kind to him for a longtime, all at once turned her back upon him. When he spoke, a man inofficer's uniform who had been sitting by the fire rose quickly. 

"Your name?" he cried. 

"Pedro Miguel Alvarado, " replied Ned instantly. At the same moment herecognized Urrea. 

"It is not so!" cried Urrea. "You are one of the Texans, young Fulton. Iknow your voice. Upon him, men! Seize him!"

His action and the leap of the Mexicans were so sudden that Ned did nothave time to aim his rifle. But he struck one a short-arm blow with thebutt of it that sent him down with a broken head, and he snatched at hispistol as three or four others threw themselves upon him. Ned wasuncommonly strong and agile, and he threw off two of the men, but theothers pressed him to the ground, until, at Urrea's command, his armswere bound and he was allowed to rise. 

Ned was in despair, not so much for himself but because there was nolonger a chance that he could get through to Roylston. It was a deepmortification, moreover, to be taken by Urrea. But he faced the Mexicanwith an appearance of calmness. 

"Well, " he said, "I am your prisoner. "

"You are, " said Urrea, "and you might have passed, if I had not knownyour voice. But I remind you that you come from the Alamo. You see ourflag, and you know its meaning. "

The black eyes of the Mexican regarded Ned malignantly. The boy knewthat the soul of Urrea was full of wicked triumph. The officer couldshoot him down at that moment, and be entirely within orders. But Nedrecalled the words of Roylston. The merchant had told him to use hisname if he should ever fall again into the hands of Santa Anna. 

"I am your prisoner, " he repeated, "and I demand to be taken beforeGeneral Santa Anna. Whatever your red flag may mean, there are reasonswhy he will spare me. Go with me and you will see. "

He spoke with such boldness and directness that Urrea was impressed. 

"I shall take you to the general, " he said, "not because you demand it, but because I think it well to do so. It is likely that he will want toexamine you, and I believe that in his presence you will tell all youknow. But it is not yet 4 o'clock in the morning, and I cannot awakenhim now. You will stay here until after daylight. "

"Very well, " said Ned, trying to be calm as possible. "As you havebound me I cannot walk, but if you'll put me on a blanket there by thefire I'll sleep until you want me. "

"We won't deny you that comfort, " replied Urrea grimly. 

When Ned was stretched on his blanket he was fairly easy so far as thebody was concerned. They had bound him securely, but not painfully. Hisagony of mind, though, was great. Nevertheless he fell asleep, and sleptin a restless way for three or four hours, until Urrea awoke him, andtold him they were going to Santa Anna. 

It was a clear, crisp dawn and Ned saw the town, the river, and theAlamo. There, only a short distance away, stood the dark fortress, fromwhich he had slipped but a few hours before with such high hopes. Heeven saw the figures of the sentinels, moving slowly on the churchwalls, and his heart grew heavy within him. He wished now that he wasback with the defenders. Even if he should escape it would be too late. At Urrea's orders he was unbound. 

"There is no danger of your escaping now, " said the young Mexican. "Several of my men are excellent marksmen, and they will fire at thefirst step you take in flight. And even should they miss, what chance doyou think you have here?"

He swept his right hand in a circle, and, in the clear morning air, Nedsaw batteries and troops everywhere. He knew that the circle of steelabout the Alamo was complete. Perhaps he would have failed in his errandeven had he got by. It would require an unusually strong force to cutthrough an army as large as that of Santa Anna, and he did not knowwhere Roylston could have found it. He started, as a sudden suspicionsmote him. He remembered Crockett's hurried manner, and his lack ofexplanation. But he put it aside. It could not be true. 

"I see that you look at the Alamo, " said Urrea ironically. "Well, therebel flag is still there, but it will not remain much longer. The trapis about ready to shut down. "

Ned's color rose. 

"It may be so, " he said, "but for every Texan who falls the price willbe five Mexicans. "

"But they will fall, nevertheless, " said Urrea. "Here is food for you. Eat, and I will take you to the general. "

They offered him Mexican food, but he had no appetite, and he atelittle. He stretched and tensed his limbs in order to restore the fullflood of circulation, and announced that he was ready. Urrea led theway, and Ned followed with a guard of four men about him. 

The boy had eyes and ears for everything around him, but he looked mosttoward the Alamo. He could not, at the distance, recognize the figureson the wall, but all those men were his friends, and his eyes filledwith tears at their desperate case. Out here with the Mexicans, where hecould see all their overwhelming force and their extensive preparations, the chances of the Texans looked worse than they did inside the Alamo. 

They entered the town and passed through the same streets, along whichNed had advanced with the conquering army of the Texans a few monthsbefore. Many evidences of the siege remained. There were tunnels, wrecked houses and masses of stone and adobe. The appearance of theyoung prisoner aroused the greatest curiosity among both soldiers andpeople. He heard often the word "Texano. " Women frequently looked downat him from the flat roofs, and some spoke in pity. 

Ned was silent. He was resolved not to ask Urrea any questions or togive him a chance to show triumph. He noticed that they were advancingtoward the plaza, and then they turned into the Veramendi house, whichhe had cause to remember so well. 

"This was the home of the Vice-Governor, " said Urrea, "and General SantaAnna is here. "

"I know the place, " said Ned. "I am proud to have been one of the Texanswho took it on a former occasion. "

"We lost it then, but we have it now and we'll keep it, " said Urrea. "Mymen will wait with you here in the courtyard, and I'll see if ourillustrious general is ready to receive you. "

Ned waited patiently. Urrea was gone a full half hour, and, when hereturned, he said:

"The general was at breakfast with his staff. He had not quite finished, but he is ready to receive you now. "

Then Urrea led the way into the Veramendi house. Luxurious fittings hadbeen put in, but many of the rents and scars from the old combat wereyet visible. They entered the great dining room, and, once more, Nedstood face to face with the most glorious general, the most illustriousdictator, Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. But Ned alone stood. Thedictator sat at the head of the table, about which were Castrillon, Sesma, Cos, Gaona, the Italian, Filisola and others. It seemed to Nedthat he had come not only upon a breakfast but upon a conference aswell. 

The soldiers who had guarded Ned stepped back, Urrea stood by the wall, and the boy was left to meet the fixed gaze of Santa Anna. The dictatorwore a splendid uniform, as usual. His face seemed to Ned fuller andmore flushed than when they had last met in Mexico. The marks ofdissipation were there. Ned saw him slip a little silver box from thepocket of his waistcoat and take from it a pinch of a dark drug, whichhe ate. It was opium, but the Mexican generals seemed to take no note ofit. 

Santa Anna's gaze was fixed and piercing, as if he would shoot terrorinto the soul of his enemy--a favorite device of his--but Ned withstoodit. Then Santa Anna, removing his stare from his face, looked him slowlyup and down. The generals said nothing, waiting upon their leader, whocould give life or death as he chose. Ned was sure that Santa Annaremembered him, and, in a moment, he knew that he was right. 

"It is young Fulton, who made the daring and ingenious escape from ourhospitality in the capital, " he said, "and who also departed in anunexpected manner from one of the submarine dungeons of our castle ofSan Juan de Ulua. Fate does not seem to reward your courage andenterprise as they deserve, since you are in our hands again. "

The dictator laughed and his generals laughed obediently also. Ned saidnothing. 

"I am informed by that most meritorious young officer, Captain Urrea, "continued Santa Anna, "that you were captured about three o'clock thismorning trying to escape from the Alamo. "

"That is correct, " said Ned. 

"Why were you running away in the dark?"

Ned flushed, but, knowing that it was an unworthy and untruthful taunt, he remained silent. 

"You do not choose to answer, " said Santa Anna, "but I tell you that youare the rat fleeing from the sinking ship. Our cannon have wrecked theinterior of the Alamo. Half of your men are dead, and the rest wouldgladly surrender if I should give them the promise of life. "

"It is not true!" exclaimed Ned with heat. "Despite all your fire thedefenders of the Alamo have lost but a few men. You offer no quarter andthey ask none. They are ready to fight to the last. "

There was a murmur among the generals, but Santa Anna raised his handand they were silent again. 

"I cannot believe all that you say, " he continued. "It is a boast. TheTexans are braggarts. To-morrow they die, every one of them. But tell usthe exact condition of everything inside the Alamo, and perhaps I mayspare your life. "

Ned shut his teeth so hard that they hurt. A deep flush surged into thedark face of Santa Anna. 

"You are stubborn. All the Texans are stubborn. But I do not need anyinformation from you. I shall crush the Alamo, as my fingers would smashan eggshell. "

"But your fingers will be pierced deep, " Ned could not keep fromreplying. "They will run blood. "

"Be that as it may, " said Santa Anna, who, great in some things, waslittle enough to taunt an enemy in his power, "you will not live to seeit. I am about to give orders to have you shot within an hour. "

His lips wrinkled away from his white teeth like those of a great catabout to spring, and his cruel eyes contracted. Holding all the power ofMexico in his hands he was indeed something to be dreaded. The generalsabout the table never spoke. But Ned remembered the words of Roylston. 

"A great merchant named John Roylston has been a good friend to me, " hesaid. "He told me that if I should ever fall into your hands I was tomention his name to you, and to say that he considered my life ofvalue. "

The expression of the dictator changed. He frowned, and then regardedNed intently, as if he would read some secret that the boy was trying tohide. 

"And so you know John Roylston, " he said at length, "and he wishes youto say to me that your life is of value. "

Ned saw the truth at once. He had a talisman and that talisman was thename of Roylston. He did not know why it was so, but it was a wonderfultalisman nevertheless, because it was going to save his life for thetime being, at least. He glanced at the generals, and he saw a look ofcuriosity on the face of every one of them. 

"I know Roylston, " said Santa Anna slowly, "and there are some mattersbetween us. It may be to my advantage to spare you for a while. "

Ned's heart sprang up. Life was sweet. Since he was to be spared for awhile it must mean ultimately exchange or escape. Santa Anna, a readerof the human face, saw what was in his mind. 

"Be not too sanguine, " he said, "because I have changed my mind once itdoes not mean that you are to be free now or ever. I shall keep youhere, and you shall see your comrades fall. "

A sudden smile, offspring of a quick thought and satanic in its nature, passed over his face. 

"I will make you a spectator of the defeat of the Texans, " he said. "Agreat event needs a witness, and since you cannot be a combatant you canserve in that capacity. We attack at dawn to-morrow, and you shall missnothing of it. "

The wicked smile passed over his face again. It had occurred to Ned, astudent of history, that the gladiatorial cruelty of the ancient Romanshad descended to the Spaniards instead of the Italians. Now he wasconvinced that it was so. 

"You shall be kept a prisoner in one of our strongest houses, " saidSanta Anna, "and Captain Urrea, whose vigilance prevented your escape, will keep guard over you. I fancy it is a task that he does not hate. "

Santa Anna had also read the mind of the young Mexican. Urrea smiled. Heliked this duty. He hated Ned and he, too, was not above taunting aprisoner. He advanced, and put a hand upon Ned's shoulder, but the boyshook it off. 

"Don't touch me, " said Ned. "I'll follow without resistance. "

Santa Anna laughed. 

"Let him have his way for the present, Captain Urrea, " he said. "Butremember that it is due to your gentleness and mercy. Adios, SeñorFulton, we meet again to-morrow morning, and if you survive I shallreport to Mr. Roylston the manner in which you may bear yourself. "

"Good-day, " said Ned, resolved not to be outdone, even in ironicalcourtesy. "And now, Captain Urrea, if you will lead the way, I'llfollow. "

Urrea and his soldiers took Ned from the Veramendi house and across thestreet to a large and strong stone building. 

"You are fortunate, " said Urrea, "to have escaped immediate death. I donot know why the name of Roylston was so powerful with our general, butI saw that it was. "

"It seemed to have its effect, " said Ned. 

Urrea led the way to the flat roof of the house, a space reached by asingle narrow stairway. 

"I shall leave you here with two guards, " he said. "I shall give theminstructions to fire upon you at the slightest attempt on your part toescape, but I fancy that you will have sense enough not to make any suchattempt. "

Urrea departed, but the two sentinels sat by the entrance to thestairway, musket in hand. He had not the faintest chance to get by them, and knowing it he sat down on the low stone coping of the roof. Hewondered why Urrea had brought him there instead of locking him up in aroom. Perhaps it was to mock him with the sight of freedom so near andyet unattainable. 

His gaze turned instinctively to the Alamo like the magnet to the pole. There was the fortress, gray and grim in the sunshine, with the dimfigures of the watchers on the walls. What were they doing inside now?How were Crockett and Bowie? His heart filled with grief that he hadfailed them. But had he failed them? Neither Urrea nor any other Mexicanhad spoken of the approach of a relieving force under Roylston. Therewas no sign that the Mexicans were sending any part of their army tomeet it. 

The heavy thud of a great gun drew his attention, and he saw the blacksmoke from the discharge rising over the plain. A second, a third and afourth cannon shot were fired, but no answer came from the walls of theAlamo. At length he saw one of the men in the nearest battery to theAlamo expose himself above the earthwork. There was a flash from thewall of the church, a little puff of smoke, and Ned saw the man fall asonly dead men fall. Perhaps it was Davy Crockett, the great marksman, who had fired that shot. He liked to think that it was so, and herejoiced also at this certain evidence that the little garrison was asdauntless as ever. He watched the Alamo for nearly an hour, and he sawthat the firing was desultory. Not more than a dozen cannon shots werefired during that time, and only three or four rifles replied from theAlamo. Toward noon the firing ceased entirely, and Ned knew that thiswas in very fact and truth the lull before the storm. 

His attention wandered to his guards. They were mere peons, but, although watchful, they were taking their ease. Evidently they likedtheir task. They were resting with the complete relaxation of the bodythat only the Southern races know. Both had lighted cigarritos, and werepuffing at them contentedly. It had been a long time since Ned had seensuch a picture of lazy ease. 

"You like it here?" he said to the nearest. 

The man took the cigarrito from his mouth, emitted smoke from his noseand replied politely:

"It is better to be here lying in the sun than out there on the grasswith a Texan bullet through one's body. Is it not so, Fernando?"

"Aye, it is so, " replied his comrade. "I like not the Texan bullets. Iam glad to be here where they cannot reach me. It is said that Satansights their rifles for them, because they do not miss. They will diehard to-morrow. They will die like the bear in its den, fighting thehunters, when our army is poured upon them. That will be an end to allthe Texans, and we will go back to the warm south. "

"But are you sure, " asked Ned, "that it will be an end of the Texans?Not all the Texans are shut up in the Alamo. "

"What matters it?" replied Fernando, lightly. "It may be delayed, butthe end will be the same. Nothing can resist the great, the powerful, the most illustrious Santa Anna. He is always able to dig graves for hisenemies. "

The men talked further. Ned gathered from them that the whole force ofSanta Anna was now present. Some of his officers wanted him to wait forsiege artillery of the heaviest caliber that would batter down the wallsof the Alamo, but the dictator himself was impatient for the assault. Itwould certainly take place the next morning. 

"And why is the young señor here?" asked Fernando. "The order has beenissued that no Texan shall be spared, and do you not see the red flagwaving there close by us?"

Ned looked up. The red flag now flaunted its folds very near to him. Hecould not repress a shiver. 

"I am here, " he replied, "because some one who has power has toldGeneral Santa Anna that I am not to be put to death. "

"It is well for you, then, " said Fernando, "that you have a friend ofsuch weight. It is a pity to die when one is so young and so straightand strong as you. Ah, my young señor, the world is beautiful. Look howgreen is the grass there by the river, and how the sun lies like goldacross it!"

Ned had noticed before the love of beauty that the humblest peonsometimes had, and there was a certain touch of brotherly feelingbetween him and this man, his jailer. 

"The world is beautiful, " said the boy, "and I am willing to tell youthat I have no wish to leave it. "

"Nor I, " said Fernando. "Why are the Texans so foolish as to oppose thegreat Santa Anna, the most illustrious and powerful of all generals andrulers? Did they not know that he would come and crush them, every one?"

Ned did not reply. The peon, in repose at least, had a gentle heart, andthe boy knew that Santa Anna was to him omnipotent and omniscient. Heturned his attention anew to the Alamo, that magnet of his thoughts. Itwas standing quiet in the sun now. The defiant flag of the defenders, upon which they had embroidered the word "Texas, " hung lazily from thestaff. 

The guards in the afternoon gave him some food and a jug of water, andthey also ate and drank upon the roof. They were yet amply content withtheir task and their position there. No bullets could reach them. Thesunshine was golden and pleasant. They had established friendlyrelations with the prisoner. He had not given them the slightesttrouble, and, before and about them, was spread the theater upon which amighty drama was passing, all for them to see. What more could be askedby two simple peasants of small wants?

Ned was glad that they let him remain upon the roof. The Alamo drew hisgaze with a power that he could not break if he would. Since he was nolonger among the defenders he was eager to see every detail in the vastdrama that was now unfolding. 

But the afternoon passed in inaction. The sun was brilliant and towardevening turned to a deep, glowing red. It lighted up for the last timethe dim figures that stood on the walls of the Alamo. Ned choked as hesaw them there. He felt the premonition. 

Urrea came upon the roof shortly before twilight. He was not sneering orironical, and Ned, who had no wish to quarrel at such a time, was gladof it. 

"As General Santa Anna told you, " said Urrea, "the assault is to be madein overwhelming force early in the morning. It will succeed, of course. Nothing can prevent it. Through the man Roylston, you have some claimupon the general, but it may not be strong enough to save you long. Aservice now might make his pardon permanent. "

"What do you mean by a service now?"

"A few words as to the weaker points of the Alamo, the best places forour troops to attack. You cannot do anything for the defenders. Youcannot alter their fate in any particular, but you might do somethingfor yourself. "

Ned did not wish to appear dramatic. He merely turned his back upon theyoung Mexican. 

"Very well, " said Urrea, "I made you the offer. It was for you to acceptit or not as you wish. "

He left him upon the roof, and Ned saw the last rim of the red sun sinkin the plain. He saw the twilight come, and the Alamo fade into a dimblack bulk in the darkness. He thought once that he heard a cry of asentinel from its walls, "All's well, " but he knew that it was onlyfancy. The distance was far too great. Besides, all was not well. 

When the darkness had fully come, he descended with his two benevolentjailers to a lower part of the house, where he was assigned to a smallroom, with a single barred window and without the possibility of escape. His guards, after bringing him food and water, gave him a polite goodnight and went outside. He knew that they would remain on watch in thehall. 

Ned could eat and drink but little. Nor could he yet sleep. The nightwas far too heavy upon him for slumber. Besides, it had brought manynoises, significant noises that he knew. He heard the rumble of cannonwheels over the rough pavements, and the shouts of men to the horses ormules. He heard troops passing, now infantry, and then cavalry, thehoofs of their horses grinding upon the stones. 

He pressed his face against the barred window. He was eager to hear andyet more eager to see. He caught glimpses only of horse and foot as theypassed, but he knew what all those sights and sounds portended. In thenight the steel coil of the Mexicans was being drawn closer and closerabout the Alamo. 

Brave and resolute, he was only a boy after all. He felt deserted of allmen. He wanted to be back there with Crockett and Bowie and Travis andthe others. The water came into his eyes, and unconsciously he pulledhard at the iron bars. 

He remained there a long time, listening to the sounds. Once he heard atrumpet, and its note in the night was singularly piercing. He knew thatit was a signal, probably for the moving of a regiment still closer tothe Alamo. But there were no shots from either the Mexicans or themission. The night was clear with many stars. 

After two or three hours at the window Ned tried to sleep. There was anarrow bed against the wall, and he lay upon it, full length, but he didnot even close his eyes. He became so restless that at last he rose andwent to the window again. It must have been then past midnight. Thenoises had ceased. Evidently the Mexicans had everything ready. The windblew cold upon his face, but it brought him no news of what was passingwithout. 

He went back to the bed, and by and by he sank into a heavy slumber. 

CHAPTER XIII

TO THE LAST MAN

Ned awoke after a feverish night, when there was yet but a strip of grayin the east. It was Sunday morning, but he had lost count of time, anddid not know it. He had not undressed at all when he lay down, and nowhe stood by the window, seeking to see and hear. But the light was yetdim and the sounds were few. Nevertheless the great pulse in his throatbegan to leap. The attack was at hand. 

The door of the room was unlocked and the two peons who had guarded himupon the roof came for him. Ned saw in the half gloom that they werevery grave of countenance. 

"We are to take you to the noble Captain Urrea, who is waiting for you, "said Fernando. 

"Very well, " said Ned. "I am ready. You have been kind to me, and I hopethat we shall meet again after to-day. "

Both men shook their heads. 

"We fear that is not to be, " said Fernando. 

They found Urrea and another young officer waiting at the door of thehouse. Urrea was in his best uniform and his eyes were very bright. Hewas no coward, and Ned knew that the gleam was in anticipation of thecoming attack. 

"The time is at hand, " he said, "and it will be your wonderful fortuneto see how Mexico strikes down her foe. "

His voice, pitched high, showed excitement, and a sense of the dramatic. Ned said nothing, and his own pulses began to leap again. The strip ofgray in the east was broadening, and he now saw that the whole town wasawake, although it was not yet full daylight. Santa Anna had been atwork in the night, while he lay in that feverish sleep. He heardeverywhere now the sound of voices, the clank of arms and the beat ofhorses' hoofs. The flat roofs were crowded with the Mexican people. Nedsaw Mexican women there in their dresses of bright colors, like Romanwomen in the Colosseum, awaiting the battle of the gladiators. Theatmosphere was surcharged with excitement, and the sense of comingtriumph. 

Ned's breath seemed to choke in his throat and his heart beat painfully. Once more he wished with all his soul that he was with his friends, thathe was in the Alamo. He belonged with them there, and he would ratherface death with those familiar faces around him than be here, safeperhaps, but only a looker-on. It was with him now a matter of theemotions, and not of reasoned intellect. Once more he looked toward theold mission, and saw the dim outline of the buildings, with thedominating walls of the church. He could not see whether anyone watchedon the walls, but he knew that the sentinels were there. PerhapsCrockett, himself, stood among them now, looking at the great Mexicancoil of steel that was wrapping itself tighter and tighter around theAlamo. Despite himself, Ned uttered a sigh. 

"What is the matter with you?" asked Urrea, sharply. "Are you alreadyweeping for the conquered?"

"You know that I am not, " replied Ned. "You need not believe me, but Iregret that I am not in the Alamo with my friends. "

"It's an idle wish, " said Urrea, "but I am taking you now to GeneralSanta Anna. Then I leave, and I go there! Look, the horsemen!"

He extended his hand, and Ned saw his eyes kindling. The Mexican cavalrywere filing out in the dim dawn, troop after troop, the early lightfalling across the blades of the lances, spurs and bridles jingling. Allrode well, and they made a thrilling picture, as they rode steadily on, curving about the old fortress. 

"I shall soon be with them, " said Urrea in a tone of pride. "We shallsee that not a single one of your Texans escapes from the Alamo. "

Ned felt that choking in his throat again, but he deemed it wiser tokeep silent. They were going toward the main plaza now, and he sawmasses of troops gathered in the streets. These men were generallysilent, and he noticed that their faces expressed no elation. He divinedat once that they were intended for the assault, and they had no causefor joy. They knew that they must face the deadly Texan rifles. 

Urrea led the way to a fortified battery standing in front of the mainplaza. A brilliant group stood behind an earthen wall, and Ned saw SantaAnna among them. 

"I have brought the prisoner, " said Urrea, saluting. 

"Very good, " replied the dictator, "and now, Captain Urrea, you can joinyour command. You have served me well, and you shall have your share inthe glory of this day. "

Urrea flushed with pride at the compliment, and bowed low. Then hehurried away to join the horse. Santa Anna turned his attention. 

"I have brought you here at this moment, " he said, "to give you a lastchance. It is not due to any mercy for you, a rebel, but it is becauseyou have been so long in the Alamo that you must know it well. Pointout to us its weakest places, and you shall be free. You shall go northin safety. I promise it here, in the presence of my generals. "

"I have nothing to tell, " replied Ned. 

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely sure. "

"Then it merely means a little more effusion of blood. You may stay withus and see the result. "

All the ancient, inherited cruelty now shone in Santa Anna's eyes. Itwas the strange satanic streak in him that made him keep his captivethere in order that he might see the fall of his own comrades. A halfdozen guards stood near the person of the dictator, and he said to them:

"If the prisoner seeks to leave us, shoot him at once. "

The manner of Santa Anna was arrogant to the last degree, but Ned wasglad to stay. He was eager to see the great panorama which was about tobe unrolled before him. He was completely absorbed in the Alamo, and heutterly forgot himself. Black specks were dancing before his eyes, andthe blood was pounding in his ears, but he took no notice of suchthings. 

The gray bar in the east broadened. A thin streak of shining silver cutthrough it, and touched for a moment the town, the river, the army andthe Alamo. Ned leaned against an edge of the earthwork, and breathedheavily and painfully. He had not known that his heart could beat sohard. 

The same portentous silence prevailed everywhere. The men and women onthe roofs of the houses were absolutely still. The cavalry, their linenow drawn completely about the mission, were motionless. Ned, straininghis eyes toward the Alamo, could see nothing there. Suddenly he put uphis hand and wiped his forehead. His fingers came away wet. His bloodprickled in his veins like salt. He became impatient, angry. If the minewas ready, why did they not set the match? Such waiting was the pitch ofcruelty. 

"Cos, my brother, " said Santa Anna to the swart general, "take yourcommand. It was here that the Texan rebels humiliated you, and it ishere that you shall have full vengeance. "

Cos saluted, and strode away. He was to lead one of the attackingcolumns. 

"Colonel Duque, " said Santa Anna to another officer, "you are one of thebravest of the brave. You are to direct the attack on the northern wall, and may quick success go with you. "

Duque glowed at the compliment, and he, too, strode away to the head ofhis column. 

"Colonel Romero, " said Santa Anna, "the third column is yours, and thefourth is yours, Colonel Morales. Take your places and, at the signalagreed, the four columns will charge with all their strength. Let us seewhich will be the first in the Alamo. "

The two colonels saluted as the others had done, and joined theircolumns. 

The bar of gray in the east was still broadening, but the sun itself didnot yet show. The walls of the Alamo were still dim, and Ned could notsee whether any figures were there. Santa Anna had put a pair ofpowerful glasses to his eyes, but when he took them down he said nothingof what he had seen. 

"Are all the columns provided?" he said to General Sesma, who stoodbeside him. 

"They have everything, " replied Sesma, "crowbars, axes, scaling ladders. Sir, they cannot fail!"

"No, they cannot, " said Santa Anna exultantly. "These Texan rebels fightlike demons, but we have now a net through which they cannot break. General Gaona, see that the bands are ready and direct them to play theDeguelo when the signal for the charge is given. "

Ned shivered again. The "Deguelo" meant the "cutting-of-throats, " andit, too, was to be the signal of no quarter. He remembered the red flag, and he looked up. It hung, as ever, on the tower of the church of SanFernando, and its scarlet folds moved slowly in the light morningbreeze. General Gaona returned. 

"The bands are ready, general, " he said, "and when the signal is giventhey will play the air that you have chosen. "

A Mexican, trumpet in hand, was standing near. Santa Anna turned andsaid to him the single word:

"Blow!"

The man lifted the trumpet to his lips, and blew a long note thatswelled to its fullest pitch, then died away in a soft echo. 

It was the signal. A tremendous cry burst from the vast ring of thethousands, and it was taken up by the shrill voices of the women on theflat roofs of the houses. The great circle of cavalrymen shook theirlances and sabers until they glittered. 

When the last echo of the trumpet's dying note was gone the bands beganto play with their utmost vigor the murderous tune that Santa Anna hadchosen. Then four columns of picked Mexican troops, three thousandstrong, rushed toward the Alamo. Santa Anna and the generals around himwere tremendously excited. Their manner made no impression upon Nedthen, but he recalled the fact afterward. 

The boy became quickly unconscious of everything except the charge ofthe Mexicans and the Alamo. He no longer remembered that he was aprisoner. He no longer remembered anything about himself. The cruelthrob of that murderous tune, the Deguelo, beat upon the drums of hisears, and mingled with it came the sound of the charging Mexicans, thebeat of their feet, the clank of their arms, and the shouts of theirofficers. 

Whatever may be said of the herded masses of the Mexican troops, theMexican officers were full of courage. They were always in advance, waving their swords and shouting to their men to come on. Another silvergleam flashed through the gray light of the early morning, ran along theedges of swords and lances, and lingered for a moment over the darkwalls of the Alamo. 

No sound came from the mission, not a shot, not a cry. Were they asleep?Was it possible that every man, overpowered by fatigue, had fallen intoslumber at such a moment? Could such as Crockett and Bowie and Travis beblind to their danger? Such painful questions raced through Ned's mind. He felt a chill run down his spine. Yet his breath was like fire to hislips. 

"Nothing will stop them!" cried Santa Anna. "The Texans cower beforesuch a splendid force! They will lay down their arms!"

Ned felt his body growing colder and colder, and there was a strangetingling at the roots of the hair. Now the people upon the roofs wereshouting their utmost, and the voices of many women united in oneshrill, piercing cry. But he never turned to look at them. His eyes werealways on the charging host which converged so fast upon the Alamo. 

The trumpet blew another signal, and there was a crash so loud that itmade Ned jump. All the Mexican batteries had fired at once over theheads of their own troops at the Alamo. While the gunners reloaded thesmoke of the discharge drifted away and the Alamo still stood silent. But over it yet hung a banner on which was written in great letters theword, "Texas. "

The Mexican troops were coming close now. The bands playing the Degueloswelled to greater volume and the ground shook again as the Mexicanartillery fired its second volley. When the smoke drifted away again theAlamo itself suddenly burst into flame. The Texan cannon at close rangepoured their shot and shell into the dense ranks of the Mexicans. Butpiercing through the heavy thud of the cannon came the shriller and moredeadly crackle of the rifles. The Texans were there, every one of them, on the walls. He might have known it. Nothing on earth could catch themasleep, nor could anything on earth or under it frighten them intolaying down their arms. 

Ned began to shout, but only hoarse cries came from a dry throat throughdry lips. The great pulses in his throat were leaping again, and he wassaying: "The Texans! The Texans! Oh, the brave Texans!"

But nobody heard him. Santa Anna, Filisola, Castrillon, Tolsa, Gaona andthe other generals were leaning against the earthwork, absorbed in thetremendous spectacle that was passing before them. The soldiers who wereto guard the prisoner forgot him and they, too, were engrossed in theterrible and thrilling panorama of war. Ned might have walked away, noone noticing, but he, too, had but one thought, and that was the Alamo. 

He saw the Mexican columns shiver when the first volley was poured uponthem from the walls. In a single glance aside he beheld the exultantlook on the faces of Santa Anna and his generals die away, and hesuddenly became conscious that the shrill shouting on the flat roofs ofthe houses had ceased. But the Mexican cannon still poured a cloud ofshot and shell over the heads of their men at the Alamo, and the troopswent on. 

Ned, keen of ear and so intent that he missed nothing, could nowseparate the two fires. The crackle of the rifles which came from theAlamo dominated. Rapid, steady, incessant, it beat heavily upon thehearing and nerves. Pyramids and spires of smoke arose, drifted andarose again. In the intervals he saw the walls of the church a sheet offlame, and he saw the Mexicans falling by dozens and scores upon theplain. He knew that at the short range the Texan rifles never missed, and that the hail of their bullets was cutting through the Mexican rankslike a fire through dry grass. 

"God, how they fight!" he heard one of the generals--he never knewwhich--exclaim. 

Then he saw the officers rushing about, shouting to the men, strikingthem with the flats of their swords and urging them on. The Mexican armyresponded to the appeal, lifted itself up and continued its rush. Thefire from the Alamo seemed to Ned to increase. The fortress was a livingflame. He had not thought that men could fire so fast, but they hadthree or four rifles apiece. 

The silence which had replaced the shrill shouting in the towncontinued. All the crash was now in front of them, and where they stoodthe sound of the human voice would carry. In a dim far-away manner Nedheard the guards talking to one another. Their words showed uneasiness. It was not the swift triumphal rush into the Alamo that they hadexpected. Great swaths had been cut through the Mexican army. Santa Annapaled more than once when he saw his men falling so fast. 

"They cannot recoil! They cannot!" he cried. 

But they did. The column led by Colonel Duque, a brave man, was now atthe northern wall, and the men were rushing forward with the crowbars, axes and scaling ladders. The Texan rifles, never more deadly, sent downa storm of bullets upon them. A score of men fell all at once. Amongthem was Duque, wounded terribly. The whole column broke and reeledaway, carrying Duque with them. 

Ned saw the face of Santa Anna turn purple with rage. He struck theearthwork furiously with the flat of his sword. 

"Go! Go!" he cried to Gaona and Tolsa. "Rally them! See that they do notrun!"

The two generals sprang from the battery and rushed to their task. TheMexican cannon had ceased firing, for fear of shooting down their ownmen, and the smoke was drifting away from the field. The morning wasalso growing much lighter. The gray dawn had turned to silver, and thesun's red rim was just showing above the eastern horizon. 

The Texan cannon were silent, too. The rifles were now doing all thework. The volume of their fire never diminished. Ned saw the fieldcovered with slain, and many wounded were drifting back to the shelterof the earthworks and the town. 

Duque's column was rallied, but the column on the east and the column onthe west were also driven back, and Santa Anna rushed messenger aftermessenger, hurrying up fresh men, still driving the whole Mexican armyagainst the Alamo. He shouted orders incessantly, although he remainedsafe within the shelter of the battery. 

Ned felt an immense joy. He had seen the attack beaten off at threepoints. A force of twenty to one had been compelled to recoil. His heartswelled with pride in those friends of his. But they were so few innumber! Even now the Mexican masses were reforming. The officers wereamong them, driving them forward with threats and blows. The great ringof Mexican cavalry, intended to keep any of the Texans from escaping, also closed in, driving their own infantry forward to the assault. 

Ned's heart sank as the whole Mexican army, gathering now at thenorthern or lower wall, rushed straight at the barrier. But the deadlyfire of the rifles flashed from it, and their front line went down. Again they recoiled, and again the cavalry closed in, holding them tothe task. 

There was a pause of a few moments. The town had been silent for a longtime, and the Mexican soldiers themselves ceased to shout. Clouds ofsmoke eddied and drifted about the buildings. The light of the morning, first gray, then silver, turned to gold. The sun, now high above theearth's rim, poured down a flood of rays. 

Everything stood out sharp and clear. Ned saw the buildings of the Alamodark against the sun, and he saw men on the walls. He saw the Mexicancolumns pressed together in one great force, and he even saw the stillfaces of many who lay silent on the plain. 

He knew that the Mexicans were about to charge again, and his feeling ofexultation passed. He no longer had hope that the defenders of the Alamocould beat back so many. He thought again how few, how very few, werethe Texans. 

The silence endured but a moment or two. Then the Mexicans rushedforward in a mighty mass at the low northern wall, the front linesfiring as they went. Flame burst from the wall, and Ned heard once morethe deadly crackle of the Texan rifles. The ground was littered by thetrail of the Mexican fallen, but, driven by their officers, they wenton. 

Ned saw them reach the wall and plant the scaling ladders, many of them. Scores of men swarmed up the ladders and over the wall. A heavy divisionforced its way into the redoubt through the sallyport, and as Ned saw heuttered a deep gasp. He knew that the Alamo was doomed. And the Mexicansknew it, too. The shrill screaming of the women began again from theflat roofs of the houses, and shouts burst from the army also. 

"We have them! We have them!" cried Santa Anna, exultant and excited. 

Sheets of flame still burst from the Alamo, and the rifles still pouredbullets on the swarming Mexican forces, but the breach had been made. The Mexicans went over the low wall in an unbroken stream, and theycrowded through the sallyport by hundreds. They were inside now, rushingwith the overwhelming weight of twenty to one upon the little garrison. They seized the Texan guns, cutting down the gunners with lances andsabers, and they turned the captured cannon upon the defenders. 

Some of the buildings inside the walls were of adobe, and they were soonshattered by the cannon balls. The Texans, covered with smoke and dustand the sweat of battle, were forced back by the press of numbers intothe convent yard, and then into the church and hospital. Here the cannonand rifles in hundreds were turned upon them, but they still fought. Often, with no time to reload their rifles, they clubbed them, and droveback the Mexican rush. 

The Alamo was a huge volcano of fire and smoke, of shouting and death. Those who looked on became silent again, appalled at the sights andsounds. The smoke rose far above the mission, and caught by a lightwind drifted away to the east. The Mexican generals brought up freshforces and drove them at the fortress. A heavy column, attacking on thesouth side, where no defenders were now left, poured over a stockade andcrowded into the mission. The circle of cavalry about the Alamo againdrew closer, lest any Texan should escape. But it was a uselessprecaution. None sought flight. 

In very truth, the last hope of the Alamo was gone, and perhaps therewas none among the defenders who did not know it. There were a few wildand desperate characters of the border, whom nothing in life became somuch as their manner of leaving it. In the culminating moment of thegreat tragedy they bore themselves as well as the best. 

Travis, the commander, and Bonham stood in the long room of the hospitalwith a little group around them, most of them wounded, the faces of allblack with powder smoke. But they fought on. Whenever a Mexican appearedat the door an unerring rifle bullet struck him down. Fifty fell at thatsingle spot before the rifles, yet they succeeded in dragging up acannon, thrust its muzzle in at the door and fired it twice loaded withgrape shot into the room. 

The Texans were cut down by the shower of missiles, and the whole placewas filled with smoke. Then the Mexicans rushed in and the few Texanswho had survived the grape shot fell fighting to the last with theirclubbed rifles. Here lay Travis of the white soul and beside him fellthe brave Bonham, who had gone out for help, and who had returned to diewith his comrades. The Texans who had defended the room against so manywere only fifteen in number, and they were all silent now. Now the wholeattack converged on the church, the strongest part of the Alamo, wherethe Texans were making their last stand. The place was seething withfire and smoke, but above it still floated the banner upon which waswritten in great letters the word, "Texas. "

The Mexicans, pressing forward in dense masses, poured in cannon ballsand musket balls at every opening. Half the Texans were gone, but theothers never ceased to fire with their rifles. Within that raginginferno they could hardly see one another for the smoke, but they wereall animated by the same purpose, to fight to the death and to carry asmany of their foes with them as they could. 

Evans, who had commanded the cannon, rushed for the magazine to blow upthe building. They had agreed that if all hope were lost he should doso, but he was killed on his way by a bullet, and the others went onwith the combat. 

Near the entrance to the church stood a great figure swinging a clubbedrifle. His raccoon skin cap was lost, and his eyes burned like coals offire in his swarthy face. It was Crockett, gone mad with battle, and theMexicans who pressed in recoiled before the deadly sweep of the clubbedrifle. Some were awed by the terrific figure, dripping blood, and whollyunconscious of danger. 

"Forward!" cried a Mexican officer, and one of his men went down with ashattered skull. The others shrank back again, but a new figure pressedinto the ring. It was that of the younger Urrea. At the last moment hehad left the cavalry and joined in the assault. 

"Don't come within reach of his blows!" he cried. "Shoot him! Shoothim!"

He snatched a double-barreled pistol from his own belt and fired twicestraight at Crockett's breast. The great Tennesseean staggered, droppedhis rifle and the flame died from his eyes. With a howl of triumph hisfoes rushed upon him, plunged their swords and bayonets into his body, and he fell dead with a heap of the Mexican slain about him. 

A bullet whistled past Urrea's face and killed a man beyond him. Hesprang back. Bowie, still suffering severe injuries from a fall from aplatform, was lying on a cot in the arched room to the left of theentrance. Unable to walk, he had received at his request two pistols, and now he was firing them as fast as he could pull the triggers andreload. 

"Shoot him! Shoot him at once!" cried Urrea. 

His own pistol was empty now, but a dozen musket balls were fired intothe room. Bowie, hit twice, nevertheless raised himself upon his elbow, aimed a pistol with a clear eye and a steady hand, and pulled thetrigger. A Mexican fell, shot through the heart, but another volley ofmusket balls was discharged at the Georgian. Struck in both head andheart he suddenly straightened out and lay still upon the cot. Thus diedthe famous Bowie. 

Mrs. Dickinson and her baby had been hidden in the arched room on theother side for protection. The Mexicans killed a Texan named Walters atthe entrance, and, wild with ferocity, raised his body upon a half dozenbayonets while the blood ran down in a dreadful stream upon those whoheld it aloft. 

Urrea rushed into the room and found the cowering woman and her baby. The Mexicans followed, and were about to slay them, too, when a gallantfigure rushed between. It was the brave and humane Almonte. Sword inhand, he faced the savage horde. He uttered words that made Urrea turndark with shame and leave the room. The soldiers were glad to follow. 

At the far end of the church a few Texans were left, still fightingwith clubbed rifles. The Mexicans drew back a little, raised theirmuskets and fired an immense shattering volley. When the smoke clearedaway not a single Texan was standing, and then the troops rushed in withsword and bayonet. 

It was nine o'clock in the morning, and the Alamo had fallen. Thedefenders were less than nine score, and they had died to the last man. A messenger rushed away at once to Santa Anna with the news of thetriumph, and he came from the shelter, glorying, exulting and cryingthat he had destroyed the Texans. 

Ned followed the dictator. He never knew exactly why, because many ofthose moments were dim, like the scenes of a dream, and there was somuch noise, excitement and confusion that no one paid any attention tohim. But an overwhelming power drew him on to the Alamo, and he rushedin with the Mexican spectators. 

Ned passed through the sallyport and he reeled back aghast for a moment. The Mexican dead, not yet picked up, were strewn everywhere. They hadfallen in scores. The lighter buildings were smashed by cannon balls andshells. The earth was gulleyed and torn. The smoke from so much firingdrifted about in banks and clouds, and it gave forth the pungent odor ofburned gunpowder. 

The boy knew not only that the Alamo had fallen, but that all of itsdefenders had fallen with it. The knowledge was instinctive. He had beenwith those men almost to the last day of the siege, and he hadunderstood their spirit. 

He was not noticed in the crush. Santa Anna and the generals wererunning into the church, and he followed them. Here he saw the Texandead, and he saw also a curious crowd standing around a fallen form. Hepressed into the ring and his heart gave a great throb of grief. 

It was Crockett, lying upon his back, his body pierced by many wounds. Ned had known that he would find him thus, but the shock, nevertheless, was terrible. Yet Crockett's countenance was calm. He bore no wounds inthe face, and he lay almost as if he had died in his bed. It seemed toNed even in his grief that no more fitting death could have come to theold hero. 

Then, following another crowd, he saw Bowie, also lying peacefully indeath upon his cot. He felt the same grief for him that he had felt forCrockett, but it soon passed in both cases. A strange mood of exaltationtook its place. They had died as one might wish to die, since death mustcome to all. It was glorious that these defenders of the Alamo, comradesof his, should have fallen to the last man. The full splendor of theirachievement suddenly burst in a dazzling vision before him. Texans whofurnished such valor could not be conquered. Santa Anna might havetwenty to one or fifty to one or a hundred to one, in the end it wouldnot matter. 

The mood endured. He looked upon the dead faces of Travis and Bonhamalso, and he was not shaken. He saw others, dozens and dozens whom heknew, and the faces of all of them seemed peaceful to him. The shoutingand cheering and vast chatter of the Mexicans did not disturb him. Hismood was so high that all these things passed as nothing. 

Ned made no attempt to escape. He knew that while he might go aboutalmost as he chose in this crowd of soldiers, now disorganized, the ringof cavalry beyond would hold him. The thought of escape, however, wasbut little in his mind just then. He was absorbed in the great tomb ofthe Alamo. Here, despite the recent work of the cannon, all thingslooked familiar. He could mark the very spots where he had stood andtalked with Crockett or Bowie. He knew how the story of the immortaldefence would spread like fire throughout Texas and beyond. When heshould tell how he had seen the faces of the heroes, every heart mustleap. 

He wandered back to the church, where the curious still crowded. Manypeople from the town, influential Mexicans, wished to see the terribleTexans, who yet lay as they had fallen. Some spoke scornful words, butmost regarded them with awe. Ned looked at Crockett for the second time, and a hand touched him on the shoulder. It was Urrea. 

"Where are your Texans now?" he asked. 

"They are gone, " replied Ned, "but they will never be forgotten. " Andthen he added in a flash of anger. "Five or six times as many Mexicanshave gone with them. "

"It is true, " said the young Mexican thoughtfully. "They fought likecornered mountain wolves. We admit it. And this one, Crockett you callhim, was perhaps the most terrible of them all. He swung his clubbedrifle so fiercely that none dared come within its reach. I slew him. "

"You?" exclaimed Ned. 

"Yes, I! Why should I not? I fired two pistol bullets into him and hefell. "

He spoke with a certain pride. Ned said nothing, but he pressed histeeth together savagely and his heart swelled with hate of the sleek andtriumphant Urrea. 

"General Santa Anna, engrossed in much more important matters, hasdoubtless forgotten you, " continued the Mexican, "but I will see thatyou do not escape. Why he spares you I know not, but it is his wish. "

He called to two soldiers, whom he detailed to follow Ned and see thathe made no attempt to escape. The boy was yet so deeply absorbed in theAlamo that no room was left in his mind for anything else. Nor did hecare to talk further with Urrea, who he knew was not above aiming ashaft or two at an enemy in his power. He remained in the crowd untilSanta Anna ordered that all but the troops be cleared from the Alamo. 

Then, at the order of the dictator, the bodies of the Texans were takenwithout. A number of them were spread upon the ground, and were coveredwith a thick layer of dry wood and brush. Then more bodies of men andheaps of dry wood were spread in alternate layers until the funeral pilewas complete. 

Young Urrea set the torch, while the Mexican army and population lookedon. The dry wood flamed up rapidly and the whole was soon a pyramid offire and smoke. Ned was not shocked at this end, even of the bodies ofbrave men. He recalled the stories of ancient heroes, the bodies of whomhad been consumed on just such pyres as this, and he was willing thathis comrades should go to join Hercules, Hector, Achilles and the rest. 

The flames roared and devoured the great pyramid, which sank lower, andat last Ned turned away. His mood of exaltation was passing. No onecould remain keyed to that pitch many hours. Overwhelming grief anddespair came in its place. His mind raged against everything, againstthe cruelty of Santa Anna, who had hoisted the red flag of no quarter, against fate, that had allowed so many brave men to perish, and againstthe overwhelming numbers that the Mexicans could always bring againstthe Texans. 

He walked gloomily toward the town, the two soldiers who had beendetailed as guards following close behind him. He looked back, saw thesinking blaze of the funeral pyre, shuddered and walked on. 

San Antonio de Bexar was rejoicing. Most of its people, Mexican to thecore, shared in the triumph of Santa Anna. The terrible Texans weregone, annihilated, and Santa Anna was irresistible. The conquest ofTexas was easy now. No, it was achieved already. They had the dictator'sown word for it that the rest was a mere matter of gathering up thefragments. 

Some of the graver and more kindly Mexican officers thought of their ownlosses. The brave and humane Almonte walked through the courts andbuildings of the Alamo, and his face blanched when he reckoned theirlosses. A thousand men killed or wounded was a great price to pay forthe nine score Texans who were sped. But no such thoughts troubled SantaAnna. All the vainglory of his nature was aflame. They were decoratingthe town with all the flags and banners and streamers they could find, and he knew that it was for him. At night they would illuminate in hishonor. He stretched out his arm toward the north and west, and murmuredthat it was all his. He would be the ruler of an empire half the size ofEurope. The scattered and miserable Texans could set no bounds to hisambition. He had proved it. 

He would waste no more time in that empty land of prairies and plains. He sent glowing dispatches about his victory to the City of Mexico andannounced that he would soon come. His subordinates would destroy thewandering bands of Texans. Then he did another thing that appealed tohis vanity. He wrote a proclamation to the Texans announcing the fall ofthe Alamo, and directing them to submit at once, on pain of death, tohis authority. He called for Mrs. Dickinson, the young wife, now widow, whom the gallantry of Almonte had saved from massacre in the Alamo. Hedirected her to take his threat to the Texans at Gonzales, and shewillingly accepted. Mounting a horse and alone save for the baby in herarms, she rode away from San Antonio, shuddering at the sight of theMexicans, and passed out upon the desolate and dangerous prairies. 

The dictator was so absorbed in his triumph and his plans for hisgreater glory that for the time he forgot all about Ned Fulton, hisyouthful prisoner, who had crossed the stream and who was now in thetown, attended by the two peons whom Urrea had detailed as his guards. But Ned had come out of his daze, and his mind was as keen and alert asever. The effects of the great shock of horror remained. His was not abitter nature, but he could not help feeling an intense hatred of theMexicans. He was on the battle line, and he saw what they were doing. Heresolved that now was his time to escape, and in the great turmoilcaused by the excitement and rejoicing in San Antonio he did not believethat it would be difficult. 

He carefully cultivated the good graces of the two soldiers who wereguarding him. He bought for them mescal and other fiery drinks whichwere now being sold in view of the coming festival. Their good natureincreased and also their desire to get rid of a task that had beenimposed upon them. Why should they guard a boy when everybody else wasgetting ready to be merry?

They went toward the Main Plaza, and came to the Zambrano Row, where theTexans had fought their way when they took San Antonio months before. Ned looked up at the buildings. They were still dismantled. Great holeswere in the walls and the empty windows were like blind eyes. He saw atonce that their former inhabitants had not yet returned to them, andhere he believed was his chance. 

When they stood beside the first house he called the attention of hisguards to some Mexican women who were decorating a doorway across thestreet. When they looked he darted into the first of the houses in theZambrano Row. He entered a large room and at the corner saw a stairway. He knew this place. He had been here in the siege of San Antonio by theTexans, and now he had the advantage over his guards, who were probablystrangers. 

He rushed for the staircase and, just as he reached the top, one of theguards, who had followed as soon as they noticed the flight of theprisoner, fired his musket. The discharge roared in the room, but thebullet struck the wall fully a foot away from the target. Ned was on thesecond floor, and out of range the next moment. He knew that thesoldiers would follow him, and he passed through the great hole, brokenby the Texans, into the next house. 

Here he paused to listen, and he heard the two soldiers muttering andbreathing heavily. The distaste which they already felt for their taskhad become a deep disgust. Why should they be deprived of their part inthe festival to follow up a prisoner? What did a single captive amountto, anyhow? Even if he escaped now the great, the illustrious SantaAnna, whose eyes saw all things, would capture him later on when heswept all the scattered Texans into his basket. 

Ned went from house to house through the holes broken in the partywalls, and occasionally he heard his pursuers slouching along andgrumbling. At the fourth house he slipped out upon the roof, and layflat near the stone coping. 

He knew that if the soldiers came upon the roof they would find him, buthe relied upon the mescal and their lack of zeal. He heard them oncetramping about in the room below him, and then he heard them no more. 

Ned remained all the rest of the afternoon upon the roof, not daring toleave his cramped position against the coping. He felt absolutely safethere from observation, Mexicans would not be prowling throughdismantled and abandoned houses at such a time. Now and then gay shoutscame from the streets below. The Mexicans of Bexar were disturbed littleby the great numbers of their people who had fallen at the Alamo. Thedead were from the far valleys of Mexico, and were strangers. 

Ned afterward thought that he must have slept a little toward twilight, but he was never sure of it. He saw the sun set, and the gray and silentAlamo sink away into the darkness. Then he slipped from the roof, anxious to be away before the town was illuminated. He had no difficultyat all in passing unnoticed through the streets, and he made his waystraight for the Alamo. 

He was reckoning very shrewdly now. He knew that the superstitiousMexicans would avoid the mission at night as a place thronged withghosts, and that Santa Anna would not need to post any guard withinthose walls. He would pass through the inclosures, then over the lowerbarriers by which the Mexicans had entered, and thence into the darknessbeyond. 

It seemed to him the best road to escape, and he had another object alsoin entering the Alamo. The defenders had had three or four riflesapiece, and he was convinced that somewhere in the rooms he would find agood one, with sufficient ammunition. 

It was with shudders that he entered the Alamo, and the shudders cameagain when he looked about the bloodstained courts and rooms, lately thescene of such terrible strife, but now so silent. In a recess of thechurch which had been used as a little storage place by himself andCrockett he found an excellent rifle of the long-barreled Westernpattern, a large horn of powder and a pouch full of bullets. There wasalso a supply of dried beef, which he took, too. 

Now he felt himself a man again. He would find the Texans and then theywould seek vengeance for the Alamo. He crossed the Main Plaza, droppedover the low wall and quickly disappeared in the dusk. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE NEWS OF THE FALL

Five days before the fall of the Alamo a little group of men began togather at the village of Washington, on the Brazos river in Texas. Thename of the little town indicated well whence its people had come. Allthe houses were new, mostly of unpainted wood, and they contained someof the furniture of necessity, none of luxury. The first and mostimportant article was the rifle which the Texans never needed more thanthey did now. 

But this new and little Washington was seething with excitement andsuspense, and its population was now more than triple the normal. Newshad come that the Alamo was beleaguered by a force many times asnumerous as its defenders, and that Crockett, Bowie, Travis and otherfamous men were inside. They had heard also that Santa Anna had hoistedthe red flag of no quarter, and that Texans everywhere, if taken, wouldbe slaughtered as traitors. The people of Washington had full cause fortheir excitement and suspense. 

The little town also had the unique distinction of being a capital for aday or two. The Texans felt, with the news that Santa Anna had envelopedthe Alamo, that they must take decisive action. They believed that theMexicans had broken every promise to the Texans. They knew that not onlytheir liberty and property, but their lives, also, were in peril. Despite the great disparity of numbers it must be a fight to the deathbetween Texas and Mexico. The Texans were now gathering at Washington. 

One man who inspired courage wherever he went had come already. SamHouston had ridden into town, calm, confident and talking only ofvictory. He was dressed with a neatness and care unusual on the border, wearing a fine black suit, while his face was shaded by the wide brim ofa white sombrero. The famous scouts, "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes, andyoung Zavala, whom Ned had known in Mexico, were there also. 

Fifty-eight delegates representing Texas gathered in the largest room ofa frame building. "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes came in and sat withtheir rifles across their knees. While some of the delegates weretalking Houston signaled to the two, and they went outside. 

"What do you hear from the Alamo, Smith?" asked Houston. 

"Travis has fought off all the attacks of the Mexicans, " replied thegreat borderer, "but when Santa Anna brings up his whole force an' makesa resolute assault it's bound to go under. The mission is too big an'scattered to be held by Travis an' his men against forty or fifty timestheir number. "

"I fear so. I fear so, " said Houston sadly, "and we can't get togetherenough men for its relief. All this quarreling and temporizing are ourruin. Heavens, what a time for disagreements!"

"There couldn't be a worse time, general, " said Henry Karnes. "Me an''Deaf' would like mighty well to march to the Alamo. A lot of ourfriends are in there an' I reckon we've seen them for the last time. "

The fine face of Houston grew dark with melancholy. 

"Have you been anywhere near San Antonio?" he asked Smith. 

"Not nearer than thirty miles, " replied Smith, "but over at Goliad I sawa force under Colonel Fannin that was gettin' ready to start to therelief of Travis. With it were some friends of mine. There was Palmer, him they call the Panther, the biggest and strongest man in Texas; ObedWhite, a New Englander, an' a boy, Will Allen. I've knowed 'em well forsome time, and there was another that belonged to their little band. Buthe's in the Alamo now, an' they was wild to rescue him. "

"Do you think Fannin will get through?" asked Houston. 

"I don't, " replied Smith decidedly, "an' if he did it would just meanthe loss of more good men for us. What do you think about it, Hank?"

"The same that you do, " replied Karnes. 

Houston pondered over their words a long time. He knew that they werethoroughly acquainted with Texas and the temper of its people, and herelied greatly on their judgment. When he went back in the room whichwas used as a convention hall Smith and Karnes remained outside. 

Smith sat down on the grass, lighted a pipe and began to smokedeliberately. Karnes also sat down on the grass, lighted his own pipeand smoked with equal deliberation. Each man rested his rifle across hisknees. 

"Looks bad, " said Smith. 

"Powerful bad. "

"Almighty bad. "

"Talkin's no good when the enemy's shootin'. "

"Reckon there's nothin' left for us but this, " tapping the barrel of hisrifle significantly. 

"Only tool that's left for us to use. "

"Reckon we'll soon have as many chances as we want to use it, an' more. "

"Reckon you're Almighty right. "

"An' we'll be there every time. "

The two men reached over and shook hands deliberately. Houston by and bycame out again, and saw them sitting there smoking, two images ofpatience and quiet. 

"Boys, " he said, "you're not taking much part in the proceedings. "

"Not much, just yet, Colonel Sam, " replied Smith, "but we're waitin'. Ireckon that to-morrow you'll declare Texas free an' independent, a greatan' good republic. An' as there ain't sixty of you to declare it, mebbeyou'll need the help of some fellows like Hank an' me to make themresolutions come true. "

"We will, " said Houston, "and we know that we can rely upon you. "

He was about to pass on, but he changed his mind and sat down with themen. Houston was a singular character. He had been governor of animportant state, and he had lived as a savage among savages. He couldadapt himself to any company. 

"Boys, " he said, "you know a merchant, John Roylston, who hasheadquarters in New Orleans, and also offices in St. Louis andCincinnati?"

"We do, " said Smith, "an' we've seen him, too, more than once. He's beenin these parts not so long ago. "

"He's in New Orleans now, " said Houston. "He's the biggest trader alongthe coast. Has dealings with Santa Anna himself, but he's a friend ofTexas, a powerful one. Boys, I've in my pocket now an order from himgood for a hundred thousand dollars. It's to be spent buying arms andammunition for us. And when the time comes there's more coming from thesame place. We've got friends, but keep this to yourselves. "

He walked on and the two took a long and meditative pull at their pipes. 

"I reckon Roylston may not shoot as straight as we can, " said Smith, "but mebbe at as long range as New Orleans he can do more harm to theMexicans than we can. "

"Looks like it. I ain't much of a hand at money, but I like the looks ofthat man Roylston, an' I reckon the more rifles and the more ammunitionwe have the fewer Mexicans will be left. "

The two scouts, having smoked as long as they wished, went to theirquarters and slept soundly through the night. But Houston and theleading Texans with him hardly slept at all. There was but one course tochoose, and they were fully aware of its gravity, Houston perhaps moreso than the rest, as he had seen more of the world. They worked nearlyall night in the bare room, and when Houston sought his room he wasexhausted. 

Houston's room was a bare little place, lighted by a tallow candle, andalthough it was not long until day he sat there a while before lyingdown. A man of wide experience, he alone, with the exception ofRoylston, knew how desperate was the situation of the Texans. In truth, it was the money of Roylston sent from New Orleans that had caused himto hazard the chance. He knew, too, that, in time, more help wouldarrive from the same source, and he believed there would be a chanceagainst the Mexicans, a fighting chance, it is true, but men who werewilling to die for a cause seldom failed to win. He blew out the candle, got in bed and slept soundly. 

"Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes were up early--they seldom slept late--andsaw the sun rise out of the prairie. They were in a house which had asmall porch, looking toward the Brazos. After breakfast they lightedtheir cob pipes again, smoked and meditated. 

"Reckon somethin' was done by our leadin' statesmen last night, " saidSmith. 

"Reckon there was, " said Karnes. 

"Reckon I can guess what it was. "

"Reckon I can, too. "

"Reckon I'll wait to hear it offish-ul-ly before I speak. "

"Reckon I will, too. Lots of time wasted talkin'. "

"Reckon you're right. "

They sat in silence for a full two hours. They smoked the first hour, and they passed the second in their chairs without moving. They hadmastered the borderer's art of doing nothing thoroughly, when nothingwas to be done. Then a man came upon the porch and spoke to them. Hisname was Burnet, David G. Burnet. 

"Good mornin'. How is the new republic?" said "Deaf" Smith. 

"So you know, " said Burnet. 

"We don't know, but we've guessed, Hank an' me. We saw things as theywas comin'. "

"I reckon, too, " said Karnes, "that we ain't a part of Mexico any more. "

"No, we're a free an' independent republic. It was so decided lastnight, and we've got nothing more to do now but to whip a nation ofeight millions, the fifty thousand of us. "

"Well, " said Smith philosophically, "it's a tough job, but it might bedid. I've heard tell that them old Greeks whipped the Persians when theodds were powerful high against them. "

"That is true, " said Burnet, "and we can at least try. We give thereason for declaring our independence. We assert to the world that theMexican republic has become a military despotism, that our agentscarrying petitions have been thrown in dungeons in the City of Mexico, that we have been ordered to give up the arms necessary for our defenceagainst the savages, and that we have been deprived of every rightguaranteed to us when we settled here. "

"We're glad it's done, although we knew it would be done, " said Smith. "We ain't much on talkin', Mr. President, Hank an' me, but we can shootpretty straight, an' we're at your call. "

"I know that, God bless you both, " said Burnet. "The talking is over. It's rifles that we need and plenty of them. Now I've to see Houston. We're to talk over ways and means. "

He hurried away, and the two, settling back into their chairs on theporch, relighted their pipes and smoked calmly. 

"Reckon there'll be nothin' doin' for a day or two, Hank, " said Smith. 

"Reckon not, but we'll have to be doin' a powerful lot later, or behoofin' it for the tall timber a thousand miles north. "

"You always was full of sense, Hank. Now there goes Sam Houston. Queerstories about his leavin' Tennessee and his life in the IndianTerritory. "

"That's so, but he's an honest man, looks far ahead, an' 'tween you an'me, 'Deaf, ' it's a thousand to one that he's to lead us in the war. "

"Reckon you're guessin' good. "

Houston, who had just awakened and dressed, was walking across the grassand weeds to meet Burnet. Not even he, when he looked at the tinyvillage and the wilderness spreading about it, foresaw how mighty astate was to rise from beginnings so humble and so small. He and Burnetwent back into the convention hall, and he wrote a fiery appeal to thepeople. He said that the Alamo was beleaguered and "the citizens ofTexas must rally to the aid of our army or it will perish. "

Smith and Karnes remained while the convention continued its work. Theydid little ostensibly but smoke their cob pipes, but they observedeverything and thought deeply. On Sunday morning, five days after themen had gathered at Washington, as they stood at the edge of the littletown they saw a man galloping over the prairie. Neither spoke, butwatched him for a while, as the unknown came on, lashing a tired horse. 

"'Pears to be in a hurry, " said Smith. 

"An' to be in a hurry generally means somethin' in these parts, " saidKarnes. 

"I'm makin' 'a guess. "

"So am I, an' yours is the same as mine. He comes from the Alamo. "

Others now saw the man, and there was a rush toward him. His horse fellat the edge of the town, but the rider sprang to his feet and cametoward the group, which included both Houston and Burnet. He was a wildfigure, face and clothing covered with dust. But he recognized Houstonand turned to him at once. 

"You're General Houston, and I'm from the Alamo, " he said. "I bring amessage from Colonel Travis. "

There was a sudden and heavy intake of breath in the whole group. 

"Then the Alamo has not fallen?" said Houston. 

"Not when I left, but that was three days ago. Here is the letter. "

It was the last letter of Travis, concluding with the words: "God andTexas; victory or death. " But when the messenger put the letter intothe hands of Houston the Alamo had fallen two hours before. 

The letter was laid before the convention, and the excitement was greatand irrepressible. The feelings of these stern men were moved deeply. Many wished to adjourn at once and march to the relief of the Alamo, butthe eloquence of Houston, who had been reelected Commander-in-chief, prevailed against the suggestion. Then, with two or three men, hedeparted for Gonzales to raise a force, while the others elected BurnetPresident of the new Texas, and departed for Harrisburg on BuffaloBayou. 

"Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes did not go just then with Houston. Theywere scouts, hunters and rough riders, and they could do as theypleased. They notified General Sam Houston, commander-in-chief of theTexan armies, that they would come on later, and he was content. 

When the Texan government and the Texan army, numbering combined about ahundred men, followed by most of the population, numbering fifty orsixty more, filed off for Gonzales, the two sat once more on the sameporch, smoking their cob pipes. They were not ordinary men. They werenot ordinary scouts and borderers. One from the north and one from thesouth, they were much alike in their mental processes, their facultiesof keen observation and deep reasoning. Both were now stirred to thecore, but neither showed a trace of it on his face. They watched thelittle file pass away over the prairie until it was lost to sight behindthe swells, and then Smith spoke:

"I reckon you an' me, Hank, will ride toward the Alamo. "

"I reckon we will, Deaf, and that right away. "

Inside of five minutes they were on the road, armed and provisioned, thebest two borderers, with the single exception of the Panther, in all thesouthwest. They were mounted on powerful mustangs, which, with properhandling and judicious rests, could go on forever. But they pushed thema little that afternoon, stopped for two hours after sundown, and thenwent on again. They crossed the Colorado River in the night, swimmingtheir horses, and about a mile further on stopped in dense chaparral. They tethered the mustangs near them, and spread out their blankets. 

"If anything comes the horses will wake us, " said Smith. 

"I reckon they will, " said Karnes. 

Both were fast asleep in a few minutes, but they awoke shortly aftersunrise. They made a frugal breakfast, while the mustangs had croppedshort grass in the night. Both horses and men, as tough and wiry as theyever become, were again as fresh as the dawn, and, with not more than adozen words spoken, the two mounted and rode anew on their quest. Alwayschary of speech, they became almost silence itself as they drew nearerto San Antonio de Bexar. In the heart of each was a knowledge of thegreat tragedy, not surmise, but the certainty that acute intelligencededuces from facts. 

They rode on until, by a simultaneous impulse, the two reined theirhorses back into a cypress thicket and waited. They had seen threehorsemen on the sky line, coming, in the main, in their direction. Theirtrained eyes noticed at once that the strangers were of varying figure. The foremost, even at the distance, seemed to be gigantic, the secondwas very long and thin, and the third was normal. Smith and Karneswatched them a little while, and then Karnes spoke in words of trueconviction. 

"It would be hard, Deaf, for even a bad eye to mistake the foremost. "

"Right you are, Hank. You might comb Texas with a fine-tooth comb an'you'd never rake out such another. "

"If that ain't Mart Palmer, the Ring Tailed Panther, I'll go straight toSanta Anna an' ask him to shoot me as a fool. "

"You won't have to go to Santa Anna. "

Smith rode from the covert, put his curved hand to his mouth, anduttered a long piercing cry. The three horsemen stopped at once, and thegiant in the lead gave back the signal in the same fashion. Then the twolittle parties rode rapidly toward each other. While they were yet fiftyyards apart they uttered words of hail and good fellowship, and whenthey met they shook hands with the friendship that has been sealed bycommon hardships and dangers. 

"You're goin' toward the Alamo?" said Smith. 

"Yes, " replied the Panther. "We started that way several days ago, butwe've been delayed. We had a brush with one little party of Mexicans, and we had to dodge another that was too big for us. I take it that youride for the same place. "

"We do. Were you with Fannin?"

The dark face of the Panther grew darker. 

"We were, " he replied. "He started to the relief of the Alamo, but theammunition wagon broke down, an' they couldn't get the cannon across theSan Antonio River. So me an' Obed White an' Will Allen here have come onalone. "

"News for news, " said Smith dryly. "Texas has just been made a free an'independent republic, an' Sam Houston has been made commander-in-chiefof all its mighty armies, horse, foot an' cannon. We saw all them thingsdone back there at Washington settlement, an' we, bein' a part of thearmy, are ridin' to the relief of the Alamo. "

"We j'in you, then, " said the Panther, "an' Texas raises two armies ofthe strength of three an' two to one of five. Oh, if only all the Texanshad come what a roarin' an' rippin' an' t'arin' and chawin' there wouldhave been when we struck Santa Anna's army, no matter how big it mightbe. "

"But they didn't come, " said Smith grimly, "an' as far as I know we fiveare all the Texans that are ridin' toward San Antonio de Bexar an' theAlamo. "

"But bein' only five won't keep us from ridin' on, " said the Panther. 

"And things are not always as bad as they look, " said Obed White, afterhe had heard of the messenger who had come to Houston and Unmet. "It'snever too late to hope. "

The five rode fast the remainder of the day. They passed through asilent and desolate land. They saw a few cabins, but every one wasabandoned. The deep sense of tragedy was over them all, even over youngWill Allen. They rarely spoke, and they rode along in silence, save forthe beat of their horses' hoofs. Shortly before night they met a lonebuffalo hunter whom the Panther knew. 

"Have you been close to San Antonio, Simpson?" asked the Panther, afterthe greeting. 

"I've been three or four days hangin' 'roun' the neighborhood, " repliedthe hunter. "I came down from the northwest when I heard that Santa Annawas advancing an' once I thought I'd make a break an' try to get intothe Alamo, but the Mexican lines was drawed too thick an' close. "

"Have you heard anything about the men inside?" asked the Panthereagerly. 

"Not a thing. But I've noticed this. A mornin' an' evenin' gun was firedfrom the fortress every day until yesterday, Sunday, an' sincethen--nothin'. "

The silence in the little band was as ominous as the silence of themorning and evening gun. Simpson shook his head sadly. 

"Boys, " he said, "I'm goin' to ride for Gonzales an' join Houston. Idon't think it's any use for me to be hangin' aroun' San Antonio deBexar any longer. I wish you luck in whatever you're tryin' to do. "

He rode away, but the five friends continued their course toward theAlamo, without hope now, but resolved to see for themselves. Deep in thenight, which fortunately for their purpose was dark, heavy cloudsshutting out the moon and stars, they approached San Antonio from theeast. They saw lights, which they knew were those of the town, but therewas darkness only where they knew the Alamo stood. 

They tethered their horses in some bushes and crept closer, until theycould see the dim bulk of the Alamo. No light shone there. They listenedlong and intently, but not a single sound came from the great hecatomb. Again they crept nearer. There were no Mexican guards anywhere. A littlefurther and they stood by the low northern wall. 

"Boys, " said the Panther, "I can't stand it any longer. Queer feelin'sare runnin' all over me. No, I'm goin' to take the risk, if there isany, all alone. You wait for me here, an' if I don't come back in anhour then you can hunt for me. "

The Panther climbed over the wall and disappeared. The others remainedin the deepest shadow waiting and silent. They were oppressed by theheavy gloom that hung over the Alamo. It was terrifying to young WillAllen, not the terror that is caused by the fear of men, but the terrorthat comes from some tragic mystery that is more than half guessed. 

Nearly an hour passed, when a great figure leaped lightly from the walland joined them. The swarthy face of the Panther was as white as chalk, and he was shivering. 

"Boys, " he whispered, "I've seen what I never want to see ag'in. I'veseen red, red everywhere. I've been through the rooms of the Alamo, an'they're red, splashed with the red blood of men. The water in the ditchwas stained with red, an' the earth all about was soaked with it. Somethin' awful must have happened in the Alamo. There must have been aterrible fight, an' I'm thinkin' that most of our fellows must have diedbefore it was took. But it's give me the creeps, boys, an' I think we'dbetter get away. "

"We can't leave any too quick to please me, " said Will Alien. "I'mseeing ghosts all the time. "

"Now that we know for sure the Alamo has fallen, " said Smith, "nothin'is to be gained by stayin' here. It's for Sam Houston to lead us torevenge, and the more men he has the better. I vote we ride forGonzales. "

"Seein' what we can see as we go, " said Karnes. "The more information wecan pick up on the way about the march of the Mexicans the better itwill be for Houston. "

"No doubt of that, " said the Panther. "When we go to roarin' an' rippin'an' t'arin' we must know what we're about. But come on, boys, all thatred in the Alamo gives me conniption fits. "

They rode toward the east for a long time until they thought they werebeyond the reach of Mexican skirmishing parties, and then they slept ina cypress thicket, Smith and Karnes standing guard by turns. Aseverybody needed rest they did not resume their journey the next dayuntil nearly noon, and they spent most of the afternoon watching forMexican scouts, although they saw none. They had a full rest that nightand the next day they rode slowly toward Gonzales. 

About the middle of the afternoon, as they reached the crest of a swell, Will Allen uttered an exclamation, and pointed toward the easternhorizon. There they saw a single figure on horseback, and anotherwalking beside it. The afternoon sun was very bright, casting a glowover the distant figures, and, shading their eyes with their hands, theygazed at them a long time. 

"It's a woman that's ridin', " said Smith at last, "an' she's carryin'some sort of a bundle before her. "

"You're shorely right, Deaf, " said Karnes, "an' I think the one walkin'is a black fellow. Looks like it from here. "

"I'm your way of thinkin', " said the Panther, "an' the woman on thehorse is American, or I'm mightily fooled in my guess. S'pose we rideahead faster an' see for shore. "

They increased the speed of their mustangs to a gallop and rapidlyoverhauled the little party. They saw the woman trying to urge her horseto greater speed. But the poor beast, evidently exhausted, made noresponse. The woman, turning in the saddle, looked back at her pursuers. 

"By all that's wonderful!" exclaimed Obed White, "the bundle that she'scarrying is a baby!"

"It's so, " said Smith, "an' you can see well enough now that she's oneof our own people. We must show her that she's got nothin' to fear fromus. "

He shouted through his arched hands in tremendous tones that they wereTexans and friends. The woman stopped, and as they galloped up she wouldhave fallen from her horse had not Obed White promptly seized her and, dismounting, lifted her and the baby tenderly to the ground. The coloredboy who had been walking stood by and did not say anything aloud, butmuttered rapidly: "Thank the Lord! Thank the Lord!"

Three of the five were veteran hunters, but they had never before foundsuch a singular party on the prairie. The woman sat down on the ground, still holding the baby tightly in her arms, and shivered all over. TheTexans regarded her in pitying silence for a few minutes, and then ObedWhite said in gentle tones:

"We are friends, ready to take you to safety. Tell us who you are. "

"I am Mrs. Dickinson, " she replied. 

"Deaf" Smith looked startled. 

"There was a Lieutenant Dickinson in the Alamo, " he said. 

"I am his wife, " she replied, "and this is our child. "

"And where is----" Smith stopped suddenly, knowing what the answer mustbe. 

"He is dead, " she replied. "He fell in the defence of the Alamo. "

"Might he not be among the prisoners?" suggested Obed White gently. 

"Prisoners!" she replied. "There were no prisoners. They fought to thelast. Every man who was in the Alamo died in its defence. "

The five stared at her in amazement, and for a little while none spoke. 

"Do you mean to say, " asked Obed White, "that none of the Texanssurvived the fall of the Alamo?"

"None, " she replied. 

"How do you know?"

Her pale face filled with color. It seemed that she, too, at that momentfelt some of the glow that the fall of the Alamo was to suffuse throughTexas. 

"Because I saw, " she replied. "I was in one of the arched rooms of thechurch, where they made the last stand. I saw Crockett fall and I sawthe death of Bowie, too. I saw Santa Anna exult, but many, many Mexicansfell also. It was a terrible struggle. I shall see it again every day ofmy life, even if I live to be a hundred. "

She covered her face with her hands, as if she would cut out the sightof that last inferno in the church. The others were silent, stunned forthe time. 

"All gone, " said Obed White, at last. "When the news is spread thatevery man stood firm to the last I think it will light such a fire inTexas that Santa Anna and all his armies cannot put it out. "

"Did you see a boy called Ned Fulton in the Alamo, a tall, handsomefellow with brown hair and gray eyes?" asked Obed White. 

"Often, " replied Mrs. Dickinson. "He was with Crockett and Bowie a greatdeal. "

"And none escaped?" said Will Allen. 

"Not one, " she repeated, "I did not see him in the church in the finalassault. He doubtless fell in the hospital or in the convent yard. Ah, he was a friend of yours! I am sorry. "

"Yes, he was a friend of ours, " said the Panther. "He was more than thatto me. I loved that boy like a son, an' me an' my comrades here mean tosee that the Mexicans pay a high price for his death. An' may I ask, ma'am, how you come to be here?"

She told him how Santa Anna had provided her with the horse, and hadsent her alone with the proclamation to the Texans. At the Salado Creekshe had come upon the negro servant of Travis, who had escaped from SanAntonio, and he was helping her on the way. 

"An' now, ma'am, " said "Deaf" Smith, "we'll guard you the rest of theway to Gonzales. "

The two little groups, now fused into one, resumed their journey overthe prairie. 

CHAPTER XV

IN ANOTHER TRAP

When Ned Fulton scaled the lowest wall of the Alamo and dropped into thedarkness he ran for a long time. He scarcely knew in what direction hewas going, but he was anxious to get away from that terrible town of SanAntonio de Bexar. He was filled with grief for his friends and angeragainst Santa Anna and his people. He had passed through an event sotremendous in its nature, so intense and fiery in its results, that hiswhole character underwent a sudden change. But a boy in years, the mannevertheless replaced the boy in his mind. He had looked upon the faceof awful things, so awful that few men could bear to behold them. 

There was a certain hardening of his nature now. As he ran, and whilethe feeling of horror was still upon him, the thought of vengeanceswelled into a passion. The Texans must strike back for what had beendone in the Alamo. Surely all would come when they heard the news thathe was bringing. 

He believed that the Texans, and they must be assembled in forcesomewhere, would be toward the east or the southeast, at Harrisburg orGoliad or some other place. He would join them as soon as he could, andhe slackened his pace to a walk. He was too good a borderer now toexhaust himself in the beginning. 

He was overpowered after a while by an immense lethargy. A greatcollapse, both physical and mental, came after so much exhaustion. Hefelt that he must rest or die. The night was mild, as the spring was nowwell advanced in Texas, and he sought a dense thicket in which he mightlie for a while. But there was no scrub or chaparral within easy reach, and his feeling of lassitude became so great that he stopped when hecame to a huge oak and lay down under the branches, which spread far andlow. 

He judged that he was about six miles from San Antonio, a reasonablysafe distance for the night, and, relaxing completely, he fell asleep. Then nature began her great work. The pulses which were beating so fastand hard in the hoy's body grew slower and more regular, and at lastbecame normal. The blood flowed in a fresh and strong current throughhis veins. The great physician, minute by minute, was building up hissystem again. 

Ned's collapse had been so complete that he did not stir for hours. Theday came and the sun rose brilliant in red and gold. The boy did notstir, but not far away a large animal moved. Ned's tree was at the edgeof a little grassy plain, and upon this the animal stood, with a headheld high and upturned nose sniffing the breeze that came from thedirection of the sleeper. 

It was in truth a great animal, one with tremendous teeth, and afterhesitating a while it walked toward the tree under which the boy lay. Here it paused and again sniffed the air, which was now strong with thehuman odor. It remained there a while, staring with great eyes at thesleeping form, and then went back to the grassy little meadow. Itrevisited the boy at intervals, but never disturbed him, and Ned sleptpeacefully on. 

It was nearly noon when Ned awoke, and he might not have awakened thenhad not the sun from its new position sent a shaft of light directlyinto his eyes. He saw that his precious rifle was still lying by hisside, and then he sprang to his feet, startled to find by the sun thatit was so late. He heard a loud joyous neigh, and a great bay horsetrotted toward him. 

It was Old Jack, the faithful dumb brute, of which he had thought sorarely during all those tense days in the Alamo. The Mexicans had nottaken him. He was here, and happy chance had brought him and his mastertogether again. It was so keen a joy to see a friend again, even ananimal, that Ned put his arm around Old Jack's neck, and for the firsttime tears came to his eyes. 

"Good Old Jack!" he said, patting his horse's nose. "You must have beenwaiting here all the time for me. And you must have fared well, too. Inever before saw you looking so fat and saucy. "

The finding of the horse simplified Ned's problem somewhat. He hadneither saddle nor bridle, but Old Jack always obeyed him beautifully. He believed that if it came to the pinch, and it became necessary forhim to ride for his life, he could guide him in the Indian fashion withthe pressure of the knees. 

He made a sort of halter of withes which he fastened on Old Jack's head, and then he sprang upon his bare back, feeling equal to almost anything. He rode west by south now, his course taking him toward Goliad, and hewent on at a good gait until twilight. A little later he made out theshapes of wild turkeys, then very numerous in Texas among the boughs ofthe trees, and he brought a fine fat one down at the first shot. Aftersome difficulty he lighted a fire with the flint and steel, which theMexicans fortunately had not taken from him, toasted great strips overthe coals, and ate hungrily of juicy and tender wild turkey. 

He was all the time aware that his fire might bring danger down uponhim, but he was willing to chance it. After he had eaten enough he tookthe remainder of his turkey and rode on. It was a clear, starry nightand, as he had been awake only since noon, he continued until about teno'clock, when he again took the turf under a tree for a couch. Heslipped the rude halter from Old Jack, patted him on the head and said:

"Old Jack, after the lofty way in which you have behaved I wouldn'tdisgrace you by tying you up for the night. Moreover, I know that you'rethe best guard I could possibly have, and so, trusting you implicitly, Ishall go to sleep. "

His confidence was justified, and the next morning they were away againover the prairie. Ned was sure that he would meet roving Texans orMexicans before noon, but he saw neither. He surmised that the news ofSanta Anna's great force had sent all the Texans eastward, but theloneliness and desolation nevertheless weighed upon him. 

He crossed several streams, all of them swollen and deep from springrains, and every time he came to one he returned thanks again because hehad found Old Jack. The great horse always took the flood withouthesitation, and would come promptly to the other bank. 

He saw many deer, and started up several flights of wild turkeys, but hedid not disturb them. He was a soldier now, not a hunter, and he soughtmen, not animals. Another night came and found him still alone on theprairie. As before, he slept undisturbed under the boughs of a tree, andhe awoke the next morning thoroughly sound in body and much refreshed inmind. But the feeling of hardness, the desire for revenge, remained. Hewas continually seeing the merciless face of Santa Anna and thesanguinary interior of the Alamo. The imaginative quality of his mindand his sensitiveness to cruelty had heightened the effect produced uponhim. 

He continued to ride through desolate country for several days, livingon the game that his rifle brought. He slept one night in an abandonedcabin, with Old Jack resting in the grass that was now growing rankly atthe door. He came the next day to a great trail, so great in truth thathe believed it to have been made by Mexicans. He did not believe thatthere was anywhere a Texan force sufficient to tread out so broad aroad. 

He noticed, too, that the hoofs of the horses were turned in the generaldirection of Goliad or Victoria, nearer the sea, and he concluded thatthis was another strong Mexican army intended to complete the ruin ofinfant Texas. He decided to follow, and near nightfall he saw the campfires of a numerous force. He rode as near as he dared and reckoned thatthere were twelve or fifteen hundred men in the camp. He was sure thatit was no part of the army with which Santa Anna had taken the Alamo. 

Ned rode a wide circuit around the camp and continued his ride in thenight. He was forced to rest and sleep a while toward morning, butshortly after daylight he went forward again to warn he knew not whom. Two or three hours later he saw two horsemen on the horizon, and he rodetoward them. He knew that if they should prove to be Mexicans Old Jackwas swift enough to carry him out of reach. But he soon saw that theywere Texans, and he hailed them. 

The two men stopped and watched him as he approached. The fact that herode a horse without saddle or bridle was sufficient to attract theirattention, and they saw, too, that he was wild in appearance, with long, uncombed hair and torn clothing. They were hunters who had come out fromthe little town of Refugio. 

Ned hailed them again when he came closer. 

"You are Texans and friends?" he said. 

"Yes, we are Texans and friends, " replied the older of the two men. "Whoare you?"

"My name is Fulton, Edward Fulton, and I come from the Alamo. "

"The Alamo? How could that be? How could you get out?"

"I was sent out on an errand by Colonel Crockett, a fictitious errandfor the purpose of saving me, I now believe. But I fell at once into thehands of Santa Anna. The next morning the Alamo was taken by storm, butevery Texan in it died in its defence. I saw it done. "

Then he told to them the same tale that Mrs. Dickinson had told to thePanther and his little party, adding also that a large Mexican force wasundoubtedly very near. 

"Then you've come just in time, " said the older man. "We've heard that abig force under General Urrea was heading for the settlements near thecoast, and Captain King and twenty-five or thirty men are now at Refugioto take the people away. We'll hurry there with your news and we'll tryto get you a saddle and bridle, too. "

"For which I'll be thankful, " said Ned. 

But he was really more thankful for human companionship than anythingelse. He tingled with joy to be with the Texans again, and during thehours that they were riding to Refugio he willingly answered theceaseless questions of the two men, Oldham and Jackson, who wanted toknow everything that had happened at the Alamo. When they reachedRefugio they found there Captain King with less than thirty men who hadbeen sent by Fannin, as Jackson had said, to bring away the people. 

Ned was taken at once to King, who had gathered his men in the littleplaza. He saw that the soldiers were not Texans, that is, men who hadlong lived in Texas, but fresh recruits from the United States, whollyunfamiliar with border ways and border methods of fighting. The townitself was an old Mexican settlement with an ancient stone church ormission, after the fashion of the Alamo, only smaller. 

"You say that you were in the Alamo, and that all the defenders havefallen except you?" said the Captain, looking curiously at Ned. 

"Yes, " replied the boy. 

"And that the Mexican force dispatched against the Eastern settlementsis much nearer than was supposed?"

"Yes, " replied Ned, "and as proof of my words there it is now. "

He had suddenly caught the gleam of lances in a wood a little distanceto the west of the town, and he knew that the Mexican cavalry, ridingahead of the main army, was at hand. It was a large force, too, one withwhich the little band of recruits could not possibly cope in the open. Captain King seemed dazed, but Ned, glancing at the church, rememberedthe Alamo. Every Spanish church or mission was more or less of afortress, and he exclaimed:

"The church, Captain, the church! We can hold it against the cavalry!"

"Good!" cried the Captain. "An excellent idea!"

They rushed for the church and Ned followed. Old Jack did not get thesaddle and bridle that had been promised to him. When the boy leapedfrom his back he snatched off the halter of withes and shouted loudlyto him: "Go!"

It pained him to abandon his horse a second time under compulsion, butthere was no choice. Old Jack galloped away as if he knew what he oughtto do, and then Ned, running into the church with the others, helpedthem to bar the doors. 

The church was a solid building of stone with a flat roof, and with manyloopholes made long ago as a defence against the Indians. Ned heard thecavalry thundering into the village as they barred the doors, and thenhe and half a dozen men ran to the roof. Lying down there, they took aimat the charging horsemen. 

These were raw recruits, but they knew how to shoot. Their riflesflashed and four or five saddles were emptied. The men below were alsofiring from the loopholes, and the front rank of the Mexican cavalry wascut down by the bullets. The whole force turned at a shout from anofficer, and galloped to the shelter of some buildings. Ned estimatedthat they were two hundred in number, and he surmised that young Urrealed them. 

He descended from the roof and talked with King. The men understoodtheir situation, but they were exultant. They had beaten off the enemy'scavalry, and they felt that the final victory must be theirs. But Nedhad been in the Alamo, and he knew that the horsemen had merely hoped tosurprise and overtake them with a dash. Stone fortresses are not takenby cavalry. He was sure that the present force would remain under coveruntil the main army came up with cannon. He suggested to Captain Kingthat he send a messenger to Fannin for help. 

King thought wisely of the suggestion and chose Jackson, who slipped outof the church, escaped through an oak forest and disappeared. Ned thenmade a careful examination of the church, which was quite a strongbuilding with a supply of water inside and some dried corn. The men hadbrought rations also with them, and they were amply supplied for a siegeof several days. But Ned, already become an expert in this kind of war, judged that it would not last so long. He believed that the Mexicans, flushed by the taking of the Alamo, would push matters. 

King, lacking experience, leaned greatly on young Fulton. The men, whobelieved implicitly every word that he had said, regarded him almostwith superstition. He alone of the defenders had come alive out of thatterrible charnel house, the Alamo. 

"I suspect, " said King, "that the division you saw is under GeneralUrrea. "

"Very probably, " said Ned. "Of course, Santa Anna, no longer having anyuse for his army in San Antonio, can send large numbers of troopseastward. "

"Which means that we'll have a hard time defending this place, " saidKing gloomily. 

"Unless Fannin sends a big force to our help. "

"I'm not so sure that he'll send enough, " said King. "His men are nearlyall fresh from the States, and they know nothing of the country. It'shard for him to tell what to do. We started once to the relief of theAlamo, but our ammunition wagon broke down and we could not get ourcannon across the San Antonio River. Things don't seem to be going rightwith us. "

Ned was silent. His thoughts turned back to the Alamo. And so Fannin andhis men had started but had never come! Truly "things were going wrong!"But perhaps it was just as well. The victims would have only been morenumerous, and Fannin's men were saved to fight elsewhere for Texas. 

He heard a rattle of musketry, and through one of the loopholes he sawthat the Mexican cavalry in the wood had opened a distant fire. Only afew of the bullets reached the church, and they fell spent against thestones. Ned saw that very little harm was likely to come from such afire, but he believed it would be wise to show the Mexicans that thedefenders were fully awake. 

"Have you any specially good riflemen?" he asked King. 

"Several. "

"Suppose you put them at the loopholes and see if they can't pick offsome of those Mexican horsemen. It would have a most healthy effect. "

Six young men came forward, took aim with their long barreled rifles, and at King's command fired. Three of the saddles were emptied, andthere was a rapid movement of the Mexicans, who withdrew further intothe wood. The defenders reloaded and waited. 

Ned knew better than Captain King or any of his men the extremelydangerous nature of their position. Since the vanguard was already herethe Mexican army must be coming on rapidly, and this was no Alamo. Norwere these raw recruits defenders of an Alamo. 

He saw presently a man, holding a white handkerchief on the end of alance, ride out from the wood. Ned recognized him at once. It was youngUrrea. As Ned had suspected, he was the leader of the cavalry for hisuncle, the general. 

"What do you think he wants?" asked King. 

"He will demand our surrender, but even if we were to yield it is likelythat we should be put to death afterward. "

"I have no idea of surrendering under any circumstances. Do you speakSpanish?"

"Oh, yes, " said Ned, seizing the opportunity. 

"Then, as I can't, you do the talking for us, and tell it to himstraight and hard that we're going to fight. "

Ned climbed upon the roof, and sat with only his head showing above theparapet, while Urrea rode slowly forward, carrying the lance and thewhite flag jauntily. Ned could not keep from admiring his courage, asthe white flag, even, in such a war as this might prove no protection. He stopped at a distance of about thirty yards and called loudly inSpanish:

"Within the church there! I wish to speak to you!"

Ned stood up, his entire figure now being revealed, and replied:

"I have been appointed spokesman for our company. What do you want?"

Urrea started slightly in his saddle, and then regarded Ned with a lookof mingled irony and hatred. 

"And so, " he said, "our paths cross again. You escaped us at the Alamo. Why General Santa Anna spared you then I do not know, but he is not hereto give new orders concerning you!"

"What do you want?" repeated Ned. 

"We want the church, yourself and all the other bandits who are withinit. "

Ned's face flushed at Urrea's contemptuous words and manner, and hisheart hardened into a yet deeper hatred of the Mexicans. But hecontrolled his voice and replied evenly. 

"And if we should surrender, what then?"

"The mercy of the illustrious General Santa Anna, whatever it may be. "

"I saw his mercy at the Alamo, " replied Ned, "and we want none of it. Nor would we surrender, even if we could trust your most illustriousGeneral Santa Anna. "

"Then take your fate, " said Urrea. "Since you were at the Alamo you knowwhat befell the defenders there, and this place, mostly in ruins, is notnearly so strong. Adios!"

"Adios!" said Ned, speaking in a firm tone. But he felt that there wastruth in Urrea's words. Little was left of the mission but its strongwalls. Nevertheless, they might hold them. 

"What did he say?" asked King. 

"He demanded our surrender. "

"On what terms?"

"Whatever Santa Anna might decree, and if you had seen the red flag ofno quarter waving in sight of the Alamo you would know his decree. "

"And your reply?"

"I told him that we meant to hold the place. "

"Good enough, " said King. "Now we will go back to business. I wish thatwe had more ammunition. "

"Fannin's men may bring plenty, " said Ned. "And now, if you don't mind, Captain King, I'm going to sleep down there at the foot of the wall, andto-night I'll join the guard. "

"Do as you wish, " said King, "you know more about Texas and theseMexicans than any of us. "

"I'd suggest a very thorough watch when night comes. Wake me up aboutmidnight, won't you?"

Ned lay down in the place that he had chosen. It was only the middle ofthe afternoon, but he had become so inured to hardship that he sleptquickly. Several shots were fired before twilight came, but they did notawaken him. At midnight King, according to his request, took him by theshoulder and he stood up. 

"Nothing of importance has happened, " said King. 

"You can see the camp fires of the Mexicans in the wood, but as far aswe can tell they are not making any movement. "

"Probably they are content to wait for the main force, " said Ned. 

"Looks like it, " said King. 

"If you have no objection, Captain, " said Ned, "I think I'll go outsideand scout about a little. "

"Good idea, I think, " said King. 

They opened the door a moment and Ned slipped forth. The night was quitedark and, with the experience of border work that he was rapidlyacquiring, he had little fear of being caught by the Mexicans. He kepthis eye on the light burning in the wood and curved in a half circle tothe right. The few houses that made up the village were all dark, buthis business was with none of them. He intended to see, if he could, whether the main Mexican force was approaching. If it should prove to beat hand with the heavy cannon there would be no possible chance ofholding the mission, and they must get away. 

He continued in his wide curve, knowing that in this case the longestway around was the best and safest, and he gradually passed into astretch of chaparral beyond the town. Crossing it, he came into ameadow, and then he suddenly heard the soft pad of feet. He sought tospring back into the chaparral, but a huge dim figure bore down uponhim, and then his heart recovered its normal beat when he saw that itwas only Old Jack. 

Ned stroked the great muzzle affectionately, but he was compelled to putaway his friend. 

"No, faithful comrade, " he said. "I can't take you with me. I'd like todo it, but there's no room in a church for a horse as big as you are. Go now! Go at once, or the Mexicans will get you!"

He struck the horse smartly on the jaw. Old Jack looked at himreproachfully, but turned and trotted away from the town. Ned continuedhis scout. This proof of affection from a dumb brute cheered him. 

An hour's cautious work brought him to the far side of the wood. As wellas he could judge, nearly all the Mexican troopers were asleep aroundtwo fires, but they had posted sentinels who walked back and forth, calling at intervals "Sentinela alerte" to one another. Obviously therehad been no increase in their force. They were sufficient to maintain ablockade of the church, but too few to surround it completely. 

He went two or three miles to the west and, seeing no evidence that themain force was approaching, he decided to return to the church. Hisoriginal curve had taken him by the south side of the wood, and he wouldreturn by the north side in order that his examination might becomplete. 

He walked rapidly, as the night was far advanced, and the sky was veryclear, with bright stars twinkling in myriads. He did not wish day tocatch him outside the mission. It was a prairie country, with patches offorest here and there, and as he crossed from one wood to another he waswholly without cover. 

He was within a mile of the mission when he heard the faint tread ofhorses' hoofs, and he concluded that Old Jack, contrary to orders, wascoming forward to meet him again. He paused, but the faint treadsuddenly became rapid and heavy. A half dozen horsemen who had riddeninto the prairie had caught sight of him and now they were gallopingtoward him. The brightness of the night showed Ned at once that theywere Mexican cavalrymen, and as he was on foot he was at a greatdisadvantage. 

He ran at full speed for the nearest grove. The Mexicans fired severalmusket shots at him, but the bullets all went wild. He did not undertakea reply, as he was straining every effort to reach the trees. Severalpistols also were emptied at him, but he yet remained unhurt. 

Nevertheless, the horsemen were coming alarmingly near. 

He heard the thunder of hoofs in his ears, and he heard also a quickhiss like that of a snake. 

Ned knew that the hissing sound was made by a lasso, and as he dodged hefelt the coil, thrown in vain, slipping from his shoulders. He whirledabout and fired at the man who had thrown the lasso. The rider uttered acry, fell backward on his horse, and then to the ground. 

As Ned turned for the shot he saw that Urrea was the leader of thehorsemen. Whether Urrea had recognized him or not he did not know, butthe fact that he was there increased his apprehension. He made a mightyeffort and leaped the next instant into the protection of the trees andthickets. Fortune favored him now. A wood alone would not have protectedhim, but here were vines and bushes also. 

He turned off at a sharp angle and ran as swiftly and with as littlenoise as he could. He heard the horses floundering in the forest, andthe curses of their riders. He ran a hundred yards further and, comingto a little gully, lay down in it and reloaded his rifle. Then he stayedthere until he could regain his breath and strength. While he lay heheard the Mexicans beating up the thickets, and Urrea giving sharporders. 

Ned knew that his hiding place must soon be discovered, and he began toconsider what would be the best movement to make next. His heart had nowreturned to its normal beat, and he felt that he was good for anotherfine burst of speed. 

He heard the trampling of the horses approaching, and then the voice ofUrrea telling the others that he was going straight ahead and to followhim. Evidently they had beaten up the rest of the forest, and now theywere bound to come upon him. Ned sprang from the gully, ran from thewood and darted across the prairie toward the next little grove. 

He was halfway toward the coveted shelter when Urrea caught sight ofhim, gave a shout, and fired his pistol. Ned, filled with hatred ofUrrea, fired in return. But the bullet, instead of striking thehorseman, struck the horse squarely in the head. The horse fellinstantly, and Urrea, hurled violently over his head, lay still. 

Ned caught it all in a fleeting glance, and in a few more steps hegained the second wood. He did not know how much Urrea was hurt, nor didhe care. He had paid back a little, too. He was sure, also, that thepursuit would be less vigorous, now that its leader was disabled. 

The second grove did not contain so many vines and bushes, but, hidingbehind a tree there, Ned saw the horsemen hold off. Without Urrea tourge them on they were afraid of the rifle that the fugitive used sowell. Two, also, had stopped to tend Urrea, and Ned decided that theothers would not now enter the grove. 

He was right in his surmise. The horsemen rode about at a safe distancefrom the trees. Ned, taking his time, reloaded his rifle again anddeparted for the mission. There was now fairly good cover all the way, but he heard other troops of Mexicans riding about, and blowing trumpetsas signals. No doubt the shots had been heard at the main camp, and manymen were seeking their cause. 

But Ned, fortunately for himself, was now like the needle in thehaystack. While the trumpets signaled and the groups of Mexican horsemenrode into one another he stole back to the old mission and knocked uponthe door with the butt of his rifle. Answering King's questions throughthe loophole, he was admitted quickly. 

"The main army hasn't come up yet, " he said, in reply to the eagerinquiries of the defenders. "Fannin's men may get here in time, and ifthey are in sufficient force to beat off the cavalry detachment Isuggest that we abandon the mission before we are caught in a trap, andretreat toward Fannin. If we linger the whole Mexican army will bearound us. "

"Sounds right, " said King, "but we've got to hear from Fannin first. Nowyou look pretty tired, Fulton. Suppose you roll up in some blanketsthere by the wall and take a nap. "

"I don't want to sleep now, " said Ned. "You remember that I slept untilnearly midnight. But I would like to stretch out a while. It's not veryrestful to be hunted through woods by Mexicans, even if you do getaway. "

Ned lay by the wall upon the blankets and watched the sun go slowly upthe arch of the heavens. It seemed a hard fate to him that he shouldagain be trapped thus in an old mission. Nor did he have here thestrength and support of the great borderers like Bowie and Crockett. Hemissed them most of all now. 

The day passed slowly and with an occasional exchange of shots that didlittle harm. Toward the twilight one of the sentinels on the walluttered a great and joyous shout. 

"The reinforcements!" he cried. "See, our friends are coming!"

Ned climbed upon the wall and saw a force of more than a hundred men, obviously Texans, approaching. They answered the hail of the sentineland came on more swiftly. His eyes turned to the wood, in which theMexican camp yet lay. Their cavalry would still outnumber the Texanforce two or three to one, but the Mexicans invariably demanded greaterodds than that before they would attack the Texans. Ned saw no stir inthe wood. Not a shot was fired as the new men came forward and werejoyously admitted to the church. 

The men were one hundred and twenty in number, led by Colonel Ward, whoby virtue of his rank now commanded all the defenders. As soon as theyhad eaten and rested a council, at which Ned was present, was held. Kinghad already told the story of young Fulton to Ward, and that officerlooked very curiously at Ned as he came forward. He asked him brieflyabout the Alamo, and Ned gave him the usual replies. Then he told ofwhat he had seen before he joined King. 

"How large do you think this force was?" asked Ward. 

"About fifteen hundred men. "

"And we've a hundred and fifty here. You were not much more than ahundred and fifty in the Alamo, and you held it two weeks againstthousands. Why should we retreat?"

"But the Alamo fell at last, " said Ned, "and this Refugio mission is notso defensible as the Alamo was. "

"You think, then, we should retreat?"

"I do. I'm sure the place cannot be held against a large army. "

There was much discussion. Ned saw that all the men of the new forcewere raw recruits from the States like King's. Many of them were mereboys, drawn to Texas by the love of adventure. They showed morecuriosity than alarm, and it was evident to Ned that they felt able todefeat any number of Mexicans. 

Ned, called upon again for his opinion, urged that they withdraw fromthe church and the town at once, but neither Ward nor King was willingto make a retreat in the night. They did not seem especially anxious towithdraw at all, but finally agreed to do so in the morning. 

Ned left the council, depressed and uneasy. He felt that his countrymenheld the Mexicans too lightly. Were other tragedies to be added to thatof the Alamo? He was no egotist, but he was conscious of his superiorityto all those present in the grave affairs with which they were nowdealing. 

He took his rifle and went upon the wall, where he resolved to watch allthrough the night. He saw the lights in the wood where the Mexicans werecamped, but darkness and silence prevailed everywhere else. He had nodoubt that young Urrea had sent messengers back to hurry up the mainforce. He smiled to himself at the thought of Urrea. He was sure thatthe young Mexican had sustained no fatal injury, but he must havepainful wounds. And Ned, with the Alamo as vivid as ever in his mind, was glad that he had inflicted them. 

Midnight came, and Ward told Ned that he need not watch any longer whenthe second relay of sentinels appeared. But the boy desired to remainand Ward had no objection. 

"But you'll be sleepy, " he said, in a good-humored tone, "when we startat the break of day, and you won't have much chance to rest on a longmarch. "

"I'll have to take the risk, " said Ned. "I feel that I ought to bewatching. "

Toward morning the men in the mission were awakened and began to preparefor the march. They made considerable noise as they talked and adjustedtheir packs, but Ned paid no attention to them. He was listening insteadto a faint sound approaching the town from the south. No one in thechurch or on the walls heard it but himself, but he knew that it wassteadily growing louder. 

Ned, moreover, could tell the nature of that sound, and as it swelledhis heart sank within him. The first spear of light, herald of dawn, appeared in the east and Ward called out cheerfully:

"Well, we are all ready to go now. "

"It is too late, " said Ned. "The whole Mexican army is here. "

CHAPTER XVI

FANNIN'S CAMP

When Ned made his startling announcement he leaped down lightly from thewall. 

"If you will look through the loophole there, " he said to Colonel Ward, "you will see a great force only a few hundred yards away. The man onthe large horse in front is General Urrea, who commands them. He is oneof Santa Anna's most trusted generals. His nephew, Captain Urrea, ledthe cavalry who besieged us yesterday and last night. "

Captain Ward looked, but the Mexicans turned into the wood and werehidden from sight. Then the belief became strong among the recruits thatNed was mistaken. This was only a little force that had come, and Wardand King shared their faith. Ward, against Ned's protest, sent King andthirteen men out to scout. 

Ned sadly watched them go. He was one of the youngest present, but hewas first in experience, and he knew that he had seen aright. GeneralUrrea and the main army were certainly at hand. But he deemed it wiserto say nothing more. Instead, he resumed his place on the wall, and keptsharp watch on the point where he thought the Mexican force lay. Kingand his scouts were already out of sight. 

Ned suddenly heard the sound of shots, and he saw puffs of smoke fromthe wood. Then a great shout arose and Mexican cavalry dashed from theedge of the forest. Some of the other watchers thought the mission wasabout to be attacked, but the horsemen bore down upon another point tothe northward. Ned divined instantly that they had discovered King andhis men and were surrounding them. 

He leaped once more from the wall and shouted the alarm to Ward. 

"The men out there are surrounded, " he cried. "They will have no chancewithout help!"

Ward was brave enough, and his men, though lacking skill, were braveenough, too. At his command they threw open the gate of the mission andrushed out to the relief of their comrades. Ned was by the side of Ward, near the front. As they appeared in the opening they heard a greatshouting, and a powerful detachment of cavalry galloped toward theirright, while an equally strong force of infantry moved on their left. The recruits were outnumbered at least five to one, but in such adesperate situation they did not blench. 

"Take good aim with your rifles, " shouted Ward. And they did. A showerof bullets cut gaps in the Mexican line, both horse and foot. Manyriderless horses galloped through the ranks of the foe, adding to theconfusion. But the Mexican numbers were so great that they continued topress the Texans. Young Urrea, his head in thick bandages, was againwith the cavalry, and animated by more than one furious impulse he drovethem on. 

It became evident now even to the rawest that the whole Mexican army waspresent. It spread out to a great distance, and enfolded the Texans onthree sides, firing hundreds of muskets and keeping up a great shouting, Ned's keen ear also detected other firing off to the right, and he knewthat it was King and his men making a hopeless defence againstoverpowering numbers. 

"We cannot reach King, " groaned Ward. 

"We have no earthly chance of doing so, " said Ned, "and I think, Colonel, that your own force will have a hard fight to get back insidethe mission. "

The truth of Ned's words was soon evident to everyone. It was only thedeadly Texan rifles that kept the Mexican cavalry from galloping overthem and crushing them at once. The Mexican fire itself, coming frommuskets of shorter range, did little damage. Yet the Texans werecompelled to load and pull trigger very fast, as they retreated slowlyupon the mission. 

At last they reached the great door and began to pass rapidly inside. Now the Mexicans pressed closer, firing heavy volleys. 

A score of the best Texan marksmen whirled and sent their bullets at thepursuing Mexicans with such good aim that a dozen saddles were emptied, and the whole force reeled back. Then all the Texans darted inside, andthe great door was closed and barricaded. Many of the men sank down, breathless from their exertions, regardless of the Mexican bullets thatwere pattering upon the church. Ward leaned against the wall, and wipedthe perspiration from his face. 

"My God!" he exclaimed. "What has become of King?"

There was no answer. The Mexicans ceased to fire and shout, andretreated toward the wood. Ward was destined never to know what hadbecome of King and his men, but Ned soon learned the terrible facts, andthey only hardened him still further. The thirteen had been compelled tosurrender to overwhelming numbers. Then they were immediately tied totrees and killed, where their skeletons remained upright until theTexans found them. 

"You were right, Fulton, " said Ward, after a long silence. "The Mexicanarmy was there, as we have plenty of evidence to show. "

He smiled sadly, as he wiped the smoke and perspiration from his face. Ned did not reply, but watched through a loophole. He had seen a glintof bronze in the wood, and presently he saw the Mexicans pushing acannon from cover. 

"They have artillery, " he said to Ward. "See the gun. But I don't thinkit can damage our walls greatly. They never did much with the cannon atthe Alamo. When they came too close there, we shot down all theircannoneers, and we can do the same here. "

Ward chose the best sharpshooters, posting them at the loopholes and onthe walls. They quickly slew the Mexicans who tried to man the gun, andGeneral Urrea was forced to withdraw it to such a distance that itsballs and shells had no effect whatever upon the strong walls of thechurch. 

There was another period of silence, but the watchers in the old missionsaw that much movement was going on in the wood and presently theybeheld the result. The Mexican army charged directly upon the church, carrying in its center men with heavy bars of wood to be used insmashing in the door. But they yielded once more to the rapid fire ofthe Texan rifles, and did not succeed in reaching the building. Thosewho bore the logs and bars dropped them, and fled out of range. 

A great cheer burst from the young recruits. They thought victorycomplete already, but Ned knew that the Mexicans would not abandon theenterprise. General Urrea, after another futile charge, repulsed in thesame deadly manner, withdrew some distance, but posted a strong line ofsentinels about the church. 

Having much food and water the recruits rejoiced again and thoughtthemselves secure, but Ned noticed a look of consternation on the faceof Ward, and he divined the cause. 

"It must be the ammunition, Colonel, " he said in a whisper. 

"It is, " replied Ward. "We have only three or four rounds left. We couldnot possibly repel another attack. "

"Then, " said young Fulton, "there is nothing to do but for us to slipout at night, and try to cut our way through. "

"That is so, " said Ward. "The Mexican general doubtless will not expectany such move on our part, and we may get away. "

He said nothing of his plan to the recruits until the darkness came, andthen the state of the powder horns and the bullet pouches was announced. Most of the men had supposed that they alone were suffering from theshortage, and something like despair came over them when they found thatthey were practically without weapons. They were more than willing toleave the church, as soon as the night deepened, and seek refuge overthe prairie. 

"You think that we can break through?" said Ward to Ned. 

"I have no doubt of it, " replied Ned, "but in any event it seems to me, Colonel, that we ought to try it. All the valor and devotion of the menin the Alamo did not suffice to save them. We cannot hold the placeagainst a determined assault. "

"That is undoubtedly true, " said Ward, "and flushed by the success thatthey have had elsewhere it seems likely to me that the Mexicans willmake such an attack very soon. "

"In any event, " said Ned, "we are isolated here, cut off from Fannin, and exposed to imminent destruction. "

"We start at midnight, " said Ward. 

Ned climbed upon the walls, and examined all the surrounding country. Hesaw lights in the wood, and now and then he discerned the figures ofMexican horsemen, riding in a circle about the church, members of thepatrol that had been left by General Urrea. He did not think it adifficult thing to cut through this patrol, but the Texans, in theirflight, must become disorganized to a certain extent. Nevertheless itwas the only alternative. 

The men were drawn up at the appointed time, and Ward told them brieflywhat they were to do. They must keep as well together as possible, andthe plan was to make their way to Victoria, where they expected torejoin Fannin. They gave calabashes of water and provisions to severalmen too badly wounded to move, and left them to the mercy of theMexicans, a mercy that did not exist, as Urrea's troops massacred themthe moment they entered the church. 

Luckily it was a dark night, and Ned believed that they had more thanhalf a chance of getting away. The great door was thrown silently open, and, with a moving farewell to their wounded and disabled comrades, theyfiled silently out, leaving the door open behind them. 

Then the column of nearly one hundred and fifty men slipped away, everyman treading softly. They had chosen a course that lay directly awayfrom the Mexican army, but they did not expect to escape without analarm, and it came in five minutes. A Mexican horseman, one of thepatrol, saw the dark file, fired a shot and gave an alarm. In aninstant all the sentinels were firing and shouting, and Urrea's army inthe wood was awakening. 

But the Texans now pressed forward rapidly. Their rifles cracked, quickly cutting a path through the patrol, and before Urrea could get uphis main force they were gone through the forest and over the prairie. 

Knowing that the whole country was swarming with the Mexican forces, they chose a circuitous course through forests and swamps and pressed onuntil daylight. Some of the Mexicans on horseback followed them for awhile, but a dozen of the best Texan shots were told off to halt them. When three or four saddles were emptied the remainder of the Mexicansdisappeared and they pursued their flight in peace. 

Morning found them in woods and thickets by the banks of a little creekof clear water. They drank from the stream, ate of their cold food, andrested. Ned and some others left the wood and scouted upon the prairie. They saw no human being and returned to their own people, feeling surethat they were safe from pursuit for the present. 

Yet the Texans felt no exultation. They had been compelled to retreatbefore the Mexicans, and they could not forget King and his men, andthose whom they had left behind in the church. Ned, in his heart, knowing the Mexicans so well, did not believe that a single one of themhad been saved. 

They walked the whole day, making for the town of Victoria, where theyexpected to meet Fannin, and shortly before night they stopped in awood, footsore and exhausted. Again their camp was pitched on the banksof a little creek and some of the hunters shot two fine fat deer furtherup the stream. 

Seeking as much cheer as they could they built fires, and roasted thedeer. The spirits of the young recruits rose. They would meet Fanninto-morrow or the next day and they would avenge the insult that theMexicans had put upon them. They were eager for a new action in whichthe odds should not be so great against them, and they felt sure ofvictory. Then, posting their sentinels, they slept soundly. 

But Ned did not feel so confident. Toward morning he rose from hisblankets. Yet he saw nothing. The prairie was bare. There was not asingle sign of pursuit. He was surprised. He believed that at least theyounger Urrea with the cavalry would follow. 

Ned now surmised the plan that the enemy had carried out. Instead offollowing the Texans through the forests and swamps they had gonestraight to Victoria, knowing that the fugitives would make for thatpoint. Where Fannin was he could not even guess, but it was certain thatWard and his men were left practically without ammunition to defendthemselves as best they could against a horde of foes. 

The hunted Texans sought the swamps of the Guadalupe, where Mexicancavalry could not follow them, but where they were soon overtaken byskirmishers. Hope was now oozing from the raw recruits. There seemed tobe no place in the world for them. Hunted here and there they neverfound rest. But the most terrible fact of all was the lack ofammunition. Only a single round for every man was left, and they repliedsparingly to the Mexican skirmishers. 

They lay now in miry woods, and on the other side of them flowed thewide and yellow river. The men sought, often in vain, for firm spots onwhich they might rest. The food, like the ammunition, was all gone, andthey were famished and weak. The scouts reported that the Mexicans wereincreasing every hour. 

It was obvious to Ned that Ward must surrender. What could men withoutammunition do against many times their number, well armed? He resolvedthat he would not be taken with them, and shortly before day he pulledthrough the mud to the edge of the Guadalupe. He undressed and made hisclothes and rifle into a bundle. He had been very careful of his ownammunition, and he had a half dozen rounds left, which he also tied intothe bundle. 

Then shoving a fallen log into the water he bestrode it, holding hisprecious pack high and dry. Paddling with one hand he was able to directthe log in a diagonal course across the stream. He toiled throughanother swamp on that shore, and, coming out upon a little prairie, dressed again. 

He looked back toward the swamp in which the Texans lay, but he saw nolights and he heard no sounds there. He knew that within a short timethey would be prisoners of the Mexicans. Everything seemed to be workingfor the benefit of Santa Anna. The indecision of the Texans and thescattering of their forces enabled the Mexicans to present overwhelmingforces at all points. It seemed to Ned that fortune, which had worked intheir favor until the capture of San Antonio, was now working againstthem steadily and with overwhelming power. 

He gathered himself together as best he could, and began his journeysouthward. He believed that Fannin would be at Goliad or near it. Oncemore that feeling of vengeance hardened within him. The tremendousimpression of the Alamo had not faded a particle, and now the incidentof Ward, Refugio and the swamps of the Guadalupe was cumulative. Remembering what he had seen he did not believe that a single one ofWard's men would be spared when they were taken as they surely would be. There were humane men among the Mexicans, like Almonte, but the ruthlesspolicy of Santa Anna was to spare no one, and Santa Anna held all thepower. 

He held on toward Goliad, passing through alternate regions of forestand prairie, and he maintained a fair pace until night. He had not eatensince morning, and all his venison was gone, but strangely enough he wasnot hungry. When the darkness was coming he sat down in one of thelittle groves so frequent in that region, and he was conscious of agreat weariness. His bones ached. But it was not the ache that comesfrom exertion. It seemed to go to the very marrow. It became a painrather than exhaustion. 

He noticed that everything about him appeared unreal. The trees and theearth itself wavered. His head began to ache and his stomach was weak. Had the finest of food been presented to him he could not have eaten it. He had an extraordinary feeling of depression and despair. 

Ned knew what was the matter with him. He was suffering either fromoverwhelming nervous and physical exhaustion, or he had contractedmalaria in the swamps of the Guadalupe. Despite every effort of thewill, he began to shake with cold, and he knew that a chill was coming. He had retained his blankets, his frontiersman's foresight not desertinghim, and now, knowing that he could not continue his flight for thepresent, he sought the deepest part of the thicket. He crept into aplace so dense that it would have been suited for an animal's den, andlying down there he wrapped the blankets tightly about himself, hisrifle and his ammunition. 

In spite of his clothing and the warm blankets he grew colder andcolder. His teeth chattered and he shivered all over. He would not haveminded that so much, but his head ached with great violence, and theleast light hurt his eyes. It seemed to him the culmination. Never hadhe been more miserable, more lost of both body and soul. The pain in hishead was so violent that life was scarcely worth the price. 

He sank by and by into a stupor. He was remotely conscious that he waslying in a thicket, somewhere in boundless Texas, but it did not reallymatter. Cougars or bears might come there to find him, but he was toosick to raise a hand against them. Besides, he did not care. A millionMexicans might be beating up those thickets for him, and they would besure to find him. Well, what of it? They would shoot him, and he wouldmerely go at once to some other planet, where he would be better offthan he was now. 

It seems that fate reserves her severest ordeals for the strong and thedaring, as if she would respond to the challenges they give. It seemsalso that often she brings them through the test, as if she likes thecourage and enterprise that dare her, the all-powerful, to combat. Ned'sintense chill abated. He ceased to shake so violently, and after a whilehe did not shake at all. Then fever came. Intolerable heat flowedthrough every vein, and his head was ready to burst. After a whileviolent perspiration broke out all over him, and then he becameunconscious. 

Ned lay all night in the thicket, wrapped in the blankets, and breathingheavily. Once or twice he half awoke, and remembered things dimly, butthese periods were very brief and he sank back into stupor. When heawoke to stay awake the day was far advanced, and he felt anoverwhelming lassitude. He slowly unwound himself from his blankets andlooked at his hand. It was uncommonly white, and it seemed to him to beas weak as that of a child. 

He crept out of the thicket and rose to his feet. He was attacked bydizziness and clutched a bush for support. His head still ached, thoughnot with the violence of the night before, but he was conscious that hehad become a very weak and poor specimen of the human being. Everythingseemed very far away, impossible to be reached. 

He gathered strength enough to roll up his blankets and shoulder hisrifle. Then he looked about a little. There was the same alternation ofwoods and prairie, devoid of any human being. He did not expect to seeany Texans, unless, by chance, Fannin came marching that way, but adetachment of Mexican lancers might stumble upon him at any moment. Thethought, however, caused him no alarm. He felt so much weakness anddepression that the possibility of capture or death could not add to it. 

Young Fulton was not hungry, --the chill and following fever had takenhis appetite away so thoroughly, --but he felt that he must eat. He foundsome early berries in the thickets and they restored his strength alittle, but the fare was so thin and unsubstantial that he decided tolook for game. He could never reach Fannin or anybody else in hispresent reduced condition. 

He saw a line of oaks, which he knew indicated the presence of awater-course, probably one of the shallow creeks, so numerous in EasternTexas, and he walked toward it, still dizzy and his footsteps dragging. His head was yet aching, and the sun, which was now out in fullbrightness, made it worse, but he persisted, and, after an interminabletime, he reached the shade of the oaks, which, as he surmised, linedboth sides of a creek. 

He drank of the water, rested a while, and then began a search of theoaks. He was looking for squirrels, which he knew abounded in thesetrees, and, after much slow and painful walking, he shot a fine fat oneamong the boughs. Then followed the yet more mighty task of kindling afire with sticks and tinder, but just when he was completely exhausted, and felt that he must fail, the spark leaped up, set fire to the whiteash that he had scraped with his knife, and in a minute later a goodfire was blazing. 

He cooked the tenderest parts of the squirrel and ate, still forcing hisappetite. Then he carefully put out the fire and went a mile further upthe creek. He felt stronger, but he knew that he was not yet in anycondition for a long journey. He was most intent now upon guardingagainst a return of the chill. It was not the right time for one to beill. Again he sought a place in a thicket, like an animal going to itsden, and, wrapping himself tightly in the blankets, lay down. 

He watched with anxiety for the first shiver of the dreaded chill. Onceor twice imagination made him feel sure that it had come, but it alwayspassed quickly. His body remained warm, and, while he was still watchingfor the chill, he fell asleep, and slept soundly all through the night. 

The break of day aroused him. He felt strong and well, and he was in apleasant glow, because he knew now that the chill would not come. It hadbeen due to overtaxed nerves, and there was no malaria in his system. 

He hunted again among the big trees until he found a squirrel on one ofthe high boughs. He fired at it and missed. He found another soon andkilled it at the first shot. But the miss had been a grave matter. Hehad only four bullets left. He took them out and looked at them, littleshining pellets of lead. His life depended upon these four, and he mustnot miss again. 

It took him an hour to start his fire, and he ate only half of thesquirrel, putting the remainder into his bullet pouch for future needs. Then, much invigorated, he resumed his vague journey. But he wascompelled very soon to go slowly and with the utmost caution. There wereeven times when he had to stop and hide. Mexican cavalry appeared uponthe prairies, first in small groups and then in a detachment of aboutthree hundred. Their course and Ned's was the same, and he knew thenthat he was going in the right direction. Fannin was surely somewhereahead. 

But it was most troublesome traveling for Ned. If they saw him theycould easily ride him down, and what chance would he have with only fourbullets in his pouch? Or rather, what chance would he have if the pouchcontained a hundred?

The only thing that favored him was the creek which ran in the way thathe wanted to go. He kept in the timber that lined its banks, and, solong as he had this refuge, he felt comparatively safe, since theMexicans, obviously, were not looking for him. Yet they often cameperilously near. Once, a large band rode down to the creek to watertheir horses, when Ned was not fifty feet distant. He instantly lay flatamong some bushes, and did not move. He could hear the horses blowingthe water back with their noses, as they drank. 

When the horses were satisfied, the cavalrymen turned and rode away, passing so near that it seemed to him they had only to look down and seehim lying among the bushes. But they went on, and, when they were outof sight, he rose and continued his flight through the timber. 

But this alternate fleeing and dodging was most exhausting work, andbefore the day was very old he decided that he would lie down in athicket, and postpone further flight until night. Just when he had foundsuch a place he heard the faint sound of distant firing. He put his earto the earth, and then the crackle of rifles came more distinctly. Hisear, experienced now, told him that many men must be engaged, and he wassure that Fannin and the Mexican army had come into contact. 

Young Fulton's heart began to throb. The dark vision of the Alamo camebefore him again. All the hate that he felt for the Mexicans flamed up. He must be there with Fannin, fighting against the hordes of Santa Anna. He rose and ran toward the firing. He saw from the crest of a hillock awide plain with timber on one side and a creek on the other. The centerof the plain was a shallow valley, and there the firing was heavy. 

Ned saw many flashes and puffs of smoke, and presently he heard the thudof cannon. Then he saw near him Mexican cavalry galloping through thetimber. He could not doubt any longer that a battle was in progress. Hisexcitement increased, and he ran at full speed through the bushes andgrass into the plain, which he now saw took the shape of a shallowsaucer. The firing indicated that the defensive force stood in thecenter of the saucer, that is, in the lowest and worst place. 

A terrible fear assailed young Fulton, as he ran. Could it be possiblethat Fannin also was caught in a trap, here on the open prairie, withthe Mexicans in vastly superior numbers on the high ground around him?He remembered, too, that Fannin's men were raw recruits like those withWard, and his fear, which was not for himself, increased as he ran. 

He noticed that there was no firing from one segment of the ring in thesaucer, and he directed his course toward it. As soon as he saw horsesand men moving he threw up his hands and cried loudly over and overagain: "I'm a friend! Do not shoot!" He saw a rifle raised and aimed athim, but a hand struck it down. A few minutes later he sprang breathlessinto the camp, and friendly hands held him up as he was about to pitchforward with exhaustion. 

His breath and poise came back in a few moments, and he looked abouthim. He had made no mistake. He was with Fannin's force, and it wasalready pressed hard by Urrea's army. Even as he drew fresh, deepbreaths he saw a heavy mass of Mexican cavalry gallop from the wood, wheel and form a line between Fannin and the creek, the only place wherethe besieged force could obtain water. 

"Who are you?" asked an officer, advancing toward Ned. 

Young Fulton instantly recognized Fannin. 

"My name is Edward Fulton, you will recall me, Colonel, " he replied. "Iwas in the Alamo, but went out the day before it fell. I was taken bythe Mexicans, but escaped, fled across the prairie, and was in themission at Refugio when some of your men under Colonel Ward came to thehelp of King. "

"I have heard that the church was abandoned, but where is Ward, andwhere are his men?"

Ned hesitated and Fannin read the answer in his eyes. 

"You cannot tell me so!" he exclaimed. 

"I'm afraid that they will all be taken, " said Ned. "They had noammunition when I slipped away, and the Mexicans were following them. There was no possibility of escape. "

Fannin paled. But he pressed his lips firmly together for a moment andthen said to Ned:

"Keep this to yourself, will you? Our troops are young and withoutexperience. It would discourage them too much. "

"Of course, " said Ned. "But meanwhile I wish to fight with you. "

"There will be plenty of chance, " said Fannin. "Hark to it!"

The sound of firing swelled on all sides of them, and above it rose thetriumphant shouts of the Mexicans. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE SAD SURRENDER

Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did notencourage him. The men, crowded together, were standing in a depressionseven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie. Nearby was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle. The men themselves, threeranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles andthe supply wagons in the center. Every face looked worn and anxious, butthey did not seem to have lost heart. 

Yet, as Ned had foreseen, this was quite a different force from thatwhich had held the Alamo so long, and against so many. Most of the youngfaces were not yet browned by the burning sun of Texas. Drawn by thereports of great adventure they had come from far places, and eachlittle company had its own name. There were the "Grays" from NewOrleans, the "Mustangs" from Kentucky, the "Red Rovers" from Alabama andothers with fancy names, but altogether they numbered, with the smallreinforcements that had been received, only three hundred and fifty men. 

Ned could have shed tears, when he looked upon the force. He felthimself a veteran beside them. Yet there was no lack of courage amongthem. They did not flinch, as the fire grew heavier, and the cannonballs whistled over their heads. Ned was sure now that General Urreawas around them with his whole army. The presence of the cannonindicated it, and he saw enough to know that the Mexican forceoutnumbered the Texan four or five to one. 

He heard the Mexican trumpets pealing presently, and then he saw theirinfantry advancing in dark masses with heavy squadrons of cavalry oneither flank. But as soon as they came within range, they were swept bythe deadly fire of the Texan rifles and were driven back in confusion. Ned noticed that this always happened. The Mexicans could never carry aTexan position by a frontal attack. The Texans, or those who were calledthe Texans, shot straight and together so fast that no Mexican columncould withstand their hail of bullets. 

A second time the Mexicans charged, and a second time they were drivenback in the same manner. Exultation spread among the recruits standingin the hollow, but they were still surrounded. The Mexicans merely drewout of range and waited. Then they attacked a third time, and, from allsides, charging very close, infantry and cavalry. The men in the hollowwere well supplied with rifles, and their square fairly blazed. Yet theMexicans pressed home the charge with a courage and tenacity that Nedhad never seen among them before. These were Mexico's best troops, and, even when the men faltered, the officers drove them on again with thepoint of the sword. General Urrea himself led the cavalry, and theMexicans pressed so close that the recruits saw both lance and bayonetpoints shining in their faces. 

The hollow in which the Texans stood was a huge cloud of flame andsmoke. Ned was loading and firing so fast that the barrel of his riflegrew hot to the touch. He stood with two youths but little older thanhimself, and the comradeship of battle had already made them friends. But they scarcely saw the faces of one another. The little valley wasfilled with the smoke of their firing. They breathed it and tasted it, and it inflamed their brains. 

Ned's experience had made him a veteran, and when he heard the thunderof the horse's hoofs and saw the lance points so near he knew that thecrisis had come. 

"One more volley. One for your lives!" he cried to those around him. 

The volley was forthcoming. The rifles were discharged at the range ofonly a few yards into the mass of Mexican cavalry. Horses and men fellheadlong, some pitching to the very feet of the Texans and then one ofthe cannon poured a shower of grape shot into the midst of the waveringsquare. It broke and ran, bearing its general away with it, and leavingthe ground cumbered with fallen men and horses. 

The Mexican infantry was also driven back at every point, and retreatedrapidly until they were out of range. Under the cloud of smoke woundedmen crept away. But when the cloud was wholly gone, it disclosed thosewho would move no more, lying on every side. The defenders had sufferedalso. Fannin lay upon the ground, while two of his men bound up a severewound in the thigh that he had sustained from a Mexican bullet. Manyothers had been wounded and some had been killed. Most alarming of allwas the announcement that the cannon could be fired only a few timesmore, as there was no water for the sponges when they became heated andclogged. But this discouraged only the leaders, not the recruitsthemselves, who had ultimate faith in their rifles. 

Ned felt an extreme dizziness. All his old strength had not yetreturned, and after such furious action and so much excitement there wasa temporary collapse. He lay back on the grass, closed his eyes, andwaited for the weakness to pass. He heard around him the talk and murmurof the men, and the sounds of new preparations. He heard the recruitstelling one another that they had repulsed four Mexican attacks, andthat they could repulse four more. Yet the amount of talking was notgreat. The fighting had been too severe and continuous to encouragevolubility. Most of them reloaded in silence and waited. 

Ned felt that his weakness had passed, opened his eyes, and sat upagain. He saw that the Mexicans had drawn a circle of horsemen aboutthem, but well beyond range. Behind the horsemen their army waited. Fannin's men were rimmed in by steel, and Ned believed that Urrea, afterhis great losses in the charges, would now wait. 

Ned stretched himself and felt his muscles. He was strong once more andhis head was clear. He did not believe that the weakness and dizzinesswould come again. But his tongue and throat were dry, and one of theyouths who had stood with him gave him a drink from his canteen. Nedwould gladly have made the drink a deep one, but he denied himself, and, when he returned the canteen, its supply was diminished but little. Heknew better than the giver how precious the water would become. 

Ned was standing at the edge of the hollow, and his head was just abouton a level with the surrounding prairie. After his look at the Mexicancircle, something whistled by his ear. It was an unpleasant sound thathe knew well, one marking the passage of a bullet, and he dropped downinstantly. Then he cautiously raised himself up again, and, a half dozenothers who had heard the shot did the same. One rose a little higherthan the rest and he fell back with a cry, a bullet in his shoulder. 

Ned was surprised and puzzled. Whence had come these shots? There wasthe line of Mexican cavalry, well out of range, and, beyond thehorsemen, were the infantry. He could see nothing, but the woundedshoulder was positive proof that some enemy was near. 

There was a third crack, and a man fell to the bottom of the hollow, where he lay still. The bullet had gone through his head. Ned saw awreath of smoke rising from a tiny hillock, a hundred yards away, andthen he saw lifted for only a moment a coppery face with high cheekbones and coarse black hair. An Indian! No one could ever mistake thatface for a white man's. Many more shots were fired and he caughtglimpses of other faces, Indian in type like the first. 

Every hillock or other inequality of the earth seemed to spout bullets, which were now striking among the Texans, cooped up in the hollow, killing and wounding. But the circle of Mexican horsemen did not stir. 

"What are they?" called Fannin, who was lying upon a pallet, sufferinggreatly from his wound. 

"Indians, " replied Ned. 

"Indians!" exclaimed Fannin in surprise. "I did not know that there wereany in this part of the country. "

"Nor did I, " replied Ned, "but they are surely here, Colonel, and if Imay make a suggestion, suppose we pick sharp-shooters to meet them. "

"It is the only thing to do, " said Fannin, and immediately the best menwith the rifle were placed along the edge of the hollow. It was fulltime, as the fire of the red sharpshooters was creeping closer, and wasdoing much harm. They were Campeachy Indians, whom the Mexicans hadbrought with them from their far country and, splendid stalkers andskirmishers, they were now proving their worth. Better marksmen than theMexicans, naked to the waist, their dark faces inflamed with the rage tokill, they wormed themselves forward like snakes, flattened against theground, taking advantage of every hillock or ridge, and finding many avictim in the hollow. Far back, the Mexican officers sitting on theirhorses watched their work with delighted approval. 

Ned was not a sharpshooter like the Panther or Davy Crockett, but he wasa sharpshooter nevertheless, and, driven by the sternest of all needs, he was growing better all the time. He saw another black head raised fora moment above a hillock, and a muzzle thrust forward, but he firedfirst. The head dropped back, but the rifle fell from the arms and layacross the hillock. Ned knew that his bullet had sped true, and he felta savage joy. 

The other sharpshooters around him were also finding targets. The Indianbullets still crashed into the crowded ranks in the hollow, but thewhite marksmen picked off one after another in the grass. The moment ared face showed itself a bullet that rarely missed was sent toward it. Here was no indiscriminate shooting. No man pulled the trigger until hesaw his target. Ned had now fired four times, and he knew that he hadnot missed once. The consuming rage still possessed him, but it was forthe Mexicans rather than the Indians against whom he was sending hisbullets. Surely they were numerous enough to fight the Texans. Theyought to be satisfied with ten to one in their favor, without bringingIndians also against the tiny settlements! The fire mounted to hisbrain, and he looked eagerly for a fifth head. 

It was a singular duel between invisible antagonists. Never was anentire body seen, but the crackling fire and the spurts of flame andsmoke were incessant. After a while the line of fire and smoke on theprairie began to retreat slowly. The fire of the white sharpshooters hadgrown too hot and the Indians were creeping away, leaving their dead inthe grass. Presently their fire ceased entirely and then that of thewhite marksmen ceased also. 

No sounds came from the Mexicans, who were all out of range. In thehollow the wounded, who now numbered one-fifth of the whole, suppressedtheir groans, and their comrades, who bound up their hurts or gave themwater, said but little. Ned's own throat had become parched again, buthe would not ask for another drop of water. 

The Texans had used oxen to drag their cannon and wagons, and most ofthem now lay dead about the rim of the shallow crater, slain by theMexican and Indian bullets. The others had been tied to the wagons tokeep them, when maddened by the firing, from trampling down the Texansthemselves. Now they still shivered with fear, and pulled at theirropes. Ned felt sorry for the poor brutes. Full cause had they forfright. 

The afternoon was waning, and he ate a little supper, followed by asingle drink of water. Every man received a similar drink and no morefrom the canteens. The coming twilight brought a coolness that wasrefreshing, but the Indians, taking advantage of the dusk, creptforward, and began to fire again at the Texans cooped up in the crater. These red sharpshooters had the advantage of always knowing the positionof their enemy, while they could shift their own as they saw fit. 

The Texan marksmen, worn and weary though they were, returned to theirtask. They could not see the Indians, but they used an old device, oftensuccessful in border warfare. Whenever an Indian fired a spurt of smokeshot up from his rifle's muzzle. A Texan instantly pulled trigger atthe base of the smoke, and oftener than not the bullet hit his duskyfoe. 

This new duel in the dark went on for two hours. The Indians could fireat the mass in the hollow, while the Texans steadily picked out theirmore difficult targets. The frightened oxen uttered terrified lowingsand the Indians, now and then aiming at the sounds, killed or woundedmore of the animals. The Texans themselves slew those that were wounded, unwilling to see them suffer so much. 

The skill of the Texans with the rifle was so great that gradually theyprevailed over the Indians a second time in the trial of sharpshooting. The warriors were driven back on the Mexican cavalry, and abandoned thecombat. The night was much darker than usual, and a heavy fog, risingfrom the plain, added to its density and dampness. The skies wereinvisible, hidden by heavy masses of floating clouds and fog. 

Ned saw a circle of lights spring up around them. They were the campfires of the Mexican army, and he knew that the troops were comfortablethere before the blaze. His heart filled with bitterness. He hadexpected so much of Fannin's men, and Crockett and Bowie before him hadexpected so much! Yet here they were, beleaguered as the Texans had beenbeleaguered in the Alamo, and there were no walls behind which theycould fight. It seemed to Ned that the hand of fate itself had resolvedto strike down the Texans. He knew that Urrea, one of Santa Anna'sablest and most tenacious generals, would never relax the watch for aninstant. In the darkness he could hear the Mexican sentinels calling toone another: "Sentinela Alerte!"

The cold damp allayed the thirst of the young recruits, but the craterwas the scene of gloom. They did not dare to light a fire, knowing itwould draw the Indian bullets at once, or perhaps cannon shots. Thewounded in their blankets lay on the ground. A few of the unhurt slept, but most of them sat in silence looking somberly at one another. 

Fannin lay against the breech of one of the cannon, blankets having beenfolded between to make his position easy. His wound was severe and hewas suffering greatly, but he uttered no complaint. He had not showngreat skill or judgment as a leader, but he was cool and undaunted inaction. Now he was calling a council to see what they could do torelease themselves from their desperate case. Officers and men alikeattended it freely. 

"Boys, " said Fannin, speaking in a firm voice despite his weakness andpain, "we are trapped here in this hole in the prairie, but if you aretrapped it does not follow that you have to stay trapped. I don't seekto conceal anything from you. Our position could not well be worse. Wehave cannon, but we cannot use them any longer because they are chokedand clogged from former firing, and we have no water to wash them out. Shortly we will not have a drop to drink. But you are brave, and you canstill shoot. I know that we can break through the Mexican lines to-nightand reach the Coleto, the water and the timber. Shall we do it?"

Many replied yes, but then a voice spoke out of the darkness:

"What of the wounded, Colonel? We have sixty men who can't move. "

There was an instant's silence, and then a hundred voices said in thedarkness:

"We'll never leave them. We'll stay here and fight again!"

Ned was standing with those nearest Fannin, and although the darknesswas great his eyes had become so used to it that he could see the paleface of the leader. Fannin's eyes lighted up at the words of his men, and a little color came into his cheeks. 

"You speak like brave men rather than wise men, " he said, "but I cannotblame you. It is a hard thing to leave wounded comrades to a foe such asthe one who faces us. If you wish to stay here, then I say stay. Do youwish it?"

"We do!" thundered scores of voices, and Fannin, moving a little to makehimself easier, said simply:

"Then fortify as best you can. "

They brought spades and shovels from the wagons, and began to throw upan earthwork, toiling in the almost pitchy darkness. They reinforced itwith the bodies of the slain oxen, and, while they toiled, they saw thefires where the Mexican officers rested, sure that their prey could notbreak from the trap. The Texans worked on. At midnight they were stillworking, and when they rested a while there was neither food nor drinkfor them. Every drop of water was gone long since, and they had eatentheir last food at supper. They could have neither food nor drink norsleep. 

Ned had escaped from many dangers, but it is truth that this time hefelt despair. His feeling about the hand of fate striking them downbecame an obsession. What chance had men without an ounce of food or adrop of water to withstand a siege?

But he communicated his fears to no one. Two or three hours before day, he became so sore and weary from work with the spade that he crawledinto one of the half-wrecked wagons, and tried to go to sleep. But hisnerves were drawn to too high a pitch. After a quarter of an hour's vaineffort he got out of the wagon and stood by the wheel. The sky wasstill black, and the heavy clouds of fog and vapor rolled steadily pasthim. It seemed to him that everything was closing on them, even theskies, and the air was so heavy that he found it hard to breathe. 

He would have returned to work, but he knew that he would overtask hisworn frame, and he wanted to be in condition for the battle that hebelieved was coming with the morrow. They had not tried to cut out atnight, then they must do it by day, or die where they stood of thirst. 

He sat down at last on the ground, and leaned against a wagon wheel, drawing a blanket over his shoulders for warmth. He found that he couldrest better here than inside the wagon, and, in an hour or two, he dozeda little, but when he awoke the night was still very dark. 

The men finished their toil at the breastwork just before day and then, laying aside their shovels and picks and taking up their rifles, theywatched for the first shoot of dawn in the east. It came presently, disclosing the long lines of Mexican sentinels and behind them the army. The enemy was on watch and soon a terrible rumor, that was true, spreadamong the Texans. They were caught like the men of Refugio. Only threeor four rounds of ammunition were left. It was bad enough to be withoutfood and water, but without powder and bullets either they were no army. Now Ned knew that his presages were true. They were doomed. 

The sun rose higher, pouring a golden light upon the plain. The distanceto the Mexican lines was in appearance reduced half by the vivid light. Then Ned of the keen eye saw a dark line far off to their right on theprairie. He watched them a little, and saw that they were Mexicancavalry, coming to swell still further Urrea's swollen force. He alsosaw two cannon drawn by mules. 

Ned pointed out the column to Wallace, a Major among the Texans, andthen Wallace used a pair of glasses. 

"You are right, " he said. "They are Mexicans and they have two pieces ofartillery. Oh, if we could only use our own guns!"

But the Texan cannon stood as worthless as if they had been spiked, andthe Texans were compelled to remain silent and helpless, while theMexicans put their new guns in position, and took aim with deliberation, as if all the time in the world was theirs. Ned tried to console himselfwith the reflection that Mexican gunners were not often accurate, butthe first thud and puff of smoke showed that these were better thanusual. 

A shower of grape shot coming from a superior height swept their camp, killing two or three of the remaining oxen, smashing the wagons topieces, and wounding more men. Another shower from the second gun struckamong them with like result, and the case of the Texans grew moredesperate. 

They tried to reach the gunners with their rifles, but the range was toogreat, and, after having thrown away nearly all the ammunition that wasleft, they were forced to stand idly and receive the Mexican fire. TheMexicans must have divined the Texan situation, as a great cheer rosefrom their lines. It became evident to Ned that the shallow crater wouldsoon be raked through and through by the Mexican artillery. 

Fannin, lying upon his pallet, was already calling a council of hisofficers, to which anyone who chose might listen. The wounded leader wasstill resolute for battle, saying that they might yet cut their waythrough the Mexicans. But the others had no hope. They pointed to theincreased numbers of the foe, and the exhausted condition of their ownmen, who had not now tasted food or water for many hours. If Urreaoffered them good terms they must surrender. 

Ned stood on one side, saying nothing, although his experience wasperhaps greater than that of anybody else present. But he had seen theinevitable. Either they must yield to the Mexicans or rush boldly on thefoe and die to the last man, as the defenders of the Alamo had done. YetFannin still opposed. 

"We whipped them off yesterday, and we can do it again to-day, " he said. 

But he was willing to leave it to the others, and, as they agreed thatthere was no chance to hold out any longer, they decided to parley withthe Mexicans. A white cloth was hoisted on the muzzle of a rifle. TheMexican fire ceased, and they saw officers coming forward. The sight wasalmost more than Ned could stand. Here was a new defeat, a new tragedy. 

"I shall meet them myself, " said Fannin, as he rose painfully. "You comewith me. Major Wallace, but we do not speak Spanish, either of us. "

His eye roved over the recruits, and caught Ned's glance. 

"I have been much in Mexico, " said Ned. "I speak Spanish and alsoseveral Mexican variations of it. "

"Good, " said Fannin, "then you come with us, and you, too, Durangue. Wemay need you both. "

The two officers and the two interpreters walked out of the hollow, passing the barricade of earth and dead oxen that had been of no avail, and saw four Mexican officers coming toward them. A silk handkerchiefabout the head of one was hidden partly by a cocked hat, and Ned atonce saw that it was Urrea, the younger. His heart swelled with rage andmortification. It was another grievous pang that Urrea should be thereto exult. 

They met about midway between the camps, and Urrea stepped forward. Hegave Ned only a single glance, but it made the boy writhe inwardly. Theyoung Mexican was now all smoothness and courtesy, although Ned was surethat the cruel Spanish strain was there, hidden under his smiling air, but ready to flame up at provocation. 

"I salute you as gallant foes, " said Urrea in good English, taking offhis hat. "My comrades and associates here are Colonel Salas, LieutenantColonel Holzinger and Lieutenant Gonzales, who are sent with myself bymy uncle, General Urrea, to inquire into the meaning of the white flagthat you have hoisted. "

Each of the Mexican officers, as his name was called, took off his hatand bowed. 

"I am Colonel Fannin, " began the Texan leader. 

All four Mexicans instantly bowed again. 

"And you are wounded, " said Urrea. "It shows the valor of the Texans, when their commander himself shares their utmost dangers. "

Fannin smiled rather grimly. 

"There was no way to escape the dangers, " he said. "Your fire washeavy. "

Urrea smiled in a gratified way, and then waited politely for Fannin tocontinue. The leader at once began to treat with the Mexican officers. Ned, Durangue and Urrea translated, and the boy did not miss a word thatwas said. It was agreed that the Texans should surrender, and that theyshould be treated as prisoners of war in the manner of civilizednations. Prompt and special attention would be given to the wounded. 

Then the Mexican officers saluted courteously and went back toward theirown ranks. It had all seemed very easy, very simple, but Ned did notlike this velvet smoothness, this willingness of the Mexicans to agreeto the most generous terms. Fannin, however, was elated. He had won novictories, but he had saved the lives of his men. 

Their own return was slow, as Fannin's wound oppressed him, but whenthey reached their camp, and told what had been done, the recruits begansilently to stack their arms, half in gladness and half in sorrow. MoreMexican officers came presently and still treated them with that samesmooth and silky courtesy. Colonel Holzinger received the surrenderedarms, and, as he did so, he said to Ned, who stood by:

"Well, it's liberty and home in ten days for all you gentlemen. "

"I hope so, " said Ned gravely, although he had no home. 

The Mexican courtesy went so far that the arms of the officers werenailed up in a box, with the statement that they would be given back tothem as soon as they were released. 

"I am sorry that we cannot consider you an officer, Señor Fulton, " saidyoung Urrea to Ned, "then you would get back your rifle and pistols. "

"You need not bother about it, " said Ned. "I am willing to let them go. I dare say that when I need them I can get others. "

"Then you still mean to fight against us?" said Urrea. 

"If I can get an exchange, and I suppose I can. "

"You are not content even yet! You saw what happened at the Alamo. Yousurvived that by a miracle, but where are all your companions in thatsiege? Dead. You escaped and joined the Texans at Refugio. Where arethe defenders of Refugio? In the swamps of the Guadalupe, and we haveonly to put forth our hands and take them. You escaped from Refugio tofind Fannin and his men. Where are Fannin and his men now? Prisoners inour hands. How many of the Texans are left? There is no place in allTexas so far that the arm of the great Santa Anna cannot reach it. "

Ned was stung by his taunts and replied:

"You forget Houston. "

Urrea laughed. 

"Houston! Houston!" he said. "He does nothing. And your so-calledgovernment does nothing, but talk. They, too, will soon feel the mightand wrath of Santa Anna. Nothing can save them but a swift flight to theStates. "

"We shall see, " said Ned, although at that moment he was far fromconfident. "Remember how our men died at the Alamo. The Texans cannot beconquered. "

Urrea said nothing further, as if he would not exult over a fallenenemy, although Ned knew that he was swelling with triumph, and wentback to his uncle's camp. The Texan arms were taken ahead on somewagons, and then the dreary procession of the Texans themselves marchedout of the hollow. They were all on foot and without arms. Those hurtworst were sustained by their comrades, and, thus, they marched into theMexican camp, where they expected food and water, but General Urreadirected them to walk on to Goliad. 

Fainting from hunger and thirst, they took up their march again. TheMexican cavalry rode on either side of them, and many of the horsemenwere not above uttering taunts which, fortunately, few of the prisonerscould understand. Young Urrea was in command of this guard and he rodenear the head of the column where Ned could see him. Now and then aMexican vaquero cracked his long whip, and every report made Ned startand redden with anger. 

Some of the recruits were cheerful, talked of being exchanged and offighting again in the war, but the great majority marched in silence andgloom. They felt that they had wasted themselves. They had marched intoa trap, which the Mexicans were able to close upon them before theycould strike a single blow for Texas. Now they were herded like cattlebeing driven to a stable. 

They reached the town of Goliad, and the Mexican women and children, rejoicing in the triumph of their men, came out to meet them, utteringmany shrill cries as they chattered to one another. Ned understood them, but he was glad that the others did not. Young Urrea rode up by the sideof him and said:

"Well, you and your comrades have now arrived at our good town ofGoliad. You should be glad that your lives have been spared, because youare rebels and you deserve death. But great is the magnanimity of ourmost illustrious president and general, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. "

Ned looked up quickly. He thought he had caught a note of cruelty inthat soft, measured voice. He never trusted Urrea, nor did he ever trustSanta Anna. 

"I believe it is customary in civilized warfare to spare the lives ofprisoners, " he said. 

"But rebels are rebels, and freebooters are freebooters, " said Urrea. 

It seemed to Ned that the young Mexican wanted to draw him into somesort of controversy, and he refused to continue. He felt that there wassomething sinister about Urrea, or that he represented somethingsinister, and he resolved to watch rather than talk. So, gazingstraight ahead, he walked on in silence. Urrea, waiting for an answer, and seeing that he would get none, smiled ironically, and, turning hishorse, galloped away. 

The prisoners were marched through the town, and to the church. All theold Spanish or Mexican towns of Texas contained great stone churches, which were also fortresses, and Goliad was no exception. This was oflimestone, vaulted and somber, and it was choked to overflowing with theprisoners, who could not get half enough air through the narrow windows. The surgeons, for lack of bandages and medicines, could not attend thewounded, who lay upon the floor. 

Where were the fair Mexican promises, in accordance with which they hadyielded? Many of the unwounded became so weak from hunger and thirstthat they, too, were forced to lie upon the floor. Ned had reserves ofstrength that came to his aid. He leaned against the wall and breathedthe foul air of the old church, which was breathed over and over againby nearly four hundred men. 

The heavy doors were unbarred an hour later, and food and water werebrought to them, but how little! There was a single drink and a quarterof a pound of meat for each man. It was but a taste after their longfast, and soon they were as hungry and thirsty as ever. It was a hideousnight. There was not room for them all to sleep on the floor, and Neddozed for a while leaning against the wall. 

Food and water were brought to them in the same small quantities in themorning, but there was no word from the Mexicans concerning the promisesof good treatment and parole that had been made when they surrendered. 

Ned was surprised at nothing. He knew that Santa Anna dominated allMexico, and he knew Santa Anna. Promises were nothing to him, if itserved him better to break them. Fannin demanded writing materials andwrote a note to General Urrea protesting strongly against the violationof faith. But General Urrea was gone after Ward's men, who weresurrounded in the marshes of the Guadalupe, leaving Colonel Portilla incommand. Portilla, meanwhile, was dominated by the younger Urrea, a manof force and audacity, whom he knew to be high in the favor of SantaAnna. 

Captain Urrea did not believe in showing any kindness to the menimprisoned in the church. They were rebels or filibusters. They hadkilled many good Mexicans, and they should be made to suffer for it. Noanswer was returned to Fannin's letter, and the men in the somber oldlimestone building became depressed and gloomy. 

Ned, who was surprised at nothing, also hoped for nothing, but he soughtto preserve his strength, believing that he would soon have full need ofit. He stretched and tensed his muscles in order to keep the stiffnessfrom coming into them, and he slept whenever he could. 

Two or three days passed and the Mexican officer, Holzinger, came forFannin, who was now recovered largely from his wound. The two went awayto Copano on the coast to look for a vessel that would carry theprisoners to New Orleans. They returned soon, and Fannin and all his menwere in high hopes. 

Meanwhile a new group of prisoners were thrust into the church. Theywere the survivors of Ward's men, whom General Urrea had taken in theswamps of the Guadalupe. Then came another squad, eighty-two youngTennesseeans, who, reaching Texas by water, had been surrounded andcaptured by an overwhelming force the moment they landed. A piece ofwhite cloth had been tied around the arms of every one of these men todistinguish them from the others. 

But they were very cheerful over the news that Fannin had brought. Therewas much bustle among the Mexicans, and it seemed to be the bustle ofpreparation. The prisoners expected confidently that within another daythey would be on the march to the coast and to freedom. 

There was a singular scene in the old church. A boy from Kentucky hadbrought a flute with him which the Mexicans had permitted him to retain. Now sitting in Turkish fashion in the center of the floor he wasplaying: "Home, Sweet Home. " Either he played well or their situationdeepened to an extraordinary pitch the haunting quality of the air. 

Despite every effort tears rose to Ned's eyes. Others made no attempt tohide theirs. Why should they? They were but inexperienced boys inprison, many hundreds of miles from the places where they were born. 

They sang to the air of the flute, and all through the evening they sangthat and other songs. They were happier than they had been in many days. Ned alone was gloomy and silent. Knowing that Santa Anna was now thefountain head of all things Mexican he could not yet trust. 

CHAPTER XVIII

THE BLACK TRAGEDY

While the raw recruits crowded one another for breath in the darkvaulted church of Goliad, a little swarthy man in a gorgeous uniform satdining luxuriously in the best house in San Antonio, far to thenorthwest. Some of his favorite generals were around him, Castrillon, Gaona, Almonte, and the Italian Filisola. 

The "Napoleon of the West" was happy. His stay in San Antonio, after thefall of the Alamo, had been a continuous triumph, with much feasting anddrinking and music. He had received messages from the City of Mexico, his capital, and all things there went well. Everybody obeyed hisorders, although they were sent from the distant and barbarous land ofTexas. 

While they dined, a herald, a Mexican cavalrymen who had ridden far, stopped at the door and handed a letter to the officer on guard:

"For the most illustrious president, General Santa Anna, " he said. 

The officer went within and, waiting an opportune moment, handed theletter to Santa Anna. 

"The messenger came from General Urrea, " he said. 

Santa Anna, with a word of apology, because he loved the surface formsof politeness, opened and read the letter. Then he uttered a cry of joy. 

"We have all the Texans now!" he exclaimed. "General Urrea has takenFannin and his men. There is nothing left in Texas to oppose us. "

The generals uttered joyful shouts and drank again to their illustriousleader. The banquet lasted long, but after it was over Santa Annawithdrew to his own room and dictated a letter to his secretary. It wassealed carefully and given to a chosen messenger, a heavy-browed andpowerful Mexican. 

"Ride fast to Goliad with that letter, " said Santa Anna. 

The messenger departed at once. He rode a strong horse, and he wouldfind fresh mounts on the way. He obeyed the orders of the generalliterally. He soon left San Antonio far behind, and went on hour afterhour, straight toward Goliad. Now and then he felt the inside of histunic where the letter lay, but it was always safe. Three or four timeshe met parties of Mexicans, and he replied briefly to their questionsthat he rode on the business of the most illustrious president, GeneralAntonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Once, on the second day, he saw twohorsemen, whom his trained eyes told him to be Texan hunters. 

The messenger sheered off into a patch of timber, and waited until thehunters passed out of sight. Had they seen him much might have changed, a terrible story might have been different, but, at that period, thestars in their courses were working against the Texans. Every accident, every chance, turned to the advantage of their enemies. 

The messenger emerged from the timber, and went on at the same steadygait toward Goliad. He was riding his fourth horse now, having changedevery time he met a Mexican detachment, and the animal was fresh andstrong. The rider himself, powerful by nature and trained to a life inthe saddle, felt no weariness. 

The scattered houses of Goliad came into view, by and by, and themessenger, giving the magic name of Santa Anna, rode through the lines. He inquired for General Urrea, the commander, but the general havinggone to Victoria he was directed to Colonel Portilla, who commanded inhis absence. He found Portilla sitting in a patio with Colonel Garay, the younger Urrea and several other Mexican officers. The messengersaluted, drew the letter from his pocket and presented it to ColonelPortilla. 

"From the most illustrious president and commander-in-chief, GeneralSanta Anna, " he said. 

Portilla broke the seal and read. As his eyes went down the lines, adeep flush crept through the tan of his face, and the paper trembled inhis hands. 

"I cannot do it! I cannot do it! Read, gentlemen, read!" he cried. 

Urrea took the extended letter from his hand and read it aloud. Neitherhis voice nor his hand quivered as he read, and when he finished he saidin a firm voice:

"The orders of the president must be obeyed, and you, Colonel Portilla, must carry them out at once. All of us know that General Santa Anna doesnot wish to repeat his commands, and that his wrath is terrible. "

"It is so! It is so!" said Portilla hopelessly, and Garay also spokewords of grief. But Urrea, although younger and lower in rank, was firm, even exultant. His aggressive will dominated the others, and hisassertion that the wrath of Santa Anna was terrible was no vain warning. The others began to look upon him as Santa Anna's messenger, theguardian of his thunderbolts, and they did not dare to meet his eye. 

"We will go outside and talk about it, " said Portilla, still muchagitated. 

When they left the patio their steps inevitably took them toward thechurch. The high note of a flute playing a wailing air came to themthrough the narrow windows. It was "Home, Sweet Home, " played by a boyin prison. The Mexicans did not know the song, but its solemn note wasnot without an appeal to Portilla and Garay. Portilla wiped theperspiration from his face. 

"Come away, " he said. "We can talk better elsewhere. "

They turned in the opposite direction, but Urrea did not remain withthem long. Making some excuse for leaving them he went rapidly to thechurch. He knew that his rank and authority would secure him promptadmission from the guards, but he stopped, a moment, at the door. Theprisoners were now singing. Three or four hundred voices were joined insome hymn of the north that he did not know, some song of theEnglish-speaking people. The great volume of sound floated out, and washeard everywhere in the little town. 

Urrea was not moved at all. "Rebels and filibusters!" he said inSpanish, under his breath, but fiercely. Then he ordered the doorunbarred, and went in. Two soldiers went with him and held torchesaloft. 

The singing ceased when Urrea entered. Ned was standing against thewall, and the young Mexican instinctively turned toward him, because heknew Ned best. There was much of the tiger cat in Urrea. He had the samefeline grace and power, the same smoothness and quiet before going intoaction. 

"You sing, you are happy, " he said to Ned, although he meant them all. "It is well. You of the north bear misfortune well. "

"We do the best we can wherever we are, " replied young Fulton, dryly. 

"The saints themselves could do no more, " said the Mexican. 

Urrea was speaking in English, and his manner was so friendly and gentlethat the recruits crowded around him. 

"When are we to be released? When do we get our parole?" they asked. 

Urrea smiled and held up his hands. He was all sympathy and generosity. 

"All your troubles will be over to-morrow, " he said, "and it is fittingthat they should end on such a day, because it is Palm Sunday. "

The recruits gave a cheer. 

"Do we go down to the coast?" one of them asked. 

Urrea smiled with his whole face, and with the gesture of his hands, too. But he shook his head. 

"I can say no more, " he replied. "I am not the general, and perhaps Ihave said too much already, but be assured, brave foes, that to-morrowwill end your troubles. You fought us gallantly. You fought againstgreat odds, and you have my sympathy. "

Ned had said no more. He was looking at Urrea intently. He was trying, with all the power of his own mind and soul, to read this man's mind andsoul. He was trying to pierce through that Spanish armor of smiles andgestures and silky tones and see what lay beneath. He sought to read thereal meaning of all these polite phrases. His long and powerful gazefinally drew Urrea's own. 

A little look of fear crept into Urrea's eyes, as the two antagonistsstared at each other. But it was only for a few minutes. Then he lookedaway with a shrug and a laugh. 

"Now I leave you, " he said to the men, "and may the saints bring youmuch happiness. Do not forget that to-morrow is Palm Sunday, and that itis a good omen. "

He went out, taking the torchbearers with him, and although it was darkagain in the vaulted church, the recruits sang a long time. Ned sat downwith his back against the wall, and he did not share in the general joy. He remembered the look that had come into Urrea's eyes, when they metthe accusing gaze of his own. 

After a while the singing ceased, and one by one the recruits fellasleep in the close, stifling air of the place. Ned dozed an hour ortwo, but awoke before dawn. He was oppressed by a deep and unaccountablegloom, and it was not lifted when, in the dusk, he looked at the rows ofsleeping figures, crowded so close together that no part of the floorwas visible. 

He saw the first light appear in the east, and then spread like the slowopening of a fan. The recruits began to awaken by and by, and their goodspirits had carried over from the night before. Soon the old church wasfilled with talk and laughter. 

The day came fully, and then the guards brought food and water, notenough to satisfy hunger and thirst, but enough to keep them alive. Theydid not complain, as they would soon be free men, able to obtain allthat they wanted. Presently the doors of the church were thrown open, and the officers and many soldiers appeared. Young Urrea was foremostamong the officers, and, in a loud voice, he ordered all the prisonersto come out, an order that they obeyed with alacrity and pleasure. 

Ned marched forth with the rest, although he did not speak to any ofthose about him. He looked first at Urrea, whose manner was polite andsmiling, as it had been the night before, and then his glance shifted tothe other officers, older men, and evidently higher in rank. He sawthat two, Colonels by their uniforms, were quite pale, and that one ofthem was biting savagely at his mustache. It all seemed sinister to Ned. Why was Urrea doing everything, and why were his superiors standing by, evidently a prey to some great nervous strain?

The recruits, under Urrea's orders, were formed into three columns. Onewas to take the road toward San Antonio, the second would march towardSan Patricio, and the third to Copano. The three columns shoutedgood-by, but the recruits assured one another that they would soon meetagain. Urrea told one column that it was going to be sent homeimmediately, another that it was going outside the town, where it was tohelp in killing cattle for beef which they would eat, and the third thatit was leaving the church in a hurry to make room for Santa Anna's owntroops, who would reach the town in an hour. 

Ned was in the largest column, near the head of it, and he watchedeverything with a wary eye. He noticed that the Mexican colonels stillleft all the arrangements to Urrea, and that they remained extremelynervous. Their hands were never quiet for a moment. 

The column filed down through the town, and Ned saw the Mexican womenlooking at them. He heard two or three of them say "pobrecitos" (poorfellows), and their use of the word struck upon his ear with an ominoussound. He glanced back. Close behind the mass of prisoners rode a strongsquadron of cavalry with young Urrea at their head. Ned could not seeUrrea's face, which was hidden partly by a cocked and plumed hat, but henoticed that the young Mexican sat very upright, as if he felt the prideof authority. One hand held the reins, and the other rested on thesilver hilt of a small sword at his side. 

A column of Mexican infantry marched on either side of the prisoners, and only a few yards away. It seemed to Ned that they were holding theTexans very close for men whom they were to release in a few hours. Trusting the Mexicans in nothing, he was suspicious of everything, andhe watched with a gaze that missed no detail. But he seemed to be alonein such thoughts. The recruits, enjoying the fresh air and the prospectof speedy freedom, were talking much, and exchanging many jests. 

They passed out of the little town, and the last Ned saw of it was theMexican women standing in the doorways and watching. They continuedalong the road in double file, with the Mexican infantry still on eitherside, and the Mexican cavalry in the rear. A half mile from the town, and Urrea gave an order. The whole procession stopped, and the column ofMexican infantry on the left passed around, joining their comrades onthe right. The recruits paid no attention to the movement, but Nedlooked instantly at Urrea. He saw the man rise now in his saddle, hiswhole face aflame. In a flash he divined everything. His heart leapedand he shouted:

"Boys, they are going to kill us!"

The startled recruits did not have time to think, because the nextinstant Urrea, rising to his full height in his stirrups, cried:

"Fire!"

The double line of Mexicans, at a range of a few yards, fired in aninstant into the column of unarmed prisoners. There was a great blaze, aspurt of smoke and a tremendous crash. It seemed to Ned that he couldfairly hear the thudding of bullets upon bodies, and the breaking ofbones beneath the sudden fierce impact of the leaden hail. An awfulstrangled cry broke from the poor recruits, half of whom were alreadydown. The Mexicans, reloading swiftly, poured in another volley, andthe prisoners fell in heaps. Then Urrea and the cavalry, with swords andlances, charged directly upon them, the hoofs of their horses treadingupon wounded and unwounded alike. 

Ned could never remember clearly the next few moments in that red andawful scene. It seemed to him afterward that he went mad for the time. He was conscious of groans and cries, of the fierce shouting of theMexicans, wild with the taste of blood, of the incessant crackling ofthe rifles and muskets, and of falling bodies. He saw gathering overhimself and his slaughtered comrades a great column of smoke, pierced byinnumerable jets of fire, and he caught glimpses of the swart faces ofthe Mexicans as they pulled triggers. From right and left came the crashof heavy but distant volleys, showing that the other two columns werebeing massacred in the same way. 

He felt the thunder of hoofs and a horse was almost upon him, while therider, leaning from the saddle, cut at him with a saber. Ned, driven byinstinct rather than reason, sprang to one side the next instant, andthen the horseman was lost in the smoke. He dashed against a figure, andwas about to strike with his fist, the only weapon that he now had, whenhe saw that he had collided with a Texan, unwounded like himself. Thenhe, too, was lost in the smoke. 

A consuming rage and horror seized Ned. Why he was not killed he neverknew. The cloud over the place where the slaughtered recruits laythickened, but the Mexicans never ceased to fire into it with theirrifles and muskets. The crackling of the weapons beat incessantly uponthe drums of his ears. Mingled with it were the cries and groans of thevictims, now fast growing fewer. But it was all a blurred and redvision to Ned. While he was in that deadly volcano he moved by instinctand impulse and not by reason. 

A few of the unwounded had already dashed from the smoke and hadundertaken flight across the plain, away from the Mexican infantry, where they were slain by the lances or muskets of the cavalry underUrrea. Ned followed them. A lancer thrust so savagely at him that whenthe boy sprang aside the lance was hurled from his hand. Ned's footstruck against the weapon, and instantly he picked it up. A horseman onhis right was aiming a musket at him, and, using the lance as a longclub, he struck furiously at the Mexican. The heavy butt landed squarelyupon the man's head, and shattered it like an eggshell. Youthful andhumane, Ned nevertheless felt a savage joy when the man's skull crashedbeneath his blow. 

It is true that he was quite mad for the moment. His rage and horrorcaused every nerve and muscle within him to swell. His brain was a massof fire. His strength was superhuman. Whirling the great lance in clubfashion about his head he struck another Mexican across the shoulders, and sent him with a howl of pain from the saddle. He next struck a horseacross the forehead, and so great was the impact that the animal wentdown. A cavalryman at a range of ten yards fired at him and missed. Henever fired again, as the heavy butt of the lance caught him the nextinstant on the side of the head, and he went to join his comrade. 

All the while Ned was running for the timber. A certain reason wasappearing in his actions, and he was beginning to think clearly. Hecurved about as he ran, knowing that it would disturb the aim of theMexicans, who were not good shots, and instinctively he held on to thelance, whirling it about his head, and from time to time uttering fierceshouts like an Indian warrior wild with battle. More than one Mexicanhorseman sheered away from the formidable figure with the formidableweapon. 

Ned saw other figures, unarmed, running for the wood. A few reached it, but most were cut down before they had gone half way. Behind him thefiring and shouting of the Mexicans did not seem to decrease, but nomore groans or cries reached him from the bank of smoke that hung overthe place where the murdered recruits lay. But the crash of the fire, directed on the other columns to right and left, still came to him. 

Ned saw the wood not far away now. Twenty or thirty shots had been firedat him, but all missed except two, which merely grazed him. He was nothurt and the superhuman strength, born of events so extraordinary, stillbore him up. The trees looked very green. They seemed to hold outsheltering arms, and there was dense underbrush through which thecavalry could not dash. 

He came yet nearer, and then a horseman, rifle raised to his shoulder, dashed in between. Sparks danced before Ned's eyes. Throat and mouth, lips and his whole face burned with smoke and fever, but all the heatseemed to drive him into fiercer action. He struck at horse and horsemanso savagely that the two went down together, and the lance broke in hishands. Then with a cry of triumph that his parched throat could scarcelyutter, he leaped into the timber. 

Having reached the shelter of the trees, Ned ran on for a long time, andfinally came into the belt of forest along the San Antonio River. Twenty-six others escaped in the same way on that day, which witnessedthe most dreadful deed ever done on the soil of North America, butnearly four hundred were murdered in obedience to the letter sent byAntonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Fannin and Ward, themselves, were shotthrough the head, and their bodies were thrown into the common heap ofthe slain. 

Ned did not see any of the other fugitives among the trees. He may havepassed them, but his brain was still on fire, and he beheld nothing butthat terrible scene behind him, the falling recruits, the fire and thesmoke and the charging horsemen. He could scarcely believe that it wasreal. The supreme power would not permit such things. Already the Alamohad lighted a fire in his soul, and Goliad now turned it into a roaringflame. He hated Urrea, who had rejoiced in it, and he hated Santa Annawho, he dimly felt, had been responsible for this massacre. Everyelement in his being was turned for the time into passion and hatred. Ashe wandered on, he murmured unintelligible but angry words through hisburning lips. 

He knew nothing about the passage of time, but after many hours herealized that it was night, and that he had come to the banks of ariver. It was the San Antonio, and he swam it, wishing to put the streambetween himself and the Mexicans. Then he sat down in the thick timber, and the collapse from such intense emotions and such great exertionscame quickly. He seemed to go to pieces all in a breath. His head fellforward and he became unconscious. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE RACE FOR THE BOAT

Five men, or rather four men and a boy, rode down the banks of the SanAntonio, always taking care to keep well in the shelter of the timber. All the men were remarkable in figure, and at least three of them wereof a fame that had spread to every corner of Texas. 

The one who rode slightly in advance was of gigantic build, enormouslythick through the shoulders and chest. He was dressed in brightly dyeddeerskin, and there were many fanciful touches about his border costume. The others also wore deerskin, but theirs was of soberer hue. The manwas Martin Palmer, far better known as the Panther, or, as he loved tocall himself, the Ring Tailed Panther. His comrades were "Deaf" Smith, Henry Karnes, Obed White and Will Allen. 

They were not a very cheerful five. Riding as free lances, because therewas now practically no organized authority among the Texans, they hadbeen scouting the day before toward Goliad. They had learned that Fanninand his men had been taken, and they had sought also to discover whatthe Mexican generals meant to do with the troops. But the Mexicanpatrols had been so numerous and strong that they could not get closeenough to Goliad. Early in the morning while in the timber by the riverthey had heard the sound of heavy firing near Goliad, which continuedfor some time, but they had not been able to fathom its meaning. Theyconcluded finally that a portion of Fannin's men must have been stillholding out in some old building of Goliad, and that this was the laststand. 

They made another effort to get closer to the town, but they were sooncompelled to turn back, and, again they sought the thickest timber alongthe river. Now they were riding back, in the hope of finding some Texandetachment with which they could coöperate. 

"If we keep huntin' we ought to find somebody who can tell ussomethin', " said the Panther. 

"It's a long lane that has no news at the end, " said Obed White, with anattempt at buoyancy. 

"That's so, " said "Deaf" Smith. "We're bound to hit a trail somehow an'somewhere. We heard that Fannin's men had surrendered an' then we heardthat firin'. But I guess that they wouldn't give up, without makin' goodterms for themselves, else they would have held out as the boys did inthe Alamo. "

"Ah, the Alamo!" said Obed White. His face clouded at the words. He wasthinking then of the gallant youth who had escaped with him from thedungeon under the sea in the castle of San Juan de Ulua, and who hadbeen his comrade in the long and perilous flight through Mexico intoTexas. The heart of the Maine man, alone in the world, had turnedstrongly to Ned Fulton, and mourning him as one dead he also mourned himas a son. But as he rarely talked of the things that affected him most, he seldom mentioned Ned. The Panther was less restrained. 

"We've got a big score to settle for the Alamo, " he said. "Some goodfriends of mine went down forever in that old mission an' there was thatboy, Ned Fulton. I s'pose it ain't so bad to be cut off when you're old, an' you've had most of your life, but it does look bad for a strong, fine boy just turnin' into a man to come straight up ag'inst the deadwall. "

Will Allen said nothing, but unbidden water forced itself to his eyes. He and Ned had become the strongest of friends and comrades. 

"After all that's been done to our people, " said the Panther, "I feellike rippin' an' r'arin' an' chawin' the rest of my life. "

"We'll have the chance to do all of it we want, judgin' from the waythings are goin', " said "Deaf" Smith. 

Then they relapsed into silence, and rode on through the timber, goingslowly as they were compelled to pick their way in the underbrush. Itwas now nearly noon, and a brilliant sun shone overhead, but the foliageof young spring was heavy on trees and bushes, and it gave them at thesame time shade and shelter. 

As they rode they watched everywhere for a trail. If either Texans orMexicans had passed they wanted to know why, and when. They came at lastto hoofprints in the soft bank of the river, indicating thathorses--undoubtedly with men on their backs--had crossed here. Theskilled trailers calculated the number at more than fifteen, perhapsmore than twenty, and they followed their path across the timber and outupon the prairie. 

When the hoofprints were more clearly discernible in the grass they sawthat they had been made by unshod feet, and they were mystified, butthey followed cautiously or, for two or three miles, when "Deaf" Smithsaw something gleaming by the track. He alighted and picked up a paintedfeather. 

"It's simple now, " he said. "We've been followin' the trail of Indians. They wouldn't be in this part of the country, 'less they were helpin'the Mexicans, an' I guess they were at Goliad, leavin' after thebusiness there was finished. "

"You're right, Deaf, " said Karnes. "That 'counts for the unshod hoofs. It ain't worth while for us to follow them any longer, so I guess we'dbetter turn back to the timber. "

Safety obviously demanded this course, and soon they were again in theforest, riding near the San Antonio and down its stream. They struck thetrail of a bear, then they roused up a deer in the thickets, but biggame had no attraction for them now, and they went on, leaving bear anddeer in peace. Then the sharp eyes of the Panther saw the print of ahuman foot on the river bank. He soon saw three or four more such tracesleading into the forest, where the trail was lost. 

The five gathered around the imprints in the earth, and debated theirmeaning. It was evident even to Will Allen that some one without a horsehad swum the river at that point and had climbed up the bank. They couldsee the traces lower down, where he had emerged from the water. 

"I figger it this way, " said the Panther. "People don't go travelin'through this country except on horses, an' this fellow, whoever he is, didn't have any horse, as we all can see as plain as day. "

"An' in such times as these, " said "Deaf" Smith, "fellers don't goswimmin' rivers just for fun. The one that made these tracks was in ahurry. Ain't that so, Hank?"

"'Course he was, " replied Karnes. "He was gettin' away from somewherean' from somebody. That's why he swam the river; he wanted the SanAntonio to separate him from them somebodies. "

"And putting two and two and then two more together, " said Obed White, "we draw the conclusion that it is a fugitive, probably one of our ownTexans, who has escaped in some manner from his prison at Goliad. "

"It's what we all think, " said the Panther, "an' now we'll beat up thesethickets till we find him. He's sure to keep movin' away from Goliad, an' he's got sense to stay in the cover of the timber. "

The forest here ran back from the river three or four hundred yards, andthe five, separating and moving up the stream, searched thoroughly. Thehunt presently brought the Panther and Obed White together again, andthey expressed their disappointment at finding nothing. Then they hearda cry from Will Allen, who came galloping through the thickets, his facewhite and his eyes starting. 

"I've found Ned Fulton!" he cried. "He's lying here dead in the bushes!"

The Panther and Obed stared in amazement. 

"Will, " exclaimed the Panther, "have you gone plum' crazy? Ned waskilled at the Alamo!"

"I tell you he is here!" cried the boy, who was shaking with excitement. "I have just seen him! He was lying on his back in the bushes, and hedid not move!"

"Lead on! Let's see what you have seen!" said Obed, who began to sharein the boy's excitement. 

The Panther whistled, and Smith and Karnes joined them. Then, led byWill Allen, they rode swiftly through the bushes, coming, forty or fiftyyards away, into a tiny grassy glade. It was either Ned Fulton or hisghost, and the Panther, remembering the Alamo, took it for the latter. He uttered a cry of astonishment and reined in his horse. But Obed Whiteleaped to the ground, and ran to the prostrate figure. 

"A miracle!" he exclaimed. "It's Ned Fulton! And he's alive!"

The others also sprang from their horses, and crowded around theiryouthful comrade, whom they had considered among the fallen of theAlamo. Ned was unconscious, his face was hot with fever, and hisbreathing was hard and irregular. 

"How he escaped from the Alamo and how he came here we don't know, " saidObed White solemnly, "but there are lots of strange things in heaven andearth, as old Shakespeare said, and this is one of the strangest of themall. "

"However, it's happened we're glad to get him back, " said the Panther. "And now we must go to work. You can tell by lookin' at him that he'sbeen through all kinds of trouble, an' a powerful lot of it. "

These skilled borderers knew that Ned was suffering from exhaustion. They forced open his mouth, poured a drink down his throat from a flaskthat Karnes carried, and rubbed his hands vigorously. Ned, after awhile, opened his eyes and looked at them dimly. He knew in a vague waythat these were familiar faces, but he remembered nothing, and he feltno surprise. 

"Ned! Ned! Don't; you know us?" said Will Allen. "We're your friends, and we found you lying here in the bush!"

The clouds slowly cleared away from Ned's mind and it all came back, theterrible and treacherous slaughter of his unarmed comrades, his ownflight through the timber his swimming of the river, and then the blank. But these were his best friends. It was no fantasy. How and when theyhad come he did not know, but here they were in the flesh, the Panther, Obed White, Will Allen, "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes. 

"Boys, " he asked weakly, "how did you find me?"

"Now don't you try to talk yet a while, Ned, " said Obed White, veilinghis feeling under a whimsical tone. "When people come back from thedead they don't always stay, and we want to keep you, as you're anenrolled member of this party. The news of your trip into the beyond andback again will keep, until we fix up something for you that will makeyou feel a lot stronger. "

These frontiersmen never rode without an outfit, and Smith produced asmall skillet from his kit. The Panther lighted a fire, Karnes chippedoff some dried beef, and in a few minutes they had a fine soup, whichNed ate with relish. He sat with his back against a tree and hisstrength returned rapidly. 

"I guess you can talk now, Ned, " said Obed White. "You can tell us howyou got away from the Alamo, and where you've been all the time. "

Young Fulton's face clouded and Obed White saw his hands tremble. 

"It isn't the Alamo, " he said. "They died fighting there. It wasGoliad. "

"Goliad?" exclaimed "Deaf" Smith. "What do you mean?"

"I mean the slaughter, the massacre. All our men were led out. They weretold that they were to go on parole. Then the whole Mexican army openedfire upon us at a range of only a few yards and the cavalry trod usdown. We had no arms. We could not fight back. It was awful. I did notdream that such things could be. None of you will ever see what I'veseen, and none of you will ever go through what I've gone through. "

"Ned, you've had fever. It's a dream, " said Obed White, incredulous. 

"It is no dream. I broke through somehow, and got to the timber. Maybe afew others escaped in the same way, but all the rest were murdered incold blood. I know that Santa Anna ordered it. "

They knew perfectly well that Ned was telling the full truth, and thefaces of all of them darkened. The same thought was in the heart ofevery one, vengeance for the deed, but however intense was the thoughtit did not approach the feeling of Ned, who had seen it all, and who hadbeen through it all. 

"I guess that was the firing we heard, " said Smith, "when we thought itwas the boys making a last stand at Goliad. I tell you, comrades, thismeans the freedom of Texas. No matter how the quarrel came about nopeople can stand such things. "

"It's so, " said the others together. 

They did not declaim. They were of a tribe that was not given much towords, but they felt sure that their own resolve to fight until noMexicans were left in Texas would now be shared by every Texan. 

After Ned rested a while longer and ate more of the good soup, he toldthe full story of the great and tragic scenes through which he hadpassed since he became separated from them. Seasoned as they were, thesemen hung with breathless interest on every detail. He told themeverything that had passed in the Alamo during the long days of thesiege. He told of Crockett and Bowie and Travis and of the finalassault. 

The Panther drew a deep breath, when he finished that part of the story. 

"They were certainly great men in the Alamo, them fellers, " he said, "and when my time comes to die I believe I'd rather die that way thanany other. "

Ned did not linger long over the tale of Goliad. He could not yet bearthe detailed repetition. 

"I think we'd better make for the coast, " said "Deaf" Smith, when hehad finished. "Our forces in the field are about wiped out, an' we'vegot to raise a new army of some kind. We can look for our government, too. It's wanderin' aroun', tryin' to keep out of the hands of SantaAnna. We haven't any horse for you now, Ned, but you can ride behindWill Allen. Maybe we can get you a mount before long. "

They remained in the timber the rest of the day, in order that Ned mightrecover sufficiently for the journey. About the middle of the afternoonthey saw a dozen Mexican cavalrymen on the plain, and they hoped thatthey would invade the timber. They were keyed to such a pitch of angerand hate that they would have welcomed a fight, and they were more thanconfident of victory, but the Mexicans disappeared beyond the swells, and every one of the men was disappointed. 

At night they began their march toward the north, and continued almostuntil morning. Ned, riding behind Will Allen, scarcely spoke. ObedWhite, then and afterward, observed a great change in him. He seemed tohave matured suddenly far beyond his years, and Obed always felt that hehad some unchanging purpose that had little to do with gentleness ormercy. 

They slept in the timber until about 10 o'clock, and then resumed theirride northward, still holding to the opinion that the peripatetic Texangovernment would be found at Harrisburg, or somewhere in its vicinity. In the afternoon they encountered a Mexican force of eight mounted men, and attacked with such vigor that Ned and Will, riding double, werenever able to get into the fight. Two of the Mexicans fell, and the restgot away. The Texans were unharmed. 

The Panther, after a chase, captured one of the horses, and brought himback for Ned. They also secured the arms of the fallen Mexicans, one ofthese weapons being an American rifle, which Ned was quite sure hadbelonged to a slaughtered recruit at Goliad. They also found a letter inone of the Mexican haversacks. It was from General Urrea to GeneralSanta Anna, and the Panther and his comrades inferred from the directionin which its bearer had been riding that the dictator himself had leftSan Antonio, and was marching eastward with the main Mexican army. 

"I have to inform you, " ran a part of the letter, "that your orders inregard to the rebels at Goliad were carried out, in my absence, by thebrave and most excellent Colonel Portilla. They were all executed, except a few who escaped under cover of the smoke to the timber, but ourcavalrymen are sure to find in time every one of these, and inflict uponthem the justice that you have ordered. 

"I shall march north, expecting to meet your excellency, and I trustthat I shall have further good news to report to you. There are now norebel forces worthy of the name. We shall sweep the country clean. Ishall send detachments to take any Americans who may land at the ports, and, coöperating with you, I feel assured, also, that we shall captureevery member of the rebel government. In another month there will not bea single Texan in arms against us. "

Ned read the letter aloud, translating into English as he went, and whenhe finished the Panther burst into a scornful laugh. 

"So, the rebels are all killed, or about to be killed!" he said. "An'there won't be one Texan in arms a month from now! I'm willin' to givemy word that here are six of us who will be in arms then, roarin' an'rippin' an' t'arin'! They'll sweep the country clean, will they? They'llneed a bigger broom for that job than any that was ever made inMexico!"

The others made comment in like fashion, but young Fulton was silent. His resolution was immutable, and it required no words to assert it. 

"I guess we'd better take this letter with us an' give it to SamHouston, " said "Deaf" Smith. "Houston has been criticized a lot for notgatherin' his forces together an' attackin' the Mexicans, but he ain'thad any forces to gather, an' talk has never been much good againstcannon balls an' bullets. Still, he's the only man we've got to fallback on. "

"You keep the letter, 'Deaf', " said the Panther, "an' now that we've gota horse for Ned I guess we can go a little faster. How you feelin' now, Ned?"

"Fine, " replied Ned. "Don't you bother about me any more. I started onthe upgrade the moment you fellows found me. "

"A good horse and a good rifle ought to be enough to bring back thestrength to any Texan, " said Obed White. 

They resumed their journey at a faster pace, but before nightfall theymet another Texan who informed them that large forces of Mexicans werenow between them and Harrisburg. Hence they concluded that it was wiserto turn toward the coast, and make a great circuit around the forces ofSanta Anna. 

But they told the Texan scout of what had been done at Goliad, and badehim wave the torch of fire wherever he went. He rode away with a faceaghast at the news, and they knew that he would soon spread it throughthe north. As for themselves they rode rapidly toward the east. 

They spent the night in a cluster of timber, and the Panther wasfortunate enough to shoot a wild turkey. They made Ned eat thetenderest parts, and then seek sleep between blankets. His fever was nowgone, but he was relaxed and weak. It was a pleasant weakness, however, and, secure in the comradeship of his friends, he soon fell into a deepslumber which lasted all the night. The others had planned an earlystart, but, as Ned was sleeping with such calm and peace, they decidednot to disturb him, knowing how much he needed the rest. It was threehours after sunrise when he awoke, and he made many apologies, but therest only laughed. 

"What's the use of our hurryin'?" said "Deaf" Smith. "It'll take sometime for Sam Houston to get any army together, an' we might keep in goodshape until he gets it. Here's more beef soup for you, Ned. You'll findit mighty fine for buildin' up. "

Two or three hours after they started that day they came to a largetrail, and, when they followed it a little while, they found that it wasmade by Mexicans marching south, but whether they belonged to the mainforce under Santa Anna or that under Urrea they could not tell. 

It was evident that the northern road was full of dangers and they rodefor the coast. Several small Texan vessels were flitting around thegulf, now and then entering obscure bays and landing arms, ammunitionand recruits for he cause. Both Smith and Karnes were of the opinionthat they might find a schooner or sloop, and they resolved to try forit. 

They reached, the next day, country that had not been ravaged by thetroops of Santa Anna, and passed one or two tiny settlements, where theytold the news of Goliad. The Panther, Smith and Karnes were well knownto all the Texans, and they learned in the last of these villages that aschooner was expected in a cove about forty miles up the coast. It wouldundoubtedly put in at night, and it would certainly arrive in two orthree days. They thought it was coming from New Orleans. 

The little party decided to ride for the cove, and meet the schooner ifpossible. They could reach it in another day and night, and they wouldawait the landing. 

"We've got good friends in New Orleans, " said Smith, as they rode overthe prairie. "You'll remember the merchant, John Roylston. He's for usheart and soul, an' I've no doubt that he's sendin' us help. "

"All the Texans owe him a debt, " said Ned, "and I owe him most of all. His name saved my life, when I was taken at San Antonio. It had weightwith Santa Anna, and it might have had weight with him, too, at Goliad, had he been there. "

They rode steadily all the next day. Their horses were tough mustangs ofthe best quality, and showed no signs of weariness. They passed througha beautiful country of light rolling prairie, interspersed with fineforest. The soil was deep and rich, and the foliage was already in itstenderest spring green. Soft, warm airs swept up from the gulf. Five ofthe riders felt elation, and talked cheerfully. But Ned maintained asomber silence. The scenes of Goliad were still too vivid for him torejoice over anything. The others understood, and respected his silence. 

They camped that night as usual in the thickest forest they could find, and, feeling that they were now too far east to be in any serious dangerfrom the Mexicans, they lighted a fire, warmed their food, and madecoffee, having replenished their supplies at the last settlement. ObedWhite was the coffee maker, heating it in a tin pot with a metal bottom. They had only one cup, which they used in turn, but the warm food anddrink were very grateful to them after their hard riding. 

"Keeping in good condition is about three-fourths of war, " said Obed inan oracular tone. "He who eats and runs away will live to eat anotherday. Besides, Napoleon said that an army marched better on a fullstomach, or something like it. "

"That applied to infantry, " said Will Allen. "We march on our horses. "

"Some day, " said Ned, "when we've beaten Santa Anna and driven all theMexicans out of Texas, I'm going back and hunt for Old Jack. He and Iare too good friends to part forever. I found him, after abandoning himthe first time, and I believe I can do it again, after leaving him thesecond time. "

"Of course you can, " said the Panther cheerily. "Old Jack is a horsethat will never stay lost. Now, I think we'd better put out our fire andgo to sleep. The horses will let us know if any enemy comes. "

All were soon slumbering peacefully in their blankets, but Ned, who hadslept so much the night before, awakened in two or three hours. Hebelieved, at first, that a distant sound had broken his sleep, but whenhe sat up he heard nothing. Five dusky figures lay in a row near him. They were those of his comrades, and he heard their steady breathing. Certainly they slept well. He lay down again, but he remained wideawake, and, when his ear touched the ground, he seemed to hear the faintand distant sound again. 

He rose and looked at the horses. They had not moved, and it was quiteevident that they had detected no hostile presence. But Ned was notsatisfied. Putting his rifle on his shoulder he slipped through theforest to the edge of the prairie. Long before he was there he knew thathe had not been deceived by fancy. 

He saw, two or three hundred yards in front of him, a long file ofcavalry marching over the prairie, going swiftly and straight ahead, asif bent upon some purpose well defined. A good moon and abundant starsfurnished plenty of light, and Ned saw that the force was Mexican. Therewere no lancers, all the men carrying rifles or muskets, and Nedbelieved that he recognized the younger Urrea in the figure at theirhead. He had seen the young Mexican so often and in such vivid momentsthat there was no phase of pose or gesture that he could forget. 

Ned watched the column until it was hidden by the swells. It had neverveered to either right or left, and its course was the same as that ofhis comrades and himself. He wondered a little while, and then he felt asuspicion which quickly grew into a certainty. Urrea, a daring partisanleader, who rode over great distances, had heard of the schooner and itsarms, and was on his way to the cove to seize them. It was for Ned andhis friends to prevent it. 

He returned, and, awakening the others, stated what he had seen. Then headded his surmise. 

"It's likely that you're guessin' right, " said "Deaf" Smith. "TheMexicans have spies, of course, an' they get word, too, from Europeansin these parts, who are not friendly to us. What do you say, boys, allof you?"

"That Urrea is bound for the same place we are, " said Obed White. 

"That we've got to ride hard, an' fast, " said the Panther. 

"It's our business to get there first, " said Karnes. 

"Let's take to the saddle now, " said Will Allen. 

Ned said nothing. He had given his opinion already. They saddled theirhorses, and were on the plain in five minutes, riding directly in thetrail of the Mexican cavalry. They meant to follow until nearly dawn, and then, passing around, hurry to the cove, where the schooner, withouttheir warning, might be unloading supplies before nightfall into thevery arms of the Mexicans. 

Before dawn they faintly saw the troop ahead, and then, turning to theleft, they put their mustangs into the long easy lope of the frontier, not slowing down, until they were sure that they were at least three orfour miles beyond the Mexicans. But they continued at a fast walk, andate their breakfasts in the saddle. They rode through the same beautifulcountry, but without people, and they knew that if nothing unusualoccurred they would see the sea by noon. 

Ned went over their directions once more. The cove ran back from the seaabout a mile, and its entrance was a strait not more than thirty yardswide, but deep. In fact, the entire cove was deep, being surrounded byhigh forested banks except at the west, into which a narrow but deepcreek emptied. The only convenient landing was the creek's mouth, andthey believed that they would find the schooner there. 

Ned, in common with the others, felt the great importance of the missionon which they rode. Most of the Texan cannon and a great part of theirrifles had been taken at the Alamo and Goliad. But greater even than theneed of arms was that of ammunition. If Urrea were able to seize theschooner, or to take the supplies, the moment after they landed, hewould strike the Texans a heavy blow. Hence the six now pushed theirhorses. 

At ten o'clock, they caught a glimpse of the sea upon their right. Fiveminutes later they saw a cloud of dust on their left, less than a mileaway. It was moving rapidly, and it was evident at once that it was madeby a large body of horse. When the dust lifted a little, they saw thatit was Urrea and his men. 

"It's likely that they have more information than we have, " said thePanther, "an' they are ridin' hard to make a surprise. Boys, we've gotto beat 'em, an', to do it, we've got to keep ahead of our dust all thetime!"

"The greater the haste, the greater the speed just now, " said ObedWhite. 

They urged their horses into a gallop. They kept close to the sea, whileUrrea was more than half a mile inland. Luckily, a thin skirt of timbersoon intervened between Mexicans and Texans, and the six believed thatUrrea and his men were unaware of their presence. Their own cloud ofdust was much smaller than that of the Mexicans, and also it mightreadily be mistaken for sea sand whipped up by the wind. 

Ned and the Panther rode in front, side by side, Smith and Karnesfollowed, side by side, too, and behind came Obed White and Will Allen, riding knee to knee. They ascended a rise and Ned, whose eyes were thekeenest of them all, uttered a little cry. 

"The schooner is there!" he exclaimed. "See, isn't that the top of amast sticking up above those scrub trees?"

"It's nothing else, " said Obed White, who was familiar with the sea andships. "And it's bound, too, to be the schooner for which we arelooking. Forward, boys! The swift will win the race, and the battle willgo to the strong!"

They pressed their horses now to their greatest speed. The cove and theship were not more than a half mile away. A quarter of a mile, and theskirt of timber failed. The Mexicans on their left saw them, andincreased their speed. 

"The schooner's anchored!" exclaimed Obed, "and they are unloading!Look, part of the cargo is on the bank already!"

With foot and rein they took the last ounce of speed from their horses, and galloped up to a group of astonished men, who were transferring armsand ammunition by small boats from a schooner to the land Already morethan a hundred rifles, and a dozen barrels of powder lay upon the shore. 

"Back to the ship! Back to the ship!" cried Ned, who involuntarily tookthe lead. "We are Texans, and a powerful force of Mexicans will be hereinside of fifteen minutes!"

The men looked at him astonished and unbelieving. Ned saw among them afigure, clad in sober brown, a man with a large head and a broad, intellectual face, with deep lines of thought. He knew him at once, andcried:

"Mr. Roylston, it is I! Edward Fulton! You know me! And here are CaptainPalmer, 'Deaf' Smith, Henry Karnes, Obed White and Will Allen! I tellyou that you have no time to lose! Put the supplies back on theschooner, and be as quick as you can! Captain Urrea and two hundred menare galloping fast to capture them!"

Roylston started in astonishment at the appearance of Ned, whom he, too, had believed to be dead, but he wasted no time in questions. He gavequick orders to have the arms and ammunition reloaded, and directed thetask himself. The Panther sprang from his horse and walked back to theedge of the wood. 

"Here they come at a gallop, " he said, "and we need time. Boys, hand meyour rifles, as I call for them, an' I'll show you how to shoot. "

The Panther did not mean to boast, nor did the others take it as such. He merely knew his own skill, and he meant to use it. 

"Do as he says, " said "Deaf" Smith to the others. "I reckon that, asDavy Crockett is dead, the Panther is the best shot in all Texas. "

The Mexican cavalry were coming at a gallop, several hundred yards away. The Panther raised his long, slender-barreled rifle, pulled the trigger, and the first horseman fell from the saddle. Without turning, he heldout his hands and Smith thrust the second rifle into them. Up went theweapon, and a second Mexican saddle was empty. A third rifle and a thirdMexican went down, a fourth, and the result was the same. The wholeMexican troop, appalled at such deadly shooting, stopped suddenly. 

"Keep it up, Panther! Keep it up!" cried Smith. "We need every minute oftime that we can get. "

While the Mexicans hesitated the Panther sent another fatal bullet amongthem. Then they spread out swiftly in a thin half circle, and advancedagain. All the six Texans now opened fire, and they were also helped bysome of the men from the boat. But a part of the attacking force hadgained cover and the fire was not now so effective. 

Nevertheless the rush of the Mexicans was checked, and under thedirections of Roylston the reloading of the schooner was proceedingrapidly. They hoisted the last of the powder and rifles over the side, and two of the boats were putting back for the defenders. The schooner, meanwhile, had taken in her anchor and was unfurling her sails. Roylstonwas in one of the boats and, springing upon the bank, he shouted to thedefenders:

"Come, lads! The supplies are all back on board! It's for your livesnow!"

All the men instantly abandoned the defence and rushed for the bank, thePanther uttering a groan of anger. 

"I hate to leave six good horses to Urrea, an' that gang, " he said, "butI s'pose it has to be done. "

"Don't grieve, Panther, " cried Smith. "We'll take three for one lateron!"

"Hurry up! Hurry up!" said Roylston. "There is no time to waste. Intothe boats, all of you!"

They scrambled into the boats, reached the schooner, and pulled theboats to the deck after them. There was not a minute to lose. Theschooner, her sails full of wind, was beginning to move, and theMexicans were already firing at her, although their bullets missed. 

Ned and Will Allen threw themselves flat on the deck, and heard theMexican bullets humming over their heads. Ned knew that they were stillin great danger, as it was a mile to the open sea, and the Mexicansgalloping along by the side of the cove had begun a heavy fire upon theschooner. But the Panther uttered a tremendous and joyous shout ofdefiance. 

"They can't hurt the ship as long as they ain't got cannon, " he said, "an' since it's rifles, only, we'll give it back to 'em!"

He and the other sharpshooters, sheltering themselves, began to rake thewoods with rifle fire. The Mexicans replied, and the bullets pepperedthe wooden sides of the schooner or cut holes through her sails. But theTexans now had the superiority. They could shelter themselves on theship, and they were also so much better marksmen that they did muchdamage, while suffering but little themselves. 

The schooner presently passed between the headlands, and then into theopen sea. She did not change her course until she was eight or ten milesfrom land, when she turned northward. 

CHAPTER XX

THE CRY FOR VENGEANCE

As soon as the schooner was out of range Ned and his comrades stood upon the deck, and looked back at the long low coastline, which hadoffered to them so much danger. At first they saw Mexican horsemen onthe beach, but as they went further and further out to sea theydisappeared. 

A strong wind hummed through the sails and the schooner, heeling over alittle, went swiftly northward, leaving a long white wake. Ned and hiscomrades sat on the benches that ran around the sides of the deck. Someof the rich brown color faded from the Panther's face, and his eyeslooked a little bit uneasy. 

"I'm glad to be here, " he said, "glad to be out of reach of theMexicans, but I wish I was on somethin' a lot steadier than this. "

Obed White, familiar with the waters of the Maine coast, laughed. 

"This is just a spanking good breeze, " he said. "Look how the wavesdance!"

"Let 'em dance, " said the Panther, "an' they can do my share of dancin', too. I never felt less like roarin' an' t'arin' an' rippin' in my life. "

"Any way, we're getting a fine rest, " said Will Allen. "It's pleasant tobe out here, where nobody can drop suddenly on you from ambush. "

The schooner made another curve to the eastward, the water becamesmoother and the Panther's qualms disappeared. Food and water werebrought to them on deck, and they ate and drank with good appetites. Then John Roylston, who had gone below, as soon as they were out ofrange, reappeared. He went directly to Ned, shook hands with him withgreat energy, and said in a tone of deep gratitude:

"I had given you up for lost. But you reappeared with your friends, justin time to save the most valuable of all cargoes for the Texans. Ishould like to hear now how you rose from the dead, because I had directinformation that you were in the Alamo, and I know that everybody thereperished. "

"I come, nevertheless, as the bearer of bad news, " said Ned, with Goliadfresh in his mind. 

"How is that?"

Then Ned told for the second time the dreadful deed done by order ofSanta Anna, and it seemed to him as he told it that all the details wereas vivid and terrible as ever. His desire for revenge upon the dictatorand the Mexicans had not diminished a particle. Roylston's face, usuallya mask, showed horror. 

"It was an awful thing to do, " he said, "but it means now that SantaAnna will never conquer Texas. No man can do such a deed and yettriumph. Now, tell me how it is that you are not among the slain in theAlamo. " Ned related the story anew, and he dwelt upon the fact thatSanta Anna had spared him at the mention of Roylston's name. But whenthe story was finished, the merchant was silent for quite a while. Nedknew by the contraction of the lines upon the great brow that he wasthinking. At last, he broke the silence. 

"No doubt you have wondered that my name had so much influence withSanta Anna, " he said. "I have hinted at it before, but I will explainmore fully now. I am, as you know, a merchant. I trade throughout thewhole southwest, and I have ships in the Gulf and the Caribbean. One ofthem, the 'Star of the South, ' on which we now are, can show her heelsto anything in these seas. 

"Earlier in my life I came in contact with Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Like many others I fell for a while under his spell. I believed that hewas a great and liberal man, that he would even be able to pull Mexicoout of her slough of misrule and ignorance. I helped him in some of hisyoung efforts. The splendid hacienda that he has near Vera Cruz wasbought partly with money that I furnished. 

"But our friendship could not last. Vain, ruthless, cruel, but withgenius, Santa Anna can have no friends except those whom he may use. Unless you submit, unless you do everything that he wishes, you are, inhis opinion, a traitor to him, a malefactor and an enemy, to be crushedby trickery or force, by fair means or foul. How could I have continueddealings with such a man?

"I soon saw that instead of being Mexico's best friend he was her worstenemy. I drew away in time, but barely. I was in Mexico when the breakcame, and he would have seized and imprisoned me or had me shot, but Iescaped in disguise. 

"I retained, too, a hold upon Santa Anna that he has sought in vain tobreak. Such a man as he always needs money, not a few thousands, butgreat sums. He has been thrifty. The treasury of Mexico has beenpractically at his mercy, but he does not trust the banks of his ownland. He has money not only in the foreign banks of Mexico, but alsolarge amounts of it in two of the great banks of London. The Englishdeposits stand as security for the heavy sums that he owes me. His armis long, but it does not reach to London. 

"He cannot pay at present without putting himself in great difficulties, and, for the time being, I wish the debt to stand. It gives me a certainpower over him, although we are on opposite sides in a fierce war. Whenyou gave him my name in San Antonio, he did not put you to death becausehe feared that I would seize his English money when I heard of it. 

"The younger Urrea has heard something of these debts. He is devoted toSanta Anna, and he knew that he would have rendered his chief an immenseservice if he could have secured his release from them. That was what hetried to force from me when I was in his hands, but you and your friendssaved me. You little thought, Edward Fulton, that you were then savingyour own life also. Otherwise, Santa Anna would have had you slaininstantly when you were brought before him at San Antonio. Ah, howthoroughly I know that man! That he can be a terrible and cruel enemy hehas already proved to Texas!"

The others listened with deep interest to every word spoken by Roylston. When he was through, the Panther rose, stretched his arms, and expandedhis mighty chest. All the natural brown had returned to his cheeks, andhis eyes sparkled with the fire of confidence. 

"Mr. Roylston, " he said, "the hosts of our foe have come an' they havedevoured our people as the locusts ate up Egypt in the Bible, but Ithink our worst days have passed. We'll come back, an' we'll win. "

"Yes, " said Ned. "I know as truly as if a prophet had told me that we'llsquare accounts with Santa Anna. "

He spoke with such sudden emphasis that the others were startled. Hisface seemed cut in stone. At that moment he saw only the Alamo andGoliad. 

The "Star of the South" sped northward, and Edward Fulton sat long onher deck, dreaming of the day when the Texans, himself in the firstrank, should come once more face to face with Antonio Lopez de SantaAnna.