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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15852-8.txt b/15852-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29b22fe --- /dev/null +++ b/15852-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12353 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Texan Star, by Joseph A. Altsheler + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Texan Star + The Story of a Great Fight for Liberty + + +Author: Joseph A. Altsheler + +Release Date: May 18, 2005 [eBook #15852] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN STAR*** + + +E-text prepared by David Garcia, Emmy, and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (www.pgdp.net) from page images generously +made available by the Kentuckiana Digital Library (http://kdl.kyvl.org/) + + + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through the + Kentuckiana Digital Library. See + http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc= + 1;sid=caa2c727b67680024e59cd8a19d87559;q1=texan%20star;cite1= + texan%20star;cite1restrict=title;view=toc;idno=b92-172-30119856 + + + + + +THE TEXAN STAR + +The Story of a Great Fight for Liberty + +by + +JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER + +Author of +_The Quest of the Four_, _The Border Watch_, +_The Scouts of the Valley_, etc. + +Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. +New York + +1912 + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +"The Texan Star," while a complete story in itself, is the first of +three, projected by the author, and based upon the Texan struggle for +liberty against the power of Mexico. This revolution, epic in its +nature, and crowded with heroism and great events, divides itself +naturally into three parts. + +The first phase begins in Mexico with the treacherous imprisonment of +Austin, the Texan leader, the rise of Santa Anna and his attempt, +through bad faith, to disarm the Texans and leave them powerless before +the Indians. It culminates in the rebellion of the Texans, and their +capture, in the face of great odds, of San Antonio, the seat of the +Mexican power in the north. + +The second phase is the coming of Santa Anna with an overwhelming force, +the fall of the Alamo, the massacre of Goliad and the dark days of +Texas. Yet the period of gloom is relieved by the last stand of +Crockett, Bowie, and their famous comrades. + +The third phase is the coming of light in the darkness, Houston's +crowning victory at San Jacinto, and the complete victory of the Texans. + +The story of the Texan fight for freedom has always appealed to the +author, as one of the most remarkable of modern times. + + + + + CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + I THE PRISONERS + II A HAIR-CUT + III SANCTUARY + IV THE PALM + V IN THE PYRAMID + VI THE MARCH WITH COS + VII THE DUNGEON UNDER THE SEA + VIII THE BLACK JAGUAR + IX THE RUINED TEMPLES + X CACTUS AND MEXICANS + XI THE LONG CHASE + XII THE TRIAL OF PATIENCE + XIII THE TEXANS + XIV THE RING TAILED PANTHER + XV THE FIRST GUN + XVI THE COMING OF URREA + XVII THE OLD CONVENT +XVIII IN SAN ANTONIO + XIX THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER + XX THE WHEEL OF FIRE + XXI THE TEXAN STAR + XXII THE TAKING OF THE TOWN + + + + +THE TEXAN STAR + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE PRISONERS + + +A boy and a man sat in a room of a stone house in the ancient City of +Mexico, capital in turn of Aztec, Spaniard and Mexican. They could see +through the narrow windows masses of low buildings and tile roofs, and +beyond, the swelling shape of great mountains, standing clear against +the blue sky. But they had looked upon them so often that the mind took +no note of the luminous spectacle. The cry of a water-seller or the +occasional jingle of a spur came from the street below, but these, too, +were familiar sounds, and they were no longer regarded. + +The room contained but little furniture and the door was of heavy oak. +Its whole aspect indicated that it was a prison. The man was of middle +years, and his face showed a singular blend of kindness and firmness. +The pallor of imprisonment had replaced his usual color. The boy was +tall and strong and his cheeks were yet ruddy. His features bore some +resemblance to those of his older comrade. + +"Ned," said the man at last, "it has been good of you to stay with me +here, but a prison is no place for a boy. You must secure a release and +go back to our people." + +The boy smiled, and his face, in repose rather stern for one so young, +was illumined in a wonderful manner. + +"I don't want to leave you, Uncle Steve," he said, "and if I did it's +not likely that I could. This house is strong, and it's a long way from +here to Texas." + +"Perhaps I can induce them to let you go," said the man. "Why should +they wish to hold one so young?" + +Edward Fulton did not reply because he saw that Stephen Austin was +speaking to himself rather than his companion. Instead, he looked once +more through the window and over the city at the vast white peaks of +Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl silent and immutable, forever guarding the +sky-line. Yet they seemed to call to him at this moment and tell him of +freedom. The words of the man had touched a spring within him and he +wanted to go. He could not conceal from himself the fact that he longed +for liberty with every pulse and fiber. But he resolved, nevertheless, +to stay. He would not desert the one whom he had come to serve. + +Stephen Austin, the real founder of Texas, had now been in prison in +Mexico more than a year. Coming to Saltillo to secure for the Texans +better treatment from the Mexicans, their rulers, he had been seized and +held as a criminal. The boy, Edward Fulton, was not really his nephew, +but an orphan, the son of a cousin. He owed much to Austin and coming to +the capital to help him he was sharing his imprisonment. + +"They say that Santa Anna now has the power," said Ned, breaking the +somber silence. + +"It is true," said Stephen Austin, "and it is a new and strong reason +why I fear for our people. Of all the cunning and ambitious men in +Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna is the most cunning and ambitious. I +know, too, that he is the most able, and I believe that he is the most +dangerous to those of us who have settled in Texas. What a country is +this Mexico! Revolution after revolution! You make a treaty with one +president to-day and to-morrow another disclaims it! More than one of +them has a touch of genius, and yet it is obscured by childishness and +cruelty!" + +He sighed heavily. Ned, full of sympathy, glanced at him but said +nothing. Then his gaze turned back to the mighty peaks which stood so +sharp and clear against the blue. Truth and honesty were the most marked +qualities of Stephen Austin and he could not understand the vast web of +intrigue in which the Mexican capital was continually involved. And to +the young mind of the boy, cast in the same mold, it was yet more +baffling and repellent. + +Ned still stared at the guardian peaks, but his thoughts floated away +from them. His head had been full of old romance when he entered the +vale of Tenochtitlan. He had almost seen Cortez and the conquistadores +in their visible forms with their armor clanking about them as they +stalked before him. He had gazed eagerly upon the lakes, the mighty +mountains, the low houses and the strange people. Here, deeds of which +the world still talked had been done centuries ago and his thrill was +strong and long. But the feeling was gone now. He had liked many of the +Mexicans and many of the Mexican traits, but he had felt with increasing +force that he could never reach out his hand and touch anything solid. +He thought of volcanic beings on a volcanic soil. + +The throb of a drum came from the street below, and presently the shrill +sound of fifes was mingled with the steady beat. Ned stood up and +pressed his head as far forward as the bars of the window would let him. + +"Soldiers, a regiment, I think," he said. "Ah, I can see them now! What +brilliant uniforms their officers wear!" + +Austin also looked out. + +"Yes," he said. "They know how to dress for effect. And their music is +good, too. Listen how they play." + +It was a martial air, given with a splendid lilt and swing. The tune +crept into Ned's blood and his hand beat time on the stone sill. But the +music increased his longing for liberty. His thoughts passed away from +the narrow street and the marching regiment to the North, to the wild +free plains beyond the Rio Grande. It was there that his heart was, and +it was there that his body would be. + +"It is General Cos who leads them," said Austin. "I can see him now, +riding upon a white horse. It's the man in the white and silver uniform, +Ned." + +"He's the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, is he not?" + +"Yes, and I fear him. I know well, Ned, that he hates the Texans--all of +us." + +"Perhaps the regiment that we see now is going north against our +people." + +Austin's brows contracted. + +"It may be so," he said. "They give soft words all the time, and yet +they hold me a prisoner here. It would be like them to strike while +pretending to clear away all the troubles between us." + +He sighed again. Ned watched the soldiers until the last of them had +passed the window, and then he listened to the music, the sound of drum +and fife, until it died away, and they heard only the usual murmur of +the city. Then the homesickness, the longing for the great free country +to the north grew upon him and became almost overpowering. + +"Someone comes," said Austin. + +They heard the sound of the heavy bar that closed the door being moved +from its place. + +"Our dinner, doubtless," said Austin, "but it is early." + +The door swung wide and a young Mexican officer entered. He was taller +and fairer than most of his race, evidently of pure Northern Spanish +blood, and his countenance was frank and fine. + +"Welcome, Lieutenant," said Stephen Austin, speaking in Spanish, which +he, as well as Ned, understood perfectly. "You know that we are always +glad to see you here." + +Lieutenant Alfonso de Zavala smiled in a quick, responsive way, but in a +moment his face became grave. + +"I announce a visitor, a most distinguished visitor, Mr. Austin," he +said. "General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of the Mexican +Republic and Commander-in-chief of its armies and navies." + +Both Mr. Austin and the boy arose and bowed as a small man of middle +years, slender and nervous, strode into the room, standing for a few +moments near its center, and looking about him like a questing hawk. His +was, in truth, an extraordinary presence. He seemed to radiate an +influence that at once attracted and repelled. His dark features were +cut sharply and clearly. His eyes, set closely together, were of the +most intense black that Ned had ever seen in a human head. Nor were +those eyes ever at rest. They roamed over everything, and they seemed to +burn every object for the single instant they fell there. They never met +the gaze of either American squarely, although they continually came +back to both. + +This man was clothed in a white uniform, heavy with gold stripes and +gold epaulets. A small sword at his side had a gold hilt set with a +diamond. He wore a three-cornered hat shaped like that of Napoleon, but +instead of the Corsican's simple gray his was bright in color and +splendid with plumage. + +He was at once a powerful and sinister figure. Ned felt that he was in +the presence of genius, but it belonged to one of those sinuous +creatures, shining and terrible, that are bred under the vivid sun of +the tropics. There was a singular sensation at the roots of his hair, +but, resolved to show neither fear nor apprehension, he stood and gazed +directly at Santa Anna. + +"Be seated, Mr. Austin," said the General, "and close the door, de +Zavala, but remain with us. Your young relative can remain, also. I have +things of importance to say, but it is not forbidden to him, also, to +hear them." + +Ned sat down and so did Mr. Austin and young de Zavala, but Santa Anna +remained standing. It seemed to Ned that he did so because he wished to +look down upon them from a height. And all the time the black eyes, like +two burning coals, played restlessly about the room. + +Ned was unable to take his own eyes away. The figure in its gorgeous +uniform was so full of nervous energy that it attracted like a magnet, +while at the same time it bade all who opposed to beware. The boy felt +as if he were before a splendid leopard with no bars of a cage between. + +Santa Anna took three or four rapid steps back and forth. He kept his +hat upon his head, a right, it seemed, due to his superiority to other +people. He looked like a man who had a great thought which he was +shaping into quick words. Presently he stopped before Austin, and shot +him one of those piercing glances. + +"My friend and guest," he said in the sonorous Spanish. + +Austin bowed. Whether the subtle Mexican meant the words in satire or +in earnest he did not know, nor did he care greatly. + +"When I call you my friend and guest I speak truth," said Santa Anna. +"It is true that we had you brought here from Saltillo, and we insist +that you accept our continued hospitality, but it is because we know how +devoted you are to our common Mexico, and we would have you here at our +right hand for advice and help." + +Ned saw Mr. Austin smile a little sadly. It all seemed very strange to +the boy. How could one talk of friendship and hospitality to those whom +he held as prisoners? Why could not these people say what they meant? +Again he longed for the free winds of the plains. + +"You and I together should be able to quiet these troublesome Texans," +continued Santa Anna--and his voice had a hard metallic quality that +rasped the boy's nerves. "You know, Stephen Austin, that I and Mexico +have endured much from the people whom you have brought within our +borders. They shed good Mexican blood at the fort, Velasco, and they +have attacked us elsewhere. They do not pay their taxes or obey our +decrees, and when I send my officers to make them obey they take down +their long rifles." + +Austin smiled again, and now the watching boy thought the smile was not +sad at all. If Santa Anna took notice he gave no sign. + +"But you are reasonable," continued the Mexican, and now his manner was +winning to an extraordinary degree. "It was my predecessor, Farias, who +brought you here, but I would not see you go, because I love you like a +brother, and now I have come to you, that between us we may calm your +turbulent Texans." + +"But you must bear in mind," said Austin, "that our rights have been +taken from us. All the clauses of our charter have been broken, and now +your Congress has decreed that we shall have only one soldier to every +five hundred inhabitants and that all the rest of us shall be disarmed. +How are we, in a wild country, to protect ourselves from the Comanches, +Lipans and other Indians who roam everywhere, robbing and murdering?" + +Austin's face, usually so benevolent, flushed and his eyes were very +bright. Ned looked intently at Santa Anna to see how he would take the +daring and truthful indictment. But the Mexican showed no confusion, +only astonishment. He threw up his hands in a vivid southern gesture and +looked at Austin in surprised reproof. + +"My friend," he said in injured but not angry tones, "how can you ask me +such a question? Am I not here to protect the Texans? Am I not President +of Mexico? Am I not head of the Mexican army? My gallant soldiers, my +horsemen with their lances and sabers, will draw a ring around the +Texans through which no Comanche or Lipan, however daring, will be able +to break." + +He spoke with such fire, such appearance of earnestness, that Ned, +despite a mind uncommonly keen and analytical in one so young, was +forced to believe for a moment. Texas, however, was far and immense, and +there were not enough soldiers in all America to put a ring around the +wild Comanches. But the impression remained longer with Austin, who was +ever hoping for the best, and ever seeing the best in others. + +Ned was a silent boy who had suffered many hardships, and he had +acquired the habit of thought which in its turn brought observation and +judgment. Yet if Santa Anna was acting he was doing it with consummate +skill, and the boy who never said a word watched him all the time. + +Santa Anna began to talk now of the great future that awaited the Texans +under the banner of Mexico. He poured forth the words with so much Latin +fervor that it was almost like listening to a song. Ned felt the +influence of the musical roll coming over him again, but, with an effort +of the will that was almost physical, he shook it off. + +Santa Anna painted the picture of a dream, a gorgeous dream of many +colors. Mexico was to become a mighty country and the Texans with their +cool courage and martial energy would be no mean factor in it. Austin +would be one of his lieutenants, a sharer in his greatness and reward. +His eloquence was wonderful, and Ned felt once more the fascination of +the serpent. This was a man to whom only the grand and magnificent +appealed, and already he had achieved a part of his dream. + +Ned moved a little closer to the window. He wished the fresh air to blow +upon his face. He saw that Mr. Austin was fully under the spell. Santa +Anna was making the most beautiful and convincing promises. He himself +was going to Texas. He was the father of his people. He would right +every wrong. He loved the Texans, these children of the north who had +come to his country for a home. No one could ever say that he appealed +in vain to Santa Anna for protection. Texans would be proud that they +were a part of Mexico, they would be glad to belong to a nation which +already had a glorious history, and to come to a capital which had more +splendor and romance than any other in America. + +Ned literally withdrew his soul within itself. He sought to shut out the +influence that was radiating from this singular and brilliant figure, +but he saw that Mr. Austin was falling more deeply under it. + +"Look!" said Santa Anna, taking the man by the arm in the familiar +manner that one old friend has with another and drawing him to the +window. "Is not this a prospect to enchant? Is not this a capital of +which you and I can well be proud?" + +He lifted a forefinger and swept the half curve that could be seen from +the window. It was truly a panorama that would kindle the heart of the +dullest. Forty miles away the white crests of Popocatepetl and +Ixtaccihuatl still showed against the background of burning blue, like +pillars supporting the dome of heaven. Along the whole line of the half +curve were mountains in fold on fold. Below the green of the valley +showed the waters of the lake both fresh and salt gleaming with gold +where the sunlight shot down upon them. Nearer rose the spires of the +cathedral, and then the sea of tile roofs burnished by the vivid beams. + +Santa Anna stood in a dramatic position, his finger still pointing. +There was scarcely a day that Ned did not feel the majesty of this +valley of Tenochtitlan, but Santa Anna deepened the spell. Could the +world hold another place its equal? Might not the Texans indeed have a +glorious future in the land of which this city was the capital? Poetry +and romance appealed powerfully to the boy's thoughtful mind, and he +felt that here in Mexico he was at their very heart. Nothing else had +ever moved him so much. + +"You are pleased! It impresses you!" said Santa Anna to Austin. "I can +see it on your face. You are with us. You are one of us. Ah, my friend, +how noble it is to have a great heart." + +"Do I go with your message to the Texans?" asked Austin. + +"I must leave now, but I shall come again soon, and I will tell you +all. You shall carry words that will satisfy every one of them." + +He threw his arms about Austin's shoulders, gave Ned a quick salute, and +then left the room, taking young de Zavala with him, Ned heard the heavy +bar fall in place on the outside of the door, and he knew that they were +shut in as tightly as ever. But Mr. Austin was in a glow. + +"What a wonderful, flexible mind!" he said, more to himself than to the +boy. "I could have preferred a sort of independence for Texas, but since +we're to be ruled from the City of Mexico, Santa Anna will do the best +he can for us. As soon as he sweeps away the revolutionary troubles he +will repair all our injuries." + +Ned was silent. He knew that the generous Austin was still under Santa +Anna's magnetic spell, but after his departure the whole room was +changed to the boy. He saw clearly again. There were no mists and clouds +about his mind. Moreover, the wonderful half curve before the window was +changing. Vapors were rolling up from the south and the two great peaks +faded from view. Trees and water in the valley changed to gray. The +skies which had been so bright now became somber and menacing. + +The boy felt a deep fear at his heart, but Mr. Austin seemed to be yet +under the influence of Santa Anna, and talked cheerfully of their speedy +return to Texas. Ned listened in silence and unbelief, while the gloom +outside deepened, and night presently came over Anahuac. But he had +formed his resolution. He owed much to Mr. Austin. He had come a vast +distance to be at his side, and to serve him in prison, but he felt now +that he could be of more use elsewhere. Moreover, he must carry a +message, a warning to those who needed it sorely. One of the windows +opened upon the north, and he looked intently through it trying to +pierce, with the mind's eye at least, the thousand miles that lay +between him and those whom he would reach with the word. + +Mr. Austin had lighted a candle. Noticing the boy's gloomy face, he +patted him on the head with a benignant hand and said: + +"Don't be down of heart, Edward, my lad. We'll soon be on our way to +Texas." + +"But this is Mexico, and it is Santa Anna who holds us." + +"That is true, and it is Santa Anna who is our best friend." + +Ned did not dispute the sanguine saying. He saw that Mr. Austin had his +opinion, and he had his. The door was opened again in a half hour and a +soldier brought them their supper. Young de Zavala, who was their +immediate guardian, also entered and stood by while they ate. They had +never received poor food, and to-night Mexican hospitality exerted +itself--at the insistence of Santa Anna, Ned surmised. In addition to the +regular supper there was an ice and a bottle of Spanish wine. + +"The President has just given an order that the greatest courtesy be +shown to you at all times," said de Zavala, "and I am very glad. I, too, +have people in that territory of ours from which you come--Texas." + +He spoke with undeniable sympathy, and Ned felt his heart warm toward +him, but he decided to say nothing. He feared that he might betray by +some chance word the plan that he had in mind. But Mr. Austin, believing +in others because he was so truthful and honest himself, talked freely. + +"All our troubles will soon be over," he said to de Zavala. + +"I hope so, Seņor," said the young man earnestly. + +By and by, when de Zavala and the soldier were gone, Ned went again to +the window, stood there a few moments to harden his resolution, and then +came back to the man. + +"Mr. Austin," he said, "I am going to ask your consent to something." + +The Texan looked up in surprise. + +"Why, Edward, my lad," he said kindly, "you don't have to ask my consent +to anything, after the way in which you have already sacrificed yourself +for me." + +"But I am not going to stay with you any longer, Mr. Austin--that is, if +I can help it. I am going back to Texas." + +Mr. Austin laughed. It was a mellow and satisfied laugh. + +"So you are, Edward," he said, "and I am going with you. You will help +me to bear a message of peace and safety to the Texans." + +Ned paused a moment, irresolute. There was no change in his +determination. He was merely uncertain about the words to use. + +"There may be delays," he said at last, "and--Mr. Austin, I have decided +to go alone--and within the next day or two if I can." + +The Texan's face clouded. + +"I cannot understand you," he said. "Why this hurry? It would in reality +be a breach of faith to our great friend, Santa Anna--that is, if you +could go. I don't believe you can." + +Ned was troubled. He was tempted to tell what was in his mind, but he +knew that he would not be believed, so he fell back again upon his +infinite capacity for silence. Mr. Austin read resolution in the closed +lips and rigid figure. + +"Do you really mean that you will attempt to steal away?" he asked. + +"As soon as I can." + +The man shook his head. + +"It would be better not to do so," he said, "but you are your own +master, and I see I cannot dissuade you from the attempt. But, boy, you +will promise me not to take any unnecessary or foolish risks?" + +"I promise gladly, and, Mr. Austin, I hate to leave you here." + +Their quarters were commodious and Ned slept alone in a small room to +the left of the main apartment. It was a bare place with only a bed and +a chair, but it was lighted by a fairly large window. Ned examined this +window critically. It had a horizontal iron bar across the middle, and +it was about thirty feet from the ground. He pulled at the iron bar with +both hands but, although rusty with time, it would not move in its +socket. Then he measured the two spaces between the bar and the wall. + +Hope sprang up in the boy's heart. Then he did a strange thing. He +removed nearly all his clothing and tried to press his head and +shoulders between the bar and the wall. His head, which was of the long +narrow type, so common in the scholar, would have gone through the +aperture, had it not been for his hair which was long, and which grew +uncommonly thick. His shoulders were very thick and broad and they, too, +halted him. He drew back and felt a keen thrill of disappointment. + +But he was a boy who usually clung tenaciously to an idea, and, sitting +down, he concentrated his mind upon the plan that he had formed. By and +by a possible way out came to him. Then he lay down upon the bed, drew a +blanket over him because the night was chill in the City of Mexico, and +calmly sought sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A HAIR-CUT + + +The optimism of Mr. Austin endured the next morning, but Ned was gloomy. +Since it was his habit to be silent, the man did not notice it at first. +The breakfast was good, with tortillas, frijoles, other Mexican dishes +and coffee, but the boy had no appetite. He merely picked at his food, +made a faint effort or two to drink his coffee and finally put the cup +back almost full in the saucer. Then Mr. Austin began to observe. + +"Are you ill, Ned?" he asked. "Is this imprisonment beginning to tell +upon you? I had thought that you were standing it well. Can't you eat?" + +"I don't believe I'm hungry," replied the boy, "but there is nothing +else the matter with me. I'll be all right, Uncle Steve. Don't you +bother about me." + +He ate a little breakfast, about one half of the usual amount, and then, +asking to be excused, went to the window, where he again stared out at +the tiled roofs, the green foliage in the valley of Mexico and the +ranges and peaks beyond. He was taking his resolution, and he was +carrying it out, but it was hard, very hard. He foresaw that he would +have to strengthen his will many, many times. Mr. Austin took no further +worry on Ned's account, thinking that he would be all right again in a +day or two. + +But at the dinner which was brought to them in the middle of the day +Ned showed a marked failure of appetite, and Mr. Austin felt real +concern. The boy, however, was sure that he would be all right before +the day was over. + +"It must be the lack of fresh air and exercise," said Mr. Austin. "You +can really take exercise in here, Ned. Besides, you said that you were +going to escape. If you fall ill you will have no chance at all." + +He spoke half in jest, but Ned took him seriously. + +"I am not ill, Uncle Steve," he said. "I really feel very well, but I +have lost my appetite. Maybe I am getting tired of these Mexican +dishes." + +"Take exercise! take exercise!" said Mr. Austin with emphasis. + +"I think I will," said Ned. + +Physical exercise, after all, fitted in with his ideas, and that +afternoon he worked hard at all the gymnastic feats possible within the +three rooms to which they were confined. De Zavala came in and expressed +his astonishment at the athletic feats, which Ned continued with +unabated zeal despite his presence. + +"Why do you do these things?" he asked in wonder. + +"To keep myself strong and healthy. I ought to have begun them sooner. +The Mexican air is depressing, and I find that I am losing my appetite." + +De Zavala's eyes opened wide while Ned deftly turned a handspring. Then +the young American sat down panting, his face flushed with as healthy a +color as one could find anywhere. + +"You'll have an appetite to-night," said Mr. Austin. But to his great +amazement Ned again played with his food, eating only half the usual +amount. + +"You're surely ill," said Mr. Austin. "I've no doubt de Zavala would +allow us to have a physician, and I shall ask him for one." + +"Don't do it, Uncle Steve," begged Ned. "There's nothing at all the +matter with me, and anyhow I wouldn't want a Mexican doctor fussing over +me. I've probably been eating too much." + +Mr. Austin was forced to accede. The boy certainly did not look ill, and +his appetite was bound to become normal again in a few days. But it did +not. As far as Mr. Austin could measure it, Ned was eating less and +less. It was obvious that he was thinner. He was also growing much +paler, except for a red flush on the cheek bones. Mr. Austin became +alarmed, but Ned obstinately refused any help, always asserting with +emphasis that he had no ailment of any kind. But the man could see that +he had become much lighter, and he wondered at the boy's physical +failure. De Zavala, also, expressed his sorrow in sonorous Spanish, but +Ned, while thanking them, steadily disclaimed any need of sympathy. + +The boy found the days hard, but the nights were harder. For the first +time in his life he could not sleep well. He would lie for hours so wide +awake that his eyes grew used to the dark, and he could see everything +in his room. He was troubled, too, by bad dreams and in many of these +dreams he was a living skeleton, wandering about and condemned to live +forever without food. More than once he bitterly regretted the +resolution he had taken, but having taken it, he would never alter it. +His silent, concentrated nature would not let him. Yet he endured +undoubted torture day by day. Torture was the only name for it. + +"I shall send an application to President Santa Anna to have you allowed +a measure of liberty," said Mr. Austin finally. "You are simply pining +away here, Edward, my lad. You cannot eat, that is, you eat only a +little. I have passed the most tempting and delicate things to you and +you always refuse. No boy of your age would do so unless something were +very much wrong with his physical system. You have lost many pounds, and +if this keeps on I do not know what will happen to you. I shall not ask +for more liberty for you, but you must have a doctor at once." + +"I do not want any doctor, Uncle Steve," said the boy. "He cannot do me +any good, but there is somebody else whom I want." + +"Who is he?" + +"A barber." + +"A barber! Now what good can a barber do you?" + +"A great deal. What I crave most in the world is a hair-cut, and only a +barber can do that for me. My hair has been growing for more than three +months, Uncle Steve, and you've seen how extremely thick it is. Now it +is so long, too, that it's falling all about my eyes. Its weight is +oppressing my brain. I feel a little touch of fever now and then, and I +believe it's this awful hair." + +He ran his fingers through the heavy locks until his head seemed to be +surrounded with a defense like the quills of a porcupine. Beneath the +great bush of hair his gray eyes glowed in a pale, thin face. + +"There is a lot of it," said Mr. Austin, surveying him critically, "but +it is not usual for anybody in our situation to be worrying about the +length and abundance of his hair." + +"I'm sure I'd be a lot better if I could get it cut close." + +"Well, well, if you are taking it so much to heart we'll see what can be +done. You are ill and wasted, Edward, and when one is in that condition +a little thing can affect his spirits. De Zavala is a friendly sort of +young fellow and through him we will send a request to Colonel Sandoval, +the commander of the prisons, that you be allowed to have your hair +cut." + +"If you please, Uncle Steve," said Ned gratefully. + +Mr. Austin was not wrong in his forecast about Lieutenant de Zavala. He +showed a full measure of sympathy. Hence a petition to Colonel Martin +Sandoval y Dominguez, commander of prisons in the City of Mexico, was +drawn up in due form. It stated that one Edward Fulton, a Texan of +tender years, now in detention at the capital, was suffering from the +excessive growth of hair upon his head. The weight and thickness of said +hair had heated his brain and destroyed his appetite. In ordinary cases +of physical decline a physician was needed most, but so far as young +Edward Fulton was concerned, a barber could render the greatest service. + +The petition, duly endorsed and stamped, was forwarded to Colonel Martin +Sandoval y Dominguez, and, after being gravely considered by him in the +manner befitting a Mexican officer of high rank and pure Spanish +descent, received approval. Then he chose among the barbers one Joaquin +Menendez, a dark fellow who was not of pure Spanish descent, and sent +him to the prison with de Zavala to accomplish the needed task. + +"I hope you will be happy now, Edward," said Mr. Austin, when the two +Mexicans came. "You are a good boy, but it seems to me that you have +been making an undue fuss about your hair." + +"I'm quite sure I shall recover fast," said Ned. + +It was hard for him to hide his happiness from the others. He felt a +thrill of joy every time the steel of the scissors clicked together and +a lock of hair fell to the floor. But Joaquin Menendez, the barber, had +a Southern temperament and the soul of an artist. It pained him to +shear away--"shear away" alone described it--such magnificent hair. It +was so thick, so long and so glossy. + +"Ah," he said, laying some of the clipped locks across his hand and +surveying them sorrowfully, "so great is the pity! What seņorita could +resist the young seņor if these were still growing upon his head!" + +"You cut that hair," said Ned with a vicious snap of his teeth, "and cut +it close, so close that it will look like the shaven face of a man. I +think you will find it so stated in the conditions if you will look at +the permit approved in his own handwriting by Colonel Sandoval y +Dominguez." + +Joaquin Menendez, still the artist, but obedient to the law, heaved a +deep sigh, and proceeded with his sad task. Lock by lock the abundant +hair fell, until Ned's head stood forth in the shaven likeness of a +man's face that he had wished. + +"I must tell you," said Mr. Austin, "that it does not become you, but I +hope you are satisfied." + +"I am satisfied," replied Ned. "I have every cause to be. I know I shall +have a stronger appetite to-morrow." + +"You are certainly a sensitive boy," said Mr. Austin, looking at him in +some wonder. "I did not know that such a thing could influence your +feelings and your physical condition so much." + +Ned made no reply, but that night he ate supper with a much better +appetite than he had shown in many days, bringing words of warm approval +and encouragement from Mr. Austin. + +An hour or two later, when cheerful good-nights had been exchanged, Ned +withdrew to his own little room. He lay down upon his bed, but he was +fully clothed and he had no intention of sleep. Instead the boy was +transformed. For days he had been walking with a weak and lagging gait. +Fever was in his veins. Sometimes he became dizzy, and the walls and +floors of the prison swam before him. But now the spirit had taken +command of the thin body. Weakness and dizziness were gone. Every vein +was infused with strength. Hope was in command, and he no longer doubted +that he would succeed. + +He rose from the bed and went to the window. The city was silent and the +night was dark. Floating clouds hid the moon and stars. The ranges and +the city roofs themselves had sunk into the dusk. It seemed to him that +all things favored the bold and persevering. And he had been +persevering. No one would ever know how he had suffered, what terrific +pangs had assailed him. He could not see now how he had done it, and he +was quite sure that he could never go through such an ordeal again. The +rack would be almost as welcome. + +Ned did not know it, but a deep red flush had come into each pale cheek. +He removed most of his clothes, and put his head forward between the +iron bar and the window sill. The head went through and the shoulders +followed. He drew back, breathing a deep and mighty breath of triumph. +Yet he had known that it would be so. When he first tried the space he +had been only a shade too large for it. Now his head and shoulders would +go between, but with nothing to spare. A sheet of paper could not have +been slipped in on either side. Yet it was enough. The triumph of +self-denial was complete. + +He had thought several times of telling Mr. Austin, but he finally +decided not to do so. He might seek to interfere. He would put a +thousand difficulties in the way, some real and some imaginary. It would +save the feelings of both for him to go quietly, and, when Mr. Austin +missed him, he would know why and how he had gone. + +Ned stood at the window a little while longer, listening. He heard far +away the faint rattle of a saber, probably some officer of Santa Anna +who was going to a place outside a lattice, the sharp cry of a Mexican +upbraiding his lazy mule, and the distant note of a woman singing an old +Spanish song. It was as dark as ever, with the clouds rolling over the +great valley of Tenochtitlan, which had seen so much of human passion +and woe. Ned, brave and resolute as he was, shivered. He was oppressed +by the night and the place. It seemed to him, for the moment, that the +ghosts of stern Cortez, and of the Aztecs themselves were walking out +there. + +Then he did a characteristic thing. Folding his arms in front of him he +grasped his own elbows and shook himself fiercely. The effort of will +and body banished the shapes and illusions, and he went to work with +firm hands. + +He tore the coverings from his bed into strips, and knotted them +together stoutly, trying each knot by tying the strip to the bar, and +pulling on it with all his strength. He made his rope at least thirty +feet long and then gave it a final test, knot by knot. He judged that it +was now near midnight and the skies were still very dark. Inside of a +half hour he would be gone--to what? He was seized with an intense +yearning to wake up Mr. Austin and tell him good-by. The Texan leader +had been so good to him, he would worry so much about him that it was +almost heartless to slip away in this manner. But he checked the +impulse again, and went swiftly ahead with his work. + +He kept on nothing but his underclothing and trousers. The rest he made +up into a small package which he tied upon his back. He was sorry that +he did not have any weapon. He had been deprived of even his +pocket-knife, but he did have a few dollars of Spanish coinage, which he +stowed carefully in his trousers pocket. All the while his energy +endured despite his wasted form. Hope made a bridge for his weakness. + +He let the line out of the window, and his delicate sense told him when +it struck against the ground. Six or eight feet were left in his hand, +and he tied the end firmly to the bar, knotting it again and again. Then +he slipped through the opening and the passage was so close that his +ears scraped as they went by. He hung for a few moments on the outside, +his feet on the stone sill and his hands clasping the iron bar. He felt +sheer and absolute terror. The spires of the cathedral were invisible +and only a few far lights showed dimly. It seemed to him that he was +suspended over a bottomless pit, and he shivered from head to foot. + +But he recalled his courage. Such a black night was best suited to his +task. The shivering ceased. Hope ruled once more. He knelt on the stone +sill, and, grasping his crude rope with both hands, let himself down +from the window. It required almost superhuman exertion to keep himself +from dropping sheer away, and the rope burned his palms. But he held on, +knowing that he must hold, and the stone wall felt cold to him, as he +lay against it, and slid slowly down. + +Perhaps his strength, which was more of the mind than of the body, +partly gave way under such a severe strain, but he felt pains shooting +through his arms, shoulders and chest. His most vivid recollections of +the descent were the coldness of the wall against which he lay and the +far tinkle of a mandolin which came to him with annoying distinctness. +The frequent knots where he had tied the strips together were a help, +and whenever he came to one he let his hands rest upon it a moment or +two lest he slide down too rapidly. + +He had been descending, it seemed to him, fully an hour, and he must +have come down a mile, when he heard the rattle of a saber. It was so +distinct and so near that it could not be imagination. He looked in the +direction of the sound and saw two dark figures in the street. As he +stared the two figures shaped themselves into two Mexican officers. +Truth, not fancy, told him also that they were not moving. They had seen +him escaping and they would come for him! He pressed his body hard +against the stone wall, and with his hands resting upon one of the knots +clung desperately to the rope. He was hanging in an alley, and the men +were on the street at the mouth of it six or seven yards away. They were +talking and it must be about him! + +He saw them create a light in some manner, and his hands almost slipped +from the rope. Then joy flooded back. They were merely lighting +cigarettes, and, with a few more words to each other, they walked on. +Ned slid slowly down, but when he came to the last knot his strength +gave way and he fell. It seemed to him that he was plunging an +immeasurable distance through depths of space. Then he struck and with +the force of the blow consciousness left him. + +When he revived he found himself lying upon a rough stone pavement and +it was still dark. He saw above a narrow cleft of somber sky, and +something cold and trailing lay across his face. He shivered with +repulsion, snatched at it to throw it off, and found that it was his +rope. Then he felt of himself cautiously and fearfully, but found that +no bones were broken. Nor was he bruised to any degree and now he knew +that he could not have fallen more than two or three feet. Perhaps he +had struck first upon the little pack which he had fastened upon his +back. It reminded him that he was shoeless and coatless and undoing the +pack he reclothed himself fully. + +He was quite sure that he had not lain there more than a quarter of an +hour. Nothing had happened while he was unconscious. It was a dark +little alley in the rear of the prison, and the buildings on the other +side that abutted upon it were windowless. He walked cautiously to the +mouth of the alley, and looked up and down the street. He saw no one, +and, pulling his cap down over his eyes, he started instinctively toward +the north, because it was to the far north that he wished to go. He was +fully aware that he faced great dangers, almost impossibilities. +Practically nothing was in his favor, save that he spoke excellent +Spanish and also Mexican versions of it. + +He went for several hundred yards along the rough and narrow street, and +he began to shiver again. Now it was from cold, which often grows +intense at night in the great valley of Mexico. Nor was his wasted frame +fitted to withstand it. He was assailed also by a fierce hunger. He had +carried self-denial to the utmost limit, and nature was crying out +against him in a voice that must be heard. + +He resolved to risk all and obtain food. Another hundred yards and he +saw crouched in an angle of the street an old woman who offered +tortillas and frijoles for sale. He went a little nearer, but +apprehension almost overcame him. It might be difficult for him to pass +for a Mexican and she would give the alarm. But he went yet nearer and +stood where he could see her face. It was broad, fat and dark, more +Aztec than Spaniard, and then he approached boldly, his speed increased +by the appetizing aroma arising from some flat cakes that lay over +burning charcoal. + +"I will take these, my mother," he said in Mexican, and leaning over he +snatched up half a dozen gloriously hot tortillas and frijoles. A cry of +indignation and anger was checked at the old woman's lips as two small +silver coins slipped from the boy's hands, and tinkled pleasantly +together in her own. + +Holding his spoils in his hands Ned walked swiftly up the street. He +glanced back once, and saw that the old Aztec woman had sunk back into +her original position. He had nothing to fear from any alarm by her, and +he looked ahead for some especially dark nook in which he could devour +the precious food. He saw none, but he caught a glimpse beyond of +foliage, and he recalled enough of the city of Mexico to know what it +was. It was the Zocalo or garden of the cathedral, the Holy Metropolitan +Church of Mexico. Above the foliage he could see the dark walls, and +above them he saw the dome, as he had seen it from the window of his +prison. Over the dome itself rose a beautiful lantern, in which a light +was now burning. + +Ned entered the garden which contained many trees, and sat down in the +thickest group of them. Then he began to eat. He was as ravenous as any +wolf, but he had been cultivating the power of will, and he ate like a +gentleman, knowing that to do otherwise would not be good for him. But, +tempered by discretion, it was a glorious pursuit. It was almost worth +the long period of fasting and suffering, for common Mexican food, +bought on the street from an old Aztec woman, to taste so well. Strength +flowed back into every vein and muscle. He would not now give way to +fears and tremblings which were of the body rather than the mind. He +stopped when half of the food was gone, put the remainder in his pocket, +and stood up. Fine drops of water struck him in the face. It had begun +to rain. And a raw wind was moaning in the valley. + +Despite the warm food and his returning strength Ned felt the desperate +need of shelter. It was growing colder, too. Even as he stood there the +fine rain turned to fine snow. It melted as it fell, but when it struck +him about the neck and face it had an uncommonly penetrating power and +the chill seemed to go into the bone. He must have shelter. He looked at +the dark walls of the cathedral and then at the light in the slender +lantern far up above the dome. What more truly a shelter than a church! +It had been a sanctuary in the dark ages, and he might use it now as +such. + +He left the trees and stood for a little while by a stone, one of the +124 which formerly enclosed an atrium. Still seeing nothing and hearing +nothing but the whistle of the wind which drove the cold drops of snow +under his collar he advanced boldly again, sprang over the iron railing, +and came to the walls of the old church, where he stood a moment. + +Ned knew that in great Catholic cathedrals, like the one of Mexico, +there were always side doors or little wickets used by priests or other +high officials of the church, and he was hoping to find one that he +could open. He passed half way around the building, feeling cautiously +along the cold stone. Once he saw a watchman with sombrero, heavy cloak +and lantern. He pressed into a niche, and the watchman went on his +automatic way, little thinking that anyone was near. + +The boy continued his circuit and presently he found a wooden door, +which he could not force. A little further and he came to a second which +opened to his pressure. It was so small an entrance that he stooped as +he passed in. He shut it carefully behind him, and stood in what was +almost total darkness, until his eyes grew used to the gloom. + +Then he saw that he was in a vast interior, Doric in architecture, +severe and simple. It was in the form of a Latin cross, with fluted +columns dividing the aisles from the nave. Above him rose a noble dome. + +He could make out nothing more for the present. It was very still, very +imposing, and at another time he would have been awed, but now he had +found sanctuary. The cold and the snow were shut out and a grateful +warmth took their place. He walked down one of the aisles, careful that +his footsteps should make no sound. He saw that there were rows of +chapels, seven on either side of the church. It occurred to him that he +would be safer in one of these rooms and he chose that which seemed to +be used the least. + +While on this search he passed the main altar in the center of the +building. He noticed above the stalls a picture of the Virgin. He was a +Protestant, but when he saw it he crossed himself devoutly. Was not her +church giving him shelter and refuge from his enemies? He also passed +the Altar of the Kings, beneath which now lie the heads of great +Mexicans who secured the independence of their country from Spain. He +looked a little at these before he entered the chapel of his choice. + +It was a small room, lighted scarcely at all by a narrow window, and it +contained a few straight wooden pews one of which had been turned about +facing the wall. He lay down in his pew, and, even in daylight, he would +have been hidden from anyone a yard away. The hard wood was soft to him. +He put his cap under his head and stretched himself out. Then, without +will, he relaxed completely. Nature could stand no more. His eyes closed +and he floated off into the far and happy region of sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +SANCTUARY + + +Ned Fulton's sleep was that of exhaustion, and it lasted long. Although +fine snow yet fell outside, and the raw wind blew it about, a pleasant +warmth pervaded the snug alcove, made by the back of the pew in which he +lay. He had been fortunate indeed to find such a place, because the body +of the church was gloomy and cold. But he did not hear the winds, and no +thought of the snow troubled him, as he slept on hour after hour. + +The night passed, the light snow had ceased, no trace of it was left on +the earth, and the brilliant sunshine flooded the ancient capital with +warmth. People went about their usual pursuits. Old men and old women +sold sweets, hot coffee, and tortillas and frijoles, also hot, in the +streets. Little plaster images of the saints and the Virgin were exposed +on trays. Donkeys loaded with vegetables, that had been brought across +the lakes, bumped one another in the narrow ways. Many officers in fine +uniforms and many soldiers in uniforms not so fine could be seen. + +Whatever else Mexico might be it was martial. The great Santa Anna whom +men called another Napoleon now ruled, and there was talk of war and +glory. Much of it was vague, but of one thing they were certain. Santa +Anna would soon crush the mutinous Texans in the wild north. Gringos +they were, always pushing where they were not wanted, and, however hard +their fate, they would deserve it. The vein of cruelty which, despite +great virtues, has made Spain a by-word among nations, showed in her +descendants. + +But the boy, Edward Fulton, sleeping in the chapel of the great +cathedral, knew nothing of it all. Nature, too long defrauded, was +claiming payment of her debt, and he slept peacefully on, although the +hours passed and noon came. + +The church had long been open. Priests came and went in the aisles, and +entered some of the chapels. Worshipers, most of them women, knelt +before the shrines. Service was held at the high altar, and the odor of +incense filled the great nave. Yet the boy was still in sanctuary, and a +kindly angel was watching over him. No one entered the chapel in which +he slept. + +It was almost the middle of the afternoon when he awoke. He heard a +faint murmur of voices and a pleasant odor came to his nostrils. He +quickly remembered everything, and, stirring a little on his wooden +couch he found a certain stiffness in the joints. He realized however +that all his strength had come back. + +But Ned Fulton understood, although he had escaped from prison and had +found shelter and sanctuary in the cathedral, that he was yet in an +extremely precarious position. The murmur of voices told him that people +were in the church, and he had no doubt that the odor came from burning +incense. + +A little light from the narrow window fell upon him. It came through +colored glass, and made red and blue splotches on his hands, at which he +looked curiously. He knew that it was a brilliant day outside, and he +longed for air and exercise, but he dared not move except to stretch his +arms and legs, until the stiffness and soreness disappeared from his +joints. Contact with Spaniard and Mexican had taught him the full need +of caution. + +He was very hungry again, and now he was thankful for his restraint of +the night before. He ate the rest of the food in his pockets and waited +patiently. + +Ned knew that he had slept a long time, and that it must be late in the +day. He was confirmed in his opinion by the angle at which the light +entered the window, and he decided that he would lie in the pew until +night came again. It was a trying test. School his will as he would he +felt at times that he must come from his covert and walk about the +chapel. The narrow wooden pew became a casket in which he was held, and +now and then he was short of breath. Yet he persisted. He was learning +very young the value of will, and he forced himself every day to use it +and increase its strength. + +In such a position and with so much threatening him his faculties became +uncommonly keen. He heard the voices more distinctly, and also the +footsteps of the priests in their felt slippers. They passed the door of +the chapel in which he lay, and once or twice he thought they were going +to enter, but they seemed merely to pause at the door. Then he would +hold his breath until they were gone. + +At last and with infinite joy he saw the colored lights fade. The window +itself grew dark, and the murmur in the church ceased. But he did not +come forth from his secure refuge until it was quite dark. He staggered +from stiffness at first, but the circulation was soon restored. Then he +looked from the door of the chapel into the great nave. An old priest in +a brown robe was extinguishing the candles. Ned watched him until he +had put out the last one, and disappeared in the rear of the church. + +Then he came forth and standing in the great, gloomy nave tried to +decide what to do next. He had found a night's shelter and no more. He +had escaped from prison, but not from the City of Mexico, and his Texas +was yet a thousand miles away. + +Ned found the little door by which he had entered, and passed outside, +hiding again among the trees of the Zocalo. The night was very cold and +he shivered once more, as he stood there waiting. The night was so dark +that the cathedral was almost a formless bulk. But above it, the light +in the slender lantern shone like a friendly star. While he looked the +great bell of Santa Maria de Guadalupe in the western tower began to +chime, and presently the smaller bell of Dona Maria in the eastern tower +joined. It was a mellow song they sung and they sang fresh courage into +the young fugitive's veins. He knew that he could never again see this +cathedral built upon the site of the great Aztec teocalli, destroyed by +the Spaniards more than three hundred years before, without a throb of +gratitude. + +Ned's first resolve was to take measures for protection from the cold, +and he placed his silver dollars in his most convenient pocket. Then he +left the trees and moved toward the east, passing in front of the +handsome church Sagrario Metropolitano, and entering a very narrow +street that led among a maze of small buildings. The district was +lighted faintly by a few hanging lanterns, but as Ned had hoped, some of +the shops were yet open. The people who sat here and there in the low +doorways were mostly short of stature and dark and broad of face. The +Indian in them predominated over the Spaniard, and some were pure Aztec. +Ned judged that they would not take any deep interest in the fortunes +of their rulers, Spanish or Mexican, royalist or republican. + +He pulled his cap over his eyes and a little to one side, and strolled +on, humming an old Mexican air. His walk was the swagger of a young +Mexican gallant, and in the dimness they would not notice his Northern +fairness. Several pairs of eyes observed him, but not with disapproval. +They considered him a trim Mexican lad. Some of the men in the doorways +took up the air that he was whistling and continued it. + +He saw soon the place for which he was looking, a tiny shop in which an +old Indian sold serapes. He stopped in the doorway, which he filled, +took down one of the best and heaviest and held out the number of +dollars which he considered an adequate price. The Indian shook his head +and asked for nearly twice as much. Ned knew how long they bargained and +chaffered in Mexico and what a delight they took in it. After an hour's +talk he could secure the serape, at the price he offered, but he dared +not linger in one place. Already the old Indian was looking at him +inquiringly. Doubtless he had seen that this was no Mexican, but Ned +judged shrewdly that he would not let the fact interfere with a +promising bargain. + +The boy acted promptly. He added two more silver dollars to the amount +that he had proffered, put the whole in the old Indian's palm, took down +the serape, folded it over his arm, and with a "gracias, seņor," backed +swiftly out of the shop. The old Indian was too much astonished to move +for at least a half minute. Then tightly clutching the silver in his +hand he ran into the street. But the tall young seņor, with the serape +already wrapped around his shoulders, was disappearing in the darkness. +The Indian opened his palm and looked at the silver. A smile passed over +his face. After all, it was two good Spanish dollars more than he had +expected, and he returned contentedly to his shop. If such generous +young gentlemen came along every night his fortune would soon be made. + +Ned soon left the shop far behind. It was a fine serape, very large, +thick and warm, and he draped himself in it in true Mexican fashion. It +kept him warm, and, wrapped in its folds, he looked much more like a +genuine Mexican. He had but little money left, but among the more +primitive people beyond the capital one might work his way. If suspected +he could claim to be English, and Mexico was not at war with England. + +He bought a sombrero at another shop with almost the last of his money, +and then started toward La Viga, the canal that leads from the lower +part of the city toward the fresh water lakes, Chalco and Xochimilco. He +hoped to find at the canal one of the bergantins, or flat-bottomed +boats, in which vegetables, fruit and flowers were brought to the city +for sale. They were good-natured people, those of the bergantins, and +they would not scorn the offer of a stout lad to help with sail and oar. + +Hidden in his serape and sombrero, and, secure in his knowledge of +Spanish and Mexican, he now advanced boldly through the more populous +and better lighted parts of the city. He even lingered a little while in +front of a café, where men were playing guitar and mandolin, and girls +were dancing with castanets. The sight of light and life pleased the boy +who had been so long in prison. These people were diverting themselves +and they smiled and laughed. They seemed to have kindly feelings for +everybody, but he remembered that cruel Spanish strain, often dormant, +but always there, and he hastened on. + +Three officers, their swords swinging at their thighs, came down the +narrow street abreast. At another time Ned would not have given way, and +even now it hurt him to do so, but prudence made him step from the +sidewalk. One of them laughed and applied an insulting epithet to the +"peon," but Ned bore it and continued, his sombrero pulled well down +over his eyes. + +His course now led him by the great palace of Yturbide, where he saw +many windows blazing with light. Several officers were entering and +chief among them he recognized General Martin Perfecto de Cos, the +brother-in-law of Santa Anna, whom Ned believed to be a treacherous and +cruel man. He hastened away from such an unhealthy proximity, and came +to La Viga. + +He saw a rude wharf along the canal and several boats, all with the +sails furled, except two. These two might be returning to the fresh +water lakes, and it was possible that he could secure passage. The +people of the bergantins were always humble peons and they cared little +for the intrigues of the capital. + +It was now about eleven o'clock and the night had lightened somewhat, a +fair moon showing. Ned could see distinctly the boats or bergantins as +the Mexicans called them. They were large, flat of bottom, shallow of +draft, and were propelled with both sail and oar. He was repulsed at the +first, where a surly Mexican of middle age told him with a curse that he +wanted no help, but at the next which had as a crew a man, a woman, +evidently his wife, and two half-grown boys, he was more fortunate. +Could he use an oar? He could. Then he might come, because there was +little promise of wind, and the sails would be of no use. A strong arm +would help, as it was sixteen miles down La Viga to the Lake of +Xochimilco, on the shores of which they lived. The boys were tired and +sleepy, and he would serve very well in their stead. + +Ned took his place in the boat, truly thankful that in this crisis of +his life he knew how to row. He saw that his hosts, or rather those for +whom he worked, were an ordinary peon family, at least half Indian, +sluggish of mind and kind of heart. They had brought vegetables and +flowers to the city, and now they were thriftily returning in the night +to their home on the lake that Benito Igarritos and his sons might not +miss the next day from their work. + +Igarritos and Ned took the oars. The two boys stretched themselves on +the bottom of the boat and were asleep in an instant. Juana, the wife, +spread a serape over them, and then sat down in Turkish fashion in the +center of the bergantin, a great red and yellow reboso about her head +and shoulders. Sometimes she looked at her husband, and sometimes at the +strange boy. He had spoken to them in good Mexican, he dressed like a +Mexican and he walked like a Mexican, but she had not been deceived. She +knew that the Mexican part of him ended with the serape and sombrero. +She wondered why he had come, and why he was anxious to go to the Lake +of Xochimilco. But she reflected with the patience and resignation of an +oppressed race that it was no business of hers. He was a good youth. He +had spoken to her with compliments as one speaks to a lady of high +degree, and he bent manfully on the oar. He was welcome. But he must +have a name and she would know it. + +"What do you call yourself?" she asked. + +"William," he replied. "I come from a far country, England, and it is my +pleasure to travel in new lands and see new peoples." + +"Weel-le-am," she said gravely, "you are far from your friends." + +Ned bent his head in assent. Her simple words made him feel that he was +indeed far from his own land and surrounded by a thousand perils. The +woman did not speak again and they moved on with an even stroke down the +canal which had an uniform width of about thirty feet. They were still +passing houses of stone and others of adobe, but before they had gone a +mile they were halted by a sharp command from the shore. An officer and +three soldiers, one of whom held a lantern, stood on the bank. + +Ned had expected that they would be stopped. These were revolutionary +times and people could not go in or out of the city unnoticed. +Particularly was La Viga guarded. He knew that his fate now rested with +Benito Igarritos and his wife Juana, but he trusted them. The officer +was peremptory, but the bergantin was most innocent in appearance. +Merely a humble vegetable boat returning down La Viga after a successful +day in the city. "Your family?" Ned heard the officer say to Benito, as +he flashed the lantern in turn upon every one. + +Taciturn, like most men of the oppressed races, Benito nodded, while his +wife sat silent in her great red and yellow reboso. Ned leaned +carelessly upon the oar, but his face was well hid by the sombrero, and +his heart was throbbing. When the light of the lantern passed over him +he felt as if he were seared by a flame, but the officer had no +suspicion, and with a gruff "Pass on" he withdrew from the bank with his +men. Benito nodded to Ned and they pulled again into the center of La +Viga. Neither spoke. Nor did the woman. + +Ned bent on the oar with renewed strength. He felt that the greatest of +his dangers was now passed, and the relief of the spirit brought fresh +strength. The night lightened yet more. He saw on the low banks of the +canal green shrubs and many plants with spikes and thorns. It seemed to +him characteristic of Mexico that nearly everything should have its +spikes and thorns. Through the gray night showed the background of the +distant mountains. + +They overtook and passed two other bergantins returning from the city +and they met a third on its way thither with vegetables for the morning +market. Benito knew the owners and exchanged a brief word with everyone +as he passed. Ned pulled silently at his oar. + +When it was far past midnight Ned felt a cool breeze rising. Benito +began to unfurl the sail. + +"You have pulled well, young seņor," he said to Ned, "but the oar is +needed no more. Now the wind will work for us. You will sleep and Carlos +will help me." + +He awoke the elder of the two boys. Ned was so tired that his arms +ached, and he was glad to rest. He wrapped his heavy serape about +himself, lay down on the bottom of the boat, pillowed his head on his +arm, and went to sleep. + +When he awoke, it was day and they were floating on a broad sheet of +shallow water, which he knew instinctively was Xochimilco. The wind was +still blowing, and one of the boys steered the bergantin. Benito, Juana +and the other boy sat up, with their faces turned toward the rosy +morning light, as if they were sun-worshipers. Ned also felt the +inspiration. The world was purer and clearer here than in the city. In +the early morning the grayish, lonely tint which is the prevailing note +of Mexico, did not show. The vegetation was green, or it was tinted with +the glow of the sun. Near the lower shores he saw the Chiampas or +floating gardens. + +Benito turned the bergantin into a cove, and they went ashore. His +house, flat roofed and built of adobe, was near, standing in a field, +filled with spiky and thorny plants. They gave Ned a breakfast, the +ordinary peasant fare of the country, but in abundance, and then the +woman, who seemed to be in a sense the spokesman of the family, said +very gravely: + +"You are a good boy, Weel-le-am, and you rowed well. What more do you +wish of us?" + +Benito also bent his dark eyes upon him in serious inquiry. Ned was not +prepared for any reply. He did not know just what to do and on impulse +he answered: + +"I would stay with you a while and work. You will not find me lazy." + +He waved his hand toward the spiky and thorny field. Benito consulted +briefly with his wife and they agreed. For three or four days Ned toiled +in the hot field with Benito and the boys and at night he slept on the +floor of earth. The work was hard and it made his body sore. The food +was of the roughest, but these things were trifles compared with the +gift of freedom which he had received. How glorious it was to breathe +the fresh air and to have only the sky for a roof and the horizon for +walls! + +Benito and the older boy again took the bergantin loaded with vegetables +up La Viga to the city. They did not suggest that Ned go with them. He +remained working in the field, and trying to think of some way in which +he could obtain money for a journey. The wind was good, the bergantin +traveled fast, and Benito and his boy returned speedily. Benito greeted +Ned with a grave salute, but said nothing until an hour later, when they +sat by a fire outside the hut, eating the tortillas and frijoles which +Juana had cooked for them. + +"What is the news in the capital?" asked Ned. + +Benito pondered his reply. + +"The President, the protector of us all, the great General Santa Anna, +grows more angry at the Texans, the wild Americans who have come into +the wilderness of the far North," he replied. "They talk of an army +going soon against them, and they talk, too, of a daring escape." + +He paused and contemplatively lit a cigarrito. + +"What was the escape?" asked Ned, the pulse in his wrist beginning to +beat hard. + +"One of the Texans, whom the great Santa Anna holds, but a boy they say +he was, though fierce, slipped between the bars of his window and is +gone. They wish to get him back; they are anxious to take him again for +reasons that are too much for Benito." + +"Do you think they will find him?" + +"How do I know? But they say he is yet in the capital, and there is a +reward of one hundred good Spanish dollars for the one who will bring +him in, or who will tell where he is to be found." + +Benito quietly puffed at his cigarrito and Juana, the cooking being +over, threw ashes on the coals. + +"If he is still hiding within reach of Santa Anna's arm," said Ned, +"somebody is sure to betray him for the reward." + +"I do not know," said Benito, tossing away the stub of his cigarrito. +Then he rose and began work in the field. + +Ned went out with the elder boy, Carlos, and caught fish. They did not +return until twilight, and the others were already waiting placidly +while Juana prepared their food. None of them could read; they had +little; their life was of the most primitive, but Ned noticed that they +never spoke cross words to one another. They seemed to him to be +entirely content. + +After supper they sat on the ground in front of the adobe hut. The +evening was clear and already many stars were coming into a blue sky. +The surface of the lake was silver, rippling lightly. Benito smoked +luxuriously. + +"I saw this afternoon a friend of mine, Miguel Lampridi," he said after +a while. "He had just come down La Viga from the city." + +"What news did he bring?" asked Edward. + +"They are still searching everywhere for the young Texan who went +through the window--Eduardo Fulton is his name. Truly General Santa Anna +must have his reasons. The reward has been doubled." + +"Poor lad," spoke Juana, who spoke seldom. "It may be that the young +Texan is not as bad as they say. But it is much money that they offer. +Someone will find him." + +"It may be," said Benito. Then they sat a long time in silence. Juana +was the first to go into the house and to bed. After a while the two +boys followed. Another half hour passed, and Ned rose. + +"I go, Benito," he said. "You and your wife have been good to me, and I +cannot bring misfortune upon you. Why is it that you did not betray me? +The reward is large. You would have been a rich man here." + +Benito laughed low. + +"Yes, it would have been much money," he replied, "but what use have I +for it? I have the wife I wish, and my sons are good sons. We do not go +hungry and we sleep well. So it will be all the days of our life. Two +hundred silver dollars would bring two hundred evil spirits among us. +Thy face, young Texan, is a good face. I think so and my wife, Juana, +who knows, says so. Yet it is best that you go. Others will soon learn, +and it is hard to live between close stone walls, when the free world is +so beautiful. I will call Juana, and she, too, will tell you farewell. +We would not drive you away, but since you choose to go, you shall not +leave without a kind word, which may go with you as a blessing on your +way." + +He called at the door of the adobe hut. Juana came forth. She was stout, +and she had never been beautiful, but her face seemed very pleasant to +Ned, as she asked the Holy Virgin to watch over him in his wanderings. + +"I have five silver dollars," said Benito. "They are yours. They will +make the way shorter." + +But Ned refused absolutely to accept them. He would not take the store +of people who had been so kind to him. Instead he offered the single +dollar that he had left for a heavy knife like a machete. Benito brought +it to him and reluctantly took the dollar. + +"Do not try the northern way, Texan," he said, "it is too far. Go over +the mountains to Vera Cruz, where you will find passage on a ship." + +It seemed good advice to Ned, and, although the change of plan was +abrupt, he promised to take it. Juana gave him a bag of food which he +fastened to his belt under his serape, and at midnight, with the +blessing of the Holy Virgin invoked for him again, he started. Fifty +yards away he turned and saw the man and woman standing before their +door and gazing at him. He waved his hand and they returned the salute. +He walked on again a little mist before his eyes. They had been very +kind to him, these poor people of another race. + +He walked along the shore of the lake for a long time, and then bore in +toward the east, intending to go parallel with the great road to Vera +Cruz. His step was brisk and his heart high. He felt more courage and +hope than at any other time since he had dropped from the prison. He had +food for several days, and the possession of the heavy knife was a great +comfort. He could slash with it, as with a hatchet. + +He walked steadily for hours. The road was rough, but he was young and +strong. Once he crossed the pedregal, a region where an old lava flow +had cooled, and which presented to his feet numerous sharp edges like +those of a knife. He had good shoes with heavy soles and he knew their +value. On the long march before him they were worth as much as bread and +weapons, and he picked his way as carefully as a walker on a tight rope. +He was glad when he had crossed the dangerous pedregal and entered a +cypress forest, clustering on a low hill. Grass grew here also, and he +rested a while, wrapped in his serape against the coldness of the night. + +He saw behind and now below him the city, the towers of the churches +outlined against the sky. It was from some such place as this that +Cortez and his men, embarked upon the world's most marvelous adventure, +had looked down for the first time upon the ancient city of +Tenochtitlan. But it did not beckon to Ned. It seemed to him that a +mighty menace to his beloved Texas emanated from it. And he must warn +the Texans. + +He sprang to his feet and resumed his journey. At the eastern edge of +the hill he came upon a beautiful little spring, leaping from the rock. +He drank from it and went on. Lower down he saw some adobe huts among +the cypresses and cactus. No doubt their occupants were sound asleep, +but for safety's sake he curved away from them. Dogs barked, and when +they barked again the sound showed they were coming nearer. He ran, +rather from caution than fear, because if the dogs attacked he wished to +be so far away from the huts that their owners would not be awakened. + +Now he gave thanks that he had the machete. He thrust his hands under +the serape and clasped its strong handle. It was a truly formidable +weapon. He came to another little hill, also clothed in cypress, and +began to ascend it with decreased speed. The baying of the dogs was +growing much louder. They were coming fast. Near the summit he saw a +heap of rock, probably an Aztec tumulus, six or seven feet high. Ned +smiled with satisfaction. Pressed by danger his mind was quick. He was +where he would make his defense, and he did not think it would need to +be a long one. + +He settled himself well upon the top of the tumulus and drew his +machete. The dogs, six in number, coursed among the cypresses, and the +leader, foam upon his mouth, leaped straight at Ned. The boy +involuntarily drew up his feet a little, but he was not shaken from the +crouching position that was best suited to a blow. As the hound was in +mid-air he swung the machete with all his might and struck straight at +the ugly head. The heavy blade crashed through the skull and the dog +fell dead without a sound. Another which leaped also, but not so far, +received a deep cut across the shoulder. It fell back and retreated with +the others among the cypresses, where the unwounded dogs watched with +red eyes the formidable figure on the rocks. + +But Ned did not remain on the tumulus more than a few minutes longer. +When he sprang down the dogs growled, but he shook the machete until it +glittered in the moonlight. With howls of terror they fled, while he +resumed his journey in the other direction. + +Near morning he came into country which seemed to him very wild. The +soil was hard and dry, but there was a dense growth of giant cactus, +with patches here and there of thorny bushes. Guarding well against the +spikes and thorns he crept into one of the thickets and lay down. He +must rest and sleep and already the touch of rose in the east was +heralding the dawn. Sleep by day and flight by night. He was satisfied +with himself. He had really succeeded better so far than he had hoped, +and, guarded by the spikes and thorns, slumber took him before dawn had +spread from east to west. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PALM + + +Ned awoke about noon. The morning had been cold, but having been wrapped +very thoroughly in the great serape, he had remained snug and warm all +through his long sleep. He rose very cautiously, lest the spikes and +thorns should get him, and then went to a comparatively open place among +the giant cactus stems whence he could see over the hills and valleys. +He saw in the valley nearest him the flat roofs of a small village. +Columns of smoke rose from two or three of the adobe houses, and he +heard the faint, mellow voices of men singing in a field. Women by the +side of a small but swift stream were pounding and washing clothes after +the primitive fashion. + +Looking eastward he saw hills and a small mountain, but all the country +in that direction seemed to be extremely arid and repellent. The bare +basalt of volcanic origin showed everywhere, and, even at the distance, +he could see many deep quarries in the stone, where races older, +doubtless, than Aztecs and Toltecs, had obtained material for building. +It was always Ned's feeling when in Mexico that he was in an old, old +land, not ancient like England or France, but ancient as Egypt and +Babylon are ancient. + +He had calculated his course very carefully, and he knew that it would +lead through this desert, volcanic region, but on the whole he was not +sorry. Mexicans would be scarce in such a place. He remained a lad of +stout heart, confident that he would succeed. + +He ate sparingly and reckoned that with self-denial he had food enough +to last three days. He might obtain more on the road by some happy +chance or other. Then becoming impatient he started again, keeping well +among cypress and cactus, and laying his course toward the small +mountain that he saw ahead. He pressed forward the remainder of the +afternoon, coming once or twice near to the great road that led to Vera +Cruz. On one occasion he saw a small body of soldiers, deep in dust, +marching toward the port. All except the officers were peons and they +did not seem to Ned to show much martial ardor. But the officers on +horseback sternly bade them hasten. Ned, as usual, had much sympathy for +the poor peasants, but none for the officers who drove them on. + +About sunset he came to a little river, the Teotihuacan he learned +afterward, and he still saw before him the low mountain, the name of +which was Cerro Gordo. But his attention was drawn from the mountain by +two elevations rising almost at the bank of the river. They were +pyramidal in shape and truncated, and the larger, which Ned surmised to +be anywhere from 500 to 1000 feet square, seemed to rise to a height of +two or three hundred feet. The other was about two-thirds the size of +the larger, both in area and height. + +Although there was much vegetation clinging about them Ned knew that +these were pyramids erected by the hand of man. The feeling that this +was a land old like Egypt came back to him most powerfully in the +presence of these ancient monuments, which were in fact the Pyramid of +the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. There they stood, desolate and of +untold age. The setting sun poured an intense red light upon them, +until they stood out vivid and enlarged. + +So far as Ned knew, no other human being was anywhere near. The +loneliness in the presence of those tremendous ruins was overpowering. +He longed for human companionship. A peon, despite the danger otherwise, +would have been welcome. The whole land took on fantastic aspects. It +was not normal and healthy like the regions from which he came north of +the Rio Grande. Every nerve quivered. + +Then he did the bravest thing that one could do in such a position, +forcing his will to win a victory over weirdness and superstition. He +crossed the shallow river and advanced boldly toward the Pyramid of the +Sun. His reason told him that there were no such things as ghosts, but +it told him also that Mexican peons were likely to believe in them. +Hence it was probable that he would be safer about the Pyramid than far +from it. The country bade fair to become too rough for night traveling +and he would stop there a while, refreshing his strength. + +Although the sun was setting, the color of the skies promised a bright +night, and Ned approached boldly. As usual his superstitious fears +became weaker as he approached the objects that had called them into +existence. But before he reached the pyramids he found that he was among +many ruins. They stood all about him, stone fragments of ancient walls, +black basalt or lava, and, unless the twilight deceived him, there were +also traces of ancient streets. He saw, too, south of the larger +pyramids a great earthwork or citadel thirty or forty feet high +enclosing a square in which stood a small pyramid. The walls of the +earthwork were enormously thick, three hundred feet Ned reckoned, and +upon it at regular intervals stood other small pyramids fourteen in +number. + +Scattered all about, alone or in groups, were tumuli, and leading away +from the largest group of tumuli Ned saw a street or causeway, which, +passing by the Pyramid of the Sun, ended in front of the Pyramid of the +Moon, where it widened out into a great circle, with a tumulus standing +in the center. + +Despite all the courage that he had shown Ned felt a superstitious +thrill as he looked at these ancient and solemn ruins. He and they were +absolutely alone. Antiquity looked down upon him. The sun was gone now +and the moon was coming out, touching pyramids and tumuli, earthworks +and causeway with ghostly silver, deepening the effect of loneliness and +far-off time. + +While Ned was looking at these majestic remains he heard the sound of +voices, and then the rattle of weapons. He saw through the twilight the +glitter of uniforms and of swords and sabers. A company of Mexican +soldiers, at least a hundred in number, had come into the ancient city +and, no doubt, intended to camp there. Being so absorbed in the strange +ruins he had not noticed them sooner. + +As the men were already scattering in search of firewood or other needs +of the camp Ned saw that he was in great danger. He hid behind a +tumulus, half covered by the vegetation that had grown from its +crevices. He was glad that his serape was of a modest brown, instead of +the bright colors that most of the Mexicans loved. A soldier passed +within ten feet of him, but in the twilight did not notice him. It was +enough to make one quiver. Another passed a little later, and he, too, +failed to see the fugitive. But a third, if he came, would probably +see, and leaving the tumulus Ned ran to another where he hid again for +a few minutes. + +It was the boy's object to make off through the neighboring forest after +passing from tumulus to tumulus, but he found soon that another body of +soldiers was camping upon the far side of the ruined city. He might or +might not run the gauntlet in the darkness. The probabilities were that +he would not, and hiding behind a tumulus almost midway between the two +forces he took thought of his next step. + +The Pyramid of the Moon rose almost directly before him, its truncated +mass spotted with foliage. Ned could see that its top was flat and +instantly he took a bold resolution. He made his way to the base of the +pyramid and began to climb slowly and with great care, always keeping +hidden in the vegetation. He was certain that no Mexican would follow +where he was going. They were on other business, and their incurious +minds bothered little about a city that was dead and gone for them. + +Up he went steadily over uneven terraces, and from below he heard the +chatter of the soldiers. A third fire had been lighted much nearer the +pyramid, and pausing a moment he looked down. Twenty or thirty soldiers +were scattered about this fire. Their muskets were stacked and they were +taking their ease. Discipline was relaxed. One man was strumming a +mandolin already, and two or three began to sing. But Ned saw sentinels +walking among the tumuli and along the Calle de los Muertos which led +from the Citadel to the southern front of the Pyramid of the Moon. He +was very glad now that he had sought this lofty refuge, and he renewed +his climb. + +As he drew himself upon another terrace he saw before him a dark opening +into the very mass of the pyramid, which was built either of brick or +of stone, he could not tell which. He thought once of creeping in and of +hiding there, but after taking a couple of steps into the dark he drew +back. He was afraid of plunging into some well and he continued the +ascent. He was now about sixty or seventy feet up, but he was not yet +half way to the top of the pyramid. + +He was so slow and cautious that it took more than a half hour to reach +the crest, where he found himself upon a platform about twenty feet +square. It was an irregular surface with much vegetation growing from +the crevices, and here Ned felt quite safe. Near him and sixty feet +above him rose the crest of the Pyramid of the Sun. Beyond were ranges +of mountains silvery in the moonlight. He walked to the edge of the +pyramid and looked down. Four or five fires were burning now, and the +single mandolin had grown to four. Several guitars were being plucked +vigorously also, and the sound of the instruments joined with that of +the singing voices was very musical and pleasant. These Mexicans seemed +to be full of good nature, and so they were, with fire, food and music +in plenty, but now that he had been their prisoner Ned never forgot how +that dormant and Spanish strain of cruelty in their natures could flame +high under the influence of passion. The dungeons of Spanish Mexico and +of the new Mexico hid many dark stories, and he believed that he had +read what lay behind the smiling mask of Santa Anna's face. He would +suffer everything to keep out of Mexican hands. + +He crept away from the edge of the pyramid, and chose a place near its +center for his lofty camp. There was much vegetation growing out of the +ancient masonry, and he had a fear of scorpions and of more dangerous +reptiles, perhaps, but he thrashed up the grass and weeds well with his +machete. Then he sat down and ate his supper. Fortunately he had drunk +copiously at a brook before reaching the ruined city and he did not +suffer from thirst. + +Then, relying upon the isolation of his perch for safety, he wrapped +himself in the invaluable serape and lay down. The night was cold as +usual, and a sharp wind blew down from northern peaks and ranges, but +Ned, protected by vegetation and the heavy serape, had an extraordinary +feeling of warmth and snugness as he lay on the old pyramid. Held so +long within close walls the wild freedom and the fresh air that came +across seas and continents were very grateful to him. Even the presence +of an enemy, so near, and yet, as it seemed, so little dangerous, added +a certain piquancy to his position. The pleasant tinkle of the mandolins +was wafted upward to him, and it was wonderfully soothing, telling of +peace and rest. He inhaled the aromatic odors of strange and flowering +southern plants, and his senses were steeped in a sort of luxurious +calm. + +He fell asleep to the music of the mandolin, and when he awoke such a +bright sun was shining in his eyes that he was glad to close and open +them again several times before they would tolerate the brilliant +Mexican sky that bent above him. He lay still about five minutes, +listening, and then, to his disappointment, he heard sounds below. He +judged by the position of the sun that it must be at least 10 o'clock in +the morning, and the Mexicans should be gone. Yet they were undoubtedly +still there. He crept to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. There +was the Mexican force, scattered about the ruined city, but camped in +greatest numbers along the Calle de los Muertos. Their numbers had been +increased by two hundred or three hundred, and, as Ned saw no signs of +breaking camp, he judged that this was a rendezvous, and that there were +more troops yet to come. + +He saw at once that his problem was increased greatly. He could not +dream of leaving the summit of the pyramid before the next night came. +Food he had in plenty but no water, and already as the hot sun's rays +approached the vertical he felt a great thirst. Imagination and the +knowledge that he could not allay it for the present at least, increased +the burning sensation in his throat and the dryness of his lips. He +caught a view of the current of the Teotihuacan, the little river by the +side of which the pyramids stand, and the sight increased his torments. +He had never seen before such fresh and pure water. It sparkled and +raced in the sun before him and it looked divine. And yet it was as far +out of his reach as if it were all the way across Mexico. + +Ned went back to the place where he had slept and sat down. The sight of +the river had tortured him, and he felt better when it was shut from +view. Now he resolved to see what could be accomplished by will. He +undertook to forget the water, and at times he succeeded, but, despite +his greatest efforts, the Teotihuacan would come back now and then with +the most astonishing vividness. Although he was lying on the serape with +bushes and shrubs all around, there was the river visible to the eye of +imagination, brighter, fresher and more sparkling than ever. He could +not control his fancy, but will ruled the body and he did not stir from +his place for hours. The sun beat fiercely upon him and the thin bushes +and shrubs afforded little protection. Toward the northern edge of the +pyramid a small palm was growing out of a large crevice in the masonry, +and it might have given some shade, but it was in such an exposed +position that Ned did not dare to use it for fear of discovery. + +How he hated that sun! It seemed to be drying him up, through and +through, causing the very blood in his veins to evaporate. Why should +such hot days follow such cold nights? When his tongue touched the roof +of his mouth it felt rough and hot like a coal. Perhaps the Mexicans had +gone away. It seemed to him that he had not heard any sounds from them +for some time. He went to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. No, +the Mexicans were yet there, and the sight of them filled him with a +fierce anger. They were enjoying themselves. Tents were scattered about +and shelters of boughs had been erected. Many soldiers were taking their +siestas. Nobody was working and there was not the slightest sign that +they intended to depart that day. Ned's hot tongue clove to the roof of +his hot mouth, but he obstinately refused to look at the river. He did +not think that he could stand another sight of it. + +He went back to his little lair among the shrubs and prayed for night, +blessed night with its cooling touch. He had a horrible apprehension +which amounted to conviction that the troops would stay there for +several days, awaiting some maneuver or perhaps making it a rallying +point, and that in his hiding place on the pyramid he was in as bad case +as a sailor cast on a desert island without water. Nothing seemed left +for him but to steal down and try to escape in darkness. Thus night +would be doubly welcome and he prayed for it again and with renewed +fervor. + +Some hours are ten times as long as others, but the longest of all come +to an end at last. The sun began to droop in the west. The vertical +glare was gone, yet the masonry where it was bare was yet hot to the +touch. It, too, cooled soon. The sun dropped wholly down and darkness +came over all the earth. Then the fever in Ned's throat died down +somewhat, and the blood began to flow again in his veins. It seemed as +if a dew touched his face, delicious, soothing like drops of rain in the +burning desert. + +He rose and stretched his stiffened limbs. Overhead spread the dark, +cool sky, and the bright stars were coming out, one by one. After the +first few moments of relief he heard the cry for water again. Despite +the night and the coming chill he knew that it would make itself heard +often and often, and he began to study the possibilities of a descent. +But he saw the fires spread out again on all sides of the Pyramid of the +Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon and flame thickly along the Calle de los +Muertos. It did not seem that he could pass even on the blackest night. + +He moved over toward the northern edge of the pyramid, and stood under +the palm which he had noticed in the day. One of its broad green leaves, +swayed by the wind, touched him softly on the face. He looked up. It was +a friendly palm. Its very touch was kindly. He stroked the blades and +then he examined the stem or body minutely. He was a studious boy who +had read much. He had heard of the water palm of the Hawaiian and other +South Sea Islands. Might not the water palm be found in Mexico also? In +any event, he had never heard of a palm that was poisonous. They were +always givers of life. + +He raised the machete and slashed the stem of the palm at a point about +five feet from the ground. The wound gaped open and a stream of water +gushed forth. Ned applied his mouth at once and drank long and deeply. +It was not poison, nor was it any bitter juice. This was the genuine +water palm, yielding up the living fluid of its arteries for him. He +drank as long as the gash gave forth water and then sat down under the +blades of the palm, content and thankful, realizing that there was +always hope in the very heart of despair. + +Ned sat a long time, feeling the new life rushing into his veins. He ate +from the food of which he had a plentiful supply and once more gave +thanks to Benito and Juana. Then he stood up and the broad leaves of the +palm waving gently in the wind touched his face again. He reached up his +hand and stroked them. The palm was to him almost a thing of life. He +went to the edge of the pyramid and strove for a sight of the +Teotihuacan. He caught at last a flash of its waters in the moonlight +and he shook his fist in defiance. "I can do without you now," was his +thought. "The sight of you does not torture me." + +He returned to his usual place of sleep. As long as he had a water +supply it was foolish of him to attempt an escape through the Mexican +lines. He was familiar now with every square inch of the twenty feet +square of the crowning platform of the pyramid. It seemed that he had +been there for weeks and he began to have the feeling that it was home. +Once more, hunger and thirst satisfied, he sought sleep and slept with +the deep peace of youth. + +Ned awoke from his second night on the pyramid before dawn was complete. +There was silvery light in the east over the desolate ranges, but the +west was yet a dark blur. He looked down and saw that nearly all the +soldiers were still asleep, while those who did not sleep were as +motionless as if they were. In the half light the lost city, the tumuli +and the ruins of the old buildings took on strange and fantastic shapes. +The feeling that he was among the dead, the dead for many centuries, +returned to Ned with overpowering effect. He thought of Aztec and Toltec +and people back of all these who had built this city. The Mexicans below +were intruders like himself. + +He shook himself as if by physical effort he could get rid of the +feeling and then went to the water palm in which he cut another gash. +Again the fountain gushed forth and he drank. But the palm was a small +one. There was too little soil among the crevices of the ancient masonry +to support a larger growth, and he saw that it could not satisfy his +thirst more than a day or two. But anything might happen in that time, +and his courage suffered no decrease. + +He retreated toward the center of the platform as the day was now coming +fast after the southern fashion. The whole circle of the heavens seemed +to burst into a blaze of light, and, in a few hours, the sun was hotter +than it had been before. Many sounds now came from the camp below, but +Ned, although he often looked eagerly, saw no signs of coming departure. +Shortly after noon there was a great blare of trumpets, and a detachment +of lancers rode up. They were large men, mounted finely, and the heads +of their long lances glittered as they brandished them in the sun. + +Ned's attention was drawn to the leader of this new detachment, an +officer in most brilliant uniform, and he started. He knew him at once. +It was the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, +a man in whom that old, cruel strain was very strong, and whom Ned +believed to be charged with the crushing of the Texans. Then he was +right in his surmise that Mexican forces for the campaign were +gathering here on the banks of the Teotihuacan! + +More troops came in the afternoon, and the boy no longer had the +slightest doubt. The camp spread out further and further, and assumed +military form. Not so many men were lounging about and the tinkling of +the guitars ceased. Ned could see General de Cos plainly, a heavy man of +dark face, autocratic and domineering in manner. + +Night came and the boy went once more to the palm. When he struck with +his machete the water came forth, but in a much weaker stream. In +reality he was yet thirsty after he drank the full flow, but he would +not cut into the stem again. He knew that he must practice the severest +economy with his water supply. + +The third night came and as soon as he was safe from observation Ned +slashed the palm once more. The day had been very hot and his thirst was +great. The water come forth but with only half the vigor of the morning, +which itself had shown a decrease. The poor palm, too, trembled and +shook when he cut into it with the machete and the blades drooped. Ned +drank what it supplied and then turned away regretfully. It was a kindly +palm, a gift to man, and yet he must slay it to save his own life. + +He lay down again, but he did not sleep as well as usual. His nerves +were upset by the long delay, and the decline of the palm, and he was +not refreshed when he awoke in the morning. His head felt hot and his +limbs were heavy. + +As it was not yet bright daylight he went to the palm and cut into it. +The flow of water was only a few mouthfuls. Cautious and doubly +economical now he pursed his lips that not a single drop might escape. +Then, after eating a little food he lay down, protected as much as +possible by the scanty bushes, and also sheltering himself at times from +the sun with the serape which he drew over his head. He felt +instinctively and with the power of conviction that the Mexicans would +not depart. The coming of Cos had taken the hope from him. Cos! He hated +the short, brusque name. + +It was another day of dazzling brightness and intense heat. Certainly +this was a vertical sun. It shot rays like burning arrows straight down. +The blood in his veins seemed to dry up again. His head grew hotter. +Black specks in myriads danced before his eyes. He looked longingly at +his palm. When he first saw it, it stood up, vital and strong. Now it +seemed to droop and waver like himself. But it would have enough life to +fill its veins and arteries through the day and at night he would have +another good drink. + +He scarcely stirred throughout the day but spent most of the time +looking at the palm. He paid no attention to the sounds below, sure that +the Mexicans would not go away. He fell at times into a sort of fevered +stupor, and he aroused himself from the last one to find that night had +come. He took his machete, went to the tree, and cut quickly, because +his thirst was very great. + +The gash opened, but not a drop came forth. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +IN THE PYRAMID + + +Ned stared, half in amazement, half in despair. Yet he had known all the +while that this would happen. The palm had emptied every drop from its +veins and arteries for him, giving life for life. He had cut so deeply +and so often that it would wither now and die. He turned away in +sadness, and suddenly a bitter, burning thirst assailed him. It seemed +to have leaped into new life with the knowledge that there was nothing +now to assuage it. + +The boy sat down on a small projection of brickwork, and considered his +case. He had been more than twelve hours without water under a fierce +sun. His thirst would not increase so fast at night, but it would +increase, nevertheless, and the Mexican force might linger below a week. +Certainly its camp was of such a character that it would remain at least +two or three days, and any risk was preferable to a death of thirst. He +could wait no longer. + +Now chance which had been so cruel flung a straw his way. The night was +darker than usual. The moon and stars did not come out, and troops of +clouds stalked up from the southwest. Ned knew that it was a land of +little rain, and for a few moments he had a wild hope that in some +manner he might catch enough water for his use on the crest of the +pyramid. But reason soon drove the hope away. There was no depression +which would hold water, and he resolved instead to make the descent +under cover of the darkness. + +When he had come to this resolution the thirst was not so fierce. +Indecision being over, both his physical and mental courage rose. He ate +and had left enough food to last for two days, which he fastened +securely in a pack to his body. Then, machete in hand, he looked over +the edge of the pyramid. There was some noise in the camp, but most of +the soldiers seemed to be at rest. Lights flickered here and there, and +the ruined city, showing only in fragments through the darkness, looked +more ghostly and mournful than ever. + +Ned waited a long time. Drops of rain began to fall, and the wind moaned +with an almost human note around the pyramids and old walls. The rain +increased a little, but it never fell in abundance. It and the wind were +very cold, and Ned drew the serape very closely about his body. He was +anxious now for time to pass fast, because he was beginning to feel +afraid, not of the Mexicans, but of the dead city, and the ghosts of +those vanished long ago, although he knew there were no such things. But +the human note in the wind grew until it was like a shriek, and this +shriek was to him a warning that he must go. The pyramid had been his +salvation, but his time there was at an end. + +He drew the sombrero far down over his eyes, and once more calculated +the chances. He spoke Spanish well, and he spoke its Mexican variations +equally well. If they saw him he might be able to pass for a Mexican. He +must succeed. + +He lowered himself from the crowning platform of the pyramid and began +the descent. The cold rain pattered upon him and his body was weak from +privation, but his spirit was strong, and with steady hand and foot he +went down. He paused several times to look at the camp. Five or six +fires still burned there, but they flickered wildly in the wind and +rain. He judged that the sentinels would not watch well. For what must +they watch, there in the heart of their own country? + +But as he approached the bottom he saw two of these sentinels walking +back and forth, their bayonets reflecting a flicker now and then from +the flames. He saw also five or six large white tents, and he was quite +sure that the largest sheltered at that instant Martin Perfecto de Cos, +whom he wished very much to avoid. He intended, when he reached the +bottom, to keep as close as he could in the shadow of the pyramid, and +then seek the other side of the Teotihuacan. + +The rain was still blown about by the wind, and it was very cold. But +the influence of both wind and rain were inspiring to the boy. They were +a tonic to body and mind, and he grew bolder as he came nearer to the +ground. At last he stepped upon the level earth, and stood for a little +while black and motionless against the pyramid. + +He was aware that the cordon of Cos' army completely enclosed the +Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Calle de los Muertos +and the other principal ruins, and he now heard the sentinels much more +distinctly as they walked back and forth. Straining his eyes he could +see two of them, short, sallow men, musket on shoulder. The beat of one +lay directly across the path that he had chosen, reaching from the far +edge of the Pyramid of the Moon to a point about twenty yards away. He +believed that when this sentinel marched to the other end of his beat he +could slip by. At any rate, if he were seen he might make a successful +flight, and he slipped his hand to the handle of the machete in his +belt in order that he might be ready for resistance. + +He saw presently two or three dark heaps near him, and as his eyes grew +used to the darkness he made out camp equipage and supplies. The +smallest heap which was also nearest to him, consisted of large metal +canteens for water, such as soldiers of that day carried. His thirst +suddenly made itself manifest again. Doubtless those canteens contained +water, and his body which wanted water so badly cried aloud for it. + +It was not recklessness but a burning thirst which caused him to creep +toward the little heap of canteens at the imminent risk of being +discovered. When he reached them he lay flat on the ground and took one +from the top. He knew by its lack of weight that it was empty, and he +laid it aside. Then he paused for a glance at the sentinel who was still +walking steadily on his beat, and whom he now saw very clearly. + +He was disappointed to find the first canteen empty, but he was +convinced that some in that heap must contain water, and he would +persevere. The second and third failed him in like manner, but he would +yet persevere. The fourth was heavy, and when he shook it gently he +heard the water plash. That thirst at once became burning and +uncontrollable. The cry of his body to be assuaged overpowered his will, +and while deadly danger menaced he unscrewed the little mouthpiece and +drank deep and long. It was not cold and perhaps a little mud lurked at +the bottom of the canteen, but like the gift of the water palm it +brought fresh life and strength. + +He put down the canteen half empty and took another from the heap. It, +too, proved to be filled, and he hung it around neck and shoulder by the +strap provided for that purpose. He could have found no more precious +object for the dry regions through which he intended to make his +journey. + +Ned went back toward the pyramid, but his joy over finding the water +made him a little careless. Great fragments of stone lay about +everywhere, and his foot slipped on a piece of black basalt. He fell and +the metal of his canteen rang against the stone. + +He sprang to his feet instantly, but the sentinel had taken the alarm +and as Ned's sombrero had slipped back he saw the fair face. He knew +that it was the face of no Mexican, and shouting "Gringo!" he fired +straight at him. Luckily, haste and the darkness prevented good aim, +although he was at short range. But Ned felt the swish of the bullet so +close to him that every nerve jumped, and he jumped with them. The first +jump took him half way to the pyramid and the next landed him at its +base. There the second nearest sentinel fired at him and he heard the +bullet flatten itself against the stone. + +Fortunately for Ned, the silent, thoughtful lad, he had often tried to +imagine what he would do in critical junctures, and now, despite the +terrible crisis, he was able to take control of his nerves. He +remembered to pull the sombrero down over his face and to keep close to +the pyramid. The shots had caused an uproar in the camp. Men were +running about, lights were springing up, and officers were shouting +orders. A single fugitive among so many confused pursuers might yet pass +for one of them. Chance which had been against him was now for him. The +wind suddenly took a wilder sweep and the rain lashed harder. He left +the pyramid and darted behind a tumulus. He stood there quietly and +heard the uproar of the hunt at other points. Presently he slouched +away in the manner of a careless peon, with his serape drawn about chin +as well as body, for which the wind and the rain were a fitting excuse. +He also shouted and chattered occasionally with others, and none knew +that he was the Gringo at whom the two sentinels had fired. + +Ned thought to make a way through the lines, but so many lights now +flared up on all the outskirts that he saw it was impossible. + +He turned back again to the side of the pyramid, where he was almost +hidden by débris and foliage. Two or three false alarms had been sounded +on the other side of the great structure, and practically the whole mob +of searchers was drawn away in that direction. He formed a quick +decision. He would reascend the pyramid. And he would take with him a +water supply in the canteen that he still carried over his shoulder. He +began to climb, and he noticed as he went up that it was almost the +exact point at which he had ascended before. + +He heard the tumult below, caught glimpses of lights flashing here and +there, and he ascended eagerly. He was almost half way up when he came +face to face with a Mexican soldier who carried in his hand a small +lantern. The soldier, the only one perhaps who had suspected the pyramid +as a place of refuge, had come at another angle, and there on a terrace +the two had met. + +They were not more than three feet apart. Ned had put his machete back +in his belt that he might climb with more ease, but he hit out at once +with his clenched right hand. The blow took the Mexican full between the +eyes and toppling over backward he dropped the lantern. Then he slid on +the narrow terrace and with an instinctive cry of terror fell. Ned was +seized with horror and took a hasty glance downward. He was relieved +when he saw that the man, grasping at projections and outgrowing +vegetation, was sliding rather than falling, and would not be hurt +seriously. + +He turned to his own case. There lay the lantern on the stone, still +glowing. Below rose the tumult, men coming to his side of the pyramid, +drawn by his cry. He could no longer reach the top of the pyramid +without being seen, but he knew another way. He snatched up the lantern, +tucked it under his serape and made for the opening which he had noticed +in the side of the pyramid at his first ascent. It was scarcely ten feet +away, and he boldly stepped in, a thing that he would never have dared +to do had it not been for the happy chance of the lantern. + +His foot rested on solid stone, and he stood wholly in the dark. Yet the +uproar came clearly to his ears. It was a certainty now that more +soldiers would ascend the pyramid looking for him, but he believed that +ignorance and superstition would keep them from entering it. + +The air that came to his nostrils out of the unknown dark was cold and +clean, but he did not yet dare to take out his lantern. He felt +cautiously in front of him with one foot and touched a stone step below. +He also touched narrow walls with his outstretched hand. He descended to +the step, and then, feeling sure that the light of his lantern could not +be seen from without, he took it from under his serape and held it as +far in front of him as he could. A narrow flight of stone steps led +onward and downward further than he could see, and, driven by imminent +necessity, he walked boldly down them. + +The way was rough with the decay of time from which stone itself cannot +escape, but he always steadied himself with one hand against the wall. +The stone was very cold and Ned had the feeling that he was in a tomb. +Once more he had that overwhelming sense of old, old things, of things +as old as Egypt. At another time, despite every effort of reason, he +would have thrilled with superstitious terror, but now it was for his +life, and down he went, step by step. + +The air remained pure like that of great caves in the States, and Ned +did not stop until a black void seemed to open almost before him when he +drew back in affright. Calming himself he held up the lantern and looked +at the void. It was a deep and square well, its walls faced as far as he +could see with squared stones. His lantern revealed no water in the +depths and he fancied that it had something to do with ceremonials, +perhaps with sacrifice. There was a way around the well, but it was +narrow and he chose to go no further. Instead he crouched on the steps +where he was safe from a fall, and put the lantern beside him. + +It was an oil lamp. Had he possessed any means of relighting it he would +have blown it out, and sought sleep in the dark, but once out, out +always, and he moved it into a little niche of the wall, where no sudden +draught could get at it, and where its hidden light would be no beacon +to any daring Mexican who might descend the stairway. + +The sense of vast antiquity was still with the boy, but it did not +oppress him now as it might have done at another time. His feeling of +relief, caused by his escape from the Mexicans, was so great that it +created, for the time at least, a certain buoyancy of the mind. The +unknown depths of the ancient pyramid were at once a shelter and a +protection. He folded the serape, in order to make as soft a couch as +possible, and soon fell asleep. + +When Ned awoke he was lying in exactly the same position on the steps, +and the lantern was still burning in the niche. He had no idea how long +he had slept, or whether it was day or night, but he did not care. He +took the full canteen and drank. It was an unusually large canteen and +it contained enough, if he used economy, to last him two days. The cool +recesses of the pyramid's interior did not engender thirst like its +blazing summit. Then he ate, but whether breakfast, dinner or supper he +did not know, nor did he care. + +He was tempted to go up to the entrance of the stairway and see what was +going forward in the camp, but he resisted the impulse. For the sake of +caution he triumphed over curiosity, and remained a long time on the +steps, beside the niche in which his lamp sat. Then he began to +calculate how much longer the oil would last, and he placed the time at +about thirty hours. Surely some decisive event would happen in his favor +before the last drop was burned. + +After an interminable time the air on the stairway seemed to him to be +growing colder, and he inferred that night had come. Taking the lantern +he climbed the steps and peered out at the ancient doorway. He saw +lights below, and he could discern dimly the shapes of tents. +Disappointed, he returned to his place on the steps, and, after another +long wait, fell asleep again. When he awoke he calculated by the amount +of oil left in the lamp that at least twelve hours had passed since his +previous awakening. + +Once more he made a great effort of the will in order to achieve a +conquest over curiosity and impatience. He would not return to the +entrance until the oil had only an hour more to burn. Necessity had +proved so stern a master that he was able to keep his resolution. Many +long, long hours passed and sometimes he dozed or slept, but he did not +go to the entrance. The oil at last marked the final hour, and, taking +up the lamp, he went back to the entrance. + +Ned looked out and then gave a cry of joy. It was broad daylight, but +the army was gone, soldiers, horses, tents, everything. The Calle de los +Muertos was once more what its name meant. Silence and desolation had +regained the ruined city. He blew out the lantern and set it down at the +opening. It had served him well. Then he went out and climbed again to +the summit of the pyramid, from which he examined the valley long and +well. + +He saw no signs of human life anywhere. Traces of the camp remained in +abundance, but the army itself had vanished. There were no lurking camp +followers to make him trouble. He descended to the ground, and stood a +while, drawing in deep draughts of the fresh daylight air. It had not +been oppressive in the pyramid, but there is nothing like the open sky +above. He went down to the Teotihuacan, and, choosing a safe place, +bathed in its waters. Then he resumed the flight across the hills which +had been delayed so long. He knew by the sun that it was morning not far +advanced, and he wished to travel many miles before night. He saw +abundant evidences on the great highway that the army was marching +toward Vera Cruz, and as before he traveled on a line parallel with it, +but at least a mile away. He passed two sheep herders, but he displayed +the machete, and whistling carelessly went on. They did not follow, and +he was sure that they took him for a bandit whom it would be wise to let +alone. + +Ned wandered on for two or three days. In one of his turnings among the +mountains he lost the Vera Cruz highway, and came out again upon a wide, +sandy plain, dotted with scattered cactus. As he was crossing it a +Norther came up, and blew with great fierceness. Sand was driven into +his face with such force that it stung like shot. The cold became +intense, and if it had not been for the serape he might have perished. + +The storm was still blowing when he reached the far edge of the plain, +and came into extremely rough country, with patches of low, thorny +forest. Here he found a dilapidated bark hut, evidently used at times by +Mexican herdsmen, and, thankful for such shelter, he crept into it and +fell asleep. When he awoke he felt very weak. He had eaten the last of +his food seven or eight hours before. + +Driven by desperate need, Ned ate wild fruits, and, for a while, was +refreshed, but that night he fell ill, suffering greatly from internal +pains. He was afraid at first that he had poisoned himself, and he knew +that he had eaten something not used for food, but by morning the pains +were gone, although he was much weaker than before. + +Now he felt for the first time the pangs of despair. It was a full two +hundred miles yet to Vera Cruz, and he was in the heart of a hostile +country. He did not have the strength of a child left, and the chance +that he could deliver his message of warning to the Texans seemed to +have gone. He rambled about all that day, light-headed at times, and, +toward evening, he fell into a stupor. Unable to go any further, he sank +down beside a rock, and lapsed wholly into unconsciousness. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MARCH WITH COS + + +When Ned came to himself he was surrounded by men, and at first he +thought he was back among his Texans. He was in a vague and dreamy state +that was not unpleasant, although he was conscious of a great weakness. +He knew that he was lying on the ground upon his own serape, and that +another serape was spread over him. In a little while mind and vision +grew more definite and he saw that the soldiers were Mexicans. After his +long endurance and ingenuity on the pyramid he had practically walked +into their hands. But such was his apathy of mind and body that it +roused no great emotion in him. He closed his eyes for a little while, +and then fresh strength poured into his veins. When he opened his eyes +again his interest in life and his situation was of normal keenness. + +They were in a little valley and the soldiers, lancers, seemed to number +about two hundred. Their horses were tethered near them, and their +lances were stacked in glittering pyramids. It was early morning. +Several men were cooking breakfast for the whole troop at large fires. +The far edge of the little valley was very rocky and Ned inferred that +he had fallen there by a big outcropping of stone, and that the +soldiers, looking around for firewood, had found him. But they had not +treated him badly, as the serape spread over his body indicated. + +Feeling so much better he sat up. The odor of the cooking made him +realize again that he was fiercely hungry. A Mexican brought him a large +tin plate filled with beans and meat chopped small. He ate slowly +although only an effort of the will kept him from devouring the food +like a famished wild animal. The Mexican who had brought him the plate +stood by and watched him, not without a certain sympathy on his face. +Several more Mexicans approached and looked at him with keen curiosity, +but they did not say or do anything that would offend the young Gringo. +Knowing that it was now useless, Ned no longer made any attempt to +conceal his nationality which was evident to all. He finished the plate +and handed it back to the Mexican. + +"Many thanks," he said in the native tongue. + +"More?" said the soldier, looking at him with understanding. + +"I could, without hurting myself," replied Ned with a smile. + +A second plate and a cup of water were brought to him. He ate and drank +in leisurely fashion, and began to feel a certain relief. He imagined +that he would be returned to imprisonment in the City of Mexico with Mr. +Austin. At any rate, he had made a good attempt and another chance might +come. + +An officer dressed in a very neat and handsome uniform approached and +the other Mexicans fell back respectfully. This man was young, not more +than thirty-two or three, rather tall, fairer than most of his race, and +with a singularly open and attractive face. His dress was that of a +colonel, and the boy knew at once that he was commander of the troop. He +smiled down at Ned, and Ned, despite himself, smiled back. + +"I know you," said he, speaking perfect English. "You are Edward Fulton, +the lad who was held in the prison with Stephen Austin, the Texan, the +lad who starved himself that he might slip between the bars of his +window. There was much talk at the capital about it, and you were not +without admirers. You showed so much courage and resource that you +deserved to escape, but we could not let you go." + +"I got lost and I was without food." + +"Rather serious obstacles. They have held many a boy and man. But since +I know so much about you and you know nothing about me I will tell you +who I am. My name is Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, and I am a colonel in the +service of Mexico and of our great Santa Anna. I was educated in that +United States of yours, Texan, though you call yourself. That is why I +speak the English that you hear. I have friends, too, among your +people." + +"Well, Colonel Almonte," said Ned, "since I had to be recaptured, I'm +glad I fell into your hands." + +"I wish I could keep you in them," he said, "but I am under the command +of General Cos, and I have to rejoin the main force which he leads." + +Ned understood. Cos was a man of another type. But he resolved not to +anticipate trouble. Almonte again looked at him curiously, and then +leaning forward said confidentially: + +"Tell me, was it you who knocked our soldier down on the side of the +pyramid and took his lantern? If it is true, it can't do you any harm to +acknowledge it now." + +"Yes," replied Ned with some pride, "it was I. I came upon him suddenly +and I was as much surprised as he. I hit out on the impulse of the +moment, and the blow landed in exactly the right place. I hope he was +not much hurt." + +"He wasn't," replied Almonte, laughing with deep unction. "He was +pretty well covered with bruises and scratches, but he forgot them in +the awful fright you gave him. He took you to be some demon, some +mysterious Aztec god out of a far and dim past, who had smitten him with +lightning, because he presumed to climb upon a sacred pyramid. But some +of us who were not so credulous, perhaps because we did not have his +bruises and scratches, searched all the sides and the top of the +pyramid. We failed to find you and we knew that you could not get +through our lines. Now, will you tell me where you were?" + +His tone was so intent and eager that Ned could not keep from laughing. +Besides, the boy had a certain pride in the skill, daring and resource +with which he had eluded the men of Cos. + +"Did you look inside the pyramid?" he asked. + +"Inside it?" + +"Yes, inside. There's an opening sixty or seventy feet above the ground. +I took your man's lantern when he dropped it and entered. There's a +stairway, leading down to a deep, square well, and there's something +beyond the well, although I don't know what. I stayed in there until +your army went away. Before that I had been for two or three days on top +of the pyramid, where a little water palm gave up its life to save me." + +Almonte regarded him with wonder. + +"I am not superstitious myself--that is, not unnecessarily so," he said, +"but yours must be a lucky star. After all that, you should have +escaped, and your present capture must be a mere delay. You will slip +from us again." + +"I shall certainly try," said Ned hopefully. + +"It is bound to come true," said Almonte. "All the omens point that +way." + +Ned smiled. Almonte, young, brilliant and generous, had made him almost +feel as if he were a guest and not a prisoner. He did not discern in him +that underlying strain of Spanish cruelty, which passion might bring to +the surface at any moment. It might be due to his youth, or it might be +due to his American education. + +"We march in an hour," said Almonte. "We are to rejoin General Cos on +the Vera Cruz road, but that will not occur for two or three days. +Meanwhile, as the way is rough and you are pretty weak, you can ride on +a burro. Sorry I can't get you a horse, but our lancers have none to +spare. Still, you'll find a burro surer of foot and more comfortable +over the basalt and lava." + +Ned thanked him for his courtesy. He liked this cheerful Mexican better +than ever. In another hour they started, turning into the Vera Cruz +road, and following often the path by which great Cortez had come. Ned's +burro, little but made of steel, picked the way with unerring foot and +never stumbled once. He rode in the midst of the lancers, who were full +that day of the Latin joy that came with the sun and the great panorama +of the Mexican uplands. Now and then they sang songs of the South, +sometimes Spanish and sometimes Indian, Aztec, or perhaps even Toltec. +Ned felt the influence. Once or twice he joined in the air without +knowing the words, and he would have been happy had it not been for his +thoughts of the Texans. + +The courtesy and kindliness of Almonte must not blind him to the fact +that he was the bearer of a message to his own people. That message +could not be more important because its outcome was life and death, and +he watched all the time for a chance to escape. None occurred. The +lancers were always about him, and even if there were an opening his +burro, sure of foot though he might be, could not escape their strong +horses. So he bided his time, for the present, and shared in the gayety +of the men who rode through the crisp and brilliant southern air. All +the time they ascended, and Ned saw far below him valley after valley, +much the same, at the distance, as they were when Cortez and his men +first gazed upon them more than three hundred years before. Yet the look +of the land was always different from that to which he was used north of +the Rio Grande. Here as in the great valley of Tenochtitlan it seemed +ancient, old, old beyond all computation. Here and there, were ruins of +which the Mexican peons knew nothing. Sometimes these ruins stood out on +a bare slope, and again they were almost hidden by vegetation. In the +valleys Ned saw peons at work with a crooked stick as a plow, and once +or twice they passed swarthy Aztec women cooking tortillas and frijoles +in the open air. + +The troop could not advance very rapidly owing to the roughness of the +way, and Ned learned from the talk about him that they would not +overtake Cos until the evening of the following day. About twilight they +encamped in a slight depression in the mountain side. No tents were set, +but a large fire was built, partly of dry stems of the giant cactus. The +cactus burned rapidly with a light, sparkling blaze, and left a white +ash, but the heavier wood, mixed with it, made a bed of coals that +glowed long in the darkness. + +Ned sat beside the fire on his serape with another thrown over his +shoulders, as the night was growing very chill with a sharp wind +whistling down from the mountains. The kindness of his captors did not +decrease, and he found a genuine pleasure in the human companionship and +physical comfort. Almonte found a comfortable place, took a guitar out +of a silken case, and hummed and played a love song. No American officer +would have done it at such a time and place, but it seemed natural in +him. + +Ned could not keep from being attracted by the picture that he +presented, the handsome young officer bending over his guitar, his heart +in the song that he played, but ready at any instant to be the brave and +wary soldier. Circumstance and place seemed to the boy so full of wild +romance that he forgot, for the time, his own fate and the message that +he wished to bear to those far Texans. + +It was very cold that night on the heights, and, now and then, a little +snow was blown about by the wind, but Ned kept warm by the fire and +between the two serapes. He fell asleep to the tinkling of Almonte's +guitar. They started again at earliest dawn, descended the slopes into a +highway to Vera Cruz, and pushed on in the trail of Cos. Ned still rode +his burro, which trotted along faithfully with the best, and he kept an +eager eye for the road and all that lay along it. The silent youth had +learned the value of keen observation, and he never neglected it. + +Before noon Ned saw a dim, white cone rising on the eastern horizon. It +was far away and misty, a thing of beauty which seemed to hang in the +air above the clouds. + +"Orizaba, the great mountain!" said Almonte. + +Ned had seen Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl, but this was a shade loftier +and more beautiful than either, shooting up nearly four miles, and +visible to sailors far out at sea. It grew in splendor as they +approached. Great masses of oak and pine hung on its lofty sides, up the +height of three miles, and above the forest rose the sharp cone, +gleaming white with snow. The face of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte flushed as +he gazed at it. + +"It is ours, the great mountain!" he exclaimed. "And the many other +magnificent mountains and the valleys and rivers of Mexico. Can you +wonder, then, Edward Fulton, that we Mexicans do not wish to lose any +part of our country? Texas is ours, it has always been ours, and we will +not let the Texans sever it from us!" + +"The Texans have not wished to do so," said Ned. "You have been kind to +me, Colonel Almonte, and I do not wish to tell you anything but the +truth. The Texans will fight oppression and bad faith. You do not know, +the Mexicans do not know, how hard they will fight. Our charter has been +violated and President Santa Anna would strip our people of arms and +leave them at the mercy of savage Indians." + +Almonte was about to make a passionate reply, but he checked himself +suddenly and said in mild tones: + +"It is not fair for me to attack you, a prisoner, even in words. Look +how Orizaba grows! It is like a pillar holding up the heavens!" + +Ned gazed in admiration. He did not wonder that Almonte loved this +country of his, so full of the strange and picturesque. The great +mountain grew and grew, until its mighty cone, dark below, and white +above, seemed to fill the horizon. But much of the gayety of Almonte +departed. + +"Before night," he said, "we will be with General Cos, who is my +commander. As you know, he is the brother-in-law of General Santa Anna, +and--he is much inflamed against the Texans. I fear that he will be hard +with you, but I shall do what I can to assuage his severity." + +"I thank you, Colonel Almonte," said Ned with a gravity beyond his +years. "You are a generous enemy, and chance may help me some day to +return your kindness, but whatever treatment General Cos may accord me, +I hope I shall be able to stand it." + +In another hour they saw a column of dust ahead of them. The column grew +and soon Ned saw lances and bayonets shining through it. He knew that +this was the army of Cos, and, just as the eastern light began to fade, +they joined it. Cos was going into camp by the side of a small stream, +and, after a little delay, Almonte took the prisoner to him. + +A large tent had been erected for General Cos, but he was sitting before +it, eating his supper. A cook was serving him with delicate dishes and +another servant filled his glass with red wine. His dark face darkened +still further, as he looked at Ned, but he saluted Almonte courteously. +It was evident to Ned that through family or merit, probably both, +Almonte stood very high in the Mexican service. + +"I have the honor to report to you, General Cos," said Almonte, "that we +have retaken the young Texan who escaped through the bars of his prison +at the capital. We found him in the mountains overcome by exhaustion." + +General Cos' lips opened in a slow, cold smile,--an evil smile that +struck a chill to Ned's heart. Here was a man far different from the +gallant and gay young Almonte. That cruel strain which he believed was +in the depths of the Spanish character, dormant though it might usually +be, was patent now in General Cos. Moreover, this man was very powerful, +and, as brother-in-law of Santa Anna, he was second only to the great +dictator. He did not ask Ned to sit down and he was brusque in speech. +The air about them grew distinctly colder. Almonte had talked with Ned +in English, but Cos spoke Spanish: + +"Why did you run away from the capital?" he asked, shortly. "You were +treated well there." + +"No man can be held in prison and be treated well." + +General Martin Perfecto de Cos frowned. The bearing of the young Gringo +did not please him. Nor did his answer. + +"I repeat my question," he said, his voice rising. "Why did you run like +a criminal from the capital? You were with the man Austin. You, like he, +were the guest of our great and illustrious Santa Anna who does no +wrong. Answer me, why did you slip away like a thief?" + +"I slipped away, but it was not like a thief nor any other kind of +criminal. And if you must know, General Cos, I went because I did not +believe the words of the great and illustrious Santa Anna. He promises +the Texans redress for their wrongs, and, at the same time, he orders +them to give up their weapons. Do you think, and does General Santa Anna +think, that the Texans are fools?" + +Despite all his study and thought, Ned Fulton was only a boy and he did +not have the wisdom of the old. The manner and words of General Cos had +angered him, and, on impulse, he gave a direct reply. But he knew at +once that it was impolitic. Cos' eyes lowered, and his lips drew back +like those of an angry jaguar, showing his strong white teeth. There was +no possible doubt now about that Spanish strain of cruelty. + +"I presume," he said, and he seemed to Ned to bite each word, "that you +meant to go to the Texans with the lying message that the word of the +most illustrious General Santa Anna was not to be believed?" + +"I meant to go with such a message," said Ned proudly, "but it would not +be a lying one." + +Knowing that he was already condemned he resolved to seek no subterfuge. + +"The President cannot be insulted in my presence," said Cos ominously. + +"He is only a boy, General," said Almonte appealingly. + +"Boys can do mischief," said Cos, "and this seems to be an unusually +cunning and wicked one. You are zealous, Colonel Almonte, I will give +you that much credit, but you do not hate the Gringos enough." + +Almonte flushed, but he bowed and said nothing. Cos turned again to Ned. + +"You will bear no message to the Texans," he said. "I think that instead +you will stay a long time in this hospitable Mexico of ours." + +Ned paled a little. The words were full of menace, and he knew that they +came straight from the cruel heart of Cos. But his pride would not +permit him to reply. + +"You will be kept under close guard," said the General. "I will give +that duty to the men of Tlascala. They are infantry and to-morrow you +march on foot with them. Colonel Almonte, you did well to take the +prisoner, but you need trouble yourself no longer about him." + +Two men of the Tlascalan company were summoned and they took Ned with +them. The name "Tlascala" had appealed to Ned at first. It was the brave +Tlascalan mountaineers who had helped Cortez and who had made possible +his conquest of the great Mexican empire. But these were not the +Tlascalans of that day. They were a mongrel breed, short, dirty and +barefooted. He ate of the food they gave him, said nothing, and lay down +on his serape to seek sleep. Almonte came to him there. + +"I feared this," he said. "I would have saved you from General Cos had I +been able." + +"I know it," said Ned warmly, "and I want to thank you, Colonel +Almonte." + +Almonte held out his hand and Ned grasped it. Then the Mexican strode +away. Ned lay back again and watched the darkness thin as the moon and +stars came out. Far off the silver cone of Orizaba appeared like a spear +point against the sky. It towered there in awful solemnity above the +strife and passion of the world. Ned looked at it long, and gradually it +became a beacon of light to him, his "pillar of flame" by night. It was +the last thing he saw as he fell asleep, and there was no thought then +in his mind of the swart and menacing Cos. + +They resumed the march early in the morning. Ned no longer had his +patient burro, but walked on foot among the Tlascalans. Often he saw +General Cos riding ahead on a magnificent white horse. Sometimes the +peons stood on the slopes and looked at them but generally they kept far +from the marching army. Ned surmised that they had no love of military +service. + +The way was not easy for one on foot. Clouds of dust arose, and stung +nose and throat. The sharp lava or basalt cut through the soles of +shoes, and at midday the sun's rays burned fiercely. Weakened already by +the hardships of his flight Ned was barely able to keep up. Once when he +staggered a horseman prodded him with the butt of his lance. Ned was not +revengeful, but he noted the man's face. Had he been armed then he +would have struck back at any cost. But he took care not to stagger +again, although it required a supreme effort. + +They halted about an hour at noon, and Ned ate some rough food and drank +water with the Tlascalans. He was deeply grateful for the short rest, +and, as he sat trying to keep himself from collapse, Almonte came up and +held out a flask. + +"It is wine," he said. "It will strengthen you. Drink." + +Ned drank. He was not used to wine, but he had been so near exhaustion +that he took it as a medicine. When he handed the flask back the color +returned to his face and the blood flowed more vigorously in his veins. + +"General Cos does not wish me to see you at all," said Almonte. "He +thinks you should be treated with the greatest harshness, but I am not +without influence and I may be able to ease your march a little." + +"I know that you will do it if you can," said Ned gratefully. + +Yet Almonte was able to do little more for him. The march was resumed +under equally trying conditions, after the short rest. When night came +and the detachment stopped, Ned ached in every bone, and his feet were +sore and bleeding. Almonte was sent away in the morning on another +service, and there was no one to interfere for him. + +He struggled on all of the next day. Most of his strength was gone, but +pride still kept him going. Orizaba was growing larger and larger, +dominating the landscape, and Ned again drew courage from the lofty +white cone that looked down upon them. + +Late in the afternoon he heard a trumpet blow, and there was a great +stir in the force of Cos. Men held themselves straighter, lines were +re-formed, and the whole detachment became more trim and smart. General +Cos on his white horse rode to its head, and he was in his finest +uniform. Somebody of importance was coming! Ned was keen with curiosity +but he was too proud to ask. The Tlascalans had proved a churlish lot, +and he would waste no words on them. + +The road now led down into a beautiful savanna, thick in grass, and with +oaks and pines on all sides. Cos' companies turned into the grass, and +Ned saw that another force entering at the far side was doing the same. +All the men in the second force were mounted, the officer who was at +their head riding a horse even finer than that of Cos. His uniform, too, +was more splendid, and his head was surmounted by a great three-cornered +hat, heavy with gold lace. He was compact of figure, sat his saddle +well, and rode as if the earth belonged to him. Ned recognized him at +once. It was the general, the president, the dictator, the father of his +country, the illustrious Santa Anna himself. + +The mellow trumpet pealed forth again, and Santa Anna advanced to meet +his brother, Cos, who likewise advanced to meet him. They met in full +view of both forces, and embraced and kissed each other. Then a shout +came forth from hundreds of throats at the noble spectacle of fraternal +amity. The two forces coalesced with much Latin joy and chatter, and +camp was pitched in the savanna. + +Ned stayed with the Tlascalans, because he had no choice but to do so. +They flung him a tortilla or two, and he had plenty of water, but what +he wanted most was rest. He threw himself on the grass, and, as the +Tlascalans did not disturb him, he lay there until long after +nightfall. He would have remained there until morning had not two +soldiers come with a message that he was wanted by Santa Anna himself. + +Ned rose, smoothed out his hair, draped his serape as gracefully as he +could about his shoulders, and, assuming all the dignity that was +possible, went with the men. He had made up his mind that boldness of +manner and speech was his best course and it suited his spirit. He was +led into a large tent or rather a great marquee, and he stood there for +a few moments dazzled. + +The floor of the marquee was spread with a thick velvet carpet. A table +loaded with silver dishes was between the generals, and a dozen lamps on +the walls shed a bright light over velvet carpet, silver dishes and the +faces of the two men who held the fortunes of Mexico in the hollows of +their hands. General Cos smiled the same cold and evil smile that Ned +had noticed at their first meeting, but Santa Anna spoke in a tone half +of surprise and half of pity. + +"Ah, it is the young Fulton! And he is in evil plight! You would not +accept my continued hospitality at the capital, and behold what you have +suffered!" + +Ned looked steadily at him. He could not fathom the thought that lay +behind the words of Santa Anna. The man was always appearing to him in +changing colors. So he merely waited. + +"It was a pleasure to me," said Santa Anna, "to learn from General Cos +that you had been retaken. Great harm might have come to you wandering +through the mountains and deserts of the north. You could never have +reached the Texans alive, and since you could not do so it was better to +have come back to us, was it not?" + +"I have not come willingly." + +General Cos frowned, but Santa Anna laughed. + +"That was frank," he said, "and we will be equally frank with you. You +would go north to the Texans, telling them that I mean to come with an +army and crush them. Is it not so?" + +"It is," replied Ned boldly. + +Santa Anna smiled. He did not seem to be offended at all. His manner, +swift, subtle and changing, was wholly attractive, and Ned felt its +fascination. + +"Be your surmise true or not," said the dictator, "it is best for you +not to reach Texas. I have discussed the matter with my brother, General +Cos, in whom I have great confidence, and we have agreed that since you +undertook to reach Vera Cruz you can go there. General Cos will be your +escort on the way, and, as I go to the capital in the morning, I wish +you a pleasant journey and a happy stay in our chief seaport." + +It seemed to Ned that there was the faintest touch of irony in his last +word or two, but he was not sure. He was never sure of Santa Anna, that +complex man of great abilities and vast ambition. And so after his +fashion when he had nothing to say he said nothing. + +"You are silent," said Santa Anna, "but you are thinking. You of the +north are silent to hide your thoughts, and we of the south talk to hide +ours!" + +Ned still said nothing, and Santa Anna examined him searchingly. He sent +his piercing gaze full into the eyes of the boy. Ned, proud of his race +and blood, endured it, and returned it with a firm and steady look. Then +the face of Santa Anna changed. He became all at once smiling and +friendly, like a man who receives a welcome guest. He put a hand on +Ned's shoulder, and apparently he did not notice that the shoulder +became rigid under his touch. + +"I like you," he said, "I like your courage, your truth, and your +bluntness. You Texans, or rather you Americans,--because the Texans are +Americans,--have some of the ruder virtues which we who are of the +Spanish and Latin blood now and then lack. You are only a boy, but you +have in you the qualities that can make a career. The Texans belong to +Mexico. Your loyalty is due to Mexico and to me. I have said that you +would go to Vera Cruz and take the hospitality that my brother, Cos, +will offer you, but there is an alternative." + +He stopped as if awaiting a natural question, but still Ned did not +speak. A spark appeared in the eye of Santa Anna, but it passed so +quickly that it was like a momentary gleam. + +"I would make of you," continued the dictator in his mellow, coaxing +tone, "a promising young member of my staff, and I would assign to you +an immediate and important duty. I would send you to the Texans with a +message entirely different from the one you wish to bear. I would have +you to tell them that Santa Anna means only their greatest good; that he +loves them as his children; that he is glad to have these strong, tall, +fair men in the north to fight for him and Mexico; that he is a man who +never breaks a promise; that he is the father of his people, and that he +loves them all with a heart full of tenderness. To show you how much I +trust and value you I would take your word that you would bear such a +message, and I would send you with an escort that would make your way +safe and easy." + +Again he sent his piercing gaze into the eyes of the boy, but Ned was +still silent. + +"You would tell them," said Santa Anna in the softest and most +persuasive tones, "that you have been much with me, that you know me, +and that no man has a softer heart or a more just mind." + +"I cannot do it," said Ned. + +"Why?" + +"Because it is not so." + +The change on the face of Santa Anna was sudden and startling. His eyes +became black with wrath, and his whole aspect was menacing. The hand of +Cos flew to the hilt of his sword, and he half rose from his chair. But +Santa Anna pushed him back, and then the face of the dictator quickly +underwent another transformation. It became that of the ruler, grave but +not threatening. + +"Softly, Cos, my brother," he said. "Bear in mind that he is only a boy. +I offered too much, and he does not understand. He has put away a +brilliant career, but, my good brother Cos, he has left to him your +hospitality, and you will not be neglectful." + +Cos sank back in his chair and laughed. Santa Anna laughed. The two +laughs were unlike, one heavy and angry, and the other light and gay, +but their effect upon Ned was precisely the same. He felt a cold shiver +at the roots of his hair, but he was yet silent, and stood before them +waiting. + +"You can go," said Santa Anna. "You have missed your opportunity and it +will not come again." + +Ned turned away without a word. The Tlascalans were waiting at the door +of the marquee, and he went with them. Once more he slept under the +stars. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE DUNGEON UNDER THE SEA + + +Ned, early the next morning, saw Santa Anna with his brilliant escort +ride away toward the capital, while General Cos resumed his march to +Vera Cruz. Almonte did not reappear at all, and the boy surmised that he +was under orders to join the dictator. + +Ned continued on foot among the Tlascalans. Cos offered him no kindness +whatever, and his pride would not let him ask for it. But when he looked +at his sore and bleeding feet he always thought of the patient burro +that he had lost. They marched several more days, and the road dropped +down into the lowlands, into the tierra caliente. The air grew thick and +hot and Ned, already worn, felt an almost overpowering languor. The +vegetation became that of the tropics. Then, passing through marshes and +sand dunes, they reached Vera Cruz, the chief port of Mexico, a small, +unhealthy city, forming a semicircle about a mile in length about the +bay. + +Ned saw little of Vera Cruz, as they reached it at nightfall, but the +approach through alternations of stagnant marsh and shifting sand +affected him most unpleasantly. Offensive odors assailed him and he +remembered that this was a stronghold of cholera and yellow fever. He +ate rough food with the Tlascalans again, and then Cos sent for him. + +"You have reached your home," said the General. "You will occupy the +largest and most expensive house in the place, and my men will take you +there at once. Do you not thank me?" + +"I do not," replied Ned defiantly. Yet he knew that he had much to +dread. + +"You are an ungrateful young dog of a Texan," said Cos, laughing +maliciously, "but I will confer my hospitality upon you, nevertheless. +You will go with these men and so I bid you farewell." + +Four barefooted soldiers took Ned down through the dirty and +evil-smelling streets of the city. He wondered where they were going, +but he would not ask. They came presently to the sea and Ned saw before +him, about a half mile away, a somber and massive pile rising upon a +rocky islet. He knew that it was the great and ancient Castle of San +Juan de Ulua. In the night, with only the moon's rays falling upon its +walls, it looked massive and forbidding beyond all description. That +cold shiver again appeared at the roots of the boy's hair. He knew now +the meaning of all this talk of Santa Anna and Cos about their +hospitality. He was to be buried in the gloomiest fortress of the New +World. It was a fate that might well make one so young shudder many +times. But he said not a word in protest. He got silently into a boat +with the soldiers, and they were rowed to the rocky islet on which stood +the huge castle. + +Not much time was wasted on Ned. He was taken before the governor, his +name and age were registered, and then two of the prison guards, one +going before and the other behind, led him down a narrow and steep +stairway. It reminded him of his descent into the pyramid, but here the +air seemed damper. They went down many steps and came into a narrow +corridor upon which a number of iron doors opened. The guards unlocked +one of the doors, pushed Ned in, relocked the door on him, and went +away. + +Ned staggered from the rude thrust, but, recovering himself stood erect, +and tried to accustom his eyes to the half darkness. He stood in a +small, square room with walls of hard cement or plaster. The roof of the +same material was high, and in the center of it was a round hole, +through which came all the air that entered the cell. In a corner was a +rude pallet of blankets spread upon grass. There was no window. The +place was hideous and lonely beyond the telling. He had not felt this +way in the pyramid. + +Ned now had suffered more than any boy could stand. He threw himself +upon the blanket, and only pride kept him from shedding tears. But he +was nevertheless relaxed completely, and his body shook as if in a +chill. He lay there a long time. Now and then, he looked up at the walls +of his prison, but always their sodden gray looked more hideous than +ever. He listened but heard nothing. The stillness was absolute and +deadly. It oppressed him. He longed to hear anything that would break +it; anything that would bring him into touch with human life and that +would drive away the awful feeling of being shut up forever. + +The air in the dungeon felt damp to Ned. He was glad of it, because damp +meant a touch of freshness, but by and by it became chilly, too. The bed +was of two blankets, and, lying on one and drawing the other over him, +he sought sleep. He fell after a while into a troubled slumber which was +half stupor, and from which he awakened at intervals. At the third +awakening he heard a noise. Although his other faculties were deadened +partially by mental and physical exhaustion, his hearing was uncommonly +acute, concentrating in itself the strength lost by the rest. The sound +was peculiar, half a swish and half a roll, and although not loud it +remained steady. Ned listened a long time, and then, all at once, he +recognized its cause. + +He was under the sea, and it was the rolling of the waves over his head +that he heard. He was in one of the famous submarine dungeons of the +Castle of San Juan de Ulua. This was the hospitality of Cos and Santa +Anna, and it was a hospitality that would hold him fast. Never would he +take any word of warning to the Texans. Buried under the sea! He +shivered all over and a cold sweat broke out upon him. + +He lay a long time until some of the terror passed. Then he sat up, and +looked at the round hole in the cement ceiling. It was about eight +inches in diameter and a considerable stream of fresh air entered there. +But the pipe or other channel through which it came must turn to one +side, as the sea was directly over his head. He could not reach the +hole, and even could he have reached it, he was too large to pass +through it. He had merely looked at it in a kind of vague curiosity. + +Feeling that every attempt to solve anything would be hopeless, he fell +asleep again, and when he awoke a man with a lantern was standing beside +him. It was a soldier with his food, the ordinary Mexican fare, and +water. Another soldier with a musket stood at the door. There was no +possible chance of a dash for liberty. Ned ate and drank hungrily, and +asked the soldier questions, but the man replied only in monosyllables +or not at all. The boy desisted and finished in silence the meal which +might be either breakfast, dinner or supper for all he knew. Then the +soldier took the tin dishes, withdrew with his comrade, and the door +was locked again. + +Ned was left to silence and solitude. But he felt that he must now move +about, have action of some kind. He threw himself against the door in an +effort to shake it, but it did not move a jot. Then he remembered that +he had seen cell doors in a row, and that other prisoners might be on +either side of him. He kicked the heavy cement walls, but they were not +conductors of sound and no answer came. + +He grew tired after a while, but the physical exertion had done him +good. The languid blood flowed in a better tide in his veins and his +mind became more keen. There must be some way out of this. Youth could +not give up hope. It was incredible, impossible that he should remain +always here, shut off from that wonderful free world outside. The roll +of the sea over his head made reply. + +After a while he began to walk around his cell, around and around and +around, until his head grew dizzy, and he staggered. Then he would +reverse and go around and around and around the other way. He kept this +up until he could scarcely stand. He lay down and tried to sleep again. +But he must have slept a long time before, and sleep would not come. He +lay there on the blankets, staring at the walls and not seeing them, +until the soldiers came again with his food. Ned ate and drank in +silence. He was resolved not to ask a question, and, when the soldiers +departed, not a single word had been spoken. + +The next day Ned had fever, the day after that he was worse, and on the +third day he became unconscious. Then he passed through a time, the +length of which he could not guess, but it was a most singular period. +It was crowded with all sorts of strange and shifting scenes, some +colored brilliantly, and vivid, others vague and fleeting as moonlight +through a cloud. It was wonderful, too, that he should live again +through things that he had lived already. He was back with Mr. Austin. +He saw the kind and generous face quite plainly and recognized his +voice. He saw Benito and Juana, Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl; he was on +the pyramid and in it, and he saw the silver cone of Orizaba. Then he +shifted suddenly back to Texas and the wild border, the Comanche and the +buffalo. + +His life now appeared to have no order. Time turned backward. Scenes +occurred out of their sequence. Often they would appear for a second or +third time. It was the most marvelous jumble that ever ran through any +kaleidoscope. His brain by and by grew dizzy with the swift interplay of +action and color. Then everything floated away and blackness and silence +came. Nor could he guess how long this period endured, but when he came +out of it he felt an extraordinary weakness and a lassitude that was of +both mind and body. + +His eyes were only half open and he did not care to open them more. He +took no interest in anything. But he became slowly conscious that he had +emerged from somewhere out of a vast darkness, and that he had returned +to his life in the dungeon under the sea. + +His eyes opened fully by automatic process rather than by will, and the +heavy dark of the dungeon was grateful then, because they, too, like all +the rest of him, were very weak. Yet a little light came in as usual +with the fresh air from above, and by and by he lifted one hand and +looked at it. It was a strange hand, very white, very thin, with the +blue veins standing out from the back. + +It was almost the hand of a skeleton. He did not know it. Certainly it +did not belong to him. He looked at it wondering, and then he did a +strange thing. It was his left hand that he was holding before him. He +put his right hand upon it, drew that hand slowly over the fingers, then +the palm and along the wrist until he reached his shoulder. It was his +hand after all. His languid curiosity satisfied he let the hand drop +back by his body. It fell like a stone. After a while he touched his +head, and found that his hair was cut closely. It seemed thin, too. + +He realized that he had been ill, and very ill indeed he must have been +to be so weak. He wondered a little how long it had been since he first +lapsed into unconsciousness, and then the wonder ceased. Whether the +time had been long or short it did not matter. But he shut his eyes and +listened for the last thing that he remembered. He heard it presently, +that low roll of the sea. He was quite sure of one thing. He was in the +same submarine dungeon of the famous Castle of San Juan de Ulua. + +His door was opened, and a man, not a soldier, came in with soup in a +tin basin. He uttered a low exclamation, when he saw that Ned was +conscious, but he made no explanations. Nor did Ned ask him anything. +But he ate the soup with a good appetite, and felt very much stronger. +His mind, too, began to wake up. He knew that he was going to get well, +but it occurred to him that it might be better for him to conceal his +returning strength. With a relaxed watch he would have more chance to +escape. + +The soup had a soothing effect, and his mind shared with his body in the +improvement. It was obvious that they had not intended for him to die or +they would not have taken care of him in his illness. The shaven head +was proof. But he saw nothing that he could do. He must wait upon the +action of his jailers. Having come to this conclusion he lay upon his +pallet, and let vague thoughts float through his head as they would. + +About three hours after they had brought him his soup he heard a +scratching at the keyhole of his door. He was not too languid to be +surprised. He did not think it likely that any of his jailers would come +back so soon, and heretofore the key had always turned in the lock +without noise. + +Ned sat up. The scratching continued for a few moments, and the door +swung open. A tall, thin figure of a man entered, the door closed behind +him, and with some further scratching he locked it. Then the man turned +and stared at Ned. Ned stared with equal intentness at him. + +The figure that he saw was thin and six feet four; the face that he saw +was thin and long. The face was also bleached to an indescribable dead +white, the effect of which was heightened by the thick and fiery red +hair that crowned a head, broad and shaped finely. His hair even in the +dark seemed to be vital, the most vital part of him. Ned fancied that +his eyes were blue, although in the dimness he could not tell. But he +knew that this was no Mexican. A member of his own race stood before +him. + +"Well," said Ned. + +"Well?" replied the man in a singularly soft and pleasant voice. + +"Who are you and what do you want?" + +"To the first I am Obed White; to the second I want to talk to you, and +I would append as a general observation that I am harmless. Evil to him +that would evil do." + +"The quotation is wrong," said Ned, smiling faintly. "It is 'evil to him +who evil thinks.'" + +"Perhaps, but I have improved upon it. I add, for your further +information, that I am your nearest neighbor. I occupy the magnificent +concrete parlor next door to you, where I live a life of undisturbed +ease, but I have concluded at last to visit you, and here I am. How I +came I will explain later. But I am glad I am with you. One crowded hour +of glorious company is worth a hundred years in a solitary cell. I may +have got that a little wrong, too, but it sounds well." + +He sat down in Turkish fashion on the floor, folding a pair of extremely +long legs beneath him, and regarded Ned with a slow, quizzical smile. +For the life of him the boy could not keep from smiling back. With the +nearer view he could see now that the eyes were blue and honest. + +"You may think I'm a Mexican," continued the man in his mellow, pleasant +voice, "but I'm not. I'm a Texan--by the way of Maine. As I told you, I +live in the next tomb, the one on the right. I'm a watch, clock and tool +maker by trade and a bookworm by taste. Because of the former I've come +into your cell, and because of the latter I use the ornate language that +you hear. But of both those subjects more further on. Meanwhile, I +suppose it's you who have been yelling in here at the top of your voice +and disturbing a row of dungeons accustomed to peace and quiet." + +"It was probably I, but I don't remember anything about it." + +"It's not likely that you would, as I see you've had some one of the +seven hundred fevers that are customary along this coast. Yours must +have been of the shouting kind, as I heard you clean through the wall, +and, once when I was listening at the keyhole, you made a noise like +the yell of a charging army." + +"You don't mean to say that you've been listening at the keyhole of my +cell." + +"It's exactly what I mean. You wouldn't come to see your neighbor so he +decided to come to see you. Good communications correct evil manners. +See this?" + +He held up a steel pronged instrument about six inches long. + +"This was once a fork, a fork for eating, large and crude, I grant you, +but a fork. It took me more than a month to steal it, that is I had to +wait for a time when I was sure that the soldier who brought my food was +so lazy or so stupid that he would not miss it. I waited another week as +an additional precaution, and after that my task was easy. If the best +watch, clock and instrument maker in the State of Maine couldn't pick +any lock with a fork it was time for him to lie on his back and die. I +picked the lock of my own door in a minute the first time by dead +reckoning, but it took me a full two minutes to open yours, although +I'll relock it in half that time when I go out. Where there's a will +there will soon be an open door." + +He flourished the fork, the two prongs of which now curved at the end, +and grinned broadly. He had a look of health despite the dead whiteness +of his face, which Ned now knew was caused by prison pallor. Ned liked +him. He liked him for many reasons. He liked him because his eyes were +kindly. He liked him because he was one of his own race. He liked him +because he was a fellow prisoner, and he liked him above all because +this was the first human companionship that he had had in a time that +seemed ages. + +Obed meanwhile was examining him with scrutinizing eyes. He had heard +the voice of fever, but he did not expect to find in the "tomb" next to +his own a mere boy. + +"How does it happen," he asked, "that one as young as you is a prisoner +here in a dungeon with the castle of San Juan de Ulua and the sea on top +of him?" + +Obed White had the mellowest and most soothing voice that Ned had ever +heard. Now it was like that of a father speaking to the sick son whom he +loved, and the boy trusted him absolutely. + +"I was sent here," he replied, "by Santa Anna and his brother-in-law, +Cos, because I knew too much, or rather suspected too much. I was held +at the capital with Mr. Austin. We were not treated badly. Santa Anna +himself would come to see us and talk of the great good that he was +going to do for Texas, but I could not believe him. I was sure instead +that he was gathering his forces to crush the Texans. So, I escaped, +meaning to go to Texas with a message of warning." + +"A wise boy and a brave one," said Obed White with admiration. "You +suspected but you kept your counsel. Still waters run slowly, but they +run." + +Ned told all his story, neglecting scarcely a detail. The feeling that +came of human companionship was so strong and his trust was so great +that he did not wish to conceal anything. + +"You've endured about as much as ought to come to one boy," said Obed +White, "and you've gone through all this alone. What you need is a +partner. Two heads can do what one can't. Well, I'm your partner. As I'm +the older, I suppose I ought to be the senior partner. Do you hereby +subscribe to the articles of agreement forming the firm of White & +Fulton, submarine engineers, tunnel diggers, jail breakers, or whatever +form of occupation will enable us to escape from the castle of San Juan +de Ulua?" + +"Gladly," said Ned, and he held out a thin, white hand. Obed White +seized it, but he remembered not to grasp it too firmly. This boy had +been ill a long time, and he was white and very weak. The heart of the +man overflowed with pity. + +"Good-night, Ned," he said. "I mustn't stay too long, but I'll come +again lots of times, and you and I will talk business then. The firm of +White & Fulton will soon begin work of the most important kind. Now you +watch me unlock that door. They say that pride goeth before a fall, but +in this case it is going right through an open door." + +Obviously he was proud of his skill as he had a full right to be. He +inserted the hooked prongs of the fork in the great keyhole, twisted +them about a little, and then the lock turned in its groove. + +"Good-by, Ned," said Obed again. "It's time I was back in my own tomb +which is just like yours. I hate to lock in a good friend like you, but +it must be done." + +He disappeared in the hall, the door swung shut and Ned heard the lock +slide in the groove again. He was alone once more. The light that had +seemed to illuminate his dungeon went with the man, but he left hope +behind. Ned would not be alone in the spirit as long as he knew that +Obed White was in the cell next to his. + +He lay a while, thinking on the chances of fate. They had served him +ill, for a long time. Had the turn now come? He did not know it, but it +was the human companionship, the friendly voice that had raised such a +great hope in his breast. He glided from thought into a peaceful sleep +and slept a long time, without dreams or even vague, floating visions. +His breath came long and full at regular intervals, and with every beat +of his pulse new strength flowed into his body. While he slept nature +was hard at work, rebuilding the strong young frame which had yielded +only to overpowering circumstances. + +Ned ate his breakfast voraciously the next day and wanted more. Dinner +also left him hungry, but, carrying out his original plan, he +counterfeited weakness, and, before the soldier left, lay down upon the +pallet as if he were too languid to care for anything. He disposed of +supper in similar fashion, and then waited with a throbbing pulse for +the second call from the senior member of the firm of White & Fulton. + +After an incredible period of waiting he heard the slight rasping of the +fork in the keyhole. Then the door was opened and the older partner +entered. Before speaking he carefully relocked the door. + +"I believe you're glad to see me," he said to Ned. "You're sitting up. I +don't think I ever before saw a boy improve so much in twenty-four +hours. I'll just feel your pulse. It will be one of my duties as senior +partner to practice medicine for a little while. Yes, it's a strong +pulse, a good pulse. You're quite clear of fever. You need nothing now +but your strength back again, and we'll wait for that. All things come +to him who waits, if he doesn't die of old age first." + +His talk was so rapid and cheerful that he seemed fairly to radiate +vigor. It was a powerful tonic to Ned who felt so strong that he was +prepared to attempt escape at once. But Obed shook his head when he +suggested it. + +"That strength comes from your feelings," he said. "All that glitters +isn't gold or silver or any other precious metal. That false strength +would break down under a long and severe test. We'll just wait and plan. +For what we're going to undertake you're bound to have every ounce of +vigor that you can accumulate." + +"You've been able to go out in the hall when you chose, then why haven't +you gone away already?" asked Ned. + +"I didn't get my key perfected until a few days ago, and then as I heard +you yelling in here I decided to find out about you. Two are company; +one is none, and so we formed a partnership. Now when the firm acts both +partners must act." + +Ned did not reply directly. He did not know how to thank him for his +generosity. + +"Have you explored the hall?" he asked. + +"It leads up a narrow stairway, down which I came some time ago when my +Mexican brethren decided that I was too much of a Texan patriot. +Doubtless you trod the same dark and narrow path. At the head of that is +another door which I have not tried, but which I know I can open with +this master key of mine. Beyond that I'm ignorant of the territory, but +there must be a way out since there was one in. Now, Ned, we must make +no mistake. We must not conceal from ourselves that the firm of White & +Fulton is confronted by a great task. We must select our time, and have +ready for the crisis every particle of strength, courage and quickness +that we possess." + +Ned knew that he was right, and yet, despite his youth and natural +strength, his convalescence was slow. He had passed through too terrible +an ordeal to recover entirely in a day or even a week. He would test his +strength often and at night Obed White would test it, too, but always he +was lacking in some particular. Then Obed would shake his head wisely +and say: "Wait." + +One night they heard the sea more loudly than ever before. It rolled +heavily, just over their heads. + +"There must be a great storm on the gulf," said Obed White. "I've lost +count of time, but perhaps the period of gales is at hand. If so, I'm +not sorry, it'll hide our flight across the water. You'll remember, Ned, +that we're a half mile from the mainland." + +Fully two weeks passed before they decided that Ned was restored to his +old self. Meanwhile they had matured their plan. + +"We came in as Texans," said Obed, "but we must go out as Mexicans. +There is no other way. It's all simple in the saying, but we've got to +be mighty quick in the doing. We must make the change right here in this +cell of yours, because, you having been an invalid so long, they're +likely to be careless about you." + +Ned agreed with him fully, and they began to train their bodies and +minds for a supreme effort. They were now able to tell the difference +between night and day by the temperature. The air that came through the +holes in the ceiling was a little cooler by night, enough for senses +trained to preternatural acuteness by long imprisonment to tell it. The +guard always came about eight o'clock with Ned's supper and they chose +that time for the attempt. + +Obed White entered Ned's cell about six o'clock. The boy could scarcely +restrain himself and the man's blue eyes were snapping with excitement. +But Obed patted Ned on the shoulder. + +"We must both keep cool," he said. "The more haste the less likely the +deed. The first man comes in with the tray carrying your food. I stand +here by the door and he passes by without seeing me. I seize the second, +drag him in and slam the door. Then the victory is to the firm of White +& Fulton, if it prove to be the stronger. But we'll have surprise in our +favor." + +They waited patiently. Ned lay upon his pallet. Obed flattened himself +against the wall beside the door. Their plan fully arranged, neither now +spoke. Overhead they heard the slow roll of the sea, lashed by the waves +sweeping in from the gulf. But inside the cell the silence was absolute. + +Ned lay in an attitude apparently relaxed. His face was still white. It +could not acquire color in that close cell, but he had never felt +stronger. A powerful heart pumped vigorous blood through every artery +and vein. His muscles had regained their toughness and flexibility, and +above all, the intense desire for freedom had keyed him to supreme +effort. + +Usually he did not hear the soldier's key turn in the lock, but soon he +heard it and his heart pumped. He glanced at White, but the gray figure, +flattened against the wall, never moved. The door swung open and the +soldier, merely a shambling peon, bearing the tray, entered. Behind him +according to custom came the second man who stood in the doorway, +leaning upon his musket. But he stood there only an instant. A pair of +long, powerful arms which must have seemed to him at that moment like +the antennae of a devil-fish, reached out, seized him in a fierce grip +by either shoulder, and jerked him gun and all into the cell. The door +was kicked shut and the grasp of the hands shifted from his shoulders to +his throat. He could not cry out although the terrible face that bent +over him made his soul start with fear. + +The man with the tray heard the noise behind him and turned. Ned sprang +like a panther. All the force and energy that he had been concentrating +so long were in the leap. The soldier went down as if he had been +struck by a cannon ball and his tray and dishes rattled upon him. But he +was a wiry fellow and grasping his assailant he struggled fiercely. + +"Now stop, my good fellow. Just lie still! That's the way!" + +It was Obed White who spoke, and he held the muzzle of a pistol at the +man's head. The other soldier lay stunned in the corner. It was from his +belt that Obed had snatched the pistol. + +"Get up, Ned," said White. "The first step in our escape from the Castle +of San Juan de Ulua has been taken. Meanwhile, you lie still, my good +fellow; we're not going to hurt you. No, you needn't look at your +comrade. I merely compressed his windpipe rather tightly. He'll come to +presently. Ned, take that gay red handkerchief out of his pocket and tie +his arms. If I were going to be bound I should like for the deed to be +done with just such a beautiful piece of cloth. Meanwhile, if you cry +out, my friend, I shall have to blow the top of your head off with this +pistol. It's not likely that they would hear your cry, but they might +hear my pistol shot." + +Ned bound the man rapidly and deftly. There was no danger that he would +utter a sound, while Obed White held the pistol. Under the circumstances +he was satisfied with the status quo. The second man was bound in a +similar fashion just as he was reviving, and he, too, was content to +yield to like threats. Obed drew a loaded pistol from the first man's +belt and handed it, too, to Ned. He also looked rather contemptuously at +the musket that the guard by the door had dropped. + +"A cheap weapon," he said. "A poor substitute for our American rifle, +but we'll take it along, Ned. We may need it. You gather their +ammunition while I stand handy with this pistol in case they should +burst their bonds." + +Ned searched the men, taking all their ammunition, their knives and also +the key to the door. Then he and Obed divested the two of their outer +clothing and put it upon themselves. Fortunately both soldiers had worn +their hats and they pulled them down over their own faces. + +"If we don't come into too bright a light, Ned," said White, "you'll +pass easily for a Mexican. Mexican plumage makes a Mexican bird. Now how +do I look?" + +"I could take you for Santa Anna himself," said Ned, elated at their +success. + +"That promises well. There's another advantage. You speak Spanish and so +do I." + +"It's lucky that we do." + +"And now," said Obed White to the two Mexicans, "we will leave you to +the hospitality of Cos and Santa Anna, which my young friend and I have +enjoyed so long. We feel that it is time for you to share in it. We're +going to lock you in this cell, where you can hear the sea rolling over +your head, but you will not stay here forever. It's a long lane that +does not come somewhere to a happy ending, and your comrades will find +you by to-morrow. Farewell." + +He went into the hall and they locked the door. They listened beside it +a little while but no sound came from within. + +"They dare not cry out," said Obed. "They're afraid we'll come back. Now +for the second step in our escape. It's pretty dark here. Those fellows +must have known the way mighty well to have come down as they did +without a lantern." + +"There are other prisoners in these cells," said Ned. "Shouldn't we +release them? You can probably open any of the doors with your key." + +White shook his head. + +"I'm sure that we're the only Texans or Americans in San Juan de Ulua, +and we couldn't afford to be wasting time on Mexicans whether +revolutionaries or criminals. There would merely be a tumult with every +one of us sure to be recaptured." + +The two now advanced down the passage, which was low and narrow, walled +in with massive stone. It was so dark here that they held each other's +hands and felt the way before every footstep. + +"I think we're going in the right direction," whispered White, "As I +remember it this is the way I came in." + +"I'm sure of it," Ned whispered back. "Ah, here are more steps." + +They had reached the stairway which led down to the hall of the +submarine cells, and still feeling their way they ascended it +cautiously. As they rose the air seemed to grow fresher, as if they were +nearing the openings by which it entered. + +"Those fellows who took our places must have left a lamp or a lantern +standing somewhere here at the top of these steps," whispered White. +"The man who carried the tray could not have gone down them without a +light." + +"It's probably here," said Ned, "burned out or blown out by a draught of +wind." + +He smelled a slight smoke and in a niche carved in the stone he found +the lamp. The wick was still smoking a little. + +"We'll leave it as it is," said Obed White. "Somebody may relight it +for those men when they come back again, but that won't be for several +hours yet." + +Three more steps and they reached the crest of the flight, where they +were confronted by a heavy door of oak, ribbed with iron. Obed gently +tried the key that they had seized, but it did not fit. + +"They must have banged on the door for it to be opened whenever they +came back," said Obed. "Now I shall use my fork which is sure to turn +the lock if I take long enough. I wasn't the best watch and key maker in +Maine for nothing. If first you don't succeed, then keep on trying till +you do." + +Ned sat down on the steps while White inserted the fork. He could hear +it scratching lightly for a minute and then the bolt slid. The boy rose +and the man stepped back by his side. + +"Draw your pistol and have it ready," he said, "and I'll do as much with +the old musket. We don't know what's on the other side of the door but +whatever it is we've got to meet it. Thrice armed is he who hath his +weapon leveled." + +Ned needed no urging. He drew the pistol and held it ready for instant +use. What, in truth, was on the other side of the door? His whole fate +and that of his comrade might depend upon the revelation. Obed pushed +gently and the door opened without noise three or four inches. A shaft +of light from the room fell upon them but they could not yet see into +the room. They listened, and, hearing nothing, Obed pushed more boldly. +Then they saw before them a large apartment, containing little +furniture, but with some faded old uniforms hanging about the walls. +Evidently it was used as a barracks for soldiers. At the far end was a +door and on the side to the right were two windows. + +Ned went to the window and looked out. He saw across a small court a +high and blank stone wall, but when he looked upward he saw also a patch +of sky. It was a black sky, across which clouds were driving before a +whistling wind, but it was the most beautiful sight that he had ever +seen. The sky, the free, open sky curving over the beautiful earth, was +revealed again to him who had been buried for ages in a dungeon under +the sea. He would not go back. In the tremendous uplift of feeling he +would willingly choose death first. He beckoned to White who joined him +and who looked up without being bid. + +"It's out there that we're going," he said. "We'll have to cross a +stormy sea before we reach freedom, but Ned, you and I are keyed up just +high enough to cross. We'll put it to the touch and win it all. Now for +the next door." + +The second door was not locked and when they pushed it open they entered +a small room, furnished handsomely in the Spanish fashion. A lamp burned +on a table, at which an officer sat looking over some papers. He heard +the two enter and it was too late for them to retreat, as he turned at +once and looked at them, inquiry in his face. + +"Who are you?" he asked. + +"We are the soldiers who have charge of the two Texans in the cells," +replied Obed White boldly. "We have just taken them their food and now +we are going back to our quarters." + +"I have no doubt that you tell the truth," replied the officer, "but +your voice has changed greatly since yesterday. You remember that I gave +you an order then about the man White." + +"Quite true," replied Obed quickly, raising his musket and taking aim, +"and now I'm giving the order back to you. It's a poor rule that won't +work first one way and then the other. Just you move or cry out and I +shoot. I'd hate to do it, because you're not bad looking, but necessity +knows the law of self-preservation." + +"You need not worry," said the officer, smiling faintly. "I will not +move, nor will I cry out. You have too great an advantage, because I see +that your aim is good and your hand steady. I surmise that you are the +man White himself." + +"None other, and this is my young friend, Edward Fulton, who likes San +Juan de Ulua as a castle but not as a hotel. Hence he has decided to go +away and so have I. Ned, look at those papers on his desk. You might +find among them a pass or two which would be mighty useful to us." + +"Do you mind if I light a cigarette?" asked the officer. "You can see +that my hands and the cigarettes alike are on the table." + +"Go ahead," said Obed hospitably, "but don't waste time." + +The officer lighted the cigarette and took a satisfied whiff. Ned +searched among the papers, turning them over rapidly. + +"Yes, here is a pass!" exclaimed he joyfully, "and here is another and +here are two more!" + +"Two will be enough," said Obed. + +"I'll take this one made out to Joaquin de la Barra for you and one to +Diego Fernandez for me. Ah, what are these?" + +He held up four papers, looking at them in succession. + +"What are they?" asked Obed White. + +"Death warrants. They are all for men with Mexican names, and they are +signed with the name of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, General-in-chief +and President of the Mexican Republic." + +The officer took the cigarette from his mouth and sent out a little +smoke through his nostrils. + +"Yes, they are death warrants," he said. "I was looking over them when +you came in, and I was troubled. The men were to have been executed +to-morrow." + +"Were to have been?" said Ned. Then a look passed between him and the +officer. The boy held the death warrants one by one in the flame of the +lamp and burned them to ashes. + +"I cannot execute a man without a warrant duly signed," said the +officer. + +"Which being the case, we'd better go or we might have to help at our +own executions," said Obed White. "Now you just sit where you are and +have a peaceful and happy mind, while we go out and fight with the +storm." + +The officer said nothing and the two passed swiftly through the far +door, stepping into a paved court, and reaching a few yards further a +gate of the castle. It was quite dark when they stepped once more into +the open world, and both wind and rain lashed them. But wind and rain +themselves were a delight to the two who had come from under the sea. +Besides, the darker the better. + +Two sentinels were at the gate and Ned thrust the passes before their +eyes. They merely glanced at the signatures, opened the gate, and in an +instant the two were outside the castle of San Juan de Ulua. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE BLACK JAGUAR + + +It was so dark that the two could see but a narrow stretch of masonry on +which they stood and a tossing sea beyond. Behind them heaved up the +mass of the castle, mighty and somber. A fierce wind was blowing in from +the gulf, and it whistled and screamed about the great walls. The rain, +bitter and cold, lashed against them like hail. Shut off so long from +the outer air they shivered now, but the shiver was merely of the air. +Their spirit was as high as ever and they faced their crisis with +undaunted souls. + +Yet they were far from escape. The wind was of uncommon strength, +seeming to increase steadily in power, and a half mile of wild waters +raced between them and the town. Weaker wills would have yielded and +turned back to prison, but not they. They ran eagerly along the edge of +the masonry, pelted by rain and wind. + +"There must be a boat tied up somewhere along here," exclaimed Ned. "The +castle, of course, keeps communication with the town!" + +"Yes, here it is!" said Obed. "Fortune favors the persistent. It's only +a small boat, and it's a big sea before us, but, Ned, my lad, we've got +to try it. We can't look any further. Listen! That's the alarm in the +castle." + +They heard shouts and clash of arms above the roaring of the wind. They +picked in furious haste at the rope that held the boat, cast it loose, +and sprang in, securing the oars. The waves at once lifted them up and +tossed them wildly. It was perhaps fortunate that they lost control of +their boat for a minute or two. Two musket shots were fired at them, but +good aim in the darkness at such a bobbing object was impossible. Ned +heard one of the bullets whistle near, and it gave him a queer, creepy +feeling to realize that for the first time in his life someone was +firing at him to kill. + +"Can you row, Ned?" asked White. + +"Yes." + +"Then pull with all your strength. Bend as low as you can at the same +time. They'll be firing at us as long as we are in range." + +They strove for the cover of the darkness, but they were compelled to +devote most of their efforts to keeping themselves afloat. The little +boat was tossed here and there like a bit of plank. Spray from the sea +was dashed over them, and, in almost a moment, they were wet through and +through. The captured musket lay in the bottom and rolled against their +feet. The wind shrieked continually like some wild animal in pain. + +Many torches appeared on the wharf that led up to the castle, and there +was a noise of men shouting to one another. The torches disclosed the +little boat rising and falling with the swell of the sea, and numerous +shots were now fired, but all fell short or went wild. + +"I don't think we're in much danger from the muskets," said Obed, "so we +won't pay any more attention to them. But in another minute they'll have +big boats out in pursuit We must make for the land below the town, and +get away somehow or other in the brush. If we were to land in the town +itself we'd be as badly off as ever. Hark, there goes the alarm!" + +A heavy booming report rose above the mutter of the waters and the +screaming of the wind. One of the great guns on the castle of San Juan +de Ulua had been fired. After a brief interval it was followed by a +second shot and then a third. The reports could be heard easily in Vera +Cruz, and they said that either a fresh revolution had begun, or that +prisoners were escaping. The people would be on the watch. White turned +the head of the boat more toward the south. + +"Ned," he said, "we must choose the longer way. We cannot run any risk +of landing right under the rifles of Santa Anna's troops. Good God!" + +Some gunner on the walls of San Juan de Ulua, of better sight and aim +than the others, had sent a cannon ball so close that it struck the sea +within ten feet of them. They were deluged by a water spout and again +their little vessel rocked fearfully. Obed White called out cheerfully: + +"Still right side up! They may shoot more cannon balls at us, Ned, but +they won't hit as near as that again!" + +"No, it's not likely," said Ned, "but there come the boats!" + +Large boats rowed by eight men apiece had now put out, but they, too, +were troubled by the wind and the high waves, and the boat they pursued +was so small that it was lost to sight most of the time. The wind and +darkness while a danger on the one hand were a protection on the other. +Fortunately both current and wind were bearing them in the direction +they wished, and they struggled with the energy that the love of life +can bring. All the large boats save one now disappeared from view, but +the exception, having marked them well, came on, gaining. An officer +seated in the prow, and wrapped in a long cloak, hailed them in a loud +voice, ordering them to surrender. + +"Ned," said Obed White, "you keep the boat going straight ahead and I'll +answer that man. But I wish this was a rifle in place of a musket." + +He picked up the musket and took aim. When he fired the leading rower on +the right hand side of the pursuing boat dropped back, and the boat was +instantly in confusion. White laid down the musket and seized the oar +again. + +"Now, Ned," he exclaimed, "if we pull as hard as we can and a little +harder, we'll lose them!" + +The boat, driven by the oars and the wind, sprang forward. Fortune, as +if resolved now to favor fugitives who had made so brave a fight against +overwhelming odds, piled the clouds thicker and heavier than ever over +the bay. The little boat was completely concealed from its pursuers. +Another gun boomed from San Juan de Ulua, and both Ned and Obed saw its +flash on the parapet, but, hidden under the kindly veil of the night, +they pulled straight ahead with strong arms. The sea seemed to be +growing smoother, and soon they saw an outline which they knew to be +that of the land. + +"We're below the town now," said Obed. "I don't know any particular +landing place, but it's low and sandy along here. So I propose that we +ride right in on the the highest wave, jump out of the boat when she +strikes and leave her." + +"Good enough," said Ned. "Yes, that's the land. I can see it plainly +now, and here comes our wave." + +The crest of the great wave lifted them up, and bore them swiftly +inland, the two increasing the speed with their oars. They went far up +on a sandy beach, where the boat struck. They sprang out, Obed taking +with him the unloaded musket, and ran. The retreating water caught them +about the ankles and pulled hard, but could not drag them back. They +passed beyond the highest mark of the waves, and then dropped, +exhausted, on the ground. + +"We've got all Mexico now to escape in," said Obed White, "instead of +that pent-up castle." + +The alarm gun boomed once more from San Juan de Ulua, and reminded them +that they could not linger long there. The rain was still falling, the +night was cold, and, after their tremendous strain, they would need +shelter as well as refuge. + +"They'll be searching the beach soon," said Obed, "and we'd best be off. +It's against my inclination just now to stay long in one place. A +rolling stone keeps slick and well polished, and that's what I'm after." + +"I think our safest course is to travel inland just as fast and as far +as we can," said Ned. + +"Correct. Good advice needs no bush." + +They started in the darkness across the sand dunes, and walked for a +long time. They knew that a careful search along the beach would be made +for them, but the Mexicans were likely to feel sure when they found +nothing that they had been wrecked and drowned. + +"I hope they'll think the sea got us," said Ned, "because then they +won't be searching about the country for us." + +"We weren't destined to be drowned that time," said Obed with great +satisfaction. "It just couldn't happen after our running such a gauntlet +before reaching the sea. But the further we get away from salt water the +safer we are." + +"It was my plan at first," said Ned, "to go by way of the sea from Vera +Cruz to a Texan port." + +"Circumstances alter journeys. It can't be done now. We've got to cut +across country. It's something like a thousand miles to Texas, but I +think that you and I together, Ned, can make it." + +Ned agreed. Certainly they had no chance now to slip through by the way +of Vera Cruz, and the sea was not his element anyhow. + +The rain ceased, and a few stars came out. They passed from the sand +dunes into a region of marshes. Constant walking kept their blood warm, +and their clothes were drying upon them. But they were growing very +tired and they felt that they must rest and sleep even at the risk of +recapture. + +"There's a lot of grass growing on the dry ground lying between the +marshes," said Ned, "and I suppose that the Mexicans cut it for the Vera +Cruz market. Maybe we can find something like a haystack or a windrow. +Dry grass makes a good bed." + +They hunted over an hour and persistence was rewarded by a small heap of +dry grass in a little opening surrounded by thorn bushes. They spread +one covering of it on the ground, covered themselves to the mouth with +another layer, and then went sound asleep, the old, unloaded musket +lying by Obed White's side. + +The two slept the sleep of deep exhaustion, the complete relaxation of +both body and mind. Boy and man they had passed through ordeals that few +can endure, but, healthy and strong, they suffered merely from weariness +and not from shattered nerves. So they slept peacefully and their +breathing was long and deep. They were warm as they lay with the grass +above and below them like two blankets. It had not rained much here, +and the grass had dried before their coming, so they were free from +danger of cold. + +The night passed and the brilliant Mexican day came, touching with red +and gold the town that curved about the bay, and softening the tints of +the great fortress that rose on the rocky isle. All was quiet again +within San Juan de Ulua and Vera Cruz. It had become known in both +castle and town that two Texans, boy and man, had escaped from the +dungeons under the sea only to find a grave in the sea above. Their boat +had been found far out in the bay where the returning waves carried it, +but the fishes would feed on their bodies, and it was well, because the +Texans were wicked people, robbers and brigands who dared to defy the +great and good Santa Anna, the father of his people. + +Meanwhile, the two slept on, never stirring under the grass. It is true +that the boy had dreams of a mighty castle from which he had fled and of +a roaring ocean over which he had passed, but he landed happily and the +dream sank away into oblivion. Peons worked in a field not a hundred +yards away, but they sought no fugitives, and they had no cruel thoughts +about anything. That Spanish strain in them was wholly dormant now. They +had heard in the night the signal guns from San Juan de Ulua and the +tenderest hearted of them said a prayer under his breath for the boy +whom the storm had given to the sea. Then they sang together as they +worked, some soft, crooning air of love and sacrifice that had been sung +among the hills of Spain before the Moor came. Perhaps if they had known +that the boy and man were asleep only a hundred yards away, the +tenderest hearted among them at least would have gone on with their work +just the same. + +Ned was the first to awake and it was past noon. He threw off the grass +and stood up refreshed but a little stiff. He awoke Obed, who rose, +yawning tremendously and plucking wisps of grass from his hair. The +droning note of a song came faintly, and the two listened. + +"Peons at work in a field," said the boy, looking through the trees. +"They don't appear to be very warlike, but we'd better go in the other +direction." + +"You're right," said Obed. "It's best for us to get away. If we tempt +our fate too much it may overtake us, but before we go let's take a last +view of our late home, San Juan de Ulua. See it over there, cut out in +black against the blue sky. It's a great fortress, but I'm glad to bid +it farewell." + +"Shall we take the musket?" asked Ned. "It's unloaded, and we have +nothing with which to load it." + +"I think we'll stick to it," replied Obed, "we may find a use for it, +but the first thing we want, Ned, is something to eat, and we've got to +get it. Curious, isn't it, how the fear of recapture, the fear of +everything, melts away before the demands of hunger." + +"Which means that we'll have to go to some Mexican hut and ask for +food," said Ned. "Now, I suggest, since we have no money, that we offer +the musket for as much provisions as we can carry." + +"It's not a bad idea. But our pistols are loaded and we'll keep them in +sight. It won't hurt if the humble peon takes us for brigands. He'll +trade a little faster, and, as this is a time of war so far as we are +concerned, we have the right to inspire necessary fear." + +They started toward the north and west, anxious to leave the tierra +caliente as soon as they could and reach the mountains. Ned saw once +more the silver cone of Orizaba now on his left. It had not led him on a +happy quest before, but he believed that it was a true beacon now. They +walked rapidly, staying their hunger as best they could, not willing to +approach any hut, until they were a considerable distance from Vera +Cruz. It was nearly nightfall when they dared a little adobe hut on a +hillside. + +"We'll claim to be Spaniards out of money and walking to the City of +Mexico," said Obed. "They probably won't believe our statements, but, +owing to the sight of these loaded pistols, they will accept them." + +It was a poor hut with an adobe floor and its owner, a surly Mexican, +was at home, but it contained plenty of food of the coarsest Mexican +type, and Obed White stated their requests very plainly. + +"Food we must have," he said, "sufficient for two or three days. +Besides, we want the two serapes hanging there on the wall. I think they +are clean enough for our use. In return we offer you this most excellent +musket, a beautiful weapon made at Seville. Look at it. It is worth +twice what we demand for it. Behold the beautifully carved stock and the +fine steel barrel." + +The Mexican, a dark, heavy-jawed fellow, regarded them maliciously, +while his wife and seven half-naked children sat by in silence, but +watching the strangers with the wary, shifting eyes of wild animals. + +"Yes, it is a good musket," he said, "but may I inquire if it is your +own?" + +"For the purposes of barter and sale it is my own," replied Obed +politely. "In this land as well as some others possession is ten points +of the law." + +"The words you speak are Spanish but your tone is Gringo." + +"Gringo or Spanish, it does not change the beauty and value of the +musket." + +"I was in Vera Cruz this morning. Last night there was a storm and the +great guns at the mighty Castle of San Juan de Ulua were firing." + +"Did they fire the guns to celebrate the storm?" + +"No. They gave a signal that two prisoners, vile Texans, were escaping +from the dungeons under the sea. But the storm took them, and buried +them in the waters of the bay. I heard the description of them. One was +a very tall man, thin and with very thick, red hair. The other was a +boy, but tall and strong for his age. He had gray eyes and brown hair. +Wretched infidel Texans they were, but they are gone and may the Holy +Virgin intercede for their souls." + +He lifted his heavy lashes, and he and Obed White looked gravely into +the eyes of each other. They and Ned, too, understood perfectly. + +"You were informed wrongly," said Obed. "The man who escaped was short +and fat, and he had yellow hair. The boy was very dark with black hair +and black eyes. But the statement that they were drowned in the bay is +correct." + +"One might get five hundred good silver pesos for bringing in their +bodies." + +"One might, but one won't, and you, amigo, are just concluding an +excellent bargain. You get this fine, unloaded musket, and we get the +food and the serapes for which we have so courteously asked. The entire +bargain will be completed inside of two minutes." + +The blue eyes and the black eyes met again and the owner of each pair +understood. + +"It is so," said the Mexican, evenly, and he brought what they wished. + +"Good-day, amigo," said Obed politely. "I will repeat that the musket is +unloaded, and you cannot find ammunition for it any nearer than Vera +Cruz, which will not trouble you as you are here at home in your +castle. But our pistols are loaded, and it is a necessary fact for my +young friend and myself. We purpose to travel in the hills, where there +is great danger of brigands. Fortunately for us we are both able and +willing to shoot well. Once more, farewell." + +"Farewell," said the Mexican, waving his hand in dignified salute. + +"That fellow is no fool," said Obed, as they strode away. "I like a man +who can take a hint. A word to the wise is like a stitch in time." + +"Will he follow us?" + +"Not he. He has that musket which he craved, and at half its value. He +does not desire wounds and perhaps death. The chances are ninety-nine +out of a hundred that he will never say a word for fear his government +will seize his musket." + +"And now for the wildest country that we can find," said Ned. "I'm glad +it doesn't rain much down here. We can sleep almost anywhere, wrapped in +our serapes." + +They ate as they walked and they kept on a long time after sunset, +picking their way by the moonlight. Two or three times they passed peons +in the path, but their bold bearing and the pistols in their belts +always gave them the road. Brigands flourished amid the frequent +revolutions, and the humbler Mexicans found it wise to attend strictly +to their own business. They slept again in the open, but this time on a +hill in a dense thicket. They had previously drunk at a spring at its +base, and lacking now for neither food nor water they felt hope rising +continually. + +Ned had no dreams the second night, and both awoke at dawn. On the far +side of the hill, they found a pool in which they bathed, and with +breakfast following they felt that they had never been stronger. Their +food was made up in two packs, one for each, and they calculated that +with economy it would last two days. They could also reckon upon further +supplies from wild fruits, and perhaps more frijoles and tortillas from +the people themselves. When they had summed up all their circumstances, +they concluded that they were not in such bad condition. Armed, strong +and bold, they might yet traverse the thousand miles to Texas. + +Light of heart and foot they started. Off to the left the great silver +head of Orizaba looked down at them benignantly, and before them they +saw the vast flowering robe of the tierra caliente into which they +pushed boldly, even as Cortez and his men had entered it. + +Ned was almost overpowered by a vegetation so grand and magnificent. +Except on the paths which they followed, it was an immense and tangled +mass of gigantic trees and huge lianas. Many of the lianas had wound +themselves like huge serpents about the trees and had gradually pulled +them, no matter how strong, into strange and distorted shapes. Overhead +parrots and paroquets chattered amid the vast and gorgeous bloom of red +and pink, yellow and white. Ned and Obed were forced to keep to the +narrow peon paths, because elsewhere one often could not pass save +behind an army of axes. + +The trees were almost innumerable in variety. They saw mahogany, +rosewood, Spanish cedar and many others that they did not know. They +also saw the cactus and the palm, turned by the struggle for existence +in this tremendous forest, into climbing plants. Obed noted these facts +with his sharp eye. + +"It's funny that the cactus and the palm have to climb to live," he +said, "but they've done it. It isn't any funnier, however, than the +fact that the whale lived on land millions of years ago, and had to take +to the water to escape being eaten up by bigger and fiercer animals than +himself. I'm a Maine man and so I know about whales." + +They came now and then to little clearings, in which the peons raised +many kinds of tropical and semitropical plants, bananas, pineapples, +plantains, oranges, cocoa-nuts, mangoes, olives and numerous others. In +some places the fruit grew wild, and they helped themselves to it. Twice +they asked at huts for the customary food made of Indian corn, and on +both occasions it was given to them. The peons were stolid, but they +seemed kind and Ned was quite sure they did not care whether the two +were Gringos or not. Two or three times, heavy tropical rains gushed +down in swift showers, and they were soaked through and through, despite +their serapes, but the hot sun, coming quickly afterward, soon dried +them out again. They were very much afraid of chills and fever, but +their constitutions, naturally so strong, held them safe. + +Deeper and deeper they went into the great tropical wilderness of the +tierra caliente. Often the heat under the vast canopy of interlacing +vines and boughs was heavy and intense. Then they would lie down and +rest, first threshing up grass and bushes to drive away snakes, +scorpions and lizards. Sometimes they would sleep, and sometimes they +would watch the monkeys and parrots darting about and chattering +overhead. Twice they saw fierce ocelots stealing among the tree trunks, +stalking prey hidden from the man and boy. The first ocelot was a tawny +yellow and the second was a reddish gray. Both were marked with black +spots in streaks and in lengthened rings. The second was rather the +larger of the two. He seemed to be slightly over four feet in length, +of which the body was three feet and the tail about a foot. + +Ned and Obed were lying flat upon the ground, when the second ocelot +appeared, and, as the wind was blowing from him toward them, he did not +detect their presence. At the distance the figure of the great cat was +enlarged. He looked to them almost like a tiger and certainly he was a +ferocious creature, as he stalked his prey. Neither would have cared to +meet him even with weapons in hand. Suddenly he darted forward, ran up +the trunk of a great tree and disappeared in the dense foliage. As he +did not come down again they inferred that he had caught what he was +pursuing and was now devouring it. + +Ned shivered a little and put his hand on the butt of his loaded pistol. + +"Obed," he said, "I don't like the jungle, and I shall be glad when I +get out of it. It's too vast, too bewildering, and its very beauty fills +me with fear. I always feel that fangs and poison are lurking behind the +beauty and the bloom." + +"You're not so far wrong, Ned. I believe I'd rather be on the dusty +deserts of the North. We'll go through the tierra caliente just as +quickly as we can." + +The next day they became lost among the paths, and did not regain their +true direction until late in the afternoon. Sunset found them by the +banks of a considerable creek, the waters of which were cold, as if its +source were in the high mountains. Being very tired they bathed and +arranged couches of grass on the banks. After the heat and perplexity of +the jungle they were very glad to see cold, running water. The sight and +the pleasant trickle of the flowing stream filled Ned with desires for +the north, for the open land beyond the Rio Grande, where cool winds +blew, and you could see to the horizon's rim. He was sicker than ever of +the jungle, the beauty of which could not hide from him its steam and +poison. + +"How much longer do you think it will be before we leave the tierra +caliente?" he asked. + +"We ought to reach the intermediate zone between the tierra caliente and +the higher sierras in three or four days," replied Obed. "It's mighty +slow traveling in the jungle, but to get out of it we've only to keep +going long enough. Meanwhile, we'll have a good snooze by the side of +this nice, clean little river." + +As usual after hard traveling, they fell asleep almost at once, but Ned +was awakened in the night by some strange sound, the nature of which he +could not determine at first. The jungle surrounded them in a vast, high +circle, wholly black in the night, but overhead was a blue rim of sky +lighted by stars. He raised himself on his elbow. Obed, four or five +feet away, was still sleeping soundly on his couch of grass. The little +river, silver in the moonlight, flowed with a pleasant trickle, but the +trickle was not the sound that had awakened him. + +The forest was absolutely silent. Not a breath of wind stirred, but the +boy, although awed by the night and the great jungle, still listened +intently. + +The sound rose again, a low, hoarse rumble. It was distant thunder. A +storm was coming. He heard it a third time. It was not thunder. It was +the deep growl of some fierce, wild animal. For a moment the boy was +afraid. Then he remembered the heavy pistol that never left his belt. It +still carried the original load, a large bullet with plenty of gunpowder +behind it. + +The sounds were repeated and they were nearer. They were like a long +drawn p-u, p-u, p-u. The tone was of indescribable ferocity. Ned was +brave, but he shivered all over and there was a prickly sensation at the +roots of his hair. He felt like some primeval youth who with club alone +must face the rush of the saber-toothed tiger. But he drew upon his +reserves of pride which were large. He would not awaken Obed, but, +drawing the pistol and holding his fingers on trigger and hammer, he +walked a little distance down the bank of the stream. That terrible p-u, +p-u, p-u, suddenly sounded much closer at hand, and Ned shrank back, +stiffening with horror. + +A great black beast, by far the largest wild animal that he had ever +seen, came silently out of the jungle and stood before the boy. He was a +good seven feet in length, black as a coal, low but of singularly thick +and heavy build. His shoulders and paws were more powerful than those of +a tiger. As he stood there before Ned, black and sinister as Satan, he +opened his mouth, and emitted again that fearful, rumbling p-u, p-u, +p-u. + +Ned could not move. All his power seemed to have gone into his eyes and +he only looked. He saw the red eyes, the black lips wrinkling back from +the long, cruel fangs, and the glossy skin rippling over the tremendous +muscles. Ned suddenly wrenched himself free from this paralysis of the +body, leveled the pistol and fired at a mark midway between the red +eyes. + +There was a tremendous roar and the animal leaped. Ned sprang to one +side. The huge beast with blood pouring from his head turned and would +have been upon him at the second leap, but a long barrel and then an arm +was projected over Ned's shoulder. A pistol was fired almost in his ear. +The monster's spring was checked in mid-flight, and he fell to the +earth, dead. Ned too, fell, but in a faint. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE RUINED TEMPLES + + +Ned revived and sat up. Cold water which Obed had brought in his hat +from the river was dripping from his face. At his feet lay a huge black +animal, terrible even in death. There was one wound in his head, where +Ned's bullet had gone in, and another through the right eye, where +Obed's had entered, reaching the brain. Ned's strength now returned +fully and the color came back to his face. He stood up, but he shuddered +nevertheless. + +"Obed," he said gratefully, "you came just in time." + +"I surely did," said that cheerful artisan. "A bullet in time saved a +life like thine. But you had already given him a bad wound." + +"What is he, Obed?" + +"About the biggest and finest specimen of a black jaguar that ever +ravaged a Mexican jungle. I always thought the black kind was found only +in Paraguay and the regions down there, but I'm quite sure now that at +least one of them has been roaming up here, and he is bound to have kin, +too. Ned, isn't he a terror? If he'd got at you he'd have ripped you in +pieces in half a minute." + +Ned shuddered again. Even in death the great black jaguar was capable of +inspiring terror. He had never before seen such a picture of magnificent +and sinister strength. He was heavier and more powerful than a tiger, +and he knew that the jaguar often became a man-eater. + +"I'd like to have that skin to lay upon the parlor of my palatial home, +if I ever have one," said Obed, "and I reckon that you and I had better +stick pretty close together while we are in this jungle. Our pistols are +not loaded now, and we have no more ammunition." + +They did not dare to sleep again in the same place, fearing that the +jaguar might have a mate which would seek revenge upon them, but, a +couple of hundred yards further down, they found in the river a little +island, twelve or fifteen feet square. Here they felt that the water +would somehow give them security, and they lay down once more. + +Ned was awakened a second time by that terrifying pu-pu-pu. It +approached through the forest but it stopped at the point where the dead +body of the black giant lay. He knew that it was the voice of the mate. +He listened a long time, but he did not hear it again, and he concluded +that the second jaguar, after the brief mourning of animals, had gone +away. He fell asleep again, and did not awaken until day. + +They were now practically unarmed, but they kept the pistols, for the +sake of show in case any peons of the jungle should offer trouble, and +pressed forward, with all the speed possible in so dense a tangle of +forest. In the deep shade of trees and bushes Ned continually saw the +shadows of immense black jaguars. He knew that it was only nerves and +imagination, but he did not like to be in a condition that enabled fancy +to play him such tricks. He longed more than ever for the open plains, +even with dust and thirst. + +Already they saw the mountains rising before them, terrace after +terrace, and, three days after the encounter with the jaguar, they +began to ascend the middle slopes between the tierra caliente and the +lofty sierras. The whole character of the country changed. The tropical +jungle ceased. They now entered magnificent forests of oak, pine, plane +tree, mimosas, chestnut and many other varieties. They also saw the +bamboo, the palm and the cactus. The water was fresher and colder, and +they felt as if they had come into a new world. + +But the question of food supply returned. They had used the wild fruits +in abundance, always economizing strictly with their tortillas and +frijoles. Now they had eaten the last of these and a diet of fruit alone +would not do. + +"We'll have to sell a pistol in the way that we sold the musket," said +Ned. + +"I hate to do it," said Obed, "but I don't see anything else that we can +do. We might seize our food at the first hut we find, but whatever may +be the quarrels between the Mexicans and Texans, I'm not willing to rob +any of these poor peons." + +"Nor I," said Ned with emphasis. "My pistol goes first." + +They found the usual adobe hut in a pleasant valley, and the noble +seņor, the proprietor, was at home playing a mandolin. He did not +suspect them to be Gringos, but he was quite sure that they were +brigands and he made the exchange swiftly and gladly. Two days later the +other pistol went in the same way, and they began to think how they +could acquire new weapons and plenty of ammunition for them. They sat in +the shade of a great oak while they discussed the question. It was +certainly a vital one. Dangerous enough at any time, the long journey +through Mexico would become impossible without arms. + +"If we could loot them from the soldiers I wouldn't mind at all," said +Obed. "The soldiers are to act against Texas, according to the tale you +tell, and the tale is true. All's fair in flight and war, and if such a +chance comes our way I'm going to take it." + +"So am I," said Ned. + +But such a chance was in no hurry to present itself. They went on for a +number of days and came now to the region, bordering the high sierras, +passing through vast forests of oak and pine, and seeing scarcely any +habitation. Here, as they walked toward twilight along one of the narrow +paths, a voice from the bushes cried: "Halt!" + +Ned saw several gun barrels protruding from the foliage, and was +obedient to the command. He also threw up his hands and Obed White was +no slower than he. Ned judged from the nature of the ambush that they +had fallen among brigands, then so prevalent in Mexico, and the thought +gave him relief. Soldiers would carry him back to Santa Anna, but surely +brigands would not trouble long those who had nothing to lose. + +"It is well, friends, that you obey so quickly," said a man in gaudy +costume as he stepped from the bushes followed by a half dozen others, +evil looking fellows, all carrying guns and pistols. Ned noticed that +two of the guns were rifles of long and slender barrel, undoubtedly of +American make. + +"Good-evening, Captain," said Obed White in his smoothest tones. "We +were expecting to meet you, as we learned that we are in the territory +which you rule so well." + +The man frowned and then smiled. + +"I see that you are a man of humor, amigo," he said, "and it is well. +Your information is correct. I rule this territory. I am Captain Juan +Carossa and these are my men. We collect tribute from all who pass this +way." + +"A worthy task and, I have no doubt, a profitable one." + +"Always worthy but not always profitable. However, I trust that you can +make it worth our while." + +A look of sadness passed over the expressive features of Obed White. + +"You look like a brave and generous man, Seņor Juan Carossa," he said +sorrowfully, "and it grieves both my young friend and myself to the very +center of our hearts to disappoint you. We have nothing. There is not a +cent of either gold or silver upon us. Jewels we admire, but we have +them not. You may search." + +He held wide his arms and Ned did likewise. Carossa gave an order to one +of his men, a tall fellow, swathed in a red serape, to make the search, +and he did so in such a rapid and skillful manner that Ned marveled. He +felt hands touching him here and there, as light as the fall of a leaf. +Obed was treated in the same fashion, and then the man in the red serape +turned two empty and expressive palms to his chief. + +Carossa swore fluently, and bent a look of deep reproach upon Ned and +Obed. + +"Seņors," he said, "this is an injustice, nay more, it is a crime. You +come upon the territory over which we range. You put us to the trouble +of stopping you, and you have nothing. All our risk and work are +wasted." + +Obed shook his head in apology. + +"It is not our fault," he said. "We had a little money, but we spent it +for food. We had some arms also, but they went for food too, so you see, +good kind Captain Carossa, we had nothing left for you." + +"But you have two good serapes," said the Captain. "Had you money we +would not take them from you, but it must not be said of Captain Carossa +and his men that they went away with nothing. I trust, seņor, that you +do not think me unreasonable." + +Obed White considered. Captain Carossa was a polite man. So was he. + +"We can ill afford to part with these cloaks or serapes," he said, "but +since it must be we cannot prevent it. Meanwhile, we ask you to offer us +your hospitality. We are on the mountains now, and the nights are cold. +We would be chilled without our cloaks. Take us with you, and, in the +morning, when the warm sunshine comes we will proceed." + +Carossa laughed and pulled his long black mustaches. "Santiago, but you +have a spirit," he said, "and I like it. You shall have your request and +you may come with us but to-morrow you go forth stripped and shorn. My +men cannot work for nothing. Spanish or Mexican, English or Gringo you +must pay. Gringo you are, but for that I do not care. It is in truth the +reason why I yield to your little request, because you can never bring +the soldiers of Santa Anna down upon us." + +Obed While smiled. The look upon his face obviously paid tribute to the +craft and courage of Juan Carossa, the great, and Carossa therefore was +pleased. The brigand captain did not abate one whit from his resolution +to have their serapes and their coats too, but he would show them first +that he was a gentleman. He spoke to his men, and the fellow with the +red serape led the way along a narrow path through a forest of myrtle +oaks. They went in single file, the Captain about the middle, and just +behind him Obed, with Ned following. Ned as usual was silent, but Obed +talked nearly all the time and Carossa seemed to like it. Ned saw that +the brigand leader was vain, eager to show his power and resource, but +he was sure that, at bottom, he was cruel, and that he would turn them +forth stripped and helpless in the forest. + +Night came down suddenly, but the man in front lighted a small lantern +that he took from under his serape, and they continued the march with +unabated speed. The forest thinned, and about nine o'clock they came +into an open space. The moon was now out and Ned saw a group of four +rectangular buildings, elevated on mounds. The buildings, besides being +rectangles themselves, were so placed that the group made a rectangle. +The structures of stone were partly ruined, and of great age. They +followed the uniform plan of those vast and mysterious ruins found so +often in Southern and Central Mexico. The same race that erected the +pyramids on the Teotihuacan might have raised these buildings. + +"My home! The quarters of myself and my men," said Carossa, +dramatically, pointing to the largest of the buildings. "We do not know +who built it. It goes far beyond the time of Cortez, but it serves us +now. The peon will not approach it, because Carossa is there and maybe +ghosts too." + +"I'm not afraid of ghosts," said Obed White. "Lead on, most noble +captain. We appreciate your hospitality. We did not know that you were +taking us to a palace." + +Captain Carossa deigned to be pleased again with himself, and, taking +the lantern from the man in the red serape, he led the way. He entered +the large building by means of a narrow passageway in one of the angles, +passed through an unroofed room, and then came to a door at which both +Ned and Obed gazed with the most intense curiosity. The doorway was made +of only three stones, two huge monolithic door jambs, each seven feet +high, nearly as wide and more than two feet thick. Upon them rested a +lintel also monolithic, but at least twenty feet in length, with a width +of five feet and a thickness of three feet. It was evident to Ned that +mighty workmen had once toiled here. + +"Is not that an entrance fit for a king?" said the brigand captain, +again making a dramatic gesture. + +"It is fit for Captain Juan Carossa, which is more," said Obed White +with suave courtesy. + +Captain Carossa bowed. Once more he deigned to be pleased with himself. +Then he led through the doorway and Ned uttered a little cry of +admiration. They stood in a great room with a magnificent row of +monolithic pillars running down the center. A stone roof had once +covered the room, but it had long since fallen in. The interior of the +walls was plain, made of stones and mortar, once covered with cement, +deep blood red in color, of which a few fragments remained. But the +walls on the outside were covered with splendid panels of mosaic work +varied now and then by sculptured stones. The stone used on the outside +was of a light cream color. But the boy did not see the mosaic panels +until later. + +Silent and studious, these vast ruins of a mysterious race made a great +appeal to Ned. He forgot the rough brigands for a moment, and stood +there looking at the walls and great columns, upon which the moon was +pouring a flood of beams. What were these outlaws to those mighty +builders whom the past had swallowed up so completely? + +The brigands were already lighting a fire beside one of the huge +monoliths, and Carossa lay down on a serape. The fire blazed up, but it +did not detract from the weird effect of the Hall of Pillars. One of the +men warmed food which he brought from another of the ruined houses, and +Carossa told his prisoners to eat. + +"What I give you to-night, and what I shall give you to-morrow morning +may be the last food that you will have for some time," he said, "so +enjoy it as best you may." + +He smiled, his lips drawing back from his white teeth, and in some +singular way he made Ned think of the black jaguar and his black lips +writhing back from his great fangs. Why had Obed spoken of coming with +them? Better to have been stripped in the path, and to have gone on +alone. But he ate the food, as the long marching had made him hungry, +and lay down within the rim of the firelight. + +The men also ate, and Ned saw that they were surly. Doubtless they had +endured much hardship recently and had secured little spoil. He heard +muttered sounds which he knew were curses. He became more uneasy than +ever. Certainly little human kindness lurked in the hearts of such as +these, and he believed that Carossa was playing with them for his own +amusement, just as a trainer with a steel bar makes the animals in a +cage do their tricks. + +The mutterings among the men increased. Carossa spoke to one of them, +who brought forth a stone jar from a recess in the wall. Tin cups were +produced and all, including Carossa, drank pulque made from the maguey +plant. They offered it also to Ned and Obed, but both declined. + +The pulque did not make the men more quarrelsome, but seemed to plunge +them into a lethargy. Two or three of them hummed doleful songs, as if +they were thinking of homes to which they could not go. One began to +weep, but finally spread out his serape, lay down on it and went to +sleep. Three or four others soon did the same. Two sat near the great +monolithic doorway, with muskets across their knees. Undoubtedly they +were intended to be sentinels, but Ned noted that their heads drooped. + +"I shall sleep now, my Gringo guests," said Carossa, "and I advise you +to do the same. You cannot alter anything, and you will need the +strength that sleep brings." + +"Your advice is good," said Obed, "and we thank you, Captain Carossa, +for your advice and courtesy. Manners are the fine finish of a man." + +His serape had not yet been taken from him, and he rolled himself in it. +Ned was already in his, lying with his feet to the smoldering fire. The +boy did not wish to sleep, nor could he have slept had he wished. But he +saw that Carossa soon slumbered, and the sentinels by the doorway +seemed, at least, to doze. He turned slightly on his side, and looked at +Obed who lay about eight feet away. He could not see the man's face, but +his body did not stir. Perhaps Obed also slept. + +A wind was now rising and it made strange sounds among the vast ruins. +It was a moan, a shriek and a hoarse sigh. Perhaps the peons were not so +far wrong! The ghosts did come back to their old abodes. Ned was glad +that he was not alone. Even without Obed the company of brigands would +have been a help. He lay still a long time. + +The coals of the fire went out, one by one, and where they had glowed +only black ashes lay. The wind among the ruins played all kinds of +strange variations, and Ned was never more awake in his life. He took a +last look at the sentinels, and he was sure that they slept, sitting, +with their muskets across their laps. Then he rose to his knees and +with difficulty checked a cry of astonishment when he saw Obed rising at +the same time. They remained on their knees a moment or two looking at +each other and then, simultaneously they rose to their feet. Their +comprehension was complete. + +Ned looked down at Carossa. The brigand chief slept soundly and his face +in repose was wholly evil. The gayety and courtesy that they had seen +upon it awake were only a mask. + +Obed stepped lightly to one of the pillars and Ned followed him. He knew +what Obed was seeking. Here was the great chance. The brigands, careless +from long immunity, had stacked their guns against the pillar, and Ned +and Obed promptly selected the two American rifles that Ned had noticed. +Hung by each was a large supply of powder and bullets to fit which they +also took. Two of the best machetes were chosen too, and then they were +ready to go. With the rifle in his hand, the great weapon with which the +pioneer made his way from ocean to ocean, Ned had strength and courage. +He believed that Obed and he could defeat the entire force of brigands, +but he awaited the signal of his older comrade. + +Standing close together behind the massive pillar they could not now see +the sentinels at the doorway. Ned was quite sure that they were sleeping +and that he and his comrade could steal past them. But Obed turned in +another direction and Ned followed without a word. The man had caught a +glimpse of a second entrance at the opposite side of this hall of +pillars, and the two darted into it. + +They found themselves in a passage less than the height of a man, and +only about three feet wide, but Obed led on boldly, and Ned, with equal +boldness, followed. The wall was about five feet thick, and they came +out into a court or patio surrounded by four ruined buildings. The floor +of the patio was cement, upon which their footsteps made no noise, and, +going through the great apertures in one of the ruined buildings, they +stood entirely on the outside of the mass of ancient temples, or +whatever it may have been. + +"Ned," whispered Obed, "we ought to go right down on our knees and give +thanks. We've not only escaped from Carossa and his cutthroats, but +we've brought with us two American rifles; good enough for anybody and +two or three hundred rounds of ammunition, the things that we needed +most of all." + +"It must have been more than chance," said Ned with emotion. "It must +have been a hand leading us." + +"When I proposed to go with them I thought we might have a chance of +some kind or other. Well, Captain Carossa, you meant us evil, but you +did us good. Come, Ned, the faster we get away from these ghosts the +better. Besides, we've got more to carry now." + +They had also brought away with them their packs of food, but they did +not mind the additional weight of the weapons, which were worth more to +them than gold or jewels. They listened a minute or two to see if any +alarm had been raised, but no sound came from the Hall of Pillars, and +with light steps and strong hearts they began another march on their +northward journey. + +They traveled by the moon and stars, and, as they were not hindered now +by any great tangle of undergrowth, they made many miles before dawn, +although they were ascending steadily. They had come upon the edge of +the great central plateau of Mexico, which runs far into the north and +which includes much of Texas. Before them lay another and great change +in the country. They were now to enter a land of little rain, where +they would find the ragged yucca tree, the agave and the cactus, the +scrubby mesquite bush and clumps of coarse grass. But they had passed +through so much that they did not fear it. + +They hunted for an hour after sunrise, before they found a small brook, +at which they drank, and, in spirit, returned the thanks which Obed had +said so emphatically were due. Then, wrapped in the useful serapes, they +went to sleep once more in a thicket. They had been sure that the +Mexicans could not trail them, and their confidence was justified. When +they awoke in the afternoon no human being was in sight, and their +loaded rifles lay undisturbed beside them. + +Then they entered upon the plain, plodding steadily on over a dusty gray +landscape, but feeling that their rifles would be ample protection +against anything that they might meet. The sun became very hot, and they +longed at times for the shade of the forest that they had left behind, +but they did not cease their march. Off to their left they saw towering +mountains with a green film along their slopes that they knew to be +forests of oak and pine; and such was the nature of man that they looked +at them regretfully. Obed White, glancing at Ned, caught Ned glancing at +him, and both laughed. + +"That's it," said Obed. "How precious is the thing that slips away. When +we were in the forest we wanted the open country, but now in the open +country we want the forest. But we're making progress, Ned. Don't forget +that." + +"I don't," said Ned. "But when we get further North into the vast +stretches of the arid plateau, we must have something more to +carry--water bottles." + +"That's so. We can't do without them. Maybe, too, Ned, we can pick up a +couple of good horses. They'd be a wonderful help." + +"We'll hope for everything we need," said Ned cheerfully. "Now I wonder, +Obed, if the attack has been made on Texas. Do you think we can yet get +there in time?" + +"I hope so," replied Obed thoughtfully. "You were a long time in San +Juan de Ulua, but armies move slowly, and they have plenty of troubles +of their own here in Mexico. I would wager almost anything that no +Mexican force in great numbers has yet crossed the Rio Grande." + +"Then we may be in time. Obed, we'll push for the north with every ounce +of strength we have." + +"That's just what we'll do. Courage defeats a multitude of sins." + +They traveled now for nearly a week in a direction north slightly by +west, suffering at times from heat, and once from a tropical rain storm +that deluged them. While the rain poured upon them, they kept their +serapes wrapped around their powder, and let their bodies take the +worst. The rain, for a while, was very cold, but the powder was +precious, and after a while the sun came out, drying and warming them +again. They were compelled to swim two narrow but deep rivers, a most +difficult task, as they had arms, ammunition and food to carry with +them. + +They noticed stretches of forest again, and passed both scattered houses +and villages. Their knowledge of Spanish and their rifles were their +protection. But in some places the people seemed to care nothing either +about Santa Anna or those who might oppose him. They were content to +lead lives in a region which furnished food almost of its own accord. +Just before approaching one of these villages Ned shot another jaguar. +It was not black like the first, nor so large. It was about five feet in +length, and yellowish in color, with a splendid skin, which, at Obed's +suggestion, they removed for purposes of barter. It was a wise idea, as +they traded it in the village for two large water bottles. The people +there were so indifferent to their identity that they sat in the plaza +in the evening, and watched the young people dance the fandango. + +It was only a crude little village in the Mexican wilderness. The people +were more Indian than Mexican. There was not much melody in their music, +and not much rhythm in their dance, but they were human beings, enjoying +themselves after labor and without fear. Both Ned and Obed, sitting +outside the circle of light with their rifles across their knees, felt +it. The sense of human companionship, even of strangers, was very +pleasant. The music and the glowing faces appealed very strongly to the +boy. Silent, thoughtful, and compelled by circumstances to live a hard +life, he was nevertheless young with all the freshness of youth. Obed +saw, and he felt a deep sympathy for this lad who had wrapped himself +like a younger brother around his heart. + +"Just you wait, Ned," he said, "until we reach our own people across the +Rio Grande. Then we'll have lots of friends and they'll be friends all +the stronger, because you will be the first to bring them news of the +treacherous attack that is to be made upon them." + +"If we get there in time," said Ned, "and, Obed, I am beginning to +believe that we will get there in time." + +They passed for hunters, and that night they slept in the village, where +they received kindness, and departed again the next morning on the long, +long journey that always led to the north. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +CACTUS AND MEXICANS + + +They now came upon bare, wind-swept plains, which alternated with +blazing heat and bitter cold. Once they nearly perished in a Norther, +which drove down upon them with sheets of hail. Fortunately their +serapes were very thick and large, and they found additional shelter +among some ragged and mournful yucca trees. But they were much shaken by +the experience, and they rested an entire day by the banks of a shallow +little brook. + +"Oh, for a horse, two horses!" said Obed. "I'd give all our castles in +Spain for two noble Barbary steeds to take us swiftly o'er the plain." + +"I think we'll keep on walking," said Ned. + +"At any rate, we're good walkers. We must be the very best walkers in +the world judging from the way we've footed it since we left the castle +of San Juan de Ulua." + +They refilled their water bottles, despite the muddiness of the stream, +and went on for three or four days over the plain, having nothing for +scenery save the sandy ridges, the ragged yuccas, dwarfed and ugly +mesquite bushes, and the deformed cactus. + +It was an ugly enough country by day, but, by night, it had a sort of +weird charm. The moonlight gave soft tints to the earth. Now and then +the wind would pick up the sand and carry it away in whirling gusts. The +wind itself had a voice that was almost human and it played many notes. +Lean and hungry wolves now appeared and howled mournfully, but were +afraid to attack that terrible creature, man. + +They saw sheep herders several times, but the herders invariably +disappeared over the horizon with great speed. Neither Ned nor Obed +meant them any harm, and they would have liked to exchange a few words +with human beings. + +"They think of course that we're brigands," said Obed. "It's what +anybody would take us for. Evil looks corrupt good intentions." + +The next day Obed was lucky enough to shoot an antelope, and they had +fresh food. It was a fine fat buck, and they jerked and dried the +remainder of the body in the sun, taking a long rest at the same time. +Obed was continually restraining Ned's eagerness to hurry on. + +"The race is to the swift if he doesn't break down," he said, "but +you've got to guard mighty well against breaking down. I think we're +going to enter a terrible long stretch of dry country, and we want our +muscles to be tough and our wind to be good." + +Obed was partially right in his prediction as they passed for three days +through an absolutely sterile region. It was not sandy, however, but the +soil was hard and baked like a stone. Then they saw on their left high +but bare and desolate mountains, and soon they came to a little river of +clear water, apparently flowing down from the range. The stream was not +over twenty feet wide and two feet deep, but its appearance was +inexpressibly grateful to both. They sat down on its banks and looked at +each other. + +"Ned," said Obed, "how much dust of the desert do you think I am +carrying upon me? Let your answer be without prejudice. Friendship in +this case must not stand in the way of truth." + +"Do you mean by weight or by area?" + +"Both." + +"Answering by guess I should say about three square yards, or about +three pounds. Wouldn't you say about the same for me?" + +"Just about the same. I should say, too, that we carry at least twelve +or fifteen kinds of dirt. It is well soaked in our hair and also in our +clothes, and, as we may not get another good chance for a bath in a +month, we'd better use our opportunity." + +They reveled in the cool waters. They also washed out all their +clothing, including their serapes, and let the garments dry in the sun. +It was the most luxurious stop that they had made and they enjoyed it to +the full. Ned, scouting a little distance up the stream, shot a fine fat +deer among the bushes, and that night they had a feast of tender steaks. +Obed had obtained flint and steel at the Indian village, at which they +had seen the fandango, and he could light a fire with them, a most +difficult thing to do. Their fire was of dried cactus, burning rapidly, +but it lasted long enough for their cooking. After the heartiest meal +that they had eaten in a long time, they stretched out by the river, +listening to its pleasant flow. The remainder of the deer they had hung +high in the branches of a myrtle oak about forty yards away. + +"We haven't got our horses," said Obed, "but we're making progress. Time +and tide will carry man with them if he's ready with his boat." + +"Perhaps we've been lucky, too," said Ned, "in passing through what is +mostly a wilderness." + +"That's so. The desert is a hard road, but in our case it keeps enemies +away." + +They were lying on their serapes, the waters sang softly, the night was +dark but very cool and pleasant, and they were happy. But Ned suddenly +saw something that made him reach out and touch his companion. + +"Look!" he whispered, pointing a finger. + +They saw a dark figure creep on noiseless feet toward the tree, from a +bough of which hung their deer. It was only a shadow in the night, but +they knew that it was a cougar, drawn by the savor of the deer. + +"Don't shoot," whispered Obed. "He can't get our meat, but we'll watch +him try." + +They lay quite still and enjoyed the joke. The cougar sprang again and +again, making mighty exertions, but always the rich food swung just out +of his reach. Once or twice his nose nearly touched it, but the two or +three inches of gulf which he could never surmount were as much as two +or three miles. He invariably fell back snarling, and he became so +absorbed in the hopeless quest that there was no chance of his noticing +the man and boy who lay not far away. + +The humor of it appealed strongly to Ned and Obed. The cougar, after so +many vain leaps, lay on the ground for a while panting. Then he ran up +the tree, and as far out on the bough as he dared. He reached delicately +with a forefoot, but he could not touch the strips of bark with which +the body was tied. Then he lay flat upon the bough and snarled again and +again. + +"That's a good punishment for a rascally thief," whispered Obed. "I +don't blame him for trying to get something to eat, but it's our deer. +Let him go away and do his own hunting." + +The cougar came back down the tree, but his descent was made with less +spirit than his ascent. Nevertheless he made another try at the jumping. +Ned saw, however, that he did not do as well as before. He never came +within six inches of the deer now. At last he lay flat again on the +ground and panted, staying there a full five minutes. When he got up he +made one final and futile jump, and then sneaked away, exhausted and +ashamed. + +"Now, Ned," said Obed, "since the comedy is over I think we can safely +go to sleep." + +"Especially as we know our deer is safe," said Ned. + +Both slept soundly throughout the remainder of the night. Toward morning +the cougar came back and looked longingly at the body of the deer +hanging from the bough of the tree. He thought once or twice of leaping +for it again, but there was a shift of the wind and he caught the human +odor from the two beings who lay forty yards away. He was a large and +strong beast of prey, but this odor frightened him, and he slunk off +among the trees, not to return. + +Ned and Obed stayed two days beside the little river, taking a complete +rest, bathing frequently in the fresh waters, and curing as much of the +deer as possible for their journey. Then, rather heavily loaded, they +started anew, always going northward through a sad and rough land. Now +they entered another bare and sterile region of vast extent, walking for +five days, without seeing a single trace of surface water. Had it not +been for their capacious water bottles they would have perished, and, +even with their aid, it was only by the strictest economy that they +lived. The evaporation from the heat was so great that after a mouthful +or two of water they were invariably as thirsty as ever, inside of five +minutes. + +They passed from this desert into a wide, dry valley between bare +mountains, and entered a great cactus forest, one of the most wonderful +things that either of them had ever seen. The ground was almost level, +but it was hard and baked. Apparently no more rain fell here than in the +genuine desert of shifting sand, and there was not a drop of surface +water. Ned, when he first saw the mass of green, took it for a forest of +trees, such as one sees in the North, but so great was his interest that +he was not disappointed, when he saw that it was the giant cactus. + +The strange forest extended many miles. The stems of the cactus rose to +a height of sixty feet or more, with a diameter often reaching two feet. +Sometimes the stems had no branches, but, in case they did, the branches +grew out at right angles from the main stem, and then curving abruptly +upward continued their growth parallel to the parent stock. + +The stems of these huge plants were divided into eighteen or twenty +ribs, within which at intervals of an inch or so were buds, with +cushions, yellow and thick, from which grew six or seven large, and many +smaller spines. + +Most of the cactus trees were gorgeous with flowers, ranging from a deep +rich crimson through rose and pink to a creamy white. + +The green of the plants and the delicate colors of the flowers were +wonderfully soothing to the two who had come from the bare and burning +desert. There their eyes had ached with the heat and glare. They had +longed for shade as men had longed of old for the shadow of a rock in a +weary land. In truth they found little shade in the cactus forest, but +the green produced the illusion of it. They expected to find flowing or +standing water, but they went on for many miles and the soil remained +hard and baked, as it can bake only in the rainless regions of high +plateaus. + +They found the forest to be fully thirty miles in length and several +miles in width. Everywhere the giant cactus predominated, and on its +eastern border they found two Indian men and several women and children +gathering the fruit, from which they made an excellent preserve. The +Indians were short in stature and very dark. All started to run when +they saw the white man and boy, both armed with rifles, approaching, but +Ned and Obed held up their hands as a sign of amity and, after some +hesitation, they stopped. They spoke a dialect which neither Ned nor +Obed could understand, but by signs they made a treaty of peace. + +They slept that night by the fire of their new friends and the next day +they were fortunate enough to shoot a deer, the greater part of which +they gave to the Indians. The older of the men then guided them out of +the forest at the northern end, and indicated as nearly as he could, by +the same sign language, the course they should pursue in order to reach +Texas. They had gone too far to the west, and by coming back toward the +east they would save distance, as well as pass through a better country. +Then he gravely bade them farewell and went back to his people. + +Ned and Obed now crossed a low but rugged range of mountains, and came +into good country where they were compelled to spend a large part of +their time, escaping observation. It was only the troubled state of the +people and the extreme division of sentiment among them that saved the +two from capture. But they obtained news that filled both with joy. +Fighting had occurred in Texas, but no great Mexican army had yet gone +into the north. + +Becoming bold now from long immunity and trusting to their Mexican +address and knowledge of Spanish and its Mexican variants, they turned +into the main road and pursued their journey at a good pace. They were +untroubled the first day but on the second day they saw a cloud of dust +behind them. + +"Sheep being driven to market," said Obed. + +"I don't know," replied Ned, looking back. "That cloud of dust is at +least a mile away, but it seems to me I saw it give out a flash or two." + +"What kind of a flash do you mean?" + +"Bright, like silver or steel. There, see it!" + +"Yes, I see it now, and I think you know what makes it, Ned." + +"I should say that it is the sun striking on the steel heads of long +lances." + +"So should I, and I say also that those lances are carried by Mexican +cavalrymen bound for Texas. It may not be a bad guess either that this +is the vanguard of the army of Cos. I infer from the volume of dust that +it is a considerable force." + +"Therefore it is wise for us to leave the road and hide as best we can." + +"Correctly spoken. The truth needs no bush. It walks without talking." + +They turned aside at once, and entered a field of Indian corn, where +they hoped to pass quietly out of sight, but some of the lancers came on +very fast and noticed the dusty figures at the far edge of the field. +Many of the Mexicans were skilled and suspicious borderers, and the +haste with which the two were departing seemed suspicious to them. + +Ned and Obed heard loud and repeated shouts to halt, but pretending not +to hear passed out of the field and entered a stretch of thin forest +beyond. + +"We must not stop," said Obed. "Being regular soldiers they will surely +discover, if they overtake us, that we are not Mexicans, and two or +three lance thrusts would probably be the end of us. Now that we are +among these trees we'll run for it." + +A shout came from the lancers in the corn field as soon as they saw the +two break into a run. Ned heard it, and he felt as the fox must feel +when the hounds give tongue. Tremors shook him, but his long and silent +mental training came to his aid. His will strengthened his body and he +and Obed ran rapidly. Nor did they run without purpose. Both +instinctively looked for the roughest part of the land and the thickest +stretches of forest. Only there could they hope to escape the lancers +who were thundering after them. + +Ned more than once wished to use his rifle, but he always restrained the +impulse, and Obed glanced at him approvingly. He seemed to know what was +passing in the boy's mind. + +"Our bullets would be wasted now, even if we brought down a lancer or +two," he said, "so we'll just save 'em until we're cornered--if we are. +Then they will tell. Look, here are thorn bushes! Come this way." + +They ran among the bushes which reached out and took little bits of +their clothing as they passed. But they rejoiced in the fact. Horses +could never be driven into that dense, thorny growth, and they might +evade pursuers on foot. The thorn thicket did not last very long, +however. They passed out of it and came into rough ground with a general +trend upward. Both were panting now and their faces were wet with +perspiration. The breath was dry and hot and the heart constricted +painfully. They heard behind them the noise of the pursuit, spread now +over a wide area. + +"If only these hills continue to rise and to rise fast," gasped Obed +White, "we may get away among the rocks and bushes." + +There was a rapid tread of hoofs, and two lancers, with their long +weapons leveled, galloped straight at them. Obed leaped to one side, but +Ned, so startled that he lost command of himself, stopped and stood +still. He saw one of the men bearing down upon him, the steel of the +lance head glittering in the sunlight, and instinctively he closed his +eyes. He heard a sharp crack, something seemed to whistle before his +face, and then came a cry which he knew was the death cry of a man. He +had shut his eyes only for a moment, and when he opened them he saw the +Mexican falling to the ground, where he lay motionless across his lance. +Obed White stood near, and his rifle yet smoked. Ned instantly recovered +himself, and fired at the second lancer who, turning about, galloped +away with a wound in his shoulder. + +"Come Ned," cried Obed White. "There is a time for all things, and it is +time for us to get away from here as fast as we can." + +He could not be too quick for Ned, who ran swiftly, avoiding another +look at the silent and motionless figure on the ground. The riderless +horse was crashing about among the trees. From a point three or four +hundred yards behind there came the sound of much shouting. Ned thought +it to be an outburst of anger caused by the return of the wounded +lancer. + +"We stung 'em a little," he panted. + +"We did," said Obed White. "Remember that when you go out to slay you +may be slain. But, Ned, we must reload." + +They curved about, and darting into a thick clump of bushes put fresh +charges in their rifles. Ned was trembling from excitement and +exertion, but his anger was beginning to rise. There must always come a +time when the hunted beast will turn and rend if it can. Ned had been +the hunted, now he wanted to become the hunter. Obed and he had beaten +off the first attack. There were plenty more bullets where the other two +had come from, and he was eager to use them. He peered out of the +bushes, his face red, his eyes alight, his rifle ready for instant use. +But Obed placed one hand on his shoulder: + +"Gently, Ned, gently!" he said. "We can't fight an entire Mexican army, +but if we slip away to some good position we can beat off any little +band that may find us." + +It was evident that the Mexicans had lost the trail, for the time being. +They were still seeking the quarry but with much noise and confusion. A +trumpet was blown as if more help were needed. Officers shouted orders +to men, and men shouted to one another. Several shots were fired, +apparently at imaginary objects in the bushes. + +"While they're running about and bumping into one another we'll regain a +little of our lost breath which we'll need badly later," said Obed. "We +can watch from here, and when they begin to approach then it's up and +away again." + +Those were precious minutes. The ground was not good for the lancers who +usually advanced in mass, and, after the fall of one man and the +wounding of another, the soldiers on foot were not very zealous in +searching the thickets. The breathing of the two fugitives became easy +and regular once more. The roofs of their mouths were no longer hot and +dry, and their limbs did not tremble from excessive exertion. Ned had +turned his eyes from the Mexicans and was examining the country in the +other direction. + +"Obed," he said, "there's a low mountain about a mile back of us, and +it's covered with forest. If we ever reach it we can get away." + +"Yes--if we reach it," said Obed, "and, Ned, we'll surely try for it. +Ah, there they come in this direction now!" + +A squad of about twenty men was approaching the thicket rapidly. Ned and +Obed sprang up and made at top speed for the mountain. The soldiers +uttered a shout and began to fire. But they had only muskets and the +bullets did not reach. Ned and Obed, having rested a full ten minutes, +ran fast. They were now descending the far side of the hill and meant to +cross a slight valley that lay between it and the mountain. When they +were near the center of this valley they heard the hoofs of horsemen, +and again saw lancers galloping toward them. These horsemen had gone +around the hill, and now the hunt was in full cry again. + +Ned and Obed would have been lost had not the valley been intersected a +little further on by an arroyo seven or eight feet deep and at least +fifteen feet wide. They scrambled down it, then up it and continued +their flight among the bushes, while the horsemen, compelled to stop on +the bank, uttered angry and baffled cries. + +"The good luck is coming with the bad," said Obed. "The foot soldiers +will still follow. They know that we're Texans and they want us. Do you +see anybody following us now, Ned?" + +"I can see the heads of about a dozen men above the bushes." + +"Perhaps they are delegated to finish the work. The whole army of Cos +can't stop to hunt down two Texans, and when we get on that mountain, +Ned, we may be able to settle with these fellows on something like fair +terms." + +"Let's spurt a little," said Ned. + +They put on extra steam, but the Mexicans seemed to have done the same, +as presently, appearing a little nearer, they began to shout or fire. +Ned heard the bullets pattering on the bushes behind him. + +"A hint to the wise is a stitch in time," said Obed White. "Those +fellows are getting too noisy. I object to raucous voices making loud +outcries, nor does the sound of bullets dropping near please me. I shall +give them a hint." + +Wheeling about he fired at the nearest Mexican. His rifle was a long +range weapon and the man fell with a cry. The others hesitated and the +fugitives increased their speed. Now they were at the base of the +mountain. Now they were up the slope which was densely clothed with +trees and bushes. + +Then they came to a great hollow in the stone side of the ridge, an +indentation eight or ten feet deep and as many across, while above them +the stone arched over their heads at a height of seventy or eighty feet. + +"We'll just stay here," said Obed White. "You can run and you can run, +but the time comes when you can run no more. They can't get at us from +overhead, and they can't get at us from the sides. As for the front, I +think that you and I, Ned, can hold it against as many Mexicans as may +come." + +"At least we'll make a mighty big try," said Ned, whose courage rose +high at the sight of their natural fort. They had their backs to the +wall, but this wall was of solid stone, and it also curved around on +either side of them. Moreover, he had a chance to regain his breath +which was once more coming in hot and painful gasps from his chest. + +"Let's lie down, Ned," said Obed, "and pull up that log in front of +this." + +Near them lay the stem of an oak that had fallen years before. All the +boughs had decayed and were gone, so it was not a very difficult task to +drag the log in front of them, forming a kind of bar across the alcove. +As it was fully a foot in diameter it formed an excellent fortification +behind which they lay with their rifles ready. It was indeed a miniature +fort, the best that a wilderness could furnish at a moment's notice, and +the fighting spirit of the two rose fast. If the enemy came on they were +ready to give him a welcome. + +But the two heard nothing in the dense forest in front of them. The +pursuers evidently were aware of the place, in which they had taken +refuge, and knew the need of cautious approach. Mexicans do not lack +bravery, but both Obed and Ned were sure there would be a long delay. + +"I think that all we've got to do for the present," said Obed, "is to +watch the woods in front of us, and see that none of them sneaks up near +enough for a good shot." + +Nearly an hour passed, and they neither saw nor heard anything in the +forest. Then there was a rushing sound, a tremendous impact in front of +them and something huge bounded and bounded again among the bushes. It +was a great rock that had been rolled over the cliff above, in the hope +that it would fall upon them, but the arch of stone over their heads was +too deep. It struck fully five feet in front of them. Both were +startled, although they knew that they were safe, and involuntarily they +drew back. + +"More will come," said Obed. "Just as one swallow does not make a +summer, one stone does not make a flight. Ah, there it is now!" + +They heard that same rushing sound through the air, and a bowlder +weighing at least half a ton struck in front of their log. It did not +bound away like the first, but being so much heavier buried half its +weight in the earth and lay there. Obed chuckled and regarded the big +stone with an approving look. + +"It's an ill stone that doesn't fall to somebody's good," he said. "That +big fellow is squarely in the path of anybody who advances to attack us, +and adds materially to our breastwork. If they'll only drop a few more +they'll make an impregnable fortification for us." + +The third came as he spoke, but being a light one rolled away. The +fourth was also light, and alighting on the big one bounded back into +the alcove, striking just between Ned and Obed. It made both jump and +shiver, but they knew that it was a chance not likely to happen again in +a hundred times. The bombardment continued for a quarter of an hour +without any harm to either of the two, and then the silence came again. +Ned and Obed pushed the rock out of the alcove, leaving it in front of +them and now their niche had a formidable stone reinforcement. + +"They'll be slipping up soon to look at our dead bodies," whispered +Obed, "and between you and me, Ned, I think there will be a great +surprise in Mexico to-day." + +They lay almost flat and put the muzzles of their rifles across the log. +Both, used to life on the border, where the rifle was a necessity, were +fine shots and they were also keen of eye and ear. They waited for a +while which seemed interminably long to Ned, but which was not more +than a quarter of an hour, and then he heard a slight movement among the +trees somewhat to their left. He called Obed's attention to it and the +man nodded: + +"I hear it, too," he whispered. "Those investigators are cautious, but +they'll have to come up in front before they can get at us, and then we +can get at them, too. We'll just be patient." + +Ned was at least quiet and contained, although it was impossible to be +patient. They heard the rustling at intervals on their right, then it +changed to their front, and he saw a black head, covered with a +sombrero, peep from behind a tree. The head came a little farther, +disclosing a shoulder, and Obed White fired. They heard a yell of pain, +and a thrashing among the bushes, but the sound rapidly moved farther +and farther away. + +"That fellow was stung badly," said Obed White with satisfaction, "and +he won't come back. I'm glad to see, Ned, that you held your fire, +keeping ready for any other who might come." + +Ned glowed at the compliment. He had cocked his rifle, and was ready but +he remained cool, wasting no shot. + +"I fancy that they now know we are here," said Obed, who loved to talk, +"and that we have not been demolished by the several tons of rock that +they have sent down from above. A shot to the wise is sufficient. Keep +down, Ned! Keep down!" + +From a point sixty or seventy yards away Mexicans, lying among the trees +or in the undergrowth, suddenly opened a heavy fire upon the rocky fort. +The Mexicans were invisible but jets of smoke arose in the brush. +Bullets thudded on the log or stones, or upon the stone wall above the +two, but both Ned and Obed were sheltered well and they were not +touched. Nevertheless it was uncomfortable. The impact of the bullets +made an unpleasant sound, and there was always a chance that one of them +might angle off from the stone and strike a human target. Obed however +was cheerful. + +"They're wasting good ammunition," he said. "They'll need that later on +when they attack the Texans. After all, Ned, we're serving a good +purpose when we induce the Mexicans to shoot good powder and lead here, +and not against our people." + +Encouraged by the failure of the besieged to reply to their fire the +Mexicans came closer and grew somewhat incautious. Ned saw one of them +sheltered but partially by a bush and he fired. The man uttered a cry +and fell. Ned saw the bush moving and he hoped the man was not slain, +but he never knew. + +The volleys from the Mexicans ceased, and silence came again in the +woods. Wisps of smoke floated here and there among the trees, but a +light wind soon caught them and carried them away. Ned and Obed, rolling +into easier positions, talked cheerfully. + +"I don't think they'll try to rush us," said Obed. "The Mexicans are not +afraid to charge breastworks, but they'll hardly think we two are worth +the price they would have to pay. Perhaps they'll try to starve us out." + +"And that they can't do because we have provisions for several days." + +"But they don't know it. Nor do we want to stay here for several days, +Ned. Texas is calling to us, and we should be traveling northward +instead of lying under a rock besieged by Mexicans." + +But they were compelled anew to make heavy drafts upon their patience. +The Mexicans kept quiet a long time. Finally a shot fired from some high +point grazed Ned's cap, and flattened against the rock behind him. The +boy involuntarily ducked against the earth. Obed also lay lower. + +"Some Mexican must have climbed a tree," said the Maine man. "He's where +he can look over our fortifications and that gives him an advantage. It +also gives him a disadvantage because it will be harder for him to come +down out of that tree unaided than it was for him to go up in it. We'll +stick as close as we can under the log, until he sends in the second +shot." + +They waited about ten minutes until the Mexican fired again. He was in +the boughs of a great oak about fifty yards away, and following the +flash of his weapon they saw his chest and shoulders as he leaned +forward to take aim and pull the trigger. Obed fired and the soldier +dropped to the ground. There was a noise in the underbrush, as if his +comrades were dragging him away and then the great silence came again. +As Obed reloaded he said grimly: + +"I think we're done with the tree-climbers. Evil to him who evil does. +They're cured of that habit." + +It was now mid-afternoon and the sun was blazing down over the cliffs +and forest. It grew very hot in the alcove. No breath of wind reached +them there, and they began to pant for air. + +"I hope night will come soon," said Ned. + +"It will be here before long," said Obed, "but something else will +arrive first." + +"What is that?" + +"Look, there to the right over the trees. See the dark spot in the sky. +Ned, my boy, a storm is coming and it is for you and me to say 'let it +come.'" + +"What will it do for us?" + +"Break up the siege, or at least I think so. Unless it drives directly +in our faces we will be sheltered out here, but the Mexicans will have +no such protection. And, Ned, if you will listen to one who knows, you +will understand that storms down here can be terrific." + +"Then the more terrific it is the better for us." + +"Just so. See, Ned, how that black spot grows! It is a cloud of quite +respectable size. Before long it will cover all the skies, and you +notice too that there is absolutely no wind." + +"It is so. The stillness is so great that I feel it. It oppresses me. It +is hard for me to draw my breath." + +"Exactly. I feel just the same way. The storm is coming fast and it is +going to be a big one. The sun is entirely hidden already, and the air +is growing dark. We'll crouch against the wall, Ned, and keep our +rifles, powder and ourselves as dry as possible. There goes the thunder, +growling away, and here's the lightning! Whew, but that made me jump!" + +An intense flash of lightning burned across the sky, and showed the +forest and hills for one blazing moment. Then the darkness closed in, +thick and black. The two, wrapped closely in their serapes, crouched +against the stone wall and watched the storm gather in its full majesty +and terror. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE LONG CHASE + + +Ned, despite his brave heart and strong will, felt a deep awe. Storms on +the great uplands of North America often present aspects which are +sublime and menacing to the last degree. The thunder which had been +growling before now crashed continually like batteries of great guns, +and the lightning flashed so fast that there was a rapid alternation of +dazzling glare and impervious blackness. Once, the lightning struck in +the forest near them with a terrible, rending crash, and trees went +down. Far down in the gorges they heard the fierce howl of the wind. + +Ned shrank closer and closer against the rocky wall, and, now and then, +he veiled his eyes with one hand. If one were to judge by eye and ear +alone it would seem that the world was coming to an end. Cast away in +the wilderness, he was truly thankful for the human companionship of the +man, Obed White, and it is likely that the man, Obed White, was just as +thankful for the companionship of the boy, Edward Fulton. + +All thought of another attack by the Mexicans passed for the present. +They knew that the besiegers themselves would be awed, and would flee +for refuge, particularly from the trees falling before the strokes of +lightning. It was at least two miles to any such point of safety, and +Ned and Obed saw a coming opportunity. Both lightning and thunder ceased +so abruptly that it was uncanny. The sudden stillness was heavy and +oppressive, and after the continued flare of the lightning, the darkness +was so nearly impenetrable that they could not see ten yards in front of +them. + +Then the rain came in a tremendous cataract, but it came from the south, +while they faced the north. Hence it drove over and past their alcove +and they remained dry. But it poured so hard and with such a sweep and +roar that Obed was forced to shout when he said to Ned: + +"I've never been to Niagara and of course I've never been behind the +falls there but this must be like it. The luck has certainly turned in +our favor, Ned. The Mexicans could never stand it out there without +shelter." + +"I don't see how it can last long," shouted Ned in reply. + +"It can't. It's too violent. But it's the way down here, rushing from +one extreme to another. As soon as it begins to ease up, we'll move." + +The darkness presently began to thin rapidly, and the heavy drumming of +the rain on the rocks and forest turned to a patter. + +"I think it's a good time to go, Ned," said Obed. "In fifteen minutes it +will stop raining entirely and the Mexicans, if they are not drowned, +may come back for us. We can't keep ourselves dry, but we'll protect our +rifles and ammunition. We've got a good chance to escape now, especially +since night will soon be here." + +They left the overhanging cliff which had guarded them so well in more +ways than one, and entered the forest, veering off to the left, and +picking their way carefully through the underbrush. Ned suddenly sprang +aside, shuddering. A Mexican, slain in the battle, lay upon his side. +But Obed was practical. + +"I know it's unpleasant to touch him," he said, "but he may have what +we need. Ah, here is a pistol and bullets for it, and a flask of powder +which his own body has helped to keep dry. It's likely that we'll have +use for these before we get through, and so I'll take 'em." + +He quickly secured the pistol and ammunition, and they went on, +traveling rapidly westward. The rain ceased entirely in twenty minutes, +and all the clouds passed away, but night came in their place, covering +their flight with its friendly mantle. They were wet to the waist and +the water dripped from the trees upon them, but these things did not +trouble them. They felt all the joy of escape. Ned knew that neither of +them, if taken, could expect much mercy from the brutal Cos. + +They came after a while to a gorge, through which a torrent rushed, +cutting off their way. It was midnight now. They saw that the stream was +very muddy and that it bore on its current much débris. + +"We'll just sit down here and rest," said Obed. "This is nothing more +than a brook raised to a river by the storm, and, in another hour or +two, it will be a brook again. Rise fast, fall fast holds true." + +They sat on a log near the stream and watched it go down. As their +muscles relaxed they began to feel cold, and had it not been for the +serapes they would have been chilled. In two hours the muddy little +river was a muddy little brook and they walked across. All the while +now, a warm, drying wind was blowing, but they kept on for some time +longer in order that the vigorous circulation of the blood might warm +their bodies. Then, seeking the best place they could find, they lay +down among the bushes, despite the damp, and slept. + +Ned was the first to awake the next day, and he saw, by a high sun, that +they were on a slope, leading to a pretty valley well grown in grass. +He took a few steps and also stretched both arms. He found that his +muscles were neither stiff nor sore and his delight was great. Obed +still slumbered peacefully, his head upon his arm. + +Ned walked a little further down the slope. Then he jumped back and hid +behind a bush. He had caught a glimpse of a horse saddled and bridled in +the Mexican manner, and it was his first thought that a detachment from +the army of Cos was riding straight toward them. But as he stood behind +the bush, heart beating, eyes gazing through the leaves, he saw that it +was only a single horse. Nor was it coming toward him. It seemed to be +moving about slowly in a circle of very limited area. Then, leaving the +bush, he saw that the horse was riderless. He watched a long time to see +if the owner would appear, and as none came he went back and awakened +Obed White. + +"What! What!" said Obed, opening his eyes slowly and yawning mightily. +"Has the day come? Verily, it is a long night that has no ending. And so +you have seen a horse, Ned, a horse saddled and bridled and with no +owner! It can't be the one that King Richard offered his kingdom for, +and since it isn't we'll just see why this caparisoned animal is there +grazing in our valley." + +The two went down the slope. The horse was still there, grazing in his +grassy circle, and as the two approached he drew away a little but did +not seem to be frightened. Then Ned understood, or at least his belief +was so strong that it amounted to conviction. + +"It's the horse of the soldier whom you shot yesterday," he said. "You +remember that he galloped away among the bushes. No doubt, too, he was +driven a long distance by the storm. He can't be accounted for in any +other manner." + +"There are some guesses so good that you know at once they're right," +said Obed, "and yours is one of them, Ned. Now that is a valuable horse. +One of the most valuable that ever grazed in a valley of Mexico or any +other valley. He's so precious because we want him, and we want him so +bad that he's worth a million dollars to us." + +"That one of us may ride him to Texas." + +"Yes, and we may be able to secure another. You stay here, Ned, and let +me catch him. Horses like me better than some men do." + +Ned sat down and Obed advanced warily, holding out his hand and +whistling gently. It was a most persuasive whistle, soft and thrilling +and the horse raised his head, looked contemplatively out of large +lustrous eyes at the whistler. Obed advanced, still whistling, in the +most wonderful, enticing manner. Ned felt that if he were a horse he +could not resist it, that he would go to the whistler, expecting to +receive oats, corn, and everything else that a healthy horse loves. It +seemed to have some such effect upon the quarry that Obed coveted, +because the horse, after withdrawing a step, advanced toward the man. + +Obed stopped, but continued to whistle, pouring forth the most beautiful +and winning trills and quavers. The horse came and Obed, reaching out, +seized the bridle which hung loose. He stroked the horse's head and the +animal rubbed his nose against his shoulder. The conquest was complete. +Bridle in hand, Obed led the way and Ned met him. + +"I think our good horse here was lonesome," said Obed, "Horses that are +used to human beings miss 'em for a while when they lose 'em, and we're +not enslaving our friend by taking him. Here's a lariat coiled at the +saddle bow; we'll just tether him by that, and let him go on with his +grazing, while we get our breakfast. You will notice, too, Ned, that +we've taken more than a horse. See this pair of holster pistols swung +across the saddle and ammunition to fit. The enemy is still supplying us +with our needs, Ned." + +As they ate breakfast they resolved to secure another horse. Obed was of +the opinion that the army of Cos was not far away, and he believed that +he could steal one. At least, he was willing to try on the following +night, and, if he succeeded, their problem would be simplified greatly. + +They remained nearly all the morning in the little valley and devoted a +large part of the time to developing their acquaintance with the horse, +which was a fine animal, amenable to good treatment, and ready to follow +his new masters. + +"He looks like an American horse," said Obed, with satisfaction, "and +maybe he is one, stolen from the Texans. He'll carry one of us over many +miles of sand and cactus, and he'll be none the worse for it. But he +needs a friend. Horse was not made to live alone. It's my sympathy for +him as much as the desire for another mount that drives me to the theft +we contemplate." + +Ned laughed and lolled on the grass which was now dry. + +"Yon stay here with Bucephalus or Rosinante or whatever you choose to +call him," continued Obed, "and I think I'll cross the hills, and see if +Cos is near. If we're going to capture a horse, we must first know where +the horse is to be found." + +"Suppose I go along, too." + +"No, it would be easier for the Mexicans to see two than one, and we +shouldn't take unnecessary risks. Be sure you stay in the valley, Ned, +because I want to know where to find you when I come back. I've an idea +that the Mexican army isn't far, as we wound around a good deal during +the storm and darkness, and covered no great distance, if it were +counted in a straight line. At least I think so." + +"You'll find me here." + +Obed went toward the east, and Ned continued to make himself comfortable +on the grass, which was so long and thick that it almost hid his body. +But it was truly luxurious. It seemed that after so much hardship and +danger he could not get enough rest. He felt quite safe, too. It would +take a careful observer to see him lying there in the deep grass. It was +warm and dry where he lay, and the little valley was well hemmed in by +forest in which crotons, mimosas, myrtle oaks, okote pine and many other +trees grew. Some had large rich blossoms and he admired their beauty. + +His eyes wandered back from the forest to their new friend, the horse. +Besides being an animal of utility the horse added to their comradeship. +Ned felt that he still had a friend with him, although Obed was away. +Obed had spoken truly. It was a fine horse, a bay, tall, strong and +young, grazing with dignified content, at the end of a lariat about +forty feet in length. + +Ned watched the horse idly, and soon he saw him raise his head, stand +perfectly still for a moment or two, and then sniff the wind. The next +instant an extraordinary manifestation came from him. He whirled about +and galloped so fast to the end of his tether that he was thrown down by +the sharp jerk. He regained his feet and stood there, trembling all +over. His great eyes were distended. Ned had never before seen such a +picture of terror. + +The boy raised himself a little in the grass, but not so high that he +would be seen by an enemy. It was his first idea that Mexicans had come, +but the horse would not show such fright at the presence of human +beings. He looked in the direction opposite to the spot on which the +horse was standing. At first he saw nothing, but with intent looking he +detected a great body crouched in the grass and stealing forward slowly. +It was their old enemy, the jaguar, not a black one but tawny in color. + +Ned's rage rose. First a jaguar had attacked him, and now another was +stalking their horse. He felt pity for the poor animal which was tied, +and which could not escape. Now man who had tied him must save him. Ned +knew that if he cut the lariat the horse in its terror might run away +and never be retaken. A shot might be heard by the Mexicans, but he +believed that the probabilities were against it, and he decided to use +the rifle. + +He raised himself just a little more, careful to make no noise, and +watched the jaguar stealing through the tall grass, so intent on the +horse that it failed to notice the most dangerous of all enemies who lay +near. But Ned waited until the flank of the animal was well presented, +and, taking a sure aim, fired. + +The jaguar shot up into the air, as if an electric spring had been +released, then came down with a thump and was dead. The horse neighed in +terror at sight of his leaping foe and trembled more violently than +ever. Ned went to him first, and tried to soothe him which was a long +and difficult task. At last, he untethered the horse and led him to the +far end of the valley, where he tethered him again at least two hundred +yards from the dead body of the jaguar. Returning he looked at the +fallen animal, and marked with pleasure the correctness of his aim. He +had shot the jaguar squarely through the heart. Then he went back to his +place in the grass, but he did not doze or dream. The Mexicans might +come, drawn by his shot, and even if they did not, a member of the +unpleasant jaguar tribe might take a notion to stalk the only available +human being in that grassy little valley. + +But no Mexicans appeared, nor did he observe any other jaguar. When the +sun set, he began to feel a little uneasy about Obed. His uneasiness +increased with the darkness, but he was finally reassured by a whistle +from the head of the valley. Then he saw Obed's tall figure striding +down the slope in the dusk, and he went forward to meet him. + +"I suppose you've spent the afternoon sleeping," said Obed. + +"I might have done so, but we had a visitor." + +"A visitor? What kind of a visitor?" + +"A jaguar. He wanted to eat our horse and as the horse could not get +away, being tethered strongly, I had to shoot his jaguarship." + +He showed Obed the body, and his comrade approved highly of the shot. + +"And now for the history of my own life and adventures during the +afternoon," said Obed. "The country to the eastward is not rough, and I +made good time through it. Sure enough the army of Cos is there, about +five miles away, camped in a plain. It was beaten about a good deal by +the storm, and it keeps poor guard, because it is in its own country far +from any expected foe, and because the Mexicans are Mexicans. I think, +Ned, that we can lift a horse without great trouble or excessive danger. +We'll go over there about midnight." + +"And we'd better take our present horse with us," said Ned, "or other +jaguars may come." + +They remained in their own valley until the appointed time, and then set +out on a fairly dark night, each taking his turn at riding the horse. +They halted at the crest of a low hill, from which they saw the flash of +camp fires. + +"That's Cos and his army," said Obed. "They're down there, sprawled all +about the valley, and I imagine that by this time they're all asleep, +including a majority of the sentinels, and that's our opportunity." + +They tethered their own horse and crept down the slope. Soon they came +to the edge of the woods and saw the camp fires more plainly. All had +burned low, but they made out the shapes of tents, and, nearer by, a +dark mass which they concluded to be the horses belonging to the lancers +and other cavalry. They approached within a hundred yards, and saw no +sentinels by the horses, although they were able to discern several +moving figures farther on. + +"Now, Ned," said Obed, "you stay here and I'll try to cut out a horse, +the very best that I can find. Sit down on the ground, and have your +rifle ready. If I'm discovered and have to run for it you shoot the +first of my pursuers." + +Ned obeyed and Obed stole down toward the horses. Ned knew his comrade's +skill, and he believed he would employ the soft whistle that had been so +effective with the first horse. He watched the dark figure stealing +forward, and he admired Obed's skill. It would be almost impossible for +anyone to notice so faint a shadow in the darkness. Nevertheless, his +heart beat heavily. Despite all that Obed had said it was a dangerous +task, requiring both skill and luck. + +The faint shadow reached the black blur of the horses and disappeared. +Ned waited five minutes, ten, fifteen minutes, while the little pulses +beat hard in his temples. Then he saw a shadow detach itself from the +black blur. It was the figure of a man and he was on horseback. Obed had +succeeded. + +Ned remained kneeling, rifle in hand, to guard against any mistake. The +man on horseback rode toward him, while the sprawling army of Cos still +slept. Then Ned saw clearly that it was Obed, and that he rode a +magnificent black horse, sixteen hands high, as fiery as any that could +be found in all Mexico. + +In another moment Obed was by his side, looking down from the height of +his horse. In the moonlight Ned saw that his face was glowing. + +"Isn't he a beauty?" he said. "And I think, too, that he likes me. There +were three or four sentinels down there by the horses, but all of them +were fast asleep, and I had time to pick. I've also brought away a roll +of blankets, two for each of us, and I never woke a man. Now, Ned, we're +furnished complete, and we're off to Texas with your message." + +"The first thing, I suppose, is to introduce our horses to each other." + +"Correct. You and I are friends, Ned, and so must our horses be." + +They took a last look at the sleeping camp and went away through the +woods. Obed dismounted, and led his horse to the place where the second +was tied. The two horses whinnied and rubbed noses. + +"It's all right," said Obed. "When horse and man agree who can stop us?" + +Ned mounted the first, the bay, while Obed retained the black. Then they +rode all through the night, coming about dawn to a plain which turned +to sand and cactus, as they advanced further into the north. There was +no water here, but they had rilled their water bottles at the last brook +and they had no fear of perishing by thirst. Although they had passed +the army of Cos they did not fail to keep a vigilant watch. They knew +that patrols of Mexicans would be in the north, and the red men were +also to be feared. They were coming into regions across which mounted +Indians often passed, doing destruction with rifle and lance, spear and +arrow. Both had more apprehension now about Indians than Mexicans. + +At noon of that day they saw four horsemen on their left who shaped +their course toward theirs in such a manner that if they moved at an +equal pace they would meet at the point of a triangle. But the horses +that Ned and Obed rode were powerful animals, far superior to the +ordinary Mexican mounts, and they rode steadily ahead, apparently taking +no notice of the four on their flank. + +"They're Mexican scouts," said Obed, "I'm sure of it, but I don't +believe that they'll come too close. They see that we have rifles, and +they know the deadly nature of the Texan rifle. If we are friends it's +all right, if we are Texans it will be wise to keep at a good distance." + +Obed was a good prophet. The Mexicans, at a distance of almost a quarter +of a mile, raised a great shout. The two took no notice of it, but rode +on, their faces toward the north. + +"I can talk good Spanish or Mexican," said Obed, "and so can you, but +I'm out riding now and I don't feel like stopping for conversation. Ah, +there they are shouting again, and as I live, Ned, they're increasing +their speed. We'll give 'em a sign." + +Obed and Ned wheeled about and raised their rifles. The four Mexicans, +who were galloping their ponies, stopped abruptly. Obed and Ned turned +and rode on. + +"We gave 'em a sign," said Obed, "and they saw it. We're in no danger, +Ned. We could beat 'em either in a fight or a run. The battle is +sometimes to the strong and the race to the swift." + +It was obvious that the Mexicans, who were probably only scouts, did not +want a fight with formidable Texans who carried such long rifles. They +dropped back until Ned, taking a final look, could not tell their +distant figures from the stem of the lonesome cactus. + +"Horses and rifles are mighty useful in their place," said Obed. "Add to +them wood and water and what little more a man needs he should be able +to find." + +"It's wood and water that we ought to hunt now." + +"We may strike both before night, but if not we'll ride on a while +anyhow, and maybe we'll find 'em." + +They went deeper into the great upland which was half a desert and half +a plain. Occasionally they saw besides the cactus, mesquite and yucca +and some clumps of coarse grass. + +"Bunch grass," said Obed, "like that which you find further north, and +mighty good it is, too, for cattle and horses. We'll have plenty of food +for these two noble steeds of ours, and I shouldn't be surprised, too, +if we ran across big game. It's always where the bunch grass grows." + +They did not reach wood and water by nightfall, but, riding two hours +longer in a clear twilight, they found both. The plain rose and fell in +deep swells, and in the deepest of the swells to which they had yet to +come they found a trickling stream of clear water, free from alkali, +fringed on either shore with trees of moderate size. + +"Here we are," said Obed, "and here we stay till morning. You never know +how fine water looks until you've been a long time without it." + +They let their horses drink first, and then, going further up the +stream, drank freely of the water themselves. They found it cold and +good, and they were refreshed greatly. There was also a belt of +excellent grass, extending a hundred yards back on either side of the +stream, and, unsaddling and tethering their horses, they let them graze. +Both Ned and Obed would have liked a fire, but they deemed it dangerous, +and they ate their food cold. After supper, Obed walked up the stream a +little distance, examining the ground on either side of the water. When +he came back he said to Ned: + +"I saw animal tracks two or three hundred yards up the creek, and they +were made by big animals. Buffalo range about here somewhere, and we may +see 'em before we get through." + +"I wouldn't mind having a shot at a fine buffalo," said Ned. But he was +not very eager about it. He was thinking more then of sleep. Obed, while +thinking of sleep also, was thinking of other things, too, and he was +somewhat troubled in his mind. But he bore himself as a man of cheerful +countenance. + +"Now, Ned," he said, "you and I cannot go forever without sleep. We've +been through a good deal and we haven't closed our eyes for thirty-six +hours. I feel as if I had pound weights tied to my eyelids." + +"Two-pound weights are tied to mine." + +"Then we'll prove the value of my foresight in obtaining the two sets of +blankets by using them at once." + +Each lay down between his blankets, and Ned was soon asleep, but Obed, +by a violent effort, kept his eyes open. He could never remember a time +when it seemed sweeter to sleep, but he struggled continually against +it. When he saw that Ned's slumber was deep he rose and walked up and +down the stream again, going a half mile in either direction. + +At one point where there was a break in the fringe of trees the imprints +of the mighty hoofs were numerous, and, mingled with them, were tracks +made by horses' hoofs. It was these that worried Obed so much. They were +made by unshod hoofs, but evidently they were two or three days old, +and, after all, the riders might have passed on, not to return. +Smothering his anxiety as much as possible he went back to their little +camp, crept between his two blankets which felt very warm, and began to +watch with his eyes and ears, vowing to himself that he would not sleep. + +Yet within two hours he slept. Exhausted nature triumphed over will and +claimed her own. He was not conscious of any struggle. He was awake and +then he was not. The two tethered horses, having eaten all they wanted, +also settled themselves comfortably and slept. + +But while the two, or rather the four slept, something was moving far +out on the plain. + +It was an immense black mass with a front of more than a mile, and it +was coming toward Ned and Obed. This mass had been disturbed by a great +danger and it advanced with mighty heavings and tramplings. Ned and Obed +slept calmly for a long time, but as the black front of the moving mass +drew closer to the creek and its thin lines of trees, the boy stirred in +his blankets. A vague dream came and then a state that was half an +awakening. He was conscious in a dim way of a low, thundering sound that +approached and he sprang to his feet. The next instant a neigh of terror +came from one of the horses and Obed, too, awoke. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Ned. "Hear that roar! And it's drawing near, too!" + +"Yes, it's a buffalo herd!" said Obed. "We're far enough north now to be +within the buffalo ranges, and they're coming down on us fast. But they +must be scared or be drawn on by something, because it's not yet dawn." + +"All of which means that it's time for us to go." + +"Or be trodden to death." + +Naturally, they had slept in their clothes and they quickly gathered up +their arms and baggage. Then they released their frightened horses, +sprang upon their backs and galloped toward the north. They felt secure +now, so far as the herd was concerned. Their horses could easily take +them out of its reach. + +"Maybe they'll stop at the creek," said Ned. "I should think that the +water would hold anything in this thirsty land." + +Obed shook his head, but offered no further answer. The thunder of the +hoofs now filled their ears, and, as the sound advanced steadily, it was +evident that the creek had not stopped the buffalo herd. + +The dawn suddenly came up sharp and clear after the manner of southern +lands. The heavens turned blue, and a rosy light suffused the prairie. +Then Ned saw the front of the buffalo herd extending two or three miles +to right and to left. And he saw more. He saw the cause of the terror +that had smitten the herd. + +Brown men, almost naked and on horseback, darted in and out among the +buffaloes, shooting and stabbing. They were muscular men, fierce of +countenance, and their long black hair streamed out behind them. Some +carried rifles and muskets, and others carried lances and bows and +arrows. + +"Lipans," said Obed, "one of the fiercest of all the southwestern +tribes. They belong mostly across the Rio Grande, but I suppose they've +come for the buffalo. Ned, we're not wanted here." + +After the single look they were away toward the north, moving at a +smooth and easy gallop. They were truly thankful now that the horses +they rode were so large and powerful, evidently of American breed. It +was not difficult to increase the distance between them and the herd, +and they hoped to slip away before they were seen by any of the Lipans. +But a sudden shout behind them, a long, piercing whoop showed that they +had reckoned wrong. + +The two looked back. A group of warriors had gathered in advance of the +band, and it was obvious, as they galloped on, that they had seen the +two fugitives. Two or three shook their long lances, and pointed them +straight at Ned and Obed. Then uttering that long, menacing whoop again, +the group, about twenty in number, rode straight for the two, while the +rest continued their work with the herd. + +"It's a chase," said Obed. "Those fellows want scalps and they don't +care whether we're Texans or Mexicans. Besides, they may have better +horses than the Mexican ponies. But it's a long chase that has no +turning, and if our horses don't stumble we'll beat them. Look out for +potholes and such places." + +They rode knee to knee, not yet putting the horses to their full speed, +but covering the ground, nevertheless, at a great rate. It seemed play +for their fine horses, which arched their necks and sped on, not a drop +of perspiration yet staining their glossy skins. Ned felt the thrill, as +the ground spun back under his horse's feet, and the air rushed past his +face. It did not occur to him that the Lipans could overtake them, and +their pursuit merely added a fresh spice to a magnificent ride. + +He took another look back. The Lipans, although they had lost ground, +were still following. They came in a close group, carrying, besides +their arms, shields, made of layers of buffalo hide. Several wore +magnificent war bonnets. Otherwise all were naked save for the +breech-cloth, and their brown bodies were glistening with war paint. +Behind them, yet came the black front of the buffalo herd, but it was a +full mile away. + +Obed looked also, and his heart smote him. Older and more experienced +than Ned, he knew that with the fierce Lipans the most powerful of all +lures was the lure of scalps. Just as the wolf can trail down the moose +at last, they could follow for days on their tough mustangs. But as he +shifted his good rifle a bit he felt better. Both he and Ned were +splendid marksmen, and if the chase were a success for the Lipans there +would also be a bitter fight at the end of it. + +Now he and Ned ceased to talk, the sun blazed down on the plain, and on +sped the chase, hour after hour. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE TRIAL OF PATIENCE + + +The hours of the afternoon trailed slowly away, one by one. Perspiration +appeared at last upon the glossy skins of the horses, but their stride +did not abate. The powerful muscles still worked with their full +strength and ease. Ned never felt a tremor in the splendid horse beneath +him. But when he looked back again there were the Lipans, a little +further away, but hanging on as grimly as before, still riding in a +close group. + +Ned began to understand now the deadly nature of the pursuit. These +Lipans would follow not merely for hours, but into the night, and if he +and Obed were lost to sight in the darkness they would pick up the trail +the next day by the hoof prints on the plain. He felt with absolute +certainty that chance had brought upon them one of the deadliest dangers +they had yet encountered. + +"It's growing a little cooler, Obed," he said. + +"So it is. The evening wanes. But, Ned, do you see any sign of forest or +high hills ahead?" + +"I do not, Obed. There is nothing but the plain which waves like the +ripples on a lake, the bunches of buffalo grass here and there, and now +and then an ugly yucca." + +"You see just what I see, Ned, and as there is no promise of shelter +we'd better ease our horses a little. Our lives depend upon them, and +even if the Lipans do regain some of their lost ground now it will not +matter in the end." + +They let the horses drop into a walk, and finally, to put elasticity +back into their own stiffened limbs, they dismounted and walked awhile. + +"If the Lipans don't rest their horses now they will have to do it +later," said Obed, "but as they're mighty crafty they'll probably slow +down when we do. Do you see them now, Ned?" + +"Yes, there they are on the crest of a swell. They don't seem to gain on +us much. I should say they are a full mile away." + +"A mile and a half at least. The air of these great uplands is very +deceptive, and things look much nearer than they really are." + +"Look how gigantic they have grown! They stand squarely in the center of +the sun now." + +The sun was low and the Lipans coming out of the southwest were +silhouetted so perfectly against it that they seemed black and +monstrous, like some product of the primitive world. The fugitives felt +a chill of awe, but in a moment or two they threw it off, only to have +its place taken a little later by the real chill of the coming night. A +wind began to moan over the desolate plain, and their faces were stung +now and then by the fine grains of sand blown against them. But as the +Lipans were gaining but little, Ned and Obed still walked their horses. + +They went on thus nearly an hour. The night came, but it was not dark, +and they could yet see the Lipans following as certain as death. Before +them the plain still rolled away, bare and brown. There was not a sign +of cover. Ned's spirits began to sink. The silent and tenacious pursuit +weighed upon him. It was time to rest and sleep. The Lipans had been +pursuing for seven or eight hours now, and if they could not catch +fugitives in that time they ought to turn back. Nevertheless, there they +were, still visible in the moonlight and still coming. + +Ned and Obed remounted and rode at a running walk, which was easy but +which nevertheless took them on rapidly. But it became evident that the +Lipans had increased their pace in the same ratio, as the distance of a +mile and a half named by Obed did not decrease. Ned looked up longingly +at the sky. There was not a cloud. The moon, round and full, never shone +more brightly, and it seemed that countless new stars had arrived that +very night. He sighed. They might as well have been riding in broad +daylight. + +Toward midnight the swells and dips of the plain became accentuated, and +they lost sight of the pursuing Lipans. But there was yet no forest to +hide them, only the miserable mesquite and the ragged yucca. Save for +them the plain stretched away as bare and brown as ever. Two hours more +with the Lipans still lost to view, Obed called a halt. + +"The Lipans will pick up our trail in the morning," he said. "Though +lost to sight we are to their memory dear, and they will hang on. But +our horses are faster than theirs, and as they cannot come near us on +this bare plain, without being seen we can get away. Whereas, I say, and +hence and therefore we might as well rest and let our good steeds rest, +too." + +"What time would you say it is?" + +"About two o' the morning by the watch that I haven't got, and it will +be four or five hours until day. Ned, if I were you I'd lie down between +blankets. You can relax more comfortably and rest better that way." + +Ned did not wish to do it, but Obed insisted so strongly, and was so +persuasive that he acceded at last. They had chosen a place on a swell +where they could see anything that approached a quarter of a mile away, +and Obed stood near the recumbent boy, holding the bridles of the two +horses in one hand and his rifle in the other. + +The man's eyes continually traveled around the circle of the horizon, +but now and then he glanced at the boy. Ned, brave, enduring and +complaining so little, had taken a great hold upon his affection. They +were comrades, tried by many dangers, and no danger yet to come could +induce him to desert the boy. + +The moon and stars were still very bright, and Obed, as his eyes +traveled the circle of the horizon, saw no sign of the Indian approach. +But that the Lipans would come with the dawn, or some time afterward, he +did not have the slightest doubt. He glanced once more at Ned and then +he smiled. The boy, while never meaning it, was sleeping soundly, and +Obed was very glad. This was what he intended, relying upon Ned's utter +exhaustion of body and mind. + +All through the remaining hours of the night the man, with the bridles +of the two horses in one hand and the rifle in the other, kept watch. +Now and then he walked in a circle around and around the sleeping boy, +and once or twice he smiled to himself. He knew that Ned when he awoke +would be indignant because Obed let him sleep, but the man felt quite +able to stand such reproaches. + +Obed, staunch as he was, felt the weirdness and appalling loneliness of +time and place. A wolf howled far out on the plain, and the answering +howl of a wolf came back from another point. He shivered a little, but +he continued his steady tread around and around the circle. + +Dawn shot up, gilding the bare brown plain with silver splendor for a +little while. Obed awoke Ned, and laughed at the boy's protests. + +"You feel stronger and fresher, Ned," he said, "and nothing has been +lost." + +"What of you?" + +"I? Oh, I'll get my chance later. All things come to him who works while +he waits. Meanwhile, I think we'd better take a drink out of our water +bottles, eat a quick breakfast and be off before we have visitors." + +Once more in the saddle, they rode on over a plain unchanged in +character, still the same swells and dips, still the same lonesome +yuccas and mesquite, with the occasional clumps of bunch grass. + +"Don't you think we have shaken them off?" asked Ned. + +"No," replied Obed. "They would scatter toward dawn and the one who +picked up the trail would call the others with a whoop or a rifle shot." + +"Well, they've been called," said Ned, who was looking back. "See, +there, on the highest ridge." + +A faint, dark blur had appeared on a crest three or four miles behind +them, one that would have been wholly invisible had not the air been so +clear and translucent. It was impossible at the distance to distinguish +shapes or detach anything from the general mass, but they knew very well +that it was the Lipans. Each felt a little chill at this pursuit so +tenacious and so menacing. + +"I wish that we had some sort of a place like that in which we faced the +Mexicans, where we could put our backs to the wall and fight!" exclaimed +Ned. + +"I know how you feel," said Obed, "because I feel the same way myself, +but there isn't any such place, Ned, and this plain doesn't ever give +any sign of producing one, so we'll just ride on. We'll trust to time +and chance. Something may happen in our favor." + +They strengthened their hearts, whistled to their horses and rode +ahead. As on the day before the interminable pursuit went on hour after +hour. It was another hot day, and their water bottles were almost +emptied. The horses had had nothing to drink since the day before and +the two fugitives began to feel for them, but about noon they came to a +little pool, lying in a dip or hollow between the swells. It was perhaps +fifty feet either way, less than a foot deep and the water was yellowish +in color, but it contained no alkali nor any other bitter infusion. +Moreover, grass grew around its edges and some wild ducks swam on its +surface. It would have been a good place for a camp and they would have +stayed there gladly had it not been for that threat which always hung on +the southern horizon. + +The water was warm, but the horses drank deeply, and Ned and Obed +refilled their bottles. The stop enabled the pursuing Lipans to come +within a mile of them, but, moving away at an increased pace, they began +to lengthen the gap. + +"The Lipans will stop and water their ponies and themselves just as we +have done," said Obed. "Everything that we have to endure they have to +endure, too. It's a poor rule that doesn't work for one side as well as +the other." + +"It would all look like play," said Ned, "if we didn't know that it was +so much in earnest. Just as you said, Obed, they're stopping to drink at +the pond." + +A shadow seemed to pass between himself and the blazing glare of the +sun. He looked up. It was a shadow thrown by a great bird, with black +wings, flying low. Others of the same kind circled higher. Ned saw with +a shiver that they were vultures. Obed saw them, too, and he also saw +Ned's face pale a little. + +"You take it as an omen," he said, "and maybe it is, but it's a poor +omen that won't work both ways. They're flying back now towards the +Indians, so I guess the Lipans had better look out." + +Nevertheless, both were depressed by the appearance of the vultures and +the heat that afternoon grew more intense than ever. The horses, at +last, began to show signs of weariness, but Ned reflected that for every +mile they traveled the Lipans must travel one also, and he recalled the +words of Obed that chance might come to their aid. + +Another night followed, clear and bright, with the great stars dancing +in the southern skies, and Ned and Obed rode long after nightfall. Again +the Lipans sank from sight, and, as before, the two stopped on one of +the swells. + +"Now, Obed," said Ned, "it is your time to sleep and mine to watch. I +submitted last night and you must submit to-night. You know that you +can't go on forever without sleep." + +"Your argument is good," said Obed, "and I yield. It isn't worth while +for me to tell you to watch well, because I know you'll do it." + +He stretched himself out, folded between his blankets, and was soon +asleep. The horses tethered to a lonesome yucca found a few blades of +grass on the swell, which they cropped luxuriously. Then they lay down. +Ned walked about for a long time rifle on shoulder. It turned colder and +he wrapped his serape around his shoulders and chest. Finally he grew +tired of walking, and sat down on the ground, holding his rifle across +his lap. He sat on the highest point of the swell, and, despite the +night, he could see a considerable distance. + +His sight and hearing alike were acute, but neither brought him any +alarm. He tried to reconstruct in his mind the Lipan mode of procedure. +With the coming of the night and the disappearance of the fugitives from +their sight they would spread out in a long line, in order that they +might not pass the two without knowing it, and advance until midnight, +perhaps. Then they, too, would rest, and pick up the trail again in the +morning. + +Ned did not know that time could be so long. He had not been watching +more than three or four hours, and yet it seemed like as many days. But +it was not long until dawn, and then it would be time for them to be up +and away again. The horses reposed by the yucca, and, down the far side +of the swell, close to the bottom of the dip, was another yucca. Ned's +glance wandered toward the second yucca, and suddenly his heart thumped. + +There was a shadow within the shadow of the yucca. Then he believed that +it must be imagination, but nevertheless he rose to his feet and cocked +his rifle. The shadow blended with the shadow of the yucca just behind +its stern, but Ned, watching closely, saw in the next instant the two +shadows detach and separate. The one that moved was that of a Lipan +warrior, naked save for the breech-cloth and horrible with war paint. +Ned instantly raised his rifle and fired. The Lipan uttered a cry and +fell, then sprang to his feet, and ran away down the dip. In answer to +the shot came the fierce note of the war whoop. + +"Up, Obed, up!" cried Ned. "The Lipans are coming down upon us. I just +shot at one of them in the bush!" + +But Obed was up already, running toward the alarmed horses, his blankets +under one arm and his rifle under the other. Ned followed, and, in an +instant, they were on their horses with their arms and stores. From the +next swell behind them came a patter of shots, and, for the second +time, the war cry. But the two were now galloping northward at full +speed. + +"Good work, Ned, my lad," cried Obed. "I didn't have time to see what +you shot, but I heard the yell and I knew it must have been a Lipan." + +"He was stalking us, a scout, I suppose, and I just got a glimpse of him +behind a yucca. I hit him." + +"Good eyes and good hand. You saved us. They must have struck our trail +in some manner during the night and then they thought they had us. Ah, +they still think they have us!" + +The last remark was drawn by a shout and another spatter of shots. Two +or three bullets struck alarmingly close, and they increased the speed +of their horses, while the Lipans urged their ponies to their best. + +"They're too eager," said Obed. "It's time to give them a hint that +their company is not wanted." + +He wheeled and executed with success that most difficult of feats, a +running shot. A Lipan fell from his horse, and the others drew back a +little for fear of Ned, the second marksman. + +"They've taken the hint," said Obed grimly, as he accomplished a second +difficult feat, that of reloading his rifle while they were at full +gallop. The Lipans did not utter another war cry, but settled down into +a steady pursuit. + +"I think I'll try a shot, Obed," said Ned. + +"All right," said Obed, "but be sure that you hit something. Never waste +a good bullet on empty air." + +Ned fired. He missed the Lipan at whom he aimed, but he killed the pony +the warrior was riding. The Indian leaped on the pony that had been +ridden by the warrior slain by Obed and continued in the group of +pursuers. Ned looked somewhat chagrined, and Obed noticed it. + +"You did very well, Ned," he said. "Of course, no one likes to kill a +horse, but it's the horses that bring on the Lipans, and the fewer +horses they have the better for us." + +Ned also reloaded as they galloped and then said: + +"Don't you think they're dropping back a little?" + +"Yes, they want to keep out of range. They know that our rifles carry +farther than theirs, and they will not take any more risk until they +finally corner us, of which they feel sure." + +"But of which we are not so sure." + +"No, and we are going to be hidden from them, for a while, by something. +You haven't noticed, Ned, that the country is rapidly growing much +worse, and that we are now in what is practically a sandy desert. You +don't see even a yucca, but you do see something whirling there in the +southwest. That's a 'dust devil,' and there's a half dozen more whirling +in our direction. We're going to have a sand storm." + +Ned looked with interest. The "dust devils," rising up like water +spouts, danced over the surface of the sand. They were a half dozen, +then a dozen, then twenty. A sharp wind struck the faces of the two +fugitives, and it had an edge of fine sand that stung. All the "dust +devils" were merged and the air darkened rapidly. The cloud of dust +about them thickened. They drew their sombreros far down over their +eyes, and rode very close together. They could not see twenty yards +away, and if they became separated in the dust storm it was not likely +that they would ever see each other again. But they urged their horses +on at a good rate, trusting to the instinct of the animals to take them +over a safe course. + +Ned had not only pulled the brim of his sombrero down over his eyes, but +he reinforced it with one hand to keep from being blinded, for the time, +by the sand, but it was hard work. As a final resort he let the lids +remain open only enough for him to see his comrade who was but three +feet away. Meanwhile, he felt the sand going down his collar, and +entering every opening of his clothing, scratching and stinging his +skin. The wind all the time was roaring in his ears, and now and then +the horses neighed in alarm. But they kept onward. Ned knew that they +were passing dips and swells, but he knew nothing else. + +The storm blew itself out in about three hours. Ned and Obed emerged +from an obscurity as great as that of night. The wind ceased shrieking +and was succeeded by a stillness that was almost deathly in comparison. +The sun came out suddenly, and shone brightly over the dips and swells. +But Ned and Obed looked at each other and laughed. Both were so thickly +plastered with sand and dust that they had little human semblance. + +Ned shook himself, and a cloud of dust flew from him, but so much +remained that he could not tell the difference. + +"I think we'd better take a drink out of our water bottles," said Obed. +"I'd like mighty well to have a bath, too, but I don't see a bath tub +convenient. Is there any sign of our friends, the enemy, Ned?" + +"None," replied Ned, examining the horizon line. "There is absolutely +nothing within view on the plains." + +"Don't you fret about 'em. They'll come. They'll spread out and pick up +our trail just as they do every morning." + +Obed spoke dispassionately, as if he and Ned were not concerned in it. +His predictions were justified. Before night they saw the Lipans coming +as usual in a close group, now at a distance of about three miles. Ned +could not keep from shuddering. They were as implacable as fate. Night, +the storm and bullets did not stop them. They could not shake them off +in the immense spaces of plain and desert. A kind of horror seized him. +Such tenacity must triumph. Was it possible that Obed and he would fall +victims after all? At least it seemed sure that in the end they would be +overtaken, and Ned began to count the odds in a fight. Anything seemed +better than this interminable flight. + +They were cheered a little by the aspect of the country, which began to +change considerably for the better. The cactus reappeared and then a few +trees, lonesome and ragged, but trees, nevertheless. It is wonderful how +much humanity a tree has in a sad and sandy land. The soil grew much +firmer and soon they saw clumps of buffalo grass. Several small groups +of buffalo were also visible. + +"There's better country ahead, as you see," said Obed. "Besides, I've +been along this way before. We'll strike water by dark." + +They reached a tiny brook just as the twilight came, at which both they +and their horses drank. They also took the time to wash their hands and +faces, but they dared not delay any longer for fear of being overtaken +by the Lipans. The night and the following day passed in the same manner +as the others, and the horses of Ned and Obed, splendid animals though +they were, began to show signs of fatigue. One limped a little. The +dreaded was happening. The Indian ponies made only of bone and muscle +were riding them down. + +On the other hand, the character of the country now encouraged the +fugitives. The yucca and the mesquite turned into oak. They passed +through large groves and they hoped that they might soon enter a great +forest in which they could hide their trail wholly from the Lipans. They +crossed two considerable streams, knee deep on the horses, and then they +entered the forest for which they had hoped so much. It was of oaks +without much undergrowth and the ground was hilly. They rode through it +until past midnight. Then they stopped by the edge of a blue pool, and +while the other watched with the rifle each took the bath that he had +coveted so long. + +"I feel that I can fight battles and also run better now that I've got +rid of ten pounds of sand and dust," said Obed, "and I guess you feel +the same way, Ned. I suppose you've noticed that the other horse has +gone lame, too?" + +"Yes, I noticed it. I don't believe either could make much speed +to-morrow." + +"They certainly couldn't unless they had a long rest, and here we stay. +There need be no secrets between you and me, Ned, about this pursuit. I +think it's likely that we'll have a fight in the morning, and we might +as well choose our fort." + +The horses were panting and both now limped badly. It was quite evident +that they were spent. Beyond the pool was a tiny valley or glade with a +good growth of grass, and, after tying the reins to the pommels of the +saddles, they released the two faithful beasts there. Obed thought once +of tethering them but he reflected that to do so would make them sure +targets of the Indian bullets or arrows. They, too, deserved a chance to +escape. + +Then he and Ned looked around for the fort, of which they had spoken, +and they found it beyond the pool in an opening which would have been +called a little prairie in the far north. In the center of this opening +grew a rather thick cluster of trees, and there was some fallen wood. A +rifle bullet would not reach from any point of the forest to the +cluster. + +They drew up all the fallen wood they could find, helping to turn the +ring of trees into a kind of fortification, refilled their water bottles +from the pool, and sat down to wait, with their rifles and pistols +ready. + +Ned felt a kind of relief, the relief that comes to one who, having +faced the worst so long, now knows that it has been realized. The +terrible chase had gone on for nights and days. Always the Lipans were +behind them. Well, if they were so fond of pursuing, now let them come. +By the aid of the dead wood they were fairly well protected from a fire +in any direction, and the light was sufficient for them to see an enemy +who attempted to cross the open. There was a certain grim pleasure in +the situation. + +"They've run us down at last," said Obed, "but they haven't got us yet. +Before you scalp your man just catch him is a proverb that I would +recommend to the Lipans. Now, Ned, suppose we eat a little, and brace +ourselves for the arrival of the pursuit." + +They ate with a good appetite and then lay propped on their elbows, +where they could look just over the logs at the circling forest. It was +very quiet. Nothing stirred among the trees. Their eyes, used now to the +half dusk, could see almost as well as if it were daylight. Ned finally +noticed some dark objects on the boughs of the trees and called Obed's +attention to them. + +"Wild turkeys," said Obed, after a long look. "The first we've seen and +we can't take a shot at them. They must know it or they wouldn't sit +there so quiet and easy." + +A half hour later, Ned saw something move among the trees at the nearest +point of the forest. It looked like a shadow and was gone in an +instant. But his heart leaped. He felt sure that it was a Lipan, and +told Obed of his suspicion. + +"Of course you're right," said the Maine man. "They may have been there +in the woods for an hour spying us out. They've dismounted and have left +their horses further back among the trees. Suppose you watch to the +right while I face to the left. I think the two of us together can cover +a whole circle." + +Ned felt a singular composure. It seemed to him that he had passed +through so many emotions that he had none left now but calm and +expectancy. As the night was somewhat cold he even remembered to throw +one of the blankets over his body, as he lay behind the log. Obed +noticed it and his sharp eyes brightened with approval. It was obvious +that the Lipans were now in the woods about them, and that the long +chase was at an end, but the boy was as steady as a rock. + +Ned looked continually for the second appearance of the shadows. Nothing +within the range of his half circle escaped him. He saw the wild turkeys +unfold their wings, and fly heavily away, which was absolute proof of +the presence of the Lipans. He finally saw the shadow for the second +time, and, at almost the same moment, a pink dot appeared in the woods. +The crack of a rifle followed, and a bullet knocked up a little dust at +least fifty yards short of them. Obed sniffed contemptuously. + +"One good bullet wasted," he said, "and one good bullet, I suppose, +deserves another, but they won't fire again--yet. It shows that they +know we're on guard. They won't rush us. They'll wait for time, thirst +and starvation." + +Obed was right. Not another shot was fired, nor did any of the Lipans +show themselves. Day came, and the forest was as quiet and peaceful as +if it were a park. Some little birds of brilliant plumage sang as +heralds of dawn, and sunlight flooded the trees and the opening. Ned and +Obed moved themselves into more comfortable positions and waited. + +They were to have another terrible trial of Indian patience. No attack +was made. The two lay behind the logs and watched the circle of the +forest, until their eyes grew weary. The silence and peace that had +marked the dawn continued through all the hours of the morning. Although +the wild turkeys had flown away, the birds that lived in this forest +seemed to take no alarm. They hopped peacefully from bough to bough, and +sang their little songs as if there were no alien presence. But Ned and +Obed had been through too many dangers to be entrapped into a belief +that the Lipans had gone. They matched patience with patience. The sun +went slowly up toward the zenith, and the earth grew hot, but they were +protected from the fiery rays by the foliage of the trees. Yet Ned grew +restless. He was continually poking the muzzle of his rifle over the log +and seeking a target, although the forest revealed no human being. +Finally Obed put his hand upon his arm. + +"Easy, now, easy, Ned," he said. "Don't waste your strength and nerves. +They can't charge us, at least in the daylight, without our seeing them, +and, when they come, we want to be as strong of body and brain as +possible. We won't take the fight to them. They must bring it to us." + +Ned blushed. Meanwhile the afternoon dragged on, slow and silent, as the +morning had been. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE TEXANS + + +Late in the afternoon Ned's nerves began to affect him again. Once more, +the old longing for action took such strong hold upon him that he could +not cast it off for a long time. But he hid his face from Obed. He did +not want his older comrade to see that he was white and trembling. +Finally, he took some food from his pack and bit fiercely upon it, as he +ate. It was not for the food that he cared, but it was a relief to bring +his teeth together so hard. Obed looked at him approvingly. + +"You're setting a good example, Ned," he said, "and I'll follow it." + +He too ate, and then took a satisfactory drink from his water bottle. +Meanwhile the sun was setting in a cloudless sky, and both noticed with +satisfaction that it would be a clear night. Eyes, trained like theirs, +could see even in the dusk an enemy trying to creep upon them. + +"Do you think you could sleep a while, Ned?" said Obed, persuasively. +"Of course, I'll awake you at the first alarm, if the alarm itself +doesn't do it. Sleep knits us up for the fray, and a man always wants to +be at his best when he goes into battle." + +"How could a fellow sleep now?" + +"Only the brave and resolute can do it," replied Obed, cunningly. +"Napoleon slept before Austerlitz, and while no Austerlitz is likely to +happen down here in the wilderness of Northern Mexico there is nothing +to keep those who are able from copying a great man." + +The appeal to Ned's pride was not lost. + +"I think I'll try it," he said. + +He lay down behind the log with his rifle by his side, and closed his +eyes. He had no idea that he could go to sleep, but he wished to show +Obed his calmness in face of danger. Yet he did sleep, and he did not +awaken until Obed's hand fell upon his shoulder. He would have sprung +up, all his faculties not yet regained, but Obed's hand pressed him +down. + +"Don't forget where you are, Ned," said the Maine man, "and that we are +still besieged." + +Yet the night was absolutely still and Ned, from his recumbent position, +looked up at a clear sky and many glittering stars. + +"Has anything happened?" he asked. + +"Not a thing. No Lipan has shown himself even among the trees." + +"About what time do you think it is?" + +"Two or three hours after midnight, and now I'm going to take a nap +while you watch. Ned, do you know, I've an idea those fellows are going +to sit in the woods indefinitely, safe, beyond range, and wait for us to +come out. Doesn't it make you angry?" + +"It does, and it makes me angry also to think that they have our horses. +Those were good horses." + +Obed slept until day, and Ned watched with a vigilance that no creeping +enemy could pass. The Lipans made no movement, but the siege, silent and +invisible, went on. Ned had another attack of the nerves, but, as his +comrade was sleeping soundly, he took no trouble to hide it, and let the +spell shake itself out. + +The day was bright, burning and hot, and it threatened to pass like its +predecessor, in silence and inaction. Ned and Obed had been lying down +or sitting down so long that they had grown stiff, and now, knowing that +they were out of range they stood up and walked boldly about, tensing +and flexing their muscles, and relieving the bodily strain. Ned thought +that their appearance might tempt the Lipans to a shot or some other +demonstration, but no sound came from the woods, and they could not see +any human presence there. "Maybe they have gone away after all," said +Ned hopefully. + +"If you went over there to the woods you'd soon find out that they +hadn't." + +"Suppose they really went away. We'd have no way of knowing it and then +we'd have to sit here forever all the same." + +Obed laughed, despite the grimness of their situation. + +"That is a problem," he said, "but if you can't work a problem it will +work itself if you only give it enough time." + +The morning was without result, but in the afternoon they saw figures +stirring in the wood and concluded that some movement was at hand. + +"Ned," said Obed, "I think we've either won in the contest of patience, +or that something else has occurred to disturb the Lipans. Don't you see +horses as well as Indians there among the trees?" + +"I can count at least five horses, and I've no doubt there are others." + +"All of which to my mind indicates a rush on horseback. Perhaps they +think they can gallop over us. We'd better lay our pistols on the logs, +where we can get at 'em quick, and be ready." + +Ned's sharp eye caught sight of more horses at another point. + +"They're coming from all sides," he said. + +"You face to the right and I'll face to the left," said Obed, "and be +sure your bullet counts. If we bring down a couple of them they will +stop. Indians are not fond of charging in the open, and, besides, it +will be hard for them to force their horses in among these logs and +trees of ours." + +Ned did not answer, but he had listened attentively. The muzzle of his +rifle rested upon the log beside his pistol, and, with his eye looking +down the sights, he was watching for whatever might come. + +A sharp whistle sounded from the wood. At the same instant, three bands +of Lipans galloped from the trees at different points, and converged +upon the little fortress. They were all naked to the waist, and the sun +blazed down upon their painted bodies, lighting up their lean faces and +fierce eyes. They uttered shout after shout, as they advanced, and as +they came closer, bent down behind the shoulders of their ponies or +clung to their sides. + +The tremor of the nerves seized Ned again, but it was gone in a moment. +Then a fierce passion turned the blood in his veins to fire. Why were +these savages seeking his life? Why had they hung upon his trail for +days and days? And why had they kept up that silent and invincible siege +so long? Yet he did not forget his earlier resolution to watch for a +good shot, knowing that his life hung upon it. But it was hard to hold +one's fire when the thud of those charging hoofs was coming closer. + +The horsemen in front of him were four in number, and the leader who +wore a brilliant feathered headdress, seemed to be a chief. Ned chose +him for his target, but for a few moments the Lipan made his pony bound +from side to side in such a manner that he could not secure a good aim. +But his chance came. The Lipan raised his head and opened his mouth to +utter a great shout of encouragement to his followers. The shout did not +pass his lips, because Ned's bullet struck him squarely in the forehead, +and he fell backward from his horse, dead before he touched the ground. + +Ned heard Obed's rifle crack with his own, but he could not turn his +head to see the result. He snatched up his pistol and fired a second +shot which severely wounded a Lipan rider, and then all three parties of +the Lipans, fearing the formidable hedge, turned and galloped back, +leaving two of their number lifeless upon the ground. + +Obed had not fired his pistol, but he stood holding it in his hand, his +eyes flashing with grim triumph. Ned was rapidly reloading his rifle. + +"If we didn't burn their noble Lipan faces then I'm mightily mistaken," +said Obed, as he too began to reload his rifle. "A charge that is not +pressed home is no charge at all. Hark, what is that?" + +There was a sudden crash of rifle shots in the forest, the long whining +whoop of the Lipans and then hard upon it a deep hoarse cheer. + +"White men!" exclaimed Ned. + +"And Texans!" said Obed. "Such a roar as that never came from Mexican +throats. It's friends! Do you hear, Ned, it's friends! There go the +Indians!" + +Across the far edge of the open went the Lipans in wild flight, and, as +they pressed their mustangs for more speed, bullets urged them to +efforts yet greater. Fifteen or twenty men galloped from the trees, and +Ned and Obed, breaking cover, greeted them with joyous shouts, which the +men returned in kind. + +"You don't come to much," exclaimed Ned, "but we can say to you that +never were men more welcome." + +"Which I beg to repeat and emphasize," said Obed White. + +"Speak a little louder," said the foremost of the men, leaning from his +horse and couching one hand behind his ear. + +Ned repeated his words in a much stronger tone, and the man nodded and +smiled. Ned looked at him with the greatest interest. He was of middle +age and medium size. Hair and eyes were intensely black, and his +complexion was like dark leather. Dressed in Indian costume he could +readily have passed for a warrior. Yet this man had come from the far +northern state of New York, and it was only the burning suns of the +Texas and North Mexican plains that had turned him to his present +darkness. + +"Glad to meet you, my boy," he said, leaning from his horse and holding +out a powerful hand, burnt as dark as his face. "My name's Smith, +Erastus Smith." + +Ned grasped his hand eagerly. This was the famous "Deaf" Smith--destined +to become yet more famous--although they generally pronounced it D-e-e-f +in Texas. + +"Guess we didn't come out of season," said Smith with a smile. + +"You certainly didn't," broke in Obed. "There's a time for all things, +and this was your time!" + +"I believe they're real glad to see us. Don't you think so, Jim?" said +Smith with a smile. + +The man whom he called Jim had been sitting on his horse, silent, and he +remained silent yet, but he nodded in reply. Ned's gaze traveled to him +and he was certainly a striking figure. He was over six feet in height, +with large blue eyes and fair hair. His expression was singularly +gentle and mild, but his appearance nevertheless, both face and figure, +indicated unusual strength. Obed had not noticed him before, but now he +exclaimed joyfully: + +"Why, it's Colonel Jim Bowie! Jim, it's me, Obed White! Shake hands!" + +"So it is you, Obed," said the redoubtable Bowie, "and here we shake." + +The hands of the two met in a powerful clasp. Then they all dismounted +and another man, short and thick, shook Obed by the hand and called him +by his first name. He was Henry Karnes, the Tennesseean, great scout and +famous borderer of the Texas plains. + +Ned looked with admiration at these men, whose names were great to him. +On the wild border where life depended almost continually upon skill and +quickness with weapons, "Deaf" Smith, Jim Bowie and Henry Karnes were +already heroes to youth. Ned thrilled. He was here with his own people, +and with the greatest of them. He had finished his long journey and he +was with the Texans. The words shaped themselves again and again in his +brain, the Texans! the Texans! the Texans! + +"You two seem to have given the Lipans a lot of trouble," said Bowie, +looking at the two fallen warriors. + +"We were putting all the obstacles we could in the way of what they +wanted," said Obed modestly, "but we don't know what would have happened +if you hadn't come. Those fellows had been following us for days, and +they must have had some idea that you were near, or they would have +waited still longer." + +"They must not have known that we were as near as we were," said Bowie, +"or they would not have invited our attack. We heard the firing and +galloped to it at once. But you two need something better than talk." + +He broke off suddenly, because Ned had sat down on one of the logs, +looking white and ill. The collapse had come after so many terrible +trials and privations, and not even his will could hold him. + +"Here, you take a drink of this water, it's good and cold," said "Deaf" +Smith kindly as he held out a canteen. "I reckon that no boy has ever +passed through more than you have, and if there's any hero you are one." + +"Good words," said Bowie. + +Ned smiled. These words were healing balm to his pride. To be praised +thus by these famous Texans was ample reward. Besides, he had great and +vital news to all, and he knew that Obed would wait for him to tell it. + +"I think," said Bowie, "that we'd better camp for the night in the clump +of trees that served you two so well, and, before it's dark, we'll look +around and see what spoil is to be had." + +They found three rifles that had been dropped by slain or wounded +Lipans, and they were well pleased to get them, as rifles were about to +become the most valuable of all articles in Texas. They also recovered +Ned and Obed's horses, which the Indians had left in the valley, +evidently expecting to take them away, when they secured the scalps of +the two fugitives. + +Ned, after the cold water and a little rest, fully recovered his +strength and poise, but the men would not let him do any work, telling +him that he had already done his share. So he sat on his log and watched +them as they prepared camp and supper. Besides being the Texans and his +own people, to whom he had come after the long journey of perils, they +made a wonderful appeal. These were the bold riders, the dauntless, the +fearless. He would not find here the pliancy, the cunning, the craft and +the dark genius of Santa Anna, but he would find men who talked +straight, who shot straight, and who feared nobody. + +They were sixteen in number, and all were clad wholly in buckskin, with +fur caps upon their heads. They were heavily armed, every man carrying +at least a rifle, a pistol, and a formidable knife, invented by Bowie. +All were powerful physically, and every face had been darkened by the +sun. Ned felt that such a group as this was a match for a hundred +Mexicans or Lipans. + +They worked dextrously and rapidly, unsaddling their horses and +tethering them where they could graze in the open, drawing up the dead +wood until it made a heap which was quickly lighted, and then cooking +strips of venison over the coals. There was so much life, so much +cheerfulness, and so much assurance of strength and invincibility that +Ned began to feel as if he did not have a care left. All the men already +called him Ned, and he felt that every one of them was his friend. + +Karnes put a strip of venison on the sharp end of a stick, and broiled +it over the blaze. It gave out a singularly appetizing odor, and when it +was done he extended it to the boy. + +"Here, Ned," he said, "take this on the end of your knife and eat it. +I'll wager that you haven't had any good warm victuals for a week, and +it will taste mighty well." + +Ned ate it and asked for more. He would have done his own cooking, but +they would not let him. They seemed to take a pleasure in helping him, +and, used as they were to hardships and danger, they admired all the +more the tenacity and courage that had brought a boy so far. + +"We can promise you one thing, Ned," said "Deaf" Smith. "We'll see that +you and Obed have a full night's good sleep and I guess you'll like +that about as much as a big supper." + +"We certainly will," said Obed. "Sleep has got a lot of knitting to do +in my case." + +"The same is true of me," said Ned, who had now eaten about all he +wanted, "but before I roll up in the blankets I want to say something to +you men." + +His voice had suddenly become one of great gravity, and, despite his +youth, it impressed them. The darkness had now come, but the fire made a +center of light. They had put themselves in easy attitudes about it, +while the horses grazed just beyond them. + +"I come from Texas myself," said Ned, "although I was born in Missouri. +My parents are dead, and I thought I could make my way in Texas. I met +Mr. Austin who is related to me, and he was good to me more than once. +When he went to Mexico to talk with the rulers there about our troubles +I went with him. I was a prisoner with him in the City of Mexico, and I +often saw the dictator, Santa Anna, and his brother-in-law, General +Cos." + +Ned paused and a deep "Ah!" came from the men. They felt from his face +and manner that he was telling no idle tale. + +"They said many fine words to Mr. Austin," said Ned, "and always they +promised that they were going to do great things for Texas. But much +time passed and they did nothing. Also they kept Mr. Austin a prisoner. +Then I escaped. I believed that they were preparing to attack Texas. I +was right. I was recaptured and both President Santa Anna and General +Cos told me so. They told me because they did not believe I could escape +again, as they sent me to one of the submarine dungeons under the castle +of San Juan de Ulua. But even under the sea I found a friend, Obed +here, and we escaped together. We have since seen the army of General +Cos, and it is marching straight upon Texas. Santa Anna means to crush +us and to execute all our leaders." + +Again came that deep murmurous "Ah!" and now it was full of anger and +defiance. + +"You say you saw the army of Cos?" asked Bowie. + +"Yes," replied Ned, "I saw it before I was taken to the castle of San +Juan de Ulua and afterward in Northern Mexico, marching straight toward +Texas. It is a large force, cannon and lancers, horse and foot." + +"And so Santa Anna has been lulling us with promises, while sending an +army to destroy us." + +Bowie's tone, so gentle and mild before, grew hard and bitter. The +firelight flickered across his face and to Ned the blue eyes looked as +cold and relentless as death. He had heard strange stories of this man, +tales of desperate combats in Mississippi and Louisiana, and he believed +now that they were true. He could see the daring and determined soul +behind the blue eyes. + +While Ned was talking "Deaf" Smith was leaning forward with his hand +behind his ear. When the story was finished the dark face grew still +darker, but he said nothing. The others, too, were silent but Ned knew +their minds. It was a singular little company drawn from different +American states, some from the far north, but all alike in their +devotion to the vague region then known as Texas. + +"I think, Ned," said Bowie, "that you have served Texas well. We have +been divided among ourselves. Many have believed in propitiating Santa +Anna and Mexico, but how can you propitiate a tiger that is about to +devour you? We cannot trust Mexico, and we cannot trust Santa Anna. +Your message settles all doubt and gives us time to arm. Thank God we +refused to give up our rifles, because we are going to need them more +than anything else on earth. It was surely more than luck that brought +us this way. We came down here, Ned, on an expedition, half for hunting +and half for scouting, and we've found more than we expected. We must +start for Texas in the morning. Is it not so, boys?" + +"Yes," they answered all together. + +"Then, Ned," said Bowie, "you can tell your story to Sam Houston and all +our leaders, and I think I know what they will say. We are few, but +Santa Anna and all Mexico cannot ride over Texas. And now it's time for +you and Obed to go to sleep. I should think that after being chased +nearly a week you'd be glad to rest." + +"We are," said Obed, answering for them both, "and once more we want to +thank you. If you hadn't come the Lipans would certainly have got us." + +The night, as usual, was chilly, and Ned spread his blankets in front of +the fire. His saddle formed a pillow for his head, and with one blanket +beneath him, another above him, and the stalwart Texans all about him, +he felt a deep peace, nay more, a great surge of triumph. He had made +his way through everything. Santa Anna and Cos could not attack the +Texans, unwarned. Neither Mexicans nor Lipans, neither prisons nor +storms nor deserts had been able to stop him. + +After the triumphant leap of his blood the great peace possessed him +entirely. His mind and body relaxed completely. His eyelids drooped and +the flames danced before him. The figures of the men became dusky. +Sometimes he saw them and sometimes he did not. Then everything +vanished, and he fell into a long and sound sleep. + +While Ned and Obed slept, the Texans conferred earnestly. They knew that +every word Ned had told was true, and they felt that the trouble between +Texas and Mexico had now come to a head. It must be war. They were fully +aware of the fearful odds, but they did not believe the Texans would +flinch. Three or four rode a long distance around the camp and scouted +carefully. But, as they had expected, they saw no sign of the Lipans, +who undoubtedly were still fleeing southward, carrying in their hearts a +healthy fear of the long rifles of the Texans. + +After the scouts came back most of the men went to sleep, but Bowie and +"Deaf" Smith watched all through the night. Ned moved a little toward +the morning and displaced the blanket that lay over him. Bowie gently +put it back. + +"He's a good boy as well as a brave one," he said to Smith, "and we owe +him a lot." + +"Never a doubt of that," said Smith, "and he'll be with us in the coming +struggle." + +When Ned awoke the dawn was barely showing, but all the horses, +including his own, were saddled and ready. They ate a brief breakfast, +and then they galloped northward over a good country. They did not +trouble to look for the army of Cos, as they knew that it was coming and +it was their object to spread the alarm as soon as possible through all +the Texas settlements. Ned, refreshed and strong, was in the center of +the troop and he rode with a light heart. Obed was on one side of him, +and "Deaf" Smith on the other. + +"To-night," said Smith, "we water our horses in the Rio Grande." + +"And then ho for Texas!" said Obed. + +On they sped, their even pace unbroken until noon, when they made a +short rest for food and water. Then they sped north once more, Bowie, +Smith and Karnes leading the way. They said very little now, but every +one in the group was thinking of the scattered Texans, of the women and +children in the little cabins beyond the Rio Grande, harried already by +Comanches and Lipans and now threatened by a great Mexican force. They +had come from different states and often they were of differing +counsels, but a common danger would draw them together. It was +significant that Smith, the New Yorker, and Bowie, the Georgian, rode +side by side. + +All through the hot sun of the afternoon they rode on. Twilight found +them still riding. Far in the night they waded and swam the Rio Grande, +and the next morning they stood on the soil that now is Texas. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE RING TAILED PANTHER + + +Texas was then a vague and undetermined name in the minds of many. It +might extend to the Rio Grande or it might extend only to the Nueces, +but to most the Rio Grande was the boundary between them and Mexico. So +felt Ned and all his comrades. They were now on the soil which might own +the overlordship of Mexico, but for which they, the Texans, were +spending their blood. It was strange what an attachment they had for it, +although not one of them was born there. Beyond, in the outer world, +there was much arguing about the right or wrong of their case, but they +knew that they would have to fight for their lives, and for the homes +they had built in the wilderness on the faith of promises that had been +broken. That to them was the final answer and to people in such a +position there could be no other. + +The sight of Texas, green and fertile, with much forest along the +streams was very pleasant to Ned, and those rough frontiersmen in +buckskin who rode with him were the very men whom he had chosen. He had +been in a great city, and he had talked with men in brilliant uniforms, +but there everything seemed old, so far away in thought and manner from +the Texans, and he could never believe the words of the men in brilliant +uniforms. There, the land itself looked ancient and worn, but here it +was fresh and green, and men spoke the truth. + +They rode until nearly noon, when they stopped in a fine grove of oaks +and pecans by the side of a clear creek. The grass was also rich and +deep here, and they did not take the trouble to tether their horses. Ned +was exceedingly glad to dismount as he was stiff and sore from the long +ride, and he was also as hungry as a wolf. + +"Lay down on the grass, Ned, an' stretch yourself," said Karnes. "When +you're tired the best way to rest is to be just as lazy as you can be. +The ground will hold you up an' let your lungs do their own breathin'. +Don't you go to workin' 'em yourself." + +Ned thought it good advice and took it. It was certainly a great luxury +to make no physical exertion and just to let the ground hold him up, as +Karnes had said. Obed imitated his example, stretching himself out to +his great thin length on the soft turf. + +"Two are company and twenty are more so," he said, "especially if you're +in a wild country. My burden of care isn't a quarter as heavy since we +met Jim Bowie, and all the rest of these sure friends and sure shots. +This isn't much like San Juan de Ulua is it, Ned? You wouldn't like to +be back there." + +The boy looked up at the vast blue dome of the heavens, then he listened +a moment to the sigh of the free wind which came unchecked a thousand +miles and he replied with so much emphasis that his words snapped: + +"Not for worlds, Obed!" + +Obed White laughed and rolled over in the grass. + +"I do believe you mean that, Ned," he said, "and the sentiments that you +speak so well are also mine own." + +Smith and Karnes went a little distance up the creek, and found some +buffalo feeding. They shot a young cow, and in an incredibly short space +tender steaks were broiling over a fire. After dinner all but two went +to sleep. They understood well the old maxim that the more haste the +less speed, and that the sleep and rest through the hours of the +afternoon would make them fit for the long riding that was yet before +them. + +At five o'clock they were in the saddle again, and rode until midnight. +The next morning the party separated. The men were to carry the blazing +torch throughout the settlements, telling all the Texans that the +Mexicans were coming and that they were bringing war with them. But +Bowie, "Deaf" Smith and Karnes kept on with Ned and Obed. + +"We're taking you to Sam Houston," said Bowie to Ned. "He's to be the +general of all the Texan forces, we think, and we want you to tell him +what you've told us." + +They began now to see signs of settlements in the river bottoms where +the forests grew. There were stray little log cabins, almost hidden +among the oaks and pecans. Women and children came forth to see the +riders go by. The women were tanned like the men, and often they, too, +were clothed in buckskin. The children, bare of foot and head, seemed +half wild, but all, despite the sun, had the features of the Northern +races. + +Ned could not keep from waving his hand to them. These were his people, +and he was thankful that he should have so large a part in the attempt +to save them. But he only had fleeting glimpses because they rode very +fast now. He was going to Sam Houston, famous throughout all the +Southwest, and Houston was at one of the little new settlements some +distance away. He would tell his story again, but he knew that the +Texans were already gathering. The messengers detached from the group +had now carried the alarm to many a cabin. + +Several times at night they saw points of fire on the horizon and they +would pause to look at them. + +"That's the Texans signaling to one another," said "Deaf" Smith. +"They're passing the word westward. They're calling in the buffalo +hunters and those who went out to fight the Comanches and Lipans." + +Ned had alternations of hope and despondency. He saw anew how few the +Texans were. Their numbers could be counted only in thousands, while the +Mexicans had millions. Moreover, the tiny settlements were scattered +widely. Could such a thin force make a successful defense against the +armies of Cos and Santa Anna? But after every moment of despair, the +rebound came, and he saw that the spirit of the people was indomitable. + +At last, they rode into a straggling little village by the side of a +wide and shallow river. All the houses were built of logs or rough +boards, and Ned and his companions dismounted before the largest. They +had already learned that Sam Houston was inside. Ned felt intense +curiosity as they approached. He knew the history of Houston, his +singular and picturesque career, and the great esteem in which he was +held by the Texans. A man with a rifle on his shoulder stood by the door +as guard, but he recognized Smith and Karnes, and held the door open for +the four, who went inside without a word. + +Several men, talking earnestly were sitting in cane-bottomed chairs, and +Ned, although he had never seen him before, knew at once which was +Houston. The famous leader sat in the center of the little group. He was +over six feet high, very powerful of build, with thick, longish hair, +and he was dressed carefully in a suit of fine dark blue cloth. He rose +and saluted the four with great courtesy. Despite his long period of +wild life among the Indians his manners were distinguished. + +"We welcome you, Smith and Karnes, our faithful scouts," he said, "and +we also welcome those with you who, I presume, are the two escaped from +the City of Mexico." + +It was evident that the story of Ned and Obed had preceded them, but +Karnes spoke for them. + +"Yes, General," he said. "They are the men, or rather the man and the +boy. These are Obed White and Ned Fulton, General Houston." + +Houston's glance ran swiftly over them. Evidently he liked both, as he +smiled and gave each a hearty hand. + +"And now for your story," he said. + +Obed nodded toward Ned. + +"He's the one who saw it all," he said, "and he's the one who brings the +warning." + +Ned was a little abashed by the presence of Houston and the other +important Texans, but he told the tale once more rapidly and succinctly. +Every one listened closely. They were the chief members of the temporary +Texan government, but the room in which they met was all of the +frontier. Its floor was of rough boards. Its walls and ceilings were +unplastered. There was not a single luxury and not all of the +necessities. + +When Ned finished, Houston turned to the others and said quietly: + +"Gentlemen, we all know that this is war. I think there need be no +discussion of the point. It seems necessary to send out more messengers +gathering up every Texan who will fight. Do you agree with me?" + +All said yes. + +"I think, too," said Houston, "that Santa Anna may now send Mr. Austin +back to us. He does not know how well informed we are, and doubtless he +will believe that such an act will keep us in a state of blindness." + +"And you, my brave and resourceful young friend, what do you want to +do?" + +"Fight under you." + +Houston laughed and put his hand affectionately on the boy's shoulder. + +"I see that there is something of the courtier in you, too," he said. +"It is not a bad quality sometimes, and you shall have the chance that +you ask, later on. But meanwhile, you and Mr. White would better rest +here, a while. You may have some scouting and skirmishing to do first. +We must feel our way." + +Ned and Obed now withdrew, and received the hospitality of the little +town which was great, at least so far as food was concerned. They longed +for action, but the rest was really necessary. Both body and spirit were +preparing for greater deeds. Meanwhile, Houston, the scouts and the +Texan government went away, but Ned and Obed stayed, awaiting the call. +They knew that the signals had now passed through all Texas and they did +not think that they would have to remain there long. + +They heard soon that Houston's prediction in regard to Austin had come +true. Santa Anna had released him, and he had arrived in Texas. But he +had not been cajoled. His eyes had been opened at last to the designs of +the dictator and immediately upon his return to Texas he had warned his +countrymen in a great speech. Meanwhile, the army of Cos was approaching +San Antonio, preceded by the heralds of coming Texan ruin. + +Ned and Obed sat under the shade of some live oaks, when a horseman came +to the little village. He was a strange man, great in size, dressed in +buckskin, very brown of countenance and with long hair, tied as the +western Indians would wear it. He was something of a genial boaster, +was this man, and he was known up and down the Texas border as the Ring +Tailed Panther although his right name was Martin Palmer. But he had +lived long among the Osage, Kiowa and Pawnee Indians, and he was +renowned throughout all the Southwestern country for his bravery, skill +and eccentricity. An Indian had killed a white man and eaten his heart. +He captured the Indian and compelled him to eat until he died. When his +favorite bear dog died he rode sixty miles and brought a minister to +preach a sermon over his body. A little boy was captured on the +outskirts of a settlement by some Comanche Indians. He followed them +alone for three hundred miles, stole the boy away from them in the +night, and carried him back safely to his father and mother. + +Such was the Ring Tailed Panther, a name that he had originally given to +himself and which the people had adopted, one who boasted that he feared +no man, the boast being true. He was heavily armed and he rode a black +and powerful horse, which he directed straight toward the place where +Ned and Obed were sitting. + +"You are Ned Fulton an' Obed White, if report tells no lie?" he said in +a deep growling voice. + +"We are," said Ned, who did not know the identity of their formidable +visitor. + +"So I knew. I just wanted to see if you'd deny it. Glad to meet you, +gentlemen. As for me, I'm the Ring Tailed Panther." + +"The Ring Tailed Panther?" + +"Exactly. Didn't you hear me say so? I'm the Ring Tailed Panther, an' I +can whip anything livin', man or beast, lion or grizzly bear. That's why +I'm the Ring Tailed Panther." + +"Happy to know you, Mr. Ring Tailed Panther," said Ned, "and having no +quarrel with you we don't wish to fight you." + +The man laughed, his broad face radiating good humor. + +"And I don't want to fight you, either," he said, "'cause all of us have +got to fight somebody else. See here, your name's Obed an' yours is Ned, +and that's what I'm goin' to call you. No Mistering for me. It don't +look well for a Ring Tailed Panther to be givin' handles to people's +names." + +"Ned and Obed it is," said Ned with warmth. + +"Then, Ned an' Obed, it's Mexicans. I've been fightin' Indians a long +time. Besides bein' a Ring Tailed Panther, I'm three parts grizzly bear +an' one part tiger, an' I want you both to come with guns." + +"Is it fighting?" asked Ned, starting up. + +"It's ridin' first an' then fightin'. Our people down at Gonzales have a +cannon. The Mexicans are comin' to take it away from them, an' I think +there's goin' to be trouble over the bargain. The Texans got the gun as +a defense against the Indians an' they need it. Some of us are goin' +down there to take a hand in the matter of that gun, an' you are goin' +with us." + +"Of course we are!" said Ned and Obed together. In five minutes they +were riding, fully armed, with the Ring Tailed Panther over the prairie. +He gave them more details as they rode along. + +"Some of our people had been gatherin' at San Felipe to stop the march +of Cos if they could," he said, "but they've been drawn off now to help +Gonzales. They're comin' from Bastrop, too, an' other places, an' if +there ain't a fight then I'm the Ring Tailed Panther for nothing. If we +keep a good pace we can join a lot of the boys by nightfall." + +"We'll keep it," said Ned. The boy's heart was pounding. Somehow he felt +that an event of great importance was at hand, and he was glad to have a +share in it. But the three spoke little. The Panther led the way. Ned +saw that despite his boasting words he was a man of action. Certainly he +was acting swiftly now, and it was quite evident that he knew what he +was doing. At last he turned to Ned and said: + +"You're only a boy. You know what you're goin' into, of course?" + +"A fight, I think." + +"And you may get killed?" + +"I know it. One can't go into a fight without that risk." + +"You're a brave boy. I've heard of what you did, an' you don't talk +much. I'm glad of that. I can do all the talkin' that's needed by the +three of us. The Lord created me with a love of gab." + +The man spoke in a whimsical tone and Ned laughed. + +"You can have all my share of the talking, Mr. Palmer," he said. + +"The Ring Tailed Panther," corrected the man. "I told you not to be +Misterin' me. I like that name, the Ring Tailed Panther. It suits me, +because I fit an' I fight till they get me down, then I curl my tail an' +I take another round. Once in New Orleans I met a fellow who said he was +half horse, half alligator, that he could either claw to death the best +man living, stamp him to pieces or eat him alive. I invited him to do +any one of these things or all three of them to me." + +"What happened?" asked Ned. + +A broad smile passed over the man's brown face. + +"After they picked up the pieces an' put him back together," he said, "I +told him he might try again whenever he felt like it, but he said his +challenge was directed to human beings, not to Ring Tailed Panthers. Him +an' me got to be great friends an' he's somewhere in Texas now. I may +run acrost him before our business with the Mexicans is over, which I +take it is goin' to last a good while." + +It was now late in the afternoon, and dismounting at a clump of trees +the Panther lighted the end of a dead stick and waved the torch around +his head many times. + +"Watch there in the west for another light like this," he said. + +Ned, who sat on his horse, was the first to see the faint circling light +far down under the horizon. It was so distant that he could not have +seen it had he not been looking for it, but when he pointed it out the +Panther ceased to whirl his own torch. + +"It's some friends," he said, "an' they're answerin'. They're sayin' +that they've seen us an' that they're waitin'. When they get through +we'll say that we understan' an' are comin'." + +The whirling torch on the horizon stopped presently. The Panther whirled +his own for half a minute, then he sprang back upon his horse and the +three rode rapidly forward. + +The sight of the lights sparkling in the twilight so far across the +prairie thrilled Ned. He felt that he was in very truth riding to a +fight as the Panther had said. Perhaps it was a part of the force of Cos +that was coming to Gonzales. Cos himself had turned from the land route +with a part of his force and, coming by sea, had landed at Copano about +two weeks before. Ned, having full cause, hated this brutal man, and he +hoped that the Texans would come to grips with him. + +The night was at hand when they reached four men sitting on horseback +and waiting for them. They greeted the Ring Tailed Panther with few +words but with warmth. They gave to Ned and Obed, too, the strong +handclasp which men in danger give to friends who come. Ned thrilled +once more with pride that he should be associated with heroes in great +deeds. Such they undoubtedly were to him. + +"The Mexicans will be at Gonzales to-morrow," said one of the men. "The +place, as you know, has refused to give up its cannon and has defied +them, but it's almost bare of men. I don't think they have a dozen +there." + +"The battle is generally to the strong if they get there in time," said +Obed, "and here are seven of us on good horses." + +"Not countin' the fact that one of us is a Ring Tailed Panther with +claws a foot long an' two sets of teeth in his mouth," said Palmer. +"Ride on, boys, an' ride hard." + +They urged their horses into a gallop and sped over the prairie. At +midnight they clattered into the tiny village of Gonzales on the +Guadalupe River, where everybody except the little children was awake +and watching. Lights flared from the cabins, and the alarm at first, +lest they were Mexicans, changed to joy when they were disclosed as +Texans. + +But the armed force of the place, though stout of heart, was pitifully +small. They found only eleven men in Gonzales capable of bearing arms, +and no more help could be expected before the Mexicans came the next +day. But eleven and seven make eighteen, and now that they were joined, +and communicating spirit and hope to one another, the eighteen were more +than twice as strong as the eleven had been. The Ring Tailed Panther +poured forth a stream of cheer and encouragement. He grew more voluble +at the approach of danger. Never had his teeth and claws been longer or +sharper. + +"I'm afraid of nothin' except that they won't come," he said. "If they +don't, my health will give way. I'll be a-droopin' an' a-pinin' an' I'll +have to go off an' fight the Comanches an' Lipans to get back my +strength." + +But he was assured that his health would not suffer. Mexican cavalry, a +hundred strong, were coming under a captain, Castenada, sent by +Ugartchea, the Mexican commander at San Antonio de Bexar. Scouts had +brought that definite news. They were riding from the west and they +would have to cross the Guadalupe before they could enter Gonzales. +There were fords, but it would be a dangerous task to attempt their +passage in face of the Texan rifles. + +The ferryboat was tied safely on the Gonzales side, and then the +eighteen, every one a fine marksman, distributed themselves at the +fords. Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther stayed together. They did +not anticipate the arrival of the Mexican forces before dawn, but +Castenada might send spies ahead, and the Mexican scouts were full of +wiles and stratagems. + +"At any rate," said the Panther, "if we catch any Mexican prowling +around here we'll throw him into the river." + +"All things, including Mexicans, come to him who waits," said Obed, "and +speaking for myself I'd rather they wouldn't come until day. It's more +comfortable to sit quiet in the dark." + +These three and six others had taken a position under a great oak tree, +where they were well shaded but could easily see anyone who approached +the ford on the opposite side. Back of them a few lights burned in the +little town, where the anxious women watched, but no noise came from it +or the second ford, where the other half of the eighteen were on guard. +Their horses were tethered some distance in the rear and they, too, +rested in quiet. + +The tree sent up a great gnarled root and Ned sat on the ground, leaning +against it. It just fitted into the curve of his back and he was very +comfortable. But he did not allow his comfort to lull him into lethargy. +Always he watched the river and the farther shore. He had now become no +mean scout and sentinel. The faculties develop fast amid the continuous +fight for life against all kinds of dangers. Above all, that additional +sense which may be defined as prescience, and, which was a development +of the other five, was alive within him, ready to warn him of a hostile +presence. + +But Ned neither saw nor heard anything, nor did his sixth sense warn him +that an enemy was near. The Guadalupe, wide, yellow and comparatively +shallow like most of the Texas rivers, flowed slowly and without sound. +Now and then Obed and the Panther walked down to the other ford, where +all, too, was quiet, but Ned kept his place against the root. Toward +morning the Panther sat down beside him there. + +"Waitin's hard," he said. "I like to jump on the enemy with claws an' +nails an' have it out right there an' then. I like to roar an' bite. +That's why I'm a Ring Tailed Panther." + +Ned laughed. + +"If Castenada is coming, and they say he surely is," he said, "we'll +soon have use for all our claws and teeth." + +"Patience will bring our Mexicans," said Obed White. + +At daylight women from the cabins brought them all coffee and warm food, +for which they were very grateful. Then the sun rose, and the morning +was fresh and crisp, it now being autumn. The men remained by the +river, still watching intently and Ned caught a sudden sharp glint which +was not that of the sun, far out on the prairie. He knew that it was a +brilliant ray reflected from the polished head of a lance, and he said +as he pointed a finger: + +"The Mexicans are coming." + +"So they are," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "I see a horseman, an' +another, an' another, an' now a lot of 'em. They must be a hundred at +least. It's the troop of Castenada, an' they're after that cannon. Well, +I'm glad." + +The man seemed to swell and his eyes darkened. He was like some +formidable beast about to spring. The boaster was ready to make good his +boast. + +"Run down to the other ford, Ned," said Palmer, "an' tell the men there +that the Mexicans are at hand." + +Ned did his errand, but returned very quickly. He was anxious to see the +advance of Castenada's troop. The Mexicans, about half of whom were +lancers and the rest armed with muskets, came on very steadily. An +officer in fine uniform, whom Ned took to be Castenada himself, rode at +their head. When they came within rifle shot a white flag was hoisted on +a lance. + +"A white flag! This is no time for white flags," growled the Ring Tailed +Panther. "Never have any faith in a Mexican comin' under a white flag. +What we've got to do now is to roar an' rip an' claw." + +"Still," said Obed, "it's evil to him who evil does, and we've got to +wait till these Mexicans do it. First we've got to hear what they say, +and if the saying isn't to our liking, as I'm thinking it won't be, then +it's ripping and roaring and clawing and all the other 'ings' to our +taste as long as we can stand it." + +"Go ahead," growled the Ring Tailed Panther, "I'm not much on talkin'. +Fightin's more in my line an' when it's that I come with a hop, a skip +an' a jump, teeth an' claws all ready." + +"Ned," said Obed, "you speak the best Spanish, so go down there to the +bank of the river, and hear what they have to say. Just remember that +we're not giving up the cannon, and clothe the answers in what fine +words you please. There isn't any rock here, but sooner this rock shall +fly from its firm base than the Texans will yield their cannon when they +are sure to be attacked by Indians and maybe Mexicans too." + +Ned walked down to the edge of the river and the officer, whom he +rightly supposed to be Castenada, dismounting, came to the shore at an +opposite point. + +"What do you want?" cried Ned in pure Spanish across the water. + +"Are you empowered to speak for the people of Gonzales?" + +"You hear me speaking and you see the other Texans listening." + +"Then I have to say that on the order of General Cos I demand your +cannon in the name of General Santa Anna and Mexico." + +"We've made up our minds to keep it. We're sure to need it later on." + +"This is insolent. If you do not give it we shall come and take it." + +"Tell him, Ned," growled the Ring Tailed Panther, "that we just hope +he'll come an' try to take it, that I'm here roarin' all the time, that +I've filed my teeth an' nails 'till they're like the edge of a razor, +an' that I'm just hungerin' to rip an' claw." + +"The men of Gonzales mean to defend their cannon and themselves," +called Ned across the river. "If you come to take the gun it means war. +It means more, too. It means that you will lose many of your soldiers. +The Texans, as you know, are both able and willing to shoot." + +"This is rebellion and treason!" cried Castenada. "The great Santa Anna +will come with a mighty force, and when he is through not a Texan will +trouble the surface of the earth." + +A roar of approval came from the men behind the Mexican captain, but Ned +replied: + +"Until the earth is rid of us we may make certain spots of it dangerous +for you. So, I warn you to draw back. Our bullets carry easily across +this river." + +Captain Castenada, white with rage, retired with his troop beyond the +range of the Texan rifles. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE FIRST GUN + + +"Well, Ned, it's sometimes ask and ye shall not receive, isn't it?" said +Obed White, looking at the retreating Mexicans. + +But the Ring Tailed Panther growled between his shut teeth. Then he +opened his mouth and gave utterance to his dissatisfaction. + +"It's a cheat, a low Mexican trick," he said, "to come here an' promise +a fight an' then go away. I'm willin' to bet my claws that them Mexicans +will hang around here two or three days, without tryin' to do a thing." + +"An' won't that be all the better for us?" asked Ned. "We're only +eighteen and we surely need time for more." + +"That's so," admitted the Ring Tailed Panther, "but when you've got all +your teeth and claws sharpened for a fight you want it right then an' +not next week." + +The Mexicans tethered their horses and began to form camp about a half +mile from the river. They went about it deliberately, spreading tents +for their officers and lighting fires for cooking. The Texans could see +them plainly and the Mexicans showed the carelessness and love of +pleasure natural to children of the sun. Some lay down on the grass and +three or four began to strum mandolins and guitars. + +There was a sterner manner on the Texan side of the Guadalupe. The watch +at the fords was not relaxed, but Ned went back into the little town to +carry the word to the women and children. Most of the women, like the +men, were dressed in deerskin and they, too, volunteered to fight if +they were needed. Ned told them what Castenada had asked, and he also +told them the reply which was received with grim satisfaction. The women +were even more bitter than the men against the Mexicans. + +Ned passed a long day by the Guadalupe, keeping his place most of the +time at the ford with the Ring Tailed Panther, who was far less patient +than he. + +"My teeth an' claws will shorely get dull with me a-settin' here an' +doin' nothin'," said Palmer. "I can roar an' I can keep on roarin' but +what's the good of roarin' when you can't do any bitin' an' tearin'?" + +"Patience will have its perfect fight," said Obed, giving one of his +misquotations. "I've always heard that every kind of panther would lie +very quiet until the chance came for him to spring." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled between his shut teeth. + +The sight of the Mexican force in the afternoon became absolutely +tantalizing. Although it was early autumn the days were still very hot +at times and Castenada's men were certainly taking their ease. Ned could +see many of them enjoying the siesta, and through a pair of glasses he +saw others lolling luxuriously and smoking cigarettes. It was especially +irritating to the Ring Tailed Panther, who grew very red in the face but +who now only emitted growls between his shut teeth. + +It was evident that the Mexicans were going to make no demonstration +just yet and the night came, rather dark and cloudy. Now the anxiety in +Gonzales increased since the night can be cover for anything, and, +besides guarding the fords, several of the defenders were placed at +intermediate points. + +Ned took a station with Obed in a clump of oaks that grew to the very +edge of the Guadalupe. There they sat a long time and watched the +surface of the river grow darker and darker. The Mexican camp had been +shut from sight long since, and no sounds now came from it. Ned +appreciated fully the need of a close watch. The Mexicans might swim the +river on their horses in the darkness, and gallop down on the town. So +he never ceased to watch, and he also listened with ears which were +rapidly acquiring the delicacy and sensitiveness peculiar to those of +expert frontiersmen. + +Ned was not warlike in temper. He knew, from his reading, all the waste +and terrible passions of war, but he was heart and soul with the Texans. +He was one of them, and to him the coming struggle was a fight for home +and liberty by an oppressed people. With the ardor of youth flaming in +him he was willing for that struggle to begin at once. + +Night on the Guadalupe! He felt that the darkness was full of omens and +presages for Texas and for him, too, a boy among its defenders. His +pulses quivered, and a light moisture broke out on his face. His +prescience, the gift of foresight, was at work. It was telling him that +the time, in very truth, had come. Yet he could not see or hear a single +thing that bore the remotest resemblance to an enemy. + +The boy stepped from a clump of trees in order that he might get a +better look down the river. There was a crack on the farther shore, a +flash of fire, and a bullet sang past his ear. He caught a hasty glimpse +of a Mexican with a smoking rifle leaping to cover, and he, too, sprang +back into the shelter of the trees. + +It was the first shot of the great Texan struggle for independence! + +Ned felt all of its significance even then, and so did Obed. + +"You saw him?" asked the Maine man. + +"I did, and I felt the breath of his bullet on my face, but he gained +cover too quick for me to return his fire." + +"The first shot was theirs and it was at you. It seems odd, Ned, that +you should have been used as a target for the opening of the war." + +"I'm proud of the honor." + +"So would I be in your place." + +Others came, drawn by the shot. + +"Was it a Mexican?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther eagerly. "Tell me it +was a Mexican and make me happy." + +"You can be happy," said Obed. "It was a Mexican and he was shooting +with what the law would define as an intent to kill. He sent a rifle +bullet across the Guadalupe, aimed at our young friend, Edward Fulton. +Ned did not see the bullet, but his sensitiveness to touch showed that +it passed within an inch of his face." + +Now the Ring Tailed Panther roared, but it was not between his shut +teeth. + +"By the great horn spoon, I'm glad!" he said, "All the waitin' an' +backin' an' fillin' are over. We do our talkin' now with cannon an' +rifles." + +But not another shot was fired that night. It was merely some scout or +skirmisher who had sent the fugitive bullet across the river, but it was +enough. The Mexican intentions were now evident. + +Ned went off duty toward morning and slept a few hours in one of the +cabins. When he awoke he ate a hearty breakfast and went back to the +river. About half of the eighteen had taken naps, but they were all +gathered once more along the Guadalupe. Ned observed the Mexican camp +and saw some movement there. Presently all the soldiers rode out, with +Castenada at their head. + +"They're comin' to our ford! By the great horn spoon, they are comin'!" +roared the Ring Tailed Panther. + +It seemed that he was right as the Mexicans were approaching at a +gallop, making a gallant show, their lances glittering in the sun. + +"Lay down, all!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "The moment they strike +the water turn loose with your rifles an' roar an' scratch an' claw!" + +But when they were within one hundred yards of the Guadalupe the +Mexicans suddenly sheered off. Evidently they did not like the looks of +the Texan rifles which they could plainly see. The defenders of the +fords uttered a derisive shout, and some of the Mexicans fired. But +their bullets fell short, only a single one of them coming as far as the +edge of the Guadalupe. The Texans did not reply. They would not waste +ammunition in any such foolish fashion. + +The Mexicans stopped, when four or five hundred yards away, and began to +wave their lances and utter taunting shouts. The Texans only laughed, +all except the Ring Tailed Panther, who growled. + +"You see, Ned," said Obed, "that one charge does not make a passage. It +appears to me that our friend Castenada does not want his uniform or +himself spoiled by our good Texas lead. Now, I take it, we can rest easy +awhile longer." + +He lay down in the grass under the trees and Ned did likewise, but the +Ring Tailed Panther would not be consoled. An opportunity had been lost, +and he hurled strange and miscellaneous epithets at the distant +Mexicans. Standing upon a little hillock he called them more bad names +than Ned had ever before heard. He aspersed the character of their +ancestors even to the eighth generation and of their possible +descendants also to the eighth generation. He issued every kind of +challenge to any kind of combat, and at last, red and panting, descended +the hillock. + +"Do you feel better?" asked Obed. + +"I've whispered a few of my thoughts. Yes, I can re'lly say that the +state of my health is improvin'." + +"Then sit down and rest. It's never too late to try, try again. Remember +that the day is long and the Mexicans may certainly have a chance." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but sat down. + +In the afternoon the Mexicans again formed in line and trotted down +toward the other ford, but as before they did not like the look of the +Texan rifles and turned away, after shouting many challenges, +brandishing lances and firing random shots. But the Texans contented +themselves again with a grim silence, and the Mexicans rode back to +their camp. The disgust of the Ring Tailed Panther was so deep that he +could not utter a word. But Obed was glad. + +"More men will come to-night," he said to Ned. "You know that requests +for help were sent in all directions by the people of Gonzales, and if I +know our Texans, and I think I do, they'll ride hard to be here. +Castenada, in a way, is besieging us now, but--well, the tables may be +turned and he'll turn with 'em." + +Just at twilight a great shout arose from the women in the village. +There was a snorting of horses, a jingling of spurs and embroidered +bridle reins, and twenty lean, brown men, very tall and broad of +shoulder, rode up. They were the vanguard of the Texan help, and they +rejoiced when they found that the Mexican force was still on the west +side of the Guadalupe. + +Their welcome was not noisy but deep. The eighteen were now the +thirty-eight, and to-morrow they would be a hundred or more. The twenty +had ridden more than a hundred miles, but they were fresh and zealous +for the combat. They went down to the river, and, in the darkness, +looked at the Mexican camp fires, while the Ring Tailed Panther roared +out his opinion. + +"The Mexicans won't bring the fight to us," he said, "so we must carry +it to them. They've galloped down here twice an' they've looked at the +river an' they've looked at us, an' they've galloped back again. We +can't let 'em set over there besiegin' us, we must cross an' besiege +them an' get to roarin' an' rippin' an' clawin'." + +"To-morrow," said Obed, "more of our friends will be here and when we +all get together we will discuss it and make a decision." + +"Of course we'll discuss it!" roared the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' then +we'll come to a decision, an' there's only one decision that we can come +to. We'll cross the river an' mighty quick we'll make them Mexicans wish +they'd chose a camp a hundred miles from Gonzales." + +The others laughed, but after all, the Ring Tailed Panther had stated +their position truly. Every man agreed with him. The watch at the river +that night was as vigilant as ever, and the next morning parties of +Texans arrived from different points, swelling their numbers to more +than one hundred and fifty men, fully equaling the company of Castenada, +after allowing for reinforcements received by the Mexican captain. + +With one of the Texan troops came a quiet man of confident bearing, +dressed like the others in buckskin, but with more authority in his +manner. The Ring Tailed Panther greeted him with great warmth, shaking +his hand and saying: + +"John! John! We're awful glad you've come 'cause there's to be a lot of +roarin' an' tearin' an' clawin' to be done." + +The man smiled and replied in his quiet tones: + +"We know it and that's why we've come. Now, I suggest that while we +leave ten men at each ford, we hold a meeting in the village. Everything +we have is at stake and as one Texan is as good as another we ought to +talk it over." + +"Who is he?" asked Ned of Obed. + +"That's John Moore. He's been a great Indian fighter and one of the +defenders of the frontier. I think it likely that he'll be our leader in +whatever we undertake. He's certainly the man for the place." + +"Oyez! Oyez!" roared the Ring Tailed Panther with mouth wide open. "Come +all ye upon the common, an' hear the case of Texas against Mexico which +is now about to be debated. The gentlemen representin' the other side +are on the west shore of the river about a mile from here, an' after +decidin' upon our argyment an' the manner of it we'll communicate it to +'em later whether they like our decision or not." + +They poured upon the common in a tumultuous throng, the women and +children forming a continuous fringe about them. + +"I move that John Moore be made the Chairman of this here meetin' an' +the leader in whatever it decides to do, 'specially as we know already +what it's goin' to decide," roared the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' +wherever he leads we will follow." + +Ned said nothing, but his pulses were leaping. Perhaps the silent boy +appreciated more than any other present that this was the beginning of +a great epic in the American story. The young student, his head filled +with completed dramas of the past, could look further into the future +than the veteran men of action around him. + +The debate was short. In truth it was no debate at all, because all were +of one mind. Since the Mexicans had already fired upon them and would +not go away they would cross the river and attack Castenada. As Obed had +predicted, Moore was unanimously chosen leader, the title of Colonel +being bestowed upon him, and they set to work at once for the attack. + +Ned and Obed walked together to the cluster of oaks in which the two had +spent so much time. Both were grave, appreciating fully the fact that +they were about to go into battle. + +"Ned," said Obed, "you and I have been through a lot of dangers together +and we're not afraid to talk about dangers to come. In case anything +should happen to you is there any word you want sent anybody?" + +"To nobody except Mr. Austin. He's been very good to me here and in +Mexico. I suppose I've got some relatives in Missouri, but they are so +distant I've forgotten who they are, and probably they never knew +anything about me. If it's the other way about, Obed, what word shall I +send?" + +"Nothing to nobody. I had a stepfather in Maine, who didn't like me, and +my mother died five years after her second marriage. I'm a Texan, Ned, +same as if I were born on this soil, and my best friends are around me. +I'll live and die with 'em." + +The two, the man and the boy, shook hands, but made no further display +of feeling. The force was organized in the village, beyond the sight of +the Mexicans, who were lounging in the grass, although they had posted +sentinels. Every Texan was well armed, carrying a rifle, pistol and +knife. Some had in addition the Indian tomahawk. + +It was the first day of October and the coolness of late afternoon had +come. A fresh breeze was blowing from the southwest. The little command, +silent save for the hoof beats of their horses, rode down to the river. +The women and children looked after them and they, too, were silent. A +strange Indian stoicism possessed them all. + +Ned and Obed were side by side. The breeze cooled the forehead and +cheeks of the boy, but his pulses beat hard and fast. He looked back at +Gonzales and he knew that he would never forget that little village of +little log cabins. Then he looked straight before him at the yellow +river, and the shore beyond, where the Mexican camp lay. + +It was now seven o'clock and the twilight was coming. + +"Isn't it late to make an attack?" he said to Obed. + +"It depends on what happens. Circumstances alter battles. If we surprise +them there'll be time for a fine fight. If they discover our advance it +may be better to wait until morning." + +They rode into the water twenty abreast, and made for the farther shore. +So many horses made much splashing, and Ned expected bullets, but none +came. Dripping, they reached the farther shore and went straight toward +the Mexican camp. Then came sudden shouts, the flash of rifles and the +singing of bullets. The Mexican sentinels had discovered the Texan +advance. + +Moore ordered his men to halt, and then he held a short conference with +the leaders. It was very late, and they would postpone the attack until +morning. Hence, they tethered their horses in sight of the Mexican camp, +set many sentinels and deliberately began to cook their suppers. + +It was all very strange and unreal to Ned. Having started for a battle +it was battle he wanted at once and the wait of a night rested heavily +upon his nerves. + +"Take it easy, Ned," said Obed, who observed him. "Willful haste makes +woeful fight. Eat your supper and then you'd better lie down and sleep +if you can. I'd rather go on watch toward morning if I were you, because +if anything happens in the night it will happen late." + +Ned considered it good advice and he lay down in his blankets, having +been notified that he would be called at one o'clock in the morning to +take his turn. Once more he exerted will to the utmost in the effort to +control nerves and body. He told himself that he was now surrounded by +friends, who would watch while he slept, and that he could not be +surprised. Slumber came sooner than he had hoped, but at the appointed +hour he was awakened and took his place among the sentinels. + +Ned found the night cold and dark, but he shook off the chill by +vigorous walking to and fro. He discovered, however, that he could not +see any better by use, as the darkness was caused by mists rather than +clouds. Vapors were rising from the prairie, and objects, seen through +them, assumed thin and distorted shapes. He saw west of him and +immediately facing him flickering lights which he knew were those of the +Mexican camp. The heavy air seemed to act as a conductor of sound, and +he heard faintly voices and the tread of horses' hoofs. They were on +watch there, also. + +He walked back and forth a long time, and the air continued to thicken. +A heavy fog was rising from the prairie, and it became so dense that he +could no longer see the fires in the Mexican camp. Everything there was +shut out from the eye, but he yet heard the faint noises. + +It seemed to him toward four o'clock in the morning that the noises were +increasing, and curiosity took hold of him. But the sentinel on the left +and the sentinel on the right were now hidden by the fog, and, since he +could not confer with them at once, he resolved to see what this +increase of noise meant. + +He cocked his rifle and stole forward over the prairie. He could not see +more than ten or fifteen yards ahead, but he went very near to the +Mexican camp, and then lay down in the grass. Now he saw the cause of +the swelling sounds. The Mexican force, gathering up its arms and +horses, was retreating. + +Ned stole back to the camp with his news. + +"You have done well, Ned, lad," said Moore. "I think it likely, however, +that they are merely withdrawing to a stronger position, but they can't +escape us. We'll follow 'em, and since they wanted that cannon so badly +we'll give 'em a taste of it." + +The cannon, a six-pounder, had been brought over on the ferryboat in the +night and was now in the Texan camp. + +"Ned," said Moore, "do you, Obed and the Panther ride after those +fellows and see what they do. Then come back and report." + +It was a dangerous duty, but the three responded gladly. They advanced +cautiously through the fog and the Ring Tailed Panther roared softly. + +"Runnin' away?" he said. "I'd be ashamed to come for a cannon an' then +to slink off with tail droopin' like a cowardly coyote. By the great +horn spoon, I hope they are merely seekin' a better position an' will +give us a fight. It would be a mean Mexican trick to run clean away." + +"The Mexicans are not cowards," said Ned. + +"Depends on how the notion strikes 'em," said the Panther. "Sometimes +they fight like all creation an' sometimes they hit it for the high +grass an' the tall timber. There's never any tellin' what they'll do." + +"Hark!" said Obed, "don't you hear their tramp there to our left?" + +The three stopped and listened, and they detected sounds which they knew +were made by the retreating force. But they could see nothing through +the heavy white fog which covered everything like a blanket of snow. + +"Suppose we ride parallel with them," whispered Ned. "We can go by the +sounds and by the same means we can tell exactly what they do." + +"A good idea," said Obed. "We are going over prairie which affords easy +riding. We've got nothing to fear unless some lamb strays from the +Mexican flock, and blunders upon us. Even then he's more likely to be +shorn than to shear." + +They advanced for some time, guided by the hoofbeats from the Mexican +column. But before the sun could rise and dispel the fog the sound of +the hoofbeats ceased. + +"They've stopped," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther, joyously. "After +all they're not goin' to run away an' they will give us a fight. They +are expectin' reinforcements of course, or they wouldn't make a stand." + +"But we must see what kind of a position they have taken up," said Obed. +"Seeing is telling and you know that when we get back to Colonel Moore +we've got to tell everything, or we might as well have stayed behind." + +"You're the real article, all wool an' a yard wide, Obed White," said +the Ring Tailed Panther. "Now I think we'd better hitch our horses here +to these bushes an' creep as close as we can without gettin' our heads +knocked off. They might hear the horses when they wouldn't hear us." + +"Good idea," said Obed White. "Nothing risk, nothing see." + +They tethered the horses to the low bushes, marking well the place, as +the heavy, white fog was exceedingly deceptive, distorting and +exaggerating when it did not hide. Then the three went forward, side by +side. Ned looked back when he had gone a half dozen yards, and already +the horses were looming pale and gigantic in the fog. Three or four +steps more and they were gone entirely. + +But they heard the sounds again in front of them, although they were now +of a different character. They were confined in one place, which showed +that the Mexicans had not resumed their march, and the tread of horses' +hoofs was replaced by a metallic rattle. It occurred to Ned that the +Mexicans might be intrenching and he wondered what place of strength +they had found. + +The boy had the keenest eyes of the three and presently he saw a dark, +lofty shape, showing faintly through the fog. It looked to him like an +iceberg clothed in mist, and he called the attention of his comrades to +it. They went a little nearer, and the Ring Tailed Panther laughed low +between his shut teeth. + +"We'll have our fight," he said, "an' these Mexicans won't go back to +Cos as fine as they were when they started. The tall an' broad thing +that you see is a big mound on the prairie an' they're goin' to make a +stand on it. It ain't a bad place. A hundred Texans up there could beat +off a thousand Mexicans." + +They went a little nearer and saw that a fringe of bushes surrounded the +base of the mound. Further up the Mexicans were digging in the soft +earth with their lances as best they could and throwing up a breastwork. +The horses had been tethered in the bushes. Evidently they felt sure +that they would be attacked by the Texans. They knew the nature of these +riders of the plains. + +"I think we've seen enough," said Obed. "We'll go back now to Colonel +Moore and the men." + +They found their horses undisturbed and were about to gallop back to the +main body with the news that the Mexicans were on the mound, when some +Mexican sentinels saw them and uttered a shout. The three exchanged +shots with them but knowing that a strong force would be upon them in an +instant returned to their original intention and went at full speed +toward the camp. It was lucky that the fog still held, as the pursuing +bullets went wide, but Ned heard more than one sing. The Mexicans showed +courage and followed the three until they reached the Texan camp. As Ned +and his comrades dismounted they shouted that the Mexicans were on a +hill not far away and were fortifying. + +Moore promptly had his men run forward that bone of contention, the +cannon, and a solid shot was sent humming toward those who had pursued +the three. The heavy report came back in sullen echoes from the prairie, +and the stream of fire split the fog asunder. But in a moment the mists +and vapors closed in again, and the Mexicans were gone. Then the little +army stood for a few moments, motionless, but breathing heavily. The +cannon shot had made the hearts of everyone leap. They were inured to +Indian battle and every kind of danger, but this was a great war. + +"Boys," said Moore, "we are here and the enemy is before us." + +A deep shout from broad chests and powerful lungs came forth. Then by a +single impulse the little army rushed forward, led by Ned, Obed and the +Ring Tailed Panther, who took them straight toward the mound. As they +ran, the great Texan sun proved triumphant. It seemed to cleave the fog +like a sword blade, and then the mists and vapors rolled away on either +side, to right and to left of the Texans. The whole plain, dewy and +fresh, sprang up in the light of the morning. + +They saw the steep mound crowned by the Mexicans, and men still at work +on the hasty trench. Again that full-throated cheer came from the Texans +and they quickened their pace, but Captain Castenada came down from the +mound and a soldier came with him bearing a white flag. + +"Now, what in thunder can he want?" growled the Ring Tailed Panther to +Ned and Obed. "Shorely he ain't goin' to surrender. He's jest goin' to +waste our time in talk." + +Deep disgust showed on his face. + +"By waiting we will see," quoth Obed oracularly. "Now, Panther, don't +you be too impatient. Remember that the tortoise beat the hare in the +great Greek horse race." + +Moore waved his hand and the Texans halted. Castenada on foot came on. +Moore also dismounted, and, calling to Ned and Obed to accompany him, +went forward to meet him. Ned and Obed, delighted, sprang from their +horses, and walked by his side. The Ring Tailed Panther growled between +his teeth that he was glad to stay, that he would have no truck with +Mexicans. + +Castenada, with the soldier beside him, came forward. He was rather a +handsome young man of the dark type. As the two little parties met midway +between the lines, the forces on the hill and on the plain were alike +silent. Every trace of the fog was now gone, and the sun shone with full +splendor upon brown faces, upon rifles and lances. + +Castenada saluted in Mexican fashion. + +"What do you want?" he asked in Spanish, which all understood. + +"Your surrender," replied Moore coolly, "either that or the sworn +adherence of you and your men to Texas." + +Castenada uttered an angry exclamation. + +"This is presumption carried to the last degree," he said. "My own honor +and the honor of Mexico will not allow me to do either." + +"It is that or fight." + +"I bid you beware. General Cos is coming with a force that all Texas +cannot resist, and after him comes our great Santa Anna with another yet +greater. If the Texans make war they will be destroyed. The buffalo will +feed where their houses now stand." + +"You have already made war. Accept our terms or fight. We deal with you +now. We deal with Cos and Santa Anna later on." + +"There is nothing more to be said," replied Castenada with haughtiness. +"We are here in a strong position and you cannot take us." + +He withdrew and Moore turned back with Ned and Obed. + +"I don't think he ever meant this parley for anything except to gain +time," said Moore. "He's expecting a fresh Mexican force, but we'll see +that it comes too late." + +Then raising his voice, he shouted to his command: + +"Boys, they've chosen to fight, and they are there on the hill. A man +cannot rush that hill with his horse, but he can rush it with his two +legs." + +The face of the Ring Tailed Panther became a perfect full moon of +delight. Then he paled a little. + +"Do you think there can yet be any new trick to hold us back?" he asked +Obed anxiously. + +"No," replied Obed cheerfully. "Time and tide wait for no Mexicans, and +the tide's at the flood. We charge within a minute." + +Even as he spoke, Moore shouted: + +"Now, boys, rush 'em!" + +For the third time the Texans uttered that deep, rolling cheer. The +cannon sent a volley of grape shot into the cluster on the mound and +then the Texans rushed forward at full speed, straight at the enemy. + +The Mexicans opened a rapid fire with rifles and muskets and the whole +mound was soon clothed in smoke. But the rush of the Texans was so great +that in an instant they were at the first slope. They stopped to send in +a volley and then began the rush up the hill, but there was no enemy. + +The Mexicans gave way in a panic at the very first onset, ran down the +slope to their horses, leaped upon them and galloped away over the +prairie. Many threw away their rifles and lances, and, bending low on +the necks of their horses, urged them to greater speed. + +Ned had been in the very front of the rush, Obed on one side and the +Ring Tailed Panther on the other. His heart was beating hard and there +was a fiery mist before his eyes. He heard the bullets whiz past, but +once more Providence was good to him. None touched him, and when the +first tremors were over he was as eager as any of them to reach the +crest of the mound, and come to grips with the enemy. Suddenly he heard +a tremendous roar of disgust. The Ring Tailed Panther was the author of +it. + +"Escaped after all!" he cried. "They wouldn't stay an' fight, when they +promised they would!" + +"At least, the Mexicans ride well," said Obed. + +Ned gazed from the crest of the mound at the flying men, rapidly +becoming smaller and smaller as they sped over the prairie. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE COMING OF URREA + + +Many of the Texans were hot for pursuit, but Moore recalled them. His +reasons were brief and grim. "You will not overtake them," he said, "and +you will need all your energies later on. This is only the beginning." + +A number of the Mexicans had been slain, but none of the Texans had +fallen, the aim of their opponents being so wild. The triumph had +certainly been an easy one, but Ned perhaps rejoiced less than any other +one present. The full mind again projected itself into the future, and +foresaw great and terrible days. The Texans were but few, scattered +thinly over a long frontier, and the rage of Cos and Santa Anna would be +unbounded, when they heard of the fight and flight of their troops at +Gonzales. + +"Obed," he said to his friend, "we are victorious to-day without loss, +but I feel that dark days are coming." + +The Maine man looked curiously at the boy. He already considered Ned, +despite his youth, superior in some ways to himself. + +"You've been a reader and you're a thinker, Ned," he said, "and I like +to hear what you say. The dark days may come as you predict, because +Santa Anna is a great man in the Mexican way, but night can't come until +the day is ended and it's day just now. We won't be gloomy yet." + +After the fallen Mexicans had been buried, the little force of voluntary +soldiers began to disperse, just as they had gathered, of their own +accord. The work there was done, and they were riding for their own +little villages or lone cabins, where they would find more work to do. +The Mexicans would soon fall on Texas like a cloud, and every one of +them knew it. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther rode back to Gonzales, where the +women and children welcomed the victors with joyous acclaim. + +The three sat down with others to a great feast, spread on tables under +the shade of oaks, and consisting chiefly of game, buffalo, deer, +squirrels, rabbits and other animals which had helped the early Texans +to live. But throughout the dinner Ned and Obed were rather quiet, +although the Ring Tailed Panther roared to his heart's content. It was +Ned who spoke first the thought that was in the minds of both Obed and +himself. Slowly and by an unconscious process he was becoming the +leader. + +"Obed," he said, "everybody can do as he pleases, and I propose that you +and I and the Ring Tailed Panther scout toward San Antonio. Cos and his +army are marching toward that town, and while the Texan campaign of +defense is being arranged and the leaders are being chosen we might give +a lot of help." + +"Just what I was thinking," said Obed. + +"Jest what I ought to have thought," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +San Antonio was a long journey to the westward, and they started at +twilight fully equipped. They carried their usual arms, two blankets +apiece, light but warm, food for several days, and double supplies of +ammunition, the thing that they would now need most. Gonzales gave them +a farewell full of good wishes. Some of the women exclaimed upon Ned's +youth, but Obed explained that the boy had lived through hardships and +dangers that would have overcome many a veteran pioneer of Texas. + +They forded the Guadalupe for the second time on the same day. Then they +rode by the mound on which the Mexicans had made their brief stand. The +three said little. Even the Ring Tailed Panther had thoughts that were +not voiced. The hill, the site of the first battle in their great +struggle, stood out, clear and sharp, in the moonlight. But it was very +still now. + +"We'll date a good many things from that hill," said Ned as they rode +on. + +They followed in the path of the flying Mexicans who, they were quite +sure, would make for Cos and San Antonio. The Ring Tailed Panther knew +the most direct course and as the moon was good they could also see the +trail left by the Mexicans. It was marked further by grim objects, two +wounded horses that had died in the flight, and then by a man +succumbing, who had been buried in a grave so shallow that no one could +help noticing it. + +A little after midnight they saw a light ahead, and they judged by the +motions that a man was waving a torch. + +"It can't be a trap," said Obed, "because the Mexicans would not stop +running until they were long past here." + +"An' there ain't no cover where that torch is," added the Ring Tailed +Panther. + +"Then suppose we ride forward and see what it means," said Ned. + +They cocked their rifles, ready for combat if need be, and rode forward +slowly. Soon they made out the figure of a man standing on a swell of +the prairie, and vigorously waving a torch made of a dead stick lighted +at one end. He had a rifle, but it leaned against a bush beside him. +His belt held a pistol and knife, but his free hand made no movement +toward them, as the three rode up. The man himself was young, slender, +and of olive complexion with black hair and eyes. He was a Mexican, but +he was dressed in the simple Texan style. Moreover, there were Mexicans +born in Texas some of whom, belonging to the Liberal party, inclined to +the Texan side. This man was distinctly handsome and the look with which +he returned the gaze of the three was frank, free and open. + +"I saw you from afar," he said in excellent English. "I climbed the +cottonwood there in order to see what might be passing on the prairie, +and as my eyes happen to be very good I detected three black dots in the +moonlight, coming out of the east. As I saw the men of Santa Anna going +west as fast as hoofs would carry them I knew that only Texans could be +riding out of the east." + +He laughed, threw his torch on the ground and stamped out the light. + +"I felt that sooner or later someone would come upon Castenada's track," +he said, "and you see that I was not wrong." + +He smiled again. Ned's impression was distinctly favorable, and when he +glanced at Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther he saw that they, too, were +attracted. + +"Who are you, stranger?" asked Palmer. "People who meet by night in +Texas in these times had best know the names and business of one +another." + +"Not a doubt of it," replied the young Mexican. "My name is Francisco +Urrea, and I was born on the Guadalupe. So, you see, I am a Texan, +perhaps more truly a Texan than any of you, because I know by looking at +you that all three of you were born in the States. As for my business?" + +He grew very serious and looked at the three one after another. + +"My business," he said, "is to fight for Texas." + +"Well spoke, by the great horn spoon," roared the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"Yes, to fight for Texas," resumed young Urrea. "I was on my way to +Gonzales to join you. I was too late for the fight, but I saw the men of +Castenada, with Castenada himself at their head, flying across the +prairie. I assure you there was no delay on their part. First they were +here and then they were gone. The prairie rumbled with their hasty +tread, their lances glittered for only a single instant, and then they +were lost over the horizon." + +He laughed again, and his laugh was so infectious that the three laughed +with him. + +"I know most people in Texas," rumbled the Ring Tailed Panther, "though +there are some Mexican families I don't know. But I've heard of the +Urreas, an' if you want to go with us an' join in tearin' an' chawin' +we'll be glad to have you." + +"So we will," said Ned and Obed together, and Obed added: "Three are +company, four are better." + +"Very well, then," said Urrea, "I shall be happy to become one of your +band, and we will ride on together. I've no doubt that I can be of help +if you mean to keep a watch on Cos. My horse is tied here in a clump of +chaparral. Wait a moment and I will rejoin you." + +He came back, riding a fine horse, and he was as well equipped as the +Texans. Then the four rode on toward San Antonio de Bexar. They found +that Urrea knew much. Cos himself would probably be in San Antonio +within a week, and heavy reinforcements would arrive later. The three +in return gave him a description of the fight at the mound, and they +told how the Texans afterward had scattered for different points on the +border. + +They were not the only riders that night. Men were carrying along the +whole frontier the news that the war had begun, that the death struggle +was now on between Mexico and Texas, the giant on one side and the pigmy +on the other. + +But the ride of the four in the trail of Castenada's flying troop was +peaceful enough. About three hours after midnight they stopped under the +shelter of some cottonwoods. The Ring Tailed Panther took the watch +while the other three slept. Ned lay awake for a little while between +his blankets, but he saw that Urrea, who was not ten feet away, had gone +sound asleep almost instantly. His olive face lighted dimly by the +moon's rays was smooth and peaceful, and Ned was quite sure that he +would be a good comrade. Then he, too, entered the land of slumber. + +The Ring Tailed Panther stalked up and down, his broad powerful figure +becoming gigantic in the moonlight. Belligerent by nature and the born +frontiersman, he was very serious now. + +He knew that they were riding toward great danger and he glanced at the +face of the sleeping boy. The Ring Tailed Panther had a heart within +him, and the temptation to make Ned go back, if he could, was very +strong. But he quickly dismissed it as useless. The boy would not go. +Besides, he was skillful, strong and daring. + +The Ring Tailed Panther tramped on. Coyotes howled on the prairie, and +the deeper note of a timber wolf came from the right, where there was a +thick fringe of trees along a creek. But he paid no attention to them. +All the while he watched the circle of the horizon, narrow by night, for +horsemen. If they came he believed that his warning must be quick, +because they were likely to be either Mexicans or Indians. He saw no +riders but toward daylight he saw horses in the west. They were without +riders and he walked to the nearest swell to look at them. + +He looked down upon a herd of wild horses, many of them clean and fine +of build. At their head was a great black stallion and when the Ring +Tailed Panther saw him he sighed. At another time, he would have made a +try for the stallion's capture, but now there was other business afoot. + +The wind shifted. The stallion gave a neigh of alarm and galloped off +toward the south, the whole herd with streaming manes and tails +following close behind. The Ring Tailed Panther walked back to the +cottonwoods and awoke his companions, because it was now full day. + +"I saw some wild horses grazing close by," he said, "an' that means that +nobody else is near. Mebbe we can ride clean to San Antonio without +anybody to stop us." + +"And gain great information for the Texans," said Urrea quickly. +"Houston is to command the forces of Eastern Texas, and he will be glad +enough to know just what Cos is doing." + +"And glad will we be to take such news to him," said Ned. "I've seen him +and talked with him, Don Francisco. He is a great man. And I've ridden, +too, with Jim Bowie and 'Deaf' Smith and Karnes." + +Urrea smiled pleasantly at Ned's boyish enthusiasm. + +"And they are great men, too," he said, "Bowie, Smith and Karnes. I +should not want any one of them to send his bullet at me." + +"Jim Bowie is best with the knife," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "but I +guess no better shots than 'Deaf' Smith and Hank Karnes were ever born." + +"A horseman is coming," said Ned who was in advance. The boy had shaded +his eyes from the sun, and his uncommonly keen sight had detected the +black moving speck before any of the others could see it. + +"It's sure to be a Texan," said Obed. "You won't find any Mexican riding +alone on these plains just now." + +They rode forward to meet him and the horseman, who evidently had keen +eyes, too, came forward with equal confidence. It soon became obvious +that he was a Texan as Obed had predicted. His length of limb and body +showed despite the fact that he was on horseback, and the long rifle +that he carried across the saddle bow was of the frontier type. + +"My name is Jim Potter," he said as he came within hailing distance. + +"You're welcome, Jim Potter," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "The long, +red-headed man here on my right is Obed White, the boy is Ned Fulton; +our young Mexican friend, who is a good Texan patriot, is Don Francisco +Urrea, an' as for me, I'm Martin Palmer, better an' more properly known +as the Ring Tailed Panther." + +"I've heard of you, Panther," said Potter, "and you and your friends are +just the people I want." + +He spoke with great eagerness, and the soul of the Ring Tailed Panther, +foreseeing an impending crisis of some kind, responded. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"A crowd is gathering to march on Goliad," replied Potter. "The Mexican +commander there is treating the people with great cruelty and he is +sending out parties to harass lone Texan homes. We mean to smite him." + +Potter spoke with a certain solemnity of manner and he had the lean, +ascetic face of the Puritan. Ned judged that he was from one of the +Northern States of New England, but Obed, a Maine man, was sure of it. + +"Friend," said Obed, "from which state do you come, New Hampshire or +Vermont? I take it that it is Vermont." + +"It is Vermont as you rightly surmise," replied Potter, "and the accent +with which you speak, if I mistake not is found only in Maine." + +"A good guess, also," said Obed, "but we are both now Texans, heart and +soul; is it not so?" + +"It is even so," replied Potter gravely. Then he and Obed reached across +from their horses and gave each other a powerful clasp. + +"You will go with us to Goliad and help smite the heathen?" said Potter. + +Obed glanced at his comrades, and all of them nodded. + +"We were riding to San Antonio," said the Maine man, "to find out what +was going on there, but I see no reason why we should not turn aside to +help you, since we seem to be needed." + +"Our need of you is great," said Potter in his solemn, unchanging tones, +"as we are but few, and the enemy may be wary. Yet we must smite him and +smite him hard." + +"Then lead the way," said Obed. "It's better to be too soon than too +late." + +Without another word Potter turned his horse toward the south. He was +tall and rawboned, his face burned well by the sun, but he had an +angularity and he bore himself with a certain stiffness that did not +belong to the "Texans" of Southern birth. Ned did not doubt that he +would be most formidable in combat. + +After riding at least two hours without anyone speaking a word, Potter +said: + +"We will meet the remainder of our friends and comrades about nightfall. +We will not exceed fifty, and more probably we shall be scarcely so many +as that, but with the strength of a just cause in our arms it is likely +that we shall be enough." + +"When we charged at Gonzales they stayed for but one look at our faces," +said the Ring Tailed Panther. "Then they ran so fast that they were +rippin' an' tearin' up the prairie for the next twenty-four hours." + +"I have heard of that," said Potter with a grave smile. "The grass so +far from growing scarcely bent under their feet. Still, the Mexicans at +times will fight with the greatest courage." + +Here Urrea spoke. + +"My friends," he said, "I must now leave you. I have an uncle and +cousins on the San Antonio River, not far above Goliad. Like myself they +are devoted adherents of the Texan cause, and it is more than likely +that they will suffer terribly at the hands of some raiding party from +Goliad, if they are not warned in time. I have tried to steel my heart +and go straight with you to Goliad, but I cannot forget those who are so +dear to me. However, it is highly probable that I can give them the +warning to flee, and yet rejoin you in time for the attack." + +"We hate to lose a good man, when there's rippin' an' tearin' ahead of +us," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"But if people of his blood are in such great danger he must even go," +said Potter. + +Urrea's face was drawn with lines of mental pain. His expressive eyes +showed great doubt and anguish. Ned felt very sorry for him. + +"It is a most cruel quandary," said Urrea. "I would go with you, and yet +I would stay. Texas and her cause have my love, but to us of Mexican +blood the family also is very, very dear." + +His voice faltered and Latin tears stood in his eyes. + +"Go," said Obed. "You must save your kin, and perhaps, as you hope, you +can rejoin us in time." + +"Farewell," said Urrea, "but you will see me again soon." + +He spurred his horse, a powerful animal, and went ahead at a gallop. +Soon he disappeared over the swells of the prairie. + +"I hate to see him go," growled the Ring Tailed Panther. "Mexicans are +uncertain even when they are on your side. But he's a big strong fellow, +an' he'd be handy in the fight for which we're lookin'." + +But he kept Ned's sympathy. + +"He must save his people," said the boy. + +Obed and Potter said nothing. At twilight they found the other men +waiting for them in a thicket of mesquite, and the total, including the +four, was only forty. But with Texan daring and courage they made +straight for Goliad, and Ned did not doubt that they would have a fight. +Life was now moving fast for him, and it was crowded with incident. + +The troop in loose formation rode swiftly, but the hoofs of their horses +made little sound on the prairie. The southern moon rode low, and the +night was clear. They crossed two or three creeks, and also went through +narrow belts of forest, but they never halted or hesitated. Potter and +several others knew the way well, and night was the same as day to +them. + +At midnight Ned saw a wide but shallow stream, much like the Guadalupe. +Trees and reeds lined its banks. Potter informed him that this was the +San Antonio River, and that they were now below the town of Goliad, +where they meant to attack the Mexican force. + +"And if Providence favors us," said Potter, "we shall smite them quick +and hard." + +"Providence favors those who hit first and hard," said Obed, mixing +various quotations. + +The men forded the river, and, after a brief stop began to move +cautiously through thickets of mesquite and chaparral toward the town, +the lights of which they could not yet see. At one point the mesquite +became so thick that Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther dismounted, +in order to pick their way and led their horses. + +Ned, who was in advance, heard a noise, as of something moving in the +thicket. At first he thought it was a deer, but the sounds ceased +suddenly, as if whatever made them were trying to seek safety in +concealment rather than flight. Ned's experience had already made him +skillful and daring. The warrior's instinct, born in him, was developing +rapidly, and flinging his bridle to Obed he asked him to hold it for a +moment. + +Before the surprised man could ask why, Ned left him with the reins in +his hand, cocked his rifle and crept through the mesquite toward the +point whence the sounds had come. He saw a stooping shadow, and then a +man sprang up. Quick as a flash Ned covered him with his rifle. + +"Surrender!" he cried. + +"Gladly," cried the man, throwing up his hands and laughing in a +hysterical way. "I yield because you must be a Texan. That cannot be the +voice of any Mexican." + +Obed and the others came forward and the man strode toward them. He was +tall, but gaunt and worn, until he was not much more than a skeleton. +His clothing, mere rags, hung loosely on a figure that was now much too +narrow for them. Two bloodshot eyes burned in dark caverns. + +"Thank God," he cried, "you are Texans, all of you!" + +"Why, it's Ben Milam," said Potter. "We thought you were a prisoner at +Monterey in Mexico." + +"I was," replied Milam, one of the Texan leaders, "but I escaped and +obtained a horse. I have ridden nearly seven hundred miles day and +night. My horse dropped dead down there in the chaparral and I've been +here, trying to take a look at Goliad, uncertain about going in, because +I do not know whether it is held by Texans or Mexicans." + +"It is held by Mexicans at present," replied Potter, solemnly. "But I +think that within an hour or two it will be held by Texans." + +"If it ain't there'll be some mighty roarin' an' rippin' an' tearin'," +said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"Give me a bite to eat and something to drink," said Milam; "and I'll +help you turn Goliad from a Mexican into a Texan town." + +Exhausted and nearly starved, he showed, nevertheless, the dauntless +spirit of the Texans. Food and drink were given to him and the little +party moved toward the town. Presently they saw one or two lights. Far +off a dog howled, but it was only at the moon. He had not scented them. +By and by the ground grew so rough and the bushes so thick that all +dismounted and tethered their horses. Then they crept into the very edge +of the town, still unseen and unheard. Potter pointed to a large +building. + +"That," he said, "is the headquarters of Colonel Sandoval, the +commandant, and if you look closely you will see a sentinel walking up +and down before the door." + +"We will make a rush for that house," said the leader of the Texans, +"and call upon the sentinel to yield." + +They slipped from the cover and ran toward the house, shouting to the +Mexican on guard to surrender. But he fired at them point blank, +although his bullet missed, and a shot from one of the Texans slew him. +The next moment they were thundering at the door of the house, in which +were Sandoval and the larger part of his garrison. The door held fast, +and shots were fired at them from the windows. + +Some of the Texans ran to the neighboring houses, obtained axes and +smashed in the door. Then they poured in, every man striving to be +first, and most of the Mexicans fled through the back doors or the +windows, escaping in the darkness into the mesquite and chaparral. +Sandoval himself, half dressed, was taken by the Ring Tailed Panther and +Obed. He made many threats, but Obed replied: + +"You have chosen war and the Texans are giving it to you as best they +can. Our bullets fall on all Mexicans, whether just or unjust." + +Sandoval said no more, but finished his interrupted toilet. It was clear +to Ned, watching his face, that the Mexican colonel considered all the +Texans doomed, despite their success of the moment. Sandoval was still +in his quarters. His arms had been taken away but he suffered no ill +treatment. Despite the rapid flight of the Mexican soldiers twenty-five +or thirty had been taken and they were held outside. The Texans not +knowing what to do with them decided to release them later on parole. + +Ned was about to leave Sandoval's room when he met at the door a young +man, perspiring, wild of eye and bearing all the other signs of haste +and excitement. It was Francisco Urrea. + +"I am too late!" he cried. "Alas! Alas! I would have had a share in this +glorious combat! I should like to have taken Sandoval with my own hand! +I have cause to hate that man!" + +Sandoval was sitting on the edge of his bed, and the eyes of the two +Mexicans flashed anger at each other, Urrea went up, and shook his hand +in the face of Sandoval. Sandoval shook his in the face of Urrea. Wrath +was equal between them. Fierce words were exchanged with such swiftness +that Ned could not understand them. He judged that the young Mexican +must have some deep cause for hatred of Sandoval. But the Ring Tailed +Panther interfered. He did not like this trait of abusing a fallen foe +which he considered typically Mexican. + +"Come away, Don Francisco," he said. "The rippin' an' tearin' are over +an' we can do our roarin' outside!" + +He took Urrea by the arm and led him away. Ned preceded them. Outside he +met Obed who was in the highest spirits. + +"We've done more than capture Mexicans," he said. "It never rains but it +turns into a storm. We've gone through the Mexican barracks and we've +made a big haul here. Let's take a look." + +Ned went with him, and, when he saw, he too exulted. Goliad had been +made a place of supply by the Mexicans, and, stored there, the Texans +had taken a vast quantity of ammunition, rounds of powder and lead to +the scores of thousands, five hundred rifles and three fine cannon. Some +of the Texans joined hands in a wild Indian dance, when they saw their +spoils, and the eyes of Ned and Obed glistened. + +"Unto the righteous shall be given," said Obed. "We've done far better +to-night than we hoped. We'll need these in the advance on Cos and San +Antonio." + +"They will be of the greatest service," said Urrea who joined them at +that moment. "How I envy you your glory!" + +"What happened to you, Don Francisco?" asked Obed. + +"I carried the warning to my uncle and his family," replied Urrea. "I +was just in time. Guerrillas of Cos came an hour later, and burned the +house to the ground. They destroyed everything, the stables and barns, +and they even killed the horses and the cattle. Ah, what a ruin! I rode +back by there on my way to Goliad." + +The young Mexican pressed his hands over his eyes and Ned thrilled with +sympathy. + +"What became of your uncle and his family?" asked the boy. + +"They rode north for San Felipe de Austin. They will be safe but they +lose all." + +"Never mind," said Obed, "we'll make the Mexicans pay it back, when we +drive 'em out of Texas. I don't believe that any good patriot will +suffer." + +"Nevertheless," said Urrea, "my uncle is willing to lose and endure for +the cause." + +Ned slept half through the morning in one of the little adobe houses, +and at noon he, Obed, the Ring Tailed Panther and others rode toward San +Antonio. They slept that night in a pecan grove, and the next day +continued their journey, meeting in the morning a Texan who informed +them that Cos with a formidable force was in San Antonio. He also +confirmed the information that the Texans were gathering from all points +for the attack upon this, the greatest Mexican fortress in all Texas. +Mr. Austin was commander-in-chief of the forces, but he wished to yield +the place to Houston who would not take it. + +Late in the afternoon they saw horsemen and rode toward them boldly. The +group was sixty or eighty in number and they stopped for the smaller +body to approach. Ned's keen eyes recognized them first, and he uttered +a cry of joy. + +"There's Mr. Bowie," he said, "and there are Smith and Karnes, too! They +are all on their way to San Antonio." + +He took off his hat and waved it joyously. Smith and Karnes did the same +and Bowie smiled gravely as the boy rode up. + +"Well, Ned," he said, "we meet again and I judge that we ride on the +same errand." + +"We do. To San Antonio." + +"An' there'll be the biggest fight that was ever seen in Texas," said +the Ring Tailed Panther, who knew Bowie well. "If Mexicans an' Texans +want to get to roarin' an' rippin' they'll have the chance." + +"They will, Panther," said Bowie, still smiling gravely. Then he looked +inquiringly at Urrea. + +"This is Don Francisco Urrea," said Obed. "He was born in Texas, and he +is with us heart and soul. By a hard ride he saved his uncle and family +from slaughter by the guerrillas of Cos, and he reached Goliad just a +few minutes too late to take part in the capture of the Mexican force." + +"Some of the Mexicans born in Texas are with us," said Bowie, "and +before we are through at San Antonio, Don Francisco, you will have a +good chance to prove your loyalty to Texas." + +"I shall prove it," said Urrea vehemently. + +"The place for the gathering of our troops is on Salado Creek near San +Antonio," said Bowie, "and I think that we shall find both Mr. Austin +and General Houston there." + +Bowie was extremely anxious to be at a conference with the leaders, and +taking Ned, Obed, the Ring Tailed Panther and a few others he rode +ahead. Ned suggested that Urrea go too, but Bowie did not seem anxious +about him, and he was left behind. + +"Maybe he would not be extremely eager to fire upon people of his own +blood if we should happen to meet the Mexican lancers," said Bowie. "I +don't like to put a man to such a test before I have to do it." + +Urrea showed disappointment, but, after some remonstrance, he submitted +with a fair grace. + +"I'll see you again before San Antonio," he said to Ned. + +Ned shook his hand, and galloped away with the little troop, which all +told numbered only sixteen. Bowie kept them at a rapid pace until +sundown and far after. Ned saw that the man was full of care, and he too +appreciated the importance of the situation. Events were coming to a +crisis and very soon the Texans and the army of Cos would stand face to +face. + +They slept on the open prairie, and were in the saddle again before +dawn. Bowie now curved a little to the North. They were coming into +country over which Mexicans rode, and he did not wish a clash. But the +Ring Tailed Panther was not sanguine about a free passage, nor did he +seem to care. + +"It's likely that the Mexican bands are out ridin'," he said. "Cos ain't +no fool, an' he'll be on the lookout for us. There's more timber as you +come toward San Antonio, an' there'll be a lot of chances for ambushes." + +"I believe you are hoping for one," said Ned. + +The Ring Tailed Panther did not answer, but he looked upon this young +friend of his of whom he thought so much, and his dark face parted in +one of the broadest smiles that Ned had ever seen. + +"I ain't runnin' away from the chance of it," he replied. + +They saw a little later a belt of timber to their right. Ned's +experience told him that it masked the bed of a creek, probably flowing +to the San Antonio River, and he noticed, although they were at some +distance, that the trees seemed to be of unusually fine growth. This +fact first attracted his attention, but he lost sight of it when he saw +a glint of unusually bright light among the trunks. He looked more +closely. Here again experience was of value. It was the peculiar kind of +light that he had seen before, when a ray from the sun struck squarely +on the steel head of a lance. + +"Look!" he said to Obed and Bowie. + +They looked, and Bowie instantly halted his men. The face of the Ring +Tailed Panther suddenly lighted up. He too had good eyes, and he said in +tones of satisfaction: + +"Figures are movin' among the trees, an' they are those of mounted men +with lances. Texans don't carry lances an' I think we shall be attacked +by a Mexican force within a few minutes, Colonel Bowie." + +"It is altogether probable," replied Bowie. "See, they are coming from +the wood, and they number at least sixty." + +"Nearer seventy, I think," said Obed. + +"Whether sixty or seventy, they are not too many for us to handle," said +Bowie. + +The Mexicans had seen the little group of Texans and they were coming +fast. The wind brought their shouts and they brandished their long +lances. Ned observed with admiration how cool Bowie and all the men +remained. + +"Ride up in a line," said Bowie. "Here, Ned, bring your horse by me and +all of you face the Mexicans. Loosen your pistols, and when I give the +word to fire let 'em have it with your rifles." + +They were on the crest of one of the swells and the sixteen horses stood +in a row so straight that a line stretched across their front would have +touched the head of every one. They were trained horses, too, and the +riders dropped the reins on their necks, while they held their rifles +ready. + +It was hard for Ned to keep his nerves steady, but Obed was on one side +of him and Bowie on the other, while the Ring Tailed Panther was just +beyond Obed. Pride as well as necessity kept him motionless and taut +like the others. + +Doubtless the Mexicans would have turned, had it not been for the +smallness of the force opposed to them, but they came on rapidly in a +long line, still shouting and brandishing their weapons. Ned saw the +flaming eyes of the horses, and he marked the foam upon their jaws. For +what was Bowie waiting! Nearer they came, and the beat of the hoofs +thundered in his ears. It seemed that the flashing steel of the lances +was at his throat. He had already raised his rifle and was taking aim at +the man in front of him, all his nerves now taut for the conflict. + +"Fire!" cried Bowie, and sixteen rifles were discharged as one. + +Not a bullet went astray. The Mexican line was split asunder, and horses +and men went down in a mass. A few, horses and men, rose, and ran across +the plain. But the wings of the Mexican force closed in, and continued +the charge, expecting victory, now that the rifles were empty. But they +forgot the pistols. Ned snatched his from the holster, and fired +directly into the evil face of a lancer who was about to crash into him. +The Mexican fell to the ground and his horse, swerving to one side, +galloped on. + +The pistols cracked all around Ned, and then, the Mexicans, sheering +off, fled as rapidly as they had charged. But they left several behind +who would never charge again. + +"All right, Ned?" said the cheery voice of Obed. + +"Not hurt at all," replied the boy. But as he spoke he gazed down at the +face of the man who had tried to crash into him, and he shuddered. He +knew that face. At the first glance it had seemed familiar, and at the +second he had remembered perfectly. It was the face of the man who had +struck him with the butt of a lance on that march in Mexico, when he was +the prisoner of Cos. It seemed a vengeance dealt out by the hand of +fate. He who had received the blow had given it in return, although not +knowing at the time. Ned recognized the justice of fate, but he did not +rejoice. Nor did he speak of the coincidence to anyone. It was not a +thing of which he wished to talk. + +"They're gone," said the Ring Tailed Panther, speaking now in satisfied +tones. "They came, they stayed half a minute, an' then they went, but +there was some rippin' an tearin' an' chawin'." + +"Yes, they've gone, and they've gone to stay," said Bowie. "It was a +foolish thing to do to charge Texans armed with rifles on the open +prairie." + +Ned was looking at the last Mexican as he disappeared over the plain. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE OLD CONVENT + + +The Texans gathered up the arms of the fallen Mexicans, except the +lances for which they had no use, finding several good rifles and a +number of pistols of improved make which were likely to prove of great +value, and then they rode on as briskly as if nothing had happened. + +The next day they drew near to San Antonio and entered the beautiful +valley made by the San Antonio River and the creek to which the Mexicans +gave the name San Pedro. Ned found it all very luxuriant and very +refreshing to eyes tired of the prairies and the plains. Despite the +fact that it was the middle of October the green yet endured in that +southern latitude. Splendid forests still in foliage bounded both creek +and river. They rode through noble groves of oak and tall pecans. They +saw many fine springs spouting from the earth, and emptying into river +and creek. + +It was a noble land, but, although it had been settled long by Spaniard +and Mexican, the wilderness still endured in many of its aspects. Now +and then a deer sprang up from the thickets, and the wild turkeys still +roosted in the trees. Churches and other buildings, many of massive +stone adorned with carved and costly marbles, extended ten or twelve +miles down the river, but most of them were abandoned and in decay. The +Comanche and his savage brother, the Apache, had raided to the very +gates of San Antonio. The deep irrigation ditches, dug by the Spanish +priests and their Indian converts, were abandoned, and mud and refuse +were fast filling them up. Already an old civilization, sunk in decay, +was ready to give place to another, rude and raw, but full of youth and +vigor. + +It was likely that Ned alone felt these truths, as they reached the +lowest outskirts of the missions, and stopped at an abandoned stone +convent, built at the very edge of the San Antonio, where the waters of +the river, green and clear, flowed between banks clothed in a deep and +luxuriant foliage. Half of the troop entered the convent, while the +others watched on the horses outside. It impressed Ned with a sense of +desolation fully equal to that of the ancient pyramid or the lost city. +Everything of value that the nuns had not taken away had been stripped +from the place by Comanche, Apache or Lipan. + +It was nearly night when they arrived at the convent. The Texan camp +still lay some miles away, their horses were very tired, and Bowie +decided to remain in the ruined building until morning. The main portion +of the structure was of stone, two stories high, but there were some +extensions of wood, from one of which the floor had been taken away by +plunderers. It was Ned who discovered this floorless room and he +suggested that they lead the horses into it, especially as the night was +turning quite cold, and there were signs of rain. + +"A good thought," said Bowie. "We'll do it." + +The horses made some trouble at the door, but when they were finally +driven in, and unsaddled and unbridled they seemed content. Two windows, +from which the glass was long since gone, admitted an abundance of air, +and Ned and several others, taking their big bowie knives, went out to +cut grass for them. + +On foot, Ned was impressed more than ever by the desolation and +loneliness of the place. The grounds had been surrounded by an adobe +wall, now broken through in many places. On one side had been a little +flower garden, and on the other a larger kitchen garden. One or two late +roses bloomed in the flower garden, but most of it had been destroyed by +weather. + +Ned and the others cut armfuls of grass in a little meadow, just beyond +the adobe wall, and they hastened the work. They did not like the looks +of the night. The skies were darkening very fast, and they saw +occasional flashes of lightning in the far southwest. Ned looked back at +the convent. It was now an almost formless bulk against the somber sky, +its most prominent feature being the cupola in which a bronze bell still +hung. + +The wind rose and cold drops of rain struck him. He shivered. It +promised to be one of those raw, cold nights frequent in the southwest, +and he knew that the rain would be chill and penetrating. He was glad +that they had found the convent. + +They gave the grass to the horses, and then they went into the main +portion of the convent, where Bowie and the rest were already at work. +Here the ruin was not so great, as the Spaniards had built in a solid +manner, according to their custom. They found a large room, with an open +fireplace, in which Ned would have been glad to see wood blazing, but +Bowie did not consider it worth while to gather materials for a fire. +Adjoining this room was a chapel, in which a pulpit, a desecrated image +of the Virgin, and some frames without the pictures, yet remained. Anger +filled Ned's heart that anyone should plunder and spoil such a place, +and he turned sorrowfully away. + +Back of the large rooms were workrooms, kitchen and laundry, all +stripped of nearly everything. The narrow stairway that led to the upper +floor was in good condition, and, when Ned mounted it, he saw rows of +narrow little cell-like rooms in which the nuns had slept. All were +bleak and bare, but, from a broken window at the end of the corridor, he +looked out upon the San Antonio and the forests of oak and pecan. He +could barely see the river, the night had grown so dark. The cold rain +increased and was lashed against the building by a moaning wind. Once +more Ned shivered, and once more he was glad that they had found the old +convent. He was glad to return to the main room, where Bowie and the +others were gathered. + +The room had been lighted by two windows, facing the San Antonio and two +on the side. They had been closed originally by shutters, which were now +gone, but as the windows were narrow the driving rain did not enter far. +One or two of the men, sharing Ned's earlier feeling, spoke up in favor +of a fire. They wanted the cheerfulness that light and warmth give. But +Bowie refused again. + +"Not necessary," he said. "We are here in the enemy's country, and we do +not want to give him warning of our presence. We met the lancers to-day, +and we have no desire to meet them again to-night." + +"Right," the Ring Tailed Panther roared gently to Ned. "When you're +makin' war you must fight first an' take your pleasure afterward." + +It was warm enough in the room and the open windows gave them all the +air they needed. Every man, except those detailed for the guard, spread +his blankets and went to sleep. Ned was on the early watch. He, too, +would have liked sleep. He could have felt wonderfully fine rolled in +the blankets with the cold rain pattering on the walls outside. But he +was chosen for the first watch, and his time would come later. + +Ned was posted at a broken door that led to the extension in which the +horses were sheltered. The remaining sentinels, three in number, +including the Ring Tailed Panther, were stationed in different parts of +the building. The boy from his position in the broken doorway could see +into the room where his comrades slept, and, when he looked in the other +direction, he could also see the horses, some of which were now lying +down. + +It was all very still in the old convent. So deep was this silence that +Ned began to fancy that he heard the breathing of his sleeping comrades. +It was only fancy. The horses had ceased to stir. Perhaps they were as +glad as the men that they had found shelter. But outside Ned heard +distinctly the moaning of the wind, and the lashing of the cold rain +against roof and walls. + +On the right where the extension had been connected with the main +building of stone there was a great opening, and through this Ned looked +down toward the adobe wall and the San Antonio. He saw dimly across the +river a dark waving mass which he knew to be the pecan trees, bending in +the wind, but on his own side of the stream he could distinguish +nothing. But he watched there unceasingly, save for occasional glances +at the horses or his sleeping comrades. + +He could now see objects very well within the room. He was able to count +his comrades sleeping on the floor. He saw two empty picture frames on +the wall, and, near by, a rope, which he surmised led to the bell in the +cupola, and which some chance had allowed to remain there. Now and then +Ned and one of his comrades of the watch met and exchanged a few words, +but they always spoke in whispers, lest they awaken the sleeping men. +After these brief meetings Ned would return to his watch at the opening. + +The character of the night did not change as time trailed its slow +length away. One solid black cloud covered the sky from horizon to +horizon. The wind out of the southwest never ceased to moan, and the +cold rain blew steadily upon the walls and roof of the ruined convent. It +was not a night when either Texans or Mexicans would wish to be abroad, +and, as the chill grew sharper and more penetrating, Ned wrapped one of +his blankets about his shoulders. + +As the night advanced, Ned's sense of oppression deepened. He felt once +more as he had felt at the pyramid, that he was among old dead things. +Ghosts could walk here as truly as they could walk on the banks of the +Teotihuacan. Sometimes as the great cloud lightened the least bit he +caught glimpses of the grass and weeds that grew between him and the +broken adobe wall which was about fifteen yards away. + +Only an hour more, and the second watch would come on. Ned began to +think of his place on the floor, and of the deep and dreamless sleep +that he knew would be his. Then he was attracted by a glimpse of the +adobe wall. It seemed to him that he had seen a projection, where there +was none before. He looked a second time, and he did not see it. Fancy +played strange tricks at midnight in the enemy's country, and in the +desolate silence. + +Ned shook himself. Although a vivid imagination might be excusable at +such a time even in a man, a veteran of many campaigns, he was +essentially an uncompromising realist, and he wished to see facts +exactly as they were. The work upon which he was engaged allowed no time +for the breeding of fancy. + +He looked again and there were two projections where he had seen only +one before. They resembled knobs on the adobe wall, rising perhaps half +a foot above it, and the sight troubled Ned. Was fancy to prove too +strong, when he had drilled himself so long to see the real? Was he to +be played with by the imagination, as if he had no will of his own? + +He thought once of speaking to the sentinels at the other doors, but he +could not compel himself to do it. They would laugh at him, and it is a +bitter thing to be laughed at. So he kept his watch, and while he looked +the projections appeared, disappeared and appeared once more. + +He could stand it no longer. Putting his rifle under his blanket in +order to keep the weapon dry he stepped out of doors, but flattened +himself against the wall of the convent. The rain and wind whipped him +unmercifully, and the cold ran through him, but he was resolved to see +what was happening by the adobe wall. The projections were there and +they had increased to four. They did not go away. + +Ned was now convinced that it was not fancy. His mind had obeyed his +will, and he was the true realist, no victim of the imagination. He was +about to kneel down in the grass, and crawl toward the wall, when +something caused him to change his mind. One of the projections suddenly +extended a full yard above the wall, and resolved itself into the shape +of a man. But what a man! The body from the waist up was naked, and +above it rose a head crested with long hair, black and coarse. Other +heads and bodies also savage and naked rose up beside it on the wall. +Ned knew in an instant and springing back within the convent he cried: + +"Comanches! Comanches! Up men, up!" + +At the same moment, acting on impulse, he seized the rope that hung by +the wall and pulled it hard, fast and often. Above in the cupola the +great bronze bell boomed forth a tremendous solemn note that rose far +over the moaning of the wind. From the adobe wall came a fierce yell, a +sinister cry that swelled until it became a high and piercing volume of +sound, and then died away in a menacing note like the howl of wolves. +But Ned, impulse still his master, never ceased to pull the bell. + +All the Texans were on their feet at once, wide awake, rifles in their +hands. + +"Lie down, men, by the doors!" cried Bowie, "and shoot anything that +tries to come in. Ned, let go the rope, you are in range there, and lie +down with us! But you have done well, boy! You have done well! You have +saved us all from being scalped, and perhaps the booming of the big bell +will bring us help that we may need badly!" + +Ned threw himself on the floor just in time to avoid a bullet that sang +in at the open doorway. But no other shot was fired then. The Comanches +in silence sank back into the darkness and the rain. The defenders lay +on the floor, guarding the doorways with open rifles. They could not see +much, but they could hear well, and since Ned had given the warning in +time every one of the little party felt that they held a fortress. + +Ned's pulses were still leaping, but great pride was in his heart. It +was he, not one of the veterans, who had saved them, and Bowie had +instantly spoken words of high approval. He was now lying flat on the +floor, but he looked out once more at the same opening. There were +certainly no projections on the wall now, but he could not tell whether +the Comanches were inside it or outside. If they crept to the sides of +the convent's stone walls the riflemen could not reach them there. He +wondered how many they were and how they had happened to raid so near to +San Antonio at this time. + +Then ensued a long and trying period of silence. Less experienced men +than the Texans might have thought that the Comanches had gone away +after the failure of their attempt at surprise, but these veterans knew +better. Bowie and all of them were trying to divine their point of +attack and how to meet it. For the present, they could do nothing but +watch the doorways, and guard themselves against a sudden rush of their +dangerous foe. + +"Panther," said Obed White, "it seems to me that you're getting all the +ripping and tearing and chawing that you want on this trip." + +"It ain't what you might call monotonous," said the Ring Tailed Panther. +"I agree to that much." + +It had been fully an hour now since Ned had rung the great bell, and +they had heard no noises save the usual ones of that night, the wind and +the rain. He surmised at last that the Comanches had taken advantage of +the war between the Texans and Mexicans to make a raid on the San +Antonio Valley, expecting to gallop in, do their terrible work, and then +be away. Doubtless it had not occurred to them that they would meet such +a group as that led by Bowie and the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"Ned," said Bowie, "creep across the floor there to that rope and ring +the bell again. Ring it a long time. Either it will hurry the Comanches +into action, or friends of ours will hear it. It's likely that all the +Mexicans have now withdrawn into San Antonio, and that only Texans, +besides this band of Comanches, are abroad in the valley." + +Ned wormed himself across the floor, and then, pressing himself against +the wall, reached up for the rope. A strange thought darted into his +brain. He had a deep feeling for music, and he could play both the +violin and piano. He could also ring chimes. He was keyed to the utmost, +every pulse and vein surcharged with the emotion that comes from a +desperate situation and a great impulse to save it. + +The great bell suddenly began to peal forth the air of The Star Spangled +Banner. Some of the notes may have gone wrong, there may have been +errors of time and emphasis, but the old tune, then young, was there. +Every man lying on the floor, every one of whom was born in the States, +knew it, and every heart leaped. Elsewhere it might have been a +commonplace thing to do, but there in the night and the storm, +surrounded by enemies, on a vast and lonely frontier it was an +inspiration. Every Texan in the valley who heard it would know that it +was the call of a friend asking for help, and he would come. + +Not a Texan moved, but they breathed heavily. Overhead the great bell +boomed solemnly on, and Ned, his hand on the rope, put all his heart and +strength into the task. A rifle cracked and a bullet entered the +doorway, but it passed over the heads of the Texans, and flattened +against the stone wall beyond. A rifle inside cracked in response, and a +Comanche in the grass and weeds uttered a death yell. + +"I was watchin' for just such a chance," said the Ring Tailed Panther in +satisfied tones. "I saw him when he rose to fire. Just as you thought, +Mr. Bowie, the bell is makin' their nerves raw, an' they feel that they +must do somethin' right away." + +"What a queer note that was in Ned's tune!" suddenly exclaimed Obed. + +Bowie laughed. + +"An angry Comanche shot at the bell and hit it. That's what happened," +he said. "They can waste as many bullets as they please that way." + +But the Comanches wasted no more just then. A noise came from the +horses. The shots evidently had alarmed them, and they were beginning to +stamp and rear. Four men, at the order of Bowie, slipped into the +improvised stable and sought to quiet them. They also remained there to +keep a guard at the broken windows. Ned, unconscious how much time had +passed, was still ringing the bell. + +"You can rest now, Ned," said Bowie. "That was a good idea of yours and +you can repeat it later on. I'm thinking that the Comanches will soon +act, if they are going to act at all." + +But nothing occurred for nearly an hour, when the horses began to rear +and stamp again. Two or three of them also uttered shrill neighs. Bowie, +with Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther joined the four already in +the improvised stable. The horses would not be quieted. It was quite +evident that instinct was warning them of something that human beings +could not yet detect. + +Ned wondered. He put his hand on the neck of his own horse which knew +him well, yet the beast trembled all over, and uttered a sudden shrill +neigh. It was quite dark in the place, only a little light coming +through the broken windows, yet Ned was quite sure that no Comanches had +managed to get inside, and lie in hiding there. + +A few moments later the Ring Tailed Panther uttered a fierce cry. + +"I smell smoke!" he cried. "That's why the horses are so scared. The +demons have managed to set fire to this place which is wood. That's why +they've been so quiet!" + +Ned, too, now smelt the strong odor of smoke, and a spurt of fire +appeared at a crack between two of the planks at the far end of the +place. The struggles of the horses increased. They were wild with +fright. + +Ned instantly recognized the danger. The burning wooden building would +fill the stone convent itself with flame and smoke, and make it +untenable. The sparks already had become many, and the odor of smoke was +increasing. Their situation, suddenly become desperate, was growing more +so every instant. But they were Texans, inured to every kind of danger. +Bowie shouted for more men to come from the convent, leaving only five +or six on guard there. + +Then the Texans began to bring method and procedure out of the turmoil. +Some held the horses, others, led by Bowie, kicked loose the light +planks where the fire had been started, and hurled them outward. They +were nearly choked by the smoke but they worked on. + +The Comanches, many of whom were hugging the wall, shouted their war +cry, and began to fire into the opening that Bowie and his men had made. +They could not take much aim, because of the smoke, but their bullets +wounded two Texans. Despite the danger Bowie and most of his men were +still compelled to work at the fire. The room was full of smoke, and +behind them the horses were yet struggling with those who held them. + +The Ring Tailed Panther lay down and resting himself on one elbow took +aim with his rifle. He was almost clear of the smoke which hung in a +bank above him. Ned noticed him and imitated him. He saw a dusky figure +outside and when he fired it fell. The Ring Tailed Panther did as well, +and Obed joined them. While Bowie and the others were dashing out the +fire, three great marksmen were driving back the Comanches who sought to +take advantage of the diversion. + +"Good! good!" cried Bowie, as they knocked out the last burning plank. + +"That ends the fire," said Obed, "and now we've got a hole here which is +not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a barn door, but I do not think it +will suffice for our friends, the Comanches." + +All the men turned their attention to the enemy, and, lying on the +ground, they took as good aim as the darkness would permit. The Texan +rifles cracked fast and, despite the darkness, the bullets often found +the chosen targets. The Comanches had been shouting the war whoop +continuously, but now their cries began to die, and their fire died with +it. Never a very good marksman, the Indian was no match for the Texans, +every one of whom was a sharpshooter, armed with a fine rifle of long +range. + +The Texans also fired from the shelter of the building, and, as the +great cloud was now parting, letting through shafts from the moon, the +Comanches were unable to find good hiding in the weeds and grass. The +bullets pursued them there. No matter how low they lay the keen eye of +some Texan searched them out, and sent in the fatal or wounding bullet. +Soon they were driven to the shelter of the adobe wall, where they lay, +and for a little while returned a scattering fire which did no harm. +After it ceased no Comanche uttered a war whoop and there was silence +again, save for the rain which now trickled down softly. + +Bowie distributed sentinels at the openings, including the new one made +by the fire, and then the Texans took count of themselves. They had not +escaped unscathed. One lying on the floor had received a bullet in his +head and had died in silence, unnoticed in the battle. Two men had +suffered wounds, but they were not severe, and would not keep them from +taking part in a renewal of the combat, should it come. + +All this reckoning was made in the dusk of the old convent, and with the +weariness of both body and soul that comes after a period of great and +prolonged exertion. Within the two rooms that they had defended, the +odor of burned gunpowder was strong, stinging throat and nostrils. +Eddies of smoke hung between floor and ceiling. Many of the men coughed, +and it was long before they could reduce the horses to entire quiet. + +They wrapped the dead man in his blankets and laid him in the corner. +They bound up the hurts of the others, as best they could and then, save +for the watching, they relaxed completely. Ned, his back against the +wall, sat with his friends Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. He was +utterly exhausted, and even in the dusk the men noticed it. + +"Here, Ned," said Obed, "take a chew of this. You may not feel that you +need it, but it will be a good thing for you." + +He extended a strip of dried venison. Ned thanked him and ate, although +he had not felt hungry. By and by he grew stronger, and then Bowie +called to him. + +"Ned," he said, "crawl across the floor again. Be sure you do not raise +your head until you reach the wall. Then ring the bell, until I tell you +to stop. I've a notion that somebody will come by morning. Boys, the +rest of you be ready with your rifles. It was the bell before that +brought on the attack." + +Ned slid across the floor, and once more pulled the rope with the old +fervor, sending the notes of the tune that he could play best far out +over the valley of the San Antonio. But no reply came from the +Comanches. They did not dare to rush the place again in the face of +those deadly Texan rifles. They made no sound while the bell played on, +but the Texans knew that they still lay behind the adobe wall, ready for +a shot at any incautious head. + +Ned rang for a full half hour, before Bowie told him to quit. Then he +crept back to his place. He put his head on his folded blanket and, +although not intending it, fell asleep, despite the close air of the +place. But he awoke before it was dawn, and hastily sat up, ashamed. +When he saw in the dark that half the men were asleep he was ashamed no +longer. Bowie, who was standing by one of the doors, but sheltered from +a shot, smiled at him. + +"The sun will rise in a half hour, Ned," he said, "and you've waked up +in time to hear the answer to your ringing of the bell. Listen!" + +Ned strained his ears, and he heard a faint far sound, musical like his +own call. It seemed to him to be the note of a trumpet. + +"Horsemen are coming," said Bowie, "and unless I am far wrong they are +Texans. Ring again, Ned." + +The bell boomed forth once more, and for the last time. Clear and sharp, +came the peal of the trumpet in answer. One by one the men awoke. The +light was now appearing in the East, the gray trembling into silver. +From the valley came the rapid beat of hoofs, a rifle shot and then +three or four more. Bowie ran out at the door, and Ned followed him. +Across the meadows the Comanches scurried on their ponies, and a group +of white men sent a volley after them. Then the white men galloped +toward the convent. Bowie walked forward to meet them. + +"You were never more welcome, Fannin," he said to the leader of the +group. + +The man sprang from his horse, and grasped Bowie's hand. + +"We rode as fast as we could, but I didn't know it was you, Jim," he +said. "Some of our scouts heard a bell somewhere playing The Star +Spangled Banner in the night. We thought they were dreaming, but they +swore to it. So we concluded it must be a call for help and I came with +the troop that you see here. We lost the direction once or twice, but +the bell called us back." + +"For that," said Bowie, "you have to thank this boy here, a boy in years +only, a man in action, and two men in mind and courage. This is Ned +Fulton, Colonel Fannin." + +Ned blushed and expostulated, but Bowie took nothing back. Fannin looked +about him curiously. + +"You seem to have had something of a fight here," he said. "Down in the +grass and weeds we saw several Comanches who will trouble no more." + +"We had all we wanted," said Bowie, "and we shall be glad to ride at +once with you to camp. I bring some good men for the cause, and there +are more behind." + +They buried the fallen man in the old flower garden, and then rode +swiftly for the Texan camp on the Salado. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN SAN ANTONIO + + +It was a crisp October morning, and as he galloped through the fresh +air, all of Ned's spirits came back to him. He would soon be with the +full array of the Texans, marching forward boldly to meet Cos himself +and all his forces. The great strain of the fight the night before +passed away as he inhaled the sparkling air. The red came back to his +cheeks, and he felt that he was ready to go wherever the boldest of the +Texans led. The Ring Tailed Panther shared his emotions. + +"Fine, isn't it?" said he. "Great valley, too, but it oughtn't to belong +to the Mexicans. It's been going down under them for a long time. They +haven't been able to protect it from Comanches, Apaches and Lipans. The +old convent that we held last night had been abandoned for fear of the +Indians, an' lots of other work that the Spaniards an' Mexicans did has +gone the same way." + +The beauty of the country increased, as they rode. Fine springs of cold +water gushed from the hills and flowed down into the clear green stream +of the San Antonio. The groves of oaks and pecans were superb, but they +passed more desolate and abandoned buildings and crossed more irrigation +ditches choked up with refuse. + +Bowie called Ned up to his side, and had him to relate again all that he +had seen and heard in Mexico. + +"Mr. Austin is at the camp," said Fannin, "and he has been asking about +you." + +Ned's heart thrilled. There was a strong bond between him and the +gentle, kindly man who strove so hard to serve both Texas and Mexico, +and whom Santa Anna had long kept a prisoner for his pains. + +"When will we reach the camp?" he asked Bowie. + +"In less than a half hour. See, the scouts have already sighted us." + +The scouts came up in a few moments, and then they drew near the camp. +Ned, eager of eye, observed everything. + +The heart of the camp was in the center of a pecan grove, where a few +tents for the leading men stood, but the Texans were spread all about in +both groves and meadows, where they slept under the open sky. They wore +no uniforms. All were in hunting suits of dressed deerskin or homespun, +but they were well armed with the long rifles which they knew how to use +with such wonderful skill. They had no military tactics, but they +invariably pressed in where the foe was thickest and the danger +greatest. They were gathered now in hundreds from all the Texas +settlements to defend the homes that they had built in the wilderness, +and Cos with his Mexican army did not dare to come out of San Antonio. + +The Texans welcomed Bowie and his men with loud acclaim. Ned and his +comrades unsaddled, tethered their horses and lay down luxuriously in +the grass. Mr. Austin was busy in his tent at a conference of the +leaders and Ned would wait until the afternoon to see him. Obed +suggested that they take a nap. + +"In war eat when you can and sleep when you can," he said. "Sleep lost +once is lost forever." + +"Obed has got some sense if he don't look like it," chuckled the Ring +Tailed Panther. "Here's to followin' his advice." + +Ned took it, too, and slept until the afternoon, when a messenger asked +him to come to Mr. Austin's tent, a large one, with the sides now open. +Obed was invited to come with him, and, as Ned stood in the door of the +tent the mild, grave man advanced eagerly, a glow of pleasure and +affection on his face. + +"My boy! my boy!" he said, putting both hands on Ned's shoulders. "I was +sure that I should never see you again, after you made your wonderful +escape from our prison in Mexico. But you are here in Texas none the +worse, and they tell me you have passed through a very Odyssey of +hardship and danger." + +Water stood in Ned's eyes. He rejoiced in the affection and esteem of +this man, and yet Mr. Austin was very unlike the rest of the Texans. +They were rough riders; men of the plains always ready to fight, but he, +cultivated and scholarly, was for peace and soft words. He had used his +methods, and they had failed, inuring only to the advantage of Santa +Anna and Mexico. He had failed most honorably, but he looked very much +worn and depressed. He was now heart and soul for the war, knowing that +there was no other resort, but for battle he did not feel himself +fitted. + +Ned introduced Obed as the companion of most of his wanderings, and Obed +received a warm greeting. Then other men in the great tent came forward, +and Ned, surprised, saw that one of them was Urrea, dressed neatly, +handsome and smiling. But the boy was glad to see him. + +"Ah, Seņor Ned," he said, "you did not expect that I would get here +before you. I came by another way, and I have brought information for +our leader." + +Ned met the other men in the tent, all destined to become famous in the +great war, and then he gave in detail once more all that he knew of the +Mexicans and their plans. Mr. Austin sat on a little camp stool, as he +listened, and Ned noticed how pale and weak he looked. The boy's heart +sank, and then flamed up again as he thought of Santa Anna. It was he +who had done this. Away from Santa Anna and free from his magnetism he +had a heart full of hatred for him. Yet it depressed him to see Mr. +Austin who, good man, was obviously unfit for the leadership of an army, +about to enter upon a desperate war against great odds. + +When Ned was excused, and left the tent he found that Smith, Karnes and +the rest of their force had come up. The camp which was more like that +of hunters than of an army, was in joyous mood. Several buffaloes had +been killed on the plains and the men had brought them in, quartered. +Now they were cooking the meat over great fires, scattered about the +groves. The younger spirits were in boisterous mood. Several groups were +singing, and others were dancing the breakdowns of the border. + +Ned and Obed were joined by the Ring Tailed Panther and then by Urrea. +Ned felt the high spirits of the young Texans, but he did not join in +the singing and dancing. He learned from Urrea that Houston would arrive +in a day or two with more volunteers from Eastern Texas, and the young +Mexican also told him something about San Antonio. + +"Cos has a large force of regular troops," he said, "but he is alarmed. +He did not think that the Texans were in such earnest, and that they +would dare so much. Now, he is barricading the streets and building +breastworks." + +The Texans were so resolute and confident that the next day they sent a +demand to Cos for his surrender. He would not receive it, and threatened +that if another white flag appeared he would fire upon it. A day or two +later, Houston and the Eastern Texans arrived, and Ned, Obed, the Ring +Tailed Panther and Urrea planned a daring adventure for the following +night. They had heard how Cos was fortifying San Antonio, and as they +expected the Texan army to make an assault they intended to see just +what he was doing. + +They made their way very cautiously toward the town, left on foot when +the full dark had come. It was only four miles to San Antonio, and they +could reach the line of Mexican sentinels within an hour. The Ring +Tailed Panther was growling pleasantly between his teeth. He had tired +of inaction. His was a character such as only the rough world of the +border could produce. If he did not live by the sword he lived by the +rifle, and since childhood he had been in the midst of alarms. Long +habit had made anything else tiresome to him beyond endurance, but he +was by nature generous and kindly. Like Obed he had formed a strong +attachment for Ned who appealed to him as a high-souled and generous +youth. + +They made their way very cautiously toward the town, passing by +abandoned houses and crossing fields, overgrown with weeds. Both the +Ring Tailed Panther and Urrea knew San Antonio well, and Obed had been +there once. They were of the opinion that the town with its narrow +streets, stone and adobe houses was adapted particularly to defense, but +it was of the greatest importance to know just where the new outworks +were placed. + +The four came within sight of Mexican lights about nine o'clock. The +town was in the midst of gently rolling prairies and as nearly as they +could judge these lights--evidently those of camp fires--were about a +quarter of a mile from San Antonio. They were three in number and +appeared to be two or three hundred yards apart. They watched a little +while but they did not see any human outlines passing in front of the +fires. + +"They are learnin' caution," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "They are +afraid of the Texan rifles, an' while those fires light up a lot of +ground they keep their own bodies back in the shadow." + +"Wise men," said Obed. + +The Ring Tailed Panther looked his companions in the eye, one by one. + +"We come out here for business," he said. "What we want to acquire is +learnin', learnin' about the new defenses of San Antonio, an' we'd feel +cheap if we went back without it. Now, I don't care to feel cheap +myself. Good, careful, quiet fellows could slip between them sentinels, +an' get into San Antonio. I mean to do it. Are you game to go with me?" + +"I am," said Urrea, speaking very quickly and eagerly. + +"And I," said Ned. + +"To turn back is to confess one's weakness," said Obed. + +The Ring Tailed Panther roared gently, and with satisfaction. + +"That's the talk I like to hear an' expected to hear," he said. "You +boys ain't afraid of rippin' an' tearin', when it's in a good cause. +There's pretty good grass here. We'll just kneel down in it, an' crawl." + +The Panther marked a point about midway between the nearest two lights +and they advanced straight for it on hands and knees, stopping at +intervals of a hundred yards or so to rest, as that method of locomotion +was neither convenient nor comfortable. As they drew near to the fires +they saw the sentinels some distance back of them, and entirely in the +shadow, pacing up and down, musket on shoulder. The four were now near +enough to have been seen had they been standing erect, but they lay very +close to the earth, while they conferred a moment or two. + +"There's a patch of bushes between those two sentinels," whispered the +Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I think we'd better creep by in its shelter. +If either of the sentinels should look suspicious every one of us must +lay flat an' hold his breath. We could handle the sentinels, but what we +want to do is to get into San Antonio." + +They continued their slow and tiresome creeping. Only once did they +stop, and then it was because one of the sentinels paused in his walk +and took his musket from his shoulder. But it was only to light a +cigarette and, relieved, they crept on until they were well beyond the +fires, and within the ring of sentinels. Then at the signal of the Ring +Tailed Panther they rose to their feet, and stretched their cramped +limbs. + +"It is certainly good," whispered Obed, "to stand up on two legs again +and walk like a man." + +They were now very near to the town and they saw the dark shapes of +houses, in some of which lights burned. It was the poorer portion of San +Antonio, where the Mexican homes were mostly huts or jacals, made of +adobe, and sometimes of mere mud and wattles. As all the four spoke +Spanish, they advanced, confident in themselves, and the protecting +shadows of the night. A dog barked at them, but Obed cursed him in good, +strong Mexican, and he slunk away. Two peons wrapped to the eyes in +serapes passed them but Obed boldly gave them the salutations of the +night and they walked on, not dreaming that the dreaded Texans were by. + +Fifty yards further they saw a long earthwork, with the spades and +shovels lying beside it, as if the Mexicans expected to resume work +there in the morning. Toward the north they saw another such defense but +they did not go very near, as Mexican soldiers were camped beside it. +But Ned retained a very clear idea of the location of the two +earthworks. + +Then they curved in toward the more important portion of the town, the +center of which was two large squares, commonly called Main Plaza and +Military Plaza, separated only by the church of San Fernando. Here were +many houses built heavily of stone in the Spanish style. They had thick +walls and deep embrasured windows. Often they looked like and were +fortresses. + +Ned and his comrades were extremely anxious to approach those squares, +but the danger was now much greater. They saw barricades on several +important streets and many soldiers were passing. They learned from a +peon that both the squares and many other open places also were filled +with the tents of the soldiers. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther having seen so much were eager to +see more, but Urrea hung back. He thought they should return with the +information they had obtained already, and not risk the loss of +everything by capture, but the Ring Tailed Panther was determined. + +"I know San Antonio by heart," he said, "an' there's somethin' I want to +see. Down this street is the house of the Vice-Governor, Veramendi, and +I want to see what is going on there. If the rest of you feel that the +risk ain't justified you can turn back, but I'm goin' on." + +"If you go I'm going with you," said Ned. + +"Me, too," said Obed. + +Urrea shrugged his shoulders. + +"Very well," he said. "It's against my judgment, but I follow." + +They had pulled their slouch hats down over their faces, in the Mexican +style, and they handled their rifles awkwardly, after the fashion of +Mexican recruits. The Ring Tailed Panther led boldly down the street, +until they came to the stone house of Veramendi. Lights shone from the +deep embrasured windows of both the first and second floors. The Ring +Tailed Panther saw a small door in the stone wall, and he pushed it +open. + +"Come in! Come quick!" he said to his comrades. + +His tone was so sharp and commanding that they obeyed him by impulse, +and he quickly closed the door behind the little party. They stood in a +small, dark alley that ran beside the house and they heard the sound of +music. Crouching against the wall they listened, and heard also the +sounds of laughter and feminine voices. + +The Ring Tailed Panther grinned in the darkness. + +"Some kind of a fandango is goin' on," he said. "It's just like the +Mexicans to dance and sing at such a time. I wouldn't be s'prised if Cos +himself was here, an' I mean to see." + +He led the way down the little alley, which was roughly paved with +stone, and, as they advanced, the sounds of music and laughter +increased. Unquestionably Governor Veramendi was giving a ball, and Ned +did not doubt that the Panther's surmise about the presence of Cos would +prove correct. + +They found a little gate opening from the alley into a large patio or +enclosed court. This gate, like the first, was not locked and the Ring +Tailed Panther pushed it open also. The patio was filled with palms, +flowering plants and a dense shrubbery. + +The Ring Tailed Panther again led boldly on, and entered the patio, +hiding instantly among the palms and flowers. The others followed and +did likewise. Ned quivered with excitement. He knew that the danger was +great. He knew also that if they lay close and waited they were likely +to hear what was worth hearing. + +The boy was in a dense mat of shrubbery. To his right was Obed and to +his left were the Ring Tailed Panther and Urrea. He saw that the patio +was faced on three sides by piazzas or porticos, from which wide doors +opened into the house. He heard the music now as clearly as if it were +at his side. It was the music of a full band, and it was played with a +mellow, gliding rhythm. He saw, also, officers in brilliant uniform and +handsome women, as in the dance they passed and repassed the open doors. +It was Spanish, Mexican to the core, full of the South, full of warmth +and color. The lean, brown Texans crouching in the shrubbery furnished a +striking contrast. + +While they waited, several officers and ladies came out on the piazzas, +ate ices and drank sweet drinks. They were so near that the four easily +heard all they said. It was mostly idle chatter, high-pitched +compliments, allusions to people in the distant City of Mexico, and now +and then a jest at the expense of the Texans. Ned realized that many of +the younger Mexicans did not take the siege of San Antonio seriously. +They could not understand how a strong city, held by an army of Mexican +regulars, could have anything to fear from a few hundred Texan +horsemen, mostly hunters in buckskin. + +The music began again and the officers and women went in, but presently +several older men, also in uniform, came out. Ned instantly recognized +in the first the square figure and the dark, lowering face of Cos. + +"De La Garcia, Ugartchea, Veramendi," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther, +indicating the others. "Now we may hear something." + +Cos stood at the edge of the piazza and his face was troubled. He held +in his hand a small cane, with which he cut angrily at the flowers. The +others regarded him uneasily, but for a while he said nothing. Ned +hardly breathed, so intense was his interest and curiosity, but when Cos +at last spoke his disappointment was great. + +The General complimented Veramendi on his house and hospitality, and the +Vice-Governor thanked him in ornate sentences. Some more courtesies were +exchanged, but Cos continued to cut off the heads of the flowers with +his cane, and Ned knew now that they had come from the ballroom to talk +of more important things. Meanwhile, the music flowed on. It was the +swaying strains of the dance, and it would have been soothing to anyone, +whose mind was not forced elsewhere. The flowers and the palms rippled +gently under a light breeze, but Ned did not hear them. He was waiting +to hear Cos speak of what was in the mind of himself and the other men +on the piazza, the same things that were in the minds of the Texans in +the shrubbery. + +"Have you any further word from the Texan desperadoes, General?" asked +Veramendi, at last. + +Swish went the general's cane, and a flower fell from its stem. + +"Nothing direct," he replied, his voice rising in anger. + +"They have not sent again demanding my surrender knowing that a +messenger would be shot. The impudence of these border horsemen passes +all belief. How dare a few hundred such men undertake to besiege us here +in San Antonio? What an insult to Mexico!" + +"But they can fight," said Ugartchea. "They ride and shoot like demons. +They will give us trouble." + +"I know it," said Cos, "but the more trouble they make us the more they +shall suffer. It was an evil day when the first American was allowed to +come into Texas." + +"Yet they will attack us here," persisted Ugartchea, "They have driven +our men off the prairies. Our lances are not a match for their rifles. +Your pardon, General, but it will be wise for us to fortify still +further." + +Cos frowned and made another wicked sweep with the cane. But he said: + +"What you say is truth, Colonel Ugartchea, but with qualifications. Our +men are not a match for them on the open prairie, but should they attack +us here in the city they will be destroyed." + +Then he asked further questions about the fortifications, and Ugartchea, +who seemed to be in immediate charge, began to repeat the details. It +was for this that the Texans had come into the patio, and Ned leaned +forward eagerly. He saw Obed on one side of him and the Ring Tailed +Panther on the other do the same. Suddenly there was a noise as of +something falling in the shrubbery, and then a sharp whistle. The men on +the piazza instantly looked in the direction of the hidden Texans. Cos +and Ugartchea drew pistols. + +The Ring Tailed Panther acted with the greatest promptness and decision. + +"We must run for it, boys," he exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Something, +I don't know what, has happened to warn them that we are here. Keep your +heads low." + +Still partly hidden by the palms and flowers they ran for the gate. Cos +and Veramendi fired at the flitting forms and shouted for soldiers. Ned +felt one of the bullets scorch the back of his hand, but in a few +moments he was out of the gate and in the little dark alley. The Ring +Tailed Panther was just before him, and Obed was just behind. The +Panther, instead of running toward the street continued up the alley +which led to a large building of adobe, in the rear of the governor's +house. + +"It's a stable and storehouse," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' we'll +hide in it while the hunt roars on through the city." + +He jerked open a door, and they rushed in. Ned in the dusk saw some +horses eating in their stalls, and he also saw a steep ladder leading to +lofts above. The Ring Tailed Panther never hesitated, but ran up the +ladder and Ned followed sharply after him. He heard Obed panting at his +heels. + +The lofts contained dried maize and some vegetables, but they were +mostly filled with hay. The fugitives plunged into the hay and pulled it +around them, until only their heads and the muzzles of their rifles +protruded. They lay for a few moments in silence, save for the sound of +their own hard breathing, and then Ned suddenly noticed something. They +were only three! + +"Why, where is Urrea?" he exclaimed. + +"Yes, where in thunder is Don Francisco?" said the Ring Tailed Panther +in startled tones. + +Urrea was certainly missing, and no one could tell when they had lost +him. Their flight had been too hurried to take any count of numbers. +There could be only one conclusion. Urrea had been taken in the patio. +The Ring Tailed Panther roared between his teeth, low but savagely. + +"I don't like many Mexicans," he said, "but I got to like Don Francisco. +The Mexicans have shorely got him, an' it will go 'specially hard with +him, he bein' of their own race." + +Ned sighed. He did not like to think of Don Francisco at the mercy of +Cos. But they could do nothing, absolutely nothing. To leave the hay +meant certain capture within a few minutes. Already they heard the +sounds of the hunt, the shouts of soldiers and the mob, of men calling +to one another. Through the chinks in the wall they saw the light of +torches in the alley. They lay still for a few minutes and then the +noise of the search drifted down toward the plazas. The torches passed +out of the alley. + +"Did you hear that whistle just before Cos and Ugartchea fired?" asked +Ned. + +"I did," replied Obed. "I don't understand it, and what I don't +understand bothers me." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled, and his growl was the most savage that +Ned had ever heard from him. The growl did not turn into words for at +least a minute. Then he said: + +"I'm like you, Obed; I hate riddles, an' this is the worst one that I +was ever mixed up with. Somethin' fell in the shrubbery; then came the +whistle, the Mexicans shot, away we went, lickety split, an' now we're +here. That's all I know, an' it ain't much." + +"I wonder if we'll ever find out," said Ned. + +"Doubtful," replied the Ring Tailed Panther. "I'm afeard, boys, they +won't waste much time on Urrea, he bein' a spy an' of their own blood, +too. It's war an' we've got to make the best of it." + +But Ned could not make very well of it. A fugitive hidden there in the +hay and the dark, the fate of Urrea seemed very terrible to him. The +three sank into silence. Occasionally they heard cries from distant +parts of the town, but the hunt did not seem to come back toward them. +Ned was thankful that the Ring Tailed Panther had been so ready of wit. +The Mexicans would not dream that the Texans were hiding in the +Vice-Governor's own barn, just behind the Vice-Governor's own house. He +made himself cozy in the hay and waited. + +After about an hour, the town turned quiet, and Ned inferred that the +hunt was over. The Mexicans, no doubt, would assume that the three had +escaped from San Antonio, and they would not dare to hunt far out on the +prairies. But what of Urrea! Poor Urrea! Ned could not keep from +thinking of him, but think as hard as he could he saw no way to find out +about his fate. Perhaps the Ring Tailed Panther was right. They would +never know. + +The three did not stir for a long time. Ned felt very comfortable in the +hay. The night was cold without, but here he was snug and warm. He +waited for those older and more experienced than himself to decide upon +their course and he knew that Obed or the Ring Tailed Panther would +speak in time. He was almost in a doze when Obed said that it must be +about one o'clock in the morning. + +"You ain't far wrong," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "but I'd wait at +least another hour. That ball will be over then, if we didn't break it +up when we were in the garden." + +They waited the full hour, and then they stole from the hay. +Veramendi's house was silent and dark, and they passed safely into the +street. Ned had a faint hope that Urrea would yet appear from some dark +hiding place, but there was no sign of the young Mexican. + +They chose the boldest possible course, thinking that it would be +safest, claiming to one soldier whom they passed that they were +sentinels going to their duty at the farthest outposts. Luck, as it +usually does, came to the aid of courage and skill, and they reached the +outskirts of San Antonio, without any attempt at interference. + +Once more, after long and painful creeping, they stole between the +sentinels, took mental note of the earthworks again, and also a last +look at the dark bulk that was the town. + +"Poor Urrea!" said Ned. + +"Poor Urrea," said Obed. "I wonder what in the name of the moon and the +stars gave the alarm!" + +"Poor Urrea!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "This is the worst riddle I +ever run up ag'inst an' the more I think about it the more riddlin' it +gets." + +The three sighed together and then sped over the prairie toward the camp +on the Salado. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER + + +It was not yet daylight when they approached the Texan camp. Despite the +fact that the Texan force was merely a band of volunteer soldiers there +was an abundance of sentinels and they were halted when they were within +a half mile of the Salado. But they were recognized quickly, and they +passed within the lines, where, in the first rosy shoot of the dawn, +they saw Bowie going the rounds of the outposts. + +"What!" he exclaimed. "Back already! Then you did not get into the +town!" + +"We went right into it. We split it wide open," said the Ring Tailed +Panther. + +Bowie's blue eyes glittered. + +"But you are only three," he said. "Where is Urrea?" + +"We lost him an' we don't know how it happened. We know that he's gone, +an' that's all." + +Bowie took them to Mr. Austin's tent, where they told to him, Houston, +Fannin and the others all that they had seen in San Antonio. In view of +the fact, now clearly proved, that Cos was fortifying night and day, +Bowie and all the more ardent spirits urged a prompt attack, but Mr. +Austin, essentially a man of peace, hung back. He thought their force +too small. He was confirmed, too, in the belief of his own unfitness to +be a leader in war. + +"General," he said, turning to Houston, "you must take the command here. +It would be impossible to find one better suited to the place." + +But Houston shook his head. He would not agree to it. Able and +ambitious, he refused, nevertheless. Perhaps he did not yet understand +the full fighting power of the Texans, and he feared to be identified +with failure, in case they made the assault upon San Antonio. + +When Ned and his comrades withdrew from the tent they went to one of the +breakfast fires, where they ate broiled strips of buffalo and deer, and +drank coffee. Then Ned rolled in his blankets, and slept under an oak +tree. When he awoke about noon he sprang to his feet with a cry of joy +and surprise. Urrea was standing beside him, somewhat pale, and with his +left hand in a sling, but the young Mexican himself, nevertheless. Ned +seized his right hand and gave it a powerful grip. + +"We thought you as good as dead, Don Francisco," he said. "We were sure +that you had been taken by Cos." + +"I thought both things myself for a few wild moments," said Urrea, +smiling. "When we rushed from the patio one of the bullets grazed me, +but in my excitement as we passed the gate I ran down the alley toward +the street, instead of turning in toward the barn, as I have since +learned from Mr. White that you did. My wrist was grazed by one of the +bullets, fired from the piazza, but fortunately I had the presence of +mind to wrap it in the serape that I wore. + +"When I reached the street there was much excitement and many soldiers +running about, but being a Mexican it was easy for me to pass +unsuspected in the crowd. I reached the home of a relative, at heart a +sympathizer with Texas and liberty, where my wound was bound up, and +where I lay hidden until morning, when I was smuggled out of the town. +Then I made my way among the oaks and pecans, until I came here to our +camp on the Salado. I had inquired for you during the night, and, not +hearing any news of your capture, I was sure that you were in hiding as +I was, and when I came here my best hopes were confirmed by the news of +your complete escape. Mr. White has already given me all the details. We +have been very lucky indeed, and we should be thankful." + +"We are! We truly are!" exclaimed Ned, grasping his hand again. + +The news brought by Ned and his comrades was so important that the +Texans could not be restrained. A few mornings later Bowie called upon +the boy, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther for a new service. + +"Mr. Austin has told me to take a strong party," he said, "and scout up +to the very suburbs of San Antonio, because we are going to choose a new +and closer position. There are to be ninety of us, including you three, +'Deaf' Smith and Henry Karnes, and we are to retire if the Mexicans +undertake an attack upon us, that is, if we have time--you understand, +if we have time." + +Ned saw Bowie's big eyes glitter, and he understood. The party, the envy +of all the others, rode out of the camp in the absence of Urrea. Bowie +had not asked him, as he did not seem to fancy the young Mexican, but +Ned put it down to racial prejudice. Urrea had not been visible when +they started, but Ned thought chagrin at being ignored was the cause of +it. Fannin also went along, associated with Bowie in the leadership, but +Bowie was the animating spirit. They rode directly toward San Antonio, +and, as the distance was very short, they soon saw Mexican sentinels on +horseback, some carrying lances and some with rifles or muskets. They +would withdraw gradually at the appearance of the Texans, keeping just +out of gunshot, but always watching these dangerous horsemen whom they +had learned to fear. The Texans were near enough to see from some points +the buildings of the town, and the veins of the Ring Tailed Panther +swelled with ambition. + +"Ned," he said to the boy who rode by his side, "if Bowie would only +give the word we would gallop right into town, smashing through the +Mexicans." + +"We might gallop into it," said Ned, laughing, "but we couldn't gallop +out again. No, no, Panther, we mustn't forget that the Mexicans can +fight. Besides, Bowie isn't going to give the word." + +"No, he ain't," said the Ring Tailed Panther with a sigh, "an' we won't +get the chance to make one of the finest dashes ever heard of in war." + +"He who doesn't dash but rides away will live to dash another day," said +Obed White oracularly. + +They rode on in a half circle about the town, keeping a fairly close +array, every man sitting his saddle erect and defiant. It seemed to Ned +that they were issuing a challenge to the whole army of Cos, and he +enjoyed it. It appealed to his youthful spirit of daring. They +practically said to the Mexican army in the town: "Come out and fight us +if you dare!" + +But the Mexicans did not accept the challenge. Save for the little +scouting parties that always kept a watch at a safe distance they +remained within their intrenchments. But Bowie and Fannin were able to +take a look at the fortifications, confirming in every respect all that +Ned and his comrades had told them. + +They ate in the saddle at noon, having provided themselves with rations +when they started, and then rode back on their slow half circle about +the town, Mexican scouts riding parallel with them on the inner side of +the circle, five hundred yards away. The Texans said little, but they +watched all the time. + +It made a powerful appeal to Ned, who had been a great reader, and whose +mind was surcharged with the old romances. It seemed to him that his +comrades and he were like knights, riding around a hostile city and +issuing a formal challenge to all who dared to meet them. He was proud +to be there in such company. The afternoon waned. Banks of vapor, rose +and gold, began to pile up in the southwest, their glow tinting the +earth with the same colors. But beauty did not appeal just then to the +Ring Tailed Panther, who began to roar. + +"A-ridin', an' a-ridin'," he said, "an' nothin' done. Up to San Antonio +an' back to camp, an' things are just as they were before." + +"A Texas colonel rode out on the prairie with ninety men, and then rode +back again," said Obed. + +"But we are not going back again!" cried Ned joyfully. + +Bowie, who was in the lead, suddenly turned his horse away from the camp +and rode toward the river. The others followed him without a word, but +nearly every man in the company drew a long breath of satisfaction. Ned +knew and all knew that they were not going back to camp that night. + +Ned eagerly watched the leader. They rode by the Mission Concepcion, +passed through a belt of timber and came abruptly to the river, where +Bowie called a halt, and sprang from his horse. Ned leaped down also, +and he saw at once the merits of the position into which Bowie had led +them. They were in a horseshoe or sharp bend of the river, here a +hundred yards in width. The belt of thick timber curved on one side +while the river coiled in a half-circle about them and in front of the +little tongue of land on which they stood, the bank rose to a height of +eighteen feet, almost perpendicular. It was a secluded place, and, as no +Mexicans had been following them in the course of the last hour, Ned +believed that they might pass a peaceful night there. But the Ring +Tailed Panther had other thoughts, although, for the present, he kept +them to himself. + +They tethered the horses at the edge of the wood, but where they could +reach the grass, and then Bowie placed numerous pickets in the wood +through which an enemy must come, if he came. Ned was in the first watch +and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were with him. Ned stood among the +trees at a point where he could also see the river, here a beautiful, +clear stream with a greenish tint. He ate venison from his knapsack as +he walked back and forth, and he watched the last rays of the sun, +burning like red fire in the west, until they went out and the heavy +twilight came, trailing after it the dark. + +Ned's impression of mediævalism that he had received in the day when +they were riding about San Antonio continued in the night. They had gone +back centuries. Hidden here in this horseshoe, water on one side and +wood on the other, they seemed to be in an absolutely wild and primitive +world. Centuries had rolled back. His vivid imagination made the forest +about them what it had been before the white man came. + +The surface of the river was now dark. The stream flowed gently, and +without noise. It, too, struck upon the boy's imagination. It would be +fitting for an Indian canoe to come stealing down in the darkness, and +he almost fancied he could see it there. But no canoe came, and Ned +walked back and forth in a little space, always watching the wood or the +river. + +The night was very quiet. The horses, having grazed for an hour or two, +now rested content. The men not on guard, used to taking their sleep +where they could find it, were already in slumber. There was no wind. + +The dark hours as usual were full of chill, but Ned's vigorous walk back +and forth kept him warm. He was joined after a while by the famous +scout, Henry Karnes, who, like "Deaf" Smith, seemed to watch all the +time, although he came and went as he pleased. + +"Well, boy," said Karnes, "do you find it hard work, this watching and +watching and watching for hours and hours?" + +"Not at all," replied Ned, responding to his tone of humorous kindness. +"I might have found it so once, but I don't now. I'm always anxious to +see what will happen." + +"That's a good spirit to have," said Karnes, smiling, "and you need it +down here, where a man must always be watching for something. In Texas +boys have to be men now." + +He walked back and forth with Ned, and the lad felt flattered that so +famous a scout should show an interest in him. The two were at the edge +of the wood and they could see duskily before them a stretch of bare +prairie. Karnes was watching this open space intently, and Ned was +watching it also. + +The boy saw nothing, but suddenly he heard, or thought he heard, a low +sound. It was faint, but, unconsciously bending forward a little, he +heard it again. It was a metallic rattle and instantly he called the +attention of Karnes to it. The scout stopped his walk and listened. Then +Ned saw his form grow rigid and tense. + +"Let's put our ears to the ground, Ned," said he. + +The two stretched out ear to earth, and then Ned not only heard the +noise much more distinctly, but he knew at once what it was. He had +heard it more than once in the marching army of Cos. It was the sound +made by the approaching wheel of a cannon. + +"Artillery," he said in a whisper. + +"Beyond a doubt," said Karnes. "It means that the Mexicans have crossed +the river--there's a ford two or three hundred yards above--and mean to +attack us. It was your good ear, Ned, that gave us the first warning." + +Ned flushed with pleasure at the compliment, but, a moment or two later, +they saw dark figures rising out of the prairie and advancing toward +them. + +"Mexicans!" cried Karnes, and instantly fired at a dusky outline. The +figures flitted away in the dusk, but the camp of Bowie was aroused at +once. Inside of a minute every man was on his feet, rifle in hand, +facing the open place in the horseshoe. They knew that they could not be +attacked from the river. Bowie came to the side of Ned and Karnes. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"Ned heard a sound," Karnes replied, "and when we put our ears to the +earth we knew that it was made by artillery. Then I saw their scouts and +skirmishers and fired upon them. They must have crossed the river in +strong force, Colonel." + +"Very likely," said Bowie. "Well, we shall be ready for them. Henry, you +and Smith and the Ring Tailed Panther scout across the prairie there, +and see what has become of them." + +"Can't I go, too?" asked Ned. + +Bowie patted him on the shoulder. + +"You young fire eater!" he replied. "Haven't you done enough for one +night? You gave us the first warning that the Mexicans were at hand. I +think you'd better rest now, and let these old boys do this job." + +The three chosen men disappeared in the darkness, and Ned sat down among +the trees with Obed. They, like everybody else, waited as patiently as +they could for the reports of the scouts. + +"Obed," said Ned, "do you think we're going to have a battle?" + +"The signs point that way." + +Bowie set everybody to work cutting out undergrowth, in order that they +might have a clear field for the work that they expected. By the time +this task was completed the scouts returned and their report was +alarming. + +The Mexicans had crossed the river in heavy force, outnumbering the +troop of Texans at least five to one. They had artillery, infantry and +cavalry, and they were just out of range, expecting to attack at dawn. +The avenue of escape was cut off already. + +"Very good," said Bowie. "We'll wait for them." + +It was too dark to see, but Ned knew that his blue eyes were glittering. +He advanced to the point where the bluff rose nearly ten feet to the +edge of the prairie, and took a long look. + +"I can see nothing," he said, "but I know you men are right. Now we'll +cut steps all along the edge of this bluff, in order that our men can +stand in them, and fire at the enemy as he comes. Then we'll have as +fine a fort here as anybody could ask." + +The men fell to work with hatchets and big knives, cutting steps in the +soft earth, at least a hundred of them in order that everybody might +have a chance. Meanwhile the hour of dawn was at hand, but a heavy mist +had thickened over prairie and river. Beyond the mists and vapors, the +sun showed only a yellow blur, and it did not yet cast any glow over the +earth. + +But Ned could clearly hear the Mexicans; officers shouting to men; men +shouting to horses; horses neighing and mules squealing, and he knew +from these noises that the report of their great force by the scouts was +correct. He also heard the clank of the artillery wheels again, and he +feared that the cannon would prove a very dangerous foe to them. All the +pulses in his body began to beat fast and hard. + +"Will the sun ever get through the fog and let us see?" he exclaimed +impatiently. It was hard to wait at such a time. + +"It's comin' through now," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +The pale yellow light turned suddenly to full red gold. The banks of +mist and vapor dissolved under the shining beams, and floated away in +shreds and patches. The river, the forest and the prairie rose up into +the light, everything standing out, sharp and clear. + +Ned drew a deep breath. There was the Mexican array, massed along the +entire open space of the horseshoe, at least five to the Texan one, as +the scouts had said, and now not more than two hundred yards from them. +Five companies of cavalry were gathered ready to charge; infantry stood +just behind them and back of the infantry Ned caught the gleam of the +cannon he had heard in the night. Evidently the Mexicans had not yet +brought it to the front, because its fire would interfere with the +charge of the cavalry which they expected would end the battle in five +minutes. There was no chance for the Texans to retreat, but it was not +of retreat that they were thinking. + +"How's your pulse, Ned?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"It's beating fast and hard, I won't deny that," replied Ned, "but I +believe my finger will be steady when it presses the trigger." + +"Fine feathers make fine Mexicans," said Obed White. "How they do love +color! That's a gorgeous array out there, and it seems a pity to break +it up." + +The Mexican force certainly looked well. The cavalry, in brilliant +uniforms, presented a long front, their lances gleaming. The Texans, +standing in the steps that they had cut in the earth, were in sober +attire, but resolute eyes looked out from under their caps or the wide +brims of their hats. + +"They'll charge in a moment," said Obed, "and they'll try to break their +way through the wood. They cannot ride down this bluff." + +The Ring Tailed Panther raised his rifle, and looked down the sights. +His eyes were glittering. He drew the trigger and the sharp lashing +report ended the silence. A Mexican officer fell from his horse, and +then, with a great shout, the Mexican horsemen charged, presenting a +gallant array as they bent forward, their rifles and lances ready. The +beat of their horses' hoofs came over the prairie like roiling thunder. +They wheeled suddenly toward the wood, and then the infantry, advancing, +opened heavy and repeated volleys upon the Texans. The horsemen also +fired from their saddles. + +It was the heaviest fire under which Ned had ever come, and, for a few +moments, he quivered all over. He saw a great blaze in front, above it a +cloud of lifting smoke, and he heard over his head the hum of many +bullets, like the whistling of hail, driven by a heavy wind. But he was +experienced enough now to note that the Mexican fire was wasted. That +bank was a wonderful protection. + +"It's almost a shame to shoot 'em," roared the Ring Tailed Panther who +had reloaded. But up went his rifle, his finger pressed the trigger and +another Mexican officer fell from his horse. All along the Texan front +ran the rifle fire, a rapid crackling sound like the ripping apart of +some great cloth. But the Texans were taking aim. There was no confusion +among the hardy veterans of the plains. Lying against the face of the +bluff they were sending in their bullets with deadly precision. Horse +after horse in the charging host galloped away riderless over the +prairie, and the front rank of the infantry was shot down. + +Ned, like the others, was loading and firing swiftly, but with care. The +imminent danger kept down any feeling that he would have had otherwise. +The Mexicans sought their lives, and he must seek theirs. The smoke and +the odor of burned gunpowder inflamed him. There was still a blaze in +front of him, but he also saw the brown faces of the Mexicans yet +pressing forward, and he yet heard the continued thunder of the charging +hoofs. + +"Another bullet, Ned," roared the Ring Tailed Panther and he and the +others around him sent a fresh volley at the horsemen. The Mexican +cavalry could stand no more. Five companies strong, they broke and +galloped away, seeking only to escape from the deadly fire of the Texan +rifles. The infantry also gave back and for a few minutes there was a +lull. + +"That's the end of Chapter One," said Obed White. "Our Mexican friends +came in haste and they will repent at a distance." + +The smoke lifted and Ned saw many fallen, both men and horses, on the +plain in front of them, and there was confusion in the Mexican force, +which was now out of gunshot. Never had the Texan rifles done more +deadly service. The Texan loss was small. + +Ned dropped down from the steps and sat on the grass. His face was wet +with perspiration, and he wiped it on his sleeve. He was compelled to +cough once or twice to clear his throat of the smoke. The Ring Tailed +Panther also was warm, but satisfied. + +"A Texan does best in a fight against odds," he said, "an' we have the +odds to-day. But don't you think, Ned, that it's over already?" + +"I don't," said Ned. "I know that they will be up to some new trick +soon. They will realize that they underrated us at first." + +He sprang back into the steps that he had cut in the bluff, and took a +good look at the Mexicans. + +"They are nearly ready with Chapter Second, Obed," he said. "They are +bringing up that cannon." + +"Should have used it in the first place," said the Ring Tailed Panther. +"They didn't show much sense." + +The Mexicans were running the gun forward to a little mound, whence they +could drop shells and shot over the edge of the bluff, directly among +the Texans. It was a far more formidable danger than the impulsive +charge, and Bowie at once took measures to meet it. He called the best +rifle shots. Among them were Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"There are fifteen of you," said the dauntless leader, "and your rifles +will reach that gun. Shoot down every man who tries to handle it. The +rest of us will attend to the new charge that is coming." + +The second attack was to be more formidable than the first. The Mexican +cavalry had massed anew. Ned saw the officers, driving the men into +place with the flats of swords, and he heard the note of a trumpet, +singing loud and clear over the prairie. Then his eyes turned back to +the gun, because there his duty lay. + +Ned heard the trumpet peal again, and then the thud of hoofs. He saw the +rammers and spongers gather about the gun. The rifle of the Ring Tailed +Panther cracked, and the man with the rammer fell. Another picked it up, +but he went down before the bullet of Obed. Then a sponger fell, and +then the gunner himself was slain by the bullet. The Texans were doing +wonderful sharpshooting. The gun could not be fired, because nobody +could live near it long enough to fire it. Its entire complement was +cleared away by the swift little bullets. + +Off to right and left, Ned heard again the rising crackle of the rifle +fire, and he also heard the steady monotonous beat of the hoofs. He knew +that the charge was still coming on, but Bowie would attend to that. He +and his immediate comrades never took their eyes from the gun. New +cannoneers, an entire complement, were rushing forward to take the place +of their fallen comrades. The Mexicans showed plenty of courage that +day but the deadly sharpshooters were slaying them as fast as they came. +They were yet unable to fire the gun. Nor could they draw it back from +its dangerous position. A second time all about it were slain, but a +third body came forward for the trial. + +"Greasers or no greasers," cried Obed, "those are men of courage!" + +But he continued to shoot straight at them nevertheless, and the third +group of cannoneers was fast melting away. + +"Some of you aim at the mules hitched to the caisson," cried the Ring +Tailed Panther. "I hate to kill a mule, but it will be a help now." + +One of the mules was slain and two others, wounded, dashed wildly +through the Mexican infantry, adding to the confusion and turmoil. The +last of the third group of cannoneers fell and the gun stood alone and +untouched, the shell still in place. No one now dared to approach it. +The dead now lay in a group all about it. Meanwhile, the second charge +broke like the first and the cavalry galloped wildly away. + +Ned could turn his eyes now. He saw more riderless horses than before, +while the fallen, lying still on the prairie, had doubled in number. +Then his eyes turned back to the gun, standing somber and silent among +those who had died for it. The battle-fire gone, for the present, Ned +felt pity for the Mexicans who lay so thick about the cannon. Nor did he +fail to admire the courage that had been spent so freely, but in vain. + +"They won't come again," said the Ring Tailed Panther, dropping to the +grass. "They have had enough." + +"I don't blame 'em," said Obed, lying down by his side. "They must have +lost a third of their number, and they'd have lost another third if they +had charged once more." + +"They're not going away," said Ned, who had remained on his perch. +"They're coming again." + +A third time the Mexicans charged and a third time they were driven back +by the rifles. Then they formed on the prairie beyond gunshot, and +marched away to San Antonio, leaving behind the mournful and silent +cannon as proof alike of their courage and defeat. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE WHEEL OF FIRE + + +Ned watched the Mexicans marching away until the last lance had +disappeared behind a swell of the prairie. Then he joined in the cheer +that the Texans gave, after which he and his comrades went out upon the +field, and gazed upon their work. The killed among the Mexicans nearly +equaled in numbers the whole Texan force, sixteen lying dead around the +cannon alone, and many of them also had been wounded, while the Texans +had escaped with only a single man slain, and but few hurt. But Ned +quickly left the field. The sight of it was not pleasant to him, +although he was still heart and soul with the Texans, in what he +regarded as a defensive war. + +Bowie drew his forces out of the horseshoe and they rode for the Texan +camp, carrying with them the trophies of arms that they had taken. On +their way they met Mr. Austin and a strong force who had heard of their +plight and who were now coming to their relief. They, too, rejoiced +greatly at the victory, and all went back in triumph to the Salado. + +"Now that they have seen how we can fight I reckon that Mr. Austin and +Houston will order an attack right away on San Antonio," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. + +"I don't believe they will," said Obed White. "Seeing is sometimes +doubting. I believe that they still fear our failure." + +Ned inclined to Obed's belief but he said nothing. At twilight Urrea +came back, rejoicing and also full of regrets. He rejoiced over the +victory and he regretted that he had not been there. + +"Seems to me, Don Francisco," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "that you're +missin' a lot of things." + +"There's many a slip 'twixt Francisco and the fight-o," said Obed. + +Ned was hurt by the irony of his friends, but Urrea only laughed as he +spread his blanket in a good place, and lay down on it. + +"I will admit, gentlemen," he said in his precise English, "that I seem +always to be absent when anything important happens, but it is owing to +the nature of the service that I can best render the Texans. Being of +the Mexican race and knowing the country so thoroughly, I am of most +value as a seeker after information. I had gone off on a long scout +about San Antonio, and I have news which I have given to Mr. Austin." + +"Spyin' is a dangerous business, but it's got to be done," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. Ned saw that he again looked with disfavor upon Urrea, +but he ascribed it as before to racial aversion. + +Obed was right. Despite the brilliant victory of Bowie, Houston and +Austin still held back, and the Ring Tailed Panther roared long and +loud. But his roaring was cut short by an order for him, Obed, Ned and +Urrea to ride eastward to some of the little Texan towns in search of +help. The leaders were anxious that their utmost strength be gathered +when they should at last make the attack upon San Antonio. Since he +could not have just what he wished, the Panther was glad to get the new +task, and the others were content. + +They rode away the next morning, armed and provisioned well. Their +horses, having rested long and fed abundantly, were strong and fresh, +and they went at a good pace, until they came to the last swell from +which they could see San Antonio. The town was distant, but it was +magnified in the clear Texas sunlight. It looked to Ned, sitting there +on his horse, like a large city. It had come to occupy a great place in +his mind and just now it was to him the most important town in the +world. He wondered if they would ever take it. Urrea, who was watching +him, smiled. + +"I know what you are thinking," he said, "and I will wager that it was +just the same that I was thinking." + +"I was trying to read the future and tell whether we would take San +Antonio," said Ned. + +"Exactly. Those were my thoughts, too." + +"I reckon you two wasn't far away from my trail either," said the Ring +Tailed Panther, "'cause I was figgerin' that we'd take it inside of a +month." + +"Count me in, too," said Obed. "Great minds go in bunches. I was +calculating that we would capture it some day, but I left out the limit +of time." + +They turned their horses, and when they reached the crest of the next +swell San Antonio was out of sight. Before them stretched the prairies, +now almost as desolate as they had been when the Indians alone roamed +over them. They passed two or three small cabins, each built in a +cluster of trees near a spring, but the occupants had gone, fled to a +town for shelter. One seemed to have been abandoned only an hour or two +ago, as the ashes were scarcely cold on the hearth, and a bucket of +water, with its gourd in it, still stood on the shelf. The sight moved +the Ring Tailed Panther to sentiment. + +"Think of the women an' children havin' to sleep out on the prairie," he +said. "It ain't right an' fittin'." + +"We'll bring them all back before we are through," said Obed. + +They left the little cabin, exactly as they had found it, and then rode +at an increased pace toward the north and the east, making for the +settlements on the Brazos. A little while before nightfall, they met a +buffalo hunter who told them there were reports of a Mexican cavalry +force far north of San Antonio, although he could not confirm the truth +of the rumors. Urrea shook his head vigorously. + +"Impossible! impossible!" he said. "The Mexicans would not dare to come +away so far from their base at San Antonio." + +The hunter, an old man, looked at him with curiosity and disapproval. + +"That's more than you an' me can say," he said, "although you be a +Mexican yourself and know more about your people than I do. I jest tell +what I've heard." + +"Mr. Urrea is one of the most ardent of the Texan patriots," said Ned. + +"I jest tell what I've heard," said the old man, whistling to his pony +and riding away. + +"Obstinate!" said Urrea, laughing in his usual light, easy manner. +"These old hunters are very narrow. You cannot make them believe that a +Mexican, although born on Texas soil, which can be said of very few +Texans, is a lover of liberty and willing to fight against aggression +from the capital." + +At night they rode into a splendid belt of forest, and made their camp +by a cool spring that gushed from a rock and flowed away among the +trees. Ned and Obed scouted a little, and found the country so wild that +the deer sprang up from the bushes. It was difficult to resist the +temptation of a shot, but they were compelled to let them go, and +returning to camp they reported to Urrea and the Ring Tailed Panther +that they seemed to have the forest to themselves, so far as human +beings were concerned. + +"Do you think it is safe to light a fire?" asked Urrea. + +"I see no danger in it," replied Obed, "that is, none in a little one. +There are so many bushes about us that it couldn't be seen fifty yards +away." + +It was now November and as the night had become quite cold Urrea's +suggestion of a fire seemed good to Ned. He showed much zeal in +gathering the dry wood, and then they deftly built a fire, one that +would throw out little flame, but which would yet furnish much heat. The +Ring Tailed Panther, who had the most skill in wilderness life, kindled +it with flint and steel, and while the flames, held down by brush, made +hot coals beneath, the smoke was lost among the trees and the darkness. + +The horses were tethered near, and they warmed their food by the coals +before eating it. The place was snug, a little cup set all around by +bushes and high trees, and the heat of the fire was very grateful. While +Ned sat before it, eating his food, he noticed great numbers of last +year's fallen leaves lying about, and he picked the very place where he +would make his bed. He would draw great quantities of the leaves there +under the big beech, and spread his blankets upon them. + +They were tired after the long day's journey, and they did not talk +much. The foliage about them was so thick, making it so dark within the +little shade that the need of a watch seemed small, but they decided to +keep it, nevertheless. The Ring Tailed Panther would take the first half +of the night and Urrea the second half. The next night would be divided +between Obed and Ned. + +Ned raked up the leaves at the place that he had selected, folded +himself between his blankets, and was asleep in five minutes. The last +thing that he remembered seeing was the broad figure of the Ring Tailed +Panther, sitting with his back against a tree, and his rifle across his +knees. + +But Ned awoke hours later--after midnight in fact--although it was not a +real awakening, instead a sort of half way station from slumberland. He +did not move, but opened his eyes partly, and saw that Urrea was now on +guard. The young Mexican was not sitting as the Ring Tailed Panther had +been, but was standing some yards away, with his rifle across his +shoulder. Ned thought in a vague way that he looked trim and strong, and +then his heavy lids dropped down again. But he did not fall back into +the deep sleep from which he had come. The extra sense, his remarkable +power of intuition or divination was at work. Without any effort of his +will the mechanism of his brain was moving and gave him a signal. He +heard a slight noise and he lifted the heavy lids. + +Urrea had walked to the other side of the little glade, his feet +brushing some of the dry leaves as he went. There was nothing unusual in +such action on the part of a sentinel, but something in Urrea's attitude +seemed to Ned to denote expectancy. His whole figure was drawn close +together like that of one about to spring, and he leaned forward a +little. Yet this meant nothing. Any good man on guard would be attentive +to every sound of the forest, whether the light noise made by a +squirrel, as he scampered along the bark of a tree, or a stray puff of +wind rustling the leaves. + +Ned made another effort of the will, and closed his eyes for the second +time, but the warning sense, the intuitive note out of the infinite, +would not be denied. He was compelled to open his eyes once more and +now his faculties were clear. Urrea had moved again and now he was +facing the sleepers. He regarded them attentively, one by one, and in +the dusk he could not see that Ned's eyelids were not closed. The boy +did not stir, but a cold shiver ran down his spine. He felt with all the +power of second sight that something extraordinary was going to happen. + +Urrea walked to the smoldering fire, and now Ned dropped his eyelids, +until he looked only through a space as narrow as the edge of a knife +blade. Urrea stooped and took from the dying heap a long stick, still +burning at the end. Then he took another look at the three and suddenly +disappeared among the bushes, carrying with him the burning stick. He +was so light upon his feet that he made no sound as he went. + +Ned was startled beyond measure, but he was like a spring released by a +key. He felt that the need of instant action was great, and, as light of +foot as Urrea himself, he sprang up, rifle in hand, and followed the +young Mexican. He was thankful for the wilderness training that he had +been compelled to acquire. He caught sight of Urrea about twenty yards +ahead, still moving swiftly on soundless feet. He moved thus a hundred +yards or more, with Ned, as his shadow, as dark and silent as he, and +then he stopped by the side of a great tree. + +Ned felt instinctively, when Urrea halted that he would look back to see +if by chance he were followed, and he sank down in the bushes before the +Mexican turned. Urrea gave only a glance or two in that direction and, +satisfied, began to examine the tree which was certainly worthy of +attention, as it rose to an uncommon height, much above its fellows. + +Ned's amazement grew. Why should Urrea be so particular about the size +or height of a tree? It grew still further, when he saw Urrea lay his +rifle down at the foot of the tree, spring up, grasp the lowest branch +with one hand, and then deftly draw himself up, taking with him the +burning stick. He paused a moment on the bough, looked again toward the +little camp and then climbed upward with a speed and dexterity worthy of +a great monkey. + +Ned saw the Mexican's figure going up and up, a dark blur against the +stem of the tree, and it was hard to persuade himself that it was +reality. He saw also the bright spark on the end of the stick that he +carried with him. The tree rose to a height of nearly 150 feet, and when +Urrea passed above the others that surrounded it, the moon's rays, +unobstructed, fell upon him. Then, although he became smaller and +smaller, Ned saw him more clearly. The boy was so much absorbed now in +the story that was unfolding before him that he did not have time to +wonder. + +Urrea went up as high as the stem would sustain him. Then he rested his +feet on a bough, wrapped his left arm around the tree, and, with his +right arm, began to whirl the burning stick rapidly. The spark leaped +up, grew into a blaze, and Ned saw a wheel of fire. He had seen many +strange things, but this, influenced by circumstances of time and place, +was the most uncanny of them all. + +Far above his head, and above the body of the forest revolved the wheel +of fire. Urrea's own body had melted away in the darkness, until it was +fused with the tree. Ned now saw only the fiery signal, for such it must +be, and his heart rose in fierce anger against Urrea. Once he lifted his +rifle a little, and studied the possibilities of a shot at such range, +but he put the rifle down again. He would watch and wait. + +The wheel ceased presently to revolve, and Ned saw Urrea again, torch in +hand, but motionless. He, too, was waiting. He did not stir for a full +quarter of an hour, but all the while the torch burned steadily. Then he +suddenly began to whirl it again, but in a direction opposite to that +made by the first wheel of fire. Around and around went the burning +brand for some minutes. When he stopped, he waited at least ten minutes +longer. Then, as if he had received the answer that he wished, making +the claim of communication complete, he dropped the torch. Ned saw it +falling, a trail of light, until it struck among the bushes, where it +went out. Then Urrea began to descend the tree, but he came down more +slowly than he had gone up. + +Ned slipped forward, seized Urrea's rifle, and then slipped back among +the bushes. He put the Mexican's weapon at his feet, cocked his own and +waited. + +Urrea, coming slowly down the tree, stopped and stood there for a few +moments as if in contemplation. A shaft of moonlight piercing through +the foliage fell upon his face illumining the olive complexion and the +well-cut features. It was hard for Ned to believe what he had seen. What +could it be but a signal? and that signal to the enemies of the Texans! +And yet Urrea did not look like a villain and traitor. There was +certainly no malevolence in his face, which on the other hand had rather +a melancholy cast, as he stood there on the bough before swinging to the +ground. + +Ned strengthened his will. He had seen what he had seen. Such things +could not be passed over in times when lives were the forfeit of +weakness. Urrea let himself lightly to the earth, and stooped down for +his rifle. It was not there, and when he straightened up again Ned saw +that his face was ghastly pale in the moonlight. Urrea, with his quick +perceptions, was bound to know from the absence of the rifle that he had +been followed and was caught. His hand went down toward his belt where a +pistol hung, but Ned instantly called from the bush: + +"Hands up, Don Francisco, or I shoot!" + +His tone was stern and menacing, and Urrea's hands went up by the side +of his head. But the paleness left his face, and his manner became +careless and easy. + +"Is that you, Ned?" he called in the most friendly tones. "Is it a joke +that you play upon me? Ah, you Anglo-Saxons, you seem rough in your play +to us Latins." + +"It is no joke, Don Francisco. I was never more earnest in my life," +said Ned, stepping from the bush, but still keeping Urrea covered with +his rifle. "Your merits as a climber of trees are great, but you +interested me more with your wheel of fire. I think I can account now +for your absences, when any fighting with the Mexicans was to be done. +You are a spy and you were signaling with that torch to our enemies." + +Urrea laughed lightly, musically, and he regarded Ned with a look of +amusement. It seemed to say to him that he was only a boy, that one so +young was bound to make mistakes, but that the Mexican was not offended +because he was making one now at his cost. The laugh was irritating to +the last degree, and yet it implanted in the boy's mind a doubt, a fear +that he might have been mistaken. + +"Signaling to friends, not enemies, you mean," said Urrea. "This forest +ends but a few hundred yards beyond, and I learned when I was scouting +about San Antonio that some allies of ours in this region were waiting +night and day for the news from us to come. I took this method to +communicate with them, a successful method, too, I am happy to say, as +they answered. In a wild region one must do strange things." + +His tone was so light, so easy, and it rang so true that Ned hesitated. +But it was only for a moment. Manner could not change substance. He +cleared away the mists and vapors made by Urrea's light tone and easy +assurance, and came back to the core of the matter. + +"Don Francisco," he said, "I have liked you, and I believed that you +were a true Texan patriot, but I cannot believe the story that you tell +me. It seems too improbable. If you wished to make these signals to +friends, why did you not tell us that you were going to do so?" + +"I did not know of the possibility of such a signal until I saw this +tree and its great height. Then, as all of you were asleep, I concluded +to make my signal, achieve the result and give you a pleasant surprise. +Come now, Seņor Edward, hand me my rifle, and let us end this unpleasant +joke." + +Ned shook his head. It was hard to resist Urrea's assurance, but manner +was not all. His logical mind rejected the story. + +"I'm sorry, Don Francisco," he said, "but I must refer this to my +comrades, Mr. Palmer and Mr. White. Meanwhile, I am compelled to hold +you a prisoner. You will walk before me to the camp, keeping your hands +up." + +Urrea shrugged his shoulders and gave Ned a glance, which seemed to be a +mixture of disgust and contempt. + +"Very well, if you will have it so," he said. "There is nothing like the +stubbornness of a boy." + +"March!" said Ned, who felt his temper rising. + +Urrea, hands up, walked toward the camp, and Ned came behind him, +carrying the two rifles, one of them cocked and ready for instant use. +The Mexican never looked back, but walked with unhesitating step +straight to the camp. The Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were still sound +asleep, but, when Ned called sharply to them, they sprang to their feet, +gazing in astonishment at the spectacle of Urrea with his hands up, and +the boy standing behind him with the two rifles. + +"Things seem to have happened while I slept," said Obed. + +"Looks as if there might have been some rippin' an' tearin'," said the +Ring Tailed Panther. "What have you been up to, Urrea?" + +Urrea gave the Ring Tailed Panther a malignant glance. + +"I have not been up to anything, to use your own common language," he +replied. "If you want any explanation, you can ask it of your suspicious +young friend there. As for me, I am tired of holding my hands as high as +my head, and I intend to light a cigarette. Three of you, I suppose, are +sufficient to watch me." + +There were still a few embers and touching his cigarette to one of them +he sat down, leaned against the trunk of a tree and began to puff, as if +the future of the case had no interest for him. + +"Just hand me that pistol at your belt, will you?" said Obed. "There +seems to be some kind of a difference of opinion between you and Ned, +and, without knowing anything about it, I'm for Ned." + +Urrea took the pistol and tossed it toward Obed. The Maine man caught it +deftly and thrust it in his own belt. He did not seem to be at all +offended by the young Mexican's contemptuous manner. + +"Besides being one of the best watch makers the State of Maine ever +produced," he said, "I'm pretty good at sleight-of-hand. I could catch +loaded pistols all day, Urrea, if you were to pitch them at me." + +Urrea did not deign a reply and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther looked +at Ned, who told them all he had seen. Urrea did not deny a thing or say +a word throughout the narrative. When Ned finished the Ring Tailed +Panther roared in his accustomed fashion. + +"Signalin' to the enemy from a tree top while we was asleep an' he was +supposed to be on guard!" he exclaimed. "What have you got to say to +this, Urrea?" + +"Our young paragon of knowledge and wilderness lore has given you my +statement," replied Urrea. "You can believe it or not as you choose. I +shall not waste another word on thickheads." + +The teeth of the Ring Tailed Panther came together with a click, and he +looked ominously at Urrea. + +"You may not say anything," he growled, "but I will. I didn't trust you +at first, Don Francisco, an' there have been times all along since then +when I didn't trust you. You're a smooth talker, but your habit of +disappearin' has been too much for me. I believe just as Ned does that +you were signalin' to the enemy an' that you meant Texas harm, lots of +harm. It was a lucky thing that the boy awoke. Now, what do you think, +Obed?" + +"Appearances are deceitful sometimes but not always. Don Francisco seems +to have spun a likely yarn to Ned, but I've heard better and they were +not so mighty much." + +"You see the jury is clean ag'inst you, Don Francisco," said the Ring +Tailed Panther, "an' it's goin' to hold you to a higher court. Did you +hear what I said?" + +Urrea nodded. + +"Yes, I heard you," he replied, "but I heard only foolishness." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but he had the spirit of a gentleman. +He would not upbraid a prisoner. + +"The verdict of the jury bein' given," he said soberly, "we've got to +hold the prisoner till we reach the higher court. We ain't takin' no +chances, Urrea, an' for that reason we've got to tie you. Ned, cut off a +piece of that lariat." + +Urrea leaped to his feet. He was stung at last. + +"I will not be bound," he cried. + +"Yes, you will," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "I ain't goin' to hurt +you, 'cause I'm pretty handy at that sort of thing, but I'll tie you so +you won't get loose in a hurry. Better set down an' take it easy." + +Urrea, after the single flash of anger, sat down, and resuming his +careless air, held out his hands. + +"Since you intend to act like barbarians as well as fools," he said, "I +will not seek to impede you." + +None of the three replied. The Ring Tailed Panther handily tied his +wrists together, and then his ankles, but in such fashion that he could +still sit in comfort, leaning against the tree, although the pleasure of +the cigarette was no longer for him. + +"If you don't mind," he said, "I think I shall go to sleep." + +"No objections a-tall, a-tall," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "Have nice +dreams." + +Urrea closed his eyes, and his chest soon rose and fell in the regular +manner of one who sleeps. Ned could not tell whether he really slept. A +feeling of compassion for Urrea rose again in his heart. What if he +should be telling the truth after all? Wild and improbable tales +sometimes came true. He was about to speak of his thoughts to the men, +but he checked himself. Disbelief was returning. It was best to take +every precaution. + +"You go to sleep, Ned," said Obed. "You've done a good job and you are +entitled to a rest. The Panther and I will watch till day." + +Ned lay down between his blankets and everything was so still that +contrary to his expectations, he fell asleep, and did not awaken again +until after dawn, when Obed told him that they would resume the march, +eating their breakfast as they went. Urrea was unbound, although he was +first searched carefully for concealed weapons. + +"I wouldn't have a man to ride with his arms tied," said the Ring Tailed +Panther, "but we'll keep on both sides of you an' you needn't try to +make a bolt of it, Urrea." + +"I shall not try to make any bolt of it," said Urrea scornfully, "but +you will pay dearly to Austin and Houston for the indignity that you +have put upon me." + +The Ring Tailed Panther, true to his principle of never taunting a +prisoner, did not reply, and they mounted. The Panther rode ahead and +Obed and Ned, with Urrea between them, followed. Urrea was silent, his +face melancholy and reproachful. + +The belt of timber extended only a few hundred yards farther, when they +came upon the open prairie extending to the horizon. Far to the left +some antelope were feeding, but there was no other sign of life of any +kind. + +"I don't see anything of them friends of ours to whom you were +signalin'," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +Urrea would not reply. The Panther said nothing further, and they rode +on over the prairie. But both the Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were +watching the ground, and, when they had gone about two miles, they +reined in their horses. + +"See!" they exclaimed simultaneously. + +They had come to a broad trail cutting directly across their path. It +was made by at least a hundred horses, and the veriest novice could not +have missed it. The trail was that of shod hoofs, indicating the +presence of white men. + +"What is this, Don Francisco?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"I do not have to reply to you unless I wish," said Urrea, "but I am +willing to tell you that it is undoubtedly the trail of the Texan +reinforcements to which I was signaling last night." + +Ned looked quickly at him. Again the young Mexican's voice had the ring +of truth. Was the wild and improbable tale now coming true? If so, he +could never forgive himself for the manner in which he had treated +Urrea. Still, it was for the older men to act now, and he continued his +silence. + +"Maybe Texans made this trail, and maybe they didn't," said Obed, "but I +think we'd better follow it for a while and see. About how old would you +say this trail is, Panther?" + +"Not more'n two hours." + +They turned their course, and followed the broad path left by the +horsemen across the prairie. Thus they rode at a good pace, until nearly +noon, and the trail was now so fresh that they could not be far away. +The change of direction had brought them toward forest, heavy with +undergrowth. It was evident that the horsemen had gone into this forest +as the trail continued to lead straight to it, and the Ring Tailed +Panther approached with the greatest caution. + +"Can you see anything, Ned, in there among them trees an' bushes?" he +asked. "You've got the sharpest eyes of all." + +"Not a thing," replied Ned, "nor do I see a bough or bush moving." + +"It would be hard for such a big party to hide themselves," said Obed, +"so I think we'd better ride straight in." + +They entered the forest, still following the trail among the trampled +bushes, riding slowly over rough ground, and watching wanly to right and +left. Urrea had not said a word, but when they were about a mile within +the wood, he suddenly leaned from his horse, snatched the knife from the +belt of the Ring Tailed Panther and slashed at him. Fortunately, the +range was somewhat long for such work, and, as the Panther threw up his +arm, the blade merely cut his buckskin sleeve from wrist to elbow, only +grazing his skin. Urrea, quick as lightning, turned his horse, threw him +against that of Obed which was staggered, and then started at a gallop +among the trees. + +The Ring Tailed Panther raised his rifle, but Urrea threw himself behind +his horse, riding with all the dexterity of a Comanche in the fashion of +an Indian who wishes to protect himself; that is, hanging on the far +side of the horse by only hands and toes. The Panther shifted his aim +and shot the horse through the head. But Urrea leaped clear of the +falling body, avoided Obed's bullet, and darted into the thickest of the +bushes. As he disappeared a sharp, piercing whistle rose. Ned did not +have time to think, but when he heard the whistle, instinct warned him +that it was a signal. He had heard that whistle once before in exciting +moments, and by a nervous action as it were, he pulled hard upon the +reins of his horse. In this emergency it was the boy whose action was +the wisest. + +"Come back, Obed, you and Panther!" he shouted. "He may have led us into +an ambush!" + +Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were still galloping after Urrea, and, +even as Ned shouted to them, a flash of flame burst from the +undergrowth. He saw Obed's horse fall, but Obed himself sprang clear. +The Panther did not seem to be hurt, but, in an instant, both were +surrounded by Mexicans. Obed was seized on the ground and the Panther +was quickly dragged from his horse. But the Maine man, even in such a +critical moment, did not forget the boy for whom he had such a strong +affection. He shouted at the top of his voice: + +"Ride, Ned! Ride for your life!" + +Ned, still guided by impulse, wheeled his horse and galloped away. It +was evident that his comrades had been taken, and he alone was left to +carry out their mission. Shots were fired at him and bullets whistled +past, but none touched him, and he only urged his horse to greater +speed. + +The boy felt a second impulse. It was to turn back and fall, or be taken +with the two comrades whom he liked so well. But then reason came. He +could do more for them free than a captive, and now he began to take +full thought for himself. He bent far over on his horse's neck, in order +to make as small a target as possible, holding the reins with one hand +and his rifle with the other. A minute had taken him clear of the +undergrowth, and once more he was on the prairie. + +Ned did not look back for some time. He heard several shots, but he +judged by the reports that he was practically out of range. Now he began +to feel sanguine. His horse was good and true, and he rode well. As +long as the bullets could not reach and weaken, he felt that the +chances were greatly in his favor. He was riding almost due north and +the prairie stretched away without limit, although the forest extended +for a long distance on his right. + +He now straightened up somewhat in the saddle, but he did not yet look +back, fearing that he might check his speed by doing so, and knowing +that every moment was of the utmost value. But he listened attentively +to the pursuing hoofs and he was sure that the beat was steadily growing +fainter. The gap must be widening. + +He glanced back for the first time and saw about twenty Mexicans spread +out in the segment of a circle. They rode ponies and two or three were +recoiling lariats which they had evidently got ready in the hope of a +throw. Ned smiled to himself when he saw the lariats. Unless something +happened to his horse they could never come near enough for a cast. He +measured the gap and he believed that his rifle of long range would +carry it. + +One of the Mexicans rode a little in front of the others and Ned judged +him to be the leader. Twisting in his saddle he took aim at him. It is +difficult to shoot backward from a flying horse, but Ned had undergone +the wilderness training and he felt that he could make the hit. He +pulled the trigger. The jet of smoke leaped forth and the man, swaying, +fell from his saddle, but sprang to his feet and clapped his hands to +his shoulder, where the boy's bullet had struck. + +There was confusion among the Mexicans, as it was really their leader +whom Ned had wounded, and, before the pursuit was resumed with energy, +the fugitive had gained another hundred yards. After that, the gap +widened steadily, and, when he looked back a second time, the Mexicans +were a full quarter of a mile in the rear. He maintained his speed and +in another hour they were lost behind the swells. + +Sure that he had now made good his escape, Ned pulled his horse down to +a walk. The good animal was dripping with foam and perspiration and he +did not allow him to cool too fast. Without his horse he would be lost. +But when they had gone on another hour at a walk, he stopped and let him +have a complete rest. + +Ned was not able to see anything of the Mexicans. The prairie, as far as +he could tell, was bare of human life save himself. To his right was the +dark line of the forest, but everywhere else the open extended to the +horizon. He had escaped! + +They had started as four and now but one was left. Urrea had proved to +be a traitor and his good friends, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were +captured or--he refused to consider the alternative. They were alive. +Two men, so strong and vital as they, could not have fallen. + +Now that his horse had rested, Ned mounted again, and rode at a trot for +the forest. He knew the direction in which the settlements lay, and he +could go on with his mission. Men would say that he had shown great +skill and presence of mind in escaping from the ambush, when those older +and more experienced had been trapped. But when the alternatives were +presented to Ned's mind he had not hesitated. They were lingering before +San Antonio and the call for volunteers was not so urgent. He was going +back to rescue his comrades or be taken or fall in the attempt. + +One of the great qualities in Ned's mind was gratitude. Had it not been +for Obed he might yet be under the sea in a dungeon of the Castle of San +Juan de Ulua. The Ring Tailed Panther had done him a hundred services, +and would certainly risk his life, if need be, to save Ned's. He would +never desert them. + +The forest was not so near as it looked on the prairie, but two hours' +riding brought him to it. He knew that it was the same forest in which +Obed and the Panther had been taken, here extending for many miles. + +He believed that the Mexicans, being far north of their usual range, +would remain in the forest, and he was glad of it. He could work much +better under cover than on the prairie. This was undoubtedly the Mexican +band of which the old hunter had spoken, and Urrea had given his signal +to it from the tree. Ned did not believe that it would remain long in +this region, but would go swiftly south, probably to reinforce Cos in +San Antonio. He must act with speed. + +It was several hours until night, and he rode southward through the +forest which consisted chiefly of oak, ash, maple and sweet gum. There +was not much undergrowth here, and he did not have any great fear of +ambush. Turning in, yet farther to the right, he saw a fine creek, and +he followed its course until the undergrowth began to grow thick again. +Then he dismounted and fastened his horse at the end of his lariat. + +The boy had already come to his conclusion. The presence of the creek +had decided him. He believed that the Mexicans, for the sake of water, +had encamped somewhere along its course, and all he had to do was to +follow its stream. He marked well the spot at which he was leaving his +horse, and began what he believed to be the last stage of his journey. + +Ned was glad now that the undergrowth was dense. It concealed him well, +and he had acquired skill enough to go through it swiftly and without +noise. He advanced two or three miles, when he saw a faint light ahead, +and he was quite sure that it came from the Mexican camp. As he went +nearer, he heard the sound of many voices, and, when he came to the edge +of a thicket, belief became certainty. + +The entire Mexican force was encamped in a semi-circular glade next to +the creek. The horses were tethered at the far side, and the men, eighty +or a hundred in number, were lying or standing about several fires that +burned brightly. It was a cold night, and the Mexicans were making +themselves comfortable. They were justified in doing so, as they knew +that there was no Texan force anywhere within a day's ride. They had put +out no sentinels, quite sure that wandering Texans who might see them +would quickly go the other way. + +Ned crept up as close as he dared, and, lying on his side in a dense +thicket, watched them. Their fires were large, and a bright moon was +shining. The whole glade was filled with light. The Mexicans talked +much, after their fashion, and there was much moving about from fire to +fire. Presently the eyes of the boy watching in the bush lighted up with +a gleam which was not exactly that of benevolence. + +Urrea was passing before one of the fires. Ned saw him clearly now, the +trim, well-knit figure, and the handsome, melancholy face. But he was no +prisoner. Many of the Mexicans made way for him and all showed him +deference. Ned had liked Urrea, but he could not understand how a man +could play the spy and traitor in such a manner, and his heart flamed +with bitterness against him. + +The Mexicans continued to shift about, and when two more men came into +view Ned's heart leaped. They were alive! Prisoners they were, but yet +alive. He had believed that two so vivid and vital as they could not +perish, and he was right. + +Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther sat with their backs against the same +tree. They were unbound but the armed Mexicans were all about them, and +they did not have a chance. They were thirty yards away, and Ned could +see them very plainly, yet there was a wall between him and these trusty +comrades of his. + +Obed and the Panther remained motionless against the tree. Apparently +they took no interest in the doings of the Mexicans. Ned, yet seeing no +way in which he could help them, watched them a long time. He saw Urrea, +after a while, come up and stand before them. The light was good enough +for him to see that Urrea's expression was sneering and triumphant. +Again Ned's heart swelled with rage. The traitor was exulting over the +captives. + +Urrea began to speak. Ned could not hear his words, but he knew by the +movement of the man's lips that he was talking fast. Undoubtedly he was +taunting the prisoners with words as well as looks. But neither Obed nor +the Ring Tailed Panther made any sign that he heard. They continued to +lean carelessly against the tree, and Urrea, his desire to give pain +foiled for the time, went away. + +Now Ned bestirred his mind. Here were the Mexicans, and here were his +friends. How should he separate them? He could think of nothing at +present and he drew back deeper into the forest. There, lying very close +among the bushes, he pondered a long time. He might try to stampede the +horses, but the attempt would be more than doubtful, and he gave up the +idea. + +It was now growing late and the fires in the Mexican camp were sinking. +The wind began to blow, and the leaves rustled dryly over Ned's head. +Best thoughts sometimes spring from little things, and it was the dry +rustle of the leaves that gave Ned his idea. It was a desperate chance, +but he must take it. The increasing strength of the wind increased his +hope. It was blowing from him directly toward the camp. + +He retreated about a quarter of a mile. Then he hunted until he found +where the fallen leaves lay thickest, and he raked them into a great +heap. Drawing both the flint and steel which he, like other borderers, +always carried, he worked hard until the spark leaped forth and set the +leaves on fire. Then he stood back. + +The forest was dry like tinder. Ned had nothing to do but to set the +torch. In an instant the leaves leaped into a roaring flame. The blaze +ran higher, took hold of the trees and ran from bough to bough. It +sprang to other trees, and, in an incredibly brief space, a forest fire, +driven by the wind, sending forth sparks in myriads, and roaring and +crackling, was racing down upon the Mexican camp. + +Ned kept behind the fire and to one side. Sparks fell upon him, and the +smoke was in his eyes and ears, but he thought little just then of such +things. The fire, like many others of its kind, took but a narrow path. +It was as if a flaming sword blade were slashed down across the woods. + +Ned saw it through the veil of smoke rush upon the Mexican camp. He saw +the startled Mexicans running about, and he heard the shrill neigh of +frightened horses. Never was a camp abandoned more quickly. The men +sprang upon their horses and scattered in every direction through the +woods. Two on horseback crowded by Ned. They did not see him, nor did he +pay any attention to them, but when a third man on foot came, running +at the utmost speed, the boy seized him by the shoulder, and was dragged +from his feet. + +"It is I, Obed!" he cried. "It is I, Ned Fulton!" + +Obed White stopped abruptly and the Ring Tailed Panther, unable to check +himself, crashed into him. The three, men and boy, went to the ground, +where they lay for a few moments among the bushes, half stunned. It was +a fortunate chance, as Urrea, who had retained his presence of mind, was +on horseback looking for the prisoners, and he passed so near that he +would have seen them had they been standing. + +The three rose slowly to their feet and the two men gazed in admiration +at Ned. + +"You did it!" they exclaimed together. + +"I did," replied Ned with pride, "and it has worked beautifully." + +"I was never so much in love with a forest fire before," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. "How it roars an' tears an' bites! An' just let it roar +an' tear an' bite!" + +"We'd better go on the back track," said Obed. "The Mexicans are all +running in other directions." + +"My horse is back that way, too," said Ned. "Come on." + +They started back, running along the edge of the burned area. Before +they had gone far the Ring Tailed Panther caught a saddled and bridled +horse which was galloping through the woods, and, they were so much +emboldened, that they checked their flight, and hunted about until they +found a second. + +"There must be at least thirty or forty of 'em dashin' about through the +woods, mad with fright," said Obed. + +"Three are all we can use, includin' Ned's," said the Ring Tailed +Panther, "but I wish we had more weapons." + +They had found across the saddle of one of the horses a couple of +pistols in holsters, but they had no other weapons except those that Ned +carried. But they were free and they had horses. The Ring Tailed +Panther's customary growl between his teeth became a chant of triumph. + +"Did the Mexicans capture Obed an' me?" he said. "They did. Did they +keep us? They didn't. Why didn't they? There was a boy named Ned who +escaped. He was a smart boy, a terribly smart boy. Did he run away an' +leave us? He didn't. There was only one trick in the world that he could +work to save us, an' he worked it. Oh, it was funny to see the Mexicans +run with the fire scorchin' the backs of their ears. But that boy, Ned, +ain't he smart? He whipped a hundred Mexicans all by himself." + +Ned blushed. + +"Stop that, you Panther," he said, "or I'll call for Urrea to come and +take you back." + +"Having horses," said Obed, "there is no reason why we shouldn't ride. +Here, jump up behind me, Ned." + +They were very soon back at the point where Ned had left his own horse, +and found him lying contentedly on his side. Then, well mounted each on +his own horses they resumed their broken journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE TEXAN STAR + + +Just after the three started, they looked back and saw a faint light +over the trees, which they knew was caused by the forest fire still +traveling northward. + +"It seemed almost a sin to set the torch to the woods," said the boy, +"but I couldn't think of any other way to get you two loose from the +Mexicans." + +"It's a narrow fire," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I guess it will +burn itself out ag'inst some curve of the creek a few miles further on." + +This, in truth, was what happened, as they learned later, but for the +present they could bestow the thought of only a few moments upon the +subject. Despite the Mexican interruption they intended to go on with +their mission. With good horses beneath them they expected to reach the +Brazos settlements the next day unless some new danger intervened. + +They turned from the forest into the prairie and rode northward at a +good gait. + +"That was a fine scheme of yours, Ned," repeated the Ring Tailed +Panther, "an' nobody could have done it better. You set the fire an' +here we are, together ag'in." + +"I was greatly helped by luck," said Ned modestly. + +"Luck helps them that think hard an' try hard. Didn't that fellow, +Urrea, give you the creeps? I had my doubts about him before, but I +never believed he was quite as bad as he is." + +But Ned felt melancholy. It seemed to him that somebody whom he liked +had died. + +"I saw him talking to you and Obed," he said. "What was he saying?" + +The Ring Tailed Panther frowned and Ned heard his teeth grit upon one +another. + +"He was sayin' a lot of things," he replied. "He was talkin' low down, +hittin' at men who couldn't hit back, abusin' prisoners, which the same +was Obed an' me. He was doin' what I guess you would call tauntin', +tellin' of all the things we would have to suffer. He said that they'd +get you, too, before mornin' an' that we'd all be hanged as rebels an' +traitors to Mexico. He laughed at the way he fooled us. He said that +spat he had with Sandoval was only make-believe. He said that we'd never +get San Antonio; that he'd kept Cos informed about all our movements an' +that Santa Anna was comin' with a great army. He said that most of us +would be chawed right up, an' that them that wasn't chawed up would wish +they had been before Santa Anna got through with 'em." + +"Many a threatened man who runs away lives to fight another day," said +Obed cheerfully. + +"That's so," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I say it among us three +that if we don't take San Antonio we'll have a mighty good try at it, +an' if it comes to hangin' an' all that sort of business there's Texan +as well as Mexican ropes." + +They reached another belt of forest about 3 o'clock in the morning, and +they concluded to rest there and get some sleep. They felt no fear of +the Mexicans who, they were sure, were now riding southward. They slept +here four or five hours, and late the next afternoon reached the first +settlement on the Brazos. + +Ned and his companions spent a week on the river and when they rode +south again they took with them nearly a hundred volunteers for the +attack on San Antonio, the last draft that the little settlements could +furnish. Very few, save the women and children, were left behind. + +On their return journey they passed through the very forest in which Ned +had made his singular rescue of Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. They +saw the camp and they saw the swath made by the fire, a narrow belt, +five or six miles in length, ending as the Ring Tailed Panther had +predicted at a curve of the creek. The Mexicans, as they now knew +definitely, were gone days ago from that region. + +"Perhaps we'll meet Urrea when we attack San Antonio," said Ned. + +"Maybe," said Obed. + +They rode to the camp on the Salado without interruption, and found that +indecision still reigned there. The blockade of San Antonio was going +on, and the men were eager for the assault, but the leaders were +convinced that the force was too small and weak. They would not consent +to what they considered sure disaster. The recruits that the three +brought were welcomed, but Ned noticed a state of depression in the +camp. He found yet there his old friends, Bowie, Smith, Karnes, and the +others. His news that Urrea was a spy and traitor created a sensation. + +Ned was asked by "Deaf" Smith the morning after his arrival to go with +him on a scout, and he promptly accepted. A rest of a single day was +enough for him and he was pining for new action. + +The two rode toward the town, and then curved away to one side, keeping +to the open prairie where they might see the approach of a superior +enemy, in time. They observed the Mexican sentinels at a distance, but +the two forces had grown so used to each other that no hostile +demonstration was made, unless one or the other came too close. + +Smith and Ned rode some distance, and then turned on another course, +which brought them presently to a hill covered with ash and oak. They +rode among the trees and from that point of vantage searched the whole +horizon. Ned caught the glint of something in the south, and called +Smith's attention to it. + +"What do you think it is?" he asked after Smith had looked a long time. + +"It's the sun shining on metal, either a lance head or a rifle barrel. +Ah, now I see horsemen riding this way." + +"And they are Mexicans, too," said Ned. "What does it mean?" + +A considerable force of mounted Mexicans was coming into view, and +Smith's opinion was formed at once. + +"It's reinforcements for Cos," he cried. "We heard that Ugartchea was +going to bring fresh troops from Laredo, and that he would also have +with him mule loads of silver to pay off Cos' men. We'll just cut off +this force and take their silver. We'll ride to Bowie!" + +They galloped at full speed to the camp and found the redoubtable +Georgian, who instantly gathered together a hundred men including the +Ring Tailed Panther and Obed and raced back. The Mexican horsemen were +still in the valley, seeming to move slowly, and Bowie at once formed up +the Texans for a charge. But before he could give the word a trumpet +pealed, and the Mexicans rode at full speed toward a great gully at the +end of the valley into which they disappeared. The last that the Texans +saw were some heavily-loaded mules following their master into the +ravine. + +The Ring Tailed Panther burst into a laugh. + +"Them's not reinforcements," he cried, "an' them's not mules loaded with +silver. They're carryin' nothin' but grass. These men have been out +there cuttin' feed in the meadow for Cos' horses." + +"You're right, Panther," said "Deaf" Smith, somewhat crestfallen. + +"But we'll attack, just the same," said Bowie. "Our men need action. +We'll follow 'em into that gully. On, men, on!" + +A joyous shout was his reply and the men galloped into the plain. They +were about to charge for the gully when Bowie cried to them to halt. A +new enemy had appeared. A heavy force of cavalry with two guns was +coming from San Antonio to rescue the grass cutters. They rode forward +with triumphant cheers, but the Texans did not flinch. They would face +odds of at least three to one with calmness and confidence. + +"Rifles ready, men!" cried Bowie. "They're about to charge." + +The trumpets pealed out the signal again, and the Mexicans charged at a +gallop. Up went the Texans' rifles. A hundred fingers pressed a hundred +triggers, and a hundred bullets crashed into the front of the Mexican +line. Down went horses and men, and the Mexican column stopped. But it +opened in a few moments, and, through the breach, the two cannon began +to fire, the heavy reports echoing over the plain. The Texans +instinctively lengthened their line, making it as thin as possible, and +continued their deadly rifle fire. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther as usual kept close together, and +"Deaf" Smith also was now with them. All of them were aiming as well as +they could through the smoke which was gathering fast, but the Mexicans, +in greatly superior force, supported by the cannon, held their ground. +The grass cutters in the gully also opened fire on the Texan flank, and +for many minutes the battle swayed back and forth on the plain, while +the clouds of smoke grew thicker, at times almost hiding the combatants +from one another. + +The Texans now began to press harder, and the Mexicans, despite their +numbers and their cannon, yielded a little, but the fire from the men in +the gully was stinging their flank. If they pushed forward much farther +they would be caught between the two forces and might be destroyed. It +was an alarming puzzle, but at that moment a great shout rose behind +them. The sound of the firing had been heard in the main Texan camp and +more Texans were coming by scores. + +"It's all over now," said Obed. + +The Texans divided into two forces. One drove the main column of the +Mexicans in confusion back upon the town, and the other, containing Ned +and his friends, charged into the gully and put to flight or captured +all who were hidden there. They also took the mules with their loads of +grass which they carried back to their own camp. + +Ned, the Ring Tailed Panther, Obed and "Deaf" Smith rode back together +to the Salado. It had been a fine victory, won as usual against odds, +but they were not exultant. In the breast of every one of them had been +a hope that the whole Texan army would seize the opportunity and charge +at once upon Cos and San Antonio. Instead, they had been ordered back. + +They made their discontent vocal that and the following evenings. There +was no particular order among the Texans. They usually acted in groups, +according to the localities from which they came, and some, believing +that nothing would be done, had gone home disgusted. Mr. Austin himself +had left, and Houston had persisted in his refusal to command. Burleson, +a veteran Indian fighter, had finally been chosen for the leadership. +Houston soon left, and Bowie, believing that nothing would be done, +followed him. + +It was only a few days after the grass fight, and despite that victory, +Ned felt the current of depression. It seemed that their fortune was +melting away without their ever putting it to the touch. Although new +men had come their force was diminishing in numbers and San Antonio was +farther from their hands than ever. + +"If we don't do something before long," said Henry Karnes, "we'll just +dissolve like a snow before a warm wind." + +"An' all our rippin' an' tearin' will go for nothin'," growled the Ring +Tailed Panther. "We've won every fight we've been in, an' yet they won't +let us go into that town an' have it out with Cos." + +"We'll get it yet," said Obed cheerfully. "In war it's a long lane that +has no battle at the end. Just you be patient, Panther. Patience will +have her good fight. I've tested it more than once myself." + +Ned did not say anything. He had made himself a comfortable place, and, +as the cold night wind was whistling among the oaks and pecans, the fire +certainly looked very good to him. He watched the flames leap and sink, +and the great beds of coals form, and once more he was very glad that he +was not alone again on the Mexican mountains. He resolutely put off the +feeling of depression. They might linger and hesitate now, but he did +not doubt that the cause of Texas would triumph in the end. + +Ned was restless that night, so restless that he could not sleep, and, +after a futile effort, he rose, folded up his blankets and wandered +about the camp. It was a body of volunteers drawn together by patriotism +and necessity for a common purpose, and one could do almost as one +pleased. There was a ring of sentinels, but everybody knew everybody +else and scouts, skirmishers and foragers passed at will. + +Ned was fully armed, of course, and, leaving the camp, he entered an oak +grove that lay between it and the city. As there was no underbrush here +and little chance for ambush he felt quite safe. Behind him he saw the +camp and the lights of the scattered fires now dying, but before him he +saw only the trunks of the trees and the dusky horizon beyond. + +Ned had no definite object in view, but he thought vaguely of scouting +along the river. One could never know too much about the opposing force, +and experience added to natural gifts had given him great capabilities. + +He advanced deeper into the pecan grove, and reached the point where the +trees grew thickest. There, where the moonlight fell he saw a shadow +lying along the ground, the shadow of a man. Ned sprang behind a tree +and lay almost flat. The shadow had moved, but he could still see a +head. He felt sure that its owner was behind another tree not yet ten +feet distant. Perhaps some Mexican scout like himself. On the other +hand, it might be Smith or Karnes, and he called softly. + +No answer came to his call. Some freak of the moonlight still kept the +shadowy head in view, while its owner remained completely hidden, +unconscious, perhaps, that any part of his reflection was showing. Ned +did not know what to do. After waiting a long time, and, seeing that the +shadow did not move, he edged his way partly around the trunk, and +stopped where he was still protected by the ground and the tree. He saw +the shadowy head shift to the same extent that he had moved, but he +heard no sound. + +He called again and more loudly. He said: "I am a Texan; if you are a +friend, say so!" No one would mistake his voice for that of a Mexican. +No reply came from behind the tree. + +Ned was annoyed. This was most puzzling and he did not like puzzles. +Moreover, his situation was dangerous. If he left his tree, the man +behind the other one--and he did not doubt now that he was an +enemy--could probably take a shot at him. + +He tried every maneuver that he knew to draw the shot, while he yet lay +in ambush, but none succeeded. His wary enemy knew every ruse. Had it +not been for the shadowy head, yet visible in the moonlight, Ned might +have concluded that he had gone. He had now been behind the tree a full +half hour, and during all that time he had not heard a single sound from +his foe. The singular situation, so unusual in its aspect, and so real +in its danger, began to get upon his nerves. + +He thought at last of something which he believed would draw the fire of +the ambushed Mexican. He carried a pistol as well as a rifle, and, +carefully laying the cocked rifle by his side, he drew the smaller +weapon. Then he crept about the tree, purposely making a little noise. +He saw the shadowy head move, and he knew that his enemy was seeking a +shot. He heard for the first time a slight sound, and he could tell from +it exactly where the man lay. + +Raising his pistol he fired, and the bark flew from the right side of +the tree. A man instantly sprang out, rifle in hand, and rushed toward +him expecting to take him, unarmed. Like a flash Ned seized his own +cocked rifle and covered the man. When he looked down the sights he saw +that it was Urrea. + +Urrea halted, taken by surprise. His own rifle was not leveled, and Ned +held his life at his gun muzzle. + +"Stop, Don Francisco, or I fire," said the boy. "I did not dream that it +was you, and I am sorry that I was wrong." + +Urrea recovered very quickly from his surprise. He did not seek to raise +his rifle, knowing that it was too late. + +"Well," he said, "why don't you fire?" + +"I don't know," replied Ned. + +"I would do it in your place." + +"I know it, but there is a difference between us and I am glad of that +difference, egotistical as it may sound." + +"There is another difference which perhaps you do not have in mind. You +are a Texan, an American, and I am a Mexican. That is why I came among +you and claimed to be one of you. You were fools to think that I, +Francisco Urrea, could ever fight for Texas against Mexico." + +"It seems that we were," said Ned. + +Urrea laughed somewhat scornfully. + +"There are some Mexicans born here in Texas who are so foolish," he +said, "but they do not know Mexico. They do not know the greatness of +our nation, or the greatness of Santa Anna. What are your paltry numbers +against us? You will fail here against San Antonio, and, even if you +should take the town, Santa Anna will come with a great army and destroy +you. And then, remember that there is a price to be paid. Much rope +will be used to good purpose in Texas." + +"You have eaten our bread, you have received kindness from us, and yet +you talk of executions." + +"I ate your bread, because it was my business to do so. I am not ashamed +of anything that I have done. I do not exaggerate, when I say that I +have rendered my nation great service against the Texan rebels. It was I +who brought them against you more than once." + +"I should not boast of it. I should never pretend to belong to one side +in war and work for another." + +"Again there is a difference between us. Now, what do you purpose to do? +I am, as it were, your prisoner, and it is for you to make a beginning." + +Ned was embarrassed. He was young and he could not enforce all the +rigors of war. He knew that if he took Urrea to the camp the man would +be executed as a spy and traitor. The Mexicans had already committed +many outrages, and the Texans were in no forgiving mood. Ned could not +forget that this man had broken bread with his comrades and himself, and +once he had liked him. Even now his manner, which contained no fear nor +cringing, appealed to him. + +"Go," he said at last, "I cannot take your life, nor can I carry you to +those who would take it. Doubtless I am doing wrong, but I do not know +what else to do." + +"Do you mean that you let me go free?" + +"I do. You cannot be a spy among us again, and as an open enemy you are +only as one among thousands. Of course you came here to-night to spy +upon us, and it was an odd chance that brought us together. Take the +direction of San Antonio, but don't look back. I warn you that I shall +keep you covered with my rifle." + +Urrea turned without another word and walked away. Ned watched him for +a full hundred yards. He noticed that the man's figure was as trim and +erect as ever. Apparently, he was as wanting in remorse as he was in +fear. + +When Urrea had gone a hundred yards Ned turned and went swiftly back to +the camp. He said nothing about the incident either to Obed or the Ring +Tailed Panther. The next day Urrea was crowded from his mind by exciting +news. A sentinel had hailed at dawn three worn and unkempt Texans who +had escaped from San Antonio, where they had long been held prisoners by +Cos. They brought word that the Mexican army was disheartened. The heavy +reinforcements, promised by Santa Anna, had not come. + +A great clamor for an immediate attack arose. The citizen army gathered +in hundreds around the tent of Burleson, the leader, and demanded that +they be led against San Antonio. Fannin and Milam were there, and they +seconded the demands of the men. Ned stood on the outskirts of the +crowd. The Ring Tailed Panther on one side of him uttering a succession +of growls, but Obed on the other was silent. + +"It looks like a go this time," said Ned. + +"I think it is," said Obed, "and if it isn't a go now it won't be one at +all. Waiting wears out the best of men." + +The Ring Tailed Panther continued to growl. + +A great shout suddenly arose. The Panther ceased to growl and his face +beamed. Burleson had consented to the demand of the men. It was quickly +arranged that they should attack San Antonio in the morning, and risk +everything on the cast. + +The short day--it was winter now--was spent in preparations. Ned and his +comrades cleaned their rifles and pistols and provided themselves with +double stores of ammunition. Ned did not seek to conceal from himself, +nor did the men seek to hide from him the greatness and danger of their +attempt. + +"They outnumber us and they hold a fortified town," said Obed. "Whatever +we do we three must stick together. In union there is often safety." + +"We stick as long as we stand," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "If one +falls the other two must go on, an', if two fall, the last must go on as +long as he can." + +"Agreed," said Ned and Obed. + +They were ready long before night, but after dark an alarming story +spread through the little army. Part of it at least proved to be true. +One of the scouts, sent out after the decision to attack had been taken, +had failed to come in. It was believed that he had deserted to the +Mexicans with news of the intended Texan advance. The leaders had +counted upon surprise, as a necessary factor in their success, and +without it they would not advance. Gloom settled over the army, but it +was not a silent gloom. These men spoke their disappointment in words +many and loud. Never had the Ring Tailed Panther roared longer, without +taking breath. + +The Texans were still talking angrily about the fires, when another +shout arose. The missing scout came in and he brought with him a Mexican +deserter, who confirmed all the reports about the discouragement of the +garrison. Once more, the Texans crowded about Burleson's tent, and +demanded that the attack be made upon San Antonio. At last Burleson +exclaimed: + +"Well, if you can get volunteers to attack, go and attack!" + +Milam turned, faced the crowd and raised his hand. + +There was a sudden hush save for the deep breathing of many men. Then +in a loud, clear voice Milam spoke only ten words. They were: + +"Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?" + +And a hundred voices roared a single word in reply. It was: + +"I!" + +"That settles it," said the Ring Tailed Panther with deep satisfaction. +"Old Satan himself couldn't stop the attack now." + +The word was given that the volunteers for the direct attack, three +hundred in number, would gather at an old mill half way between the camp +and the town. Thence they would march on foot for the assault. Ned and +his comrades were among the first to gather at the mill and he waited as +calmly as he could, while the whole force was assembled, three hundred +lean, brown men, large of bone and long of limb. + +No light was allowed, and the night was cold. The figures of the men +looked like phantoms in the dusk. Ned stood with his friends, while +Milam gave the directions. They were to be divided into two forces. One +under Milam was to enter the town by the street called Acequia, and the +other under Colonel Johnson was to penetrate by Soledad Street. They +relied upon the neglect of the Mexicans to get so far, before the battle +began. Burleson, with the remainder of his men would attack the ancient +mission, then turned into a fort, called the Alamo. + +"Deaf" Smith, who knew the town thoroughly, led Johnson's column, and +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were just behind him. + +Ned was quivering in every nerve with excitement and suspense, but he +let no one see it. He moved forward with steady step and he heard behind +him the soft tread of the men who intended to get into San Antonio +without being seen. He looked back at them. They came in the dusk like +so many shadows and no one spoke. It was like a procession of ghosts, +moving into a sleeping town. The chill wind cut across their faces, but +no one at that moment took notice of cold. + +High over Ned's head a great star danced and twinkled, and it seemed to +him that it was the Texan Star springing out. + +The houses of the town rose out of the darkness. Ned saw off to right +and left fresh earthworks and rifle pits, but either no men were +stationed there or they slept. The figure of Smith led steadily on and +behind came the long and silent file. How much farther would they go +without being seen or heard? It seemed amazing to Ned that they had come +so far already. + +They were actually at the edge of the town. Now they were in it, going +up the narrow Soledad Street between the low houses directly toward the +main plaza, which was fortified by barricades and artillery. A faint +glimmer of dawn was just beginning to appear in the east. + +A dusky figure suddenly appeared in the street in front of them and gave +a shout of alarm. "Deaf" Smith fired and the man fell. A bugle pealed +from the plaza and a cannon was fired down the street, the ball +whistling over the heads of the Texans. In an instant the garrison of +Cos was awake, and the alarm sounded from every point of San Antonio. +Lights flashed, arms rattled and men called to one another. + +"Into this house" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We cannot charge up the narrow +street in face of the cannon!" + +They were now within a hundred yards of the plaza, but they saw that the +guide was right. They dashed into the large, solid house that he had +indicated, and Ned did not notice until he was inside that it was the +very house of the Vice-Governor, Veramendi, into which he had come once +before. Just as the last of the Texans sprang through the doors another +cannon ball whistled down the street, this time low enough. Milam's +division, meanwhile, had rushed into the house of De La Garcia, near by. + +As Ned and the others sprang to cover he trampled upon the flowers in a +patio, and he saw a little fountain playing. Then he knew. It was the +house of Veramendi, and he thought it a singular chance that had brought +him to the same place. But he had little time for reflection. The column +of Texans, a hundred and fifty in number, were taking possession of +every part of the building, the occupants of which had fled through the +rear doors. + +"To the roof!" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We can best meet the attack from +there." + +The doors and windows were already manned, but Smith and many of the +best men rushed to the flat roof, and looked over the low stone coping. +It was not yet day and they could not see well. Despite the lack of +light, the Mexicans opened a great fire of cannon and small arms. The +whole town resounded with the roar and the crash and also with the +shouting. But most of the cannon balls and bullets flew wide, and the +rest spent themselves in vain on the two houses. + +The Texans, meanwhile, held their fire, and waited for day. Ned, Smith +and the others on the roof lay down behind the low coping. They had +achieved their long wish. They were in San Antonio, but what would +happen to them there? + +Ned peeped over the coping. He saw many flashes down the street toward +the plaza and he heard the singing of bullets. His finger was on the +trigger and the temptation to reply was great, but like the others he +waited. + +The faint light in the east deepened and the sun flashed out. The full +dawn was at hand and the two forces, Texans and Mexicans, faced each +other. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE TAKING OF THE TOWN + + +The December sun, clear and cold, bathed the whole town in light. +Houses, whether of stone, adobe or wood, were tinted a while with gold, +but everywhere in the streets and over the roofs floated white puffs of +smoke from the firing, which had never ceased on the part of the +Mexicans. The crash of rifles and muskets was incessant, and every +minute or two came the heavy boom of the cannon with which Cos swept the +streets. The Texans themselves now pulled the trigger but little, calmly +waiting their opportunity. + +Ned and his comrades still lay on the roof of the Veramendi house. The +boy's heart beat fast but the scene was wild and thrilling to the last +degree. He felt a great surge of pride that he should have a share in so +great an event. From the other side of the river came the rattle of +rifle fire, and he knew that it was the detachment from Burleson +attacking the Alamo. But presently the sounds there died. + +"They are drawing off," said Obed, "and it is right. It is their duty to +help us here, but I don't see how they can ever get into San Antonio. I +wish the Mexicans didn't have those cannon which are so much heavier +than ours." + +The Texans had brought with them a twelve pounder and a six pounder, but +the twelve pounder had already been dismounted by the overpowering +Mexican fire, and, without protection they were unable to use the six +pounder which they had drawn into the patio, where it stood silent. + +Ned from his corner could see the mouths of the guns in the heavy +Mexican battery at the far end of the plaza, and he watched the flashes +of flame as they were fired one by one. In the intervals he saw a lithe, +strong figure appear on the breastwork, and he was quite sure that it +was Urrea. + +An hour of daylight passed. From the house of De La Garcia the other +division of Texans began to fire, the sharp lashing of their rifles +sounding clearly amid the duller crash of musketry and cannon from the +Mexicans. The Texans in the lower part of the Veramendi house were also +at work with their rifles. Every man was a sharpshooter, and, whenever a +Mexican came from behind a barricade, he was picked off. But the +Mexicans had also taken possession of houses and they were firing with +muskets from windows and loopholes. + +"We must shoot down the cannoneers," shouted the Ring Tailed Panther to +"Deaf" Smith. + +Smith nodded. The men on the roof were fifteen in number and now they +devoted their whole attention to the battery. Despite the drifting smoke +they hit gunner after gunner. The fever in Ned's blood grew. Everything +was red before him. His temples throbbed like fire. The spirit of battle +had taken full hold of him, and he fired whenever he caught a glimpse of +a Mexican. + +"Deaf" Smith was on Ned's right, and he picked off a gunner. But to do +so he had lifted his head and shoulders above the coping. A figure rose +up behind the Mexican barricade and fired in return. "Deaf" Smith +uttered a little cry, and clapped his hand to his shoulder. + +"Never mind," he said in reply to anxious looks. "It's in the fleshy +part only, and I'm not badly hurt." + +The bullet had gone nearly through the shoulder and was just under the +skin on the other side. The Ring Tailed Panther cut it out with his +bowie knife and bound up the wound tightly with strips from his hunting +shirt. But Ned, although it was only a fleeting glimpse, had recognized +the marksman. It was Urrea who had sent the bullet through "Deaf" +Smith's shoulder. He was proving himself a formidable foe. + +But the men on the roof continued their deadly sharpshooting, and now, +the battery, probably at Urrea's suggestion, began to turn its attention +to them. Ned was seized suddenly by Obed and pulled flat. There was a +roaring and hissing sound over his head as a twelve pound cannon ball +passed, and Ned said to Obed: "I thank you." The cannon shot was +followed by a storm of bullets and then by more cannon shots. The +Mexican guns were served well that day. The coping was shot away and the +Texans were in imminent danger from the flying pieces. They were glad +when the last of it was gone. + +But they did not yet dare to raise themselves high enough for a shot. +Balls, shell, and bullets swept the roof without ceasing. Ned lay on his +side, almost flat. He listened to the ugly hissing and screaming over +his head until it became unbearable. He turned over on his other side +and looked at Smith, their leader. Smith was pale and weak from his +wound, but he smiled wanly. + +"You don't speak, but your face asks your question, Ned," he said. "I +hate to say it, but we can't hold this roof. I never knew the Mexicans +to shoot so well before, and their numbers and cannon give them a great +advantage. Below, lads, as soon as you can!" + +They crept down the stairway, and found that the house itself was +suffering from the Mexican cannon. Holes had been smashed in the walls, +but here the Texans were always replying with their rifles. They also +heard the steady fire in the house of De La Garcia and they knew that +their comrades were standing fast. Ned, exhausted by the great tension, +sat down on a willow sofa. His hands were trembling and his face was wet +with perspiration. The Ring Tailed Panther sat down beside him. + +"Good plan to rest a little, Ned," he said. "We've come right into a +hornets' nest an' the hornets are stingin' us hard. Listen to that, will +you!" + +A cannon ball smashed through the wall, passed through the room in which +they were sitting, and dropped spent in another room beyond. Obed joined +them on the sofa. + +"A cannon ball never strikes in the same place twice," misquoted Obed. +"So it's safer here than it is anywhere else in this Veramendi house. +I'd help with the rifles but there's no room for me at the windows and +loopholes just now." + +"Our men are giving it back to them," said Ned. "Listen how the rifles +crackle!" + +The battle was increasing in heat. The Mexicans, despite their +artillery, and their heavy barricades, were losing heavily at the hands +of the sharpshooters. The Texans, sheltered in the buildings, were +suffering little, but their position was growing more dangerous every +minute. They were inside the town, but the force of Burleson outside was +unable to come to their aid. Meanwhile, they must fight five to one, but +they addressed themselves with unflinching hearts to the task. Even in +the moment of imminent peril they did not think of retreat, but clung +to their original purpose of taking San Antonio. + +Ned, tense and restless, was unable to remain more than a few minutes on +the sofa. He wandered into another room and saw a large table spread +with food. Bread and meat were in the dishes, and there were pots of +coffee. All was now cold. Evidently they had been making ready for early +breakfast in the Veramendi house when the Texans came. Ned called to his +friends. + +"Why shouldn't we use it!" he said, "even if it is cold?" + +"Why shouldn't we?" said Obed. "Even though we fight we must live." + +They took the food and coffee, cold as it was, to the men, and they ate +and drank eagerly. Then they searched everywhere and found large +supplies of provisions in the house, so much, in fact, that the Ring +Tailed Panther growled very pleasantly between his teeth. + +"There's enough here," he said, "to last two or three days, an' it's +well when you're in a fort, ready to stand a siege, to have something to +eat." + +Some of the men now left the windows and loopholes to get a rest and Ned +found a place at one of them. Peeping out he saw the bare street, torn +by shot and shell. He saw the flash of the Texan rifles from the De La +Garcia house and he saw the blaze of the Mexican cannon in the plaza. +Mexican men, women and children on the flat roofs, out of range, were +eagerly watching the battle. Clouds of smoke drifted over the city. + +While Ned was at the window, a second cannon ball smashed through the +wall of the Veramendi house, and caused the débris to fall in masses. +The Colonel grew uneasy. The cannon gave the Mexicans an immense +advantage, and they were now using it to the utmost. The house would be +battered down over the heads of the Texans, and they could not live in +the streets, which the Mexicans, from their dominating position, could +sweep with cannon and a thousand rifles and muskets. A third ball +crashed through the wall and demolished the willow sofa on which the +three had been sitting. Plaster rained down upon the Texans. They looked +at one another. They could not stay in the house nor could they go out. +A boy suddenly solved the difficulty. + +"Let's dig a trench across the street to the De La Garcia house!" cried +Ned, "and join our comrades there!" + +"That's the thing!" they shouted. They had not neglected to bring +intrenching tools with them, and they found spades and shovels about the +house. But in order to secure the greatest protection for their work +they decided to wait until night, confident that they could hold their +present position throughout the day. + +It was many hours until the darkness, and the fire rose and fell at +intervals. More shattered plaster fell upon them, but they were still +holding the wreck of a house, when the welcome twilight deepened and +darkened into the night. Then they began work just inside the doorway, +cutting fast through plaster and adobe, and soon reaching the street. +They made the trench fairly wide, intending to get their six pounder +across also. Just behind those who worked with spade and shovel came the +riflemen. + +A third of the way across, and the Mexicans discovered what was going +on. Once more a storm of cannon, rifle and musket balls swept the +street, but the Texans, bent down in their trench, toiled on, throwing +the dirt above their heads and out on either side. The riflemen behind +them, sheltered by the earth, replied to the Mexican fire, and, despite +the darkness, picked off many men. + +Ned was just behind Obed, and the Ring Tailed Panther was following him. +All three were acting as riflemen. Obed was seeking a glimpse of Urrea, +but he did not get it. Ned was watching for a shot at the gunners. + +Once the Mexicans under the cover of their artillery undertook to charge +down the street, but the sharpshooters in the trench quickly drove them +back. + +Thus they burrowed like a great mole all the way across Soledad Street, +and joined their comrades in the strong house of De La Garcia. They also +succeeded in getting both of their cannon into the house, and, now +united, the Texans were encouraged greatly. Ned found all the rooms +filled with men. A party broke through the joint wall and entered the +next house, thus taking them nearer to the plaza and the Mexican +fortifications. + +All through the night intermittent firing went on. The Mexicans +increased their fortifications, preparing for a desperate combat on the +morrow. They threw up new earthworks, and they loopholed many of the +houses that they held. Cos, his dark face darker with rage and fury, +went among them, urging them to renewed efforts, telling them that they +were bound to take prisoners all the Texans whom they did not slay in +battle, and that they should hang every prisoner. Great numbers of the +women and children had hidden in the Alamo on the other side of the +river. San Antonio itself was stripped for battle, and the hatred +between Texan and Mexican, so unlike in temperament, flamed into new +heat. + +Ned was worn to the bone. His lips were burnt with his feverish breath. +The smoke stung his eyes and nostrils, and his limbs ached. He felt that +he must rest or die, and, seeing two men sound asleep on the floor of +one of the rooms, he flung himself down beside them. He slept in a few +minutes and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther seeing him there did not +disturb him. + +"If any boy has been through more than he has," said Obed, "I haven't +heard of him." + +"An' I guess that he an' all of us have got a lot more comin'," said the +Ring Tailed Panther grimly. "Cos ain't goin' to give up here without the +terriblest struggle of his life. He can't afford to do it." + +"Reckon you're right," said Obed. + +Ned awoke the next morning with the taste of gunpowder in his mouth, but +the Texans, besides finding food in the houses, had brought some with +them, and he ate an ample breakfast. Then ensued a day that he found +long and monotonous. Neither side made any decided movement. There was +occasional firing, but they rested chiefly on their arms. In the course +of the second night the Mexicans opened another trench, from which they +began to fire at dawn, but the Texan rifles quickly put them to flight. + +The Texans now began to grow restless. Cooped up in two houses they were +in the way of one another and they demanded freedom and action. Henry +Karnes suggested that they break into another house closer to the plaza. +Milam consented and Karnes, followed closely by Ned, Obed, the Ring +Tailed Panther and thirty others, dashed out, smashed in the door of the +house, and were inside before the astonished Mexicans could open an +accurate fire upon them. Here they at once secured themselves and their +bullets began to rake the plaza. The Mexicans were forced to throw up +more and higher intrenchments. + +Again the combat became intermittent. There were bursts of rifle fire, +and occasional shots from the cannon, and, now and then, short periods +of almost complete silence. Night came on and Ned, watching from the +window, saw Colonel Milam, their leader, pass down the trench and enter +the courtyard of the Veramendi house. He stood there a moment, looking +at the Mexican position. A musket cracked and the Texan, throwing up his +arms, fell. He was dead by the time he touched the ground. The ball had +struck him in the center of the forehead. + +Ned uttered a cry of grief, and it was taken up by all the Texans who +had seen their leader fall. A half dozen men rushed forward and dragged +away his body, but that night they buried it in the patio. His death +only incited them to new efforts. As soon as his burial was finished +they rushed another house in their slow advance, one belonging to +Antonio Navarro, a solid structure only one block from the great plaza. +They also stormed and carried a redoubt which the Mexicans had erected +in the street beside the house. It now being midnight they concluded to +rest until the morrow. Meanwhile, they had elected Johnson their leader. + +Ned was in the new attack and with Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther he +was in the Navarro house. It was the fourth that he had occupied since +the attack on San Antonio. He felt less excitement than on the night +before. It seemed to him that he was becoming hardened to everything. He +looked at his comrades and laughed. They were no longer in the semblance +of white men. Their faces were so blackened with smoke, dirt and burned +gunpowder that they might have passed for negroes. + +"You needn't laugh, Ned," said Obed. "You're just as black as we are. +This thing of changing your boarding house every night by violence and +the use of firearms doesn't lead to neatness. If fine feathers make +fine birds then we three are about the poorest flock that ever flew." + +"But when we go for a house we always get it," said the Ring Tailed +Panther. "You notice that. This place belongs to Antonio Navarro. I've +met him in San Antonio, an' I don't like him, but I'm willin' to take +his roof an' bed." + +Ned took the roof but not the bed. He could not sleep that night, and it +was found a little later that none would have a chance to sleep. The +Mexicans, advancing over the other houses, the walls of all of which +joined, cut loopholes in the roof of the Navarro house and opened fire +upon the Texans below. The Texans, with surer aim, cleared the Mexicans +away from the loopholes, then climbed to the roof and drove them off +entirely. + +But no one dared to sleep after this attack, and Ned watched all through +the dark hours. Certainly they were having action enough now, and he was +wondering what the fourth day would bring forth. From an upper window he +watched the chilly sun creep over the horizon once more, and the dawn +brought with it the usual stray rifle and musket shots. Both Texan and +Mexican sharpshooters were watching at every loophole, and whenever they +saw a head they fired at it. But this was only the beginning, the +crackling prelude to the event that was to come. + +"Come down, Ned," said Obed, "and get your breakfast. We've got coffee +and warm corn cakes and we'll need 'em, as we're already tired of this +boarding house and we intend to find another." + +"Can't stay more than one night in a place while we're in San Antonio," +said the Ring Tailed Panther, growling pleasantly. "A restless lot we +are an' it's time to move on again." + +Ned ate and drank in silence. His nerves were quite steady, and he had +become so used to battle that he awaited whatever they were going to +attempt, almost without curiosity. + +"Ain't you wantin' to know what we're goin' to do, Ned?" asked the Ring +Tailed Panther. + +"I'm thinking that I'll find out pretty quick," replied Ned. + +"Now this boy is shorely makin' a fine soldier," said the Panther to +Obed. "He don't ask nothin' about what he's goin' to do, but just eats +an' waits orders." + +Ned smiled and ate another corn cake. + +"Maybe," said Obed, "we'll meet our friend Urrea in the attack we're +going to make. If so, I'll take a shot at him, and I won't have any +remorse about it, either, if I hit him." + +They did not wait long. A strong body of the Texans gathered on the +lower floor, many carrying, in addition to their weapons, heavy iron +crowbars. The doors were suddenly thrown open and they rushed out into +the cool morning air, making for a series of stone houses called the +Zambrano Row, the farthest of which opened upon the main plaza, where +the Mexicans were fortified so strongly. Scattering shots from muskets +and rifles greeted them, but as usual, when any sudden movement +occurred, the Mexicans fired wildly, and the Texans broke into the first +of the houses, before they could take good aim. + +Ned was one of the last inside. He had lingered with the others to repel +any rush that the Mexicans might make. He was watching the Mexican +barricade, and he saw heads rise above it. One rose higher than the rest +and he recognized Urrea. The Mexican saw Ned also, and the eyes of the +two met. Urrea's were full of anger and malice, and raising his rifle +he fired straight at the boy. Ned felt the bullet graze his cheek, and +instantly he fired in reply. But Urrea had quickly dropped down behind +the barricade and the bullet missed. Then Ned rushed into the house. + +The boy was blazing with indignation. He had spared Urrea's life, and +yet the Mexican had sought at the first opportunity to kill him. He +could not understand a soul of such caliber. But the incident passed +from his mind, for the time being, in the strenuous work that they began +now to do. + +They broke through partition wall after wall with their powerful picks +and crowbars. Stones fell about them. Plaster and dust rained down, but +the men relieving one another, the work with the heavy tools was never +stopped until they penetrated the interior of the last house in the row. +Then the Texans uttered a grim cry of exultation. They looked from the +narrow windows directly over the main plaza and their rifles covered the +Mexican barricades. The Mexicans tried to drive them out of the houses +with the guns, but the solid stone walls resisted balls and shells, and +the Texan rifles shot down the gunners. + +Then ensued another silence, broken by distant firing, caused by another +attack upon the Texan camp outside the town. It was driven off quickly +and the Texans in the houses lay quiet until evening. Then they heard a +great shouting, the occasion of which they did not know until later. +Ugartchea with six hundred men had arrived from the Rio Grande to help +Cos. But it would not have made any difference with the Texans had they +known. They were determined to take San Antonio, and all the time they +were pressing harder on Cos. + +That night, the Texans, Ned with them, seized another large building +called the Priests' House, which looked directly over the plaza, and now +their command of the Mexican situation was complete. Nothing could live +in the square under their fire, and in the night Ned saw the Mexicans +withdrawing, leaving their cannon behind. + +Exhaustion compelled the boy to sleep from midnight until day, when he +was roused by Obed. + +"The Mexicans have all gone across the river to the Alamo," said the +Maine man. "San Antonio is ours." + +Ned went forth with his comrades. Obed had told the truth. The great +seat of the Mexican power in the north was theirs. Three hundred daring +men, not strongly supported by those whom they had left behind, had +penetrated to the very heart of the city through house after house, and +had driven out the defenders who were five to their one. + +The plaza and Soledad Street presented a somber aspect. The Mexican +dead, abandoned by their comrades, lay everywhere. The Texan rifles had +done deadly work. The city itself was silent and deserted. + +"Most of the population has gone with the Mexican army to the Alamo," +said Obed. "I suppose we'll have to attack that, too." + +But Cos, the haughty and vindictive general, did not have the heart for +a new battle with the Texans. He sent a white flag to Burleson and +surrendered. Ned was present when the flag came, and the leader of the +little party that brought it was Urrea. The young Mexican had lost none +of his assurance. + +"You have won now," he said to Ned, "but bear in mind that we will come +again. You have yet to hear from Mexico and Santa Anna." + +"When Santa Anna comes he will find us here ready to meet him," replied +Ned. + +The Texans in the hour of their great and marvelous victory behaved with +humanity and moderation. Cos and his army, which still doubled in +numbers both the Texans who had been inside and outside San Antonio, +were permitted to retire on parole beyond the Rio Grande. They left in +the hands of the Texans twenty-one cannon and great quantities of +ammunition. Rarely has such a victory been won by so small a force and +in reality with the rifle alone. All the Texans felt that it was a +splendid culmination to a perilous campaign. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther, seated on their horses, watched +the captured army of Cos march away. + +"Well, Texas is free," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"And San Antonio is ours," said Obed. + +"But Santa Anna will come," said Ned, remembering the words of Urrea. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN STAR*** + + +******* This file should be named 15852-8.txt or 15852-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/8/5/15852 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Altsheler</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Texan Star, by Joseph A. Altsheler</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Texan Star</p> +<p> The Story of a Great Fight for Liberty</p> +<p>Author: Joseph A. Altsheler</p> +<p>Release Date: May 18, 2005 [eBook #15852]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN STAR***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by David Garcia, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + <a href="https://www.pgdp.net">(www.pgdp.net)</a><br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + the Kentuckiana Digital Library + <a href="http://kdl.kyvl.org/">(http://kdl.kyvl.org/)</a></h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" cellpadding="10" style="background-color: #ccccff;"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through the + Kentuckiana Digital Library. See + <a href="http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc=1;sid=caa2c727b67680024e59cd8a19d87559;q1=texan%20star;cite1=texan%20star;cite1restrict=title;view=toc;idno=b92-172-30119856"> + http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc=1;sid=caa2c727b67680024e59cd8a19d87559;q1=texan%20star;cite1=texan%20star;cite1restrict=title;view=toc;idno=b92-172-30119856</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<h1>THE TEXAN STAR</h1> + +<h2><i>THE STORY OF A GREAT FIGHT +FOR LIBERTY</i></h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER</h2> + +<div class="center">AUTHOR OF<br /> +<i>THE QUEST OF THE FOUR</i>, <i>THE BORDER WATCH</i>,<br /> +<i>THE SCOUTS OF THE VALLEY</i>, ETC.</div> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="./images/emblem.png" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="center">APPLETON-CENTURY-CROFTS, INC.<br /> +NEW YORK</div> + +<div class="center">1912</div> +<hr /> +<p> </p> + +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>"The Texan Star," while a complete story in itself, is the first of +three, projected by the author, and based upon the Texan struggle for +liberty against the power of Mexico. This revolution, epic in its +nature, and crowded with heroism and great events, divides itself +naturally into three parts.</p> + +<p>The first phase begins in Mexico with the treacherous imprisonment of +Austin, the Texan leader, the rise of Santa Anna and his attempt, +through bad faith, to disarm the Texans and leave them powerless before +the Indians. It culminates in the rebellion of the Texans, and their +capture, in the face of great odds, of San Antonio, the seat of the +Mexican power in the north.</p> + +<p>The second phase is the coming of Santa Anna with an overwhelming force, +the fall of the Alamo, the massacre of Goliad and the dark days of +Texas. Yet the period of gloom is relieved by the last stand of +Crockett, Bowie, and their famous comrades.</p> + +<p>The third phase is the coming of light in the darkness, Houston's +crowning victory at San Jacinto, and the complete victory of the Texans.</p> + +<p>The story of the Texan fight for freedom has always appealed to the +author, as one of the most remarkable of modern times.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'>CHAPTER</td> +<td align='left'></td> +<td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>I</td> +<td align='left'>THE PRISONERS</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_1"><b>1</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>II</td> +<td align='left'>A HAIR-CUT</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>III</td> +<td align='left'>SANCTUARY</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td> +<td align='left'>THE PALM</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>V</td> +<td align='left'>IN THE PYRAMID</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td> +<td align='left'>THE MARCH WITH COS</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_73"><b>73</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td> +<td align='left'>THE DUNGEON UNDER THE SEA</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_91"><b>91</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td> +<td align='left'>THE BLACK JAGUAR</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_114"><b>114</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td> +<td align='left'>THE RUINED TEMPLES</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>X</td> +<td align='left'>CACTUS AND MEXICANS</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td> +<td align='left'>THE LONG CHASE</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td> +<td align='left'>THE TRIAL OF PATIENCE</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td> +<td align='left'>THE TEXANS</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_198"><b>198</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td> +<td align='left'>THE RING TAILED PANTHER</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td> +<td align='left'>THE FIRST GUN</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td> +<td align='left'>THE COMING OF URREA</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td> +<td align='left'>THE OLD CONVENT</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td> +<td align='left'>IN SAN ANTONIO</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td> +<td align='left'>THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td> +<td align='left'>THE WHEEL OF FIRE</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_316"><b>316</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td> +<td align='left'>THE TEXAN STAR</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_342"><b>342</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td> +<td align='left'>THE TAKING OF THE TOWN</td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_359"><b>359</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p><a name="Page_0" id="Page_0"></a><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>THE TEXAN STAR</h1> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE PRISONERS</h3> + + +<p>A boy and a man sat in a room of a stone house in the ancient City of +Mexico, capital in turn of Aztec, Spaniard and Mexican. They could see +through the narrow windows masses of low buildings and tile roofs, and +beyond, the swelling shape of great mountains, standing clear against +the blue sky. But they had looked upon them so often that the mind took +no note of the luminous spectacle. The cry of a water-seller or the +occasional jingle of a spur came from the street below, but these, too, +were familiar sounds, and they were no longer regarded.</p> + +<p>The room contained but little furniture and the door was of heavy oak. +Its whole aspect indicated that it was a prison. The man was of middle +years, and his face showed a singular blend of kindness and firmness. +The pallor of imprisonment had replaced his usual color. The boy was +tall and strong and his cheeks were yet ruddy. His features bore some +resemblance to those of his older comrade.</p> + +<p>"Ned," said the man at last, "it has been good of you to stay with me +here, but a prison is no place for a boy. You must secure a release and +go back to our people."<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></p> + +<p>The boy smiled, and his face, in repose rather stern for one so young, +was illumined in a wonderful manner.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to leave you, Uncle Steve," he said, "and if I did it's +not likely that I could. This house is strong, and it's a long way from +here to Texas."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I can induce them to let you go," said the man. "Why should +they wish to hold one so young?"</p> + +<p>Edward Fulton did not reply because he saw that Stephen Austin was +speaking to himself rather than his companion. Instead, he looked once +more through the window and over the city at the vast white peaks of +Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl silent and immutable, forever guarding the +sky-line. Yet they seemed to call to him at this moment and tell him of +freedom. The words of the man had touched a spring within him and he +wanted to go. He could not conceal from himself the fact that he longed +for liberty with every pulse and fiber. But he resolved, nevertheless, +to stay. He would not desert the one whom he had come to serve.</p> + +<p>Stephen Austin, the real founder of Texas, had now been in prison in +Mexico more than a year. Coming to Saltillo to secure for the Texans +better treatment from the Mexicans, their rulers, he had been seized and +held as a criminal. The boy, Edward Fulton, was not really his nephew, +but an orphan, the son of a cousin. He owed much to Austin and coming to +the capital to help him he was sharing his imprisonment.</p> + +<p>"They say that Santa Anna now has the power," said Ned, breaking the +somber silence.</p> + +<p>"It is true," said Stephen Austin, "and it is a new and strong reason +why I fear for our people. Of all the cunning and ambitious men in +Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna is the most cunning and ambitious. I +know, too, that he is the most able, and I believe that he is the <a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a>most +dangerous to those of us who have settled in Texas. What a country is +this Mexico! Revolution after revolution! You make a treaty with one +president to-day and to-morrow another disclaims it! More than one of +them has a touch of genius, and yet it is obscured by childishness and +cruelty!"</p> + +<p>He sighed heavily. Ned, full of sympathy, glanced at him but said +nothing. Then his gaze turned back to the mighty peaks which stood so +sharp and clear against the blue. Truth and honesty were the most marked +qualities of Stephen Austin and he could not understand the vast web of +intrigue in which the Mexican capital was continually involved. And to +the young mind of the boy, cast in the same mold, it was yet more +baffling and repellent.</p> + +<p>Ned still stared at the guardian peaks, but his thoughts floated away +from them. His head had been full of old romance when he entered the +vale of Tenochtitlan. He had almost seen Cortez and the conquistadores +in their visible forms with their armor clanking about them as they +stalked before him. He had gazed eagerly upon the lakes, the mighty +mountains, the low houses and the strange people. Here, deeds of which +the world still talked had been done centuries ago and his thrill was +strong and long. But the feeling was gone now. He had liked many of the +Mexicans and many of the Mexican traits, but he had felt with increasing +force that he could never reach out his hand and touch anything solid. +He thought of volcanic beings on a volcanic soil.</p> + +<p>The throb of a drum came from the street below, and presently the shrill +sound of fifes was mingled with the steady beat. Ned stood up and +pressed his head as far forward as the bars of the window would let him.</p> + +<p>"Soldiers, a regiment, I think," he said. "Ah, I can <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>see them now! What +brilliant uniforms their officers wear!"</p> + +<p>Austin also looked out.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said. "They know how to dress for effect. And their music is +good, too. Listen how they play."</p> + +<p>It was a martial air, given with a splendid lilt and swing. The tune +crept into Ned's blood and his hand beat time on the stone sill. But the +music increased his longing for liberty. His thoughts passed away from +the narrow street and the marching regiment to the North, to the wild +free plains beyond the Rio Grande. It was there that his heart was, and +it was there that his body would be.</p> + +<p>"It is General Cos who leads them," said Austin. "I can see him now, +riding upon a white horse. It's the man in the white and silver uniform, +Ned."</p> + +<p>"He's the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, is he not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I fear him. I know well, Ned, that he hates the Texans—all of +us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the regiment that we see now is going north against our +people."</p> + +<p>Austin's brows contracted.</p> + +<p>"It may be so," he said. "They give soft words all the time, and yet +they hold me a prisoner here. It would be like them to strike while +pretending to clear away all the troubles between us."</p> + +<p>He sighed again. Ned watched the soldiers until the last of them had +passed the window, and then he listened to the music, the sound of drum +and fife, until it died away, and they heard only the usual murmur of +the city. Then the homesickness, the longing for the great free country +to the north grew upon him and became almost overpowering.</p> + +<p>"Someone comes," said Austin.<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a></p> + +<p>They heard the sound of the heavy bar that closed the door being moved +from its place.</p> + +<p>"Our dinner, doubtless," said Austin, "but it is early."</p> + +<p>The door swung wide and a young Mexican officer entered. He was taller +and fairer than most of his race, evidently of pure Northern Spanish +blood, and his countenance was frank and fine.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, Lieutenant," said Stephen Austin, speaking in Spanish, which +he, as well as Ned, understood perfectly. "You know that we are always +glad to see you here."</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Alfonso de Zavala smiled in a quick, responsive way, but in a +moment his face became grave.</p> + +<p>"I announce a visitor, a most distinguished visitor, Mr. Austin," he +said. "General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of the Mexican +Republic and Commander-in-chief of its armies and navies."</p> + +<p>Both Mr. Austin and the boy arose and bowed as a small man of middle +years, slender and nervous, strode into the room, standing for a few +moments near its center, and looking about him like a questing hawk. His +was, in truth, an extraordinary presence. He seemed to radiate an +influence that at once attracted and repelled. His dark features were +cut sharply and clearly. His eyes, set closely together, were of the +most intense black that Ned had ever seen in a human head. Nor were +those eyes ever at rest. They roamed over everything, and they seemed to +burn every object for the single instant they fell there. They never met +the gaze of either American squarely, although they continually came +back to both.</p> + +<p>This man was clothed in a white uniform, heavy with gold stripes and +gold epaulets. A small sword at his side had a gold hilt set with a +diamond. He wore a <a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a>three-cornered hat shaped like that of Napoleon, but +instead of the Corsican's simple gray his was bright in color and +splendid with plumage.</p> + +<p>He was at once a powerful and sinister figure. Ned felt that he was in +the presence of genius, but it belonged to one of those sinuous +creatures, shining and terrible, that are bred under the vivid sun of +the tropics. There was a singular sensation at the roots of his hair, +but, resolved to show neither fear nor apprehension, he stood and gazed +directly at Santa Anna.</p> + +<p>"Be seated, Mr. Austin," said the General, "and close the door, de +Zavala, but remain with us. Your young relative can remain, also. I have +things of importance to say, but it is not forbidden to him, also, to +hear them."</p> + +<p>Ned sat down and so did Mr. Austin and young de Zavala, but Santa Anna +remained standing. It seemed to Ned that he did so because he wished to +look down upon them from a height. And all the time the black eyes, like +two burning coals, played restlessly about the room.</p> + +<p>Ned was unable to take his own eyes away. The figure in its gorgeous +uniform was so full of nervous energy that it attracted like a magnet, +while at the same time it bade all who opposed to beware. The boy felt +as if he were before a splendid leopard with no bars of a cage between.</p> + +<p>Santa Anna took three or four rapid steps back and forth. He kept his +hat upon his head, a right, it seemed, due to his superiority to other +people. He looked like a man who had a great thought which he was +shaping into quick words. Presently he stopped before Austin, and shot +him one of those piercing glances.</p> + +<p>"My friend and guest," he said in the sonorous Spanish.</p> + +<p>Austin bowed. Whether the subtle Mexican meant <a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a>the words in satire or +in earnest he did not know, nor did he care greatly.</p> + +<p>"When I call you my friend and guest I speak truth," said Santa Anna. +"It is true that we had you brought here from Saltillo, and we insist +that you accept our continued hospitality, but it is because we know how +devoted you are to our common Mexico, and we would have you here at our +right hand for advice and help."</p> + +<p>Ned saw Mr. Austin smile a little sadly. It all seemed very strange to +the boy. How could one talk of friendship and hospitality to those whom +he held as prisoners? Why could not these people say what they meant? +Again he longed for the free winds of the plains.</p> + +<p>"You and I together should be able to quiet these troublesome Texans," +continued Santa Anna—and his voice had a hard metallic quality that +rasped the boy's nerves. "You know, Stephen Austin, that I and Mexico +have endured much from the people whom you have brought within our +borders. They shed good Mexican blood at the fort, Velasco, and they +have attacked us elsewhere. They do not pay their taxes or obey our +decrees, and when I send my officers to make them obey they take down +their long rifles."</p> + +<p>Austin smiled again, and now the watching boy thought the smile was not +sad at all. If Santa Anna took notice he gave no sign.</p> + +<p>"But you are reasonable," continued the Mexican, and now his manner was +winning to an extraordinary degree. "It was my predecessor, Farias, who +brought you here, but I would not see you go, because I love you like a +brother, and now I have come to you, that between us we may calm your +turbulent Texans."</p> + +<p>"But you must bear in mind," said Austin, "that our rights have been +taken from us. All the clauses of our <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a>charter have been broken, and now +your Congress has decreed that we shall have only one soldier to every +five hundred inhabitants and that all the rest of us shall be disarmed. +How are we, in a wild country, to protect ourselves from the Comanches, +Lipans and other Indians who roam everywhere, robbing and murdering?"</p> + +<p>Austin's face, usually so benevolent, flushed and his eyes were very +bright. Ned looked intently at Santa Anna to see how he would take the +daring and truthful indictment. But the Mexican showed no confusion, +only astonishment. He threw up his hands in a vivid southern gesture and +looked at Austin in surprised reproof.</p> + +<p>"My friend," he said in injured but not angry tones, "how can you ask me +such a question? Am I not here to protect the Texans? Am I not President +of Mexico? Am I not head of the Mexican army? My gallant soldiers, my +horsemen with their lances and sabers, will draw a ring around the +Texans through which no Comanche or Lipan, however daring, will be able +to break."</p> + +<p>He spoke with such fire, such appearance of earnestness, that Ned, +despite a mind uncommonly keen and analytical in one so young, was +forced to believe for a moment. Texas, however, was far and immense, and +there were not enough soldiers in all America to put a ring around the +wild Comanches. But the impression remained longer with Austin, who was +ever hoping for the best, and ever seeing the best in others.</p> + +<p>Ned was a silent boy who had suffered many hardships, and he had +acquired the habit of thought which in its turn brought observation and +judgment. Yet if Santa Anna was acting he was doing it with consummate +skill, and the boy who never said a word watched him all the time.<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a></p> + +<p>Santa Anna began to talk now of the great future that awaited the Texans +under the banner of Mexico. He poured forth the words with so much Latin +fervor that it was almost like listening to a song. Ned felt the +influence of the musical roll coming over him again, but, with an effort +of the will that was almost physical, he shook it off.</p> + +<p>Santa Anna painted the picture of a dream, a gorgeous dream of many +colors. Mexico was to become a mighty country and the Texans with their +cool courage and martial energy would be no mean factor in it. Austin +would be one of his lieutenants, a sharer in his greatness and reward. +His eloquence was wonderful, and Ned felt once more the fascination of +the serpent. This was a man to whom only the grand and magnificent +appealed, and already he had achieved a part of his dream.</p> + +<p>Ned moved a little closer to the window. He wished the fresh air to blow +upon his face. He saw that Mr. Austin was fully under the spell. Santa +Anna was making the most beautiful and convincing promises. He himself +was going to Texas. He was the father of his people. He would right +every wrong. He loved the Texans, these children of the north who had +come to his country for a home. No one could ever say that he appealed +in vain to Santa Anna for protection. Texans would be proud that they +were a part of Mexico, they would be glad to belong to a nation which +already had a glorious history, and to come to a capital which had more +splendor and romance than any other in America.</p> + +<p>Ned literally withdrew his soul within itself. He sought to shut out the +influence that was radiating from this singular and brilliant figure, +but he saw that Mr. Austin was falling more deeply under it.<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a></p> + +<p>"Look!" said Santa Anna, taking the man by the arm in the familiar +manner that one old friend has with another and drawing him to the +window. "Is not this a prospect to enchant? Is not this a capital of +which you and I can well be proud?"</p> + +<p>He lifted a forefinger and swept the half curve that could be seen from +the window. It was truly a panorama that would kindle the heart of the +dullest. Forty miles away the white crests of Popocatepetl and +Ixtaccihuatl still showed against the background of burning blue, like +pillars supporting the dome of heaven. Along the whole line of the half +curve were mountains in fold on fold. Below the green of the valley +showed the waters of the lake both fresh and salt gleaming with gold +where the sunlight shot down upon them. Nearer rose the spires of the +cathedral, and then the sea of tile roofs burnished by the vivid beams.</p> + +<p>Santa Anna stood in a dramatic position, his finger still pointing. +There was scarcely a day that Ned did not feel the majesty of this +valley of Tenochtitlan, but Santa Anna deepened the spell. Could the +world hold another place its equal? Might not the Texans indeed have a +glorious future in the land of which this city was the capital? Poetry +and romance appealed powerfully to the boy's thoughtful mind, and he +felt that here in Mexico he was at their very heart. Nothing else had +ever moved him so much.</p> + +<p>"You are pleased! It impresses you!" said Santa Anna to Austin. "I can +see it on your face. You are with us. You are one of us. Ah, my friend, +how noble it is to have a great heart."</p> + +<p>"Do I go with your message to the Texans?" asked Austin.</p> + +<p>"I must leave now, but I shall come again soon, and<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a> I will tell you +all. You shall carry words that will satisfy every one of them."</p> + +<p>He threw his arms about Austin's shoulders, gave Ned a quick salute, and +then left the room, taking young de Zavala with him, Ned heard the heavy +bar fall in place on the outside of the door, and he knew that they were +shut in as tightly as ever. But Mr. Austin was in a glow.</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful, flexible mind!" he said, more to himself than to the +boy. "I could have preferred a sort of independence for Texas, but since +we're to be ruled from the City of Mexico, Santa Anna will do the best +he can for us. As soon as he sweeps away the revolutionary troubles he +will repair all our injuries."</p> + +<p>Ned was silent. He knew that the generous Austin was still under Santa +Anna's magnetic spell, but after his departure the whole room was +changed to the boy. He saw clearly again. There were no mists and clouds +about his mind. Moreover, the wonderful half curve before the window was +changing. Vapors were rolling up from the south and the two great peaks +faded from view. Trees and water in the valley changed to gray. The +skies which had been so bright now became somber and menacing.</p> + +<p>The boy felt a deep fear at his heart, but Mr. Austin seemed to be yet +under the influence of Santa Anna, and talked cheerfully of their speedy +return to Texas. Ned listened in silence and unbelief, while the gloom +outside deepened, and night presently came over Anahuac. But he had +formed his resolution. He owed much to Mr. Austin. He had come a vast +distance to be at his side, and to serve him in prison, but he felt now +that he could be of more use elsewhere. Moreover, he must carry a +message, a warning to those who <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>needed it sorely. One of the windows +opened upon the north, and he looked intently through it trying to +pierce, with the mind's eye at least, the thousand miles that lay +between him and those whom he would reach with the word.</p> + +<p>Mr. Austin had lighted a candle. Noticing the boy's gloomy face, he +patted him on the head with a benignant hand and said:</p> + +<p>"Don't be down of heart, Edward, my lad. We'll soon be on our way to +Texas."</p> + +<p>"But this is Mexico, and it is Santa Anna who holds us."</p> + +<p>"That is true, and it is Santa Anna who is our best friend."</p> + +<p>Ned did not dispute the sanguine saying. He saw that Mr. Austin had his +opinion, and he had his. The door was opened again in a half hour and a +soldier brought them their supper. Young de Zavala, who was their +immediate guardian, also entered and stood by while they ate. They had +never received poor food, and to-night Mexican hospitality exerted +itself—at the instance of Santa Anna, Ned surmised. In addition to the +regular supper there was an ice and a bottle of Spanish wine.</p> + +<p>"The President has just given an order that the greatest courtesy be +shown to you at all times," said de Zavala, "and I am very glad. I, too, +have people in that territory of ours from which you come—Texas."</p> + +<p>He spoke with undeniable sympathy, and Ned felt his heart warm toward +him, but he decided to say nothing. He feared that he might betray by +some chance word the plan that he had in mind. But Mr. Austin, believing +in others because he was so truthful and honest himself, talked freely.<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a></p> + +<p>"All our troubles will soon be over," he said to de Zavala.</p> + +<p>"I hope so, Señor," said the young man earnestly.</p> + +<p>By and by, when de Zavala and the soldier were gone, Ned went again to +the window, stood there a few moments to harden his resolution, and then +came back to the man.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Austin," he said, "I am going to ask your consent to something."</p> + +<p>The Texan looked up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, Edward, my lad," he said kindly, "you don't have to ask my consent +to anything, after the way in which you have already sacrificed yourself +for me."</p> + +<p>"But I am not going to stay with you any longer, Mr. Austin—that is, if +I can help it. I am going back to Texas."</p> + +<p>Mr. Austin laughed. It was a mellow and satisfied laugh.</p> + +<p>"So you are, Edward," he said, "and I am going with you. You will help +me to bear a message of peace and safety to the Texans."</p> + +<p>Ned paused a moment, irresolute. There was no change in his +determination. He was merely uncertain about the words to use.</p> + +<p>"There may be delays," he said at last, "and—Mr. Austin, I have decided +to go alone—and within the next day or two if I can."</p> + +<p>The Texan's face clouded.</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand you," he said. "Why this hurry? It would in reality +be a breach of faith to our great friend, Santa Anna—that is, if you +could go. I don't believe you can."</p> + +<p>Ned was troubled. He was tempted to tell what was in his mind, but he +knew that he would not be believed, <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>so he fell back again upon his +infinite capacity for silence. Mr. Austin read resolution in the closed +lips and rigid figure.</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean that you will attempt to steal away?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I can."</p> + +<p>The man shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It would be better not to do so," he said, "but you are your own +master, and I see I cannot dissuade you from the attempt. But, boy, you +will promise me not to take any unnecessary or foolish risks?"</p> + +<p>"I promise gladly, and, Mr. Austin, I hate to leave you here."</p> + +<p>Their quarters were commodious and Ned slept alone in a small room to +the left of the main apartment. It was a bare place with only a bed and +a chair, but it was lighted by a fairly large window. Ned examined this +window critically. It had a horizontal iron bar across the middle, and +it was about thirty feet from the ground. He pulled at the iron bar with +both hands but, although rusty with time, it would not move in its +socket. Then he measured the two spaces between the bar and the wall.</p> + +<p>Hope sprang up in the boy's heart. Then he did a strange thing. He +removed nearly all his clothing and tried to press his head and +shoulders between the bar and the wall. His head, which was of the long +narrow type, so common in the scholar, would have gone through the +aperture, had it not been for his hair which was long, and which grew +uncommonly thick. His shoulders were very thick and broad and they, too, +halted him. He drew back and felt a keen thrill of disappointment.</p> + +<p>But he was a boy who usually clung tenaciously to an idea, and, sitting +down, he concentrated his mind <a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>upon the plan that he had formed. By and +by a possible way out came to him. Then he lay down upon the bed, drew a +blanket over him because the night was chill in the City of Mexico, and +calmly sought sleep.<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A HAIR-CUT</h3> + + +<p>The optimism of Mr. Austin endured the next morning, but Ned was gloomy. +Since it was his habit to be silent, the man did not notice it at first. +The breakfast was good, with tortillas, frijoles, other Mexican dishes +and coffee, but the boy had no appetite. He merely picked at his food, +made a faint effort or two to drink his coffee and finally put the cup +back almost full in the saucer. Then Mr. Austin began to observe.</p> + +<p>"Are you ill, Ned?" he asked. "Is this imprisonment beginning to tell +upon you? I had thought that you were standing it well. Can't you eat?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I'm hungry," replied the boy, "but there is nothing +else the matter with me. I'll be all right, Uncle Steve. Don't you +bother about me."</p> + +<p>He ate a little breakfast, about one half of the usual amount, and then, +asking to be excused, went to the window, where he again stared out at +the tiled roofs, the green foliage in the valley of Mexico and the +ranges and peaks beyond. He was taking his resolution, and he was +carrying it out, but it was hard, very hard. He foresaw that he would +have to strengthen his will many, many times. Mr. Austin took no further +worry on Ned's account, thinking that he would be all right again in a +day or two.</p> + +<p>But at the dinner which was brought to them in the <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>middle of the day +Ned showed a marked failure of appetite, and Mr. Austin felt real +concern. The boy, however, was sure that he would be all right before +the day was over.</p> + +<p>"It must be the lack of fresh air and exercise," said Mr. Austin. "You +can really take exercise in here, Ned. Besides, you said that you were +going to escape. If you fall ill you will have no chance at all."</p> + +<p>He spoke half in jest, but Ned took him seriously.</p> + +<p>"I am not ill, Uncle Steve," he said. "I really feel very well, but I +have lost my appetite. Maybe I am getting tired of these Mexican +dishes."</p> + +<p>"Take exercise! take exercise!" said Mr. Austin with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"I think I will," said Ned.</p> + +<p>Physical exercise, after all, fitted in with his ideas, and that +afternoon he worked hard at all the gymnastic feats possible within the +three rooms to which they were confined. De Zavala came in and expressed +his astonishment at the athletic feats, which Ned continued with +unabated zeal despite his presence.</p> + +<p>"Why do you do these things?" he asked in wonder.</p> + +<p>"To keep myself strong and healthy. I ought to have begun them sooner. +The Mexican air is depressing, and I find that I am losing my appetite."</p> + +<p>De Zavala's eyes opened wide while Ned deftly turned a handspring. Then +the young American sat down panting, his face flushed with as healthy a +color as one could find anywhere.</p> + +<p>"You'll have an appetite to-night," said Mr. Austin. But to his great +amazement Ned again played with his food, eating only half the usual +amount.</p> + +<p>"You're surely ill," said Mr. Austin. "I've no doubt <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>de Zavala would +allow us to have a physician, and I shall ask him for one."</p> + +<p>"Don't do it, Uncle Steve," begged Ned. "There's nothing at all the +matter with me, and anyhow I wouldn't want a Mexican doctor fussing over +me. I've probably been eating too much."</p> + +<p>Mr. Austin was forced to accede. The boy certainly did not look ill, and +his appetite was bound to become normal again in a few days. But it did +not. As far as Mr. Austin could measure it, Ned was eating less and +less. It was obvious that he was thinner. He was also growing much +paler, except for a red flush on the cheek bones. Mr. Austin became +alarmed, but Ned obstinately refused any help, always asserting with +emphasis that he had no ailment of any kind. But the man could see that +he had become much lighter, and he wondered at the boy's physical +failure. De Zavala, also, expressed his sorrow in sonorous Spanish, but +Ned, while thanking them, steadily disclaimed any need of sympathy.</p> + +<p>The boy found the days hard, but the nights were harder. For the first +time in his life he could not sleep well. He would lie for hours so wide +awake that his eyes grew used to the dark, and he could see everything +in his room. He was troubled, too, by bad dreams and in many of these +dreams he was a living skeleton, wandering about and condemned to live +forever without food. More than once he bitterly regretted the +resolution he had taken, but having taken it, he would never alter it. +His silent, concentrated nature would not let him. Yet he endured +undoubted torture day by day. Torture was the only name for it.</p> + +<p>"I shall send an application to President Santa Anna to have you allowed +a measure of liberty," said Mr. Austin finally. "You are simply pining +away here, Edward, my <a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>lad. You cannot eat, that is, you eat only a +little. I have passed the most tempting and delicate things to you and +you always refuse. No boy of your age would do so unless something were +very much wrong with his physical system. You have lost many pounds, and +if this keeps on I do not know what will happen to you. I shall not ask +for more liberty for you, but you must have a doctor at once."</p> + +<p>"I do not want any doctor, Uncle Steve," said the boy. "He cannot do me +any good, but there is somebody else whom I want."</p> + +<p>"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"A barber."</p> + +<p>"A barber! Now what good can a barber do you?"</p> + +<p>"A great deal. What I crave most in the world is a hair-cut, and only a +barber can do that for me. My hair has been growing for more than three +months, Uncle Steve, and you've seen how extremely thick it is. Now it +is so long, too, that it's falling all about my eyes. Its weight is +oppressing my brain. I feel a little touch of fever now and then, and I +believe it's this awful hair."</p> + +<p>He ran his fingers through the heavy locks until his head seemed to be +surrounded with a defense like the quills of a porcupine. Beneath the +great bush of hair his gray eyes glowed in a pale, thin face.</p> + +<p>"There is a lot of it," said Mr. Austin, surveying him critically, "but +it is not usual for anybody in our situation to be worrying about the +length and abundance of his hair."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I'd be a lot better if I could get it cut close."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, if you are taking it so much to heart we'll see what can be +done. You are ill and wasted, Edward, and when one is in that condition +a little thing <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>can affect his spirits. De Zavala is a friendly sort of +young fellow and through him we will send a request to Colonel Sandoval, +the commander of the prisons, that you be allowed to have your hair +cut."</p> + +<p>"If you please, Uncle Steve," said Ned gratefully.</p> + +<p>Mr. Austin was not wrong in his forecast about Lieutenant de Zavala. He +showed a full measure of sympathy. Hence a petition to Colonel Martin +Sandoval y Dominguez, commander of prisons in the City of Mexico, was +drawn up in due form. It stated that one Edward Fulton, a Texan of +tender years, now in detention at the capital, was suffering from the +excessive growth of hair upon his head. The weight and thickness of said +hair had heated his brain and destroyed his appetite. In ordinary cases +of physical decline a physician was needed most, but so far as young +Edward Fulton was concerned, a barber could render the greatest service.</p> + +<p>The petition, duly endorsed and stamped, was forwarded to Colonel Martin +Sandoval y Dominguez, and, after being gravely considered by him in the +manner befitting a Mexican officer of high rank and pure Spanish +descent, received approval. Then he chose among the barbers one Joaquin +Menendez, a dark fellow who was not of pure Spanish descent, and sent +him to the prison with de Zavala to accomplish the needed task.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will be happy now, Edward," said Mr. Austin, when the two +Mexicans came. "You are a good boy, but it seems to me that you have +been making an undue fuss about your hair."</p> + +<p>"I'm quite sure I shall recover fast," said Ned.</p> + +<p>It was hard for him to hide his happiness from the others. He felt a +thrill of joy every time the steel of the scissors clicked together and +a lock of hair fell to the floor. But Joaquin Menendez, the barber, had +a Southern <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>temperament and the soul of an artist. It pained him to +shear away—"shear away" alone described it—such magnificent hair. It +was so thick, so long and so glossy.</p> + +<p>"Ah," he said, laying some of the clipped locks across his hand and +surveying them sorrowfully, "so great is the pity! What señorita could +resist the young señor if these were still growing upon his head!"</p> + +<p>"You cut that hair," said Ned with a vicious snap of his teeth, "and cut +it close, so close that it will look like the shaven face of a man. I +think you will find it so stated in the conditions if you will look at +the permit approved in his own handwriting by Colonel Sandoval y +Dominguez."</p> + +<p>Joaquin Menendez, still the artist, but obedient to the law, heaved a +deep sigh, and proceeded with his sad task. Lock by lock the abundant +hair fell, until Ned's head stood forth in the shaven likeness of a +man's face that he had wished.</p> + +<p>"I must tell you," said Mr. Austin, "that it does not become you, but I +hope you are satisfied."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied," replied Ned. "I have every cause to be. I know I shall +have a stronger appetite to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"You are certainly a sensitive boy," said Mr. Austin, looking at him in +some wonder. "I did not know that such a thing could influence your +feelings and your physical condition so much."</p> + +<p>Ned made no reply, but that night he ate supper with a much better +appetite than he had shown in many days, bringing words of warm approval +and encouragement from Mr. Austin.</p> + +<p>An hour or two later, when cheerful good-nights had been exchanged, Ned +withdrew to his own little room. He <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>lay down upon his bed, but he was +fully clothed and he had no intention of sleep. Instead the boy was +transformed. For days he had been walking with a weak and lagging gait. +Fever was in his veins. Sometimes he became dizzy, and the walls and +floors of the prison swam before him. But now the spirit had taken +command of the thin body. Weakness and dizziness were gone. Every vein +was infused with strength. Hope was in command, and he no longer doubted +that he would succeed.</p> + +<p>He rose from the bed and went to the window. The city was silent and the +night was dark. Floating clouds hid the moon and stars. The ranges and +the city roofs themselves had sunk into the dusk. It seemed to him that +all things favored the bold and persevering. And he had been +persevering. No one would ever know how he had suffered, what terrific +pangs had assailed him. He could not see now how he had done it, and he +was quite sure that he could never go through such an ordeal again. The +rack would be almost as welcome.</p> + +<p>Ned did not know it, but a deep red flush had come into each pale cheek. +He removed most of his clothes, and put his head forward between the +iron bar and the window sill. The head went through and the shoulders +followed. He drew back, breathing a deep and mighty breath of triumph. +Yet he had known that it would be so. When he first tried the space he +had been only a shade too large for it. Now his head and shoulders would +go between, but with nothing to spare. A sheet of paper could not have +been slipped in on either side. Yet it was enough. The triumph of +self-denial was complete.</p> + +<p>He had thought several times of telling Mr. Austin, but he finally +decided not to do so. He might seek to <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>interfere. He would put a +thousand difficulties in the way, some real and some imaginary. It would +save the feelings of both for him to go quietly, and, when Mr. Austin +missed him, he would know why and how he had gone.</p> + +<p>Ned stood at the window a little while longer, listening. He heard far +away the faint rattle of a saber, probably some officer of Santa Anna +who was going to a place outside a lattice, the sharp cry of a Mexican +upbraiding his lazy mule, and the distant note of a woman singing an old +Spanish song. It was as dark as ever, with the clouds rolling over the +great valley of Tenochtitlan, which had seen so much of human passion +and woe. Ned, brave and resolute as he was, shivered. He was oppressed +by the night and the place. It seemed to him, for the moment, that the +ghosts of stern Cortez, and of the Aztecs themselves were walking out +there.</p> + +<p>Then he did a characteristic thing. Folding his arms in front of him he +grasped his own elbows and shook himself fiercely. The effort of will +and body banished the shapes and illusions, and he went to work with +firm hands.</p> + +<p>He tore the coverings from his bed into strips, and knotted them +together stoutly, trying each knot by tying the strip to the bar, and +pulling on it with all his strength. He made his rope at least thirty +feet long and then gave it a final test, knot by knot. He judged that it +was now near midnight and the skies were still very dark. Inside of a +half hour he would be gone—to what? He was seized with an intense +yearning to wake up Mr. Austin and tell him good-by. The Texan leader +had been so good to him, he would worry so much about him that it was +almost heartless to slip away in this manner. But <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>he checked the +impulse again, and went swiftly ahead with his work.</p> + +<p>He kept on nothing but his underclothing and trousers. The rest he made +up into a small package which he tied upon his back. He was sorry that +he did not have any weapon. He had been deprived of even his +pocket-knife, but he did have a few dollars of Spanish coinage, which he +stowed carefully in his trousers pocket. All the while his energy +endured despite his wasted form. Hope made a bridge for his weakness.</p> + +<p>He let the line out of the window, and his delicate sense told him when +it struck against the ground. Six or eight feet were left in his hand, +and he tied the end firmly to the bar, knotting it again and again. Then +he slipped through the opening and the passage was so close that his +ears scraped as they went by. He hung for a few moments on the outside, +his feet on the stone sill and his hands clasping the iron bar. He felt +sheer and absolute terror. The spires of the cathedral were invisible +and only a few far lights showed dimly. It seemed to him that he was +suspended over a bottomless pit, and he shivered from head to foot.</p> + +<p>But he recalled his courage. Such a black night was best suited to his +task. The shivering ceased. Hope ruled once more. He knelt on the stone +sill, and, grasping his crude rope with both hands, let himself down +from the window. It required almost superhuman exertion to keep himself +from dropping sheer away, and the rope burned his palms. But he held on, +knowing that he must hold, and the stone wall felt cold to him, as he +lay against it, and slid slowly down.</p> + +<p>Perhaps his strength, which was more of the mind than of the body, +partly gave way under such a severe strain, but he felt pains shooting +through his arms, shoulders <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>and chest. His most vivid recollections of +the descent were the coldness of the wall against which he lay and the +far tinkle of a mandolin which came to him with annoying distinctness. +The frequent knots where he had tied the strips together were a help, +and whenever he came to one he let his hands rest upon it a moment or +two lest he slide down too rapidly.</p> + +<p>He had been descending, it seemed to him, fully an hour, and he must +have come down a mile, when he heard the rattle of a saber. It was so +distinct and so near that it could not be imagination. He looked in the +direction of the sound and saw two dark figures in the street. As he +stared the two figures shaped themselves into two Mexican officers. +Truth, not fancy, told him also that they were not moving. They had seen +him escaping and they would come for him! He pressed his body hard +against the stone wall, and with his hands resting upon one of the knots +clung desperately to the rope. He was hanging in an alley, and the men +were on the street at the mouth of it six or seven yards away. They were +talking and it must be about him!</p> + +<p>He saw them create a light in some manner, and his hands almost slipped +from the rope. Then joy flooded back. They were merely lighting +cigarettes, and, with a few more words to each other, they walked on. +Ned slid slowly down, but when he came to the last knot his strength +gave way and he fell. It seemed to him that he was plunging an +immeasurable distance through depths of space. Then he struck and with +the force of the blow consciousness left him.</p> + +<p>When he revived he found himself lying upon a rough stone pavement and +it was still dark. He saw above a narrow cleft of somber sky, and +something cold and trailing lay across his face. He shivered with +repulsion, snatched <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>at it to throw it off, and found that it was his +rope. Then he felt of himself cautiously and fearfully, but found that +no bones were broken. Nor was he bruised to any degree and now he knew +that he could not have fallen more than two or three feet. Perhaps he +had struck first upon the little pack which he had fastened upon his +back. It reminded him that he was shoeless and coatless and undoing the +pack he reclothed himself fully.</p> + +<p>He was quite sure that he had not lain there more than a quarter of an +hour. Nothing had happened while he was unconscious. It was a dark +little alley in the rear of the prison, and the buildings on the other +side that abutted upon it were windowless. He walked cautiously to the +mouth of the alley, and looked up and down the street. He saw no one, +and, pulling his cap down over his eyes, he started instinctively toward +the north, because it was to the far north that he wished to go. He was +fully aware that he faced great dangers, almost impossibilities. +Practically nothing was in his favor, save that he spoke excellent +Spanish and also Mexican versions of it.</p> + +<p>He went for several hundred yards along the rough and narrow street, and +he began to shiver again. Now it was from cold, which often grows +intense at night in the great valley of Mexico. Nor was his wasted frame +fitted to withstand it. He was assailed also by a fierce hunger. He had +carried self-denial to the utmost limit, and nature was crying out +against him in a voice that must be heard.</p> + +<p>He resolved to risk all and obtain food. Another hundred yards and he +saw crouched in an angle of the street an old woman who offered +tortillas and frijoles for sale. He went a little nearer, but +apprehension almost <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>overcame him. It might be difficult for him to pass +for a Mexican and she would give the alarm. But he went yet nearer and +stood where he could see her face. It was broad, fat and dark, more +Aztec than Spaniard, and then he approached boldly, his speed increased +by the appetizing aroma arising from some flat cakes that lay over +burning charcoal.</p> + +<p>"I will take these, my mother," he said in Mexican, and leaning over he +snatched up half a dozen gloriously hot tortillas and frijoles. A cry of +indignation and anger was checked at the old woman's lips as two small +silver coins slipped from the boy's hands, and tinkled pleasantly +together in her own.</p> + +<p>Holding his spoils in his hands Ned walked swiftly up the street. He +glanced back once, and saw that the old Aztec woman had sunk back into +her original position. He had nothing to fear from any alarm by her, and +he looked ahead for some especially dark nook in which he could devour +the precious food. He saw none, but he caught a glimpse beyond of +foliage, and he recalled enough of the city of Mexico to know what it +was. It was the Zocalo or garden of the cathedral, the Holy Metropolitan +Church of Mexico. Above the foliage he could see the dark walls, and +above them he saw the dome, as he had seen it from the window of his +prison. Over the dome itself rose a beautiful lantern, in which a light +was now burning.</p> + +<p>Ned entered the garden which contained many trees, and sat down in the +thickest group of them. Then he began to eat. He was as ravenous as any +wolf, but he had been cultivating the power of will, and he ate like a +gentleman, knowing that to do otherwise would not be good for him. But, +tempered by discretion, it was a glorious pursuit. It was almost worth +the long period <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>of fasting and suffering, for common Mexican food, +bought on the street from an old Aztec woman, to taste so well. Strength +flowed back into every vein and muscle. He would not now give way to +fears and tremblings which were of the body rather than the mind. He +stopped when half of the food was gone, put the remainder in his pocket, +and stood up. Fine drops of water struck him in the face. It had begun +to rain. And a raw wind was moaning in the valley.</p> + +<p>Despite the warm food and his returning strength Ned felt the desperate +need of shelter. It was growing colder, too. Even as he stood there the +fine rain turned to fine snow. It melted as it fell, but when it struck +him about the neck and face it had an uncommonly penetrating power and +the chill seemed to go into the bone. He must have shelter. He looked at +the dark walls of the cathedral and then at the light in the slender +lantern far up above the dome. What more truly a shelter than a church! +It had been a sanctuary in the dark ages, and he might use it now as +such.</p> + +<p>He left the trees and stood for a little while by a stone, one of the +124 which formerly enclosed an atrium. Still seeing nothing and hearing +nothing but the whistle of the wind which drove the cold drops of snow +under his collar he advanced boldly again, sprang over the iron railing, +and came to the walls of the old church, where he stood a moment.</p> + +<p>Ned knew that in great Catholic cathedrals, like the one of Mexico, +there were always side doors or little wickets used by priests or other +high officials of the church, and he was hoping to find one that he +could open. He passed half way around the building, feeling cautiously +along the cold stone. Once he saw a watchman with sombrero, heavy cloak +and lantern. He pressed <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>into a niche, and the watchman went on his +automatic way, little thinking that anyone was near.</p> + +<p>The boy continued his circuit and presently he found a wooden door, +which he could not force. A little further and he came to a second which +opened to his pressure. It was so small an entrance that he stooped as +he passed in. He shut it carefully behind him, and stood in what was +almost total darkness, until his eyes grew used to the gloom.</p> + +<p>Then he saw that he was in a vast interior, Doric in architecture, +severe and simple. It was in the form of a Latin cross, with fluted +columns dividing the aisles from the nave. Above him rose a noble dome.</p> + +<p>He could make out nothing more for the present. It was very still, very +imposing, and at another time he would have been awed, but now he had +found sanctuary. The cold and the snow were shut out and a grateful +warmth took their place. He walked down one of the aisles, careful that +his footsteps should make no sound. He saw that there were rows of +chapels, seven on either side of the church. It occurred to him that he +would be safer in one of these rooms and he chose that which seemed to +be used the least.</p> + +<p>While on this search he passed the main altar in the center of the +building. He noticed above the stalls a picture of the Virgin. He was a +Protestant, but when he saw it he crossed himself devoutly. Was not her +church giving him shelter and refuge from his enemies? He also passed +the Altar of the Kings, beneath which now lie the heads of great +Mexicans who secured the independence of their country from Spain. He +looked a little at these before he entered the chapel of his choice.</p> + +<p>It was a small room, lighted scarcely at all by a narrow window, and it +contained a few straight wooden pews one <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>of which had been turned about +facing the wall. He lay down in his pew, and, even in daylight, he would +have been hidden from anyone a yard away. The hard wood was soft to him. +He put his cap under his head and stretched himself out. Then, without +will, he relaxed completely. Nature could stand no more. His eyes closed +and he floated off into the far and happy region of sleep.<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>SANCTUARY</h3> + + +<p>Ned Fulton's sleep was that of exhaustion, and it lasted long. Although +fine snow yet fell outside, and the raw wind blew it about, a pleasant +warmth pervaded the snug alcove, made by the back of the pew in which he +lay. He had been fortunate indeed to find such a place, because the body +of the church was gloomy and cold. But he did not hear the winds, and no +thought of the snow troubled him, as he slept on hour after hour.</p> + +<p>The night passed, the light snow had ceased, no trace of it was left on +the earth, and the brilliant sunshine flooded the ancient capital with +warmth. People went about their usual pursuits. Old men and old women +sold sweets, hot coffee, and tortillas and frijoles, also hot, in the +streets. Little plaster images of the saints and the Virgin were exposed +on trays. Donkeys loaded with vegetables, that had been brought across +the lakes, bumped one another in the narrow ways. Many officers in fine +uniforms and many soldiers in uniforms not so fine could be seen.</p> + +<p>Whatever else Mexico might be it was martial. The great Santa Anna whom +men called another Napoleon now ruled, and there was talk of war and +glory. Much of it was vague, but of one thing they were certain. Santa +Anna would soon crush the mutinous Texans in the wild north. Gringos +they were, always pushing <a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>where they were not wanted, and, however hard +their fate, they would deserve it. The vein of cruelty which, despite +great virtues, has made Spain a by-word among nations, showed in her +descendants.</p> + +<p>But the boy, Edward Fulton, sleeping in the chapel of the great +cathedral, knew nothing of it all. Nature, too long defrauded, was +claiming payment of her debt, and he slept peacefully on, although the +hours passed and noon came.</p> + +<p>The church had long been open. Priests came and went in the aisles, and +entered some of the chapels. Worshipers, most of them women, knelt +before the shrines. Service was held at the high altar, and the odor of +incense filled the great nave. Yet the boy was still in sanctuary, and a +kindly angel was watching over him. No one entered the chapel in which +he slept.</p> + +<p>It was almost the middle of the afternoon when he awoke. He heard a +faint murmur of voices and a pleasant odor came to his nostrils. He +quickly remembered everything, and, stirring a little on his wooden +couch he found a certain stiffness in the joints. He realized however +that all his strength had come back.</p> + +<p>But Ned Fulton understood, although he had escaped from prison and had +found shelter and sanctuary in the cathedral, that he was yet in an +extremely precarious position. The murmur of voices told him that people +were in the church, and he had no doubt that the odor came from burning +incense.</p> + +<p>A little light from the narrow window fell upon him. It came through +colored glass, and made red and blue splotches on his hands, at which he +looked curiously. He knew that it was a brilliant day outside, and he +longed for air and exercise, but he dared not move except to stretch his +arms and legs, until the stiffness and <a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>soreness disappeared from his +joints. Contact with Spaniard and Mexican had taught him the full need +of caution.</p> + +<p>He was very hungry again, and now he was thankful for his restraint of +the night before. He ate the rest of the food in his pockets and waited +patiently.</p> + +<p>Ned knew that he had slept a long time, and that it must be late in the +day. He was confirmed in his opinion by the angle at which the light +entered the window, and he decided that he would lie in the pew until +night came again. It was a trying test. School his will as he would he +felt at times that he must come from his covert and walk about the +chapel. The narrow wooden pew became a casket in which he was held, and +now and then he was short of breath. Yet he persisted. He was learning +very young the value of will, and he forced himself every day to use it +and increase its strength.</p> + +<p>In such a position and with so much threatening him his faculties became +uncommonly keen. He heard the voices more distinctly, and also the +footsteps of the priests in their felt slippers. They passed the door of +the chapel in which he lay, and once or twice he thought they were going +to enter, but they seemed merely to pause at the door. Then he would +hold his breath until they were gone.</p> + +<p>At last and with infinite joy he saw the colored lights fade. The window +itself grew dark, and the murmur in the church ceased. But he did not +come forth from his secure refuge until it was quite dark. He staggered +from stiffness at first, but the circulation was soon restored. Then he +looked from the door of the chapel into the great nave. An old priest in +a brown robe was extinguishing the candles. Ned watched him until he +<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>had put out the last one, and disappeared in the rear of the church.</p> + +<p>Then he came forth and standing in the great, gloomy nave tried to +decide what to do next. He had found a night's shelter and no more. He +had escaped from prison, but not from the City of Mexico, and his Texas +was yet a thousand miles away.</p> + +<p>Ned found the little door by which he had entered, and passed outside, +hiding again among the trees of the Zocalo. The night was very cold and +he shivered once more, as he stood there waiting. The night was so dark +that the cathedral was almost a formless bulk. But above it, the light +in the slender lantern shone like a friendly star. While he looked the +great bell of Santa Maria de Guadalupe in the western tower began to +chime, and presently the smaller bell of Dona Maria in the eastern tower +joined. It was a mellow song they sung and they sang fresh courage into +the young fugitive's veins. He knew that he could never again see this +cathedral built upon the site of the great Aztec teocalli, destroyed by +the Spaniards more than three hundred years before, without a throb of +gratitude.</p> + +<p>Ned's first resolve was to take measures for protection from the cold, +and he placed his silver dollars in his most convenient pocket. Then he +left the trees and moved toward the east, passing in front of the +handsome church Sagrario Metropolitano, and entering a very narrow +street that led among a maze of small buildings. The district was +lighted faintly by a few hanging lanterns, but as Ned had hoped, some of +the shops were yet open. The people who sat here and there in the low +doorways were mostly short of stature and dark and broad of face. The +Indian in them predominated over the Spaniard, and some were pure Aztec. +Ned <a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>judged that they would not take any deep interest in the fortunes +of their rulers, Spanish or Mexican, royalist or republican.</p> + +<p>He pulled his cap over his eyes and a little to one side, and strolled +on, humming an old Mexican air. His walk was the swagger of a young +Mexican gallant, and in the dimness they would not notice his Northern +fairness. Several pairs of eyes observed him, but not with disapproval. +They considered him a trim Mexican lad. Some of the men in the doorways +took up the air that he was whistling and continued it.</p> + +<p>He saw soon the place for which he was looking, a tiny shop in which an +old Indian sold serapes. He stopped in the doorway, which he filled, +took down one of the best and heaviest and held out the number of +dollars which he considered an adequate price. The Indian shook his head +and asked for nearly twice as much. Ned knew how long they bargained and +chaffered in Mexico and what a delight they took in it. After an hour's +talk he could secure the serape, at the price he offered, but he dared +not linger in one place. Already the old Indian was looking at him +inquiringly. Doubtless he had seen that this was no Mexican, but Ned +judged shrewdly that he would not let the fact interfere with a +promising bargain.</p> + +<p>The boy acted promptly. He added two more silver dollars to the amount +that he had proffered, put the whole in the old Indian's palm, took down +the serape, folded it over his arm, and with a "gracias, señor," backed +swiftly out of the shop. The old Indian was too much astonished to move +for at least a half minute. Then tightly clutching the silver in his +hand he ran into the street. But the tall young señor, with the serape +already wrapped around his shoulders, was disappearing <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>in the darkness. +The Indian opened his palm and looked at the silver. A smile passed over +his face. After all, it was two good Spanish dollars more than he had +expected, and he returned contentedly to his shop. If such generous +young gentlemen came along every night his fortune would soon be made.</p> + +<p>Ned soon left the shop far behind. It was a fine serape, very large, +thick and warm, and he draped himself in it in true Mexican fashion. It +kept him warm, and, wrapped in its folds, he looked much more like a +genuine Mexican. He had but little money left, but among the more +primitive people beyond the capital one might work his way. If suspected +he could claim to be English, and Mexico was not at war with England.</p> + +<p>He bought a sombrero at another shop with almost the last of his money, +and then started toward La Viga, the canal that leads from the lower +part of the city toward the fresh water lakes, Chalco and Xochimilco. He +hoped to find at the canal one of the bergantins, or flat-bottomed +boats, in which vegetables, fruit and flowers were brought to the city +for sale. They were good-natured people, those of the bergantins, and +they would not scorn the offer of a stout lad to help with sail and oar.</p> + +<p>Hidden in his serape and sombrero, and, secure in his knowledge of +Spanish and Mexican, he now advanced boldly through the more populous +and better lighted parts of the city. He even lingered a little while in +front of a café, where men were playing guitar and mandolin, and girls +were dancing with castanets. The sight of light and life pleased the boy +who had been so long in prison. These people were diverting themselves +and they smiled and laughed. They seemed to <a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>have kindly feelings for +everybody, but he remembered that cruel Spanish strain, often dormant, +but always there, and he hastened on.</p> + +<p>Three officers, their swords swinging at their thighs, came down the +narrow street abreast. At another time Ned would not have given way, and +even now it hurt him to do so, but prudence made him step from the +sidewalk. One of them laughed and applied an insulting epithet to the +"peon," but Ned bore it and continued, his sombrero pulled well down +over his eyes.</p> + +<p>His course now led him by the great palace of Yturbide, where he saw +many windows blazing with light. Several officers were entering and +chief among them he recognized General Martin Perfecto de Cos, the +brother-in-law of Santa Anna, whom Ned believed to be a treacherous and +cruel man. He hastened away from such an unhealthy proximity, and came +to La Viga.</p> + +<p>He saw a rude wharf along the canal and several boats, all with the +sails furled, except two. These two might be returning to the fresh +water lakes, and it was possible that he could secure passage. The +people of the bergantins were always humble peons and they cared little +for the intrigues of the capital.</p> + +<p>It was now about eleven o'clock and the night had lightened somewhat, a +fair moon showing. Ned could see distinctly the boats or bergantins as +the Mexicans called them. They were large, flat of bottom, shallow of +draft, and were propelled with both sail and oar. He was repulsed at the +first, where a surly Mexican of middle age told him with a curse that he +wanted no help, but at the next which had as a crew a man, a woman, +evidently his wife, and two half-grown boys, he was more fortunate. +Could he use an oar? He <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>could. Then he might come, because there was +little promise of wind, and the sails would be of no use. A strong arm +would help, as it was sixteen miles down La Viga to the Lake of +Xochimilco, on the shores of which they lived. The boys were tired and +sleepy, and he would serve very well in their stead.</p> + +<p>Ned took his place in the boat, truly thankful that in this crisis of +his life he knew how to row. He saw that his hosts, or rather those for +whom he worked, were an ordinary peon family, at least half Indian, +sluggish of mind and kind of heart. They had brought vegetables and +flowers to the city, and now they were thriftily returning in the night +to their home on the lake that Benito Igarritos and his sons might not +miss the next day from their work.</p> + +<p>Igarritos and Ned took the oars. The two boys stretched themselves on +the bottom of the boat and were asleep in an instant. Juana, the wife, +spread a serape over them, and then sat down in Turkish fashion in the +center of the bergantin, a great red and yellow reboso about her head +and shoulders. Sometimes she looked at her husband, and sometimes at the +strange boy. He had spoken to them in good Mexican, he dressed like a +Mexican and he walked like a Mexican, but she had not been deceived. She +knew that the Mexican part of him ended with the serape and sombrero. +She wondered why he had come, and why he was anxious to go to the Lake +of Xochimilco. But she reflected with the patience and resignation of an +oppressed race that it was no business of hers. He was a good youth. He +had spoken to her with compliments as one speaks to a lady of high +degree, and he bent manfully on the oar. He was welcome. But he must +have a name and she would know it.<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a></p> + +<p>"What do you call yourself?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"William," he replied. "I come from a far country, England, and it is my +pleasure to travel in new lands and see new peoples."</p> + +<p>"Weel-le-am," she said gravely, "you are far from your friends."</p> + +<p>Ned bent his head in assent. Her simple words made him feel that he was +indeed far from his own land and surrounded by a thousand perils. The +woman did not speak again and they moved on with an even stroke down the +canal which had an uniform width of about thirty feet. They were still +passing houses of stone and others of adobe, but before they had gone a +mile they were halted by a sharp command from the shore. An officer and +three soldiers, one of whom held a lantern, stood on the bank.</p> + +<p>Ned had expected that they would be stopped. These were revolutionary +times and people could not go in or out of the city unnoticed. +Particularly was La Viga guarded. He knew that his fate now rested with +Benito Igarritos and his wife Juana, but he trusted them. The officer +was peremptory, but the bergantin was most innocent in appearance. +Merely a humble vegetable boat returning down La Viga after a successful +day in the city. "Your family?" Ned heard the officer say to Benito, as +he flashed the lantern in turn upon every one.</p> + +<p>Taciturn, like most men of the oppressed races, Benito nodded, while his +wife sat silent in her great red and yellow reboso. Ned leaned +carelessly upon the oar, but his face was well hid by the sombrero, and +his heart was throbbing. When the light of the lantern passed over him +he felt as if he were seared by a flame, but the officer had no +suspicion, and with a gruff "Pass on" he withdrew from the bank with his +men. Benito <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>nodded to Ned and they pulled again into the center of La +Viga. Neither spoke. Nor did the woman.</p> + +<p>Ned bent on the oar with renewed strength. He felt that the greatest of +his dangers was now passed, and the relief of the spirit brought fresh +strength. The night lightened yet more. He saw on the low banks of the +canal green shrubs and many plants with spikes and thorns. It seemed to +him characteristic of Mexico that nearly everything should have its +spikes and thorns. Through the gray night showed the background of the +distant mountains.</p> + +<p>They overtook and passed two other bergantins returning from the city +and they met a third on its way thither with vegetables for the morning +market. Benito knew the owners and exchanged a brief word with everyone +as he passed. Ned pulled silently at his oar.</p> + +<p>When it was far past midnight Ned felt a cool breeze rising. Benito +began to unfurl the sail.</p> + +<p>"You have pulled well, young señor," he said to Ned, "but the oar is +needed no more. Now the wind will work for us. You will sleep and Carlos +will help me."</p> + +<p>He awoke the elder of the two boys. Ned was so tired that his arms +ached, and he was glad to rest. He wrapped his heavy serape about +himself, lay down on the bottom of the boat, pillowed his head on his +arm, and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>When he awoke, it was day and they were floating on a broad sheet of +shallow water, which he knew instinctively was Xochimilco. The wind was +still blowing, and one of the boys steered the bergantin. Benito, Juana +and the other boy sat up, with their faces turned toward the rosy +morning light, as if they were sun-worshipers. Ned also felt the +inspiration. The world was purer and <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>clearer here than in the city. In +the early morning the grayish, lonely tint which is the prevailing note +of Mexico, did not show. The vegetation was green, or it was tinted with +the glow of the sun. Near the lower shores he saw the Chiampas or +floating gardens.</p> + +<p>Benito turned the bergantin into a cove, and they went ashore. His +house, flat roofed and built of adobe, was near, standing in a field, +filled with spiky and thorny plants. They gave Ned a breakfast, the +ordinary peasant fare of the country, but in abundance, and then the +woman, who seemed to be in a sense the spokesman of the family, said +very gravely:</p> + +<p>"You are a good boy, Weel-le-am, and you rowed well. What more do you +wish of us?"</p> + +<p>Benito also bent his dark eyes upon him in serious inquiry. Ned was not +prepared for any reply. He did not know just what to do and on impulse +he answered:</p> + +<p>"I would stay with you a while and work. You will not find me lazy."</p> + +<p>He waved his hand toward the spiky and thorny field. Benito consulted +briefly with his wife and they agreed. For three or four days Ned toiled +in the hot field with Benito and the boys and at night he slept on the +floor of earth. The work was hard and it made his body sore. The food +was of the roughest, but these things were trifles compared with the +gift of freedom which he had received. How glorious it was to breathe +the fresh air and to have only the sky for a roof and the horizon for +walls!</p> + +<p>Benito and the older boy again took the bergantin loaded with vegetables +up La Viga to the city. They did not suggest that Ned go with them. He +remained working in the field, and trying to think of some way in which +he could obtain money for a journey. The wind <a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>was good, the bergantin +traveled fast, and Benito and his boy returned speedily. Benito greeted +Ned with a grave salute, but said nothing until an hour later, when they +sat by a fire outside the hut, eating the tortillas and frijoles which +Juana had cooked for them.</p> + +<p>"What is the news in the capital?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>Benito pondered his reply.</p> + +<p>"The President, the protector of us all, the great General Santa Anna, +grows more angry at the Texans, the wild Americans who have come into +the wilderness of the far North," he replied. "They talk of an army +going soon against them, and they talk, too, of a daring escape."</p> + +<p>He paused and contemplatively lit a cigarrito.</p> + +<p>"What was the escape?" asked Ned, the pulse in his wrist beginning to +beat hard.</p> + +<p>"One of the Texans, whom the great Santa Anna holds, but a boy they say +he was, though fierce, slipped between the bars of his window and is +gone. They wish to get him back; they are anxious to take him again for +reasons that are too much for Benito."</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will find him?"</p> + +<p>"How do I know? But they say he is yet in the capital, and there is a +reward of one hundred good Spanish dollars for the one who will bring +him in, or who will tell where he is to be found."</p> + +<p>Benito quietly puffed at his cigarrito and Juana, the cooking being +over, threw ashes on the coals.</p> + +<p>"If he is still hiding within reach of Santa Anna's arm," said Ned, +"somebody is sure to betray him for the reward."</p> + +<p>"I do not know," said Benito, tossing away the stub of his cigarrito. +Then he rose and began work in the field.<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a></p> + +<p>Ned went out with the elder boy, Carlos, and caught fish. They did not +return until twilight, and the others were already waiting placidly +while Juana prepared their food. None of them could read; they had +little; their life was of the most primitive, but Ned noticed that they +never spoke cross words to one another. They seemed to him to be +entirely content.</p> + +<p>After supper they sat on the ground in front of the adobe hut. The +evening was clear and already many stars were coming into a blue sky. +The surface of the lake was silver, rippling lightly. Benito smoked +luxuriously.</p> + +<p>"I saw this afternoon a friend of mine, Miguel Lampridi," he said after +a while. "He had just come down La Viga from the city."</p> + +<p>"What news did he bring?" asked Edward.</p> + +<p>"They are still searching everywhere for the young Texan who went +through the window—Eduardo Fulton is his name. Truly General Santa Anna +must have his reasons. The reward has been doubled."</p> + +<p>"Poor lad," spoke Juana, who spoke seldom. "It may be that the young +Texan is not as bad as they say. But it is much money that they offer. +Someone will find him."</p> + +<p>"It may be," said Benito. Then they sat a long time in silence. Juana +was the first to go into the house and to bed. After a while the two +boys followed. Another half hour passed, and Ned rose.</p> + +<p>"I go, Benito," he said. "You and your wife have been good to me, and I +cannot bring misfortune upon you. Why is it that you did not betray me? +The reward is large. You would have been a rich man here."</p> + +<p>Benito laughed low.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it would have been much money," he replied, "but <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>what use have I +for it? I have the wife I wish, and my sons are good sons. We do not go +hungry and we sleep well. So it will be all the days of our life. Two +hundred silver dollars would bring two hundred evil spirits among us. +Thy face, young Texan, is a good face. I think so and my wife, Juana, +who knows, says so. Yet it is best that you go. Others will soon learn, +and it is hard to live between close stone walls, when the free world is +so beautiful. I will call Juana, and she, too, will tell you farewell. +We would not drive you away, but since you choose to go, you shall not +leave without a kind word, which may go with you as a blessing on your +way."</p> + +<p>He called at the door of the adobe hut. Juana came forth. She was stout, +and she had never been beautiful, but her face seemed very pleasant to +Ned, as she asked the Holy Virgin to watch over him in his wanderings.</p> + +<p>"I have five silver dollars," said Benito. "They are yours. They will +make the way shorter."</p> + +<p>But Ned refused absolutely to accept them. He would not take the store +of people who had been so kind to him. Instead he offered the single +dollar that he had left for a heavy knife like a machete. Benito brought +it to him and reluctantly took the dollar.</p> + +<p>"Do not try the northern way, Texan," he said, "it is too far. Go over +the mountains to Vera Cruz, where you will find passage on a ship."</p> + +<p>It seemed good advice to Ned, and, although the change of plan was +abrupt, he promised to take it. Juana gave him a bag of food which he +fastened to his belt under his serape, and at midnight, with the +blessing of the Holy Virgin invoked for him again, he started. Fifty +yards away he turned and saw the man and woman standing before their +door and gazing at him. He waved <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>his hand and they returned the salute. +He walked on again a little mist before his eyes. They had been very +kind to him, these poor people of another race.</p> + +<p>He walked along the shore of the lake for a long time, and then bore in +toward the east, intending to go parallel with the great road to Vera +Cruz. His step was brisk and his heart high. He felt more courage and +hope than at any other time since he had dropped from the prison. He had +food for several days, and the possession of the heavy knife was a great +comfort. He could slash with it, as with a hatchet.</p> + +<p>He walked steadily for hours. The road was rough, but he was young and +strong. Once he crossed the pedregal, a region where an old lava flow +had cooled, and which presented to his feet numerous sharp edges like +those of a knife. He had good shoes with heavy soles and he knew their +value. On the long march before him they were worth as much as bread and +weapons, and he picked his way as carefully as a walker on a tight rope. +He was glad when he had crossed the dangerous pedregal and entered a +cypress forest, clustering on a low hill. Grass grew here also, and he +rested a while, wrapped in his serape against the coldness of the night.</p> + +<p>He saw behind and now below him the city, the towers of the churches +outlined against the sky. It was from some such place as this that +Cortez and his men, embarked upon the world's most marvelous adventure, +had looked down for the first time upon the ancient city of +Tenochtitlan. But it did not beckon to Ned. It seemed to him that a +mighty menace to his beloved Texas emanated from it. And he must warn +the Texans.</p> + +<p>He sprang to his feet and resumed his journey. At the eastern edge of +the hill he came upon a beautiful <a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>little spring, leaping from the rock. +He drank from it and went on. Lower down he saw some adobe huts among +the cypresses and cactus. No doubt their occupants were sound asleep, +but for safety's sake he curved away from them. Dogs barked, and when +they barked again the sound showed they were coming nearer. He ran, +rather from caution than fear, because if the dogs attacked he wished to +be so far away from the huts that their owners would not be awakened.</p> + +<p>Now he gave thanks that he had the machete. He thrust his hands under +the serape and clasped its strong handle. It was a truly formidable +weapon. He came to another little hill, also clothed in cypress, and +began to ascend it with decreased speed. The baying of the dogs was +growing much louder. They were coming fast. Near the summit he saw a +heap of rock, probably an Aztec tumulus, six or seven feet high. Ned +smiled with satisfaction. Pressed by danger his mind was quick. He was +where he would make his defense, and he did not think it would need to +be a long one.</p> + +<p>He settled himself well upon the top of the tumulus and drew his +machete. The dogs, six in number, coursed among the cypresses, and the +leader, foam upon his mouth, leaped straight at Ned. The boy +involuntarily drew up his feet a little, but he was not shaken from the +crouching position that was best suited to a blow. As the hound was in +mid-air he swung the machete with all his might and struck straight at +the ugly head. The heavy blade crashed through the skull and the dog +fell dead without a sound. Another which leaped also, but not so far, +received a deep cut across the shoulder. It fell back and retreated with +the others among the cypresses, where the unwounded dogs watched with +red eyes the formidable figure on the rocks.<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a></p> + +<p>But Ned did not remain on the tumulus more than a few minutes longer. +When he sprang down the dogs growled, but he shook the machete until it +glittered in the moonlight. With howls of terror they fled, while he +resumed his journey in the other direction.</p> + +<p>Near morning he came into country which seemed to him very wild. The +soil was hard and dry, but there was a dense growth of giant cactus, +with patches here and there of thorny bushes. Guarding well against the +spikes and thorns he crept into one of the thickets and lay down. He +must rest and sleep and already the touch of rose in the east was +heralding the dawn. Sleep by day and flight by night. He was satisfied +with himself. He had really succeeded better so far than he had hoped, +and, guarded by the spikes and thorns, slumber took him before dawn had +spread from east to west.<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE PALM</h3> + + +<p>Ned awoke about noon. The morning had been cold, but having been wrapped +very thoroughly in the great serape, he had remained snug and warm all +through his long sleep. He rose very cautiously, lest the spikes and +thorns should get him, and then went to a comparatively open place among +the giant cactus stems whence he could see over the hills and valleys. +He saw in the valley nearest him the flat roofs of a small village. +Columns of smoke rose from two or three of the adobe houses, and he +heard the faint, mellow voices of men singing in a field. Women by the +side of a small but swift stream were pounding and washing clothes after +the primitive fashion.</p> + +<p>Looking eastward he saw hills and a small mountain, but all the country +in that direction seemed to be extremely arid and repellent. The bare +basalt of volcanic origin showed everywhere, and, even at the distance, +he could see many deep quarries in the stone, where races older, +doubtless, than Aztecs and Toltecs, had obtained material for building. +It was always Ned's feeling when in Mexico that he was in an old, old +land, not ancient like England or France, but ancient as Egypt and +Babylon are ancient.</p> + +<p>He had calculated his course very carefully, and he knew that it would +lead through this desert, volcanic region, but on the whole he was not +sorry. Mexicans <a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>would be scarce in such a place. He remained a lad of +stout heart, confident that he would succeed.</p> + +<p>He ate sparingly and reckoned that with self-denial he had food enough +to last three days. He might obtain more on the road by some happy +chance or other. Then becoming impatient he started again, keeping well +among cypress and cactus, and laying his course toward the small +mountain that he saw ahead. He pressed forward the remainder of the +afternoon, coming once or twice near to the great road that led to Vera +Cruz. On one occasion he saw a small body of soldiers, deep in dust, +marching toward the port. All except the officers were peons and they +did not seem to Ned to show much martial ardor. But the officers on +horseback sternly bade them hasten. Ned, as usual, had much sympathy for +the poor peasants, but none for the officers who drove them on.</p> + +<p>About sunset he came to a little river, the Teotihuacan he learned +afterward, and he still saw before him the low mountain, the name of +which was Cerro Gordo. But his attention was drawn from the mountain by +two elevations rising almost at the bank of the river. They were +pyramidal in shape and truncated, and the larger, which Ned surmised to +be anywhere from 500 to 1000 feet square, seemed to rise to a height of +two or three hundred feet. The other was about two-thirds the size of +the larger, both in area and height.</p> + +<p>Although there was much vegetation clinging about them Ned knew that +these were pyramids erected by the hand of man. The feeling that this +was a land old like Egypt came back to him most powerfully in the +presence of these ancient monuments, which were in fact the Pyramid of +the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. There they stood, desolate and of +untold age. The <a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>setting sun poured an intense red light upon them, +until they stood out vivid and enlarged.</p> + +<p>So far as Ned knew, no other human being was anywhere near. The +loneliness in the presence of those tremendous ruins was overpowering. +He longed for human companionship. A peon, despite the danger otherwise, +would have been welcome. The whole land took on fantastic aspects. It +was not normal and healthy like the regions from which he came north of +the Rio Grande. Every nerve quivered.</p> + +<p>Then he did the bravest thing that one could do in such a position, +forcing his will to win a victory over weirdness and superstition. He +crossed the shallow river and advanced boldly toward the Pyramid of the +Sun. His reason told him that there were no such things as ghosts, but +it told him also that Mexican peons were likely to believe in them. +Hence it was probable that he would be safer about the Pyramid than far +from it. The country bade fair to become too rough for night traveling +and he would stop there a while, refreshing his strength.</p> + +<p>Although the sun was setting, the color of the skies promised a bright +night, and Ned approached boldly. As usual his superstitious fears +became weaker as he approached the objects that had called them into +existence. But before he reached the pyramids he found that he was among +many ruins. They stood all about him, stone fragments of ancient walls, +black basalt or lava, and, unless the twilight deceived him, there were +also traces of ancient streets. He saw, too, south of the larger +pyramids a great earthwork or citadel thirty or forty feet high +enclosing a square in which stood a small pyramid. The walls of the +earthwork were enormously thick, three hundred feet Ned reckoned, and +upon it at <a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>regular intervals stood other small pyramids fourteen in +number.</p> + +<p>Scattered all about, alone or in groups, were tumuli, and leading away +from the largest group of tumuli Ned saw a street or causeway, which, +passing by the Pyramid of the Sun, ended in front of the Pyramid of the +Moon, where it widened out into a great circle, with a tumulus standing +in the center.</p> + +<p>Despite all the courage that he had shown Ned felt a superstitious +thrill as he looked at these ancient and solemn ruins. He and they were +absolutely alone. Antiquity looked down upon him. The sun was gone now +and the moon was coming out, touching pyramids and tumuli, earthworks +and causeway with ghostly silver, deepening the effect of loneliness and +far-off time.</p> + +<p>While Ned was looking at these majestic remains he heard the sound of +voices, and then the rattle of weapons. He saw through the twilight the +glitter of uniforms and of swords and sabers. A company of Mexican +soldiers, at least a hundred in number, had come into the ancient city +and, no doubt, intended to camp there. Being so absorbed in the strange +ruins he had not noticed them sooner.</p> + +<p>As the men were already scattering in search of firewood or other needs +of the camp Ned saw that he was in great danger. He hid behind a +tumulus, half covered by the vegetation that had grown from its +crevices. He was glad that his serape was of a modest brown, instead of +the bright colors that most of the Mexicans loved. A soldier passed +within ten feet of him, but in the twilight did not notice him. It was +enough to make one quiver. Another passed a little later, and he, too, +failed to see the fugitive. But a third, if he came, would probably +<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>see, and leaving the tumulus Ned ran to another where he hid again for +a few minutes.</p> + +<p>It was the boy's object to make off through the neighboring forest after +passing from tumulus to tumulus, but he found soon that another body of +soldiers was camping upon the far side of the ruined city. He might or +might not run the gauntlet in the darkness. The probabilities were that +he would not, and hiding behind a tumulus almost midway between the two +forces he took thought of his next step.</p> + +<p>The Pyramid of the Moon rose almost directly before him, its truncated +mass spotted with foliage. Ned could see that its top was flat and +instantly he took a bold resolution. He made his way to the base of the +pyramid and began to climb slowly and with great care, always keeping +hidden in the vegetation. He was certain that no Mexican would follow +where he was going. They were on other business, and their incurious +minds bothered little about a city that was dead and gone for them.</p> + +<p>Up he went steadily over uneven terraces, and from below he heard the +chatter of the soldiers. A third fire had been lighted much nearer the +pyramid, and pausing a moment he looked down. Twenty or thirty soldiers +were scattered about this fire. Their muskets were stacked and they were +taking their ease. Discipline was relaxed. One man was strumming a +mandolin already, and two or three began to sing. But Ned saw sentinels +walking among the tumuli and along the Calle de los Muertos which led +from the Citadel to the southern front of the Pyramid of the Moon. He +was very glad now that he had sought this lofty refuge, and he renewed +his climb.</p> + +<p>As he drew himself upon another terrace he saw before him a dark opening +into the very mass of the <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>pyramid, which was built either of brick or +of stone, he could not tell which. He thought once of creeping in and of +hiding there, but after taking a couple of steps into the dark he drew +back. He was afraid of plunging into some well and he continued the +ascent. He was now about sixty or seventy feet up, but he was not yet +half way to the top of the pyramid.</p> + +<p>He was so slow and cautious that it took more than a half hour to reach +the crest, where he found himself upon a platform about twenty feet +square. It was an irregular surface with much vegetation growing from +the crevices, and here Ned felt quite safe. Near him and sixty feet +above him rose the crest of the Pyramid of the Sun. Beyond were ranges +of mountains silvery in the moonlight. He walked to the edge of the +pyramid and looked down. Four or five fires were burning now, and the +single mandolin had grown to four. Several guitars were being plucked +vigorously also, and the sound of the instruments joined with that of +the singing voices was very musical and pleasant. These Mexicans seemed +to be full of good nature, and so they were, with fire, food and music +in plenty, but now that he had been their prisoner Ned never forgot how +that dormant and Spanish strain of cruelty in their natures could flame +high under the influence of passion. The dungeons of Spanish Mexico and +of the new Mexico hid many dark stories, and he believed that he had +read what lay behind the smiling mask of Santa Anna's face. He would +suffer everything to keep out of Mexican hands.</p> + +<p>He crept away from the edge of the pyramid, and chose a place near its +center for his lofty camp. There was much vegetation growing out of the +ancient masonry, and he had a fear of scorpions and of more dangerous +reptiles, perhaps, but he thrashed up the grass and weeds <a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>well with his +machete. Then he sat down and ate his supper. Fortunately he had drunk +copiously at a brook before reaching the ruined city and he did not +suffer from thirst.</p> + +<p>Then, relying upon the isolation of his perch for safety, he wrapped +himself in the invaluable serape and lay down. The night was cold as +usual, and a sharp wind blew down from northern peaks and ranges, but +Ned, protected by vegetation and the heavy serape, had an extraordinary +feeling of warmth and snugness as he lay on the old pyramid. Held so +long within close walls the wild freedom and the fresh air that came +across seas and continents were very grateful to him. Even the presence +of an enemy, so near, and yet, as it seemed, so little dangerous, added +a certain piquancy to his position. The pleasant tinkle of the mandolins +was wafted upward to him, and it was wonderfully soothing, telling of +peace and rest. He inhaled the aromatic odors of strange and flowering +southern plants, and his senses were steeped in a sort of luxurious +calm.</p> + +<p>He fell asleep to the music of the mandolin, and when he awoke such a +bright sun was shining in his eyes that he was glad to close and open +them again several times before they would tolerate the brilliant +Mexican sky that bent above him. He lay still about five minutes, +listening, and then, to his disappointment, he heard sounds below. He +judged by the position of the sun that it must be at least 10 o'clock in +the morning, and the Mexicans should be gone. Yet they were undoubtedly +still there. He crept to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. There +was the Mexican force, scattered about the ruined city, but camped in +greatest numbers along the Calle de los Muertos. Their numbers had been +increased by two hundred or three hundred, and, as Ned <a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>saw no signs of +breaking camp, he judged that this was a rendezvous, and that there were +more troops yet to come.</p> + +<p>He saw at once that his problem was increased greatly. He could not +dream of leaving the summit of the pyramid before the next night came. +Food he had in plenty but no water, and already as the hot sun's rays +approached the vertical he felt a great thirst. Imagination and the +knowledge that he could not allay it for the present at least, increased +the burning sensation in his throat and the dryness of his lips. He +caught a view of the current of the Teotihuacan, the little river by the +side of which the pyramids stand, and the sight increased his torments. +He had never seen before such fresh and pure water. It sparkled and +raced in the sun before him and it looked divine. And yet it was as far +out of his reach as if it were all the way across Mexico.</p> + +<p>Ned went back to the place where he had slept and sat down. The sight of +the river had tortured him, and he felt better when it was shut from +view. Now he resolved to see what could be accomplished by will. He +undertook to forget the water, and at times he succeeded, but, despite +his greatest efforts, the Teotihuacan would come back now and then with +the most astonishing vividness. Although he was lying on the serape with +bushes and shrubs all around, there was the river visible to the eye of +imagination, brighter, fresher and more sparkling than ever. He could +not control his fancy, but will ruled the body and he did not stir from +his place for hours. The sun beat fiercely upon him and the thin bushes +and shrubs afforded little protection. Toward the northern edge of the +pyramid a small palm was growing out of a large crevice in the masonry, +and <a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>it might have given some shade, but it was in such an exposed +position that Ned did not dare to use it for fear of discovery.</p> + +<p>How he hated that sun! It seemed to be drying him up, through and +through, causing the very blood in his veins to evaporate. Why should +such hot days follow such cold nights? When his tongue touched the roof +of his mouth it felt rough and hot like a coal. Perhaps the Mexicans had +gone away. It seemed to him that he had not heard any sounds from them +for some time. He went to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. No, +the Mexicans were yet there, and the sight of them filled him with a +fierce anger. They were enjoying themselves. Tents were scattered about +and shelters of boughs had been erected. Many soldiers were taking their +siestas. Nobody was working and there was not the slightest sign that +they intended to depart that day. Ned's hot tongue clove to the roof of +his hot mouth, but he obstinately refused to look at the river. He did +not think that he could stand another sight of it.</p> + +<p>He went back to his little lair among the shrubs and prayed for night, +blessed night with its cooling touch. He had a horrible apprehension +which amounted to conviction that the troops would stay there for +several days, awaiting some maneuver or perhaps making it a rallying +point, and that in his hiding place on the pyramid he was in as bad case +as a sailor cast on a desert island without water. Nothing seemed left +for him but to steal down and try to escape in darkness. Thus night +would be doubly welcome and he prayed for it again and with renewed +fervor.</p> + +<p>Some hours are ten times as long as others, but the longest of all come +to an end at last. The sun began to droop in the west. The vertical +glare was gone, yet <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>the masonry where it was bare was yet hot to the +touch. It, too, cooled soon. The sun dropped wholly down and darkness +came over all the earth. Then the fever in Ned's throat died down +somewhat, and the blood began to flow again in his veins. It seemed as +if a dew touched his face, delicious, soothing like drops of rain in the +burning desert.</p> + +<p>He rose and stretched his stiffened limbs. Overhead spread the dark, +cool sky, and the bright stars were coming out, one by one. After the +first few moments of relief he heard the cry for water again. Despite +the night and the coming chill he knew that it would make itself heard +often and often, and he began to study the possibilities of a descent. +But he saw the fires spread out again on all sides of the Pyramid of the +Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon and flame thickly along the Calle de los +Muertos. It did not seem that he could pass even on the blackest night.</p> + +<p>He moved over toward the northern edge of the pyramid, and stood under +the palm which he had noticed in the day. One of its broad green leaves, +swayed by the wind, touched him softly on the face. He looked up. It was +a friendly palm. Its very touch was kindly. He stroked the blades and +then he examined the stem or body minutely. He was a studious boy who +had read much. He had heard of the water palm of the Hawaiian and other +South Sea Islands. Might not the water palm be found in Mexico also? In +any event, he had never heard of a palm that was poisonous. They were +always givers of life.</p> + +<p>He raised the machete and slashed the stem of the palm at a point about +five feet from the ground. The wound gaped open and a stream of water +gushed forth. Ned applied his mouth at once and drank long and <a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>deeply. +It was not poison, nor was it any bitter juice. This was the genuine +water palm, yielding up the living fluid of its arteries for him. He +drank as long as the gash gave forth water and then sat down under the +blades of the palm, content and thankful, realizing that there was +always hope in the very heart of despair.</p> + +<p>Ned sat a long time, feeling the new life rushing into his veins. He ate +from the food of which he had a plentiful supply and once more gave +thanks to Benito and Juana. Then he stood up and the broad leaves of the +palm waving gently in the wind touched his face again. He reached up his +hand and stroked them. The palm was to him almost a thing of life. He +went to the edge of the pyramid and strove for a sight of the +Teotihuacan. He caught at last a flash of its waters in the moonlight +and he shook his fist in defiance. "I can do without you now," was his +thought. "The sight of you does not torture me."</p> + +<p>He returned to his usual place of sleep. As long as he had a water +supply it was foolish of him to attempt an escape through the Mexican +lines. He was familiar now with every square inch of the twenty feet +square of the crowning platform of the pyramid. It seemed that he had +been there for weeks and he began to have the feeling that it was home. +Once more, hunger and thirst satisfied, he sought sleep and slept with +the deep peace of youth.</p> + +<p>Ned awoke from his second night on the pyramid before dawn was complete. +There was silvery light in the east over the desolate ranges, but the +west was yet a dark blur. He looked down and saw that nearly all the +soldiers were still asleep, while those who did not sleep were as +motionless as if they were. In the half <a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>light the lost city, the tumuli +and the ruins of the old buildings took on strange and fantastic shapes. +The feeling that he was among the dead, the dead for many centuries, +returned to Ned with overpowering effect. He thought of Aztec and Toltec +and people back of all these who had built this city. The Mexicans below +were intruders like himself.</p> + +<p>He shook himself as if by physical effort he could get rid of the +feeling and then went to the water palm in which he cut another gash. +Again the fountain gushed forth and he drank. But the palm was a small +one. There was too little soil among the crevices of the ancient masonry +to support a larger growth, and he saw that it could not satisfy his +thirst more than a day or two. But anything might happen in that time, +and his courage suffered no decrease.</p> + +<p>He retreated toward the center of the platform as the day was now coming +fast after the southern fashion. The whole circle of the heavens seemed +to burst into a blaze of light, and, in a few hours, the sun was hotter +than it had been before. Many sounds now came from the camp below, but +Ned, although he often looked eagerly, saw no signs of coming departure. +Shortly after noon there was a great blare of trumpets, and a detachment +of lancers rode up. They were large men, mounted finely, and the heads +of their long lances glittered as they brandished them in the sun.</p> + +<p>Ned's attention was drawn to the leader of this new detachment, an +officer in most brilliant uniform, and he started. He knew him at once. +It was the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, +a man in whom that old, cruel strain was very strong, and whom Ned +believed to be charged with the crushing of the Texans. Then he was +right in his surmise that Mexican <a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>forces for the campaign were +gathering here on the banks of the Teotihuacan!</p> + +<p>More troops came in the afternoon, and the boy no longer had the +slightest doubt. The camp spread out further and further, and assumed +military form. Not so many men were lounging about and the tinkling of +the guitars ceased. Ned could see General de Cos plainly, a heavy man of +dark face, autocratic and domineering in manner.</p> + +<p>Night came and the boy went once more to the palm. When he struck with +his machete the water came forth, but in a much weaker stream. In +reality he was yet thirsty after he drank the full flow, but he would +not cut into the stem again. He knew that he must practice the severest +economy with his water supply.</p> + +<p>The third night came and as soon as he was safe from observation Ned +slashed the palm once more. The day had been very hot and his thirst was +great. The water come forth but with only half the vigor of the morning, +which itself had shown a decrease. The poor palm, too, trembled and +shook when he cut into it with the machete and the blades drooped. Ned +drank what it supplied and then turned away regretfully. It was a kindly +palm, a gift to man, and yet he must slay it to save his own life.</p> + +<p>He lay down again, but he did not sleep as well as usual. His nerves +were upset by the long delay, and the decline of the palm, and he was +not refreshed when he awoke in the morning. His head felt hot and his +limbs were heavy.</p> + +<p>As it was not yet bright daylight he went to the palm and cut into it. +The flow of water was only a few mouthfuls. Cautious and doubly +economical now he pursed his lips that not a single drop might escape. +Then, after <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>eating a little food he lay down, protected as much as +possible by the scanty bushes, and also sheltering himself at times from +the sun with the serape which he drew over his head. He felt +instinctively and with the power of conviction that the Mexicans would +not depart. The coming of Cos had taken the hope from him. Cos! He hated +the short, brusque name.</p> + +<p>It was another day of dazzling brightness and intense heat. Certainly +this was a vertical sun. It shot rays like burning arrows straight down. +The blood in his veins seemed to dry up again. His head grew hotter. +Black specks in myriads danced before his eyes. He looked longingly at +his palm. When he first saw it, it stood up, vital and strong. Now it +seemed to droop and waver like himself. But it would have enough life to +fill its veins and arteries through the day and at night he would have +another good drink.</p> + +<p>He scarcely stirred throughout the day but spent most of the time +looking at the palm. He paid no attention to the sounds below, sure that +the Mexicans would not go away. He fell at times into a sort of fevered +stupor, and he aroused himself from the last one to find that night had +come. He took his machete, went to the tree, and cut quickly, because +his thirst was very great.</p> + +<p>The gash opened, but not a drop came forth.<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>IN THE PYRAMID</h3> + + +<p>Ned stared, half in amazement, half in despair. Yet he had known all the +while that this would happen. The palm had emptied every drop from its +veins and arteries for him, giving life for life. He had cut so deeply +and so often that it would wither now and die. He turned away in +sadness, and suddenly a bitter, burning thirst assailed him. It seemed +to have leaped into new life with the knowledge that there was nothing +now to assuage it.</p> + +<p>The boy sat down on a small projection of brickwork, and considered his +case. He had been more than twelve hours without water under a fierce +sun. His thirst would not increase so fast at night, but it would +increase, nevertheless, and the Mexican force might linger below a week. +Certainly its camp was of such a character that it would remain at least +two or three days, and any risk was preferable to a death of thirst. He +could wait no longer.</p> + +<p>Now chance which had been so cruel flung a straw his way. The night was +darker than usual. The moon and stars did not come out, and troops of +clouds stalked up from the southwest. Ned knew that it was a land of +little rain, and for a few moments he had a wild hope that in some +manner he might catch enough water for his use on the crest of the +pyramid. But reason soon drove the hope away. There was no depression +which <a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>would hold water, and he resolved instead to make the descent +under cover of the darkness.</p> + +<p>When he had come to this resolution the thirst was not so fierce. +Indecision being over, both his physical and mental courage rose. He ate +and had left enough food to last for two days, which he fastened +securely in a pack to his body. Then, machete in hand, he looked over +the edge of the pyramid. There was some noise in the camp, but most of +the soldiers seemed to be at rest. Lights flickered here and there, and +the ruined city, showing only in fragments through the darkness, looked +more ghostly and mournful than ever.</p> + +<p>Ned waited a long time. Drops of rain began to fall, and the wind moaned +with an almost human note around the pyramids and old walls. The rain +increased a little, but it never fell in abundance. It and the wind were +very cold, and Ned drew the serape very closely about his body. He was +anxious now for time to pass fast, because he was beginning to feel +afraid, not of the Mexicans, but of the dead city, and the ghosts of +those vanished long ago, although he knew there were no such things. But +the human note in the wind grew until it was like a shriek, and this +shriek was to him a warning that he must go. The pyramid had been his +salvation, but his time there was at an end.</p> + +<p>He drew the sombrero far down over his eyes, and once more calculated +the chances. He spoke Spanish well, and he spoke its Mexican variations +equally well. If they saw him he might be able to pass for a Mexican. He +must succeed.</p> + +<p>He lowered himself from the crowning platform of the pyramid and began +the descent. The cold rain pattered upon him and his body was weak from +privation, but his spirit was strong, and with steady hand and <a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>foot he +went down. He paused several times to look at the camp. Five or six +fires still burned there, but they flickered wildly in the wind and +rain. He judged that the sentinels would not watch well. For what must +they watch, there in the heart of their own country?</p> + +<p>But as he approached the bottom he saw two of these sentinels walking +back and forth, their bayonets reflecting a flicker now and then from +the flames. He saw also five or six large white tents, and he was quite +sure that the largest sheltered at that instant Martin Perfecto de Cos, +whom he wished very much to avoid. He intended, when he reached the +bottom, to keep as close as he could in the shadow of the pyramid, and +then seek the other side of the Teotihuacan.</p> + +<p>The rain was still blown about by the wind, and it was very cold. But +the influence of both wind and rain were inspiring to the boy. They were +a tonic to body and mind, and he grew bolder as he came nearer to the +ground. At last he stepped upon the level earth, and stood for a little +while black and motionless against the pyramid.</p> + +<p>He was aware that the cordon of Cos' army completely enclosed the +Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Calle de los Muertos +and the other principal ruins, and he now heard the sentinels much more +distinctly as they walked back and forth. Straining his eyes he could +see two of them, short, sallow men, musket on shoulder. The beat of one +lay directly across the path that he had chosen, reaching from the far +edge of the Pyramid of the Moon to a point about twenty yards away. He +believed that when this sentinel marched to the other end of his beat he +could slip by. At any rate, if he were seen he might make a successful +flight, and <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>he slipped his hand to the handle of the machete in his +belt in order that he might be ready for resistance.</p> + +<p>He saw presently two or three dark heaps near him, and as his eyes grew +used to the darkness he made out camp equipage and supplies. The +smallest heap which was also nearest to him, consisted of large metal +canteens for water, such as soldiers of that day carried. His thirst +suddenly made itself manifest again. Doubtless those canteens contained +water, and his body which wanted water so badly cried aloud for it.</p> + +<p>It was not recklessness but a burning thirst which caused him to creep +toward the little heap of canteens at the imminent risk of being +discovered. When he reached them he lay flat on the ground and took one +from the top. He knew by its lack of weight that it was empty, and he +laid it aside. Then he paused for a glance at the sentinel who was still +walking steadily on his beat, and whom he now saw very clearly.</p> + +<p>He was disappointed to find the first canteen empty, but he was +convinced that some in that heap must contain water, and he would +persevere. The second and third failed him in like manner, but he would +yet persevere. The fourth was heavy, and when he shook it gently he +heard the water plash. That thirst at once became burning and +uncontrollable. The cry of his body to be assuaged overpowered his will, +and while deadly danger menaced he unscrewed the little mouthpiece and +drank deep and long. It was not cold and perhaps a little mud lurked at +the bottom of the canteen, but like the gift of the water palm it +brought fresh life and strength.</p> + +<p>He put down the canteen half empty and took another from the heap. It, +too, proved to be filled, and he hung it around neck and shoulder by the +strap provided for <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>that purpose. He could have found no more precious +object for the dry regions through which he intended to make his +journey.</p> + +<p>Ned went back toward the pyramid, but his joy over finding the water +made him a little careless. Great fragments of stone lay about +everywhere, and his foot slipped on a piece of black basalt. He fell and +the metal of his canteen rang against the stone.</p> + +<p>He sprang to his feet instantly, but the sentinel had taken the alarm +and as Ned's sombrero had slipped back he saw the fair face. He knew +that it was the face of no Mexican, and shouting "Gringo!" he fired +straight at him. Luckily, haste and the darkness prevented good aim, +although he was at short range. But Ned felt the swish of the bullet so +close to him that every nerve jumped, and he jumped with them. The first +jump took him half way to the pyramid and the next landed him at its +base. There the second nearest sentinel fired at him and he heard the +bullet flatten itself against the stone.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for Ned, the silent, thoughtful lad, he had often tried to +imagine what he would do in critical junctures, and now, despite the +terrible crisis, he was able to take control of his nerves. He +remembered to pull the sombrero down over his face and to keep close to +the pyramid. The shots had caused an uproar in the camp. Men were +running about, lights were springing up, and officers were shouting +orders. A single fugitive among so many confused pursuers might yet pass +for one of them. Chance which had been against him was now for him. The +wind suddenly took a wilder sweep and the rain lashed harder. He left +the pyramid and darted behind a tumulus. He stood there quietly and +heard the uproar of the hunt at other points. Presently <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>he slouched +away in the manner of a careless peon, with his serape drawn about chin +as well as body, for which the wind and the rain were a fitting excuse. +He also shouted and chattered occasionally with others, and none knew +that he was the Gringo at whom the two sentinels had fired.</p> + +<p>Ned thought to make a way through the lines, but so many lights now +flared up on all the outskirts that he saw it was impossible.</p> + +<p>He turned back again to the side of the pyramid, where he was almost +hidden by débris and foliage. Two or three false alarms had been sounded +on the other side of the great structure, and practically the whole mob +of searchers was drawn away in that direction. He formed a quick +decision. He would reascend the pyramid. And he would take with him a +water supply in the canteen that he still carried over his shoulder. He +began to climb, and he noticed as he went up that it was almost the +exact point at which he had ascended before.</p> + +<p>He heard the tumult below, caught glimpses of lights flashing here and +there, and he ascended eagerly. He was almost half way up when he came +face to face with a Mexican soldier who carried in his hand a small +lantern. The soldier, the only one perhaps who had suspected the pyramid +as a place of refuge, had come at another angle, and there on a terrace +the two had met.</p> + +<p>They were not more than three feet apart. Ned had put his machete back +in his belt that he might climb with more ease, but he hit out at once +with his clenched right hand. The blow took the Mexican full between the +eyes and toppling over backward he dropped the lantern. Then he slid on +the narrow terrace and with an instinctive cry of terror fell. Ned was +seized with horror and <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>took a hasty glance downward. He was relieved +when he saw that the man, grasping at projections and outgrowing +vegetation, was sliding rather than falling, and would not be hurt +seriously.</p> + +<p>He turned to his own case. There lay the lantern on the stone, still +glowing. Below rose the tumult, men coming to his side of the pyramid, +drawn by his cry. He could no longer reach the top of the pyramid +without being seen, but he knew another way. He snatched up the lantern, +tucked it under his serape and made for the opening which he had noticed +in the side of the pyramid at his first ascent. It was scarcely ten feet +away, and he boldly stepped in, a thing that he would never have dared +to do had it not been for the happy chance of the lantern.</p> + +<p>His foot rested on solid stone, and he stood wholly in the dark. Yet the +uproar came clearly to his ears. It was a certainty now that more +soldiers would ascend the pyramid looking for him, but he believed that +ignorance and superstition would keep them from entering it.</p> + +<p>The air that came to his nostrils out of the unknown dark was cold and +clean, but he did not yet dare to take out his lantern. He felt +cautiously in front of him with one foot and touched a stone step below. +He also touched narrow walls with his outstretched hand. He descended to +the step, and then, feeling sure that the light of his lantern could not +be seen from without, he took it from under his serape and held it as +far in front of him as he could. A narrow flight of stone steps led +onward and downward further than he could see, and, driven by imminent +necessity, he walked boldly down them.</p> + +<p>The way was rough with the decay of time from <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>which stone itself cannot +escape, but he always steadied himself with one hand against the wall. +The stone was very cold and Ned had the feeling that he was in a tomb. +Once more he had that overwhelming sense of old, old things, of things +as old as Egypt. At another time, despite every effort of reason, he +would have thrilled with superstitious terror, but now it was for his +life, and down he went, step by step.</p> + +<p>The air remained pure like that of great caves in the States, and Ned +did not stop until a black void seemed to open almost before him when he +drew back in affright. Calming himself he held up the lantern and looked +at the void. It was a deep and square well, its walls faced as far as he +could see with squared stones. His lantern revealed no water in the +depths and he fancied that it had something to do with ceremonials, +perhaps with sacrifice. There was a way around the well, but it was +narrow and he chose to go no further. Instead he crouched on the steps +where he was safe from a fall, and put the lantern beside him.</p> + +<p>It was an oil lamp. Had he possessed any means of relighting it he would +have blown it out, and sought sleep in the dark, but once out, out +always, and he moved it into a little niche of the wall, where no sudden +draught could get at it, and where its hidden light would be no beacon +to any daring Mexican who might descend the stairway.</p> + +<p>The sense of vast antiquity was still with the boy, but it did not +oppress him now as it might have done at another time. His feeling of +relief, caused by his escape from the Mexicans, was so great that it +created, for the time at least, a certain buoyancy of the mind. The +unknown depths of the ancient pyramid were at once a shelter and a +protection. He folded the serape, in <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>order to make as soft a couch as +possible, and soon fell asleep.</p> + +<p>When Ned awoke he was lying in exactly the same position on the steps, +and the lantern was still burning in the niche. He had no idea how long +he had slept, or whether it was day or night, but he did not care. He +took the full canteen and drank. It was an unusually large canteen and +it contained enough, if he used economy, to last him two days. The cool +recesses of the pyramid's interior did not engender thirst like its +blazing summit. Then he ate, but whether breakfast, dinner or supper he +did not know, nor did he care.</p> + +<p>He was tempted to go up to the entrance of the stairway and see what was +going forward in the camp, but he resisted the impulse. For the sake of +caution he triumphed over curiosity, and remained a long time on the +steps, beside the niche in which his lamp sat. Then he began to +calculate how much longer the oil would last, and he placed the time at +about thirty hours. Surely some decisive event would happen in his favor +before the last drop was burned.</p> + +<p>After an interminable time the air on the stairway seemed to him to be +growing colder, and he inferred that night had come. Taking the lantern +he climbed the steps and peered out at the ancient doorway. He saw +lights below, and he could discern dimly the shapes of tents. +Disappointed, he returned to his place on the steps, and, after another +long wait, fell asleep again. When he awoke he calculated by the amount +of oil left in the lamp that at least twelve hours had passed since his +previous awakening.</p> + +<p>Once more he made a great effort of the will in order to achieve a +conquest over curiosity and impatience. He would not return to the +entrance until the oil had only <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>an hour more to burn. Necessity had +proved so stern a master that he was able to keep his resolution. Many +long, long hours passed and sometimes he dozed or slept, but he did not +go to the entrance. The oil at last marked the final hour, and, taking +up the lamp, he went back to the entrance.</p> + +<p>Ned looked out and then gave a cry of joy. It was broad daylight, but +the army was gone, soldiers, horses, tents, everything. The Calle de los +Muertos was once more what its name meant. Silence and desolation had +regained the ruined city. He blew out the lantern and set it down at the +opening. It had served him well. Then he went out and climbed again to +the summit of the pyramid, from which he examined the valley long and +well.</p> + +<p>He saw no signs of human life anywhere. Traces of the camp remained in +abundance, but the army itself had vanished. There were no lurking camp +followers to make him trouble. He descended to the ground, and stood a +while, drawing in deep draughts of the fresh daylight air. It had not +been oppressive in the pyramid, but there is nothing like the open sky +above. He went down to the Teotihuacan, and, choosing a safe place, +bathed in its waters. Then he resumed the flight across the hills which +had been delayed so long. He knew by the sun that it was morning not far +advanced, and he wished to travel many miles before night. He saw +abundant evidences on the great highway that the army was marching +toward Vera Cruz, and as before he traveled on a line parallel with it, +but at least a mile away. He passed two sheep herders, but he displayed +the machete, and whistling carelessly went on. They did not follow, and +he was sure that they took him for a bandit whom it would be wise to let +alone.<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></p> + +<p>Ned wandered on for two or three days. In one of his turnings among the +mountains he lost the Vera Cruz highway, and came out again upon a wide, +sandy plain, dotted with scattered cactus. As he was crossing it a +Norther came up, and blew with great fierceness. Sand was driven into +his face with such force that it stung like shot. The cold became +intense, and if it had not been for the serape he might have perished.</p> + +<p>The storm was still blowing when he reached the far edge of the plain, +and came into extremely rough country, with patches of low, thorny +forest. Here he found a dilapidated bark hut, evidently used at times by +Mexican herdsmen, and, thankful for such shelter, he crept into it and +fell asleep. When he awoke he felt very weak. He had eaten the last of +his food seven or eight hours before.</p> + +<p>Driven by desperate need, Ned ate wild fruits, and, for a while, was +refreshed, but that night he fell ill, suffering greatly from internal +pains. He was afraid at first that he had poisoned himself, and he knew +that he had eaten something not used for food, but by morning the pains +were gone, although he was much weaker than before.</p> + +<p>Now he felt for the first time the pangs of despair. It was a full two +hundred miles yet to Vera Cruz, and he was in the heart of a hostile +country. He did not have the strength of a child left, and the chance +that he could deliver his message of warning to the Texans seemed to +have gone. He rambled about all that day, light-headed at times, and, +toward evening, he fell into a stupor. Unable to go any further, he sank +down beside a rock, and lapsed wholly into unconsciousness.<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE MARCH WITH COS</h3> + + +<p>When Ned came to himself he was surrounded by men, and at first he +thought he was back among his Texans. He was in a vague and dreamy state +that was not unpleasant, although he was conscious of a great weakness. +He knew that he was lying on the ground upon his own serape, and that +another serape was spread over him. In a little while mind and vision +grew more definite and he saw that the soldiers were Mexicans. After his +long endurance and ingenuity on the pyramid he had practically walked +into their hands. But such was his apathy of mind and body that it +roused no great emotion in him. He closed his eyes for a little while, +and then fresh strength poured into his veins. When he opened his eyes +again his interest in life and his situation was of normal keenness.</p> + +<p>They were in a little valley and the soldiers, lancers, seemed to number +about two hundred. Their horses were tethered near them, and their +lances were stacked in glittering pyramids. It was early morning. +Several men were cooking breakfast for the whole troop at large fires. +The far edge of the little valley was very rocky and Ned inferred that +he had fallen there by a big outcropping of stone, and that the +soldiers, looking around for firewood, had found him. But they had not +treated him badly, as the serape spread over his body indicated.</p> + +<p>Feeling so much better he sat up. The odor of the cooking <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>made him +realize again that he was fiercely hungry. A Mexican brought him a large +tin plate filled with beans and meat chopped small. He ate slowly +although only an effort of the will kept him from devouring the food +like a famished wild animal. The Mexican who had brought him the plate +stood by and watched him, not without a certain sympathy on his face. +Several more Mexicans approached and looked at him with keen curiosity, +but they did not say or do anything that would offend the young Gringo. +Knowing that it was now useless, Ned no longer made any attempt to +conceal his nationality which was evident to all. He finished the plate +and handed it back to the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"Many thanks," he said in the native tongue.</p> + +<p>"More?" said the soldier, looking at him with understanding.</p> + +<p>"I could, without hurting myself," replied Ned with a smile.</p> + +<p>A second plate and a cup of water were brought to him. He ate and drank +in leisurely fashion, and began to feel a certain relief. He imagined +that he would be returned to imprisonment in the City of Mexico with Mr. +Austin. At any rate, he had made a good attempt and another chance might +come.</p> + +<p>An officer dressed in a very neat and handsome uniform approached and +the other Mexicans fell back respectfully. This man was young, not more +than thirty-two or three, rather tall, fairer than most of his race, and +with a singularly open and attractive face. His dress was that of a +colonel, and the boy knew at once that he was commander of the troop. He +smiled down at Ned, and Ned, despite himself, smiled back.</p> + +<p>"I know you," said he, speaking perfect English. "You are Edward Fulton, +the lad who was held in the <a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>prison with Stephen Austin, the Texan, the +lad who starved himself that he might slip between the bars of his +window. There was much talk at the capital about it, and you were not +without admirers. You showed so much courage and resource that you +deserved to escape, but we could not let you go."</p> + +<p>"I got lost and I was without food."</p> + +<p>"Rather serious obstacles. They have held many a boy and man. But since +I know so much about you and you know nothing about me I will tell you +who I am. My name is Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, and I am a colonel in the +service of Mexico and of our great Santa Anna. I was educated in that +United States of yours, Texan, though you call yourself. That is why I +speak the English that you hear. I have friends, too, among your +people."</p> + +<p>"Well, Colonel Almonte," said Ned, "since I had to be recaptured, I'm +glad I fell into your hands."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could keep you in them," he said, "but I am under the command +of General Cos, and I have to rejoin the main force which he leads."</p> + +<p>Ned understood. Cos was a man of another type. But he resolved not to +anticipate trouble. Almonte again looked at him curiously, and then +leaning forward said confidentially:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, was it you who knocked our soldier down on the side of the +pyramid and took his lantern? If it is true, it can't do you any harm to +acknowledge it now."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Ned with some pride, "it was I. I came upon him suddenly +and I was as much surprised as he. I hit out on the impulse of the +moment, and the blow landed in exactly the right place. I hope he was +not much hurt."</p> + +<p>"He wasn't," replied Almonte, laughing with deep unction. "He <a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>was +pretty well covered with bruises and scratches, but he forgot them in +the awful fright you gave him. He took you to be some demon, some +mysterious Aztec god out of a far and dim past, who had smitten him with +lightning, because he presumed to climb upon a sacred pyramid. But some +of us who were not so credulous, perhaps because we did not have his +bruises and scratches, searched all the sides and the top of the +pyramid. We failed to find you and we knew that you could not get +through our lines. Now, will you tell me where you were?"</p> + +<p>His tone was so intent and eager that Ned could not keep from laughing. +Besides, the boy had a certain pride in the skill, daring and resource +with which he had eluded the men of Cos.</p> + +<p>"Did you look inside the pyramid?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Inside it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, inside. There's an opening sixty or seventy feet above the ground. +I took your man's lantern when he dropped it and entered. There's a +stairway, leading down to a deep, square well, and there's something +beyond the well, although I don't know what. I stayed in there until +your army went away. Before that I had been for two or three days on top +of the pyramid, where a little water palm gave up its life to save me."</p> + +<p>Almonte regarded him with wonder.</p> + +<p>"I am not superstitious myself—that is, not unnecessarily so," he said, +"but yours must be a lucky star. After all that, you should have +escaped, and your present capture must be a mere delay. You will slip +from us again."</p> + +<p>"I shall certainly try," said Ned hopefully.</p> + +<p>"It is bound to come true," said Almonte. "All the omens point that +way."<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a></p> + +<p>Ned smiled. Almonte, young, brilliant and generous, had made him almost +feel as if he were a guest and not a prisoner. He did not discern in him +that underlying strain of Spanish cruelty, which passion might bring to +the surface at any moment. It might be due to his youth, or it might be +due to his American education.</p> + +<p>"We march in an hour," said Almonte. "We are to rejoin General Cos on +the Vera Cruz road, but that will not occur for two or three days. +Meanwhile, as the way is rough and you are pretty weak, you can ride on +a burro. Sorry I can't get you a horse, but our lancers have none to +spare. Still, you'll find a burro surer of foot and more comfortable +over the basalt and lava."</p> + +<p>Ned thanked him for his courtesy. He liked this cheerful Mexican better +than ever. In another hour they started, turning into the Vera Cruz +road, and following often the path by which great Cortez had come. Ned's +burro, little but made of steel, picked the way with unerring foot and +never stumbled once. He rode in the midst of the lancers, who were full +that day of the Latin joy that came with the sun and the great panorama +of the Mexican uplands. Now and then they sang songs of the South, +sometimes Spanish and sometimes Indian, Aztec, or perhaps even Toltec. +Ned felt the influence. Once or twice he joined in the air without +knowing the words, and he would have been happy had it not been for his +thoughts of the Texans.</p> + +<p>The courtesy and kindliness of Almonte must not blind him to the fact +that he was the bearer of a message to his own people. That message +could not be more important because its outcome was life and death, and +he watched all the time for a chance to escape. None occurred. The +lancers were always about him, and even if there were an opening his +burro, sure of foot though <a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>he might be, could not escape their strong +horses. So he bided his time, for the present, and shared in the gayety +of the men who rode through the crisp and brilliant southern air. All +the time they ascended, and Ned saw far below him valley after valley, +much the same, at the distance, as they were when Cortez and his men +first gazed upon them more than three hundred years before. Yet the look +of the land was always different from that to which he was used north of +the Rio Grande. Here as in the great valley of Tenochtitlan it seemed +ancient, old, old beyond all computation. Here and there, were ruins of +which the Mexican peons knew nothing. Sometimes these ruins stood out on +a bare slope, and again they were almost hidden by vegetation. In the +valleys Ned saw peons at work with a crooked stick as a plow, and once +or twice they passed swarthy Aztec women cooking tortillas and frijoles +in the open air.</p> + +<p>The troop could not advance very rapidly owing to the roughness of the +way, and Ned learned from the talk about him that they would not +overtake Cos until the evening of the following day. About twilight they +encamped in a slight depression in the mountain side. No tents were set, +but a large fire was built, partly of dry stems of the giant cactus. The +cactus burned rapidly with a light, sparkling blaze, and left a white +ash, but the heavier wood, mixed with it, made a bed of coals that +glowed long in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Ned sat beside the fire on his serape with another thrown over his +shoulders, as the night was growing very chill with a sharp wind +whistling down from the mountains. The kindness of his captors did not +decrease, and he found a genuine pleasure in the human companionship and +physical comfort. Almonte found <a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>a comfortable place, took a guitar out +of a silken case, and hummed and played a love song. No American officer +would have done it at such a time and place, but it seemed natural in +him.</p> + +<p>Ned could not keep from being attracted by the picture that he +presented, the handsome young officer bending over his guitar, his heart +in the song that he played, but ready at any instant to be the brave and +wary soldier. Circumstance and place seemed to the boy so full of wild +romance that he forgot, for the time, his own fate and the message that +he wished to bear to those far Texans.</p> + +<p>It was very cold that night on the heights, and, now and then, a little +snow was blown about by the wind, but Ned kept warm by the fire and +between the two serapes. He fell asleep to the tinkling of Almonte's +guitar. They started again at earliest dawn, descended the slopes into a +highway to Vera Cruz, and pushed on in the trail of Cos. Ned still rode +his burro, which trotted along faithfully with the best, and he kept an +eager eye for the road and all that lay along it. The silent youth had +learned the value of keen observation, and he never neglected it.</p> + +<p>Before noon Ned saw a dim, white cone rising on the eastern horizon. It +was far away and misty, a thing of beauty which seemed to hang in the +air above the clouds.</p> + +<p>"Orizaba, the great mountain!" said Almonte.</p> + +<p>Ned had seen Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl, but this was a shade loftier +and more beautiful than either, shooting up nearly four miles, and +visible to sailors far out at sea. It grew in splendor as they +approached. Great masses of oak and pine hung on its lofty sides, up the +height of three miles, and above the forest rose the sharp <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>cone, +gleaming white with snow. The face of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte flushed as +he gazed at it.</p> + +<p>"It is ours, the great mountain!" he exclaimed. "And the many other +magnificent mountains and the valleys and rivers of Mexico. Can you +wonder, then, Edward Fulton, that we Mexicans do not wish to lose any +part of our country? Texas is ours, it has always been ours, and we will +not let the Texans sever it from us!"</p> + +<p>"The Texans have not wished to do so," said Ned. "You have been kind to +me, Colonel Almonte, and I do not wish to tell you anything but the +truth. The Texans will fight oppression and bad faith. You do not know, +the Mexicans do not know, how hard they will fight. Our charter has been +violated and President Santa Anna would strip our people of arms and +leave them at the mercy of savage Indians."</p> + +<p>Almonte was about to make a passionate reply, but he checked himself +suddenly and said in mild tones:</p> + +<p>"It is not fair for me to attack you, a prisoner, even in words. Look +how Orizaba grows! It is like a pillar holding up the heavens!"</p> + +<p>Ned gazed in admiration. He did not wonder that Almonte loved this +country of his, so full of the strange and picturesque. The great +mountain grew and grew, until its mighty cone, dark below, and white +above, seemed to fill the horizon. But much of the gayety of Almonte +departed.</p> + +<p>"Before night," he said, "we will be with General Cos, who is my +commander. As you know, he is the brother-in-law of General Santa Anna, +and—he is much inflamed against the Texans. I fear that he will be hard +with you, but I shall do what I can to assuage his severity."<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a></p> + +<p>"I thank you, Colonel Almonte," said Ned with a gravity beyond his +years. "You are a generous enemy, and chance may help me some day to +return your kindness, but whatever treatment General Cos may accord me, +I hope I shall be able to stand it."</p> + +<p>In another hour they saw a column of dust ahead of them. The column grew +and soon Ned saw lances and bayonets shining through it. He knew that +this was the army of Cos, and, just as the eastern light began to fade, +they joined it. Cos was going into camp by the side of a small stream, +and, after a little delay, Almonte took the prisoner to him.</p> + +<p>A large tent had been erected for General Cos, but he was sitting before +it, eating his supper. A cook was serving him with delicate dishes and +another servant filled his glass with red wine. His dark face darkened +still further, as he looked at Ned, but he saluted Almonte courteously. +It was evident to Ned that through family or merit, probably both, +Almonte stood very high in the Mexican service.</p> + +<p>"I have the honor to report to you, General Cos," said Almonte, "that we +have retaken the young Texan who escaped through the bars of his prison +at the capital. We found him in the mountains overcome by exhaustion."</p> + +<p>General Cos' lips opened in a slow, cold smile,—an evil smile that +struck a chill to Ned's heart. Here was a man far different from the +gallant and gay young Almonte. That cruel strain which he believed was +in the depths of the Spanish character, dormant though it might usually +be, was patent now in General Cos. Moreover, this man was very powerful, +and, as brother-in-law of Santa Anna, he was second only to the great +dictator. He did not ask Ned to sit down and he was brusque in speech. +The <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>air about them grew distinctly colder. Almonte had talked with Ned +in English, but Cos spoke Spanish:</p> + +<p>"Why did you run away from the capital?" he asked, shortly. "You were +treated well there."</p> + +<p>"No man can be held in prison and be treated well."</p> + +<p>General Martin Perfecto de Cos frowned. The bearing of the young Gringo +did not please him. Nor did his answer.</p> + +<p>"I repeat my question," he said, his voice rising. "Why did you run like +a criminal from the capital? You were with the man Austin. You, like he, +were the guest of our great and illustrious Santa Anna who does no +wrong. Answer me, why did you slip away like a thief?"</p> + +<p>"I slipped away, but it was not like a thief nor any other kind of +criminal. And if you must know, General Cos, I went because I did not +believe the words of the great and illustrious Santa Anna. He promises +the Texans redress for their wrongs, and, at the same time, he orders +them to give up their weapons. Do you think, and does General Santa Anna +think, that the Texans are fools?"</p> + +<p>Despite all his study and thought, Ned Fulton was only a boy and he did +not have the wisdom of the old. The manner and words of General Cos had +angered him, and, on impulse, he gave a direct reply. But he knew at +once that it was impolitic. Cos' eyes lowered, and his lips drew back +like those of an angry jaguar, showing his strong white teeth. There was +no possible doubt now about that Spanish strain of cruelty.</p> + +<p>"I presume," he said, and he seemed to Ned to bite each word, "that you +meant to go to the Texans with <a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>the lying message that the word of the +most illustrious General Santa Anna was not to be believed?"</p> + +<p>"I meant to go with such a message," said Ned proudly, "but it would not +be a lying one."</p> + +<p>Knowing that he was already condemned he resolved to seek no subterfuge.</p> + +<p>"The President cannot be insulted in my presence," said Cos ominously.</p> + +<p>"He is only a boy, General," said Almonte appealingly.</p> + +<p>"Boys can do mischief," said Cos, "and this seems to be an unusually +cunning and wicked one. You are zealous, Colonel Almonte, I will give +you that much credit, but you do not hate the Gringos enough."</p> + +<p>Almonte flushed, but he bowed and said nothing. Cos turned again to Ned.</p> + +<p>"You will bear no message to the Texans," he said. "I think that instead +you will stay a long time in this hospitable Mexico of ours."</p> + +<p>Ned paled a little. The words were full of menace, and he knew that they +came straight from the cruel heart of Cos. But his pride would not +permit him to reply.</p> + +<p>"You will be kept under close guard," said the General. "I will give +that duty to the men of Tlascala. They are infantry and to-morrow you +march on foot with them. Colonel Almonte, you did well to take the +prisoner, but you need trouble yourself no longer about him."</p> + +<p>Two men of the Tlascalan company were summoned and they took Ned with +them. The name "Tlascala" had appealed to Ned at first. It was the brave +Tlascalan mountaineers who had helped Cortez and who had made possible +his conquest of the great Mexican empire. But <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>these were not the +Tlascalans of that day. They were a mongrel breed, short, dirty and +barefooted. He ate of the food they gave him, said nothing, and lay down +on his serape to seek sleep. Almonte came to him there.</p> + +<p>"I feared this," he said. "I would have saved you from General Cos had I +been able."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Ned warmly, "and I want to thank you, Colonel +Almonte."</p> + +<p>Almonte held out his hand and Ned grasped it. Then the Mexican strode +away. Ned lay back again and watched the darkness thin as the moon and +stars came out. Far off the silver cone of Orizaba appeared like a spear +point against the sky. It towered there in awful solemnity above the +strife and passion of the world. Ned looked at it long, and gradually it +became a beacon of light to him, his "pillar of flame" by night. It was +the last thing he saw as he fell asleep, and there was no thought then +in his mind of the swart and menacing Cos.</p> + +<p>They resumed the march early in the morning. Ned no longer had his +patient burro, but walked on foot among the Tlascalans. Often he saw +General Cos riding ahead on a magnificent white horse. Sometimes the +peons stood on the slopes and looked at them but generally they kept far +from the marching army. Ned surmised that they had no love of military +service.</p> + +<p>The way was not easy for one on foot. Clouds of dust arose, and stung +nose and throat. The sharp lava or basalt cut through the soles of +shoes, and at midday the sun's rays burned fiercely. Weakened already by +the hardships of his flight Ned was barely able to keep up. Once when he +staggered a horseman prodded him with the butt of his lance. Ned was not +revengeful, but he noted the man's face. Had he been armed then <a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>he +would have struck back at any cost. But he took care not to stagger +again, although it required a supreme effort.</p> + +<p>They halted about an hour at noon, and Ned ate some rough food and drank +water with the Tlascalans. He was deeply grateful for the short rest, +and, as he sat trying to keep himself from collapse, Almonte came up and +held out a flask.</p> + +<p>"It is wine," he said. "It will strengthen you. Drink."</p> + +<p>Ned drank. He was not used to wine, but he had been so near exhaustion +that he took it as a medicine. When he handed the flask back the color +returned to his face and the blood flowed more vigorously in his veins.</p> + +<p>"General Cos does not wish me to see you at all," said Almonte. "He +thinks you should be treated with the greatest harshness, but I am not +without influence and I may be able to ease your march a little."</p> + +<p>"I know that you will do it if you can," said Ned gratefully.</p> + +<p>Yet Almonte was able to do little more for him. The march was resumed +under equally trying conditions, after the short rest. When night came +and the detachment stopped, Ned ached in every bone, and his feet were +sore and bleeding. Almonte was sent away in the morning on another +service, and there was no one to interfere for him.</p> + +<p>He struggled on all of the next day. Most of his strength was gone, but +pride still kept him going. Orizaba was growing larger and larger, +dominating the landscape, and Ned again drew courage from the lofty +white cone that looked down upon them.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon he heard a trumpet blow, and <a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>there was a great +stir in the force of Cos. Men held themselves straighter, lines were +re-formed, and the whole detachment became more trim and smart. General +Cos on his white horse rode to its head, and he was in his finest +uniform. Somebody of importance was coming! Ned was keen with curiosity +but he was too proud to ask. The Tlascalans had proved a churlish lot, +and he would waste no words on them.</p> + +<p>The road now led down into a beautiful savanna, thick in grass, and with +oaks and pines on all sides. Cos' companies turned into the grass, and +Ned saw that another force entering at the far side was doing the same. +All the men in the second force were mounted, the officer who was at +their head riding a horse even finer than that of Cos. His uniform, too, +was more splendid, and his head was surmounted by a great three-cornered +hat, heavy with gold lace. He was compact of figure, sat his saddle +well, and rode as if the earth belonged to him. Ned recognized him at +once. It was the general, the president, the dictator, the father of his +country, the illustrious Santa Anna himself.</p> + +<p>The mellow trumpet pealed forth again, and Santa Anna advanced to meet +his brother, Cos, who likewise advanced to meet him. They met in full +view of both forces, and embraced and kissed each other. Then a shout +came forth from hundreds of throats at the noble spectacle of fraternal +amity. The two forces coalesced with much Latin joy and chatter, and +camp was pitched in the savanna.</p> + +<p>Ned stayed with the Tlascalans, because he had no choice but to do so. +They flung him a tortilla or two, and he had plenty of water, but what +he wanted most was rest. He threw himself on the grass, and, as the +Tlascalans did not disturb him, he lay there until long <a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>after +nightfall. He would have remained there until morning had not two +soldiers come with a message that he was wanted by Santa Anna himself.</p> + +<p>Ned rose, smoothed out his hair, draped his serape as gracefully as he +could about his shoulders, and, assuming all the dignity that was +possible, went with the men. He had made up his mind that boldness of +manner and speech was his best course and it suited his spirit. He was +led into a large tent or rather a great marquee, and he stood there for +a few moments dazzled.</p> + +<p>The floor of the marquee was spread with a thick velvet carpet. A table +loaded with silver dishes was between the generals, and a dozen lamps on +the walls shed a bright light over velvet carpet, silver dishes and the +faces of the two men who held the fortunes of Mexico in the hollows of +their hands. General Cos smiled the same cold and evil smile that Ned +had noticed at their first meeting, but Santa Anna spoke in a tone half +of surprise and half of pity.</p> + +<p>"Ah, it is the young Fulton! And he is in evil plight! You would not +accept my continued hospitality at the capital, and behold what you have +suffered!"</p> + +<p>Ned looked steadily at him. He could not fathom the thought that lay +behind the words of Santa Anna. The man was always appearing to him in +changing colors. So he merely waited.</p> + +<p>"It was a pleasure to me," said Santa Anna, "to learn from General Cos +that you had been retaken. Great harm might have come to you wandering +through the mountains and deserts of the north. You could never have +reached the Texans alive, and since you could not do so it was better to +have come back to us, was it not?"</p> + +<p>"I have not come willingly."<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a></p> + +<p>General Cos frowned, but Santa Anna laughed.</p> + +<p>"That was frank," he said, "and we will be equally frank with you. You +would go north to the Texans, telling them that I mean to come with an +army and crush them. Is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"It is," replied Ned boldly.</p> + +<p>Santa Anna smiled. He did not seem to be offended at all. His manner, +swift, subtle and changing, was wholly attractive, and Ned felt its +fascination.</p> + +<p>"Be your surmise true or not," said the dictator, "it is best for you +not to reach Texas. I have discussed the matter with my brother, General +Cos, in whom I have great confidence, and we have agreed that since you +undertook to reach Vera Cruz you can go there. General Cos will be your +escort on the way, and, as I go to the capital in the morning, I wish +you a pleasant journey and a happy stay in our chief seaport."</p> + +<p>It seemed to Ned that there was the faintest touch of irony in his last +word or two, but he was not sure. He was never sure of Santa Anna, that +complex man of great abilities and vast ambition. And so after his +fashion when he had nothing to say he said nothing.</p> + +<p>"You are silent," said Santa Anna, "but you are thinking. You of the +north are silent to hide your thoughts, and we of the south talk to hide +ours!"</p> + +<p>Ned still said nothing, and Santa Anna examined him searchingly. He sent +his piercing gaze full into the eyes of the boy. Ned, proud of his race +and blood, endured it, and returned it with a firm and steady look. Then +the face of Santa Anna changed. He became all at once smiling and +friendly, like a man who receives a welcome guest. He put a hand on +Ned's shoulder, and apparently he did not notice that the shoulder +became rigid under his touch.<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a></p> + +<p>"I like you," he said, "I like your courage, your truth, and your +bluntness. You Texans, or rather you Americans,—because the Texans are +Americans,—have some of the ruder virtues which we who are of the +Spanish and Latin blood now and then lack. You are only a boy, but you +have in you the qualities that can make a career. The Texans belong to +Mexico. Your loyalty is due to Mexico and to me. I have said that you +would go to Vera Cruz and take the hospitality that my brother, Cos, +will offer you, but there is an alternative."</p> + +<p>He stopped as if awaiting a natural question, but still Ned did not +speak. A spark appeared in the eye of Santa Anna, but it passed so +quickly that it was like a momentary gleam.</p> + +<p>"I would make of you," continued the dictator in his mellow, coaxing +tone, "a promising young member of my staff, and I would assign to you +an immediate and important duty. I would send you to the Texans with a +message entirely different from the one you wish to bear. I would have +you to tell them that Santa Anna means only their greatest good; that he +loves them as his children; that he is glad to have these strong, tall, +fair men in the north to fight for him and Mexico; that he is a man who +never breaks a promise; that he is the father of his people, and that he +loves them all with a heart full of tenderness. To show you how much I +trust and value you I would take your word that you would bear such a +message, and I would send you with an escort that would make your way +safe and easy."</p> + +<p>Again he sent his piercing gaze into the eyes of the boy, but Ned was +still silent.</p> + +<p>"You would tell them," said Santa Anna in the softest and most +persuasive tones, "that you have been much <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>with me, that you know me, +and that no man has a softer heart or a more just mind."</p> + +<p>"I cannot do it," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because it is not so."</p> + +<p>The change on the face of Santa Anna was sudden and startling. His eyes +became black with wrath, and his whole aspect was menacing. The hand of +Cos flew to the hilt of his sword, and he half rose from his chair. But +Santa Anna pushed him back, and then the face of the dictator quickly +underwent another transformation. It became that of the ruler, grave but +not threatening.</p> + +<p>"Softly, Cos, my brother," he said. "Bear in mind that he is only a boy. +I offered too much, and he does not understand. He has put away a +brilliant career, but, my good brother Cos, he has left to him your +hospitality, and you will not be neglectful."</p> + +<p>Cos sank back in his chair and laughed. Santa Anna laughed. The two +laughs were unlike, one heavy and angry, and the other light and gay, +but their effect upon Ned was precisely the same. He felt a cold shiver +at the roots of his hair, but he was yet silent, and stood before them +waiting.</p> + +<p>"You can go," said Santa Anna. "You have missed your opportunity and it +will not come again."</p> + +<p>Ned turned away without a word. The Tlascalans were waiting at the door +of the marquee, and he went with them. Once more he slept under the +stars.<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE DUNGEON UNDER THE SEA</h3> + + +<p>Ned, early the next morning, saw Santa Anna with his brilliant escort +ride away toward the capital, while General Cos resumed his march to +Vera Cruz. Almonte did not reappear at all, and the boy surmised that he +was under orders to join the dictator.</p> + +<p>Ned continued on foot among the Tlascalans. Cos offered him no kindness +whatever, and his pride would not let him ask for it. But when he looked +at his sore and bleeding feet he always thought of the patient burro +that he had lost. They marched several more days, and the road dropped +down into the lowlands, into the tierra caliente. The air grew thick and +hot and Ned, already worn, felt an almost overpowering languor. The +vegetation became that of the tropics. Then, passing through marshes and +sand dunes, they reached Vera Cruz, the chief port of Mexico, a small, +unhealthy city, forming a semicircle about a mile in length about the +bay.</p> + +<p>Ned saw little of Vera Cruz, as they reached it at nightfall, but the +approach through alternations of stagnant marsh and shifting sand +affected him most unpleasantly. Offensive odors assailed him and he +remembered that this was a stronghold of cholera and yellow fever. He +ate rough food with the Tlascalans again, and then Cos sent for him.</p> + +<p>"You have reached your home," said the General. "You <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>will occupy the +largest and most expensive house in the place, and my men will take you +there at once. Do you not thank me?"</p> + +<p>"I do not," replied Ned defiantly. Yet he knew that he had much to +dread.</p> + +<p>"You are an ungrateful young dog of a Texan," said Cos, laughing +maliciously, "but I will confer my hospitality upon you, nevertheless. +You will go with these men and so I bid you farewell."</p> + +<p>Four barefooted soldiers took Ned down through the dirty and +evil-smelling streets of the city. He wondered where they were going, +but he would not ask. They came presently to the sea and Ned saw before +him, about a half mile away, a somber and massive pile rising upon a +rocky islet. He knew that it was the great and ancient Castle of San +Juan de Ulua. In the night, with only the moon's rays falling upon its +walls, it looked massive and forbidding beyond all description. That +cold shiver again appeared at the roots of the boy's hair. He knew now +the meaning of all this talk of Santa Anna and Cos about their +hospitality. He was to be buried in the gloomiest fortress of the New +World. It was a fate that might well make one so young shudder many +times. But he said not a word in protest. He got silently into a boat +with the soldiers, and they were rowed to the rocky islet on which stood +the huge castle.</p> + +<p>Not much time was wasted on Ned. He was taken before the governor, his +name and age were registered, and then two of the prison guards, one +going before and the other behind, led him down a narrow and steep +stairway. It reminded him of his descent into the pyramid, but here the +air seemed damper. They went down many steps and came into a narrow +corridor upon which <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>a number of iron doors opened. The guards unlocked +one of the doors, pushed Ned in, relocked the door on him, and went +away.</p> + +<p>Ned staggered from the rude thrust, but, recovering himself stood erect, +and tried to accustom his eyes to the half darkness. He stood in a +small, square room with walls of hard cement or plaster. The roof of the +same material was high, and in the center of it was a round hole, +through which came all the air that entered the cell. In a corner was a +rude pallet of blankets spread upon grass. There was no window. The +place was hideous and lonely beyond the telling. He had not felt this +way in the pyramid.</p> + +<p>Ned now had suffered more than any boy could stand. He threw himself +upon the blanket, and only pride kept him from shedding tears. But he +was nevertheless relaxed completely, and his body shook as if in a +chill. He lay there a long time. Now and then, he looked up at the walls +of his prison, but always their sodden gray looked more hideous than +ever. He listened but heard nothing. The stillness was absolute and +deadly. It oppressed him. He longed to hear anything that would break +it; anything that would bring him into touch with human life and that +would drive away the awful feeling of being shut up forever.</p> + +<p>The air in the dungeon felt damp to Ned. He was glad of it, because damp +meant a touch of freshness, but by and by it became chilly, too. The bed +was of two blankets, and, lying on one and drawing the other over him, +he sought sleep. He fell after a while into a troubled slumber which was +half stupor, and from which he awakened at intervals. At the third +awakening he heard a noise. Although his other faculties were deadened +partially by mental and physical exhaustion, his <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>hearing was uncommonly +acute, concentrating in itself the strength lost by the rest. The sound +was peculiar, half a swish and half a roll, and although not loud it +remained steady. Ned listened a long time, and then, all at once, he +recognized its cause.</p> + +<p>He was under the sea, and it was the rolling of the waves over his head +that he heard. He was in one of the famous submarine dungeons of the +Castle of San Juan de Ulua. This was the hospitality of Cos and Santa +Anna, and it was a hospitality that would hold him fast. Never would he +take any word of warning to the Texans. Buried under the sea! He +shivered all over and a cold sweat broke out upon him.</p> + +<p>He lay a long time until some of the terror passed. Then he sat up, and +looked at the round hole in the cement ceiling. It was about eight +inches in diameter and a considerable stream of fresh air entered there. +But the pipe or other channel through which it came must turn to one +side, as the sea was directly over his head. He could not reach the +hole, and even could he have reached it, he was too large to pass +through it. He had merely looked at it in a kind of vague curiosity.</p> + +<p>Feeling that every attempt to solve anything would be hopeless, he fell +asleep again, and when he awoke a man with a lantern was standing beside +him. It was a soldier with his food, the ordinary Mexican fare, and +water. Another soldier with a musket stood at the door. There was no +possible chance of a dash for liberty. Ned ate and drank hungrily, and +asked the soldier questions, but the man replied only in monosyllables +or not at all. The boy desisted and finished in silence the meal which +might be either breakfast, dinner or supper for all he knew. Then the +soldier took the tin dishes, withdrew <a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>with his comrade, and the door +was locked again.</p> + +<p>Ned was left to silence and solitude. But he felt that he must now move +about, have action of some kind. He threw himself against the door in an +effort to shake it, but it did not move a jot. Then he remembered that +he had seen cell doors in a row, and that other prisoners might be on +either side of him. He kicked the heavy cement walls, but they were not +conductors of sound and no answer came.</p> + +<p>He grew tired after a while, but the physical exertion had done him +good. The languid blood flowed in a better tide in his veins and his +mind became more keen. There must be some way out of this. Youth could +not give up hope. It was incredible, impossible that he should remain +always here, shut off from that wonderful free world outside. The roll +of the sea over his head made reply.</p> + +<p>After a while he began to walk around his cell, around and around and +around, until his head grew dizzy, and he staggered. Then he would +reverse and go around and around and around the other way. He kept this +up until he could scarcely stand. He lay down and tried to sleep again. +But he must have slept a long time before, and sleep would not come. He +lay there on the blankets, staring at the walls and not seeing them, +until the soldiers came again with his food. Ned ate and drank in +silence. He was resolved not to ask a question, and, when the soldiers +departed, not a single word had been spoken.</p> + +<p>The next day Ned had fever, the day after that he was worse, and on the +third day he became unconscious. Then he passed through a time, the +length of which he could not guess, but it was a most singular period. +It was crowded with all sorts of strange and shifting scenes, some +<a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>colored brilliantly, and vivid, others vague and fleeting as moonlight +through a cloud. It was wonderful, too, that he should live again +through things that he had lived already. He was back with Mr. Austin. +He saw the kind and generous face quite plainly and recognized his +voice. He saw Benito and Juana, Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl; he was on +the pyramid and in it, and he saw the silver cone of Orizaba. Then he +shifted suddenly back to Texas and the wild border, the Comanche and the +buffalo.</p> + +<p>His life now appeared to have no order. Time turned backward. Scenes +occurred out of their sequence. Often they would appear for a second or +third time. It was the most marvelous jumble that ever ran through any +kaleidoscope. His brain by and by grew dizzy with the swift interplay of +action and color. Then everything floated away and blackness and silence +came. Nor could he guess how long this period endured, but when he came +out of it he felt an extraordinary weakness and a lassitude that was of +both mind and body.</p> + +<p>His eyes were only half open and he did not care to open them more. He +took no interest in anything. But he became slowly conscious that he had +emerged from somewhere out of a vast darkness, and that he had returned +to his life in the dungeon under the sea.</p> + +<p>His eyes opened fully by automatic process rather than by will, and the +heavy dark of the dungeon was grateful then, because they, too, like all +the rest of him, were very weak. Yet a little light came in as usual +with the fresh air from above, and by and by he lifted one hand and +looked at it. It was a strange hand, very white, very thin, with the +blue veins standing out from the back.</p> + +<p>It was almost the hand of a skeleton. He did not <a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>know it. Certainly it +did not belong to him. He looked at it wondering, and then he did a +strange thing. It was his left hand that he was holding before him. He +put his right hand upon it, drew that hand slowly over the fingers, then +the palm and along the wrist until he reached his shoulder. It was his +hand after all. His languid curiosity satisfied he let the hand drop +back by his body. It fell like a stone. After a while he touched his +head, and found that his hair was cut closely. It seemed thin, too.</p> + +<p>He realized that he had been ill, and very ill indeed he must have been +to be so weak. He wondered a little how long it had been since he first +lapsed into unconsciousness, and then the wonder ceased. Whether the +time had been long or short it did not matter. But he shut his eyes and +listened for the last thing that he remembered. He heard it presently, +that low roll of the sea. He was quite sure of one thing. He was in the +same submarine dungeon of the famous Castle of San Juan de Ulua.</p> + +<p>His door was opened, and a man, not a soldier, came in with soup in a +tin basin. He uttered a low exclamation, when he saw that Ned was +conscious, but he made no explanations. Nor did Ned ask him anything. +But he ate the soup with a good appetite, and felt very much stronger. +His mind, too, began to wake up. He knew that he was going to get well, +but it occurred to him that it might be better for him to conceal his +returning strength. With a relaxed watch he would have more chance to +escape.</p> + +<p>The soup had a soothing effect, and his mind shared with his body in the +improvement. It was obvious that they had not intended for him to die or +they would not have taken care of him in his illness. The shaven head +<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>was proof. But he saw nothing that he could do. He must wait upon the +action of his jailers. Having come to this conclusion he lay upon his +pallet, and let vague thoughts float through his head as they would.</p> + +<p>About three hours after they had brought him his soup he heard a +scratching at the keyhole of his door. He was not too languid to be +surprised. He did not think it likely that any of his jailers would come +back so soon, and heretofore the key had always turned in the lock +without noise.</p> + +<p>Ned sat up. The scratching continued for a few moments, and the door +swung open. A tall, thin figure of a man entered, the door closed behind +him, and with some further scratching he locked it. Then the man turned +and stared at Ned. Ned stared with equal intentness at him.</p> + +<p>The figure that he saw was thin and six feet four; the face that he saw +was thin and long. The face was also bleached to an indescribable dead +white, the effect of which was heightened by the thick and fiery red +hair that crowned a head, broad and shaped finely. His hair even in the +dark seemed to be vital, the most vital part of him. Ned fancied that +his eyes were blue, although in the dimness he could not tell. But he +knew that this was no Mexican. A member of his own race stood before +him.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well?" replied the man in a singularly soft and pleasant voice.</p> + +<p>"Who are you and what do you want?"</p> + +<p>"To the first I am Obed White; to the second I want to talk to you, and +I would append as a general observation that I am harmless. Evil to him +that would evil do."<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a></p> + +<p>"The quotation is wrong," said Ned, smiling faintly. "It is 'evil to him +who evil thinks.'"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, but I have improved upon it. I add, for your further +information, that I am your nearest neighbor. I occupy the magnificent +concrete parlor next door to you, where I live a life of undisturbed +ease, but I have concluded at last to visit you, and here I am. How I +came I will explain later. But I am glad I am with you. One crowded hour +of glorious company is worth a hundred years in a solitary cell. I may +have got that a little wrong, too, but it sounds well."</p> + +<p>He sat down in Turkish fashion on the floor, folding a pair of extremely +long legs beneath him, and regarded Ned with a slow, quizzical smile. +For the life of him the boy could not keep from smiling back. With the +nearer view he could see now that the eyes were blue and honest.</p> + +<p>"You may think I'm a Mexican," continued the man in his mellow, pleasant +voice, "but I'm not. I'm a Texan—by the way of Maine. As I told you, I +live in the next tomb, the one on the right. I'm a watch, clock and tool +maker by trade and a bookworm by taste. Because of the former I've come +into your cell, and because of the latter I use the ornate language that +you hear. But of both those subjects more further on. Meanwhile, I +suppose it's you who have been yelling in here at the top of your voice +and disturbing a row of dungeons accustomed to peace and quiet."</p> + +<p>"It was probably I, but I don't remember anything about it."</p> + +<p>"It's not likely that you would, as I see you've had some one of the +seven hundred fevers that are customary along this coast. Yours must +have been of the shouting kind, as I heard you clean through the wall, +<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>and, once when I was listening at the keyhole, you made a noise like +the yell of a charging army."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that you've been listening at the keyhole of my +cell."</p> + +<p>"It's exactly what I mean. You wouldn't come to see your neighbor so he +decided to come to see you. Good communications correct evil manners. +See this?"</p> + +<p>He held up a steel pronged instrument about six inches long.</p> + +<p>"This was once a fork, a fork for eating, large and crude, I grant you, +but a fork. It took me more than a month to steal it, that is I had to +wait for a time when I was sure that the soldier who brought my food was +so lazy or so stupid that he would not miss it. I waited another week as +an additional precaution, and after that my task was easy. If the best +watch, clock and instrument maker in the State of Maine couldn't pick +any lock with a fork it was time for him to lie on his back and die. I +picked the lock of my own door in a minute the first time by dead +reckoning, but it took me a full two minutes to open yours, although +I'll relock it in half that time when I go out. Where there's a will +there will soon be an open door."</p> + +<p>He flourished the fork, the two prongs of which now curved at the end, +and grinned broadly. He had a look of health despite the dead whiteness +of his face, which Ned now knew was caused by prison pallor. Ned liked +him. He liked him for many reasons. He liked him because his eyes were +kindly. He liked him because he was one of his own race. He liked him +because he was a fellow prisoner, and he liked him above all because +this was the first human companionship that he had had in a time that +seemed ages.</p> + +<p>Obed meanwhile was examining him with scrutinizing <a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>eyes. He had heard +the voice of fever, but he did not expect to find in the "tomb" next to +his own a mere boy.</p> + +<p>"How does it happen," he asked, "that one as young as you is a prisoner +here in a dungeon with the castle of San Juan de Ulua and the sea on top +of him?"</p> + +<p>Obed White had the mellowest and most soothing voice that Ned had ever +heard. Now it was like that of a father speaking to the sick son whom he +loved, and the boy trusted him absolutely.</p> + +<p>"I was sent here," he replied, "by Santa Anna and his brother-in-law, +Cos, because I knew too much, or rather suspected too much. I was held +at the capital with Mr. Austin. We were not treated badly. Santa Anna +himself would come to see us and talk of the great good that he was +going to do for Texas, but I could not believe him. I was sure instead +that he was gathering his forces to crush the Texans. So, I escaped, +meaning to go to Texas with a message of warning."</p> + +<p>"A wise boy and a brave one," said Obed White with admiration. "You +suspected but you kept your counsel. Still waters run slowly, but they +run."</p> + +<p>Ned told all his story, neglecting scarcely a detail. The feeling that +came of human companionship was so strong and his trust was so great +that he did not wish to conceal anything.</p> + +<p>"You've endured about as much as ought to come to one boy," said Obed +White, "and you've gone through all this alone. What you need is a +partner. Two heads can do what one can't. Well, I'm your partner. As I'm +the older, I suppose I ought to be the senior partner. Do you hereby +subscribe to the articles of agreement forming the firm of White & +Fulton, submarine engineers, tunnel diggers, jail breakers, or whatever +form <a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>of occupation will enable us to escape from the castle of San Juan +de Ulua?"</p> + +<p>"Gladly," said Ned, and he held out a thin, white hand. Obed White +seized it, but he remembered not to grasp it too firmly. This boy had +been ill a long time, and he was white and very weak. The heart of the +man overflowed with pity.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Ned," he said. "I mustn't stay too long, but I'll come +again lots of times, and you and I will talk business then. The firm of +White & Fulton will soon begin work of the most important kind. Now you +watch me unlock that door. They say that pride goeth before a fall, but +in this case it is going right through an open door."</p> + +<p>Obviously he was proud of his skill as he had a full right to be. He +inserted the hooked prongs of the fork in the great keyhole, twisted +them about a little, and then the lock turned in its groove.</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Ned," said Obed again. "It's time I was back in my own tomb +which is just like yours. I hate to lock in a good friend like you, but +it must be done."</p> + +<p>He disappeared in the hall, the door swung shut and Ned heard the lock +slide in the groove again. He was alone once more. The light that had +seemed to illuminate his dungeon went with the man, but he left hope +behind. Ned would not be alone in the spirit as long as he knew that +Obed White was in the cell next to his.</p> + +<p>He lay a while, thinking on the chances of fate. They had served him +ill, for a long time. Had the turn now come? He did not know it, but it +was the human companionship, the friendly voice that had raised such a +great hope in his breast. He glided from thought into a peaceful sleep +and slept a long time, without dreams or even vague, floating visions. +His breath came long <a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>and full at regular intervals, and with every beat +of his pulse new strength flowed into his body. While he slept nature +was hard at work, rebuilding the strong young frame which had yielded +only to overpowering circumstances.</p> + +<p>Ned ate his breakfast voraciously the next day and wanted more. Dinner +also left him hungry, but, carrying out his original plan, he +counterfeited weakness, and, before the soldier left, lay down upon the +pallet as if he were too languid to care for anything. He disposed of +supper in similar fashion, and then waited with a throbbing pulse for +the second call from the senior member of the firm of White & Fulton.</p> + +<p>After an incredible period of waiting he heard the slight rasping of the +fork in the keyhole. Then the door was opened and the older partner +entered. Before speaking he carefully relocked the door.</p> + +<p>"I believe you're glad to see me," he said to Ned. "You're sitting up. I +don't think I ever before saw a boy improve so much in twenty-four +hours. I'll just feel your pulse. It will be one of my duties as senior +partner to practice medicine for a little while. Yes, it's a strong +pulse, a good pulse. You're quite clear of fever. You need nothing now +but your strength back again, and we'll wait for that. All things come +to him who waits, if he doesn't die of old age first."</p> + +<p>His talk was so rapid and cheerful that he seemed fairly to radiate +vigor. It was a powerful tonic to Ned who felt so strong that he was +prepared to attempt escape at once. But Obed shook his head when he +suggested it.</p> + +<p>"That strength comes from your feelings," he said. "All that glitters +isn't gold or silver or any other precious metal. That false strength +would break down under a <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>long and severe test. We'll just wait and plan. +For what we're going to undertake you're bound to have every ounce of +vigor that you can accumulate."</p> + +<p>"You've been able to go out in the hall when you chose, then why haven't +you gone away already?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I didn't get my key perfected until a few days ago, and then as I heard +you yelling in here I decided to find out about you. Two are company; +one is none, and so we formed a partnership. Now when the firm acts both +partners must act."</p> + +<p>Ned did not reply directly. He did not know how to thank him for his +generosity.</p> + +<p>"Have you explored the hall?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It leads up a narrow stairway, down which I came some time ago when my +Mexican brethren decided that I was too much of a Texan patriot. +Doubtless you trod the same dark and narrow path. At the head of that is +another door which I have not tried, but which I know I can open with +this master key of mine. Beyond that I'm ignorant of the territory, but +there must be a way out since there was one in. Now, Ned, we must make +no mistake. We must not conceal from ourselves that the firm of White & +Fulton is confronted by a great task. We must select our time, and have +ready for the crisis every particle of strength, courage and quickness +that we possess."</p> + +<p>Ned knew that he was right, and yet, despite his youth and natural +strength, his convalescence was slow. He had passed through too terrible +an ordeal to recover entirely in a day or even a week. He would test his +strength often and at night Obed White would test it, too, but always he +was lacking in some particular. Then Obed would shake his head wisely +and say: "Wait."<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a></p> + +<p>One night they heard the sea more loudly than ever before. It rolled +heavily, just over their heads.</p> + +<p>"There must be a great storm on the gulf," said Obed White. "I've lost +count of time, but perhaps the period of gales is at hand. If so, I'm +not sorry, it'll hide our flight across the water. You'll remember, Ned, +that we're a half mile from the mainland."</p> + +<p>Fully two weeks passed before they decided that Ned was restored to his +old self. Meanwhile they had matured their plan.</p> + +<p>"We came in as Texans," said Obed, "but we must go out as Mexicans. +There is no other way. It's all simple in the saying, but we've got to +be mighty quick in the doing. We must make the change right here in this +cell of yours, because, you having been an invalid so long, they're +likely to be careless about you."</p> + +<p>Ned agreed with him fully, and they began to train their bodies and +minds for a supreme effort. They were now able to tell the difference +between night and day by the temperature. The air that came through the +holes in the ceiling was a little cooler by night, enough for senses +trained to preternatural acuteness by long imprisonment to tell it. The +guard always came about eight o'clock with Ned's supper and they chose +that time for the attempt.</p> + +<p>Obed White entered Ned's cell about six o'clock. The boy could scarcely +restrain himself and the man's blue eyes were snapping with excitement. +But Obed patted Ned on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"We must both keep cool," he said. "The more haste the less likely the +deed. The first man comes in with the tray carrying your food. I stand +here by the door and he passes by without seeing me. I seize the second, +drag him in and slam the door. Then the victory <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>is to the firm of White +& Fulton, if it prove to be the stronger. But we'll have surprise in our +favor."</p> + +<p>They waited patiently. Ned lay upon his pallet. Obed flattened himself +against the wall beside the door. Their plan fully arranged, neither now +spoke. Overhead they heard the slow roll of the sea, lashed by the waves +sweeping in from the gulf. But inside the cell the silence was absolute.</p> + +<p>Ned lay in an attitude apparently relaxed. His face was still white. It +could not acquire color in that close cell, but he had never felt +stronger. A powerful heart pumped vigorous blood through every artery +and vein. His muscles had regained their toughness and flexibility, and +above all, the intense desire for freedom had keyed him to supreme +effort.</p> + +<p>Usually he did not hear the soldier's key turn in the lock, but soon he +heard it and his heart pumped. He glanced at White, but the gray figure, +flattened against the wall, never moved. The door swung open and the +soldier, merely a shambling peon, bearing the tray, entered. Behind him +according to custom came the second man who stood in the doorway, +leaning upon his musket. But he stood there only an instant. A pair of +long, powerful arms which must have seemed to him at that moment like +the antennae of a devil-fish, reached out, seized him in a fierce grip +by either shoulder, and jerked him gun and all into the cell. The door +was kicked shut and the grasp of the hands shifted from his shoulders to +his throat. He could not cry out although the terrible face that bent +over him made his soul start with fear.</p> + +<p>The man with the tray heard the noise behind him and turned. Ned sprang +like a panther. All the force and energy that he had been concentrating +so long were <a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>in the leap. The soldier went down as if he had been +struck by a cannon ball and his tray and dishes rattled upon him. But he +was a wiry fellow and grasping his assailant he struggled fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Now stop, my good fellow. Just lie still! That's the way!"</p> + +<p>It was Obed White who spoke, and he held the muzzle of a pistol at the +man's head. The other soldier lay stunned in the corner. It was from his +belt that Obed had snatched the pistol.</p> + +<p>"Get up, Ned," said White. "The first step in our escape from the Castle +of San Juan de Ulua has been taken. Meanwhile, you lie still, my good +fellow; we're not going to hurt you. No, you needn't look at your +comrade. I merely compressed his windpipe rather tightly. He'll come to +presently. Ned, take that gay red handkerchief out of his pocket and tie +his arms. If I were going to be bound I should like for the deed to be +done with just such a beautiful piece of cloth. Meanwhile, if you cry +out, my friend, I shall have to blow the top of your head off with this +pistol. It's not likely that they would hear your cry, but they might +hear my pistol shot."</p> + +<p>Ned bound the man rapidly and deftly. There was no danger that he would +utter a sound, while Obed White held the pistol. Under the circumstances +he was satisfied with the status quo. The second man was bound in a +similar fashion just as he was reviving, and he, too, was content to +yield to like threats. Obed drew a loaded pistol from the first man's +belt and handed it, too, to Ned. He also looked rather contemptuously at +the musket that the guard by the door had dropped.</p> + +<p>"A cheap weapon," he said. "A poor substitute for our American rifle, +but we'll take it along, Ned. We <a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>may need it. You gather their +ammunition while I stand handy with this pistol in case they should +burst their bonds."</p> + +<p>Ned searched the men, taking all their ammunition, their knives and also +the key to the door. Then he and Obed divested the two of their outer +clothing and put it upon themselves. Fortunately both soldiers had worn +their hats and they pulled them down over their own faces.</p> + +<p>"If we don't come into too bright a light, Ned," said White, "you'll +pass easily for a Mexican. Mexican plumage makes a Mexican bird. Now how +do I look?"</p> + +<p>"I could take you for Santa Anna himself," said Ned, elated at their +success.</p> + +<p>"That promises well. There's another advantage. You speak Spanish and so +do I."</p> + +<p>"It's lucky that we do."</p> + +<p>"And now," said Obed White to the two Mexicans, "we will leave you to +the hospitality of Cos and Santa Anna, which my young friend and I have +enjoyed so long. We feel that it is time for you to share in it. We're +going to lock you in this cell, where you can hear the sea rolling over +your head, but you will not stay here forever. It's a long lane that +does not come somewhere to a happy ending, and your comrades will find +you by to-morrow. Farewell."</p> + +<p>He went into the hall and they locked the door. They listened beside it +a little while but no sound came from within.</p> + +<p>"They dare not cry out," said Obed. "They're afraid we'll come back. Now +for the second step in our escape. It's pretty dark here. Those fellows +must have known the way mighty well to have come down as they did +without a lantern."<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a></p> + +<p>"There are other prisoners in these cells," said Ned. "Shouldn't we +release them? You can probably open any of the doors with your key."</p> + +<p>White shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure that we're the only Texans or Americans in San Juan de Ulua, +and we couldn't afford to be wasting time on Mexicans whether +revolutionaries or criminals. There would merely be a tumult with every +one of us sure to be recaptured."</p> + +<p>The two now advanced down the passage, which was low and narrow, walled +in with massive stone. It was so dark here that they held each other's +hands and felt the way before every footstep.</p> + +<p>"I think we're going in the right direction," whispered White, "As I +remember it this is the way I came in."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it," Ned whispered back. "Ah, here are more steps."</p> + +<p>They had reached the stairway which led down to the hall of the +submarine cells, and still feeling their way they ascended it +cautiously. As they rose the air seemed to grow fresher, as if they were +nearing the openings by which it entered.</p> + +<p>"Those fellows who took our places must have left a lamp or a lantern +standing somewhere here at the top of these steps," whispered White. +"The man who carried the tray could not have gone down them without a +light."</p> + +<p>"It's probably here," said Ned, "burned out or blown out by a draught of +wind."</p> + +<p>He smelled a slight smoke and in a niche carved in the stone he found +the lamp. The wick was still smoking a little.</p> + +<p>"We'll leave it as it is," said Obed White. "Somebody <a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>may relight it +for those men when they come back again, but that won't be for several +hours yet."</p> + +<p>Three more steps and they reached the crest of the flight, where they +were confronted by a heavy door of oak, ribbed with iron. Obed gently +tried the key that they had seized, but it did not fit.</p> + +<p>"They must have banged on the door for it to be opened whenever they +came back," said Obed. "Now I shall use my fork which is sure to turn +the lock if I take long enough. I wasn't the best watch and key maker in +Maine for nothing. If first you don't succeed, then keep on trying till +you do."</p> + +<p>Ned sat down on the steps while White inserted the fork. He could hear +it scratching lightly for a minute and then the bolt slid. The boy rose +and the man stepped back by his side.</p> + +<p>"Draw your pistol and have it ready," he said, "and I'll do as much with +the old musket. We don't know what's on the other side of the door but +whatever it is we've got to meet it. Thrice armed is he who hath his +weapon leveled."</p> + +<p>Ned needed no urging. He drew the pistol and held it ready for instant +use. What, in truth, was on the other side of the door? His whole fate +and that of his comrade might depend upon the revelation. Obed pushed +gently and the door opened without noise three or four inches. A shaft +of light from the room fell upon them but they could not yet see into +the room. They listened, and, hearing nothing, Obed pushed more boldly. +Then they saw before them a large apartment, containing little +furniture, but with some faded old uniforms hanging about the walls. +Evidently it was used as a barracks for soldiers. At the far end was a +door and on the side to the right were two windows.<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a></p> + +<p>Ned went to the window and looked out. He saw across a small court a +high and blank stone wall, but when he looked upward he saw also a patch +of sky. It was a black sky, across which clouds were driving before a +whistling wind, but it was the most beautiful sight that he had ever +seen. The sky, the free, open sky curving over the beautiful earth, was +revealed again to him who had been buried for ages in a dungeon under +the sea. He would not go back. In the tremendous uplift of feeling he +would willingly choose death first. He beckoned to White who joined him +and who looked up without being bid.</p> + +<p>"It's out there that we're going," he said. "We'll have to cross a +stormy sea before we reach freedom, but Ned, you and I are keyed up just +high enough to cross. We'll put it to the touch and win it all. Now for +the next door."</p> + +<p>The second door was not locked and when they pushed it open they entered +a small room, furnished handsomely in the Spanish fashion. A lamp burned +on a table, at which an officer sat looking over some papers. He heard +the two enter and it was too late for them to retreat, as he turned at +once and looked at them, inquiry in his face.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We are the soldiers who have charge of the two Texans in the cells," +replied Obed White boldly. "We have just taken them their food and now +we are going back to our quarters."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt that you tell the truth," replied the officer, "but +your voice has changed greatly since yesterday. You remember that I gave +you an order then about the man White."</p> + +<p>"Quite true," replied Obed quickly, raising his musket <a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>and taking aim, +"and now I'm giving the order back to you. It's a poor rule that won't +work first one way and then the other. Just you move or cry out and I +shoot. I'd hate to do it, because you're not bad looking, but necessity +knows the law of self-preservation."</p> + +<p>"You need not worry," said the officer, smiling faintly. "I will not +move, nor will I cry out. You have too great an advantage, because I see +that your aim is good and your hand steady. I surmise that you are the +man White himself."</p> + +<p>"None other, and this is my young friend, Edward Fulton, who likes San +Juan de Ulua as a castle but not as a hotel. Hence he has decided to go +away and so have I. Ned, look at those papers on his desk. You might +find among them a pass or two which would be mighty useful to us."</p> + +<p>"Do you mind if I light a cigarette?" asked the officer. "You can see +that my hands and the cigarettes alike are on the table."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," said Obed hospitably, "but don't waste time."</p> + +<p>The officer lighted the cigarette and took a satisfied whiff. Ned +searched among the papers, turning them over rapidly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, here is a pass!" exclaimed he joyfully, "and here is another and +here are two more!"</p> + +<p>"Two will be enough," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"I'll take this one made out to Joaquin de la Barra for you and one to +Diego Fernandez for me. Ah, what are these?"</p> + +<p>He held up four papers, looking at them in succession.</p> + +<p>"What are they?" asked Obed White.</p> + +<p>"Death warrants. They are all for men with Mexican names, and they are +signed with the name of Antonio Lopez <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>de Santa Anna, General-in-chief +and President of the Mexican Republic."</p> + +<p>The officer took the cigarette from his mouth and sent out a little +smoke through his nostrils.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are death warrants," he said. "I was looking over them when +you came in, and I was troubled. The men were to have been executed +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Were to have been?" said Ned. Then a look passed between him and the +officer. The boy held the death warrants one by one in the flame of the +lamp and burned them to ashes.</p> + +<p>"I cannot execute a man without a warrant duly signed," said the +officer.</p> + +<p>"Which being the case, we'd better go or we might have to help at our +own executions," said Obed White. "Now you just sit where you are and +have a peaceful and happy mind, while we go out and fight with the +storm."</p> + +<p>The officer said nothing and the two passed swiftly through the far +door, stepping into a paved court, and reaching a few yards further a +gate of the castle. It was quite dark when they stepped once more into +the open world, and both wind and rain lashed them. But wind and rain +themselves were a delight to the two who had come from under the sea. +Besides, the darker the better.</p> + +<p>Two sentinels were at the gate and Ned thrust the passes before their +eyes. They merely glanced at the signatures, opened the gate, and in an +instant the two were outside the castle of San Juan de Ulua.<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE BLACK JAGUAR</h3> + + +<p>It was so dark that the two could see but a narrow stretch of masonry on +which they stood and a tossing sea beyond. Behind them heaved up the +mass of the castle, mighty and somber. A fierce wind was blowing in from +the gulf, and it whistled and screamed about the great walls. The rain, +bitter and cold, lashed against them like hail. Shut off so long from +the outer air they shivered now, but the shiver was merely of the air. +Their spirit was as high as ever and they faced their crisis with +undaunted souls.</p> + +<p>Yet they were far from escape. The wind was of uncommon strength, +seeming to increase steadily in power, and a half mile of wild waters +raced between them and the town. Weaker wills would have yielded and +turned back to prison, but not they. They ran eagerly along the edge of +the masonry, pelted by rain and wind.</p> + +<p>"There must be a boat tied up somewhere along here," exclaimed Ned. "The +castle, of course, keeps communication with the town!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, here it is!" said Obed. "Fortune favors the persistent. It's only +a small boat, and it's a big sea before us, but, Ned, my lad, we've got +to try it. We can't look any further. Listen! That's the alarm in the +castle."</p> + +<p>They heard shouts and clash of arms above the roaring <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>of the wind. They +picked in furious haste at the rope that held the boat, cast it loose, +and sprang in, securing the oars. The waves at once lifted them up and +tossed them wildly. It was perhaps fortunate that they lost control of +their boat for a minute or two. Two musket shots were fired at them, but +good aim in the darkness at such a bobbing object was impossible. Ned +heard one of the bullets whistle near, and it gave him a queer, creepy +feeling to realize that for the first time in his life someone was +firing at him to kill.</p> + +<p>"Can you row, Ned?" asked White.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then pull with all your strength. Bend as low as you can at the same +time. They'll be firing at us as long as we are in range."</p> + +<p>They strove for the cover of the darkness, but they were compelled to +devote most of their efforts to keeping themselves afloat. The little +boat was tossed here and there like a bit of plank. Spray from the sea +was dashed over them, and, in almost a moment, they were wet through and +through. The captured musket lay in the bottom and rolled against their +feet. The wind shrieked continually like some wild animal in pain.</p> + +<p>Many torches appeared on the wharf that led up to the castle, and there +was a noise of men shouting to one another. The torches disclosed the +little boat rising and falling with the swell of the sea, and numerous +shots were now fired, but all fell short or went wild.</p> + +<p>"I don't think we're in much danger from the muskets," said Obed, "so we +won't pay any more attention to them. But in another minute they'll have +big boats out in pursuit We must make for the land below the town, and +get away somehow or other in the brush. If we <a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>were to land in the town +itself we'd be as badly off as ever. Hark, there goes the alarm!"</p> + +<p>A heavy booming report rose above the mutter of the waters and the +screaming of the wind. One of the great guns on the castle of San Juan +de Ulua had been fired. After a brief interval it was followed by a +second shot and then a third. The reports could be heard easily in Vera +Cruz, and they said that either a fresh revolution had begun, or that +prisoners were escaping. The people would be on the watch. White turned +the head of the boat more toward the south.</p> + +<p>"Ned," he said, "we must choose the longer way. We cannot run any risk +of landing right under the rifles of Santa Anna's troops. Good God!"</p> + +<p>Some gunner on the walls of San Juan de Ulua, of better sight and aim +than the others, had sent a cannon ball so close that it struck the sea +within ten feet of them. They were deluged by a water spout and again +their little vessel rocked fearfully. Obed White called out cheerfully:</p> + +<p>"Still right side up! They may shoot more cannon balls at us, Ned, but +they won't hit as near as that again!"</p> + +<p>"No, it's not likely," said Ned, "but there come the boats!"</p> + +<p>Large boats rowed by eight men apiece had now put out, but they, too, +were troubled by the wind and the high waves, and the boat they pursued +was so small that it was lost to sight most of the time. The wind and +darkness while a danger on the one hand were a protection on the other. +Fortunately both current and wind were bearing them in the direction +they wished, and they struggled with the energy that the love of life +can bring. All the large boats save one now disappeared from view, <a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a>but +the exception, having marked them well, came on, gaining. An officer +seated in the prow, and wrapped in a long cloak, hailed them in a loud +voice, ordering them to surrender.</p> + +<p>"Ned," said Obed White, "you keep the boat going straight ahead and I'll +answer that man. But I wish this was a rifle in place of a musket."</p> + +<p>He picked up the musket and took aim. When he fired the leading rower on +the right hand side of the pursuing boat dropped back, and the boat was +instantly in confusion. White laid down the musket and seized the oar +again.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ned," he exclaimed, "if we pull as hard as we can and a little +harder, we'll lose them!"</p> + +<p>The boat, driven by the oars and the wind, sprang forward. Fortune, as +if resolved now to favor fugitives who had made so brave a fight against +overwhelming odds, piled the clouds thicker and heavier than ever over +the bay. The little boat was completely concealed from its pursuers. +Another gun boomed from San Juan de Ulua, and both Ned and Obed saw its +flash on the parapet, but, hidden under the kindly veil of the night, +they pulled straight ahead with strong arms. The sea seemed to be +growing smoother, and soon they saw an outline which they knew to be +that of the land.</p> + +<p>"We're below the town now," said Obed. "I don't know any particular +landing place, but it's low and sandy along here. So I propose that we +ride right in on the the highest wave, jump out of the boat when she +strikes and leave her."</p> + +<p>"Good enough," said Ned. "Yes, that's the land. I can see it plainly +now, and here comes our wave."</p> + +<p>The crest of the great wave lifted them up, and bore them swiftly +inland, the two increasing the speed with <a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>their oars. They went far up +on a sandy beach, where the boat struck. They sprang out, Obed taking +with him the unloaded musket, and ran. The retreating water caught them +about the ankles and pulled hard, but could not drag them back. They +passed beyond the highest mark of the waves, and then dropped, +exhausted, on the ground.</p> + +<p>"We've got all Mexico now to escape in," said Obed White, "instead of +that pent-up castle."</p> + +<p>The alarm gun boomed once more from San Juan de Ulua, and reminded them +that they could not linger long there. The rain was still falling, the +night was cold, and, after their tremendous strain, they would need +shelter as well as refuge.</p> + +<p>"They'll be searching the beach soon," said Obed, "and we'd best be off. +It's against my inclination just now to stay long in one place. A +rolling stone keeps slick and well polished, and that's what I'm after."</p> + +<p>"I think our safest course is to travel inland just as fast and as far +as we can," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Correct. Good advice needs no bush."</p> + +<p>They started in the darkness across the sand dunes, and walked for a +long time. They knew that a careful search along the beach would be made +for them, but the Mexicans were likely to feel sure when they found +nothing that they had been wrecked and drowned.</p> + +<p>"I hope they'll think the sea got us," said Ned, "because then they +won't be searching about the country for us."</p> + +<p>"We weren't destined to be drowned that time," said Obed with great +satisfaction. "It just couldn't happen after our running such a gauntlet +before reaching the sea. But the further we get away from salt water the +safer we are."<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a></p> + +<p>"It was my plan at first," said Ned, "to go by way of the sea from Vera +Cruz to a Texan port."</p> + +<p>"Circumstances alter journeys. It can't be done now. We've got to cut +across country. It's something like a thousand miles to Texas, but I +think that you and I together, Ned, can make it."</p> + +<p>Ned agreed. Certainly they had no chance now to slip through by the way +of Vera Cruz, and the sea was not his element anyhow.</p> + +<p>The rain ceased, and a few stars came out. They passed from the sand +dunes into a region of marshes. Constant walking kept their blood warm, +and their clothes were drying upon them. But they were growing very +tired and they felt that they must rest and sleep even at the risk of +recapture.</p> + +<p>"There's a lot of grass growing on the dry ground lying between the +marshes," said Ned, "and I suppose that the Mexicans cut it for the Vera +Cruz market. Maybe we can find something like a haystack or a windrow. +Dry grass makes a good bed."</p> + +<p>They hunted over an hour and persistence was rewarded by a small heap of +dry grass in a little opening surrounded by thorn bushes. They spread +one covering of it on the ground, covered themselves to the mouth with +another layer, and then went sound asleep, the old, unloaded musket +lying by Obed White's side.</p> + +<p>The two slept the sleep of deep exhaustion, the complete relaxation of +both body and mind. Boy and man they had passed through ordeals that few +can endure, but, healthy and strong, they suffered merely from weariness +and not from shattered nerves. So they slept peacefully and their +breathing was long and deep. They were warm as they lay with the grass +above and below them like two blankets. It had not rained much here, +<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>and the grass had dried before their coming, so they were free from +danger of cold.</p> + +<p>The night passed and the brilliant Mexican day came, touching with red +and gold the town that curved about the bay, and softening the tints of +the great fortress that rose on the rocky isle. All was quiet again +within San Juan de Ulua and Vera Cruz. It had become known in both +castle and town that two Texans, boy and man, had escaped from the +dungeons under the sea only to find a grave in the sea above. Their boat +had been found far out in the bay where the returning waves carried it, +but the fishes would feed on their bodies, and it was well, because the +Texans were wicked people, robbers and brigands who dared to defy the +great and good Santa Anna, the father of his people.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the two slept on, never stirring under the grass. It is true +that the boy had dreams of a mighty castle from which he had fled and of +a roaring ocean over which he had passed, but he landed happily and the +dream sank away into oblivion. Peons worked in a field not a hundred +yards away, but they sought no fugitives, and they had no cruel thoughts +about anything. That Spanish strain in them was wholly dormant now. They +had heard in the night the signal guns from San Juan de Ulua and the +tenderest hearted of them said a prayer under his breath for the boy +whom the storm had given to the sea. Then they sang together as they +worked, some soft, crooning air of love and sacrifice that had been sung +among the hills of Spain before the Moor came. Perhaps if they had known +that the boy and man were asleep only a hundred yards away, the +tenderest hearted among them at least would have gone on with their work +just the same.</p> + +<p>Ned was the first to awake and it was past noon. He <a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>threw off the grass +and stood up refreshed but a little stiff. He awoke Obed, who rose, +yawning tremendously and plucking wisps of grass from his hair. The +droning note of a song came faintly, and the two listened.</p> + +<p>"Peons at work in a field," said the boy, looking through the trees. +"They don't appear to be very warlike, but we'd better go in the other +direction."</p> + +<p>"You're right," said Obed. "It's best for us to get away. If we tempt +our fate too much it may overtake us, but before we go let's take a last +view of our late home, San Juan de Ulua. See it over there, cut out in +black against the blue sky. It's a great fortress, but I'm glad to bid +it farewell."</p> + +<p>"Shall we take the musket?" asked Ned. "It's unloaded, and we have +nothing with which to load it."</p> + +<p>"I think we'll stick to it," replied Obed, "we may find a use for it, +but the first thing we want, Ned, is something to eat, and we've got to +get it. Curious, isn't it, how the fear of recapture, the fear of +everything, melts away before the demands of hunger."</p> + +<p>"Which means that we'll have to go to some Mexican hut and ask for +food," said Ned. "Now, I suggest, since we have no money, that we offer +the musket for as much provisions as we can carry."</p> + +<p>"It's not a bad idea. But our pistols are loaded and we'll keep them in +sight. It won't hurt if the humble peon takes us for brigands. He'll +trade a little faster, and, as this is a time of war so far as we are +concerned, we have the right to inspire necessary fear."</p> + +<p>They started toward the north and west, anxious to leave the tierra +caliente as soon as they could and reach the mountains. Ned saw once +more the silver cone of Orizaba now on his left. It had not led him on a +happy quest before, but he believed that it was a true beacon <a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>now. They +walked rapidly, staying their hunger as best they could, not willing to +approach any hut, until they were a considerable distance from Vera +Cruz. It was nearly nightfall when they dared a little adobe hut on a +hillside.</p> + +<p>"We'll claim to be Spaniards out of money and walking to the City of +Mexico," said Obed. "They probably won't believe our statements, but, +owing to the sight of these loaded pistols, they will accept them."</p> + +<p>It was a poor hut with an adobe floor and its owner, a surly Mexican, +was at home, but it contained plenty of food of the coarsest Mexican +type, and Obed White stated their requests very plainly.</p> + +<p>"Food we must have," he said, "sufficient for two or three days. +Besides, we want the two serapes hanging there on the wall. I think they +are clean enough for our use. In return we offer you this most excellent +musket, a beautiful weapon made at Seville. Look at it. It is worth +twice what we demand for it. Behold the beautifully carved stock and the +fine steel barrel."</p> + +<p>The Mexican, a dark, heavy-jawed fellow, regarded them maliciously, +while his wife and seven half-naked children sat by in silence, but +watching the strangers with the wary, shifting eyes of wild animals.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is a good musket," he said, "but may I inquire if it is your +own?"</p> + +<p>"For the purposes of barter and sale it is my own," replied Obed +politely. "In this land as well as some others possession is ten points +of the law."</p> + +<p>"The words you speak are Spanish but your tone is Gringo."</p> + +<p>"Gringo or Spanish, it does not change the beauty and value of the +musket."</p> + +<p>"I was in Vera Cruz this morning. Last night there <a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>was a storm and the +great guns at the mighty Castle of San Juan de Ulua were firing."</p> + +<p>"Did they fire the guns to celebrate the storm?"</p> + +<p>"No. They gave a signal that two prisoners, vile Texans, were escaping +from the dungeons under the sea. But the storm took them, and buried +them in the waters of the bay. I heard the description of them. One was +a very tall man, thin and with very thick, red hair. The other was a +boy, but tall and strong for his age. He had gray eyes and brown hair. +Wretched infidel Texans they were, but they are gone and may the Holy +Virgin intercede for their souls."</p> + +<p>He lifted his heavy lashes, and he and Obed White looked gravely into +the eyes of each other. They and Ned, too, understood perfectly.</p> + +<p>"You were informed wrongly," said Obed. "The man who escaped was short +and fat, and he had yellow hair. The boy was very dark with black hair +and black eyes. But the statement that they were drowned in the bay is +correct."</p> + +<p>"One might get five hundred good silver pesos for bringing in their +bodies."</p> + +<p>"One might, but one won't, and you, amigo, are just concluding an +excellent bargain. You get this fine, unloaded musket, and we get the +food and the serapes for which we have so courteously asked. The entire +bargain will be completed inside of two minutes."</p> + +<p>The blue eyes and the black eyes met again and the owner of each pair +understood.</p> + +<p>"It is so," said the Mexican, evenly, and he brought what they wished.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, amigo," said Obed politely. "I will repeat that the musket is +unloaded, and you cannot find ammunition for it any nearer than Vera +Cruz, which will <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>not trouble you as you are here at home in your +castle. But our pistols are loaded, and it is a necessary fact for my +young friend and myself. We purpose to travel in the hills, where there +is great danger of brigands. Fortunately for us we are both able and +willing to shoot well. Once more, farewell."</p> + +<p>"Farewell," said the Mexican, waving his hand in dignified salute.</p> + +<p>"That fellow is no fool," said Obed, as they strode away. "I like a man +who can take a hint. A word to the wise is like a stitch in time."</p> + +<p>"Will he follow us?"</p> + +<p>"Not he. He has that musket which he craved, and at half its value. He +does not desire wounds and perhaps death. The chances are ninety-nine +out of a hundred that he will never say a word for fear his government +will seize his musket."</p> + +<p>"And now for the wildest country that we can find," said Ned. "I'm glad +it doesn't rain much down here. We can sleep almost anywhere, wrapped in +our serapes."</p> + +<p>They ate as they walked and they kept on a long time after sunset, +picking their way by the moonlight. Two or three times they passed peons +in the path, but their bold bearing and the pistols in their belts +always gave them the road. Brigands flourished amid the frequent +revolutions, and the humbler Mexicans found it wise to attend strictly +to their own business. They slept again in the open, but this time on a +hill in a dense thicket. They had previously drunk at a spring at its +base, and lacking now for neither food nor water they felt hope rising +continually.</p> + +<p>Ned had no dreams the second night, and both awoke at dawn. On the far +side of the hill, they found a pool in which they bathed, and with +breakfast following they <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>felt that they had never been stronger. Their +food was made up in two packs, one for each, and they calculated that +with economy it would last two days. They could also reckon upon further +supplies from wild fruits, and perhaps more frijoles and tortillas from +the people themselves. When they had summed up all their circumstances, +they concluded that they were not in such bad condition. Armed, strong +and bold, they might yet traverse the thousand miles to Texas.</p> + +<p>Light of heart and foot they started. Off to the left the great silver +head of Orizaba looked down at them benignantly, and before them they +saw the vast flowering robe of the tierra caliente into which they +pushed boldly, even as Cortez and his men had entered it.</p> + +<p>Ned was almost overpowered by a vegetation so grand and magnificent. +Except on the paths which they followed, it was an immense and tangled +mass of gigantic trees and huge lianas. Many of the lianas had wound +themselves like huge serpents about the trees and had gradually pulled +them, no matter how strong, into strange and distorted shapes. Overhead +parrots and paroquets chattered amid the vast and gorgeous bloom of red +and pink, yellow and white. Ned and Obed were forced to keep to the +narrow peon paths, because elsewhere one often could not pass save +behind an army of axes.</p> + +<p>The trees were almost innumerable in variety. They saw mahogany, +rosewood, Spanish cedar and many others that they did not know. They +also saw the cactus and the palm, turned by the struggle for existence +in this tremendous forest, into climbing plants. Obed noted these facts +with his sharp eye.</p> + +<p>"It's funny that the cactus and the palm have to climb to live," he +said, "but they've done it. It isn't any <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>funnier, however, than the +fact that the whale lived on land millions of years ago, and had to take +to the water to escape being eaten up by bigger and fiercer animals than +himself. I'm a Maine man and so I know about whales."</p> + +<p>They came now and then to little clearings, in which the peons raised +many kinds of tropical and semitropical plants, bananas, pineapples, +plantains, oranges, cocoa-nuts, mangoes, olives and numerous others. In +some places the fruit grew wild, and they helped themselves to it. Twice +they asked at huts for the customary food made of Indian corn, and on +both occasions it was given to them. The peons were stolid, but they +seemed kind and Ned was quite sure they did not care whether the two +were Gringos or not. Two or three times, heavy tropical rains gushed +down in swift showers, and they were soaked through and through, despite +their serapes, but the hot sun, coming quickly afterward, soon dried +them out again. They were very much afraid of chills and fever, but +their constitutions, naturally so strong, held them safe.</p> + +<p>Deeper and deeper they went into the great tropical wilderness of the +tierra caliente. Often the heat under the vast canopy of interlacing +vines and boughs was heavy and intense. Then they would lie down and +rest, first threshing up grass and bushes to drive away snakes, +scorpions and lizards. Sometimes they would sleep, and sometimes they +would watch the monkeys and parrots darting about and chattering +overhead. Twice they saw fierce ocelots stealing among the tree trunks, +stalking prey hidden from the man and boy. The first ocelot was a tawny +yellow and the second was a reddish gray. Both were marked with black +spots in streaks and in lengthened rings. The second was rather the +larger of the <a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>two. He seemed to be slightly over four feet in length, +of which the body was three feet and the tail about a foot.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed were lying flat upon the ground, when the second ocelot +appeared, and, as the wind was blowing from him toward them, he did not +detect their presence. At the distance the figure of the great cat was +enlarged. He looked to them almost like a tiger and certainly he was a +ferocious creature, as he stalked his prey. Neither would have cared to +meet him even with weapons in hand. Suddenly he darted forward, ran up +the trunk of a great tree and disappeared in the dense foliage. As he +did not come down again they inferred that he had caught what he was +pursuing and was now devouring it.</p> + +<p>Ned shivered a little and put his hand on the butt of his loaded pistol.</p> + +<p>"Obed," he said, "I don't like the jungle, and I shall be glad when I +get out of it. It's too vast, too bewildering, and its very beauty fills +me with fear. I always feel that fangs and poison are lurking behind the +beauty and the bloom."</p> + +<p>"You're not so far wrong, Ned. I believe I'd rather be on the dusty +deserts of the North. We'll go through the tierra caliente just as +quickly as we can."</p> + +<p>The next day they became lost among the paths, and did not regain their +true direction until late in the afternoon. Sunset found them by the +banks of a considerable creek, the waters of which were cold, as if its +source were in the high mountains. Being very tired they bathed and +arranged couches of grass on the banks. After the heat and perplexity of +the jungle they were very glad to see cold, running water. The sight and +the pleasant trickle of the flowing stream filled Ned with desires for +the north, for the open land beyond the Rio Grande, where <a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>cool winds +blew, and you could see to the horizon's rim. He was sicker than ever of +the jungle, the beauty of which could not hide from him its steam and +poison.</p> + +<p>"How much longer do you think it will be before we leave the tierra +caliente?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We ought to reach the intermediate zone between the tierra caliente and +the higher sierras in three or four days," replied Obed. "It's mighty +slow traveling in the jungle, but to get out of it we've only to keep +going long enough. Meanwhile, we'll have a good snooze by the side of +this nice, clean little river."</p> + +<p>As usual after hard traveling, they fell asleep almost at once, but Ned +was awakened in the night by some strange sound, the nature of which he +could not determine at first. The jungle surrounded them in a vast, high +circle, wholly black in the night, but overhead was a blue rim of sky +lighted by stars. He raised himself on his elbow. Obed, four or five +feet away, was still sleeping soundly on his couch of grass. The little +river, silver in the moonlight, flowed with a pleasant trickle, but the +trickle was not the sound that had awakened him.</p> + +<p>The forest was absolutely silent. Not a breath of wind stirred, but the +boy, although awed by the night and the great jungle, still listened +intently.</p> + +<p>The sound rose again, a low, hoarse rumble. It was distant thunder. A +storm was coming. He heard it a third time. It was not thunder. It was +the deep growl of some fierce, wild animal. For a moment the boy was +afraid. Then he remembered the heavy pistol that never left his belt. It +still carried the original load, a large bullet with plenty of gunpowder +behind it.</p> + +<p>The sounds were repeated and they were nearer. They were like a long +drawn p-u, p-u, p-u. The tone was <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>of indescribable ferocity. Ned was +brave, but he shivered all over and there was a prickly sensation at the +roots of his hair. He felt like some primeval youth who with club alone +must face the rush of the saber-toothed tiger. But he drew upon his +reserves of pride which were large. He would not awaken Obed, but, +drawing the pistol and holding his fingers on trigger and hammer, he +walked a little distance down the bank of the stream. That terrible p-u, +p-u, p-u, suddenly sounded much closer at hand, and Ned shrank back, +stiffening with horror.</p> + +<p>A great black beast, by far the largest wild animal that he had ever +seen, came silently out of the jungle and stood before the boy. He was a +good seven feet in length, black as a coal, low but of singularly thick +and heavy build. His shoulders and paws were more powerful than those of +a tiger. As he stood there before Ned, black and sinister as Satan, he +opened his mouth, and emitted again that fearful, rumbling p-u, p-u, +p-u.</p> + +<p>Ned could not move. All his power seemed to have gone into his eyes and +he only looked. He saw the red eyes, the black lips wrinkling back from +the long, cruel fangs, and the glossy skin rippling over the tremendous +muscles. Ned suddenly wrenched himself free from this paralysis of the +body, leveled the pistol and fired at a mark midway between the red +eyes.</p> + +<p>There was a tremendous roar and the animal leaped. Ned sprang to one +side. The huge beast with blood pouring from his head turned and would +have been upon him at the second leap, but a long barrel and then an arm +was projected over Ned's shoulder. A pistol was fired almost in his ear. +The monster's spring was checked in mid-flight, and he fell to the +earth, dead. Ned too, fell, but in a faint.<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE RUINED TEMPLES</h3> + + +<p>Ned revived and sat up. Cold water which Obed had brought in his hat +from the river was dripping from his face. At his feet lay a huge black +animal, terrible even in death. There was one wound in his head, where +Ned's bullet had gone in, and another through the right eye, where +Obed's had entered, reaching the brain. Ned's strength now returned +fully and the color came back to his face. He stood up, but he shuddered +nevertheless.</p> + +<p>"Obed," he said gratefully, "you came just in time."</p> + +<p>"I surely did," said that cheerful artisan. "A bullet in time saved a +life like thine. But you had already given him a bad wound."</p> + +<p>"What is he, Obed?"</p> + +<p>"About the biggest and finest specimen of a black jaguar that ever +ravaged a Mexican jungle. I always thought the black kind was found only +in Paraguay and the regions down there, but I'm quite sure now that at +least one of them has been roaming up here, and he is bound to have kin, +too. Ned, isn't he a terror? If he'd got at you he'd have ripped you in +pieces in half a minute."</p> + +<p>Ned shuddered again. Even in death the great black jaguar was capable of +inspiring terror. He had never before seen such a picture of magnificent +and sinister strength. He was heavier and more powerful than a <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>tiger, +and he knew that the jaguar often became a man-eater.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to have that skin to lay upon the parlor of my palatial home, +if I ever have one," said Obed, "and I reckon that you and I had better +stick pretty close together while we are in this jungle. Our pistols are +not loaded now, and we have no more ammunition."</p> + +<p>They did not dare to sleep again in the same place, fearing that the +jaguar might have a mate which would seek revenge upon them, but, a +couple of hundred yards further down, they found in the river a little +island, twelve or fifteen feet square. Here they felt that the water +would somehow give them security, and they lay down once more.</p> + +<p>Ned was awakened a second time by that terrifying pu-pu-pu. It +approached through the forest but it stopped at the point where the dead +body of the black giant lay. He knew that it was the voice of the mate. +He listened a long time, but he did not hear it again, and he concluded +that the second jaguar, after the brief mourning of animals, had gone +away. He fell asleep again, and did not awaken until day.</p> + +<p>They were now practically unarmed, but they kept the pistols, for the +sake of show in case any peons of the jungle should offer trouble, and +pressed forward, with all the speed possible in so dense a tangle of +forest. In the deep shade of trees and bushes Ned continually saw the +shadows of immense black jaguars. He knew that it was only nerves and +imagination, but he did not like to be in a condition that enabled fancy +to play him such tricks. He longed more than ever for the open plains, +even with dust and thirst.</p> + +<p>Already they saw the mountains rising before them, terrace after +terrace, and, three days after the encounter <a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>with the jaguar, they +began to ascend the middle slopes between the tierra caliente and the +lofty sierras. The whole character of the country changed. The tropical +jungle ceased. They now entered magnificent forests of oak, pine, plane +tree, mimosas, chestnut and many other varieties. They also saw the +bamboo, the palm and the cactus. The water was fresher and colder, and +they felt as if they had come into a new world.</p> + +<p>But the question of food supply returned. They had used the wild fruits +in abundance, always economizing strictly with their tortillas and +frijoles. Now they had eaten the last of these and a diet of fruit alone +would not do.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to sell a pistol in the way that we sold the musket," said +Ned.</p> + +<p>"I hate to do it," said Obed, "but I don't see anything else that we can +do. We might seize our food at the first hut we find, but whatever may +be the quarrels between the Mexicans and Texans, I'm not willing to rob +any of these poor peons."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," said Ned with emphasis. "My pistol goes first."</p> + +<p>They found the usual adobe hut in a pleasant valley, and the noble +señor, the proprietor, was at home playing a mandolin. He did not +suspect them to be Gringos, but he was quite sure that they were +brigands and he made the exchange swiftly and gladly. Two days later the +other pistol went in the same way, and they began to think how they +could acquire new weapons and plenty of ammunition for them. They sat in +the shade of a great oak while they discussed the question. It was +certainly a vital one. Dangerous enough at any time, the long journey +through Mexico would become impossible without arms.<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></p> + +<p>"If we could loot them from the soldiers I wouldn't mind at all," said +Obed. "The soldiers are to act against Texas, according to the tale you +tell, and the tale is true. All's fair in flight and war, and if such a +chance comes our way I'm going to take it."</p> + +<p>"So am I," said Ned.</p> + +<p>But such a chance was in no hurry to present itself. They went on for a +number of days and came now to the region, bordering the high sierras, +passing through vast forests of oak and pine, and seeing scarcely any +habitation. Here, as they walked toward twilight along one of the narrow +paths, a voice from the bushes cried: "Halt!"</p> + +<p>Ned saw several gun barrels protruding from the foliage, and was +obedient to the command. He also threw up his hands and Obed White was +no slower than he. Ned judged from the nature of the ambush that they +had fallen among brigands, then so prevalent in Mexico, and the thought +gave him relief. Soldiers would carry him back to Santa Anna, but surely +brigands would not trouble long those who had nothing to lose.</p> + +<p>"It is well, friends, that you obey so quickly," said a man in gaudy +costume as he stepped from the bushes followed by a half dozen others, +evil looking fellows, all carrying guns and pistols. Ned noticed that +two of the guns were rifles of long and slender barrel, undoubtedly of +American make.</p> + +<p>"Good-evening, Captain," said Obed White in his smoothest tones. "We +were expecting to meet you, as we learned that we are in the territory +which you rule so well."</p> + +<p>The man frowned and then smiled.</p> + +<p>"I see that you are a man of humor, amigo," he said, "and it is well. +Your information is correct. I rule <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>this territory. I am Captain Juan +Carossa and these are my men. We collect tribute from all who pass this +way."</p> + +<p>"A worthy task and, I have no doubt, a profitable one."</p> + +<p>"Always worthy but not always profitable. However, I trust that you can +make it worth our while."</p> + +<p>A look of sadness passed over the expressive features of Obed White.</p> + +<p>"You look like a brave and generous man, Señor Juan Carossa," he said +sorrowfully, "and it grieves both my young friend and myself to the very +center of our hearts to disappoint you. We have nothing. There is not a +cent of either gold or silver upon us. Jewels we admire, but we have +them not. You may search."</p> + +<p>He held wide his arms and Ned did likewise. Carossa gave an order to one +of his men, a tall fellow, swathed in a red serape, to make the search, +and he did so in such a rapid and skillful manner that Ned marveled. He +felt hands touching him here and there, as light as the fall of a leaf. +Obed was treated in the same fashion, and then the man in the red serape +turned two empty and expressive palms to his chief.</p> + +<p>Carossa swore fluently, and bent a look of deep reproach upon Ned and +Obed.</p> + +<p>"Señors," he said, "this is an injustice, nay more, it is a crime. You +come upon the territory over which we range. You put us to the trouble +of stopping you, and you have nothing. All our risk and work are +wasted."</p> + +<p>Obed shook his head in apology.</p> + +<p>"It is not our fault," he said. "We had a little money, but we spent it +for food. We had some arms also, but they went for food too, so you see, +good kind Captain Carossa, we had nothing left for you."<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a></p> + +<p>"But you have two good serapes," said the Captain. "Had you money we +would not take them from you, but it must not be said of Captain Carossa +and his men that they went away with nothing. I trust, señor, that you +do not think me unreasonable."</p> + +<p>Obed White considered. Captain Carossa was a polite man. So was he.</p> + +<p>"We can ill afford to part with these cloaks or serapes," he said, "but +since it must be we cannot prevent it. Meanwhile, we ask you to offer us +your hospitality. We are on the mountains now, and the nights are cold. +We would be chilled without our cloaks. Take us with you, and, in the +morning, when the warm sunshine comes we will proceed."</p> + +<p>Carossa laughed and pulled his long black mustaches. "Santiago, but you +have a spirit," he said, "and I like it. You shall have your request and +you may come with us but to-morrow you go forth stripped and shorn. My +men cannot work for nothing. Spanish or Mexican, English or Gringo you +must pay. Gringo you are, but for that I do not care. It is in truth the +reason why I yield to your little request, because you can never bring +the soldiers of Santa Anna down upon us."</p> + +<p>Obed While smiled. The look upon his face obviously paid tribute to the +craft and courage of Juan Carossa, the great, and Carossa therefore was +pleased. The brigand captain did not abate one whit from his resolution +to have their serapes and their coats too, but he would show them first +that he was a gentleman. He spoke to his men, and the fellow with the +red serape led the way along a narrow path through a forest of myrtle +oaks. They went in single file, the Captain about the middle, and just +behind him Obed, with Ned following. Ned as usual was silent, but Obed +talked nearly all the time <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>and Carossa seemed to like it. Ned saw that +the brigand leader was vain, eager to show his power and resource, but +he was sure that, at bottom, he was cruel, and that he would turn them +forth stripped and helpless in the forest.</p> + +<p>Night came down suddenly, but the man in front lighted a small lantern +that he took from under his serape, and they continued the march with +unabated speed. The forest thinned, and about nine o'clock they came +into an open space. The moon was now out and Ned saw a group of four +rectangular buildings, elevated on mounds. The buildings, besides being +rectangles themselves, were so placed that the group made a rectangle. +The structures of stone were partly ruined, and of great age. They +followed the uniform plan of those vast and mysterious ruins found so +often in Southern and Central Mexico. The same race that erected the +pyramids on the Teotihuacan might have raised these buildings.</p> + +<p>"My home! The quarters of myself and my men," said Carossa, +dramatically, pointing to the largest of the buildings. "We do not know +who built it. It goes far beyond the time of Cortez, but it serves us +now. The peon will not approach it, because Carossa is there and maybe +ghosts too."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of ghosts," said Obed White. "Lead on, most noble +captain. We appreciate your hospitality. We did not know that you were +taking us to a palace."</p> + +<p>Captain Carossa deigned to be pleased again with himself, and, taking +the lantern from the man in the red serape, he led the way. He entered +the large building by means of a narrow passageway in one of the angles, +passed through an unroofed room, and then came to a door at which both +Ned and Obed gazed with the most intense curiosity. The doorway was made +of only three <a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a>stones, two huge monolithic door jambs, each seven feet +high, nearly as wide and more than two feet thick. Upon them rested a +lintel also monolithic, but at least twenty feet in length, with a width +of five feet and a thickness of three feet. It was evident to Ned that +mighty workmen had once toiled here.</p> + +<p>"Is not that an entrance fit for a king?" said the brigand captain, +again making a dramatic gesture.</p> + +<p>"It is fit for Captain Juan Carossa, which is more," said Obed White +with suave courtesy.</p> + +<p>Captain Carossa bowed. Once more he deigned to be pleased with himself. +Then he led through the doorway and Ned uttered a little cry of +admiration. They stood in a great room with a magnificent row of +monolithic pillars running down the center. A stone roof had once +covered the room, but it had long since fallen in. The interior of the +walls was plain, made of stones and mortar, once covered with cement, +deep blood red in color, of which a few fragments remained. But the +walls on the outside were covered with splendid panels of mosaic work +varied now and then by sculptured stones. The stone used on the outside +was of a light cream color. But the boy did not see the mosaic panels +until later.</p> + +<p>Silent and studious, these vast ruins of a mysterious race made a great +appeal to Ned. He forgot the rough brigands for a moment, and stood +there looking at the walls and great columns, upon which the moon was +pouring a flood of beams. What were these outlaws to those mighty +builders whom the past had swallowed up so completely?</p> + +<p>The brigands were already lighting a fire beside one of the huge +monoliths, and Carossa lay down on a serape. The fire blazed up, but it +did not detract from the weird effect of the Hall of Pillars. One of the +men warmed <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a>food which he brought from another of the ruined houses, and +Carossa told his prisoners to eat.</p> + +<p>"What I give you to-night, and what I shall give you to-morrow morning +may be the last food that you will have for some time," he said, "so +enjoy it as best you may."</p> + +<p>He smiled, his lips drawing back from his white teeth, and in some +singular way he made Ned think of the black jaguar and his black lips +writhing back from his great fangs. Why had Obed spoken of coming with +them? Better to have been stripped in the path, and to have gone on +alone. But he ate the food, as the long marching had made him hungry, +and lay down within the rim of the firelight.</p> + +<p>The men also ate, and Ned saw that they were surly. Doubtless they had +endured much hardship recently and had secured little spoil. He heard +muttered sounds which he knew were curses. He became more uneasy than +ever. Certainly little human kindness lurked in the hearts of such as +these, and he believed that Carossa was playing with them for his own +amusement, just as a trainer with a steel bar makes the animals in a +cage do their tricks.</p> + +<p>The mutterings among the men increased. Carossa spoke to one of them, +who brought forth a stone jar from a recess in the wall. Tin cups were +produced and all, including Carossa, drank pulque made from the maguey +plant. They offered it also to Ned and Obed, but both declined.</p> + +<p>The pulque did not make the men more quarrelsome, but seemed to plunge +them into a lethargy. Two or three of them hummed doleful songs, as if +they were thinking of homes to which they could not go. One began to +weep, but finally spread out his serape, lay <a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>down on it and went to +sleep. Three or four others soon did the same. Two sat near the great +monolithic doorway, with muskets across their knees. Undoubtedly they +were intended to be sentinels, but Ned noted that their heads drooped.</p> + +<p>"I shall sleep now, my Gringo guests," said Carossa, "and I advise you +to do the same. You cannot alter anything, and you will need the +strength that sleep brings."</p> + +<p>"Your advice is good," said Obed, "and we thank you, Captain Carossa, +for your advice and courtesy. Manners are the fine finish of a man."</p> + +<p>His serape had not yet been taken from him, and he rolled himself in it. +Ned was already in his, lying with his feet to the smoldering fire. The +boy did not wish to sleep, nor could he have slept had he wished. But he +saw that Carossa soon slumbered, and the sentinels by the doorway +seemed, at least, to doze. He turned slightly on his side, and looked at +Obed who lay about eight feet away. He could not see the man's face, but +his body did not stir. Perhaps Obed also slept.</p> + +<p>A wind was now rising and it made strange sounds among the vast ruins. +It was a moan, a shriek and a hoarse sigh. Perhaps the peons were not so +far wrong! The ghosts did come back to their old abodes. Ned was glad +that he was not alone. Even without Obed the company of brigands would +have been a help. He lay still a long time.</p> + +<p>The coals of the fire went out, one by one, and where they had glowed +only black ashes lay. The wind among the ruins played all kinds of +strange variations, and Ned was never more awake in his life. He took a +last look at the sentinels, and he was sure that they slept, sitting, +with their muskets across their laps. Then he rose to <a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>his knees and +with difficulty checked a cry of astonishment when he saw Obed rising at +the same time. They remained on their knees a moment or two looking at +each other and then, simultaneously they rose to their feet. Their +comprehension was complete.</p> + +<p>Ned looked down at Carossa. The brigand chief slept soundly and his face +in repose was wholly evil. The gayety and courtesy that they had seen +upon it awake were only a mask.</p> + +<p>Obed stepped lightly to one of the pillars and Ned followed him. He knew +what Obed was seeking. Here was the great chance. The brigands, careless +from long immunity, had stacked their guns against the pillar, and Ned +and Obed promptly selected the two American rifles that Ned had noticed. +Hung by each was a large supply of powder and bullets to fit which they +also took. Two of the best machetes were chosen too, and then they were +ready to go. With the rifle in his hand, the great weapon with which the +pioneer made his way from ocean to ocean, Ned had strength and courage. +He believed that Obed and he could defeat the entire force of brigands, +but he awaited the signal of his older comrade.</p> + +<p>Standing close together behind the massive pillar they could not now see +the sentinels at the doorway. Ned was quite sure that they were sleeping +and that he and his comrade could steal past them. But Obed turned in +another direction and Ned followed without a word. The man had caught a +glimpse of a second entrance at the opposite side of this hall of +pillars, and the two darted into it.</p> + +<p>They found themselves in a passage less than the height of a man, and +only about three feet wide, but Obed led on boldly, and Ned, with equal +boldness, followed. The wall was about five feet thick, and they <a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>came +out into a court or patio surrounded by four ruined buildings. The floor +of the patio was cement, upon which their footsteps made no noise, and, +going through the great apertures in one of the ruined buildings, they +stood entirely on the outside of the mass of ancient temples, or +whatever it may have been.</p> + +<p>"Ned," whispered Obed, "we ought to go right down on our knees and give +thanks. We've not only escaped from Carossa and his cutthroats, but +we've brought with us two American rifles; good enough for anybody and +two or three hundred rounds of ammunition, the things that we needed +most of all."</p> + +<p>"It must have been more than chance," said Ned with emotion. "It must +have been a hand leading us."</p> + +<p>"When I proposed to go with them I thought we might have a chance of +some kind or other. Well, Captain Carossa, you meant us evil, but you +did us good. Come, Ned, the faster we get away from these ghosts the +better. Besides, we've got more to carry now."</p> + +<p>They had also brought away with them their packs of food, but they did +not mind the additional weight of the weapons, which were worth more to +them than gold or jewels. They listened a minute or two to see if any +alarm had been raised, but no sound came from the Hall of Pillars, and +with light steps and strong hearts they began another march on their +northward journey.</p> + +<p>They traveled by the moon and stars, and, as they were not hindered now +by any great tangle of undergrowth, they made many miles before dawn, +although they were ascending steadily. They had come upon the edge of +the great central plateau of Mexico, which runs far into the north and +which includes much of Texas. Before them lay another and great change +in the country. They were now to enter a land of little rain, where +<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>they would find the ragged yucca tree, the agave and the cactus, the +scrubby mesquite bush and clumps of coarse grass. But they had passed +through so much that they did not fear it.</p> + +<p>They hunted for an hour after sunrise, before they found a small brook, +at which they drank, and, in spirit, returned the thanks which Obed had +said so emphatically were due. Then, wrapped in the useful serapes, they +went to sleep once more in a thicket. They had been sure that the +Mexicans could not trail them, and their confidence was justified. When +they awoke in the afternoon no human being was in sight, and their +loaded rifles lay undisturbed beside them.</p> + +<p>Then they entered upon the plain, plodding steadily on over a dusty gray +landscape, but feeling that their rifles would be ample protection +against anything that they might meet. The sun became very hot, and they +longed at times for the shade of the forest that they had left behind, +but they did not cease their march. Off to their left they saw towering +mountains with a green film along their slopes that they knew to be +forests of oak and pine; and such was the nature of man that they looked +at them regretfully. Obed White, glancing at Ned, caught Ned glancing at +him, and both laughed.</p> + +<p>"That's it," said Obed. "How precious is the thing that slips away. When +we were in the forest we wanted the open country, but now in the open +country we want the forest. But we're making progress, Ned. Don't forget +that."</p> + +<p>"I don't," said Ned. "But when we get further North into the vast +stretches of the arid plateau, we must have something more to +carry—water bottles."</p> + +<p>"That's so. We can't do without them. Maybe, too, Ned, we <a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>can pick up a +couple of good horses. They'd be a wonderful help."</p> + +<p>"We'll hope for everything we need," said Ned cheerfully. "Now I wonder, +Obed, if the attack has been made on Texas. Do you think we can yet get +there in time?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so," replied Obed thoughtfully. "You were a long time in San +Juan de Ulua, but armies move slowly, and they have plenty of troubles +of their own here in Mexico. I would wager almost anything that no +Mexican force in great numbers has yet crossed the Rio Grande."</p> + +<p>"Then we may be in time. Obed, we'll push for the north with every ounce +of strength we have."</p> + +<p>"That's just what we'll do. Courage defeats a multitude of sins."</p> + +<p>They traveled now for nearly a week in a direction north slightly by +west, suffering at times from heat, and once from a tropical rain storm +that deluged them. While the rain poured upon them, they kept their +serapes wrapped around their powder, and let their bodies take the +worst. The rain, for a while, was very cold, but the powder was +precious, and after a while the sun came out, drying and warming them +again. They were compelled to swim two narrow but deep rivers, a most +difficult task, as they had arms, ammunition and food to carry with +them.</p> + +<p>They noticed stretches of forest again, and passed both scattered houses +and villages. Their knowledge of Spanish and their rifles were their +protection. But in some places the people seemed to care nothing either +about Santa Anna or those who might oppose him. They were content to +lead lives in a region which furnished food almost of its own accord. +Just before approaching <a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>one of these villages Ned shot another jaguar. +It was not black like the first, nor so large. It was about five feet in +length, and yellowish in color, with a splendid skin, which, at Obed's +suggestion, they removed for purposes of barter. It was a wise idea, as +they traded it in the village for two large water bottles. The people +there were so indifferent to their identity that they sat in the plaza +in the evening, and watched the young people dance the fandango.</p> + +<p>It was only a crude little village in the Mexican wilderness. The people +were more Indian than Mexican. There was not much melody in their music, +and not much rhythm in their dance, but they were human beings, enjoying +themselves after labor and without fear. Both Ned and Obed, sitting +outside the circle of light with their rifles across their knees, felt +it. The sense of human companionship, even of strangers, was very +pleasant. The music and the glowing faces appealed very strongly to the +boy. Silent, thoughtful, and compelled by circumstances to live a hard +life, he was nevertheless young with all the freshness of youth. Obed +saw, and he felt a deep sympathy for this lad who had wrapped himself +like a younger brother around his heart.</p> + +<p>"Just you wait, Ned," he said, "until we reach our own people across the +Rio Grande. Then we'll have lots of friends and they'll be friends all +the stronger, because you will be the first to bring them news of the +treacherous attack that is to be made upon them."</p> + +<p>"If we get there in time," said Ned, "and, Obed, I am beginning to +believe that we will get there in time."</p> + +<p>They passed for hunters, and that night they slept in the village, where +they received kindness, and departed again the next morning on the long, +long journey that always led to the north.<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>CACTUS AND MEXICANS</h3> + + +<p>They now came upon bare, wind-swept plains, which alternated with +blazing heat and bitter cold. Once they nearly perished in a Norther, +which drove down upon them with sheets of hail. Fortunately their +serapes were very thick and large, and they found additional shelter +among some ragged and mournful yucca trees. But they were much shaken by +the experience, and they rested an entire day by the banks of a shallow +little brook.</p> + +<p>"Oh, for a horse, two horses!" said Obed. "I'd give all our castles in +Spain for two noble Barbary steeds to take us swiftly o'er the plain."</p> + +<p>"I think we'll keep on walking," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, we're good walkers. We must be the very best walkers in +the world judging from the way we've footed it since we left the castle +of San Juan de Ulua."</p> + +<p>They refilled their water bottles, despite the muddiness of the stream, +and went on for three or four days over the plain, having nothing for +scenery save the sandy ridges, the ragged yuccas, dwarfed and ugly +mesquite bushes, and the deformed cactus.</p> + +<p>It was an ugly enough country by day, but, by night, it had a sort of +weird charm. The moonlight gave soft tints to the earth. Now and then +the wind would pick up the sand and carry it away in whirling gusts. The +<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>wind itself had a voice that was almost human and it played many notes. +Lean and hungry wolves now appeared and howled mournfully, but were +afraid to attack that terrible creature, man.</p> + +<p>They saw sheep herders several times, but the herders invariably +disappeared over the horizon with great speed. Neither Ned nor Obed +meant them any harm, and they would have liked to exchange a few words +with human beings.</p> + +<p>"They think of course that we're brigands," said Obed. "It's what +anybody would take us for. Evil looks corrupt good intentions."</p> + +<p>The next day Obed was lucky enough to shoot an antelope, and they had +fresh food. It was a fine fat buck, and they jerked and dried the +remainder of the body in the sun, taking a long rest at the same time. +Obed was continually restraining Ned's eagerness to hurry on.</p> + +<p>"The race is to the swift if he doesn't break down," he said, "but +you've got to guard mighty well against breaking down. I think we're +going to enter a terrible long stretch of dry country, and we want our +muscles to be tough and our wind to be good."</p> + +<p>Obed was partially right in his prediction as they passed for three days +through an absolutely sterile region. It was not sandy, however, but the +soil was hard and baked like a stone. Then they saw on their left high +but bare and desolate mountains, and soon they came to a little river of +clear water, apparently flowing down from the range. The stream was not +over twenty feet wide and two feet deep, but its appearance was +inexpressibly grateful to both. They sat down on its banks and looked at +each other.</p> + +<p>"Ned," said Obed, "how much dust of the desert do you think I am +carrying upon me? Let your answer be <a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>without prejudice. Friendship in +this case must not stand in the way of truth."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean by weight or by area?"</p> + +<p>"Both."</p> + +<p>"Answering by guess I should say about three square yards, or about +three pounds. Wouldn't you say about the same for me?"</p> + +<p>"Just about the same. I should say, too, that we carry at least twelve +or fifteen kinds of dirt. It is well soaked in our hair and also in our +clothes, and, as we may not get another good chance for a bath in a +month, we'd better use our opportunity."</p> + +<p>They reveled in the cool waters. They also washed out all their +clothing, including their serapes, and let the garments dry in the sun. +It was the most luxurious stop that they had made and they enjoyed it to +the full. Ned, scouting a little distance up the stream, shot a fine fat +deer among the bushes, and that night they had a feast of tender steaks. +Obed had obtained flint and steel at the Indian village, at which they +had seen the fandango, and he could light a fire with them, a most +difficult thing to do. Their fire was of dried cactus, burning rapidly, +but it lasted long enough for their cooking. After the heartiest meal +that they had eaten in a long time, they stretched out by the river, +listening to its pleasant flow. The remainder of the deer they had hung +high in the branches of a myrtle oak about forty yards away.</p> + +<p>"We haven't got our horses," said Obed, "but we're making progress. Time +and tide will carry man with them if he's ready with his boat."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we've been lucky, too," said Ned, "in passing through what is +mostly a wilderness."</p> + +<p>"That's so. The desert is a hard road, but in our case it keeps enemies +away."<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a></p> + +<p>They were lying on their serapes, the waters sang softly, the night was +dark but very cool and pleasant, and they were happy. But Ned suddenly +saw something that made him reach out and touch his companion.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he whispered, pointing a finger.</p> + +<p>They saw a dark figure creep on noiseless feet toward the tree, from a +bough of which hung their deer. It was only a shadow in the night, but +they knew that it was a cougar, drawn by the savor of the deer.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot," whispered Obed. "He can't get our meat, but we'll watch +him try."</p> + +<p>They lay quite still and enjoyed the joke. The cougar sprang again and +again, making mighty exertions, but always the rich food swung just out +of his reach. Once or twice his nose nearly touched it, but the two or +three inches of gulf which he could never surmount were as much as two +or three miles. He invariably fell back snarling, and he became so +absorbed in the hopeless quest that there was no chance of his noticing +the man and boy who lay not far away.</p> + +<p>The humor of it appealed strongly to Ned and Obed. The cougar, after so +many vain leaps, lay on the ground for a while panting. Then he ran up +the tree, and as far out on the bough as he dared. He reached delicately +with a forefoot, but he could not touch the strips of bark with which +the body was tied. Then he lay flat upon the bough and snarled again and +again.</p> + +<p>"That's a good punishment for a rascally thief," whispered Obed. "I +don't blame him for trying to get something to eat, but it's our deer. +Let him go away and do his own hunting."</p> + +<p>The cougar came back down the tree, but his descent was made with less +spirit than his ascent. Nevertheless he made another try at the jumping. +Ned saw, <a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>however, that he did not do as well as before. He never came +within six inches of the deer now. At last he lay flat again on the +ground and panted, staying there a full five minutes. When he got up he +made one final and futile jump, and then sneaked away, exhausted and +ashamed.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ned," said Obed, "since the comedy is over I think we can safely +go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"Especially as we know our deer is safe," said Ned.</p> + +<p>Both slept soundly throughout the remainder of the night. Toward morning +the cougar came back and looked longingly at the body of the deer +hanging from the bough of the tree. He thought once or twice of leaping +for it again, but there was a shift of the wind and he caught the human +odor from the two beings who lay forty yards away. He was a large and +strong beast of prey, but this odor frightened him, and he slunk off +among the trees, not to return.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed stayed two days beside the little river, taking a complete +rest, bathing frequently in the fresh waters, and curing as much of the +deer as possible for their journey. Then, rather heavily loaded, they +started anew, always going northward through a sad and rough land. Now +they entered another bare and sterile region of vast extent, walking for +five days, without seeing a single trace of surface water. Had it not +been for their capacious water bottles they would have perished, and, +even with their aid, it was only by the strictest economy that they +lived. The evaporation from the heat was so great that after a mouthful +or two of water they were invariably as thirsty as ever, inside of five +minutes.</p> + +<p>They passed from this desert into a wide, dry valley between bare +mountains, and entered a great cactus forest, one of the most wonderful +things that either of <a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>them had ever seen. The ground was almost level, +but it was hard and baked. Apparently no more rain fell here than in the +genuine desert of shifting sand, and there was not a drop of surface +water. Ned, when he first saw the mass of green, took it for a forest of +trees, such as one sees in the North, but so great was his interest that +he was not disappointed, when he saw that it was the giant cactus.</p> + +<p>The strange forest extended many miles. The stems of the cactus rose to +a height of sixty feet or more, with a diameter often reaching two feet. +Sometimes the stems had no branches, but, in case they did, the branches +grew out at right angles from the main stem, and then curving abruptly +upward continued their growth parallel to the parent stock.</p> + +<p>The stems of these huge plants were divided into eighteen or twenty +ribs, within which at intervals of an inch or so were buds, with +cushions, yellow and thick, from which grew six or seven large, and many +smaller spines.</p> + +<p>Most of the cactus trees were gorgeous with flowers, ranging from a deep +rich crimson through rose and pink to a creamy white.</p> + +<p>The green of the plants and the delicate colors of the flowers were +wonderfully soothing to the two who had come from the bare and burning +desert. There their eyes had ached with the heat and glare. They had +longed for shade as men had longed of old for the shadow of a rock in a +weary land. In truth they found little shade in the cactus forest, but +the green produced the illusion of it. They expected to find flowing or +standing water, but they went on for many miles and the soil remained +hard and baked, as it can bake only in the rainless regions of high +plateaus.<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a></p> + +<p>They found the forest to be fully thirty miles in length and several +miles in width. Everywhere the giant cactus predominated, and on its +eastern border they found two Indian men and several women and children +gathering the fruit, from which they made an excellent preserve. The +Indians were short in stature and very dark. All started to run when +they saw the white man and boy, both armed with rifles, approaching, but +Ned and Obed held up their hands as a sign of amity and, after some +hesitation, they stopped. They spoke a dialect which neither Ned nor +Obed could understand, but by signs they made a treaty of peace.</p> + +<p>They slept that night by the fire of their new friends and the next day +they were fortunate enough to shoot a deer, the greater part of which +they gave to the Indians. The older of the men then guided them out of +the forest at the northern end, and indicated as nearly as he could, by +the same sign language, the course they should pursue in order to reach +Texas. They had gone too far to the west, and by coming back toward the +east they would save distance, as well as pass through a better country. +Then he gravely bade them farewell and went back to his people.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed now crossed a low but rugged range of mountains, and came +into good country where they were compelled to spend a large part of +their time, escaping observation. It was only the troubled state of the +people and the extreme division of sentiment among them that saved the +two from capture. But they obtained news that filled both with joy. +Fighting had occurred in Texas, but no great Mexican army had yet gone +into the north.</p> + +<p>Becoming bold now from long immunity and trusting to their Mexican +address and knowledge of Spanish and <a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>its Mexican variants, they turned +into the main road and pursued their journey at a good pace. They were +untroubled the first day but on the second day they saw a cloud of dust +behind them.</p> + +<p>"Sheep being driven to market," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Ned, looking back. "That cloud of dust is at +least a mile away, but it seems to me I saw it give out a flash or two."</p> + +<p>"What kind of a flash do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Bright, like silver or steel. There, see it!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see it now, and I think you know what makes it, Ned."</p> + +<p>"I should say that it is the sun striking on the steel heads of long +lances."</p> + +<p>"So should I, and I say also that those lances are carried by Mexican +cavalrymen bound for Texas. It may not be a bad guess either that this +is the vanguard of the army of Cos. I infer from the volume of dust that +it is a considerable force."</p> + +<p>"Therefore it is wise for us to leave the road and hide as best we can."</p> + +<p>"Correctly spoken. The truth needs no bush. It walks without talking."</p> + +<p>They turned aside at once, and entered a field of Indian corn, where +they hoped to pass quietly out of sight, but some of the lancers came on +very fast and noticed the dusty figures at the far edge of the field. +Many of the Mexicans were skilled and suspicious borderers, and the +haste with which the two were departing seemed suspicious to them.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed heard loud and repeated shouts to halt, but pretending not +to hear passed out of the field and entered a stretch of thin forest +beyond.</p> + +<p>"We must not stop," said Obed. "Being regular <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>soldiers they will surely +discover, if they overtake us, that we are not Mexicans, and two or +three lance thrusts would probably be the end of us. Now that we are +among these trees we'll run for it."</p> + +<p>A shout came from the lancers in the corn field as soon as they saw the +two break into a run. Ned heard it, and he felt as the fox must feel +when the hounds give tongue. Tremors shook him, but his long and silent +mental training came to his aid. His will strengthened his body and he +and Obed ran rapidly. Nor did they run without purpose. Both +instinctively looked for the roughest part of the land and the thickest +stretches of forest. Only there could they hope to escape the lancers +who were thundering after them.</p> + +<p>Ned more than once wished to use his rifle, but he always restrained the +impulse, and Obed glanced at him approvingly. He seemed to know what was +passing in the boy's mind.</p> + +<p>"Our bullets would be wasted now, even if we brought down a lancer or +two," he said, "so we'll just save 'em until we're cornered—if we are. +Then they will tell. Look, here are thorn bushes! Come this way."</p> + +<p>They ran among the bushes which reached out and took little bits of +their clothing as they passed. But they rejoiced in the fact. Horses +could never be driven into that dense, thorny growth, and they might +evade pursuers on foot. The thorn thicket did not last very long, +however. They passed out of it and came into rough ground with a general +trend upward. Both were panting now and their faces were wet with +perspiration. The breath was dry and hot and the heart constricted +painfully. They heard behind them the noise of the pursuit, spread now +over a wide area.</p> + +<p>"If only these hills continue to rise and to rise fast,"<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a> gasped Obed +White, "we may get away among the rocks and bushes."</p> + +<p>There was a rapid tread of hoofs, and two lancers, with their long +weapons leveled, galloped straight at them. Obed leaped to one side, but +Ned, so startled that he lost command of himself, stopped and stood +still. He saw one of the men bearing down upon him, the steel of the +lance head glittering in the sunlight, and instinctively he closed his +eyes. He heard a sharp crack, something seemed to whistle before his +face, and then came a cry which he knew was the death cry of a man. He +had shut his eyes only for a moment, and when he opened them he saw the +Mexican falling to the ground, where he lay motionless across his lance. +Obed White stood near, and his rifle yet smoked. Ned instantly recovered +himself, and fired at the second lancer who, turning about, galloped +away with a wound in his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Come Ned," cried Obed White. "There is a time for all things, and it is +time for us to get away from here as fast as we can."</p> + +<p>He could not be too quick for Ned, who ran swiftly, avoiding another +look at the silent and motionless figure on the ground. The riderless +horse was crashing about among the trees. From a point three or four +hundred yards behind there came the sound of much shouting. Ned thought +it to be an outburst of anger caused by the return of the wounded +lancer.</p> + +<p>"We stung 'em a little," he panted.</p> + +<p>"We did," said Obed White. "Remember that when you go out to slay you +may be slain. But, Ned, we must reload."</p> + +<p>They curved about, and darting into a thick clump of bushes put fresh +charges in their rifles. Ned was <a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>trembling from excitement and +exertion, but his anger was beginning to rise. There must always come a +time when the hunted beast will turn and rend if it can. Ned had been +the hunted, now he wanted to become the hunter. Obed and he had beaten +off the first attack. There were plenty more bullets where the other two +had come from, and he was eager to use them. He peered out of the +bushes, his face red, his eyes alight, his rifle ready for instant use. +But Obed placed one hand on his shoulder:</p> + +<p>"Gently, Ned, gently!" he said. "We can't fight an entire Mexican army, +but if we slip away to some good position we can beat off any little +band that may find us."</p> + +<p>It was evident that the Mexicans had lost the trail, for the time being. +They were still seeking the quarry but with much noise and confusion. A +trumpet was blown as if more help were needed. Officers shouted orders +to men, and men shouted to one another. Several shots were fired, +apparently at imaginary objects in the bushes.</p> + +<p>"While they're running about and bumping into one another we'll regain a +little of our lost breath which we'll need badly later," said Obed. "We +can watch from here, and when they begin to approach then it's up and +away again."</p> + +<p>Those were precious minutes. The ground was not good for the lancers who +usually advanced in mass, and, after the fall of one man and the +wounding of another, the soldiers on foot were not very zealous in +searching the thickets. The breathing of the two fugitives became easy +and regular once more. The roofs of their mouths were no longer hot and +dry, and their limbs did not tremble from excessive exertion. Ned had +turned his <a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>eyes from the Mexicans and was examining the country in the +other direction.</p> + +<p>"Obed," he said, "there's a low mountain about a mile back of us, and +it's covered with forest. If we ever reach it we can get away."</p> + +<p>"Yes—if we reach it," said Obed, "and, Ned, we'll surely try for it. +Ah, there they come in this direction now!"</p> + +<p>A squad of about twenty men was approaching the thicket rapidly. Ned and +Obed sprang up and made at top speed for the mountain. The soldiers +uttered a shout and began to fire. But they had only muskets and the +bullets did not reach. Ned and Obed, having rested a full ten minutes, +ran fast. They were now descending the far side of the hill and meant to +cross a slight valley that lay between it and the mountain. When they +were near the center of this valley they heard the hoofs of horsemen, +and again saw lancers galloping toward them. These horsemen had gone +around the hill, and now the hunt was in full cry again.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed would have been lost had not the valley been intersected a +little further on by an arroyo seven or eight feet deep and at least +fifteen feet wide. They scrambled down it, then up it and continued +their flight among the bushes, while the horsemen, compelled to stop on +the bank, uttered angry and baffled cries.</p> + +<p>"The good luck is coming with the bad," said Obed. "The foot soldiers +will still follow. They know that we're Texans and they want us. Do you +see anybody following us now, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"I can see the heads of about a dozen men above the bushes."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are delegated to finish the work. The whole army of Cos +can't stop to hunt down two Texans, <a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>and when we get on that mountain, +Ned, we may be able to settle with these fellows on something like fair +terms."</p> + +<p>"Let's spurt a little," said Ned.</p> + +<p>They put on extra steam, but the Mexicans seemed to have done the same, +as presently, appearing a little nearer, they began to shout or fire. +Ned heard the bullets pattering on the bushes behind him.</p> + +<p>"A hint to the wise is a stitch in time," said Obed White. "Those +fellows are getting too noisy. I object to raucous voices making loud +outcries, nor does the sound of bullets dropping near please me. I shall +give them a hint."</p> + +<p>Wheeling about he fired at the nearest Mexican. His rifle was a long +range weapon and the man fell with a cry. The others hesitated and the +fugitives increased their speed. Now they were at the base of the +mountain. Now they were up the slope which was densely clothed with +trees and bushes.</p> + +<p>Then they came to a great hollow in the stone side of the ridge, an +indentation eight or ten feet deep and as many across, while above them +the stone arched over their heads at a height of seventy or eighty feet.</p> + +<p>"We'll just stay here," said Obed White. "You can run and you can run, +but the time comes when you can run no more. They can't get at us from +overhead, and they can't get at us from the sides. As for the front, I +think that you and I, Ned, can hold it against as many Mexicans as may +come."</p> + +<p>"At least we'll make a mighty big try," said Ned, whose courage rose +high at the sight of their natural fort. They had their backs to the +wall, but this wall was of solid stone, and it also curved around on +either side of them. Moreover, he had a chance to regain his breath +<a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>which was once more coming in hot and painful gasps from his chest.</p> + +<p>"Let's lie down, Ned," said Obed, "and pull up that log in front of +this."</p> + +<p>Near them lay the stem of an oak that had fallen years before. All the +boughs had decayed and were gone, so it was not a very difficult task to +drag the log in front of them, forming a kind of bar across the alcove. +As it was fully a foot in diameter it formed an excellent fortification +behind which they lay with their rifles ready. It was indeed a miniature +fort, the best that a wilderness could furnish at a moment's notice, and +the fighting spirit of the two rose fast. If the enemy came on they were +ready to give him a welcome.</p> + +<p>But the two heard nothing in the dense forest in front of them. The +pursuers evidently were aware of the place, in which they had taken +refuge, and knew the need of cautious approach. Mexicans do not lack +bravery, but both Obed and Ned were sure there would be a long delay.</p> + +<p>"I think that all we've got to do for the present," said Obed, "is to +watch the woods in front of us, and see that none of them sneaks up near +enough for a good shot."</p> + +<p>Nearly an hour passed, and they neither saw nor heard anything in the +forest. Then there was a rushing sound, a tremendous impact in front of +them and something huge bounded and bounded again among the bushes. It +was a great rock that had been rolled over the cliff above, in the hope +that it would fall upon them, but the arch of stone over their heads was +too deep. It struck fully five feet in front of them. Both were +startled, although they knew that they were safe, and involuntarily they +drew back.<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a></p> + +<p>"More will come," said Obed. "Just as one swallow does not make a +summer, one stone does not make a flight. Ah, there it is now!"</p> + +<p>They heard that same rushing sound through the air, and a bowlder +weighing at least half a ton struck in front of their log. It did not +bound away like the first, but being so much heavier buried half its +weight in the earth and lay there. Obed chuckled and regarded the big +stone with an approving look.</p> + +<p>"It's an ill stone that doesn't fall to somebody's good," he said. "That +big fellow is squarely in the path of anybody who advances to attack us, +and adds materially to our breastwork. If they'll only drop a few more +they'll make an impregnable fortification for us."</p> + +<p>The third came as he spoke, but being a light one rolled away. The +fourth was also light, and alighting on the big one bounded back into +the alcove, striking just between Ned and Obed. It made both jump and +shiver, but they knew that it was a chance not likely to happen again in +a hundred times. The bombardment continued for a quarter of an hour +without any harm to either of the two, and then the silence came again. +Ned and Obed pushed the rock out of the alcove, leaving it in front of +them and now their niche had a formidable stone reinforcement.</p> + +<p>"They'll be slipping up soon to look at our dead bodies," whispered +Obed, "and between you and me, Ned, I think there will be a great +surprise in Mexico to-day."</p> + +<p>They lay almost flat and put the muzzles of their rifles across the log. +Both, used to life on the border, where the rifle was a necessity, were +fine shots and they were also keen of eye and ear. They waited for a +while which seemed interminably long to Ned, but which was <a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>not more +than a quarter of an hour, and then he heard a slight movement among the +trees somewhat to their left. He called Obed's attention to it and the +man nodded:</p> + +<p>"I hear it, too," he whispered. "Those investigators are cautious, but +they'll have to come up in front before they can get at us, and then we +can get at them, too. We'll just be patient."</p> + +<p>Ned was at least quiet and contained, although it was impossible to be +patient. They heard the rustling at intervals on their right, then it +changed to their front, and he saw a black head, covered with a +sombrero, peep from behind a tree. The head came a little farther, +disclosing a shoulder, and Obed White fired. They heard a yell of pain, +and a thrashing among the bushes, but the sound rapidly moved farther +and farther away.</p> + +<p>"That fellow was stung badly," said Obed White with satisfaction, "and +he won't come back. I'm glad to see, Ned, that you held your fire, +keeping ready for any other who might come."</p> + +<p>Ned glowed at the compliment. He had cocked his rifle, and was ready but +he remained cool, wasting no shot.</p> + +<p>"I fancy that they now know we are here," said Obed, who loved to talk, +"and that we have not been demolished by the several tons of rock that +they have sent down from above. A shot to the wise is sufficient. Keep +down, Ned! Keep down!"</p> + +<p>From a point sixty or seventy yards away Mexicans, lying among the trees +or in the undergrowth, suddenly opened a heavy fire upon the rocky fort. +The Mexicans were invisible but jets of smoke arose in the brush. +Bullets thudded on the log or stones, or upon the stone wall above the +two, but both Ned and Obed were shel<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>tered well and they were not +touched. Nevertheless it was uncomfortable. The impact of the bullets +made an unpleasant sound, and there was always a chance that one of them +might angle off from the stone and strike a human target. Obed however +was cheerful.</p> + +<p>"They're wasting good ammunition," he said. "They'll need that later on +when they attack the Texans. After all, Ned, we're serving a good +purpose when we induce the Mexicans to shoot good powder and lead here, +and not against our people."</p> + +<p>Encouraged by the failure of the besieged to reply to their fire the +Mexicans came closer and grew somewhat incautious. Ned saw one of them +sheltered but partially by a bush and he fired. The man uttered a cry +and fell. Ned saw the bush moving and he hoped the man was not slain, +but he never knew.</p> + +<p>The volleys from the Mexicans ceased, and silence came again in the +woods. Wisps of smoke floated here and there among the trees, but a +light wind soon caught them and carried them away. Ned and Obed, rolling +into easier positions, talked cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"I don't think they'll try to rush us," said Obed. "The Mexicans are not +afraid to charge breastworks, but they'll hardly think we two are worth +the price they would have to pay. Perhaps they'll try to starve us out."</p> + +<p>"And that they can't do because we have provisions for several days."</p> + +<p>"But they don't know it. Nor do we want to stay here for several days, +Ned. Texas is calling to us, and we should be traveling northward +instead of lying under a rock besieged by Mexicans."</p> + +<p>But they were compelled anew to make heavy drafts upon their patience. +The Mexicans kept quiet a long time. Finally a shot fired from some high +point grazed<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a> Ned's cap, and flattened against the rock behind him. The +boy involuntarily ducked against the earth. Obed also lay lower.</p> + +<p>"Some Mexican must have climbed a tree," said the Maine man. "He's where +he can look over our fortifications and that gives him an advantage. It +also gives him a disadvantage because it will be harder for him to come +down out of that tree unaided than it was for him to go up in it. We'll +stick as close as we can under the log, until he sends in the second +shot."</p> + +<p>They waited about ten minutes until the Mexican fired again. He was in +the boughs of a great oak about fifty yards away, and following the +flash of his weapon they saw his chest and shoulders as he leaned +forward to take aim and pull the trigger. Obed fired and the soldier +dropped to the ground. There was a noise in the underbrush, as if his +comrades were dragging him away and then the great silence came again. +As Obed reloaded he said grimly:</p> + +<p>"I think we're done with the tree-climbers. Evil to him who evil does. +They're cured of that habit."</p> + +<p>It was now mid-afternoon and the sun was blazing down over the cliffs +and forest. It grew very hot in the alcove. No breath of wind reached +them there, and they began to pant for air.</p> + +<p>"I hope night will come soon," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"It will be here before long," said Obed, "but something else will +arrive first."</p> + +<p>"What is that?"</p> + +<p>"Look, there to the right over the trees. See the dark spot in the sky. +Ned, my boy, a storm is coming and it is for you and me to say 'let it +come.'"</p> + +<p>"What will it do for us?"</p> + +<p>"Break up the siege, or at least I think so. Unless <a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>it drives directly +in our faces we will be sheltered out here, but the Mexicans will have +no such protection. And, Ned, if you will listen to one who knows, you +will understand that storms down here can be terrific."</p> + +<p>"Then the more terrific it is the better for us."</p> + +<p>"Just so. See, Ned, how that black spot grows! It is a cloud of quite +respectable size. Before long it will cover all the skies, and you +notice too that there is absolutely no wind."</p> + +<p>"It is so. The stillness is so great that I feel it. It oppresses me. It +is hard for me to draw my breath."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. I feel just the same way. The storm is coming fast and it is +going to be a big one. The sun is entirely hidden already, and the air +is growing dark. We'll crouch against the wall, Ned, and keep our +rifles, powder and ourselves as dry as possible. There goes the thunder, +growling away, and here's the lightning! Whew, but that made me jump!"</p> + +<p>An intense flash of lightning burned across the sky, and showed the +forest and hills for one blazing moment. Then the darkness closed in, +thick and black. The two, wrapped closely in their serapes, crouched +against the stone wall and watched the storm gather in its full majesty +and terror.<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE LONG CHASE</h3> + + +<p>Ned, despite his brave heart and strong will, felt a deep awe. Storms on +the great uplands of North America often present aspects which are +sublime and menacing to the last degree. The thunder which had been +growling before now crashed continually like batteries of great guns, +and the lightning flashed so fast that there was a rapid alternation of +dazzling glare and impervious blackness. Once, the lightning struck in +the forest near them with a terrible, rending crash, and trees went +down. Far down in the gorges they heard the fierce howl of the wind.</p> + +<p>Ned shrank closer and closer against the rocky wall, and, now and then, +he veiled his eyes with one hand. If one were to judge by eye and ear +alone it would seem that the world was coming to an end. Cast away in +the wilderness, he was truly thankful for the human companionship of the +man, Obed White, and it is likely that the man, Obed White, was just as +thankful for the companionship of the boy, Edward Fulton.</p> + +<p>All thought of another attack by the Mexicans passed for the present. +They knew that the besiegers themselves would be awed, and would flee +for refuge, particularly from the trees falling before the strokes of +lightning. It was at least two miles to any such point of safety, and +Ned and Obed saw a coming opportunity. Both lightning and thunder ceased +so abruptly that it <a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>was uncanny. The sudden stillness was heavy and +oppressive, and after the continued flare of the lightning, the darkness +was so nearly impenetrable that they could not see ten yards in front of +them.</p> + +<p>Then the rain came in a tremendous cataract, but it came from the south, +while they faced the north. Hence it drove over and past their alcove +and they remained dry. But it poured so hard and with such a sweep and +roar that Obed was forced to shout when he said to Ned:</p> + +<p>"I've never been to Niagara and of course I've never been behind the +falls there but this must be like it. The luck has certainly turned in +our favor, Ned. The Mexicans could never stand it out there without +shelter."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how it can last long," shouted Ned in reply.</p> + +<p>"It can't. It's too violent. But it's the way down here, rushing from +one extreme to another. As soon as it begins to ease up, we'll move."</p> + +<p>The darkness presently began to thin rapidly, and the heavy drumming of +the rain on the rocks and forest turned to a patter.</p> + +<p>"I think it's a good time to go, Ned," said Obed. "In fifteen minutes it +will stop raining entirely and the Mexicans, if they are not drowned, +may come back for us. We can't keep ourselves dry, but we'll protect our +rifles and ammunition. We've got a good chance to escape now, especially +since night will soon be here."</p> + +<p>They left the overhanging cliff which had guarded them so well in more +ways than one, and entered the forest, veering off to the left, and +picking their way carefully through the underbrush. Ned suddenly sprang +aside, shuddering. A Mexican, slain in the battle, lay upon his side. +But Obed was practical.</p> + +<p>"I know it's unpleasant to touch him," he said, "but <a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>he may have what +we need. Ah, here is a pistol and bullets for it, and a flask of powder +which his own body has helped to keep dry. It's likely that we'll have +use for these before we get through, and so I'll take 'em."</p> + +<p>He quickly secured the pistol and ammunition, and they went on, +traveling rapidly westward. The rain ceased entirely in twenty minutes, +and all the clouds passed away, but night came in their place, covering +their flight with its friendly mantle. They were wet to the waist and +the water dripped from the trees upon them, but these things did not +trouble them. They felt all the joy of escape. Ned knew that neither of +them, if taken, could expect much mercy from the brutal Cos.</p> + +<p>They came after a while to a gorge, through which a torrent rushed, +cutting off their way. It was midnight now. They saw that the stream was +very muddy and that it bore on its current much débris.</p> + +<p>"We'll just sit down here and rest," said Obed. "This is nothing more +than a brook raised to a river by the storm, and, in another hour or +two, it will be a brook again. Rise fast, fall fast holds true."</p> + +<p>They sat on a log near the stream and watched it go down. As their +muscles relaxed they began to feel cold, and had it not been for the +serapes they would have been chilled. In two hours the muddy little +river was a muddy little brook and they walked across. All the while +now, a warm, drying wind was blowing, but they kept on for some time +longer in order that the vigorous circulation of the blood might warm +their bodies. Then, seeking the best place they could find, they lay +down among the bushes, despite the damp, and slept.</p> + +<p>Ned was the first to awake the next day, and he saw, by a high sun, that +they were on a slope, leading to a <a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>pretty valley well grown in grass. +He took a few steps and also stretched both arms. He found that his +muscles were neither stiff nor sore and his delight was great. Obed +still slumbered peacefully, his head upon his arm.</p> + +<p>Ned walked a little further down the slope. Then he jumped back and hid +behind a bush. He had caught a glimpse of a horse saddled and bridled in +the Mexican manner, and it was his first thought that a detachment from +the army of Cos was riding straight toward them. But as he stood behind +the bush, heart beating, eyes gazing through the leaves, he saw that it +was only a single horse. Nor was it coming toward him. It seemed to be +moving about slowly in a circle of very limited area. Then, leaving the +bush, he saw that the horse was riderless. He watched a long time to see +if the owner would appear, and as none came he went back and awakened +Obed White.</p> + +<p>"What! What!" said Obed, opening his eyes slowly and yawning mightily. +"Has the day come? Verily, it is a long night that has no ending. And so +you have seen a horse, Ned, a horse saddled and bridled and with no +owner! It can't be the one that King Richard offered his kingdom for, +and since it isn't we'll just see why this caparisoned animal is there +grazing in our valley."</p> + +<p>The two went down the slope. The horse was still there, grazing in his +grassy circle, and as the two approached he drew away a little but did +not seem to be frightened. Then Ned understood, or at least his belief +was so strong that it amounted to conviction.</p> + +<p>"It's the horse of the soldier whom you shot yesterday," he said. "You +remember that he galloped away among the bushes. No doubt, too, he was +driven a long <a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>distance by the storm. He can't be accounted for in any +other manner."</p> + +<p>"There are some guesses so good that you know at once they're right," +said Obed, "and yours is one of them, Ned. Now that is a valuable horse. +One of the most valuable that ever grazed in a valley of Mexico or any +other valley. He's so precious because we want him, and we want him so +bad that he's worth a million dollars to us."</p> + +<p>"That one of us may ride him to Texas."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we may be able to secure another. You stay here, Ned, and let +me catch him. Horses like me better than some men do."</p> + +<p>Ned sat down and Obed advanced warily, holding out his hand and +whistling gently. It was a most persuasive whistle, soft and thrilling +and the horse raised his head, looked contemplatively out of large +lustrous eyes at the whistler. Obed advanced, still whistling, in the +most wonderful, enticing manner. Ned felt that if he were a horse he +could not resist it, that he would go to the whistler, expecting to +receive oats, corn, and everything else that a healthy horse loves. It +seemed to have some such effect upon the quarry that Obed coveted, +because the horse, after withdrawing a step, advanced toward the man.</p> + +<p>Obed stopped, but continued to whistle, pouring forth the most beautiful +and winning trills and quavers. The horse came and Obed, reaching out, +seized the bridle which hung loose. He stroked the horse's head and the +animal rubbed his nose against his shoulder. The conquest was complete. +Bridle in hand, Obed led the way and Ned met him.</p> + +<p>"I think our good horse here was lonesome," said Obed, "Horses that are +used to human beings miss<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a> 'em for a while when they lose 'em, and we're +not enslaving our friend by taking him. Here's a lariat coiled at the +saddle bow; we'll just tether him by that, and let him go on with his +grazing, while we get our breakfast. You will notice, too, Ned, that +we've taken more than a horse. See this pair of holster pistols swung +across the saddle and ammunition to fit. The enemy is still supplying us +with our needs, Ned."</p> + +<p>As they ate breakfast they resolved to secure another horse. Obed was of +the opinion that the army of Cos was not far away, and he believed that +he could steal one. At least, he was willing to try on the following +night, and, if he succeeded, their problem would be simplified greatly.</p> + +<p>They remained nearly all the morning in the little valley and devoted a +large part of the time to developing their acquaintance with the horse, +which was a fine animal, amenable to good treatment, and ready to follow +his new masters.</p> + +<p>"He looks like an American horse," said Obed, with satisfaction, "and +maybe he is one, stolen from the Texans. He'll carry one of us over many +miles of sand and cactus, and he'll be none the worse for it. But he +needs a friend. Horse was not made to live alone. It's my sympathy for +him as much as the desire for another mount that drives me to the theft +we contemplate."</p> + +<p>Ned laughed and lolled on the grass which was now dry.</p> + +<p>"Yon stay here with Bucephalus or Rosinante or whatever you choose to +call him," continued Obed, "and I think I'll cross the hills, and see if +Cos is near. If we're going to capture a horse, we must first know where +the horse is to be found."</p> + +<p>"Suppose I go along, too."<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a></p> + +<p>"No, it would be easier for the Mexicans to see two than one, and we +shouldn't take unnecessary risks. Be sure you stay in the valley, Ned, +because I want to know where to find you when I come back. I've an idea +that the Mexican army isn't far, as we wound around a good deal during +the storm and darkness, and covered no great distance, if it were +counted in a straight line. At least I think so."</p> + +<p>"You'll find me here."</p> + +<p>Obed went toward the east, and Ned continued to make himself comfortable +on the grass, which was so long and thick that it almost hid his body. +But it was truly luxurious. It seemed that after so much hardship and +danger he could not get enough rest. He felt quite safe, too. It would +take a careful observer to see him lying there in the deep grass. It was +warm and dry where he lay, and the little valley was well hemmed in by +forest in which crotons, mimosas, myrtle oaks, okote pine and many other +trees grew. Some had large rich blossoms and he admired their beauty.</p> + +<p>His eyes wandered back from the forest to their new friend, the horse. +Besides being an animal of utility the horse added to their comradeship. +Ned felt that he still had a friend with him, although Obed was away. +Obed had spoken truly. It was a fine horse, a bay, tall, strong and +young, grazing with dignified content, at the end of a lariat about +forty feet in length.</p> + +<p>Ned watched the horse idly, and soon he saw him raise his head, stand +perfectly still for a moment or two, and then sniff the wind. The next +instant an extraordinary manifestation came from him. He whirled about +and galloped so fast to the end of his tether that he was thrown down by +the sharp jerk. He regained his feet and stood there, trembling all +over. His great eyes were <a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>distended. Ned had never before seen such a +picture of terror.</p> + +<p>The boy raised himself a little in the grass, but not so high that he +would be seen by an enemy. It was his first idea that Mexicans had come, +but the horse would not show such fright at the presence of human +beings. He looked in the direction opposite to the spot on which the +horse was standing. At first he saw nothing, but with intent looking he +detected a great body crouched in the grass and stealing forward slowly. +It was their old enemy, the jaguar, not a black one but tawny in color.</p> + +<p>Ned's rage rose. First a jaguar had attacked him, and now another was +stalking their horse. He felt pity for the poor animal which was tied, +and which could not escape. Now man who had tied him must save him. Ned +knew that if he cut the lariat the horse in its terror might run away +and never be retaken. A shot might be heard by the Mexicans, but he +believed that the probabilities were against it, and he decided to use +the rifle.</p> + +<p>He raised himself just a little more, careful to make no noise, and +watched the jaguar stealing through the tall grass, so intent on the +horse that it failed to notice the most dangerous of all enemies who lay +near. But Ned waited until the flank of the animal was well presented, +and, taking a sure aim, fired.</p> + +<p>The jaguar shot up into the air, as if an electric spring had been +released, then came down with a thump and was dead. The horse neighed in +terror at sight of his leaping foe and trembled more violently than +ever. Ned went to him first, and tried to soothe him which was a long +and difficult task. At last, he untethered the horse and led him to the +far end of the valley, where he tethered him again at least two hundred +yards from the dead body of the jaguar. Returning he looked at the +fallen <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>animal, and marked with pleasure the correctness of his aim. He +had shot the jaguar squarely through the heart. Then he went back to his +place in the grass, but he did not doze or dream. The Mexicans might +come, drawn by his shot, and even if they did not, a member of the +unpleasant jaguar tribe might take a notion to stalk the only available +human being in that grassy little valley.</p> + +<p>But no Mexicans appeared, nor did he observe any other jaguar. When the +sun set, he began to feel a little uneasy about Obed. His uneasiness +increased with the darkness, but he was finally reassured by a whistle +from the head of the valley. Then he saw Obed's tall figure striding +down the slope in the dusk, and he went forward to meet him.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you've spent the afternoon sleeping," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"I might have done so, but we had a visitor."</p> + +<p>"A visitor? What kind of a visitor?"</p> + +<p>"A jaguar. He wanted to eat our horse and as the horse could not get +away, being tethered strongly, I had to shoot his jaguarship."</p> + +<p>He showed Obed the body, and his comrade approved highly of the shot.</p> + +<p>"And now for the history of my own life and adventures during the +afternoon," said Obed. "The country to the eastward is not rough, and I +made good time through it. Sure enough the army of Cos is there, about +five miles away, camped in a plain. It was beaten about a good deal by +the storm, and it keeps poor guard, because it is in its own country far +from any expected foe, and because the Mexicans are Mexicans. I think, +Ned, that we can lift a horse without great trouble or excessive danger. +We'll go over there about midnight."<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a></p> + +<p>"And we'd better take our present horse with us," said Ned, "or other +jaguars may come."</p> + +<p>They remained in their own valley until the appointed time, and then set +out on a fairly dark night, each taking his turn at riding the horse. +They halted at the crest of a low hill, from which they saw the flash of +camp fires.</p> + +<p>"That's Cos and his army," said Obed. "They're down there, sprawled all +about the valley, and I imagine that by this time they're all asleep, +including a majority of the sentinels, and that's our opportunity."</p> + +<p>They tethered their own horse and crept down the slope. Soon they came +to the edge of the woods and saw the camp fires more plainly. All had +burned low, but they made out the shapes of tents, and, nearer by, a +dark mass which they concluded to be the horses belonging to the lancers +and other cavalry. They approached within a hundred yards, and saw no +sentinels by the horses, although they were able to discern several +moving figures farther on.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ned," said Obed, "you stay here and I'll try to cut out a horse, +the very best that I can find. Sit down on the ground, and have your +rifle ready. If I'm discovered and have to run for it you shoot the +first of my pursuers."</p> + +<p>Ned obeyed and Obed stole down toward the horses. Ned knew his comrade's +skill, and he believed he would employ the soft whistle that had been so +effective with the first horse. He watched the dark figure stealing +forward, and he admired Obed's skill. It would be almost impossible for +anyone to notice so faint a shadow in the darkness. Nevertheless, his +heart beat heavily. Despite all that Obed had said it was a dangerous +task, requiring both skill and luck.<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a></p> + +<p>The faint shadow reached the black blur of the horses and disappeared. +Ned waited five minutes, ten, fifteen minutes, while the little pulses +beat hard in his temples. Then he saw a shadow detach itself from the +black blur. It was the figure of a man and he was on horseback. Obed had +succeeded.</p> + +<p>Ned remained kneeling, rifle in hand, to guard against any mistake. The +man on horseback rode toward him, while the sprawling army of Cos still +slept. Then Ned saw clearly that it was Obed, and that he rode a +magnificent black horse, sixteen hands high, as fiery as any that could +be found in all Mexico.</p> + +<p>In another moment Obed was by his side, looking down from the height of +his horse. In the moonlight Ned saw that his face was glowing.</p> + +<p>"Isn't he a beauty?" he said. "And I think, too, that he likes me. There +were three or four sentinels down there by the horses, but all of them +were fast asleep, and I had time to pick. I've also brought away a roll +of blankets, two for each of us, and I never woke a man. Now, Ned, we're +furnished complete, and we're off to Texas with your message."</p> + +<p>"The first thing, I suppose, is to introduce our horses to each other."</p> + +<p>"Correct. You and I are friends, Ned, and so must our horses be."</p> + +<p>They took a last look at the sleeping camp and went away through the +woods. Obed dismounted, and led his horse to the place where the second +was tied. The two horses whinnied and rubbed noses.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," said Obed. "When horse and man agree who can stop us?"</p> + +<p>Ned mounted the first, the bay, while Obed retained the black. Then they +rode all through the night, coming <a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>about dawn to a plain which turned +to sand and cactus, as they advanced further into the north. There was +no water here, but they had rilled their water bottles at the last brook +and they had no fear of perishing by thirst. Although they had passed +the army of Cos they did not fail to keep a vigilant watch. They knew +that patrols of Mexicans would be in the north, and the red men were +also to be feared. They were coming into regions across which mounted +Indians often passed, doing destruction with rifle and lance, spear and +arrow. Both had more apprehension now about Indians than Mexicans.</p> + +<p>At noon of that day they saw four horsemen on their left who shaped +their course toward theirs in such a manner that if they moved at an +equal pace they would meet at the point of a triangle. But the horses +that Ned and Obed rode were powerful animals, far superior to the +ordinary Mexican mounts, and they rode steadily ahead, apparently taking +no notice of the four on their flank.</p> + +<p>"They're Mexican scouts," said Obed, "I'm sure of it, but I don't +believe that they'll come too close. They see that we have rifles, and +they know the deadly nature of the Texan rifle. If we are friends it's +all right, if we are Texans it will be wise to keep at a good distance."</p> + +<p>Obed was a good prophet. The Mexicans, at a distance of almost a quarter +of a mile, raised a great shout. The two took no notice of it, but rode +on, their faces toward the north.</p> + +<p>"I can talk good Spanish or Mexican," said Obed, "and so can you, but +I'm out riding now and I don't feel like stopping for conversation. Ah, +there they are shouting again, and as I live, Ned, they're increasing +their speed. We'll give 'em a sign."<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a></p> + +<p>Obed and Ned wheeled about and raised their rifles. The four Mexicans, +who were galloping their ponies, stopped abruptly. Obed and Ned turned +and rode on.</p> + +<p>"We gave 'em a sign," said Obed, "and they saw it. We're in no danger, +Ned. We could beat 'em either in a fight or a run. The battle is +sometimes to the strong and the race to the swift."</p> + +<p>It was obvious that the Mexicans, who were probably only scouts, did not +want a fight with formidable Texans who carried such long rifles. They +dropped back until Ned, taking a final look, could not tell their +distant figures from the stem of the lonesome cactus.</p> + +<p>"Horses and rifles are mighty useful in their place," said Obed. "Add to +them wood and water and what little more a man needs he should be able +to find."</p> + +<p>"It's wood and water that we ought to hunt now."</p> + +<p>"We may strike both before night, but if not we'll ride on a while +anyhow, and maybe we'll find 'em."</p> + +<p>They went deeper into the great upland which was half a desert and half +a plain. Occasionally they saw besides the cactus, mesquite and yucca +and some clumps of coarse grass.</p> + +<p>"Bunch grass," said Obed, "like that which you find further north, and +mighty good it is, too, for cattle and horses. We'll have plenty of food +for these two noble steeds of ours, and I shouldn't be surprised, too, +if we ran across big game. It's always where the bunch grass grows."</p> + +<p>They did not reach wood and water by nightfall, but, riding two hours +longer in a clear twilight, they found both. The plain rose and fell in +deep swells, and in the deepest of the swells to which they had yet to +come they found a trickling stream of clear water, free from alkali, +fringed on either shore with trees of moderate size.<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a></p> + +<p>"Here we are," said Obed, "and here we stay till morning. You never know +how fine water looks until you've been a long time without it."</p> + +<p>They let their horses drink first, and then, going further up the +stream, drank freely of the water themselves. They found it cold and +good, and they were refreshed greatly. There was also a belt of +excellent grass, extending a hundred yards back on either side of the +stream, and, unsaddling and tethering their horses, they let them graze. +Both Ned and Obed would have liked a fire, but they deemed it dangerous, +and they ate their food cold. After supper, Obed walked up the stream a +little distance, examining the ground on either side of the water. When +he came back he said to Ned:</p> + +<p>"I saw animal tracks two or three hundred yards up the creek, and they +were made by big animals. Buffalo range about here somewhere, and we may +see 'em before we get through."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't mind having a shot at a fine buffalo," said Ned. But he was +not very eager about it. He was thinking more then of sleep. Obed, while +thinking of sleep also, was thinking of other things, too, and he was +somewhat troubled in his mind. But he bore himself as a man of cheerful +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ned," he said, "you and I cannot go forever without sleep. We've +been through a good deal and we haven't closed our eyes for thirty-six +hours. I feel as if I had pound weights tied to my eyelids."</p> + +<p>"Two-pound weights are tied to mine."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll prove the value of my foresight in obtaining the two sets of +blankets by using them at once."</p> + +<p>Each lay down between his blankets, and Ned was soon asleep, but Obed, +by a violent effort, kept his eyes open. He could never remember a time +when it seemed <a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>sweeter to sleep, but he struggled continually against +it. When he saw that Ned's slumber was deep he rose and walked up and +down the stream again, going a half mile in either direction.</p> + +<p>At one point where there was a break in the fringe of trees the imprints +of the mighty hoofs were numerous, and, mingled with them, were tracks +made by horses' hoofs. It was these that worried Obed so much. They were +made by unshod hoofs, but evidently they were two or three days old, +and, after all, the riders might have passed on, not to return. +Smothering his anxiety as much as possible he went back to their little +camp, crept between his two blankets which felt very warm, and began to +watch with his eyes and ears, vowing to himself that he would not sleep.</p> + +<p>Yet within two hours he slept. Exhausted nature triumphed over will and +claimed her own. He was not conscious of any struggle. He was awake and +then he was not. The two tethered horses, having eaten all they wanted, +also settled themselves comfortably and slept.</p> + +<p>But while the two, or rather the four slept, something was moving far +out on the plain.</p> + +<p>It was an immense black mass with a front of more than a mile, and it +was coming toward Ned and Obed. This mass had been disturbed by a great +danger and it advanced with mighty heavings and tramplings. Ned and Obed +slept calmly for a long time, but as the black front of the moving mass +drew closer to the creek and its thin lines of trees, the boy stirred in +his blankets. A vague dream came and then a state that was half an +awakening. He was conscious in a dim way of a low, thundering sound that +approached and he sprang to his feet. The next instant a neigh of terror +came from one of the horses and Obed, too, awoke.<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a></p> + +<p>"Listen!" exclaimed Ned. "Hear that roar! And it's drawing near, too!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's a buffalo herd!" said Obed. "We're far enough north now to be +within the buffalo ranges, and they're coming down on us fast. But they +must be scared or be drawn on by something, because it's not yet dawn."</p> + +<p>"All of which means that it's time for us to go."</p> + +<p>"Or be trodden to death."</p> + +<p>Naturally, they had slept in their clothes and they quickly gathered up +their arms and baggage. Then they released their frightened horses, +sprang upon their backs and galloped toward the north. They felt secure +now, so far as the herd was concerned. Their horses could easily take +them out of its reach.</p> + +<p>"Maybe they'll stop at the creek," said Ned. "I should think that the +water would hold anything in this thirsty land."</p> + +<p>Obed shook his head, but offered no further answer. The thunder of the +hoofs now filled their ears, and, as the sound advanced steadily, it was +evident that the creek had not stopped the buffalo herd.</p> + +<p>The dawn suddenly came up sharp and clear after the manner of southern +lands. The heavens turned blue, and a rosy light suffused the prairie. +Then Ned saw the front of the buffalo herd extending two or three miles +to right and to left. And he saw more. He saw the cause of the terror +that had smitten the herd.</p> + +<p>Brown men, almost naked and on horseback, darted in and out among the +buffaloes, shooting and stabbing. They were muscular men, fierce of +countenance, and their long black hair streamed out behind them. Some +carried rifles and muskets, and others carried lances and bows and +arrows.<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a></p> + +<p>"Lipans," said Obed, "one of the fiercest of all the southwestern +tribes. They belong mostly across the Rio Grande, but I suppose they've +come for the buffalo. Ned, we're not wanted here."</p> + +<p>After the single look they were away toward the north, moving at a +smooth and easy gallop. They were truly thankful now that the horses +they rode were so large and powerful, evidently of American breed. It +was not difficult to increase the distance between them and the herd, +and they hoped to slip away before they were seen by any of the Lipans. +But a sudden shout behind them, a long, piercing whoop showed that they +had reckoned wrong.</p> + +<p>The two looked back. A group of warriors had gathered in advance of the +band, and it was obvious, as they galloped on, that they had seen the +two fugitives. Two or three shook their long lances, and pointed them +straight at Ned and Obed. Then uttering that long, menacing whoop again, +the group, about twenty in number, rode straight for the two, while the +rest continued their work with the herd.</p> + +<p>"It's a chase," said Obed. "Those fellows want scalps and they don't +care whether we're Texans or Mexicans. Besides, they may have better +horses than the Mexican ponies. But it's a long chase that has no +turning, and if our horses don't stumble we'll beat them. Look out for +potholes and such places."</p> + +<p>They rode knee to knee, not yet putting the horses to their full speed, +but covering the ground, nevertheless, at a great rate. It seemed play +for their fine horses, which arched their necks and sped on, not a drop +of perspiration yet staining their glossy skins. Ned felt the thrill, as +the ground spun back under his horse's feet, and the air rushed past his +face. It did not occur to <a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>him that the Lipans could overtake them, and +their pursuit merely added a fresh spice to a magnificent ride.</p> + +<p>He took another look back. The Lipans, although they had lost ground, +were still following. They came in a close group, carrying, besides +their arms, shields, made of layers of buffalo hide. Several wore +magnificent war bonnets. Otherwise all were naked save for the +breech-cloth, and their brown bodies were glistening with war paint. +Behind them, yet came the black front of the buffalo herd, but it was a +full mile away.</p> + +<p>Obed looked also, and his heart smote him. Older and more experienced +than Ned, he knew that with the fierce Lipans the most powerful of all +lures was the lure of scalps. Just as the wolf can trail down the moose +at last, they could follow for days on their tough mustangs. But as he +shifted his good rifle a bit he felt better. Both he and Ned were +splendid marksmen, and if the chase were a success for the Lipans there +would also be a bitter fight at the end of it.</p> + +<p>Now he and Ned ceased to talk, the sun blazed down on the plain, and on +sped the chase, hour after hour.<a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE TRIAL OF PATIENCE</h3> + + +<p>The hours of the afternoon trailed slowly away, one by one. Perspiration +appeared at last upon the glossy skins of the horses, but their stride +did not abate. The powerful muscles still worked with their full +strength and ease. Ned never felt a tremor in the splendid horse beneath +him. But when he looked back again there were the Lipans, a little +further away, but hanging on as grimly as before, still riding in a +close group.</p> + +<p>Ned began to understand now the deadly nature of the pursuit. These +Lipans would follow not merely for hours, but into the night, and if he +and Obed were lost to sight in the darkness they would pick up the trail +the next day by the hoof prints on the plain. He felt with absolute +certainty that chance had brought upon them one of the deadliest dangers +they had yet encountered.</p> + +<p>"It's growing a little cooler, Obed," he said.</p> + +<p>"So it is. The evening wanes. But, Ned, do you see any sign of forest or +high hills ahead?"</p> + +<p>"I do not, Obed. There is nothing but the plain which waves like the +ripples on a lake, the bunches of buffalo grass here and there, and now +and then an ugly yucca."</p> + +<p>"You see just what I see, Ned, and as there is no promise of shelter +we'd better ease our horses a little. Our lives depend upon them, and +even if the Lipans do <a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>regain some of their lost ground now it will not +matter in the end."</p> + +<p>They let the horses drop into a walk, and finally, to put elasticity +back into their own stiffened limbs, they dismounted and walked awhile.</p> + +<p>"If the Lipans don't rest their horses now they will have to do it +later," said Obed, "but as they're mighty crafty they'll probably slow +down when we do. Do you see them now, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there they are on the crest of a swell. They don't seem to gain on +us much. I should say they are a full mile away."</p> + +<p>"A mile and a half at least. The air of these great uplands is very +deceptive, and things look much nearer than they really are."</p> + +<p>"Look how gigantic they have grown! They stand squarely in the center of +the sun now."</p> + +<p>The sun was low and the Lipans coming out of the southwest were +silhouetted so perfectly against it that they seemed black and +monstrous, like some product of the primitive world. The fugitives felt +a chill of awe, but in a moment or two they threw it off, only to have +its place taken a little later by the real chill of the coming night. A +wind began to moan over the desolate plain, and their faces were stung +now and then by the fine grains of sand blown against them. But as the +Lipans were gaining but little, Ned and Obed still walked their horses.</p> + +<p>They went on thus nearly an hour. The night came, but it was not dark, +and they could yet see the Lipans following as certain as death. Before +them the plain still rolled away, bare and brown. There was not a sign +of cover. Ned's spirits began to sink. The silent and tenacious pursuit +weighed upon him. It was time to rest and sleep. The Lipans had been +pursuing for seven <a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a>or eight hours now, and if they could not catch +fugitives in that time they ought to turn back. Nevertheless, there they +were, still visible in the moonlight and still coming.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed remounted and rode at a running walk, which was easy but +which nevertheless took them on rapidly. But it became evident that the +Lipans had increased their pace in the same ratio, as the distance of a +mile and a half named by Obed did not decrease. Ned looked up longingly +at the sky. There was not a cloud. The moon, round and full, never shone +more brightly, and it seemed that countless new stars had arrived that +very night. He sighed. They might as well have been riding in broad +daylight.</p> + +<p>Toward midnight the swells and dips of the plain became accentuated, and +they lost sight of the pursuing Lipans. But there was yet no forest to +hide them, only the miserable mesquite and the ragged yucca. Save for +them the plain stretched away as bare and brown as ever. Two hours more +with the Lipans still lost to view, Obed called a halt.</p> + +<p>"The Lipans will pick up our trail in the morning," he said. "Though +lost to sight we are to their memory dear, and they will hang on. But +our horses are faster than theirs, and as they cannot come near us on +this bare plain, without being seen we can get away. Whereas, I say, and +hence and therefore we might as well rest and let our good steeds rest, +too."</p> + +<p>"What time would you say it is?"</p> + +<p>"About two o' the morning by the watch that I haven't got, and it will +be four or five hours until day. Ned, if I were you I'd lie down between +blankets. You can relax more comfortably and rest better that way."</p> + +<p>Ned did not wish to do it, but Obed insisted so strongly, and was so +persuasive that he acceded at last. They <a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a>had chosen a place on a swell +where they could see anything that approached a quarter of a mile away, +and Obed stood near the recumbent boy, holding the bridles of the two +horses in one hand and his rifle in the other.</p> + +<p>The man's eyes continually traveled around the circle of the horizon, +but now and then he glanced at the boy. Ned, brave, enduring and +complaining so little, had taken a great hold upon his affection. They +were comrades, tried by many dangers, and no danger yet to come could +induce him to desert the boy.</p> + +<p>The moon and stars were still very bright, and Obed, as his eyes +traveled the circle of the horizon, saw no sign of the Indian approach. +But that the Lipans would come with the dawn, or some time afterward, he +did not have the slightest doubt. He glanced once more at Ned and then +he smiled. The boy, while never meaning it, was sleeping soundly, and +Obed was very glad. This was what he intended, relying upon Ned's utter +exhaustion of body and mind.</p> + +<p>All through the remaining hours of the night the man, with the bridles +of the two horses in one hand and the rifle in the other, kept watch. +Now and then he walked in a circle around and around the sleeping boy, +and once or twice he smiled to himself. He knew that Ned when he awoke +would be indignant because Obed let him sleep, but the man felt quite +able to stand such reproaches.</p> + +<p>Obed, staunch as he was, felt the weirdness and appalling loneliness of +time and place. A wolf howled far out on the plain, and the answering +howl of a wolf came back from another point. He shivered a little, but +he continued his steady tread around and around the circle.</p> + +<p>Dawn shot up, gilding the bare brown plain with silver splendor for a +little while. Obed awoke Ned, and laughed at the boy's protests.<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a></p> + +<p>"You feel stronger and fresher, Ned," he said, "and nothing has been +lost."</p> + +<p>"What of you?"</p> + +<p>"I? Oh, I'll get my chance later. All things come to him who works while +he waits. Meanwhile, I think we'd better take a drink out of our water +bottles, eat a quick breakfast and be off before we have visitors."</p> + +<p>Once more in the saddle, they rode on over a plain unchanged in +character, still the same swells and dips, still the same lonesome +yuccas and mesquite, with the occasional clumps of bunch grass.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we have shaken them off?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Obed. "They would scatter toward dawn and the one who +picked up the trail would call the others with a whoop or a rifle shot."</p> + +<p>"Well, they've been called," said Ned, who was looking back. "See, +there, on the highest ridge."</p> + +<p>A faint, dark blur had appeared on a crest three or four miles behind +them, one that would have been wholly invisible had not the air been so +clear and translucent. It was impossible at the distance to distinguish +shapes or detach anything from the general mass, but they knew very well +that it was the Lipans. Each felt a little chill at this pursuit so +tenacious and so menacing.</p> + +<p>"I wish that we had some sort of a place like that in which we faced the +Mexicans, where we could put our backs to the wall and fight!" exclaimed +Ned.</p> + +<p>"I know how you feel," said Obed, "because I feel the same way myself, +but there isn't any such place, Ned, and this plain doesn't ever give +any sign of producing one, so we'll just ride on. We'll trust to time +and chance. Something may happen in our favor."</p> + +<p>They strengthened their hearts, whistled to their horses <a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>and rode +ahead. As on the day before the interminable pursuit went on hour after +hour. It was another hot day, and their water bottles were almost +emptied. The horses had had nothing to drink since the day before and +the two fugitives began to feel for them, but about noon they came to a +little pool, lying in a dip or hollow between the swells. It was perhaps +fifty feet either way, less than a foot deep and the water was yellowish +in color, but it contained no alkali nor any other bitter infusion. +Moreover, grass grew around its edges and some wild ducks swam on its +surface. It would have been a good place for a camp and they would have +stayed there gladly had it not been for that threat which always hung on +the southern horizon.</p> + +<p>The water was warm, but the horses drank deeply, and Ned and Obed +refilled their bottles. The stop enabled the pursuing Lipans to come +within a mile of them, but, moving away at an increased pace, they began +to lengthen the gap.</p> + +<p>"The Lipans will stop and water their ponies and themselves just as we +have done," said Obed. "Everything that we have to endure they have to +endure, too. It's a poor rule that doesn't work for one side as well as +the other."</p> + +<p>"It would all look like play," said Ned, "if we didn't know that it was +so much in earnest. Just as you said, Obed, they're stopping to drink at +the pond."</p> + +<p>A shadow seemed to pass between himself and the blazing glare of the +sun. He looked up. It was a shadow thrown by a great bird, with black +wings, flying low. Others of the same kind circled higher. Ned saw with +a shiver that they were vultures. Obed saw them, too, and he also saw +Ned's face pale a little.</p> + +<p>"You take it as an omen," he said, "and maybe it is, <a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>but it's a poor +omen that won't work both ways. They're flying back now towards the +Indians, so I guess the Lipans had better look out."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, both were depressed by the appearance of the vultures and +the heat that afternoon grew more intense than ever. The horses, at +last, began to show signs of weariness, but Ned reflected that for every +mile they traveled the Lipans must travel one also, and he recalled the +words of Obed that chance might come to their aid.</p> + +<p>Another night followed, clear and bright, with the great stars dancing +in the southern skies, and Ned and Obed rode long after nightfall. Again +the Lipans sank from sight, and, as before, the two stopped on one of +the swells.</p> + +<p>"Now, Obed," said Ned, "it is your time to sleep and mine to watch. I +submitted last night and you must submit to-night. You know that you +can't go on forever without sleep."</p> + +<p>"Your argument is good," said Obed, "and I yield. It isn't worth while +for me to tell you to watch well, because I know you'll do it."</p> + +<p>He stretched himself out, folded between his blankets, and was soon +asleep. The horses tethered to a lonesome yucca found a few blades of +grass on the swell, which they cropped luxuriously. Then they lay down. +Ned walked about for a long time rifle on shoulder. It turned colder and +he wrapped his serape around his shoulders and chest. Finally he grew +tired of walking, and sat down on the ground, holding his rifle across +his lap. He sat on the highest point of the swell, and, despite the +night, he could see a considerable distance.</p> + +<p>His sight and hearing alike were acute, but neither brought him any +alarm. He tried to reconstruct in his <a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a>mind the Lipan mode of procedure. +With the coming of the night and the disappearance of the fugitives from +their sight they would spread out in a long line, in order that they +might not pass the two without knowing it, and advance until midnight, +perhaps. Then they, too, would rest, and pick up the trail again in the +morning.</p> + +<p>Ned did not know that time could be so long. He had not been watching +more than three or four hours, and yet it seemed like as many days. But +it was not long until dawn, and then it would be time for them to be up +and away again. The horses reposed by the yucca, and, down the far side +of the swell, close to the bottom of the dip, was another yucca. Ned's +glance wandered toward the second yucca, and suddenly his heart thumped.</p> + +<p>There was a shadow within the shadow of the yucca. Then he believed that +it must be imagination, but nevertheless he rose to his feet and cocked +his rifle. The shadow blended with the shadow of the yucca just behind +its stern, but Ned, watching closely, saw in the next instant the two +shadows detach and separate. The one that moved was that of a Lipan +warrior, naked save for the breech-cloth and horrible with war paint. +Ned instantly raised his rifle and fired. The Lipan uttered a cry and +fell, then sprang to his feet, and ran away down the dip. In answer to +the shot came the fierce note of the war whoop.</p> + +<p>"Up, Obed, up!" cried Ned. "The Lipans are coming down upon us. I just +shot at one of them in the bush!"</p> + +<p>But Obed was up already, running toward the alarmed horses, his blankets +under one arm and his rifle under the other. Ned followed, and, in an +instant, they were on their horses with their arms and stores. From the +next swell behind them came a patter of shots, and, <a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>for the second +time, the war cry. But the two were now galloping northward at full +speed.</p> + +<p>"Good work, Ned, my lad," cried Obed. "I didn't have time to see what +you shot, but I heard the yell and I knew it must have been a Lipan."</p> + +<p>"He was stalking us, a scout, I suppose, and I just got a glimpse of him +behind a yucca. I hit him."</p> + +<p>"Good eyes and good hand. You saved us. They must have struck our trail +in some manner during the night and then they thought they had us. Ah, +they still think they have us!"</p> + +<p>The last remark was drawn by a shout and another spatter of shots. Two +or three bullets struck alarmingly close, and they increased the speed +of their horses, while the Lipans urged their ponies to their best.</p> + +<p>"They're too eager," said Obed. "It's time to give them a hint that +their company is not wanted."</p> + +<p>He wheeled and executed with success that most difficult of feats, a +running shot. A Lipan fell from his horse, and the others drew back a +little for fear of Ned, the second marksman.</p> + +<p>"They've taken the hint," said Obed grimly, as he accomplished a second +difficult feat, that of reloading his rifle while they were at full +gallop. The Lipans did not utter another war cry, but settled down into +a steady pursuit.</p> + +<p>"I think I'll try a shot, Obed," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Obed, "but be sure that you hit something. Never waste +a good bullet on empty air."</p> + +<p>Ned fired. He missed the Lipan at whom he aimed, but he killed the pony +the warrior was riding. The Indian leaped on the pony that had been +ridden by the warrior slain by Obed and continued in the group of +<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>pursuers. Ned looked somewhat chagrined, and Obed noticed it.</p> + +<p>"You did very well, Ned," he said. "Of course, no one likes to kill a +horse, but it's the horses that bring on the Lipans, and the fewer +horses they have the better for us."</p> + +<p>Ned also reloaded as they galloped and then said:</p> + +<p>"Don't you think they're dropping back a little?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, they want to keep out of range. They know that our rifles carry +farther than theirs, and they will not take any more risk until they +finally corner us, of which they feel sure."</p> + +<p>"But of which we are not so sure."</p> + +<p>"No, and we are going to be hidden from them, for a while, by something. +You haven't noticed, Ned, that the country is rapidly growing much +worse, and that we are now in what is practically a sandy desert. You +don't see even a yucca, but you do see something whirling there in the +southwest. That's a 'dust devil,' and there's a half dozen more whirling +in our direction. We're going to have a sand storm."</p> + +<p>Ned looked with interest. The "dust devils," rising up like water +spouts, danced over the surface of the sand. They were a half dozen, +then a dozen, then twenty. A sharp wind struck the faces of the two +fugitives, and it had an edge of fine sand that stung. All the "dust +devils" were merged and the air darkened rapidly. The cloud of dust +about them thickened. They drew their sombreros far down over their +eyes, and rode very close together. They could not see twenty yards +away, and if they became separated in the dust storm it was not likely +that they would ever see each other again. But they urged their horses +on at a good rate, trusting to the instinct of the animals to take them +over a safe course.<a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a></p> + +<p>Ned had not only pulled the brim of his sombrero down over his eyes, but +he reinforced it with one hand to keep from being blinded, for the time, +by the sand, but it was hard work. As a final resort he let the lids +remain open only enough for him to see his comrade who was but three +feet away. Meanwhile, he felt the sand going down his collar, and +entering every opening of his clothing, scratching and stinging his +skin. The wind all the time was roaring in his ears, and now and then +the horses neighed in alarm. But they kept onward. Ned knew that they +were passing dips and swells, but he knew nothing else.</p> + +<p>The storm blew itself out in about three hours. Ned and Obed emerged +from an obscurity as great as that of night. The wind ceased shrieking +and was succeeded by a stillness that was almost deathly in comparison. +The sun came out suddenly, and shone brightly over the dips and swells. +But Ned and Obed looked at each other and laughed. Both were so thickly +plastered with sand and dust that they had little human semblance.</p> + +<p>Ned shook himself, and a cloud of dust flew from him, but so much +remained that he could not tell the difference.</p> + +<p>"I think we'd better take a drink out of our water bottles," said Obed. +"I'd like mighty well to have a bath, too, but I don't see a bath tub +convenient. Is there any sign of our friends, the enemy, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"None," replied Ned, examining the horizon line. "There is absolutely +nothing within view on the plains."</p> + +<p>"Don't you fret about 'em. They'll come. They'll spread out and pick up +our trail just as they do every morning."</p> + +<p>Obed spoke dispassionately, as if he and Ned were not concerned in it. +His predictions were justified. Before <a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>night they saw the Lipans coming +as usual in a close group, now at a distance of about three miles. Ned +could not keep from shuddering. They were as implacable as fate. Night, +the storm and bullets did not stop them. They could not shake them off +in the immense spaces of plain and desert. A kind of horror seized him. +Such tenacity must triumph. Was it possible that Obed and he would fall +victims after all? At least it seemed sure that in the end they would be +overtaken, and Ned began to count the odds in a fight. Anything seemed +better than this interminable flight.</p> + +<p>They were cheered a little by the aspect of the country, which began to +change considerably for the better. The cactus reappeared and then a few +trees, lonesome and ragged, but trees, nevertheless. It is wonderful how +much humanity a tree has in a sad and sandy land. The soil grew much +firmer and soon they saw clumps of buffalo grass. Several small groups +of buffalo were also visible.</p> + +<p>"There's better country ahead, as you see," said Obed. "Besides, I've +been along this way before. We'll strike water by dark."</p> + +<p>They reached a tiny brook just as the twilight came, at which both they +and their horses drank. They also took the time to wash their hands and +faces, but they dared not delay any longer for fear of being overtaken +by the Lipans. The night and the following day passed in the same manner +as the others, and the horses of Ned and Obed, splendid animals though +they were, began to show signs of fatigue. One limped a little. The +dreaded was happening. The Indian ponies made only of bone and muscle +were riding them down.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the character of the country now encouraged the +fugitives. The yucca and the mesquite turned into oak. They passed +through large groves <a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>and they hoped that they might soon enter a great +forest in which they could hide their trail wholly from the Lipans. They +crossed two considerable streams, knee deep on the horses, and then they +entered the forest for which they had hoped so much. It was of oaks +without much undergrowth and the ground was hilly. They rode through it +until past midnight. Then they stopped by the edge of a blue pool, and +while the other watched with the rifle each took the bath that he had +coveted so long.</p> + +<p>"I feel that I can fight battles and also run better now that I've got +rid of ten pounds of sand and dust," said Obed, "and I guess you feel +the same way, Ned. I suppose you've noticed that the other horse has +gone lame, too?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I noticed it. I don't believe either could make much speed +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"They certainly couldn't unless they had a long rest, and here we stay. +There need be no secrets between you and me, Ned, about this pursuit. I +think it's likely that we'll have a fight in the morning, and we might +as well choose our fort."</p> + +<p>The horses were panting and both now limped badly. It was quite evident +that they were spent. Beyond the pool was a tiny valley or glade with a +good growth of grass, and, after tying the reins to the pommels of the +saddles, they released the two faithful beasts there. Obed thought once +of tethering them but he reflected that to do so would make them sure +targets of the Indian bullets or arrows. They, too, deserved a chance to +escape.</p> + +<p>Then he and Ned looked around for the fort, of which they had spoken, +and they found it beyond the pool in an opening which would have been +called a little prairie in the far north. In the center of this opening +grew a rather thick cluster of trees, and there was some fallen <a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a>wood. A +rifle bullet would not reach from any point of the forest to the +cluster.</p> + +<p>They drew up all the fallen wood they could find, helping to turn the +ring of trees into a kind of fortification, refilled their water bottles +from the pool, and sat down to wait, with their rifles and pistols +ready.</p> + +<p>Ned felt a kind of relief, the relief that comes to one who, having +faced the worst so long, now knows that it has been realized. The +terrible chase had gone on for nights and days. Always the Lipans were +behind them. Well, if they were so fond of pursuing, now let them come. +By the aid of the dead wood they were fairly well protected from a fire +in any direction, and the light was sufficient for them to see an enemy +who attempted to cross the open. There was a certain grim pleasure in +the situation.</p> + +<p>"They've run us down at last," said Obed, "but they haven't got us yet. +Before you scalp your man just catch him is a proverb that I would +recommend to the Lipans. Now, Ned, suppose we eat a little, and brace +ourselves for the arrival of the pursuit."</p> + +<p>They ate with a good appetite and then lay propped on their elbows, +where they could look just over the logs at the circling forest. It was +very quiet. Nothing stirred among the trees. Their eyes, used now to the +half dusk, could see almost as well as if it were daylight. Ned finally +noticed some dark objects on the boughs of the trees and called Obed's +attention to them.</p> + +<p>"Wild turkeys," said Obed, after a long look. "The first we've seen and +we can't take a shot at them. They must know it or they wouldn't sit +there so quiet and easy."</p> + +<p>A half hour later, Ned saw something move among the trees at the nearest +point of the forest. It looked <a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>like a shadow and was gone in an +instant. But his heart leaped. He felt sure that it was a Lipan, and +told Obed of his suspicion.</p> + +<p>"Of course you're right," said the Maine man. "They may have been there +in the woods for an hour spying us out. They've dismounted and have left +their horses further back among the trees. Suppose you watch to the +right while I face to the left. I think the two of us together can cover +a whole circle."</p> + +<p>Ned felt a singular composure. It seemed to him that he had passed +through so many emotions that he had none left now but calm and +expectancy. As the night was somewhat cold he even remembered to throw +one of the blankets over his body, as he lay behind the log. Obed +noticed it and his sharp eyes brightened with approval. It was obvious +that the Lipans were now in the woods about them, and that the long +chase was at an end, but the boy was as steady as a rock.</p> + +<p>Ned looked continually for the second appearance of the shadows. Nothing +within the range of his half circle escaped him. He saw the wild turkeys +unfold their wings, and fly heavily away, which was absolute proof of +the presence of the Lipans. He finally saw the shadow for the second +time, and, at almost the same moment, a pink dot appeared in the woods. +The crack of a rifle followed, and a bullet knocked up a little dust at +least fifty yards short of them. Obed sniffed contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"One good bullet wasted," he said, "and one good bullet, I suppose, +deserves another, but they won't fire again—yet. It shows that they +know we're on guard. They won't rush us. They'll wait for time, thirst +and starvation."</p> + +<p>Obed was right. Not another shot was fired, nor did <a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a>any of the Lipans +show themselves. Day came, and the forest was as quiet and peaceful as +if it were a park. Some little birds of brilliant plumage sang as +heralds of dawn, and sunlight flooded the trees and the opening. Ned and +Obed moved themselves into more comfortable positions and waited.</p> + +<p>They were to have another terrible trial of Indian patience. No attack +was made. The two lay behind the logs and watched the circle of the +forest, until their eyes grew weary. The silence and peace that had +marked the dawn continued through all the hours of the morning. Although +the wild turkeys had flown away, the birds that lived in this forest +seemed to take no alarm. They hopped peacefully from bough to bough, and +sang their little songs as if there were no alien presence. But Ned and +Obed had been through too many dangers to be entrapped into a belief +that the Lipans had gone. They matched patience with patience. The sun +went slowly up toward the zenith, and the earth grew hot, but they were +protected from the fiery rays by the foliage of the trees. Yet Ned grew +restless. He was continually poking the muzzle of his rifle over the log +and seeking a target, although the forest revealed no human being. +Finally Obed put his hand upon his arm.</p> + +<p>"Easy, now, easy, Ned," he said. "Don't waste your strength and nerves. +They can't charge us, at least in the daylight, without our seeing them, +and, when they come, we want to be as strong of body and brain as +possible. We won't take the fight to them. They must bring it to us."</p> + +<p>Ned blushed. Meanwhile the afternoon dragged on, slow and silent, as the +morning had been.<a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE TEXANS</h3> + + +<p>Late in the afternoon Ned's nerves began to affect him again. Once more, +the old longing for action took such strong hold upon him that he could +not cast it off for a long time. But he hid his face from Obed. He did +not want his older comrade to see that he was white and trembling. +Finally, he took some food from his pack and bit fiercely upon it, as he +ate. It was not for the food that he cared, but it was a relief to bring +his teeth together so hard. Obed looked at him approvingly.</p> + +<p>"You're setting a good example, Ned," he said, "and I'll follow it."</p> + +<p>He too ate, and then took a satisfactory drink from his water bottle. +Meanwhile the sun was setting in a cloudless sky, and both noticed with +satisfaction that it would be a clear night. Eyes, trained like theirs, +could see even in the dusk an enemy trying to creep upon them.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could sleep a while, Ned?" said Obed, persuasively. +"Of course, I'll awake you at the first alarm, if the alarm itself +doesn't do it. Sleep knits us up for the fray, and a man always wants to +be at his best when he goes into battle."</p> + +<p>"How could a fellow sleep now?"</p> + +<p>"Only the brave and resolute can do it," replied Obed, cunningly. +"Napoleon slept before Austerlitz, and while no Austerlitz is likely to +happen down here in the wilderness <a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>of Northern Mexico there is nothing +to keep those who are able from copying a great man."</p> + +<p>The appeal to Ned's pride was not lost.</p> + +<p>"I think I'll try it," he said.</p> + +<p>He lay down behind the log with his rifle by his side, and closed his +eyes. He had no idea that he could go to sleep, but he wished to show +Obed his calmness in face of danger. Yet he did sleep, and he did not +awaken until Obed's hand fell upon his shoulder. He would have sprung +up, all his faculties not yet regained, but Obed's hand pressed him +down.</p> + +<p>"Don't forget where you are, Ned," said the Maine man, "and that we are +still besieged."</p> + +<p>Yet the night was absolutely still and Ned, from his recumbent position, +looked up at a clear sky and many glittering stars.</p> + +<p>"Has anything happened?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a thing. No Lipan has shown himself even among the trees."</p> + +<p>"About what time do you think it is?"</p> + +<p>"Two or three hours after midnight, and now I'm going to take a nap +while you watch. Ned, do you know, I've an idea those fellows are going +to sit in the woods indefinitely, safe, beyond range, and wait for us to +come out. Doesn't it make you angry?"</p> + +<p>"It does, and it makes me angry also to think that they have our horses. +Those were good horses."</p> + +<p>Obed slept until day, and Ned watched with a vigilance that no creeping +enemy could pass. The Lipans made no movement, but the siege, silent and +invisible, went on. Ned had another attack of the nerves, but, as his +comrade was sleeping soundly, he took no trouble to hide it, and let the +spell shake itself out.</p> + +<p>The day was bright, burning and hot, and it threatened <a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>to pass like its +predecessor, in silence and inaction. Ned and Obed had been lying down +or sitting down so long that they had grown stiff, and now, knowing that +they were out of range they stood up and walked boldly about, tensing +and flexing their muscles, and relieving the bodily strain. Ned thought +that their appearance might tempt the Lipans to a shot or some other +demonstration, but no sound came from the woods, and they could not see +any human presence there. "Maybe they have gone away after all," said +Ned hopefully.</p> + +<p>"If you went over there to the woods you'd soon find out that they +hadn't."</p> + +<p>"Suppose they really went away. We'd have no way of knowing it and then +we'd have to sit here forever all the same."</p> + +<p>Obed laughed, despite the grimness of their situation.</p> + +<p>"That is a problem," he said, "but if you can't work a problem it will +work itself if you only give it enough time."</p> + +<p>The morning was without result, but in the afternoon they saw figures +stirring in the wood and concluded that some movement was at hand.</p> + +<p>"Ned," said Obed, "I think we've either won in the contest of patience, +or that something else has occurred to disturb the Lipans. Don't you see +horses as well as Indians there among the trees?"</p> + +<p>"I can count at least five horses, and I've no doubt there are others."</p> + +<p>"All of which to my mind indicates a rush on horseback. Perhaps they +think they can gallop over us. We'd better lay our pistols on the logs, +where we can get at 'em quick, and be ready."</p> + +<p>Ned's sharp eye caught sight of more horses at another point.<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a></p> + +<p>"They're coming from all sides," he said.</p> + +<p>"You face to the right and I'll face to the left," said Obed, "and be +sure your bullet counts. If we bring down a couple of them they will +stop. Indians are not fond of charging in the open, and, besides, it +will be hard for them to force their horses in among these logs and +trees of ours."</p> + +<p>Ned did not answer, but he had listened attentively. The muzzle of his +rifle rested upon the log beside his pistol, and, with his eye looking +down the sights, he was watching for whatever might come.</p> + +<p>A sharp whistle sounded from the wood. At the same instant, three bands +of Lipans galloped from the trees at different points, and converged +upon the little fortress. They were all naked to the waist, and the sun +blazed down upon their painted bodies, lighting up their lean faces and +fierce eyes. They uttered shout after shout, as they advanced, and as +they came closer, bent down behind the shoulders of their ponies or +clung to their sides.</p> + +<p>The tremor of the nerves seized Ned again, but it was gone in a moment. +Then a fierce passion turned the blood in his veins to fire. Why were +these savages seeking his life? Why had they hung upon his trail for +days and days? And why had they kept up that silent and invincible siege +so long? Yet he did not forget his earlier resolution to watch for a +good shot, knowing that his life hung upon it. But it was hard to hold +one's fire when the thud of those charging hoofs was coming closer.</p> + +<p>The horsemen in front of him were four in number, and the leader who +wore a brilliant feathered headdress, seemed to be a chief. Ned chose +him for his target, but for a few moments the Lipan made his pony bound +<a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a>from side to side in such a manner that he could not secure a good aim. +But his chance came. The Lipan raised his head and opened his mouth to +utter a great shout of encouragement to his followers. The shout did not +pass his lips, because Ned's bullet struck him squarely in the forehead, +and he fell backward from his horse, dead before he touched the ground.</p> + +<p>Ned heard Obed's rifle crack with his own, but he could not turn his +head to see the result. He snatched up his pistol and fired a second +shot which severely wounded a Lipan rider, and then all three parties of +the Lipans, fearing the formidable hedge, turned and galloped back, +leaving two of their number lifeless upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Obed had not fired his pistol, but he stood holding it in his hand, his +eyes flashing with grim triumph. Ned was rapidly reloading his rifle.</p> + +<p>"If we didn't burn their noble Lipan faces then I'm mightily mistaken," +said Obed, as he too began to reload his rifle. "A charge that is not +pressed home is no charge at all. Hark, what is that?"</p> + +<p>There was a sudden crash of rifle shots in the forest, the long whining +whoop of the Lipans and then hard upon it a deep hoarse cheer.</p> + +<p>"White men!" exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>"And Texans!" said Obed. "Such a roar as that never came from Mexican +throats. It's friends! Do you hear, Ned, it's friends! There go the +Indians!"</p> + +<p>Across the far edge of the open went the Lipans in wild flight, and, as +they pressed their mustangs for more speed, bullets urged them to +efforts yet greater. Fifteen or twenty men galloped from the trees, and +Ned and Obed, breaking cover, greeted them with joyous shouts, which the +men returned in kind.<a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a></p> + +<p>"You don't come to much," exclaimed Ned, "but we can say to you that +never were men more welcome."</p> + +<p>"Which I beg to repeat and emphasize," said Obed White.</p> + +<p>"Speak a little louder," said the foremost of the men, leaning from his +horse and couching one hand behind his ear.</p> + +<p>Ned repeated his words in a much stronger tone, and the man nodded and +smiled. Ned looked at him with the greatest interest. He was of middle +age and medium size. Hair and eyes were intensely black, and his +complexion was like dark leather. Dressed in Indian costume he could +readily have passed for a warrior. Yet this man had come from the far +northern state of New York, and it was only the burning suns of the +Texas and North Mexican plains that had turned him to his present +darkness.</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet you, my boy," he said, leaning from his horse and holding +out a powerful hand, burnt as dark as his face. "My name's Smith, +Erastus Smith."</p> + +<p>Ned grasped his hand eagerly. This was the famous "Deaf" Smith—destined +to become yet more famous—although they generally pronounced it D-e-e-f +in Texas.</p> + +<p>"Guess we didn't come out of season," said Smith with a smile.</p> + +<p>"You certainly didn't," broke in Obed. "There's a time for all things, +and this was your time!"</p> + +<p>"I believe they're real glad to see us. Don't you think so, Jim?" said +Smith with a smile.</p> + +<p>The man whom he called Jim had been sitting on his horse, silent, and he +remained silent yet, but he nodded in reply. Ned's gaze traveled to him +and he was certainly a striking figure. He was over six feet in height, +with large blue eyes and fair hair. His expression was <a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a>singularly +gentle and mild, but his appearance nevertheless, both face and figure, +indicated unusual strength. Obed had not noticed him before, but now he +exclaimed joyfully:</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Colonel Jim Bowie! Jim, it's me, Obed White! Shake hands!"</p> + +<p>"So it is you, Obed," said the redoubtable Bowie, "and here we shake."</p> + +<p>The hands of the two met in a powerful clasp. Then they all dismounted +and another man, short and thick, shook Obed by the hand and called him +by his first name. He was Henry Karnes, the Tennesseean, great scout and +famous borderer of the Texas plains.</p> + +<p>Ned looked with admiration at these men, whose names were great to him. +On the wild border where life depended almost continually upon skill and +quickness with weapons, "Deaf" Smith, Jim Bowie and Henry Karnes were +already heroes to youth. Ned thrilled. He was here with his own people, +and with the greatest of them. He had finished his long journey and he +was with the Texans. The words shaped themselves again and again in his +brain, the Texans! the Texans! the Texans!</p> + +<p>"You two seem to have given the Lipans a lot of trouble," said Bowie, +looking at the two fallen warriors.</p> + +<p>"We were putting all the obstacles we could in the way of what they +wanted," said Obed modestly, "but we don't know what would have happened +if you hadn't come. Those fellows had been following us for days, and +they must have had some idea that you were near, or they would have +waited still longer."</p> + +<p>"They must not have known that we were as near as we were," said Bowie, +"or they would not have invited our attack. We heard the firing and +galloped to it at once. But you two need something better than talk."<a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a></p> + +<p>He broke off suddenly, because Ned had sat down on one of the logs, +looking white and ill. The collapse had come after so many terrible +trials and privations, and not even his will could hold him.</p> + +<p>"Here, you take a drink of this water, it's good and cold," said "Deaf" +Smith kindly as he held out a canteen. "I reckon that no boy has ever +passed through more than you have, and if there's any hero you are one."</p> + +<p>"Good words," said Bowie.</p> + +<p>Ned smiled. These words were healing balm to his pride. To be praised +thus by these famous Texans was ample reward. Besides, he had great and +vital news to all, and he knew that Obed would wait for him to tell it.</p> + +<p>"I think," said Bowie, "that we'd better camp for the night in the clump +of trees that served you two so well, and, before it's dark, we'll look +around and see what spoil is to be had."</p> + +<p>They found three rifles that had been dropped by slain or wounded +Lipans, and they were well pleased to get them, as rifles were about to +become the most valuable of all articles in Texas. They also recovered +Ned and Obed's horses, which the Indians had left in the valley, +evidently expecting to take them away, when they secured the scalps of +the two fugitives.</p> + +<p>Ned, after the cold water and a little rest, fully recovered his +strength and poise, but the men would not let him do any work, telling +him that he had already done his share. So he sat on his log and watched +them as they prepared camp and supper. Besides being the Texans and his +own people, to whom he had come after the long journey of perils, they +made a wonderful appeal. These were the bold riders, the dauntless, the +fearless. He would not find here the pliancy, the cunning, the craft and +the dark genius of Santa Anna, but <a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>he would find men who talked +straight, who shot straight, and who feared nobody.</p> + +<p>They were sixteen in number, and all were clad wholly in buckskin, with +fur caps upon their heads. They were heavily armed, every man carrying +at least a rifle, a pistol, and a formidable knife, invented by Bowie. +All were powerful physically, and every face had been darkened by the +sun. Ned felt that such a group as this was a match for a hundred +Mexicans or Lipans.</p> + +<p>They worked dextrously and rapidly, unsaddling their horses and +tethering them where they could graze in the open, drawing up the dead +wood until it made a heap which was quickly lighted, and then cooking +strips of venison over the coals. There was so much life, so much +cheerfulness, and so much assurance of strength and invincibility that +Ned began to feel as if he did not have a care left. All the men already +called him Ned, and he felt that every one of them was his friend.</p> + +<p>Karnes put a strip of venison on the sharp end of a stick, and broiled +it over the blaze. It gave out a singularly appetizing odor, and when it +was done he extended it to the boy.</p> + +<p>"Here, Ned," he said, "take this on the end of your knife and eat it. +I'll wager that you haven't had any good warm victuals for a week, and +it will taste mighty well."</p> + +<p>Ned ate it and asked for more. He would have done his own cooking, but +they would not let him. They seemed to take a pleasure in helping him, +and, used as they were to hardships and danger, they admired all the +more the tenacity and courage that had brought a boy so far.</p> + +<p>"We can promise you one thing, Ned," said "Deaf" Smith. "We'll see that +you and Obed have a full night's <a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a>good sleep and I guess you'll like +that about as much as a big supper."</p> + +<p>"We certainly will," said Obed. "Sleep has got a lot of knitting to do +in my case."</p> + +<p>"The same is true of me," said Ned, who had now eaten about all he +wanted, "but before I roll up in the blankets I want to say something to +you men."</p> + +<p>His voice had suddenly become one of great gravity, and, despite his +youth, it impressed them. The darkness had now come, but the fire made a +center of light. They had put themselves in easy attitudes about it, +while the horses grazed just beyond them.</p> + +<p>"I come from Texas myself," said Ned, "although I was born in Missouri. +My parents are dead, and I thought I could make my way in Texas. I met +Mr. Austin who is related to me, and he was good to me more than once. +When he went to Mexico to talk with the rulers there about our troubles +I went with him. I was a prisoner with him in the City of Mexico, and I +often saw the dictator, Santa Anna, and his brother-in-law, General +Cos."</p> + +<p>Ned paused and a deep "Ah!" came from the men. They felt from his face +and manner that he was telling no idle tale.</p> + +<p>"They said many fine words to Mr. Austin," said Ned, "and always they +promised that they were going to do great things for Texas. But much +time passed and they did nothing. Also they kept Mr. Austin a prisoner. +Then I escaped. I believed that they were preparing to attack Texas. I +was right. I was recaptured and both President Santa Anna and General +Cos told me so. They told me because they did not believe I could escape +again, as they sent me to one of the submarine dungeons under the castle +of San Juan de Ulua. But <a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>even under the sea I found a friend, Obed +here, and we escaped together. We have since seen the army of General +Cos, and it is marching straight upon Texas. Santa Anna means to crush +us and to execute all our leaders."</p> + +<p>Again came that deep murmurous "Ah!" and now it was full of anger and +defiance.</p> + +<p>"You say you saw the army of Cos?" asked Bowie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Ned, "I saw it before I was taken to the castle of San +Juan de Ulua and afterward in Northern Mexico, marching straight toward +Texas. It is a large force, cannon and lancers, horse and foot."</p> + +<p>"And so Santa Anna has been lulling us with promises, while sending an +army to destroy us."</p> + +<p>Bowie's tone, so gentle and mild before, grew hard and bitter. The +firelight flickered across his face and to Ned the blue eyes looked as +cold and relentless as death. He had heard strange stories of this man, +tales of desperate combats in Mississippi and Louisiana, and he believed +now that they were true. He could see the daring and determined soul +behind the blue eyes.</p> + +<p>While Ned was talking "Deaf" Smith was leaning forward with his hand +behind his ear. When the story was finished the dark face grew still +darker, but he said nothing. The others, too, were silent but Ned knew +their minds. It was a singular little company drawn from different +American states, some from the far north, but all alike in their +devotion to the vague region then known as Texas.</p> + +<p>"I think, Ned," said Bowie, "that you have served Texas well. We have +been divided among ourselves. Many have believed in propitiating Santa +Anna and Mexico, but how can you propitiate a tiger that is about to +devour you? We cannot trust Mexico, and we cannot <a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>trust Santa Anna. +Your message settles all doubt and gives us time to arm. Thank God we +refused to give up our rifles, because we are going to need them more +than anything else on earth. It was surely more than luck that brought +us this way. We came down here, Ned, on an expedition, half for hunting +and half for scouting, and we've found more than we expected. We must +start for Texas in the morning. Is it not so, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," they answered all together.</p> + +<p>"Then, Ned," said Bowie, "you can tell your story to Sam Houston and all +our leaders, and I think I know what they will say. We are few, but +Santa Anna and all Mexico cannot ride over Texas. And now it's time for +you and Obed to go to sleep. I should think that after being chased +nearly a week you'd be glad to rest."</p> + +<p>"We are," said Obed, answering for them both, "and once more we want to +thank you. If you hadn't come the Lipans would certainly have got us."</p> + +<p>The night, as usual, was chilly, and Ned spread his blankets in front of +the fire. His saddle formed a pillow for his head, and with one blanket +beneath him, another above him, and the stalwart Texans all about him, +he felt a deep peace, nay more, a great surge of triumph. He had made +his way through everything. Santa Anna and Cos could not attack the +Texans, unwarned. Neither Mexicans nor Lipans, neither prisons nor +storms nor deserts had been able to stop him.</p> + +<p>After the triumphant leap of his blood the great peace possessed him +entirely. His mind and body relaxed completely. His eyelids drooped and +the flames danced before him. The figures of the men became dusky. +Sometimes he saw them and sometimes he did not. Then everything +vanished, and he fell into a long and sound sleep.<a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a></p> + +<p>While Ned and Obed slept, the Texans conferred earnestly. They knew that +every word Ned had told was true, and they felt that the trouble between +Texas and Mexico had now come to a head. It must be war. They were fully +aware of the fearful odds, but they did not believe the Texans would +flinch. Three or four rode a long distance around the camp and scouted +carefully. But, as they had expected, they saw no sign of the Lipans, +who undoubtedly were still fleeing southward, carrying in their hearts a +healthy fear of the long rifles of the Texans.</p> + +<p>After the scouts came back most of the men went to sleep, but Bowie and +"Deaf" Smith watched all through the night. Ned moved a little toward +the morning and displaced the blanket that lay over him. Bowie gently +put it back.</p> + +<p>"He's a good boy as well as a brave one," he said to Smith, "and we owe +him a lot."</p> + +<p>"Never a doubt of that," said Smith, "and he'll be with us in the coming +struggle."</p> + +<p>When Ned awoke the dawn was barely showing, but all the horses, +including his own, were saddled and ready. They ate a brief breakfast, +and then they galloped northward over a good country. They did not +trouble to look for the army of Cos, as they knew that it was coming and +it was their object to spread the alarm as soon as possible through all +the Texas settlements. Ned, refreshed and strong, was in the center of +the troop and he rode with a light heart. Obed was on one side of him, +and "Deaf" Smith on the other.</p> + +<p>"To-night," said Smith, "we water our horses in the Rio Grande."</p> + +<p>"And then ho for Texas!" said Obed.</p> + +<p>On they sped, their even pace unbroken until noon, <a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>when they made a +short rest for food and water. Then they sped north once more, Bowie, +Smith and Karnes leading the way. They said very little now, but every +one in the group was thinking of the scattered Texans, of the women and +children in the little cabins beyond the Rio Grande, harried already by +Comanches and Lipans and now threatened by a great Mexican force. They +had come from different states and often they were of differing +counsels, but a common danger would draw them together. It was +significant that Smith, the New Yorker, and Bowie, the Georgian, rode +side by side.</p> + +<p>All through the hot sun of the afternoon they rode on. Twilight found +them still riding. Far in the night they waded and swam the Rio Grande, +and the next morning they stood on the soil that now is Texas.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE RING TAILED PANTHER</h3> + + +<p>Texas was then a vague and undetermined name in the minds of many. It +might extend to the Rio Grande or it might extend only to the Nueces, +but to most the Rio Grande was the boundary between them and Mexico. So +felt Ned and all his comrades. They were now on the soil which might own +the overlordship of Mexico, but for which they, the Texans, were +spending their blood. It was strange what an attachment they had for it, +although not one of them was born there. Beyond, in the outer world, +there was much arguing about the right or wrong of their case, but they +knew that they would have to fight for their lives, and for the homes +they had built in the wilderness on the faith of promises that had been +broken. That to them was the final answer and to people in such a +position there could be no other.</p> + +<p>The sight of Texas, green and fertile, with much forest along the +streams was very pleasant to Ned, and those rough frontiersmen in +buckskin who rode with him were the very men whom he had chosen. He had +been in a great city, and he had talked with men in brilliant uniforms, +but there everything seemed old, so far away in thought and manner from +the Texans, and he could never believe the words of the men in brilliant +uniforms. There, the land itself looked ancient and worn, but here it +was fresh and green, and men spoke the truth.<a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a></p> + +<p>They rode until nearly noon, when they stopped in a fine grove of oaks +and pecans by the side of a clear creek. The grass was also rich and +deep here, and they did not take the trouble to tether their horses. Ned +was exceedingly glad to dismount as he was stiff and sore from the long +ride, and he was also as hungry as a wolf.</p> + +<p>"Lay down on the grass, Ned, an' stretch yourself," said Karnes. "When +you're tired the best way to rest is to be just as lazy as you can be. +The ground will hold you up an' let your lungs do their own breathin'. +Don't you go to workin' 'em yourself."</p> + +<p>Ned thought it good advice and took it. It was certainly a great luxury +to make no physical exertion and just to let the ground hold him up, as +Karnes had said. Obed imitated his example, stretching himself out to +his great thin length on the soft turf.</p> + +<p>"Two are company and twenty are more so," he said, "especially if you're +in a wild country. My burden of care isn't a quarter as heavy since we +met Jim Bowie, and all the rest of these sure friends and sure shots. +This isn't much like San Juan de Ulua is it, Ned? You wouldn't like to +be back there."</p> + +<p>The boy looked up at the vast blue dome of the heavens, then he listened +a moment to the sigh of the free wind which came unchecked a thousand +miles and he replied with so much emphasis that his words snapped:</p> + +<p>"Not for worlds, Obed!"</p> + +<p>Obed White laughed and rolled over in the grass.</p> + +<p>"I do believe you mean that, Ned," he said, "and the sentiments that you +speak so well are also mine own."</p> + +<p>Smith and Karnes went a little distance up the creek, and found some +buffalo feeding. They shot a young cow, and in an incredibly short space +tender steaks were broiling over a fire. After dinner all but two went +to <a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>sleep. They understood well the old maxim that the more haste the +less speed, and that the sleep and rest through the hours of the +afternoon would make them fit for the long riding that was yet before +them.</p> + +<p>At five o'clock they were in the saddle again, and rode until midnight. +The next morning the party separated. The men were to carry the blazing +torch throughout the settlements, telling all the Texans that the +Mexicans were coming and that they were bringing war with them. But +Bowie, "Deaf" Smith and Karnes kept on with Ned and Obed.</p> + +<p>"We're taking you to Sam Houston," said Bowie to Ned. "He's to be the +general of all the Texan forces, we think, and we want you to tell him +what you've told us."</p> + +<p>They began now to see signs of settlements in the river bottoms where +the forests grew. There were stray little log cabins, almost hidden +among the oaks and pecans. Women and children came forth to see the +riders go by. The women were tanned like the men, and often they, too, +were clothed in buckskin. The children, bare of foot and head, seemed +half wild, but all, despite the sun, had the features of the Northern +races.</p> + +<p>Ned could not keep from waving his hand to them. These were his people, +and he was thankful that he should have so large a part in the attempt +to save them. But he only had fleeting glimpses because they rode very +fast now. He was going to Sam Houston, famous throughout all the +Southwest, and Houston was at one of the little new settlements some +distance away. He would tell his story again, but he knew that the +Texans were already gathering. The messengers detached from the group +had now carried the alarm to many a cabin.<a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a></p> + +<p>Several times at night they saw points of fire on the horizon and they +would pause to look at them.</p> + +<p>"That's the Texans signaling to one another," said "Deaf" Smith. +"They're passing the word westward. They're calling in the buffalo +hunters and those who went out to fight the Comanches and Lipans."</p> + +<p>Ned had alternations of hope and despondency. He saw anew how few the +Texans were. Their numbers could be counted only in thousands, while the +Mexicans had millions. Moreover, the tiny settlements were scattered +widely. Could such a thin force make a successful defense against the +armies of Cos and Santa Anna? But after every moment of despair, the +rebound came, and he saw that the spirit of the people was indomitable.</p> + +<p>At last, they rode into a straggling little village by the side of a +wide and shallow river. All the houses were built of logs or rough +boards, and Ned and his companions dismounted before the largest. They +had already learned that Sam Houston was inside. Ned felt intense +curiosity as they approached. He knew the history of Houston, his +singular and picturesque career, and the great esteem in which he was +held by the Texans. A man with a rifle on his shoulder stood by the door +as guard, but he recognized Smith and Karnes, and held the door open for +the four, who went inside without a word.</p> + +<p>Several men, talking earnestly were sitting in cane-bottomed chairs, and +Ned, although he had never seen him before, knew at once which was +Houston. The famous leader sat in the center of the little group. He was +over six feet high, very powerful of build, with thick, longish hair, +and he was dressed carefully in a suit of fine dark blue cloth. He rose +and saluted the four with great courtesy. Despite his long period of +<a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>wild life among the Indians his manners were distinguished.</p> + +<p>"We welcome you, Smith and Karnes, our faithful scouts," he said, "and +we also welcome those with you who, I presume, are the two escaped from +the City of Mexico."</p> + +<p>It was evident that the story of Ned and Obed had preceded them, but +Karnes spoke for them.</p> + +<p>"Yes, General," he said. "They are the men, or rather the man and the +boy. These are Obed White and Ned Fulton, General Houston."</p> + +<p>Houston's glance ran swiftly over them. Evidently he liked both, as he +smiled and gave each a hearty hand.</p> + +<p>"And now for your story," he said.</p> + +<p>Obed nodded toward Ned.</p> + +<p>"He's the one who saw it all," he said, "and he's the one who brings the +warning."</p> + +<p>Ned was a little abashed by the presence of Houston and the other +important Texans, but he told the tale once more rapidly and succinctly. +Every one listened closely. They were the chief members of the temporary +Texan government, but the room in which they met was all of the +frontier. Its floor was of rough boards. Its walls and ceilings were +unplastered. There was not a single luxury and not all of the +necessities.</p> + +<p>When Ned finished, Houston turned to the others and said quietly:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, we all know that this is war. I think there need be no +discussion of the point. It seems necessary to send out more messengers +gathering up every Texan who will fight. Do you agree with me?"</p> + +<p>All said yes.</p> + +<p>"I think, too," said Houston, "that Santa Anna may now send Mr. Austin +back to us. He does not know <a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>how well informed we are, and doubtless he +will believe that such an act will keep us in a state of blindness."</p> + +<p>"And you, my brave and resourceful young friend, what do you want to +do?"</p> + +<p>"Fight under you."</p> + +<p>Houston laughed and put his hand affectionately on the boy's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I see that there is something of the courtier in you, too," he said. +"It is not a bad quality sometimes, and you shall have the chance that +you ask, later on. But meanwhile, you and Mr. White would better rest +here, a while. You may have some scouting and skirmishing to do first. +We must feel our way."</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed now withdrew, and received the hospitality of the little +town which was great, at least so far as food was concerned. They longed +for action, but the rest was really necessary. Both body and spirit were +preparing for greater deeds. Meanwhile, Houston, the scouts and the +Texan government went away, but Ned and Obed stayed, awaiting the call. +They knew that the signals had now passed through all Texas and they did +not think that they would have to remain there long.</p> + +<p>They heard soon that Houston's prediction in regard to Austin had come +true. Santa Anna had released him, and he had arrived in Texas. But he +had not been cajoled. His eyes had been opened at last to the designs of +the dictator and immediately upon his return to Texas he had warned his +countrymen in a great speech. Meanwhile, the army of Cos was approaching +San Antonio, preceded by the heralds of coming Texan ruin.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed sat under the shade of some live oaks, when a horseman came +to the little village. He was a strange man, great in size, dressed in +buckskin, very brown of countenance and with long hair, tied as the +<a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a>western Indians would wear it. He was something of a genial boaster, +was this man, and he was known up and down the Texas border as the Ring +Tailed Panther although his right name was Martin Palmer. But he had +lived long among the Osage, Kiowa and Pawnee Indians, and he was +renowned throughout all the Southwestern country for his bravery, skill +and eccentricity. An Indian had killed a white man and eaten his heart. +He captured the Indian and compelled him to eat until he died. When his +favorite bear dog died he rode sixty miles and brought a minister to +preach a sermon over his body. A little boy was captured on the +outskirts of a settlement by some Comanche Indians. He followed them +alone for three hundred miles, stole the boy away from them in the +night, and carried him back safely to his father and mother.</p> + +<p>Such was the Ring Tailed Panther, a name that he had originally given to +himself and which the people had adopted, one who boasted that he feared +no man, the boast being true. He was heavily armed and he rode a black +and powerful horse, which he directed straight toward the place where +Ned and Obed were sitting.</p> + +<p>"You are Ned Fulton an' Obed White, if report tells no lie?" he said in +a deep growling voice.</p> + +<p>"We are," said Ned, who did not know the identity of their formidable +visitor.</p> + +<p>"So I knew. I just wanted to see if you'd deny it. Glad to meet you, +gentlemen. As for me, I'm the Ring Tailed Panther."</p> + +<p>"The Ring Tailed Panther?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Didn't you hear me say so? I'm the Ring Tailed Panther, an' I +can whip anything livin', man or beast, lion or grizzly bear. That's why +I'm the Ring Tailed Panther."<a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a></p> + +<p>"Happy to know you, Mr. Ring Tailed Panther," said Ned, "and having no +quarrel with you we don't wish to fight you."</p> + +<p>The man laughed, his broad face radiating good humor.</p> + +<p>"And I don't want to fight you, either," he said, "'cause all of us have +got to fight somebody else. See here, your name's Obed an' yours is Ned, +and that's what I'm goin' to call you. No Mistering for me. It don't +look well for a Ring Tailed Panther to be givin' handles to people's +names."</p> + +<p>"Ned and Obed it is," said Ned with warmth.</p> + +<p>"Then, Ned an' Obed, it's Mexicans. I've been fightin' Indians a long +time. Besides bein' a Ring Tailed Panther, I'm three parts grizzly bear +an' one part tiger, an' I want you both to come with guns."</p> + +<p>"Is it fighting?" asked Ned, starting up.</p> + +<p>"It's ridin' first an' then fightin'. Our people down at Gonzales have a +cannon. The Mexicans are comin' to take it away from them, an' I think +there's goin' to be trouble over the bargain. The Texans got the gun as +a defense against the Indians an' they need it. Some of us are goin' +down there to take a hand in the matter of that gun, an' you are goin' +with us."</p> + +<p>"Of course we are!" said Ned and Obed together. In five minutes they +were riding, fully armed, with the Ring Tailed Panther over the prairie. +He gave them more details as they rode along.</p> + +<p>"Some of our people had been gatherin' at San Felipe to stop the march +of Cos if they could," he said, "but they've been drawn off now to help +Gonzales. They're comin' from Bastrop, too, an' other places, an' if +there ain't a fight then I'm the Ring Tailed Panther for nothing. If we +keep a good pace we can join a lot of the boys by nightfall."<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a></p> + +<p>"We'll keep it," said Ned. The boy's heart was pounding. Somehow he felt +that an event of great importance was at hand, and he was glad to have a +share in it. But the three spoke little. The Panther led the way. Ned +saw that despite his boasting words he was a man of action. Certainly he +was acting swiftly now, and it was quite evident that he knew what he +was doing. At last he turned to Ned and said:</p> + +<p>"You're only a boy. You know what you're goin' into, of course?"</p> + +<p>"A fight, I think."</p> + +<p>"And you may get killed?"</p> + +<p>"I know it. One can't go into a fight without that risk."</p> + +<p>"You're a brave boy. I've heard of what you did, an' you don't talk +much. I'm glad of that. I can do all the talkin' that's needed by the +three of us. The Lord created me with a love of gab."</p> + +<p>The man spoke in a whimsical tone and Ned laughed.</p> + +<p>"You can have all my share of the talking, Mr. Palmer," he said.</p> + +<p>"The Ring Tailed Panther," corrected the man. "I told you not to be +Misterin' me. I like that name, the Ring Tailed Panther. It suits me, +because I fit an' I fight till they get me down, then I curl my tail an' +I take another round. Once in New Orleans I met a fellow who said he was +half horse, half alligator, that he could either claw to death the best +man living, stamp him to pieces or eat him alive. I invited him to do +any one of these things or all three of them to me."</p> + +<p>"What happened?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>A broad smile passed over the man's brown face.</p> + +<p>"After they picked up the pieces an' put him back together," he said, "I +told him he might try again whenever <a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>he felt like it, but he said his +challenge was directed to human beings, not to Ring Tailed Panthers. Him +an' me got to be great friends an' he's somewhere in Texas now. I may +run acrost him before our business with the Mexicans is over, which I +take it is goin' to last a good while."</p> + +<p>It was now late in the afternoon, and dismounting at a clump of trees +the Panther lighted the end of a dead stick and waved the torch around +his head many times.</p> + +<p>"Watch there in the west for another light like this," he said.</p> + +<p>Ned, who sat on his horse, was the first to see the faint circling light +far down under the horizon. It was so distant that he could not have +seen it had he not been looking for it, but when he pointed it out the +Panther ceased to whirl his own torch.</p> + +<p>"It's some friends," he said, "an' they're answerin'. They're sayin' +that they've seen us an' that they're waitin'. When they get through +we'll say that we understan' an' are comin'."</p> + +<p>The whirling torch on the horizon stopped presently. The Panther whirled +his own for half a minute, then he sprang back upon his horse and the +three rode rapidly forward.</p> + +<p>The sight of the lights sparkling in the twilight so far across the +prairie thrilled Ned. He felt that he was in very truth riding to a +fight as the Panther had said. Perhaps it was a part of the force of Cos +that was coming to Gonzales. Cos himself had turned from the land route +with a part of his force and, coming by sea, had landed at Copano about +two weeks before. Ned, having full cause, hated this brutal man, and he +hoped that the Texans would come to grips with him.</p> + +<p>The night was at hand when they reached four men <a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>sitting on horseback +and waiting for them. They greeted the Ring Tailed Panther with few +words but with warmth. They gave to Ned and Obed, too, the strong +handclasp which men in danger give to friends who come. Ned thrilled +once more with pride that he should be associated with heroes in great +deeds. Such they undoubtedly were to him.</p> + +<p>"The Mexicans will be at Gonzales to-morrow," said one of the men. "The +place, as you know, has refused to give up its cannon and has defied +them, but it's almost bare of men. I don't think they have a dozen +there."</p> + +<p>"The battle is generally to the strong if they get there in time," said +Obed, "and here are seven of us on good horses."</p> + +<p>"Not countin' the fact that one of us is a Ring Tailed Panther with +claws a foot long an' two sets of teeth in his mouth," said Palmer. +"Ride on, boys, an' ride hard."</p> + +<p>They urged their horses into a gallop and sped over the prairie. At +midnight they clattered into the tiny village of Gonzales on the +Guadalupe River, where everybody except the little children was awake +and watching. Lights flared from the cabins, and the alarm at first, +lest they were Mexicans, changed to joy when they were disclosed as +Texans.</p> + +<p>But the armed force of the place, though stout of heart, was pitifully +small. They found only eleven men in Gonzales capable of bearing arms, +and no more help could be expected before the Mexicans came the next +day. But eleven and seven make eighteen, and now that they were joined, +and communicating spirit and hope to one another, the eighteen were more +than twice as strong as the eleven had been. The Ring Tailed Panther +poured forth a stream of cheer and encouragement. He grew <a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a>more voluble +at the approach of danger. Never had his teeth and claws been longer or +sharper.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid of nothin' except that they won't come," he said. "If they +don't, my health will give way. I'll be a-droopin' an' a-pinin' an' I'll +have to go off an' fight the Comanches an' Lipans to get back my +strength."</p> + +<p>But he was assured that his health would not suffer. Mexican cavalry, a +hundred strong, were coming under a captain, Castenada, sent by +Ugartchea, the Mexican commander at San Antonio de Bexar. Scouts had +brought that definite news. They were riding from the west and they +would have to cross the Guadalupe before they could enter Gonzales. +There were fords, but it would be a dangerous task to attempt their +passage in face of the Texan rifles.</p> + +<p>The ferryboat was tied safely on the Gonzales side, and then the +eighteen, every one a fine marksman, distributed themselves at the +fords. Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther stayed together. They did +not anticipate the arrival of the Mexican forces before dawn, but +Castenada might send spies ahead, and the Mexican scouts were full of +wiles and stratagems.</p> + +<p>"At any rate," said the Panther, "if we catch any Mexican prowling +around here we'll throw him into the river."</p> + +<p>"All things, including Mexicans, come to him who waits," said Obed, "and +speaking for myself I'd rather they wouldn't come until day. It's more +comfortable to sit quiet in the dark."</p> + +<p>These three and six others had taken a position under a great oak tree, +where they were well shaded but could easily see anyone who approached +the ford on the opposite side. Back of them a few lights burned in the +little town, where the anxious women watched, but no noise <a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>came from it +or the second ford, where the other half of the eighteen were on guard. +Their horses were tethered some distance in the rear and they, too, +rested in quiet.</p> + +<p>The tree sent up a great gnarled root and Ned sat on the ground, leaning +against it. It just fitted into the curve of his back and he was very +comfortable. But he did not allow his comfort to lull him into lethargy. +Always he watched the river and the farther shore. He had now become no +mean scout and sentinel. The faculties develop fast amid the continuous +fight for life against all kinds of dangers. Above all, that additional +sense which may be defined as prescience, and, which was a development +of the other five, was alive within him, ready to warn him of a hostile +presence.</p> + +<p>But Ned neither saw nor heard anything, nor did his sixth sense warn him +that an enemy was near. The Guadalupe, wide, yellow and comparatively +shallow like most of the Texas rivers, flowed slowly and without sound. +Now and then Obed and the Panther walked down to the other ford, where +all, too, was quiet, but Ned kept his place against the root. Toward +morning the Panther sat down beside him there.</p> + +<p>"Waitin's hard," he said. "I like to jump on the enemy with claws an' +nails an' have it out right there an' then. I like to roar an' bite. +That's why I'm a Ring Tailed Panther."</p> + +<p>Ned laughed.</p> + +<p>"If Castenada is coming, and they say he surely is," he said, "we'll +soon have use for all our claws and teeth."</p> + +<p>"Patience will bring our Mexicans," said Obed White.</p> + +<p>At daylight women from the cabins brought them all coffee and warm food, +for which they were very grateful. Then the sun rose, and the morning +was fresh and <a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a>crisp, it now being autumn. The men remained by the +river, still watching intently and Ned caught a sudden sharp glint which +was not that of the sun, far out on the prairie. He knew that it was a +brilliant ray reflected from the polished head of a lance, and he said +as he pointed a finger:</p> + +<p>"The Mexicans are coming."</p> + +<p>"So they are," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "I see a horseman, an' +another, an' another, an' now a lot of 'em. They must be a hundred at +least. It's the troop of Castenada, an' they're after that cannon. Well, +I'm glad."</p> + +<p>The man seemed to swell and his eyes darkened. He was like some +formidable beast about to spring. The boaster was ready to make good his +boast.</p> + +<p>"Run down to the other ford, Ned," said Palmer, "an' tell the men there +that the Mexicans are at hand."</p> + +<p>Ned did his errand, but returned very quickly. He was anxious to see the +advance of Castenada's troop. The Mexicans, about half of whom were +lancers and the rest armed with muskets, came on very steadily. An +officer in fine uniform, whom Ned took to be Castenada himself, rode at +their head. When they came within rifle shot a white flag was hoisted on +a lance.</p> + +<p>"A white flag! This is no time for white flags," growled the Ring Tailed +Panther. "Never have any faith in a Mexican comin' under a white flag. +What we've got to do now is to roar an' rip an' claw."</p> + +<p>"Still," said Obed, "it's evil to him who evil does, and we've got to +wait till these Mexicans do it. First we've got to hear what they say, +and if the saying isn't to our liking, as I'm thinking it won't be, then +it's ripping and roaring and clawing and all the other 'ings' to our +taste as long as we can stand it."<a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a></p> + +<p>"Go ahead," growled the Ring Tailed Panther, "I'm not much on talkin'. +Fightin's more in my line an' when it's that I come with a hop, a skip +an' a jump, teeth an' claws all ready."</p> + +<p>"Ned," said Obed, "you speak the best Spanish, so go down there to the +bank of the river, and hear what they have to say. Just remember that +we're not giving up the cannon, and clothe the answers in what fine +words you please. There isn't any rock here, but sooner this rock shall +fly from its firm base than the Texans will yield their cannon when they +are sure to be attacked by Indians and maybe Mexicans too."</p> + +<p>Ned walked down to the edge of the river and the officer, whom he +rightly supposed to be Castenada, dismounting, came to the shore at an +opposite point.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" cried Ned in pure Spanish across the water.</p> + +<p>"Are you empowered to speak for the people of Gonzales?"</p> + +<p>"You hear me speaking and you see the other Texans listening."</p> + +<p>"Then I have to say that on the order of General Cos I demand your +cannon in the name of General Santa Anna and Mexico."</p> + +<p>"We've made up our minds to keep it. We're sure to need it later on."</p> + +<p>"This is insolent. If you do not give it we shall come and take it."</p> + +<p>"Tell him, Ned," growled the Ring Tailed Panther, "that we just hope +he'll come an' try to take it, that I'm here roarin' all the time, that +I've filed my teeth an' nails 'till they're like the edge of a razor, +an' that I'm just hungerin' to rip an' claw."</p> + +<p>"The men of Gonzales mean to defend their cannon <a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>and themselves," +called Ned across the river. "If you come to take the gun it means war. +It means more, too. It means that you will lose many of your soldiers. +The Texans, as you know, are both able and willing to shoot."</p> + +<p>"This is rebellion and treason!" cried Castenada. "The great Santa Anna +will come with a mighty force, and when he is through not a Texan will +trouble the surface of the earth."</p> + +<p>A roar of approval came from the men behind the Mexican captain, but Ned +replied:</p> + +<p>"Until the earth is rid of us we may make certain spots of it dangerous +for you. So, I warn you to draw back. Our bullets carry easily across +this river."</p> + +<p>Captain Castenada, white with rage, retired with his troop beyond the +range of the Texan rifles.<a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST GUN</h3> + + +<p>"Well, Ned, it's sometimes ask and ye shall not receive, isn't it?" said +Obed White, looking at the retreating Mexicans.</p> + +<p>But the Ring Tailed Panther growled between his shut teeth. Then he +opened his mouth and gave utterance to his dissatisfaction.</p> + +<p>"It's a cheat, a low Mexican trick," he said, "to come here an' promise +a fight an' then go away. I'm willin' to bet my claws that them Mexicans +will hang around here two or three days, without tryin' to do a thing."</p> + +<p>"An' won't that be all the better for us?" asked Ned. "We're only +eighteen and we surely need time for more."</p> + +<p>"That's so," admitted the Ring Tailed Panther, "but when you've got all +your teeth and claws sharpened for a fight you want it right then an' +not next week."</p> + +<p>The Mexicans tethered their horses and began to form camp about a half +mile from the river. They went about it deliberately, spreading tents +for their officers and lighting fires for cooking. The Texans could see +them plainly and the Mexicans showed the carelessness and love of +pleasure natural to children of the sun. Some lay down on the grass and +three or four began to strum mandolins and guitars.</p> + +<p>There was a sterner manner on the Texan side of the Guadalupe. The watch +at the fords was not relaxed, but Ned went back into the little town to +carry the word to <a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a>the women and children. Most of the women, like the +men, were dressed in deerskin and they, too, volunteered to fight if +they were needed. Ned told them what Castenada had asked, and he also +told them the reply which was received with grim satisfaction. The women +were even more bitter than the men against the Mexicans.</p> + +<p>Ned passed a long day by the Guadalupe, keeping his place most of the +time at the ford with the Ring Tailed Panther, who was far less patient +than he.</p> + +<p>"My teeth an' claws will shorely get dull with me a-settin' here an' +doin' nothin'," said Palmer. "I can roar an' I can keep on roarin' but +what's the good of roarin' when you can't do any bitin' an' tearin'?"</p> + +<p>"Patience will have its perfect fight," said Obed, giving one of his +misquotations. "I've always heard that every kind of panther would lie +very quiet until the chance came for him to spring."</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther growled between his shut teeth.</p> + +<p>The sight of the Mexican force in the afternoon became absolutely +tantalizing. Although it was early autumn the days were still very hot +at times and Castenada's men were certainly taking their ease. Ned could +see many of them enjoying the siesta, and through a pair of glasses he +saw others lolling luxuriously and smoking cigarettes. It was especially +irritating to the Ring Tailed Panther, who grew very red in the face but +who now only emitted growls between his shut teeth.</p> + +<p>It was evident that the Mexicans were going to make no demonstration +just yet and the night came, rather dark and cloudy. Now the anxiety in +Gonzales increased since the night can be cover for anything, and, +besides guarding the fords, several of the defenders were placed at +intermediate points.<a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a></p> + +<p>Ned took a station with Obed in a clump of oaks that grew to the very +edge of the Guadalupe. There they sat a long time and watched the +surface of the river grow darker and darker. The Mexican camp had been +shut from sight long since, and no sounds now came from it. Ned +appreciated fully the need of a close watch. The Mexicans might swim the +river on their horses in the darkness, and gallop down on the town. So +he never ceased to watch, and he also listened with ears which were +rapidly acquiring the delicacy and sensitiveness peculiar to those of +expert frontiersmen.</p> + +<p>Ned was not warlike in temper. He knew, from his reading, all the waste +and terrible passions of war, but he was heart and soul with the Texans. +He was one of them, and to him the coming struggle was a fight for home +and liberty by an oppressed people. With the ardor of youth flaming in +him he was willing for that struggle to begin at once.</p> + +<p>Night on the Guadalupe! He felt that the darkness was full of omens and +presages for Texas and for him, too, a boy among its defenders. His +pulses quivered, and a light moisture broke out on his face. His +prescience, the gift of foresight, was at work. It was telling him that +the time, in very truth, had come. Yet he could not see or hear a single +thing that bore the remotest resemblance to an enemy.</p> + +<p>The boy stepped from a clump of trees in order that he might get a +better look down the river. There was a crack on the farther shore, a +flash of fire, and a bullet sang past his ear. He caught a hasty glimpse +of a Mexican with a smoking rifle leaping to cover, and he, too, sprang +back into the shelter of the trees.</p> + +<p>It was the first shot of the great Texan struggle for independence!<a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a></p> + +<p>Ned felt all of its significance even then, and so did Obed.</p> + +<p>"You saw him?" asked the Maine man.</p> + +<p>"I did, and I felt the breath of his bullet on my face, but he gained +cover too quick for me to return his fire."</p> + +<p>"The first shot was theirs and it was at you. It seems odd, Ned, that +you should have been used as a target for the opening of the war."</p> + +<p>"I'm proud of the honor."</p> + +<p>"So would I be in your place."</p> + +<p>Others came, drawn by the shot.</p> + +<p>"Was it a Mexican?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther eagerly. "Tell me it +was a Mexican and make me happy."</p> + +<p>"You can be happy," said Obed. "It was a Mexican and he was shooting +with what the law would define as an intent to kill. He sent a rifle +bullet across the Guadalupe, aimed at our young friend, Edward Fulton. +Ned did not see the bullet, but his sensitiveness to touch showed that +it passed within an inch of his face."</p> + +<p>Now the Ring Tailed Panther roared, but it was not between his shut +teeth.</p> + +<p>"By the great horn spoon, I'm glad!" he said, "All the waitin' an' +backin' an' fillin' are over. We do our talkin' now with cannon an' +rifles."</p> + +<p>But not another shot was fired that night. It was merely some scout or +skirmisher who had sent the fugitive bullet across the river, but it was +enough. The Mexican intentions were now evident.</p> + +<p>Ned went off duty toward morning and slept a few hours in one of the +cabins. When he awoke he ate a hearty breakfast and went back to the +river. About half of the eighteen had taken naps, but they were all +gathered <a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a>once more along the Guadalupe. Ned observed the Mexican camp +and saw some movement there. Presently all the soldiers rode out, with +Castenada at their head.</p> + +<p>"They're comin' to our ford! By the great horn spoon, they are comin'!" +roared the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>It seemed that he was right as the Mexicans were approaching at a +gallop, making a gallant show, their lances glittering in the sun.</p> + +<p>"Lay down, all!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "The moment they strike +the water turn loose with your rifles an' roar an' scratch an' claw!"</p> + +<p>But when they were within one hundred yards of the Guadalupe the +Mexicans suddenly sheered off. Evidently they did not like the looks of +the Texan rifles which they could plainly see. The defenders of the +fords uttered a derisive shout, and some of the Mexicans fired. But +their bullets fell short, only a single one of them coming as far as the +edge of the Guadalupe. The Texans did not reply. They would not waste +ammunition in any such foolish fashion.</p> + +<p>The Mexicans stopped, when four or five hundred yards away, and began to +wave their lances and utter taunting shouts. The Texans only laughed, +all except the Ring Tailed Panther, who growled.</p> + +<p>"You see, Ned," said Obed, "that one charge does not make a passage. It +appears to me that our friend Castenada does not want his uniform or +himself spoiled by our good Texas lead. Now, I take it, we can rest easy +awhile longer."</p> + +<p>He lay down in the grass under the trees and Ned did likewise, but the +Ring Tailed Panther would not be consoled. An opportunity had been lost, +and he hurled strange and miscellaneous epithets at the distant +Mexicans. Standing <a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>upon a little hillock he called them more bad names +than Ned had ever before heard. He aspersed the character of their +ancestors even to the eighth generation and of their possible +descendants also to the eighth generation. He issued every kind of +challenge to any kind of combat, and at last, red and panting, descended +the hillock.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel better?" asked Obed.</p> + +<p>"I've whispered a few of my thoughts. Yes, I can re'lly say that the +state of my health is improvin'."</p> + +<p>"Then sit down and rest. It's never too late to try, try again. Remember +that the day is long and the Mexicans may certainly have a chance."</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but sat down.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon the Mexicans again formed in line and trotted down +toward the other ford, but as before they did not like the look of the +Texan rifles and turned away, after shouting many challenges, +brandishing lances and firing random shots. But the Texans contented +themselves again with a grim silence, and the Mexicans rode back to +their camp. The disgust of the Ring Tailed Panther was so deep that he +could not utter a word. But Obed was glad.</p> + +<p>"More men will come to-night," he said to Ned. "You know that requests +for help were sent in all directions by the people of Gonzales, and if I +know our Texans, and I think I do, they'll ride hard to be here. +Castenada, in a way, is besieging us now, but—well, the tables may be +turned and he'll turn with 'em."</p> + +<p>Just at twilight a great shout arose from the women in the village. +There was a snorting of horses, a jingling of spurs and embroidered +bridle reins, and twenty lean, brown men, very tall and broad of +shoulder, rode up. They were the vanguard of the Texan help, and <a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>they +rejoiced when they found that the Mexican force was still on the west +side of the Guadalupe.</p> + +<p>Their welcome was not noisy but deep. The eighteen were now the +thirty-eight, and to-morrow they would be a hundred or more. The twenty +had ridden more than a hundred miles, but they were fresh and zealous +for the combat. They went down to the river, and, in the darkness, +looked at the Mexican camp fires, while the Ring Tailed Panther roared +out his opinion.</p> + +<p>"The Mexicans won't bring the fight to us," he said, "so we must carry +it to them. They've galloped down here twice an' they've looked at the +river an' they've looked at us, an' they've galloped back again. We +can't let 'em set over there besiegin' us, we must cross an' besiege +them an' get to roarin' an' rippin' an' clawin'."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow," said Obed, "more of our friends will be here and when we +all get together we will discuss it and make a decision."</p> + +<p>"Of course we'll discuss it!" roared the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' then +we'll come to a decision, an' there's only one decision that we can come +to. We'll cross the river an' mighty quick we'll make them Mexicans wish +they'd chose a camp a hundred miles from Gonzales."</p> + +<p>The others laughed, but after all, the Ring Tailed Panther had stated +their position truly. Every man agreed with him. The watch at the river +that night was as vigilant as ever, and the next morning parties of +Texans arrived from different points, swelling their numbers to more +than one hundred and fifty men, fully equaling the company of Castenada, +after allowing for reinforcements received by the Mexican captain.</p> + +<p>With one of the Texan troops came a quiet man of confident bearing, +dressed like the others in buckskin, but with more authority in his +manner. The Ring Tailed Panther <a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a>greeted him with great warmth, shaking +his hand and saying:</p> + +<p>"John! John! We're awful glad you've come 'cause there's to be a lot of +roarin' an' tearin' an' clawin' to be done."</p> + +<p>The man smiled and replied in his quiet tones:</p> + +<p>"We know it and that's why we've come. Now, I suggest that while we +leave ten men at each ford, we hold a meeting in the village. Everything +we have is at stake and as one Texan is as good as another we ought to +talk it over."</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" asked Ned of Obed.</p> + +<p>"That's John Moore. He's been a great Indian fighter and one of the +defenders of the frontier. I think it likely that he'll be our leader in +whatever we undertake. He's certainly the man for the place."</p> + +<p>"Oyez! Oyez!" roared the Ring Tailed Panther with mouth wide open. "Come +all ye upon the common, an' hear the case of Texas against Mexico which +is now about to be debated. The gentlemen representin' the other side +are on the west shore of the river about a mile from here, an' after +decidin' upon our argyment an' the manner of it we'll communicate it to +'em later whether they like our decision or not."</p> + +<p>They poured upon the common in a tumultuous throng, the women and +children forming a continuous fringe about them.</p> + +<p>"I move that John Moore be made the Chairman of this here meetin' an' +the leader in whatever it decides to do, 'specially as we know already +what it's goin' to decide," roared the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' +wherever he leads we will follow."</p> + +<p>Ned said nothing, but his pulses were leaping. Perhaps the silent boy +appreciated more than any other present <a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a>that this was the beginning of +a great epic in the American story. The young student, his head filled +with completed dramas of the past, could look further into the future +than the veteran men of action around him.</p> + +<p>The debate was short. In truth it was no debate at all, because all were +of one mind. Since the Mexicans had already fired upon them and would +not go away they would cross the river and attack Castenada. As Obed had +predicted, Moore was unanimously chosen leader, the title of Colonel +being bestowed upon him, and they set to work at once for the attack.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed walked together to the cluster of oaks in which the two had +spent so much time. Both were grave, appreciating fully the fact that +they were about to go into battle.</p> + +<p>"Ned," said Obed, "you and I have been through a lot of dangers together +and we're not afraid to talk about dangers to come. In case anything +should happen to you is there any word you want sent anybody?"</p> + +<p>"To nobody except Mr. Austin. He's been very good to me here and in +Mexico. I suppose I've got some relatives in Missouri, but they are so +distant I've forgotten who they are, and probably they never knew +anything about me. If it's the other way about, Obed, what word shall I +send?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing to nobody. I had a stepfather in Maine, who didn't like me, and +my mother died five years after her second marriage. I'm a Texan, Ned, +same as if I were born on this soil, and my best friends are around me. +I'll live and die with 'em."</p> + +<p>The two, the man and the boy, shook hands, but made no further display +of feeling. The force was organized in the village, beyond the sight of +the Mexicans, who were lounging in the grass, although they had posted +<a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a>sentinels. Every Texan was well armed, carrying a rifle, pistol and +knife. Some had in addition the Indian tomahawk.</p> + +<p>It was the first day of October and the coolness of late afternoon had +come. A fresh breeze was blowing from the southwest. The little command, +silent save for the hoof beats of their horses, rode down to the river. +The women and children looked after them and they, too, were silent. A +strange Indian stoicism possessed them all.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed were side by side. The breeze cooled the forehead and +cheeks of the boy, but his pulses beat hard and fast. He looked back at +Gonzales and he knew that he would never forget that little village of +little log cabins. Then he looked straight before him at the yellow +river, and the shore beyond, where the Mexican camp lay.</p> + +<p>It was now seven o'clock and the twilight was coming.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it late to make an attack?" he said to Obed.</p> + +<p>"It depends on what happens. Circumstances alter battles. If we surprise +them there'll be time for a fine fight. If they discover our advance it +may be better to wait until morning."</p> + +<p>They rode into the water twenty abreast, and made for the farther shore. +So many horses made much splashing, and Ned expected bullets, but none +came. Dripping, they reached the farther shore and went straight toward +the Mexican camp. Then came sudden shouts, the flash of rifles and the +singing of bullets. The Mexican sentinels had discovered the Texan +advance.</p> + +<p>Moore ordered his men to halt, and then he held a short conference with +the leaders. It was very late, and they would postpone the attack until +morning. Hence, they tethered their horses in sight of the Mexican camp, +<a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>set many sentinels and deliberately began to cook their suppers.</p> + +<p>It was all very strange and unreal to Ned. Having started for a battle +it was battle he wanted at once and the wait of a night rested heavily +upon his nerves.</p> + +<p>"Take it easy, Ned," said Obed, who observed him. "Willful haste makes +woeful fight. Eat your supper and then you'd better lie down and sleep +if you can. I'd rather go on watch toward morning if I were you, because +if anything happens in the night it will happen late."</p> + +<p>Ned considered it good advice and he lay down in his blankets, having +been notified that he would be called at one o'clock in the morning to +take his turn. Once more he exerted will to the utmost in the effort to +control nerves and body. He told himself that he was now surrounded by +friends, who would watch while he slept, and that he could not be +surprised. Slumber came sooner than he had hoped, but at the appointed +hour he was awakened and took his place among the sentinels.</p> + +<p>Ned found the night cold and dark, but he shook off the chill by +vigorous walking to and fro. He discovered, however, that he could not +see any better by use, as the darkness was caused by mists rather than +clouds. Vapors were rising from the prairie, and objects, seen through +them, assumed thin and distorted shapes. He saw west of him and +immediately facing him flickering lights which he knew were those of the +Mexican camp. The heavy air seemed to act as a conductor of sound, and +he heard faintly voices and the tread of horses' hoofs. They were on +watch there, also.</p> + +<p>He walked back and forth a long time, and the air continued to thicken. +A heavy fog was rising from the prairie, and it became so dense that he +could no longer <a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a>see the fires in the Mexican camp. Everything there was +shut out from the eye, but he yet heard the faint noises.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him toward four o'clock in the morning that the noises were +increasing, and curiosity took hold of him. But the sentinel on the left +and the sentinel on the right were now hidden by the fog, and, since he +could not confer with them at once, he resolved to see what this +increase of noise meant.</p> + +<p>He cocked his rifle and stole forward over the prairie. He could not see +more than ten or fifteen yards ahead, but he went very near to the +Mexican camp, and then lay down in the grass. Now he saw the cause of +the swelling sounds. The Mexican force, gathering up its arms and +horses, was retreating.</p> + +<p>Ned stole back to the camp with his news.</p> + +<p>"You have done well, Ned, lad," said Moore. "I think it likely, however, +that they are merely withdrawing to a stronger position, but they can't +escape us. We'll follow 'em, and since they wanted that cannon so badly +we'll give 'em a taste of it."</p> + +<p>The cannon, a six-pounder, had been brought over on the ferryboat in the +night and was now in the Texan camp.</p> + +<p>"Ned," said Moore, "do you, Obed and the Panther ride after those +fellows and see what they do. Then come back and report."</p> + +<p>It was a dangerous duty, but the three responded gladly. They advanced +cautiously through the fog and the Ring Tailed Panther roared softly.</p> + +<p>"Runnin' away?" he said. "I'd be ashamed to come for a cannon an' then +to slink off with tail droopin' like a cowardly coyote. By the great +horn spoon, I hope they are merely seekin' a better position an' will +give <a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a>us a fight. It would be a mean Mexican trick to run clean away."</p> + +<p>"The Mexicans are not cowards," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Depends on how the notion strikes 'em," said the Panther. "Sometimes +they fight like all creation an' sometimes they hit it for the high +grass an' the tall timber. There's never any tellin' what they'll do."</p> + +<p>"Hark!" said Obed, "don't you hear their tramp there to our left?"</p> + +<p>The three stopped and listened, and they detected sounds which they knew +were made by the retreating force. But they could see nothing through +the heavy white fog which covered everything like a blanket of snow.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we ride parallel with them," whispered Ned. "We can go by the +sounds and by the same means we can tell exactly what they do."</p> + +<p>"A good idea," said Obed. "We are going over prairie which affords easy +riding. We've got nothing to fear unless some lamb strays from the +Mexican flock, and blunders upon us. Even then he's more likely to be +shorn than to shear."</p> + +<p>They advanced for some time, guided by the hoofbeats from the Mexican +column. But before the sun could rise and dispel the fog the sound of +the hoofbeats ceased.</p> + +<p>"They've stopped," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther, joyously. "After +all they're not goin' to run away an' they will give us a fight. They +are expectin' reinforcements of course, or they wouldn't make a stand."</p> + +<p>"But we must see what kind of a position they have taken up," said Obed. +"Seeing is telling and you know that when we get back to Colonel Moore +we've got to tell everything, or we might as well have stayed behind."</p> + +<p>"You're the real article, all wool an' a yard wide,<a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a> Obed White," said +the Ring Tailed Panther. "Now I think we'd better hitch our horses here +to these bushes an' creep as close as we can without gettin' our heads +knocked off. They might hear the horses when they wouldn't hear us."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," said Obed White. "Nothing risk, nothing see."</p> + +<p>They tethered the horses to the low bushes, marking well the place, as +the heavy, white fog was exceedingly deceptive, distorting and +exaggerating when it did not hide. Then the three went forward, side by +side. Ned looked back when he had gone a half dozen yards, and already +the horses were looming pale and gigantic in the fog. Three or four +steps more and they were gone entirely.</p> + +<p>But they heard the sounds again in front of them, although they were now +of a different character. They were confined in one place, which showed +that the Mexicans had not resumed their march, and the tread of horses' +hoofs was replaced by a metallic rattle. It occurred to Ned that the +Mexicans might be intrenching and he wondered what place of strength +they had found.</p> + +<p>The boy had the keenest eyes of the three and presently he saw a dark, +lofty shape, showing faintly through the fog. It looked to him like an +iceberg clothed in mist, and he called the attention of his comrades to +it. They went a little nearer, and the Ring Tailed Panther laughed low +between his shut teeth.</p> + +<p>"We'll have our fight," he said, "an' these Mexicans won't go back to +Cos as fine as they were when they started. The tall an' broad thing +that you see is a big mound on the prairie an' they're goin' to make a +stand on it. It ain't a bad place. A hundred Texans up there could beat +off a thousand Mexicans."<a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a></p> + +<p>They went a little nearer and saw that a fringe of bushes surrounded the +base of the mound. Further up the Mexicans were digging in the soft +earth with their lances as best they could and throwing up a breastwork. +The horses had been tethered in the bushes. Evidently they felt sure +that they would be attacked by the Texans. They knew the nature of these +riders of the plains.</p> + +<p>"I think we've seen enough," said Obed. "We'll go back now to Colonel +Moore and the men."</p> + +<p>They found their horses undisturbed and were about to gallop back to the +main body with the news that the Mexicans were on the mound, when some +Mexican sentinels saw them and uttered a shout. The three exchanged +shots with them but knowing that a strong force would be upon them in an +instant returned to their original intention and went at full speed +toward the camp. It was lucky that the fog still held, as the pursuing +bullets went wide, but Ned heard more than one sing. The Mexicans showed +courage and followed the three until they reached the Texan camp. As Ned +and his comrades dismounted they shouted that the Mexicans were on a +hill not far away and were fortifying.</p> + +<p>Moore promptly had his men run forward that bone of contention, the +cannon, and a solid shot was sent humming toward those who had pursued +the three. The heavy report came back in sullen echoes from the prairie, +and the stream of fire split the fog asunder. But in a moment the mists +and vapors closed in again, and the Mexicans were gone. Then the little +army stood for a few moments, motionless, but breathing heavily. The +cannon shot had made the hearts of everyone leap. They were inured to +Indian battle and every kind of danger, but this was a great war.<a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a></p> + +<p>"Boys," said Moore, "we are here and the enemy is before us."</p> + +<p>A deep shout from broad chests and powerful lungs came forth. Then by a +single impulse the little army rushed forward, led by Ned, Obed and the +Ring Tailed Panther, who took them straight toward the mound. As they +ran, the great Texan sun proved triumphant. It seemed to cleave the fog +like a sword blade, and then the mists and vapors rolled away on either +side, to right and to left of the Texans. The whole plain, dewy and +fresh, sprang up in the light of the morning.</p> + +<p>They saw the steep mound crowned by the Mexicans, and men still at work +on the hasty trench. Again that full-throated cheer came from the Texans +and they quickened their pace, but Captain Castenada came down from the +mound and a soldier came with him bearing a white flag.</p> + +<p>"Now, what in thunder can he want?" growled the Ring Tailed Panther to +Ned and Obed. "Shorely he ain't goin' to surrender. He's jest goin' to +waste our time in talk."</p> + +<p>Deep disgust showed on his face.</p> + +<p>"By waiting we will see," quoth Obed oracularly. "Now, Panther, don't +you be too impatient. Remember that the tortoise beat the hare in the +great Greek horse race."</p> + +<p>Moore waved his hand and the Texans halted. Castenada on foot came on. +Moore also dismounted, and, calling to Ned and Obed to accompany him, +went forward to meet him. Ned and Obed, delighted, sprang from their +horses, and walked by his side. The Ring Tailed Panther growled between +his teeth that he was glad to stay, that he would have no truck with +Mexicans.</p> + +<p>Castenada, with the soldier beside him, came forward. He <a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a>was rather a +handsome young man of the dark type. As the two little parties met midway +between the lines, the forces on the hill and on the plain were alike +silent. Every trace of the fog was now gone, and the sun shone with full +splendor upon brown faces, upon rifles and lances.</p> + +<p>Castenada saluted in Mexican fashion.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" he asked in Spanish, which all understood.</p> + +<p>"Your surrender," replied Moore coolly, "either that or the sworn +adherence of you and your men to Texas."</p> + +<p>Castenada uttered an angry exclamation.</p> + +<p>"This is presumption carried to the last degree," he said. "My own honor +and the honor of Mexico will not allow me to do either."</p> + +<p>"It is that or fight."</p> + +<p>"I bid you beware. General Cos is coming with a force that all Texas +cannot resist, and after him comes our great Santa Anna with another yet +greater. If the Texans make war they will be destroyed. The buffalo will +feed where their houses now stand."</p> + +<p>"You have already made war. Accept our terms or fight. We deal with you +now. We deal with Cos and Santa Anna later on."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing more to be said," replied Castenada with haughtiness. +"We are here in a strong position and you cannot take us."</p> + +<p>He withdrew and Moore turned back with Ned and Obed.</p> + +<p>"I don't think he ever meant this parley for anything except to gain +time," said Moore. "He's expecting a fresh Mexican force, but we'll see +that it comes too late."</p> + +<p>Then raising his voice, he shouted to his command:</p> + +<p>"Boys, they've chosen to fight, and they are there on <a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a>the hill. A man +cannot rush that hill with his horse, but he can rush it with his two +legs."</p> + +<p>The face of the Ring Tailed Panther became a perfect full moon of +delight. Then he paled a little.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there can yet be any new trick to hold us back?" he asked +Obed anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Obed cheerfully. "Time and tide wait for no Mexicans, and +the tide's at the flood. We charge within a minute."</p> + +<p>Even as he spoke, Moore shouted:</p> + +<p>"Now, boys, rush 'em!"</p> + +<p>For the third time the Texans uttered that deep, rolling cheer. The +cannon sent a volley of grape shot into the cluster on the mound and +then the Texans rushed forward at full speed, straight at the enemy.</p> + +<p>The Mexicans opened a rapid fire with rifles and muskets and the whole +mound was soon clothed in smoke. But the rush of the Texans was so great +that in an instant they were at the first slope. They stopped to send in +a volley and then began the rush up the hill, but there was no enemy.</p> + +<p>The Mexicans gave way in a panic at the very first onset, ran down the +slope to their horses, leaped upon them and galloped away over the +prairie. Many threw away their rifles and lances, and, bending low on +the necks of their horses, urged them to greater speed.</p> + +<p>Ned had been in the very front of the rush, Obed on one side and the +Ring Tailed Panther on the other. His heart was beating hard and there +was a fiery mist before his eyes. He heard the bullets whiz past, but +once more Providence was good to him. None touched him, and when the +first tremors were over he was as eager as any of them to reach the +crest of the mound, and come to grips with the enemy. Suddenly he heard +<a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>a tremendous roar of disgust. The Ring Tailed Panther was the author of +it.</p> + +<p>"Escaped after all!" he cried. "They wouldn't stay an' fight, when they +promised they would!"</p> + +<p>"At least, the Mexicans ride well," said Obed.</p> + +<p>Ned gazed from the crest of the mound at the flying men, rapidly +becoming smaller and smaller as they sped over the prairie.<a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE COMING OF URREA</h3> + + +<p>Many of the Texans were hot for pursuit, but Moore recalled them. His +reasons were brief and grim. "You will not overtake them," he said, "and +you will need all your energies later on. This is only the beginning."</p> + +<p>A number of the Mexicans had been slain, but none of the Texans had +fallen, the aim of their opponents being so wild. The triumph had +certainly been an easy one, but Ned perhaps rejoiced less than any other +one present. The full mind again projected itself into the future, and +foresaw great and terrible days. The Texans were but few, scattered +thinly over a long frontier, and the rage of Cos and Santa Anna would be +unbounded, when they heard of the fight and flight of their troops at +Gonzales.</p> + +<p>"Obed," he said to his friend, "we are victorious to-day without loss, +but I feel that dark days are coming."</p> + +<p>The Maine man looked curiously at the boy. He already considered Ned, +despite his youth, superior in some ways to himself.</p> + +<p>"You've been a reader and you're a thinker, Ned," he said, "and I like +to hear what you say. The dark days may come as you predict, because +Santa Anna is a great man in the Mexican way, but night can't come until +the day is ended and it's day just now. We won't be gloomy yet."<a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a></p> + +<p>After the fallen Mexicans had been buried, the little force of voluntary +soldiers began to disperse, just as they had gathered, of their own +accord. The work there was done, and they were riding for their own +little villages or lone cabins, where they would find more work to do. +The Mexicans would soon fall on Texas like a cloud, and every one of +them knew it.</p> + +<p>Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther rode back to Gonzales, where the +women and children welcomed the victors with joyous acclaim.</p> + +<p>The three sat down with others to a great feast, spread on tables under +the shade of oaks, and consisting chiefly of game, buffalo, deer, +squirrels, rabbits and other animals which had helped the early Texans +to live. But throughout the dinner Ned and Obed were rather quiet, +although the Ring Tailed Panther roared to his heart's content. It was +Ned who spoke first the thought that was in the minds of both Obed and +himself. Slowly and by an unconscious process he was becoming the +leader.</p> + +<p>"Obed," he said, "everybody can do as he pleases, and I propose that you +and I and the Ring Tailed Panther scout toward San Antonio. Cos and his +army are marching toward that town, and while the Texan campaign of +defense is being arranged and the leaders are being chosen we might give +a lot of help."</p> + +<p>"Just what I was thinking," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"Jest what I ought to have thought," said the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>San Antonio was a long journey to the westward, and they started at +twilight fully equipped. They carried their usual arms, two blankets +apiece, light but warm, food for several days, and double supplies of +ammunition, the thing that they would now need most. Gonzales gave them +a farewell full of good wishes. Some of the women <a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a>exclaimed upon Ned's +youth, but Obed explained that the boy had lived through hardships and +dangers that would have overcome many a veteran pioneer of Texas.</p> + +<p>They forded the Guadalupe for the second time on the same day. Then they +rode by the mound on which the Mexicans had made their brief stand. The +three said little. Even the Ring Tailed Panther had thoughts that were +not voiced. The hill, the site of the first battle in their great +struggle, stood out, clear and sharp, in the moonlight. But it was very +still now.</p> + +<p>"We'll date a good many things from that hill," said Ned as they rode +on.</p> + +<p>They followed in the path of the flying Mexicans who, they were quite +sure, would make for Cos and San Antonio. The Ring Tailed Panther knew +the most direct course and as the moon was good they could also see the +trail left by the Mexicans. It was marked further by grim objects, two +wounded horses that had died in the flight, and then by a man +succumbing, who had been buried in a grave so shallow that no one could +help noticing it.</p> + +<p>A little after midnight they saw a light ahead, and they judged by the +motions that a man was waving a torch.</p> + +<p>"It can't be a trap," said Obed, "because the Mexicans would not stop +running until they were long past here."</p> + +<p>"An' there ain't no cover where that torch is," added the Ring Tailed +Panther.</p> + +<p>"Then suppose we ride forward and see what it means," said Ned.</p> + +<p>They cocked their rifles, ready for combat if need be, and rode forward +slowly. Soon they made out the figure of a man standing on a swell of +the prairie, and vigorously waving a torch made of a dead stick lighted +at one <a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a>end. He had a rifle, but it leaned against a bush beside him. +His belt held a pistol and knife, but his free hand made no movement +toward them, as the three rode up. The man himself was young, slender, +and of olive complexion with black hair and eyes. He was a Mexican, but +he was dressed in the simple Texan style. Moreover, there were Mexicans +born in Texas some of whom, belonging to the Liberal party, inclined to +the Texan side. This man was distinctly handsome and the look with which +he returned the gaze of the three was frank, free and open.</p> + +<p>"I saw you from afar," he said in excellent English. "I climbed the +cottonwood there in order to see what might be passing on the prairie, +and as my eyes happen to be very good I detected three black dots in the +moonlight, coming out of the east. As I saw the men of Santa Anna going +west as fast as hoofs would carry them I knew that only Texans could be +riding out of the east."</p> + +<p>He laughed, threw his torch on the ground and stamped out the light.</p> + +<p>"I felt that sooner or later someone would come upon Castenada's track," +he said, "and you see that I was not wrong."</p> + +<p>He smiled again. Ned's impression was distinctly favorable, and when he +glanced at Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther he saw that they, too, were +attracted.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, stranger?" asked Palmer. "People who meet by night in +Texas in these times had best know the names and business of one +another."</p> + +<p>"Not a doubt of it," replied the young Mexican. "My name is Francisco +Urrea, and I was born on the Guadalupe. So, you see, I am a Texan, +perhaps more truly a Texan than any of you, because I know by looking at +<a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a>you that all three of you were born in the States. As for my business?"</p> + +<p>He grew very serious and looked at the three one after another.</p> + +<p>"My business," he said, "is to fight for Texas."</p> + +<p>"Well spoke, by the great horn spoon," roared the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to fight for Texas," resumed young Urrea. "I was on my way to +Gonzales to join you. I was too late for the fight, but I saw the men of +Castenada, with Castenada himself at their head, flying across the +prairie. I assure you there was no delay on their part. First they were +here and then they were gone. The prairie rumbled with their hasty +tread, their lances glittered for only a single instant, and then they +were lost over the horizon."</p> + +<p>He laughed again, and his laugh was so infectious that the three laughed +with him.</p> + +<p>"I know most people in Texas," rumbled the Ring Tailed Panther, "though +there are some Mexican families I don't know. But I've heard of the +Urreas, an' if you want to go with us an' join in tearin' an' chawin' +we'll be glad to have you."</p> + +<p>"So we will," said Ned and Obed together, and Obed added: "Three are +company, four are better."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," said Urrea, "I shall be happy to become one of your +band, and we will ride on together. I've no doubt that I can be of help +if you mean to keep a watch on Cos. My horse is tied here in a clump of +chaparral. Wait a moment and I will rejoin you."</p> + +<p>He came back, riding a fine horse, and he was as well equipped as the +Texans. Then the four rode on toward San Antonio de Bexar. They found +that Urrea knew much. Cos himself would probably be in San Antonio +<a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a>within a week, and heavy reinforcements would arrive later. The three +in return gave him a description of the fight at the mound, and they +told how the Texans afterward had scattered for different points on the +border.</p> + +<p>They were not the only riders that night. Men were carrying along the +whole frontier the news that the war had begun, that the death struggle +was now on between Mexico and Texas, the giant on one side and the pigmy +on the other.</p> + +<p>But the ride of the four in the trail of Castenada's flying troop was +peaceful enough. About three hours after midnight they stopped under the +shelter of some cottonwoods. The Ring Tailed Panther took the watch +while the other three slept. Ned lay awake for a little while between +his blankets, but he saw that Urrea, who was not ten feet away, had gone +sound asleep almost instantly. His olive face lighted dimly by the +moon's rays was smooth and peaceful, and Ned was quite sure that he +would be a good comrade. Then he, too, entered the land of slumber.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther stalked up and down, his broad powerful figure +becoming gigantic in the moonlight. Belligerent by nature and the born +frontiersman, he was very serious now.</p> + +<p>He knew that they were riding toward great danger and he glanced at the +face of the sleeping boy. The Ring Tailed Panther had a heart within +him, and the temptation to make Ned go back, if he could, was very +strong. But he quickly dismissed it as useless. The boy would not go. +Besides, he was skillful, strong and daring.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther tramped on. Coyotes howled on the prairie, and +the deeper note of a timber wolf came from the right, where there was a +thick fringe of trees <a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a>along a creek. But he paid no attention to them. +All the while he watched the circle of the horizon, narrow by night, for +horsemen. If they came he believed that his warning must be quick, +because they were likely to be either Mexicans or Indians. He saw no +riders but toward daylight he saw horses in the west. They were without +riders and he walked to the nearest swell to look at them.</p> + +<p>He looked down upon a herd of wild horses, many of them clean and fine +of build. At their head was a great black stallion and when the Ring +Tailed Panther saw him he sighed. At another time, he would have made a +try for the stallion's capture, but now there was other business afoot.</p> + +<p>The wind shifted. The stallion gave a neigh of alarm and galloped off +toward the south, the whole herd with streaming manes and tails +following close behind. The Ring Tailed Panther walked back to the +cottonwoods and awoke his companions, because it was now full day.</p> + +<p>"I saw some wild horses grazing close by," he said, "an' that means that +nobody else is near. Mebbe we can ride clean to San Antonio without +anybody to stop us."</p> + +<p>"And gain great information for the Texans," said Urrea quickly. +"Houston is to command the forces of Eastern Texas, and he will be glad +enough to know just what Cos is doing."</p> + +<p>"And glad will we be to take such news to him," said Ned. "I've seen him +and talked with him, Don Francisco. He is a great man. And I've ridden, +too, with Jim Bowie and 'Deaf' Smith and Karnes."</p> + +<p>Urrea smiled pleasantly at Ned's boyish enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"And they are great men, too," he said, "Bowie, Smith <a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a>and Karnes. I +should not want any one of them to send his bullet at me."</p> + +<p>"Jim Bowie is best with the knife," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "but I +guess no better shots than 'Deaf' Smith and Hank Karnes were ever born."</p> + +<p>"A horseman is coming," said Ned who was in advance. The boy had shaded +his eyes from the sun, and his uncommonly keen sight had detected the +black moving speck before any of the others could see it.</p> + +<p>"It's sure to be a Texan," said Obed. "You won't find any Mexican riding +alone on these plains just now."</p> + +<p>They rode forward to meet him and the horseman, who evidently had keen +eyes, too, came forward with equal confidence. It soon became obvious +that he was a Texan as Obed had predicted. His length of limb and body +showed despite the fact that he was on horseback, and the long rifle +that he carried across the saddle bow was of the frontier type.</p> + +<p>"My name is Jim Potter," he said as he came within hailing distance.</p> + +<p>"You're welcome, Jim Potter," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "The long, +red-headed man here on my right is Obed White, the boy is Ned Fulton; +our young Mexican friend, who is a good Texan patriot, is Don Francisco +Urrea, an' as for me, I'm Martin Palmer, better an' more properly known +as the Ring Tailed Panther."</p> + +<p>"I've heard of you, Panther," said Potter, "and you and your friends are +just the people I want."</p> + +<p>He spoke with great eagerness, and the soul of the Ring Tailed Panther, +foreseeing an impending crisis of some kind, responded.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A crowd is gathering to march on Goliad," replied Potter. "The Mexican +commander there is treating the <a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a>people with great cruelty and he is +sending out parties to harass lone Texan homes. We mean to smite him."</p> + +<p>Potter spoke with a certain solemnity of manner and he had the lean, +ascetic face of the Puritan. Ned judged that he was from one of the +Northern States of New England, but Obed, a Maine man, was sure of it.</p> + +<p>"Friend," said Obed, "from which state do you come, New Hampshire or +Vermont? I take it that it is Vermont."</p> + +<p>"It is Vermont as you rightly surmise," replied Potter, "and the accent +with which you speak, if I mistake not is found only in Maine."</p> + +<p>"A good guess, also," said Obed, "but we are both now Texans, heart and +soul; is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"It is even so," replied Potter gravely. Then he and Obed reached across +from their horses and gave each other a powerful clasp.</p> + +<p>"You will go with us to Goliad and help smite the heathen?" said Potter.</p> + +<p>Obed glanced at his comrades, and all of them nodded.</p> + +<p>"We were riding to San Antonio," said the Maine man, "to find out what +was going on there, but I see no reason why we should not turn aside to +help you, since we seem to be needed."</p> + +<p>"Our need of you is great," said Potter in his solemn, unchanging tones, +"as we are but few, and the enemy may be wary. Yet we must smite him and +smite him hard."</p> + +<p>"Then lead the way," said Obed. "It's better to be too soon than too +late."</p> + +<p>Without another word Potter turned his horse toward the south. He was +tall and rawboned, his face burned well by the sun, but he had an +angularity and he bore himself with a certain stiffness that did not +belong <a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a>to the "Texans" of Southern birth. Ned did not doubt that he +would be most formidable in combat.</p> + +<p>After riding at least two hours without anyone speaking a word, Potter +said:</p> + +<p>"We will meet the remainder of our friends and comrades about nightfall. +We will not exceed fifty, and more probably we shall be scarcely so many +as that, but with the strength of a just cause in our arms it is likely +that we shall be enough."</p> + +<p>"When we charged at Gonzales they stayed for but one look at our faces," +said the Ring Tailed Panther. "Then they ran so fast that they were +rippin' an' tearin' up the prairie for the next twenty-four hours."</p> + +<p>"I have heard of that," said Potter with a grave smile. "The grass so +far from growing scarcely bent under their feet. Still, the Mexicans at +times will fight with the greatest courage."</p> + +<p>Here Urrea spoke.</p> + +<p>"My friends," he said, "I must now leave you. I have an uncle and +cousins on the San Antonio River, not far above Goliad. Like myself they +are devoted adherents of the Texan cause, and it is more than likely +that they will suffer terribly at the hands of some raiding party from +Goliad, if they are not warned in time. I have tried to steel my heart +and go straight with you to Goliad, but I cannot forget those who are so +dear to me. However, it is highly probable that I can give them the +warning to flee, and yet rejoin you in time for the attack."</p> + +<p>"We hate to lose a good man, when there's rippin' an' tearin' ahead of +us," said the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"But if people of his blood are in such great danger he must even go," +said Potter.</p> + +<p>Urrea's face was drawn with lines of mental pain. His <a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a>expressive eyes +showed great doubt and anguish. Ned felt very sorry for him.</p> + +<p>"It is a most cruel quandary," said Urrea. "I would go with you, and yet +I would stay. Texas and her cause have my love, but to us of Mexican +blood the family also is very, very dear."</p> + +<p>His voice faltered and Latin tears stood in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Go," said Obed. "You must save your kin, and perhaps, as you hope, you +can rejoin us in time."</p> + +<p>"Farewell," said Urrea, "but you will see me again soon."</p> + +<p>He spurred his horse, a powerful animal, and went ahead at a gallop. +Soon he disappeared over the swells of the prairie.</p> + +<p>"I hate to see him go," growled the Ring Tailed Panther. "Mexicans are +uncertain even when they are on your side. But he's a big strong fellow, +an' he'd be handy in the fight for which we're lookin'."</p> + +<p>But he kept Ned's sympathy.</p> + +<p>"He must save his people," said the boy.</p> + +<p>Obed and Potter said nothing. At twilight they found the other men +waiting for them in a thicket of mesquite, and the total, including the +four, was only forty. But with Texan daring and courage they made +straight for Goliad, and Ned did not doubt that they would have a fight. +Life was now moving fast for him, and it was crowded with incident.</p> + +<p>The troop in loose formation rode swiftly, but the hoofs of their horses +made little sound on the prairie. The southern moon rode low, and the +night was clear. They crossed two or three creeks, and also went through +narrow belts of forest, but they never halted or hesitated. Potter and +several others knew the way well, and night was the same as day to +them.<a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a></p> + +<p>At midnight Ned saw a wide but shallow stream, much like the Guadalupe. +Trees and reeds lined its banks. Potter informed him that this was the +San Antonio River, and that they were now below the town of Goliad, +where they meant to attack the Mexican force.</p> + +<p>"And if Providence favors us," said Potter, "we shall smite them quick +and hard."</p> + +<p>"Providence favors those who hit first and hard," said Obed, mixing +various quotations.</p> + +<p>The men forded the river, and, after a brief stop began to move +cautiously through thickets of mesquite and chaparral toward the town, +the lights of which they could not yet see. At one point the mesquite +became so thick that Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther dismounted, +in order to pick their way and led their horses.</p> + +<p>Ned, who was in advance, heard a noise, as of something moving in the +thicket. At first he thought it was a deer, but the sounds ceased +suddenly, as if whatever made them were trying to seek safety in +concealment rather than flight. Ned's experience had already made him +skillful and daring. The warrior's instinct, born in him, was developing +rapidly, and flinging his bridle to Obed he asked him to hold it for a +moment.</p> + +<p>Before the surprised man could ask why, Ned left him with the reins in +his hand, cocked his rifle and crept through the mesquite toward the +point whence the sounds had come. He saw a stooping shadow, and then a +man sprang up. Quick as a flash Ned covered him with his rifle.</p> + +<p>"Surrender!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Gladly," cried the man, throwing up his hands and laughing in a +hysterical way. "I yield because you must be a Texan. That cannot be the +voice of any Mexican."<a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a></p> + +<p>Obed and the others came forward and the man strode toward them. He was +tall, but gaunt and worn, until he was not much more than a skeleton. +His clothing, mere rags, hung loosely on a figure that was now much too +narrow for them. Two bloodshot eyes burned in dark caverns.</p> + +<p>"Thank God," he cried, "you are Texans, all of you!"</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Ben Milam," said Potter. "We thought you were a prisoner at +Monterey in Mexico."</p> + +<p>"I was," replied Milam, one of the Texan leaders, "but I escaped and +obtained a horse. I have ridden nearly seven hundred miles day and +night. My horse dropped dead down there in the chaparral and I've been +here, trying to take a look at Goliad, uncertain about going in, because +I do not know whether it is held by Texans or Mexicans."</p> + +<p>"It is held by Mexicans at present," replied Potter, solemnly. "But I +think that within an hour or two it will be held by Texans."</p> + +<p>"If it ain't there'll be some mighty roarin' an' rippin' an' tearin'," +said the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"Give me a bite to eat and something to drink," said Milam; "and I'll +help you turn Goliad from a Mexican into a Texan town."</p> + +<p>Exhausted and nearly starved, he showed, nevertheless, the dauntless +spirit of the Texans. Food and drink were given to him and the little +party moved toward the town. Presently they saw one or two lights. Far +off a dog howled, but it was only at the moon. He had not scented them. +By and by the ground grew so rough and the bushes so thick that all +dismounted and tethered their horses. Then they crept into the very edge +of the town, still unseen and unheard. Potter pointed to a large +building.<a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a></p> + +<p>"That," he said, "is the headquarters of Colonel Sandoval, the +commandant, and if you look closely you will see a sentinel walking up +and down before the door."</p> + +<p>"We will make a rush for that house," said the leader of the Texans, +"and call upon the sentinel to yield."</p> + +<p>They slipped from the cover and ran toward the house, shouting to the +Mexican on guard to surrender. But he fired at them point blank, +although his bullet missed, and a shot from one of the Texans slew him. +The next moment they were thundering at the door of the house, in which +were Sandoval and the larger part of his garrison. The door held fast, +and shots were fired at them from the windows.</p> + +<p>Some of the Texans ran to the neighboring houses, obtained axes and +smashed in the door. Then they poured in, every man striving to be +first, and most of the Mexicans fled through the back doors or the +windows, escaping in the darkness into the mesquite and chaparral. +Sandoval himself, half dressed, was taken by the Ring Tailed Panther and +Obed. He made many threats, but Obed replied:</p> + +<p>"You have chosen war and the Texans are giving it to you as best they +can. Our bullets fall on all Mexicans, whether just or unjust."</p> + +<p>Sandoval said no more, but finished his interrupted toilet. It was clear +to Ned, watching his face, that the Mexican colonel considered all the +Texans doomed, despite their success of the moment. Sandoval was still +in his quarters. His arms had been taken away but he suffered no ill +treatment. Despite the rapid flight of the Mexican soldiers twenty-five +or thirty had been taken and they were held outside. The Texans not +<a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a>knowing what to do with them decided to release them later on parole.</p> + +<p>Ned was about to leave Sandoval's room when he met at the door a young +man, perspiring, wild of eye and bearing all the other signs of haste +and excitement. It was Francisco Urrea.</p> + +<p>"I am too late!" he cried. "Alas! Alas! I would have had a share in this +glorious combat! I should like to have taken Sandoval with my own hand! +I have cause to hate that man!"</p> + +<p>Sandoval was sitting on the edge of his bed, and the eyes of the two +Mexicans flashed anger at each other, Urrea went up, and shook his hand +in the face of Sandoval. Sandoval shook his in the face of Urrea. Wrath +was equal between them. Fierce words were exchanged with such swiftness +that Ned could not understand them. He judged that the young Mexican +must have some deep cause for hatred of Sandoval. But the Ring Tailed +Panther interfered. He did not like this trait of abusing a fallen foe +which he considered typically Mexican.</p> + +<p>"Come away, Don Francisco," he said. "The rippin' an' tearin' are over +an' we can do our roarin' outside!"</p> + +<p>He took Urrea by the arm and led him away. Ned preceded them. Outside he +met Obed who was in the highest spirits.</p> + +<p>"We've done more than capture Mexicans," he said. "It never rains but it +turns into a storm. We've gone through the Mexican barracks and we've +made a big haul here. Let's take a look."</p> + +<p>Ned went with him, and, when he saw, he too exulted. Goliad had been +made a place of supply by the Mexicans, and, stored there, the Texans +had taken a vast quantity of ammunition, rounds of powder and lead <a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a>to +the scores of thousands, five hundred rifles and three fine cannon. Some +of the Texans joined hands in a wild Indian dance, when they saw their +spoils, and the eyes of Ned and Obed glistened.</p> + +<p>"Unto the righteous shall be given," said Obed. "We've done far better +to-night than we hoped. We'll need these in the advance on Cos and San +Antonio."</p> + +<p>"They will be of the greatest service," said Urrea who joined them at +that moment. "How I envy you your glory!"</p> + +<p>"What happened to you, Don Francisco?" asked Obed.</p> + +<p>"I carried the warning to my uncle and his family," replied Urrea. "I +was just in time. Guerrillas of Cos came an hour later, and burned the +house to the ground. They destroyed everything, the stables and barns, +and they even killed the horses and the cattle. Ah, what a ruin! I rode +back by there on my way to Goliad."</p> + +<p>The young Mexican pressed his hands over his eyes and Ned thrilled with +sympathy.</p> + +<p>"What became of your uncle and his family?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"They rode north for San Felipe de Austin. They will be safe but they +lose all."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Obed, "we'll make the Mexicans pay it back, when we +drive 'em out of Texas. I don't believe that any good patriot will +suffer."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless," said Urrea, "my uncle is willing to lose and endure for +the cause."</p> + +<p>Ned slept half through the morning in one of the little adobe houses, +and at noon he, Obed, the Ring Tailed Panther and others rode toward San +Antonio. They slept that night in a pecan grove, and the next day +continued their journey, meeting in the morning a Texan <a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a>who informed +them that Cos with a formidable force was in San Antonio. He also +confirmed the information that the Texans were gathering from all points +for the attack upon this, the greatest Mexican fortress in all Texas. +Mr. Austin was commander-in-chief of the forces, but he wished to yield +the place to Houston who would not take it.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon they saw horsemen and rode toward them boldly. The +group was sixty or eighty in number and they stopped for the smaller +body to approach. Ned's keen eyes recognized them first, and he uttered +a cry of joy.</p> + +<p>"There's Mr. Bowie," he said, "and there are Smith and Karnes, too! They +are all on their way to San Antonio."</p> + +<p>He took off his hat and waved it joyously. Smith and Karnes did the same +and Bowie smiled gravely as the boy rode up.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ned," he said, "we meet again and I judge that we ride on the +same errand."</p> + +<p>"We do. To San Antonio."</p> + +<p>"An' there'll be the biggest fight that was ever seen in Texas," said +the Ring Tailed Panther, who knew Bowie well. "If Mexicans an' Texans +want to get to roarin' an' rippin' they'll have the chance."</p> + +<p>"They will, Panther," said Bowie, still smiling gravely. Then he looked +inquiringly at Urrea.</p> + +<p>"This is Don Francisco Urrea," said Obed. "He was born in Texas, and he +is with us heart and soul. By a hard ride he saved his uncle and family +from slaughter by the guerrillas of Cos, and he reached Goliad just a +few minutes too late to take part in the capture of the Mexican force."</p> + +<p>"Some of the Mexicans born in Texas are with us,"<a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a> said Bowie, "and +before we are through at San Antonio, Don Francisco, you will have a +good chance to prove your loyalty to Texas."</p> + +<p>"I shall prove it," said Urrea vehemently.</p> + +<p>"The place for the gathering of our troops is on Salado Creek near San +Antonio," said Bowie, "and I think that we shall find both Mr. Austin +and General Houston there."</p> + +<p>Bowie was extremely anxious to be at a conference with the leaders, and +taking Ned, Obed, the Ring Tailed Panther and a few others he rode +ahead. Ned suggested that Urrea go too, but Bowie did not seem anxious +about him, and he was left behind.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he would not be extremely eager to fire upon people of his own +blood if we should happen to meet the Mexican lancers," said Bowie. "I +don't like to put a man to such a test before I have to do it."</p> + +<p>Urrea showed disappointment, but, after some remonstrance, he submitted +with a fair grace.</p> + +<p>"I'll see you again before San Antonio," he said to Ned.</p> + +<p>Ned shook his hand, and galloped away with the little troop, which all +told numbered only sixteen. Bowie kept them at a rapid pace until +sundown and far after. Ned saw that the man was full of care, and he too +appreciated the importance of the situation. Events were coming to a +crisis and very soon the Texans and the army of Cos would stand face to +face.</p> + +<p>They slept on the open prairie, and were in the saddle again before +dawn. Bowie now curved a little to the North. They were coming into +country over which Mexicans rode, and he did not wish a clash. But the +Ring Tailed Panther was not sanguine about a free passage, nor did he +seem to care.<a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a></p> + +<p>"It's likely that the Mexican bands are out ridin'," he said. "Cos ain't +no fool, an' he'll be on the lookout for us. There's more timber as you +come toward San Antonio, an' there'll be a lot of chances for ambushes."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are hoping for one," said Ned.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther did not answer, but he looked upon this young +friend of his of whom he thought so much, and his dark face parted in +one of the broadest smiles that Ned had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"I ain't runnin' away from the chance of it," he replied.</p> + +<p>They saw a little later a belt of timber to their right. Ned's +experience told him that it masked the bed of a creek, probably flowing +to the San Antonio River, and he noticed, although they were at some +distance, that the trees seemed to be of unusually fine growth. This +fact first attracted his attention, but he lost sight of it when he saw +a glint of unusually bright light among the trunks. He looked more +closely. Here again experience was of value. It was the peculiar kind of +light that he had seen before, when a ray from the sun struck squarely +on the steel head of a lance.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he said to Obed and Bowie.</p> + +<p>They looked, and Bowie instantly halted his men. The face of the Ring +Tailed Panther suddenly lighted up. He too had good eyes, and he said in +tones of satisfaction:</p> + +<p>"Figures are movin' among the trees, an' they are those of mounted men +with lances. Texans don't carry lances an' I think we shall be attacked +by a Mexican force within a few minutes, Colonel Bowie."</p> + +<p>"It is altogether probable," replied Bowie. "See, they are coming from +the wood, and they number at least sixty."<a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a></p> + +<p>"Nearer seventy, I think," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"Whether sixty or seventy, they are not too many for us to handle," said +Bowie.</p> + +<p>The Mexicans had seen the little group of Texans and they were coming +fast. The wind brought their shouts and they brandished their long +lances. Ned observed with admiration how cool Bowie and all the men +remained.</p> + +<p>"Ride up in a line," said Bowie. "Here, Ned, bring your horse by me and +all of you face the Mexicans. Loosen your pistols, and when I give the +word to fire let 'em have it with your rifles."</p> + +<p>They were on the crest of one of the swells and the sixteen horses stood +in a row so straight that a line stretched across their front would have +touched the head of every one. They were trained horses, too, and the +riders dropped the reins on their necks, while they held their rifles +ready.</p> + +<p>It was hard for Ned to keep his nerves steady, but Obed was on one side +of him and Bowie on the other, while the Ring Tailed Panther was just +beyond Obed. Pride as well as necessity kept him motionless and taut +like the others.</p> + +<p>Doubtless the Mexicans would have turned, had it not been for the +smallness of the force opposed to them, but they came on rapidly in a +long line, still shouting and brandishing their weapons. Ned saw the +flaming eyes of the horses, and he marked the foam upon their jaws. For +what was Bowie waiting! Nearer they came, and the beat of the hoofs +thundered in his ears. It seemed that the flashing steel of the lances +was at his throat. He had already raised his rifle and was taking aim at +the man in front of him, all his nerves now taut for the conflict.<a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a></p> + +<p>"Fire!" cried Bowie, and sixteen rifles were discharged as one.</p> + +<p>Not a bullet went astray. The Mexican line was split asunder, and horses +and men went down in a mass. A few, horses and men, rose, and ran across +the plain. But the wings of the Mexican force closed in, and continued +the charge, expecting victory, now that the rifles were empty. But they +forgot the pistols. Ned snatched his from the holster, and fired +directly into the evil face of a lancer who was about to crash into him. +The Mexican fell to the ground and his horse, swerving to one side, +galloped on.</p> + +<p>The pistols cracked all around Ned, and then, the Mexicans, sheering +off, fled as rapidly as they had charged. But they left several behind +who would never charge again.</p> + +<p>"All right, Ned?" said the cheery voice of Obed.</p> + +<p>"Not hurt at all," replied the boy. But as he spoke he gazed down at the +face of the man who had tried to crash into him, and he shuddered. He +knew that face. At the first glance it had seemed familiar, and at the +second he had remembered perfectly. It was the face of the man who had +struck him with the butt of a lance on that march in Mexico, when he was +the prisoner of Cos. It seemed a vengeance dealt out by the hand of +fate. He who had received the blow had given it in return, although not +knowing at the time. Ned recognized the justice of fate, but he did not +rejoice. Nor did he speak of the coincidence to anyone. It was not a +thing of which he wished to talk.</p> + +<p>"They're gone," said the Ring Tailed Panther, speaking now in satisfied +tones. "They came, they stayed half a minute, an' then they went, but +there was some rippin' an tearin' an' chawin'."<a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes, they've gone, and they've gone to stay," said Bowie. "It was a +foolish thing to do to charge Texans armed with rifles on the open +prairie."</p> + +<p>Ned was looking at the last Mexican as he disappeared over the plain.<a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE OLD CONVENT</h3> + + +<p>The Texans gathered up the arms of the fallen Mexicans, except the +lances for which they had no use, finding several good rifles and a +number of pistols of improved make which were likely to prove of great +value, and then they rode on as briskly as if nothing had happened.</p> + +<p>The next day they drew near to San Antonio and entered the beautiful +valley made by the San Antonio River and the creek to which the Mexicans +gave the name San Pedro. Ned found it all very luxuriant and very +refreshing to eyes tired of the prairies and the plains. Despite the +fact that it was the middle of October the green yet endured in that +southern latitude. Splendid forests still in foliage bounded both creek +and river. They rode through noble groves of oak and tall pecans. They +saw many fine springs spouting from the earth, and emptying into river +and creek.</p> + +<p>It was a noble land, but, although it had been settled long by Spaniard +and Mexican, the wilderness still endured in many of its aspects. Now +and then a deer sprang up from the thickets, and the wild turkeys still +roosted in the trees. Churches and other buildings, many of massive +stone adorned with carved and costly marbles, extended ten or twelve +miles down the river, but most of them were abandoned and in decay. The +Comanche and his savage brother, the Apache, had raided <a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a>to the very +gates of San Antonio. The deep irrigation ditches, dug by the Spanish +priests and their Indian converts, were abandoned, and mud and refuse +were fast filling them up. Already an old civilization, sunk in decay, +was ready to give place to another, rude and raw, but full of youth and +vigor.</p> + +<p>It was likely that Ned alone felt these truths, as they reached the +lowest outskirts of the missions, and stopped at an abandoned stone +convent, built at the very edge of the San Antonio, where the waters of +the river, green and clear, flowed between banks clothed in a deep and +luxuriant foliage. Half of the troop entered the convent, while the +others watched on the horses outside. It impressed Ned with a sense of +desolation fully equal to that of the ancient pyramid or the lost city. +Everything of value that the nuns had not taken away had been stripped +from the place by Comanche, Apache or Lipan.</p> + +<p>It was nearly night when they arrived at the convent. The Texan camp +still lay some miles away, their horses were very tired, and Bowie +decided to remain in the ruined building until morning. The main portion +of the structure was of stone, two stories high, but there were some +extensions of wood, from one of which the floor had been taken away by +plunderers. It was Ned who discovered this floorless room and he +suggested that they lead the horses into it, especially as the night was +turning quite cold, and there were signs of rain.</p> + +<p>"A good thought," said Bowie. "We'll do it."</p> + +<p>The horses made some trouble at the door, but when they were finally +driven in, and unsaddled and unbridled they seemed content. Two windows, +from which the glass was long since gone, admitted an abundance of air, +and Ned and several others, taking their big bowie knives, went out to +cut grass for them.<a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a></p> + +<p>On foot, Ned was impressed more than ever by the desolation and +loneliness of the place. The grounds had been surrounded by an adobe +wall, now broken through in many places. On one side had been a little +flower garden, and on the other a larger kitchen garden. One or two late +roses bloomed in the flower garden, but most of it had been destroyed by +weather.</p> + +<p>Ned and the others cut armfuls of grass in a little meadow, just beyond +the adobe wall, and they hastened the work. They did not like the looks +of the night. The skies were darkening very fast, and they saw +occasional flashes of lightning in the far southwest. Ned looked back at +the convent. It was now an almost formless bulk against the somber sky, +its most prominent feature being the cupola in which a bronze bell still +hung.</p> + +<p>The wind rose and cold drops of rain struck him. He shivered. It +promised to be one of those raw, cold nights frequent in the southwest, +and he knew that the rain would be chill and penetrating. He was glad +that they had found the convent.</p> + +<p>They gave the grass to the horses, and then they went into the main +portion of the convent, where Bowie and the rest were already at work. +Here the ruin was not so great, as the Spaniards had built in a solid +manner, according to their custom. They found a large room, with an open +fireplace, in which Ned would have been glad to see wood blazing, but +Bowie did not consider it worth while to gather materials for a fire. +Adjoining this room was a chapel, in which a pulpit, a desecrated image +of the Virgin, and some frames without the pictures, yet remained. Anger +filled Ned's heart that anyone should plunder and spoil such a place, +and he turned sorrowfully away.</p> + +<p>Back of the large rooms were workrooms, kitchen and <a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a>laundry, all +stripped of nearly everything. The narrow stairway that led to the upper +floor was in good condition, and, when Ned mounted it, he saw rows of +narrow little cell-like rooms in which the nuns had slept. All were +bleak and bare, but, from a broken window at the end of the corridor, he +looked out upon the San Antonio and the forests of oak and pecan. He +could barely see the river, the night had grown so dark. The cold rain +increased and was lashed against the building by a moaning wind. Once +more Ned shivered, and once more he was glad that they had found the old +convent. He was glad to return to the main room, where Bowie and the +others were gathered.</p> + +<p>The room had been lighted by two windows, facing the San Antonio and two +on the side. They had been closed originally by shutters, which were now +gone, but as the windows were narrow the driving rain did not enter far. +One or two of the men, sharing Ned's earlier feeling, spoke up in favor +of a fire. They wanted the cheerfulness that light and warmth give. But +Bowie refused again.</p> + +<p>"Not necessary," he said. "We are here in the enemy's country, and we do +not want to give him warning of our presence. We met the lancers to-day, +and we have no desire to meet them again to-night."</p> + +<p>"Right," the Ring Tailed Panther roared gently to Ned. "When you're +makin' war you must fight first an' take your pleasure afterward."</p> + +<p>It was warm enough in the room and the open windows gave them all the +air they needed. Every man, except those detailed for the guard, spread +his blankets and went to sleep. Ned was on the early watch. He, too, +would have liked sleep. He could have felt wonderfully fine rolled in +the blankets with the cold rain pattering on the <a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a>walls outside. But he +was chosen for the first watch, and his time would come later.</p> + +<p>Ned was posted at a broken door that led to the extension in which the +horses were sheltered. The remaining sentinels, three in number, +including the Ring Tailed Panther, were stationed in different parts of +the building. The boy from his position in the broken doorway could see +into the room where his comrades slept, and, when he looked in the other +direction, he could also see the horses, some of which were now lying +down.</p> + +<p>It was all very still in the old convent. So deep was this silence that +Ned began to fancy that he heard the breathing of his sleeping comrades. +It was only fancy. The horses had ceased to stir. Perhaps they were as +glad as the men that they had found shelter. But outside Ned heard +distinctly the moaning of the wind, and the lashing of the cold rain +against roof and walls.</p> + +<p>On the right where the extension had been connected with the main +building of stone there was a great opening, and through this Ned looked +down toward the adobe wall and the San Antonio. He saw dimly across the +river a dark waving mass which he knew to be the pecan trees, bending in +the wind, but on his own side of the stream he could distinguish +nothing. But he watched there unceasingly, save for occasional glances +at the horses or his sleeping comrades.</p> + +<p>He could now see objects very well within the room. He was able to count +his comrades sleeping on the floor. He saw two empty picture frames on +the wall, and, near by, a rope, which he surmised led to the bell in the +cupola, and which some chance had allowed to remain there. Now and then +Ned and one of his comrades of the watch met and exchanged a few words, +but they always spoke in whispers, lest they awaken the sleeping <a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a>men. +After these brief meetings Ned would return to his watch at the opening.</p> + +<p>The character of the night did not change as time trailed its slow +length away. One solid black cloud covered the sky from horizon to +horizon. The wind out of the southwest never ceased to moan, and the +cold rain blew steadily upon the walls and roof of the ruined convent. It +was not a night when either Texans or Mexicans would wish to be abroad, +and, as the chill grew sharper and more penetrating, Ned wrapped one of +his blankets about his shoulders.</p> + +<p>As the night advanced, Ned's sense of oppression deepened. He felt once +more as he had felt at the pyramid, that he was among old dead things. +Ghosts could walk here as truly as they could walk on the banks of the +Teotihuacan. Sometimes as the great cloud lightened the least bit he +caught glimpses of the grass and weeds that grew between him and the +broken adobe wall which was about fifteen yards away.</p> + +<p>Only an hour more, and the second watch would come on. Ned began to +think of his place on the floor, and of the deep and dreamless sleep +that he knew would be his. Then he was attracted by a glimpse of the +adobe wall. It seemed to him that he had seen a projection, where there +was none before. He looked a second time, and he did not see it. Fancy +played strange tricks at midnight in the enemy's country, and in the +desolate silence.</p> + +<p>Ned shook himself. Although a vivid imagination might be excusable at +such a time even in a man, a veteran of many campaigns, he was +essentially an uncompromising realist, and he wished to see facts +exactly as they were. The work upon which he was engaged allowed no time +for the breeding of fancy.<a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a></p> + +<p>He looked again and there were two projections where he had seen only +one before. They resembled knobs on the adobe wall, rising perhaps half +a foot above it, and the sight troubled Ned. Was fancy to prove too +strong, when he had drilled himself so long to see the real? Was he to +be played with by the imagination, as if he had no will of his own?</p> + +<p>He thought once of speaking to the sentinels at the other doors, but he +could not compel himself to do it. They would laugh at him, and it is a +bitter thing to be laughed at. So he kept his watch, and while he looked +the projections appeared, disappeared and appeared once more.</p> + +<p>He could stand it no longer. Putting his rifle under his blanket in +order to keep the weapon dry he stepped out of doors, but flattened +himself against the wall of the convent. The rain and wind whipped him +unmercifully, and the cold ran through him, but he was resolved to see +what was happening by the adobe wall. The projections were there and +they had increased to four. They did not go away.</p> + +<p>Ned was now convinced that it was not fancy. His mind had obeyed his +will, and he was the true realist, no victim of the imagination. He was +about to kneel down in the grass, and crawl toward the wall, when +something caused him to change his mind. One of the projections suddenly +extended a full yard above the wall, and resolved itself into the shape +of a man. But what a man! The body from the waist up was naked, and +above it rose a head crested with long hair, black and coarse. Other +heads and bodies also savage and naked rose up beside it on the wall. +Ned knew in an instant and springing back within the convent he cried:</p> + +<p>"Comanches! Comanches! Up men, up!"<a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a></p> + +<p>At the same moment, acting on impulse, he seized the rope that hung by +the wall and pulled it hard, fast and often. Above in the cupola the +great bronze bell boomed forth a tremendous solemn note that rose far +over the moaning of the wind. From the adobe wall came a fierce yell, a +sinister cry that swelled until it became a high and piercing volume of +sound, and then died away in a menacing note like the howl of wolves. +But Ned, impulse still his master, never ceased to pull the bell.</p> + +<p>All the Texans were on their feet at once, wide awake, rifles in their +hands.</p> + +<p>"Lie down, men, by the doors!" cried Bowie, "and shoot anything that +tries to come in. Ned, let go the rope, you are in range there, and lie +down with us! But you have done well, boy! You have done well! You have +saved us all from being scalped, and perhaps the booming of the big bell +will bring us help that we may need badly!"</p> + +<p>Ned threw himself on the floor just in time to avoid a bullet that sang +in at the open doorway. But no other shot was fired then. The Comanches +in silence sank back into the darkness and the rain. The defenders lay +on the floor, guarding the doorways with open rifles. They could not see +much, but they could hear well, and since Ned had given the warning in +time every one of the little party felt that they held a fortress.</p> + +<p>Ned's pulses were still leaping, but great pride was in his heart. It +was he, not one of the veterans, who had saved them, and Bowie had +instantly spoken words of high approval. He was now lying flat on the +floor, but he looked out once more at the same opening. There were +certainly no projections on the wall now, but he could not tell whether +the Comanches were inside it or outside. If they crept to the sides of +the convent's stone <a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a>walls the riflemen could not reach them there. He +wondered how many they were and how they had happened to raid so near to +San Antonio at this time.</p> + +<p>Then ensued a long and trying period of silence. Less experienced men +than the Texans might have thought that the Comanches had gone away +after the failure of their attempt at surprise, but these veterans knew +better. Bowie and all of them were trying to divine their point of +attack and how to meet it. For the present, they could do nothing but +watch the doorways, and guard themselves against a sudden rush of their +dangerous foe.</p> + +<p>"Panther," said Obed White, "it seems to me that you're getting all the +ripping and tearing and chawing that you want on this trip."</p> + +<p>"It ain't what you might call monotonous," said the Ring Tailed Panther. +"I agree to that much."</p> + +<p>It had been fully an hour now since Ned had rung the great bell, and +they had heard no noises save the usual ones of that night, the wind and +the rain. He surmised at last that the Comanches had taken advantage of +the war between the Texans and Mexicans to make a raid on the San +Antonio Valley, expecting to gallop in, do their terrible work, and then +be away. Doubtless it had not occurred to them that they would meet such +a group as that led by Bowie and the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"Ned," said Bowie, "creep across the floor there to that rope and ring +the bell again. Ring it a long time. Either it will hurry the Comanches +into action, or friends of ours will hear it. It's likely that all the +Mexicans have now withdrawn into San Antonio, and that only Texans, +besides this band of Comanches, are abroad in the valley."</p> + +<p>Ned wormed himself across the floor, and then, pressing <a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a>himself against +the wall, reached up for the rope. A strange thought darted into his +brain. He had a deep feeling for music, and he could play both the +violin and piano. He could also ring chimes. He was keyed to the utmost, +every pulse and vein surcharged with the emotion that comes from a +desperate situation and a great impulse to save it.</p> + +<p>The great bell suddenly began to peal forth the air of The Star Spangled +Banner. Some of the notes may have gone wrong, there may have been +errors of time and emphasis, but the old tune, then young, was there. +Every man lying on the floor, every one of whom was born in the States, +knew it, and every heart leaped. Elsewhere it might have been a +commonplace thing to do, but there in the night and the storm, +surrounded by enemies, on a vast and lonely frontier it was an +inspiration. Every Texan in the valley who heard it would know that it +was the call of a friend asking for help, and he would come.</p> + +<p>Not a Texan moved, but they breathed heavily. Overhead the great bell +boomed solemnly on, and Ned, his hand on the rope, put all his heart and +strength into the task. A rifle cracked and a bullet entered the +doorway, but it passed over the heads of the Texans, and flattened +against the stone wall beyond. A rifle inside cracked in response, and a +Comanche in the grass and weeds uttered a death yell.</p> + +<p>"I was watchin' for just such a chance," said the Ring Tailed Panther in +satisfied tones. "I saw him when he rose to fire. Just as you thought, +Mr. Bowie, the bell is makin' their nerves raw, an' they feel that they +must do somethin' right away."</p> + +<p>"What a queer note that was in Ned's tune!" suddenly exclaimed Obed.<a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a></p> + +<p>Bowie laughed.</p> + +<p>"An angry Comanche shot at the bell and hit it. That's what happened," +he said. "They can waste as many bullets as they please that way."</p> + +<p>But the Comanches wasted no more just then. A noise came from the +horses. The shots evidently had alarmed them, and they were beginning to +stamp and rear. Four men, at the order of Bowie, slipped into the +improvised stable and sought to quiet them. They also remained there to +keep a guard at the broken windows. Ned, unconscious how much time had +passed, was still ringing the bell.</p> + +<p>"You can rest now, Ned," said Bowie. "That was a good idea of yours and +you can repeat it later on. I'm thinking that the Comanches will soon +act, if they are going to act at all."</p> + +<p>But nothing occurred for nearly an hour, when the horses began to rear +and stamp again. Two or three of them also uttered shrill neighs. Bowie, +with Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther joined the four already in +the improvised stable. The horses would not be quieted. It was quite +evident that instinct was warning them of something that human beings +could not yet detect.</p> + +<p>Ned wondered. He put his hand on the neck of his own horse which knew +him well, yet the beast trembled all over, and uttered a sudden shrill +neigh. It was quite dark in the place, only a little light coming +through the broken windows, yet Ned was quite sure that no Comanches had +managed to get inside, and lie in hiding there.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the Ring Tailed Panther uttered a fierce cry.</p> + +<p>"I smell smoke!" he cried. "That's why the horses are so scared. The +demons have managed to set fire <a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a>to this place which is wood. That's why +they've been so quiet!"</p> + +<p>Ned, too, now smelt the strong odor of smoke, and a spurt of fire +appeared at a crack between two of the planks at the far end of the +place. The struggles of the horses increased. They were wild with +fright.</p> + +<p>Ned instantly recognized the danger. The burning wooden building would +fill the stone convent itself with flame and smoke, and make it +untenable. The sparks already had become many, and the odor of smoke was +increasing. Their situation, suddenly become desperate, was growing more +so every instant. But they were Texans, inured to every kind of danger. +Bowie shouted for more men to come from the convent, leaving only five +or six on guard there.</p> + +<p>Then the Texans began to bring method and procedure out of the turmoil. +Some held the horses, others, led by Bowie, kicked loose the light +planks where the fire had been started, and hurled them outward. They +were nearly choked by the smoke but they worked on.</p> + +<p>The Comanches, many of whom were hugging the wall, shouted their war +cry, and began to fire into the opening that Bowie and his men had made. +They could not take much aim, because of the smoke, but their bullets +wounded two Texans. Despite the danger Bowie and most of his men were +still compelled to work at the fire. The room was full of smoke, and +behind them the horses were yet struggling with those who held them.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther lay down and resting himself on one elbow took +aim with his rifle. He was almost clear of the smoke which hung in a +bank above him. Ned noticed him and imitated him. He saw a dusky figure +outside and when he fired it fell. The Ring Tailed Panther did as well, +and Obed joined them. While Bowie <a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a>and the others were dashing out the +fire, three great marksmen were driving back the Comanches who sought to +take advantage of the diversion.</p> + +<p>"Good! good!" cried Bowie, as they knocked out the last burning plank.</p> + +<p>"That ends the fire," said Obed, "and now we've got a hole here which is +not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a barn door, but I do not think it +will suffice for our friends, the Comanches."</p> + +<p>All the men turned their attention to the enemy, and, lying on the +ground, they took as good aim as the darkness would permit. The Texan +rifles cracked fast and, despite the darkness, the bullets often found +the chosen targets. The Comanches had been shouting the war whoop +continuously, but now their cries began to die, and their fire died with +it. Never a very good marksman, the Indian was no match for the Texans, +every one of whom was a sharpshooter, armed with a fine rifle of long +range.</p> + +<p>The Texans also fired from the shelter of the building, and, as the +great cloud was now parting, letting through shafts from the moon, the +Comanches were unable to find good hiding in the weeds and grass. The +bullets pursued them there. No matter how low they lay the keen eye of +some Texan searched them out, and sent in the fatal or wounding bullet. +Soon they were driven to the shelter of the adobe wall, where they lay, +and for a little while returned a scattering fire which did no harm. +After it ceased no Comanche uttered a war whoop and there was silence +again, save for the rain which now trickled down softly.</p> + +<p>Bowie distributed sentinels at the openings, including the new one made +by the fire, and then the Texans took count of themselves. They had not +escaped unscathed. One <a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a>lying on the floor had received a bullet in his +head and had died in silence, unnoticed in the battle. Two men had +suffered wounds, but they were not severe, and would not keep them from +taking part in a renewal of the combat, should it come.</p> + +<p>All this reckoning was made in the dusk of the old convent, and with the +weariness of both body and soul that comes after a period of great and +prolonged exertion. Within the two rooms that they had defended, the +odor of burned gunpowder was strong, stinging throat and nostrils. +Eddies of smoke hung between floor and ceiling. Many of the men coughed, +and it was long before they could reduce the horses to entire quiet.</p> + +<p>They wrapped the dead man in his blankets and laid him in the corner. +They bound up the hurts of the others, as best they could and then, save +for the watching, they relaxed completely. Ned, his back against the +wall, sat with his friends Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. He was +utterly exhausted, and even in the dusk the men noticed it.</p> + +<p>"Here, Ned," said Obed, "take a chew of this. You may not feel that you +need it, but it will be a good thing for you."</p> + +<p>He extended a strip of dried venison. Ned thanked him and ate, although +he had not felt hungry. By and by he grew stronger, and then Bowie +called to him.</p> + +<p>"Ned," he said, "crawl across the floor again. Be sure you do not raise +your head until you reach the wall. Then ring the bell, until I tell you +to stop. I've a notion that somebody will come by morning. Boys, the +rest of you be ready with your rifles. It was the bell before that +brought on the attack."</p> + +<p>Ned slid across the floor, and once more pulled the <a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a>rope with the old +fervor, sending the notes of the tune that he could play best far out +over the valley of the San Antonio. But no reply came from the +Comanches. They did not dare to rush the place again in the face of +those deadly Texan rifles. They made no sound while the bell played on, +but the Texans knew that they still lay behind the adobe wall, ready for +a shot at any incautious head.</p> + +<p>Ned rang for a full half hour, before Bowie told him to quit. Then he +crept back to his place. He put his head on his folded blanket and, +although not intending it, fell asleep, despite the close air of the +place. But he awoke before it was dawn, and hastily sat up, ashamed. +When he saw in the dark that half the men were asleep he was ashamed no +longer. Bowie, who was standing by one of the doors, but sheltered from +a shot, smiled at him.</p> + +<p>"The sun will rise in a half hour, Ned," he said, "and you've waked up +in time to hear the answer to your ringing of the bell. Listen!"</p> + +<p>Ned strained his ears, and he heard a faint far sound, musical like his +own call. It seemed to him to be the note of a trumpet.</p> + +<p>"Horsemen are coming," said Bowie, "and unless I am far wrong they are +Texans. Ring again, Ned."</p> + +<p>The bell boomed forth once more, and for the last time. Clear and sharp, +came the peal of the trumpet in answer. One by one the men awoke. The +light was now appearing in the East, the gray trembling into silver. +From the valley came the rapid beat of hoofs, a rifle shot and then +three or four more. Bowie ran out at the door, and Ned followed him. +Across the meadows the Comanches scurried on their ponies, and a group +of white men sent a volley after them. Then the white men <a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a>galloped +toward the convent. Bowie walked forward to meet them.</p> + +<p>"You were never more welcome, Fannin," he said to the leader of the +group.</p> + +<p>The man sprang from his horse, and grasped Bowie's hand.</p> + +<p>"We rode as fast as we could, but I didn't know it was you, Jim," he +said. "Some of our scouts heard a bell somewhere playing The Star +Spangled Banner in the night. We thought they were dreaming, but they +swore to it. So we concluded it must be a call for help and I came with +the troop that you see here. We lost the direction once or twice, but +the bell called us back."</p> + +<p>"For that," said Bowie, "you have to thank this boy here, a boy in years +only, a man in action, and two men in mind and courage. This is Ned +Fulton, Colonel Fannin."</p> + +<p>Ned blushed and expostulated, but Bowie took nothing back. Fannin looked +about him curiously.</p> + +<p>"You seem to have had something of a fight here," he said. "Down in the +grass and weeds we saw several Comanches who will trouble no more."</p> + +<p>"We had all we wanted," said Bowie, "and we shall be glad to ride at +once with you to camp. I bring some good men for the cause, and there +are more behind."</p> + +<p>They buried the fallen man in the old flower garden, and then rode +swiftly for the Texan camp on the Salado.<a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>IN SAN ANTONIO</h3> + + +<p>It was a crisp October morning, and as he galloped through the fresh +air, all of Ned's spirits came back to him. He would soon be with the +full array of the Texans, marching forward boldly to meet Cos himself +and all his forces. The great strain of the fight the night before +passed away as he inhaled the sparkling air. The red came back to his +cheeks, and he felt that he was ready to go wherever the boldest of the +Texans led. The Ring Tailed Panther shared his emotions.</p> + +<p>"Fine, isn't it?" said he. "Great valley, too, but it oughtn't to belong +to the Mexicans. It's been going down under them for a long time. They +haven't been able to protect it from Comanches, Apaches and Lipans. The +old convent that we held last night had been abandoned for fear of the +Indians, an' lots of other work that the Spaniards an' Mexicans did has +gone the same way."</p> + +<p>The beauty of the country increased, as they rode. Fine springs of cold +water gushed from the hills and flowed down into the clear green stream +of the San Antonio. The groves of oaks and pecans were superb, but they +passed more desolate and abandoned buildings and crossed more irrigation +ditches choked up with refuse.</p> + +<p>Bowie called Ned up to his side, and had him to relate again all that he +had seen and heard in Mexico.<a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a></p> + +<p>"Mr. Austin is at the camp," said Fannin, "and he has been asking about +you."</p> + +<p>Ned's heart thrilled. There was a strong bond between him and the +gentle, kindly man who strove so hard to serve both Texas and Mexico, +and whom Santa Anna had long kept a prisoner for his pains.</p> + +<p>"When will we reach the camp?" he asked Bowie.</p> + +<p>"In less than a half hour. See, the scouts have already sighted us."</p> + +<p>The scouts came up in a few moments, and then they drew near the camp. +Ned, eager of eye, observed everything.</p> + +<p>The heart of the camp was in the center of a pecan grove, where a few +tents for the leading men stood, but the Texans were spread all about in +both groves and meadows, where they slept under the open sky. They wore +no uniforms. All were in hunting suits of dressed deerskin or homespun, +but they were well armed with the long rifles which they knew how to use +with such wonderful skill. They had no military tactics, but they +invariably pressed in where the foe was thickest and the danger +greatest. They were gathered now in hundreds from all the Texas +settlements to defend the homes that they had built in the wilderness, +and Cos with his Mexican army did not dare to come out of San Antonio.</p> + +<p>The Texans welcomed Bowie and his men with loud acclaim. Ned and his +comrades unsaddled, tethered their horses and lay down luxuriously in +the grass. Mr. Austin was busy in his tent at a conference of the +leaders and Ned would wait until the afternoon to see him. Obed +suggested that they take a nap.</p> + +<p>"In war eat when you can and sleep when you can," he said. "Sleep lost +once is lost forever."</p> + +<p>"Obed has got some sense if he don't look like it,"<a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a> chuckled the Ring +Tailed Panther. "Here's to followin' his advice."</p> + +<p>Ned took it, too, and slept until the afternoon, when a messenger asked +him to come to Mr. Austin's tent, a large one, with the sides now open. +Obed was invited to come with him, and, as Ned stood in the door of the +tent the mild, grave man advanced eagerly, a glow of pleasure and +affection on his face.</p> + +<p>"My boy! my boy!" he said, putting both hands on Ned's shoulders. "I was +sure that I should never see you again, after you made your wonderful +escape from our prison in Mexico. But you are here in Texas none the +worse, and they tell me you have passed through a very Odyssey of +hardship and danger."</p> + +<p>Water stood in Ned's eyes. He rejoiced in the affection and esteem of +this man, and yet Mr. Austin was very unlike the rest of the Texans. +They were rough riders; men of the plains always ready to fight, but he, +cultivated and scholarly, was for peace and soft words. He had used his +methods, and they had failed, inuring only to the advantage of Santa +Anna and Mexico. He had failed most honorably, but he looked very much +worn and depressed. He was now heart and soul for the war, knowing that +there was no other resort, but for battle he did not feel himself +fitted.</p> + +<p>Ned introduced Obed as the companion of most of his wanderings, and Obed +received a warm greeting. Then other men in the great tent came forward, +and Ned, surprised, saw that one of them was Urrea, dressed neatly, +handsome and smiling. But the boy was glad to see him.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Señor Ned," he said, "you did not expect that I would get here +before you. I came by another way, and I have brought information for +our leader."<a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a></p> + +<p>Ned met the other men in the tent, all destined to become famous in the +great war, and then he gave in detail once more all that he knew of the +Mexicans and their plans. Mr. Austin sat on a little camp stool, as he +listened, and Ned noticed how pale and weak he looked. The boy's heart +sank, and then flamed up again as he thought of Santa Anna. It was he +who had done this. Away from Santa Anna and free from his magnetism he +had a heart full of hatred for him. Yet it depressed him to see Mr. +Austin who, good man, was obviously unfit for the leadership of an army, +about to enter upon a desperate war against great odds.</p> + +<p>When Ned was excused, and left the tent he found that Smith, Karnes and +the rest of their force had come up. The camp which was more like that +of hunters than of an army, was in joyous mood. Several buffaloes had +been killed on the plains and the men had brought them in, quartered. +Now they were cooking the meat over great fires, scattered about the +groves. The younger spirits were in boisterous mood. Several groups were +singing, and others were dancing the breakdowns of the border.</p> + +<p>Ned and Obed were joined by the Ring Tailed Panther and then by Urrea. +Ned felt the high spirits of the young Texans, but he did not join in +the singing and dancing. He learned from Urrea that Houston would arrive +in a day or two with more volunteers from Eastern Texas, and the young +Mexican also told him something about San Antonio.</p> + +<p>"Cos has a large force of regular troops," he said, "but he is alarmed. +He did not think that the Texans were in such earnest, and that they +would dare so much. Now, he is barricading the streets and building +breastworks."<a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a></p> + +<p>The Texans were so resolute and confident that the next day they sent a +demand to Cos for his surrender. He would not receive it, and threatened +that if another white flag appeared he would fire upon it. A day or two +later, Houston and the Eastern Texans arrived, and Ned, Obed, the Ring +Tailed Panther and Urrea planned a daring adventure for the following +night. They had heard how Cos was fortifying San Antonio, and as they +expected the Texan army to make an assault they intended to see just +what he was doing.</p> + +<p>They made their way very cautiously toward the town, left on foot when +the full dark had come. It was only four miles to San Antonio, and they +could reach the line of Mexican sentinels within an hour. The Ring +Tailed Panther was growling pleasantly between his teeth. He had tired +of inaction. His was a character such as only the rough world of the +border could produce. If he did not live by the sword he lived by the +rifle, and since childhood he had been in the midst of alarms. Long +habit had made anything else tiresome to him beyond endurance, but he +was by nature generous and kindly. Like Obed he had formed a strong +attachment for Ned who appealed to him as a high-souled and generous +youth.</p> + +<p>They made their way very cautiously toward the town, passing by +abandoned houses and crossing fields, overgrown with weeds. Both the +Ring Tailed Panther and Urrea knew San Antonio well, and Obed had been +there once. They were of the opinion that the town with its narrow +streets, stone and adobe houses was adapted particularly to defense, but +it was of the greatest importance to know just where the new outworks +were placed.</p> + +<p>The four came within sight of Mexican lights about <a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a>nine o'clock. The +town was in the midst of gently rolling prairies and as nearly as they +could judge these lights—evidently those of camp fires—were about a +quarter of a mile from San Antonio. They were three in number and +appeared to be two or three hundred yards apart. They watched a little +while but they did not see any human outlines passing in front of the +fires.</p> + +<p>"They are learnin' caution," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "They are +afraid of the Texan rifles, an' while those fires light up a lot of +ground they keep their own bodies back in the shadow."</p> + +<p>"Wise men," said Obed.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther looked his companions in the eye, one by one.</p> + +<p>"We come out here for business," he said. "What we want to acquire is +learnin', learnin' about the new defenses of San Antonio, an' we'd feel +cheap if we went back without it. Now, I don't care to feel cheap +myself. Good, careful, quiet fellows could slip between them sentinels, +an' get into San Antonio. I mean to do it. Are you game to go with me?"</p> + +<p>"I am," said Urrea, speaking very quickly and eagerly.</p> + +<p>"And I," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"To turn back is to confess one's weakness," said Obed.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther roared gently, and with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"That's the talk I like to hear an' expected to hear," he said. "You +boys ain't afraid of rippin' an' tearin', when it's in a good cause. +There's pretty good grass here. We'll just kneel down in it, an' crawl."</p> + +<p>The Panther marked a point about midway between the nearest two lights +and they advanced straight for <a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a>it on hands and knees, stopping at +intervals of a hundred yards or so to rest, as that method of locomotion +was neither convenient nor comfortable. As they drew near to the fires +they saw the sentinels some distance back of them, and entirely in the +shadow, pacing up and down, musket on shoulder. The four were now near +enough to have been seen had they been standing erect, but they lay very +close to the earth, while they conferred a moment or two.</p> + +<p>"There's a patch of bushes between those two sentinels," whispered the +Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I think we'd better creep by in its shelter. +If either of the sentinels should look suspicious every one of us must +lay flat an' hold his breath. We could handle the sentinels, but what we +want to do is to get into San Antonio."</p> + +<p>They continued their slow and tiresome creeping. Only once did they +stop, and then it was because one of the sentinels paused in his walk +and took his musket from his shoulder. But it was only to light a +cigarette and, relieved, they crept on until they were well beyond the +fires, and within the ring of sentinels. Then at the signal of the Ring +Tailed Panther they rose to their feet, and stretched their cramped +limbs.</p> + +<p>"It is certainly good," whispered Obed, "to stand up on two legs again +and walk like a man."</p> + +<p>They were now very near to the town and they saw the dark shapes of +houses, in some of which lights burned. It was the poorer portion of San +Antonio, where the Mexican homes were mostly huts or jacals, made of +adobe, and sometimes of mere mud and wattles. As all the four spoke +Spanish, they advanced, confident in themselves, and the protecting +shadows of the night. A dog barked at them, but Obed cursed him in good, +<a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a>strong Mexican, and he slunk away. Two peons wrapped to the eyes in +serapes passed them but Obed boldly gave them the salutations of the +night and they walked on, not dreaming that the dreaded Texans were by.</p> + +<p>Fifty yards further they saw a long earthwork, with the spades and +shovels lying beside it, as if the Mexicans expected to resume work +there in the morning. Toward the north they saw another such defense but +they did not go very near, as Mexican soldiers were camped beside it. +But Ned retained a very clear idea of the location of the two +earthworks.</p> + +<p>Then they curved in toward the more important portion of the town, the +center of which was two large squares, commonly called Main Plaza and +Military Plaza, separated only by the church of San Fernando. Here were +many houses built heavily of stone in the Spanish style. They had thick +walls and deep embrasured windows. Often they looked like and were +fortresses.</p> + +<p>Ned and his comrades were extremely anxious to approach those squares, +but the danger was now much greater. They saw barricades on several +important streets and many soldiers were passing. They learned from a +peon that both the squares and many other open places also were filled +with the tents of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther having seen so much were eager to +see more, but Urrea hung back. He thought they should return with the +information they had obtained already, and not risk the loss of +everything by capture, but the Ring Tailed Panther was determined.</p> + +<p>"I know San Antonio by heart," he said, "an' there's somethin' I want to +see. Down this street is the house of the Vice-Governor, Veramendi, and +I want to see <a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a>what is going on there. If the rest of you feel that the +risk ain't justified you can turn back, but I'm goin' on."</p> + +<p>"If you go I'm going with you," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Me, too," said Obed.</p> + +<p>Urrea shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said. "It's against my judgment, but I follow."</p> + +<p>They had pulled their slouch hats down over their faces, in the Mexican +style, and they handled their rifles awkwardly, after the fashion of +Mexican recruits. The Ring Tailed Panther led boldly down the street, +until they came to the stone house of Veramendi. Lights shone from the +deep embrasured windows of both the first and second floors. The Ring +Tailed Panther saw a small door in the stone wall, and he pushed it +open.</p> + +<p>"Come in! Come quick!" he said to his comrades.</p> + +<p>His tone was so sharp and commanding that they obeyed him by impulse, +and he quickly closed the door behind the little party. They stood in a +small, dark alley that ran beside the house and they heard the sound of +music. Crouching against the wall they listened, and heard also the +sounds of laughter and feminine voices.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther grinned in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Some kind of a fandango is goin' on," he said. "It's just like the +Mexicans to dance and sing at such a time. I wouldn't be s'prised if Cos +himself was here, an' I mean to see."</p> + +<p>He led the way down the little alley, which was roughly paved with +stone, and, as they advanced, the sounds of music and laughter +increased. Unquestionably Governor Veramendi was giving a ball, and Ned +did not doubt that the Panther's surmise about the presence of Cos would +prove correct.<a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a></p> + +<p>They found a little gate opening from the alley into a large patio or +enclosed court. This gate, like the first, was not locked and the Ring +Tailed Panther pushed it open also. The patio was filled with palms, +flowering plants and a dense shrubbery.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther again led boldly on, and entered the patio, +hiding instantly among the palms and flowers. The others followed and +did likewise. Ned quivered with excitement. He knew that the danger was +great. He knew also that if they lay close and waited they were likely +to hear what was worth hearing.</p> + +<p>The boy was in a dense mat of shrubbery. To his right was Obed and to +his left were the Ring Tailed Panther and Urrea. He saw that the patio +was faced on three sides by piazzas or porticos, from which wide doors +opened into the house. He heard the music now as clearly as if it were +at his side. It was the music of a full band, and it was played with a +mellow, gliding rhythm. He saw, also, officers in brilliant uniform and +handsome women, as in the dance they passed and repassed the open doors. +It was Spanish, Mexican to the core, full of the South, full of warmth +and color. The lean, brown Texans crouching in the shrubbery furnished a +striking contrast.</p> + +<p>While they waited, several officers and ladies came out on the piazzas, +ate ices and drank sweet drinks. They were so near that the four easily +heard all they said. It was mostly idle chatter, high-pitched +compliments, allusions to people in the distant City of Mexico, and now +and then a jest at the expense of the Texans. Ned realized that many of +the younger Mexicans did not take the siege of San Antonio seriously. +They could not understand how a strong city, held by an army of Mexican +regulars, could have anything to fear from a <a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a>few hundred Texan +horsemen, mostly hunters in buckskin.</p> + +<p>The music began again and the officers and women went in, but presently +several older men, also in uniform, came out. Ned instantly recognized +in the first the square figure and the dark, lowering face of Cos.</p> + +<p>"De La Garcia, Ugartchea, Veramendi," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther, +indicating the others. "Now we may hear something."</p> + +<p>Cos stood at the edge of the piazza and his face was troubled. He held +in his hand a small cane, with which he cut angrily at the flowers. The +others regarded him uneasily, but for a while he said nothing. Ned +hardly breathed, so intense was his interest and curiosity, but when Cos +at last spoke his disappointment was great.</p> + +<p>The General complimented Veramendi on his house and hospitality, and the +Vice-Governor thanked him in ornate sentences. Some more courtesies were +exchanged, but Cos continued to cut off the heads of the flowers with +his cane, and Ned knew now that they had come from the ballroom to talk +of more important things. Meanwhile, the music flowed on. It was the +swaying strains of the dance, and it would have been soothing to anyone, +whose mind was not forced elsewhere. The flowers and the palms rippled +gently under a light breeze, but Ned did not hear them. He was waiting +to hear Cos speak of what was in the mind of himself and the other men +on the piazza, the same things that were in the minds of the Texans in +the shrubbery.</p> + +<p>"Have you any further word from the Texan desperadoes, General?" asked +Veramendi, at last.</p> + +<p>Swish went the general's cane, and a flower fell from its stem.</p> + +<p>"Nothing direct," he replied, his voice rising in anger.<a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a></p> + +<p>"They have not sent again demanding my surrender knowing that a +messenger would be shot. The impudence of these border horsemen passes +all belief. How dare a few hundred such men undertake to besiege us here +in San Antonio? What an insult to Mexico!"</p> + +<p>"But they can fight," said Ugartchea. "They ride and shoot like demons. +They will give us trouble."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Cos, "but the more trouble they make us the more they +shall suffer. It was an evil day when the first American was allowed to +come into Texas."</p> + +<p>"Yet they will attack us here," persisted Ugartchea, "They have driven +our men off the prairies. Our lances are not a match for their rifles. +Your pardon, General, but it will be wise for us to fortify still +further."</p> + +<p>Cos frowned and made another wicked sweep with the cane. But he said:</p> + +<p>"What you say is truth, Colonel Ugartchea, but with qualifications. Our +men are not a match for them on the open prairie, but should they attack +us here in the city they will be destroyed."</p> + +<p>Then he asked further questions about the fortifications, and Ugartchea, +who seemed to be in immediate charge, began to repeat the details. It +was for this that the Texans had come into the patio, and Ned leaned +forward eagerly. He saw Obed on one side of him and the Ring Tailed +Panther on the other do the same. Suddenly there was a noise as of +something falling in the shrubbery, and then a sharp whistle. The men on +the piazza instantly looked in the direction of the hidden Texans. Cos +and Ugartchea drew pistols.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther acted with the greatest promptness and decision.</p> + +<p>"We must run for it, boys," he exclaimed in a loud <a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a>whisper. "Something, +I don't know what, has happened to warn them that we are here. Keep your +heads low."</p> + +<p>Still partly hidden by the palms and flowers they ran for the gate. Cos +and Veramendi fired at the flitting forms and shouted for soldiers. Ned +felt one of the bullets scorch the back of his hand, but in a few +moments he was out of the gate and in the little dark alley. The Ring +Tailed Panther was just before him, and Obed was just behind. The +Panther, instead of running toward the street continued up the alley +which led to a large building of adobe, in the rear of the governor's +house.</p> + +<p>"It's a stable and storehouse," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' we'll +hide in it while the hunt roars on through the city."</p> + +<p>He jerked open a door, and they rushed in. Ned in the dusk saw some +horses eating in their stalls, and he also saw a steep ladder leading to +lofts above. The Ring Tailed Panther never hesitated, but ran up the +ladder and Ned followed sharply after him. He heard Obed panting at his +heels.</p> + +<p>The lofts contained dried maize and some vegetables, but they were +mostly filled with hay. The fugitives plunged into the hay and pulled it +around them, until only their heads and the muzzles of their rifles +protruded. They lay for a few moments in silence, save for the sound of +their own hard breathing, and then Ned suddenly noticed something. They +were only three!</p> + +<p>"Why, where is Urrea?" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, where in thunder is Don Francisco?" said the Ring Tailed Panther +in startled tones.</p> + +<p>Urrea was certainly missing, and no one could tell when they had lost +him. Their flight had been too hurried <a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a>to take any count of numbers. +There could be only one conclusion. Urrea had been taken in the patio. +The Ring Tailed Panther roared between his teeth, low but savagely.</p> + +<p>"I don't like many Mexicans," he said, "but I got to like Don Francisco. +The Mexicans have shorely got him, an' it will go 'specially hard with +him, he bein' of their own race."</p> + +<p>Ned sighed. He did not like to think of Don Francisco at the mercy of +Cos. But they could do nothing, absolutely nothing. To leave the hay +meant certain capture within a few minutes. Already they heard the +sounds of the hunt, the shouts of soldiers and the mob, of men calling +to one another. Through the chinks in the wall they saw the light of +torches in the alley. They lay still for a few minutes and then the +noise of the search drifted down toward the plazas. The torches passed +out of the alley.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear that whistle just before Cos and Ugartchea fired?" asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>"I did," replied Obed. "I don't understand it, and what I don't +understand bothers me."</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther growled, and his growl was the most savage that +Ned had ever heard from him. The growl did not turn into words for at +least a minute. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"I'm like you, Obed; I hate riddles, an' this is the worst one that I +was ever mixed up with. Somethin' fell in the shrubbery; then came the +whistle, the Mexicans shot, away we went, lickety split, an' now we're +here. That's all I know, an' it ain't much."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we'll ever find out," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Doubtful," replied the Ring Tailed Panther. "I'm afeard, boys, they +won't waste much time on Urrea, he <a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a>bein' a spy an' of their own blood, +too. It's war an' we've got to make the best of it."</p> + +<p>But Ned could not make very well of it. A fugitive hidden there in the +hay and the dark, the fate of Urrea seemed very terrible to him. The +three sank into silence. Occasionally they heard cries from distant +parts of the town, but the hunt did not seem to come back toward them. +Ned was thankful that the Ring Tailed Panther had been so ready of wit. +The Mexicans would not dream that the Texans were hiding in the +Vice-Governor's own barn, just behind the Vice-Governor's own house. He +made himself cozy in the hay and waited.</p> + +<p>After about an hour, the town turned quiet, and Ned inferred that the +hunt was over. The Mexicans, no doubt, would assume that the three had +escaped from San Antonio, and they would not dare to hunt far out on the +prairies. But what of Urrea! Poor Urrea! Ned could not keep from +thinking of him, but think as hard as he could he saw no way to find out +about his fate. Perhaps the Ring Tailed Panther was right. They would +never know.</p> + +<p>The three did not stir for a long time. Ned felt very comfortable in the +hay. The night was cold without, but here he was snug and warm. He +waited for those older and more experienced than himself to decide upon +their course and he knew that Obed or the Ring Tailed Panther would +speak in time. He was almost in a doze when Obed said that it must be +about one o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>"You ain't far wrong," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "but I'd wait at +least another hour. That ball will be over then, if we didn't break it +up when we were in the garden."</p> + +<p>They waited the full hour, and then they stole from <a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a>the hay. +Veramendi's house was silent and dark, and they passed safely into the +street. Ned had a faint hope that Urrea would yet appear from some dark +hiding place, but there was no sign of the young Mexican.</p> + +<p>They chose the boldest possible course, thinking that it would be +safest, claiming to one soldier whom they passed that they were +sentinels going to their duty at the farthest outposts. Luck, as it +usually does, came to the aid of courage and skill, and they reached the +outskirts of San Antonio, without any attempt at interference.</p> + +<p>Once more, after long and painful creeping, they stole between the +sentinels, took mental note of the earthworks again, and also a last +look at the dark bulk that was the town.</p> + +<p>"Poor Urrea!" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Poor Urrea," said Obed. "I wonder what in the name of the moon and the +stars gave the alarm!"</p> + +<p>"Poor Urrea!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "This is the worst riddle I +ever run up ag'inst an' the more I think about it the more riddlin' it +gets."</p> + +<p>The three sighed together and then sped over the prairie toward the camp +on the Salado.<a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER</h3> + + +<p>It was not yet daylight when they approached the Texan camp. Despite the +fact that the Texan force was merely a band of volunteer soldiers there +was an abundance of sentinels and they were halted when they were within +a half mile of the Salado. But they were recognized quickly, and they +passed within the lines, where, in the first rosy shoot of the dawn, +they saw Bowie going the rounds of the outposts.</p> + +<p>"What!" he exclaimed. "Back already! Then you did not get into the +town!"</p> + +<p>"We went right into it. We split it wide open," said the Ring Tailed +Panther.</p> + +<p>Bowie's blue eyes glittered.</p> + +<p>"But you are only three," he said. "Where is Urrea?"</p> + +<p>"We lost him an' we don't know how it happened. We know that he's gone, +an' that's all."</p> + +<p>Bowie took them to Mr. Austin's tent, where they told to him, Houston, +Fannin and the others all that they had seen in San Antonio. In view of +the fact, now clearly proved, that Cos was fortifying night and day, +Bowie and all the more ardent spirits urged a prompt attack, but Mr. +Austin, essentially a man of peace, hung back. He thought their force +too small. He was confirmed, too, in the belief of his own unfitness to +be a leader in war.<a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a></p> + +<p>"General," he said, turning to Houston, "you must take the command here. +It would be impossible to find one better suited to the place."</p> + +<p>But Houston shook his head. He would not agree to it. Able and +ambitious, he refused, nevertheless. Perhaps he did not yet understand +the full fighting power of the Texans, and he feared to be identified +with failure, in case they made the assault upon San Antonio.</p> + +<p>When Ned and his comrades withdrew from the tent they went to one of the +breakfast fires, where they ate broiled strips of buffalo and deer, and +drank coffee. Then Ned rolled in his blankets, and slept under an oak +tree. When he awoke about noon he sprang to his feet with a cry of joy +and surprise. Urrea was standing beside him, somewhat pale, and with his +left hand in a sling, but the young Mexican himself, nevertheless. Ned +seized his right hand and gave it a powerful grip.</p> + +<p>"We thought you as good as dead, Don Francisco," he said. "We were sure +that you had been taken by Cos."</p> + +<p>"I thought both things myself for a few wild moments," said Urrea, +smiling. "When we rushed from the patio one of the bullets grazed me, +but in my excitement as we passed the gate I ran down the alley toward +the street, instead of turning in toward the barn, as I have since +learned from Mr. White that you did. My wrist was grazed by one of the +bullets, fired from the piazza, but fortunately I had the presence of +mind to wrap it in the serape that I wore.</p> + +<p>"When I reached the street there was much excitement and many soldiers +running about, but being a Mexican it was easy for me to pass +unsuspected in the crowd. I reached the home of a relative, at heart a +sympathizer with Texas and liberty, where my wound was bound up, <a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a>and +where I lay hidden until morning, when I was smuggled out of the town. +Then I made my way among the oaks and pecans, until I came here to our +camp on the Salado. I had inquired for you during the night, and, not +hearing any news of your capture, I was sure that you were in hiding as +I was, and when I came here my best hopes were confirmed by the news of +your complete escape. Mr. White has already given me all the details. We +have been very lucky indeed, and we should be thankful."</p> + +<p>"We are! We truly are!" exclaimed Ned, grasping his hand again.</p> + +<p>The news brought by Ned and his comrades was so important that the +Texans could not be restrained. A few mornings later Bowie called upon +the boy, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther for a new service.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Austin has told me to take a strong party," he said, "and scout up +to the very suburbs of San Antonio, because we are going to choose a new +and closer position. There are to be ninety of us, including you three, +'Deaf' Smith and Henry Karnes, and we are to retire if the Mexicans +undertake an attack upon us, that is, if we have time—you understand, +if we have time."</p> + +<p>Ned saw Bowie's big eyes glitter, and he understood. The party, the envy +of all the others, rode out of the camp in the absence of Urrea. Bowie +had not asked him, as he did not seem to fancy the young Mexican, but +Ned put it down to racial prejudice. Urrea had not been visible when +they started, but Ned thought chagrin at being ignored was the cause of +it. Fannin also went along, associated with Bowie in the leadership, but +Bowie was the animating spirit. They rode directly toward San Antonio, +and, as the distance was very short, they soon saw Mexican sentinels on +horseback, some carrying <a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a>lances and some with rifles or muskets. They +would withdraw gradually at the appearance of the Texans, keeping just +out of gunshot, but always watching these dangerous horsemen whom they +had learned to fear. The Texans were near enough to see from some points +the buildings of the town, and the veins of the Ring Tailed Panther +swelled with ambition.</p> + +<p>"Ned," he said to the boy who rode by his side, "if Bowie would only +give the word we would gallop right into town, smashing through the +Mexicans."</p> + +<p>"We might gallop into it," said Ned, laughing, "but we couldn't gallop +out again. No, no, Panther, we mustn't forget that the Mexicans can +fight. Besides, Bowie isn't going to give the word."</p> + +<p>"No, he ain't," said the Ring Tailed Panther with a sigh, "an' we won't +get the chance to make one of the finest dashes ever heard of in war."</p> + +<p>"He who doesn't dash but rides away will live to dash another day," said +Obed White oracularly.</p> + +<p>They rode on in a half circle about the town, keeping a fairly close +array, every man sitting his saddle erect and defiant. It seemed to Ned +that they were issuing a challenge to the whole army of Cos, and he +enjoyed it. It appealed to his youthful spirit of daring. They +practically said to the Mexican army in the town: "Come out and fight us +if you dare!"</p> + +<p>But the Mexicans did not accept the challenge. Save for the little +scouting parties that always kept a watch at a safe distance they +remained within their intrenchments. But Bowie and Fannin were able to +take a look at the fortifications, confirming in every respect all that +Ned and his comrades had told them.</p> + +<p>They ate in the saddle at noon, having provided themselves with rations +when they started, and then rode <a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a>back on their slow half circle about +the town, Mexican scouts riding parallel with them on the inner side of +the circle, five hundred yards away. The Texans said little, but they +watched all the time.</p> + +<p>It made a powerful appeal to Ned, who had been a great reader, and whose +mind was surcharged with the old romances. It seemed to him that his +comrades and he were like knights, riding around a hostile city and +issuing a formal challenge to all who dared to meet them. He was proud +to be there in such company. The afternoon waned. Banks of vapor, rose +and gold, began to pile up in the southwest, their glow tinting the +earth with the same colors. But beauty did not appeal just then to the +Ring Tailed Panther, who began to roar.</p> + +<p>"A-ridin', an' a-ridin'," he said, "an' nothin' done. Up to San Antonio +an' back to camp, an' things are just as they were before."</p> + +<p>"A Texas colonel rode out on the prairie with ninety men, and then rode +back again," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"But we are not going back again!" cried Ned joyfully.</p> + +<p>Bowie, who was in the lead, suddenly turned his horse away from the camp +and rode toward the river. The others followed him without a word, but +nearly every man in the company drew a long breath of satisfaction. Ned +knew and all knew that they were not going back to camp that night.</p> + +<p>Ned eagerly watched the leader. They rode by the Mission Concepcion, +passed through a belt of timber and came abruptly to the river, where +Bowie called a halt, and sprang from his horse. Ned leaped down also, +and he saw at once the merits of the position into which Bowie had led +them. They were in a horseshoe or sharp bend of the river, here a +hundred yards in width. The <a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a>belt of thick timber curved on one side +while the river coiled in a half-circle about them and in front of the +little tongue of land on which they stood, the bank rose to a height of +eighteen feet, almost perpendicular. It was a secluded place, and, as no +Mexicans had been following them in the course of the last hour, Ned +believed that they might pass a peaceful night there. But the Ring +Tailed Panther had other thoughts, although, for the present, he kept +them to himself.</p> + +<p>They tethered the horses at the edge of the wood, but where they could +reach the grass, and then Bowie placed numerous pickets in the wood +through which an enemy must come, if he came. Ned was in the first watch +and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were with him. Ned stood among the +trees at a point where he could also see the river, here a beautiful, +clear stream with a greenish tint. He ate venison from his knapsack as +he walked back and forth, and he watched the last rays of the sun, +burning like red fire in the west, until they went out and the heavy +twilight came, trailing after it the dark.</p> + +<p>Ned's impression of mediævalism that he had received in the day when +they were riding about San Antonio continued in the night. They had gone +back centuries. Hidden here in this horseshoe, water on one side and +wood on the other, they seemed to be in an absolutely wild and primitive +world. Centuries had rolled back. His vivid imagination made the forest +about them what it had been before the white man came.</p> + +<p>The surface of the river was now dark. The stream flowed gently, and +without noise. It, too, struck upon the boy's imagination. It would be +fitting for an Indian canoe to come stealing down in the darkness, and +he almost fancied he could see it there. But no canoe came, <a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a>and Ned +walked back and forth in a little space, always watching the wood or the +river.</p> + +<p>The night was very quiet. The horses, having grazed for an hour or two, +now rested content. The men not on guard, used to taking their sleep +where they could find it, were already in slumber. There was no wind.</p> + +<p>The dark hours as usual were full of chill, but Ned's vigorous walk back +and forth kept him warm. He was joined after a while by the famous +scout, Henry Karnes, who, like "Deaf" Smith, seemed to watch all the +time, although he came and went as he pleased.</p> + +<p>"Well, boy," said Karnes, "do you find it hard work, this watching and +watching and watching for hours and hours?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," replied Ned, responding to his tone of humorous kindness. +"I might have found it so once, but I don't now. I'm always anxious to +see what will happen."</p> + +<p>"That's a good spirit to have," said Karnes, smiling, "and you need it +down here, where a man must always be watching for something. In Texas +boys have to be men now."</p> + +<p>He walked back and forth with Ned, and the lad felt flattered that so +famous a scout should show an interest in him. The two were at the edge +of the wood and they could see duskily before them a stretch of bare +prairie. Karnes was watching this open space intently, and Ned was +watching it also.</p> + +<p>The boy saw nothing, but suddenly he heard, or thought he heard, a low +sound. It was faint, but, unconsciously bending forward a little, he +heard it again. It was a metallic rattle and instantly he called the +attention of Karnes to it. The scout stopped his walk and listened. Then +Ned saw his form grow rigid and tense.<a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a></p> + +<p>"Let's put our ears to the ground, Ned," said he.</p> + +<p>The two stretched out ear to earth, and then Ned not only heard the +noise much more distinctly, but he knew at once what it was. He had +heard it more than once in the marching army of Cos. It was the sound +made by the approaching wheel of a cannon.</p> + +<p>"Artillery," he said in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"Beyond a doubt," said Karnes. "It means that the Mexicans have crossed +the river—there's a ford two or three hundred yards above—and mean to +attack us. It was your good ear, Ned, that gave us the first warning."</p> + +<p>Ned flushed with pleasure at the compliment, but, a moment or two later, +they saw dark figures rising out of the prairie and advancing toward +them.</p> + +<p>"Mexicans!" cried Karnes, and instantly fired at a dusky outline. The +figures flitted away in the dusk, but the camp of Bowie was aroused at +once. Inside of a minute every man was on his feet, rifle in hand, +facing the open place in the horseshoe. They knew that they could not be +attacked from the river. Bowie came to the side of Ned and Karnes.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Ned heard a sound," Karnes replied, "and when we put our ears to the +earth we knew that it was made by artillery. Then I saw their scouts and +skirmishers and fired upon them. They must have crossed the river in +strong force, Colonel."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," said Bowie. "Well, we shall be ready for them. Henry, you +and Smith and the Ring Tailed Panther scout across the prairie there, +and see what has become of them."</p> + +<p>"Can't I go, too?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>Bowie patted him on the shoulder.<a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a></p> + +<p>"You young fire eater!" he replied. "Haven't you done enough for one +night? You gave us the first warning that the Mexicans were at hand. I +think you'd better rest now, and let these old boys do this job."</p> + +<p>The three chosen men disappeared in the darkness, and Ned sat down among +the trees with Obed. They, like everybody else, waited as patiently as +they could for the reports of the scouts.</p> + +<p>"Obed," said Ned, "do you think we're going to have a battle?"</p> + +<p>"The signs point that way."</p> + +<p>Bowie set everybody to work cutting out undergrowth, in order that they +might have a clear field for the work that they expected. By the time +this task was completed the scouts returned and their report was +alarming.</p> + +<p>The Mexicans had crossed the river in heavy force, outnumbering the +troop of Texans at least five to one. They had artillery, infantry and +cavalry, and they were just out of range, expecting to attack at dawn. +The avenue of escape was cut off already.</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Bowie. "We'll wait for them."</p> + +<p>It was too dark to see, but Ned knew that his blue eyes were glittering. +He advanced to the point where the bluff rose nearly ten feet to the +edge of the prairie, and took a long look.</p> + +<p>"I can see nothing," he said, "but I know you men are right. Now we'll +cut steps all along the edge of this bluff, in order that our men can +stand in them, and fire at the enemy as he comes. Then we'll have as +fine a fort here as anybody could ask."</p> + +<p>The men fell to work with hatchets and big knives, cutting steps in the +soft earth, at least a hundred of them in order that everybody might +have a chance. Meanwhile the hour of dawn was at hand, but a heavy mist +<a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a>had thickened over prairie and river. Beyond the mists and vapors, the +sun showed only a yellow blur, and it did not yet cast any glow over the +earth.</p> + +<p>But Ned could clearly hear the Mexicans; officers shouting to men; men +shouting to horses; horses neighing and mules squealing, and he knew +from these noises that the report of their great force by the scouts was +correct. He also heard the clank of the artillery wheels again, and he +feared that the cannon would prove a very dangerous foe to them. All the +pulses in his body began to beat fast and hard.</p> + +<p>"Will the sun ever get through the fog and let us see?" he exclaimed +impatiently. It was hard to wait at such a time.</p> + +<p>"It's comin' through now," said the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>The pale yellow light turned suddenly to full red gold. The banks of +mist and vapor dissolved under the shining beams, and floated away in +shreds and patches. The river, the forest and the prairie rose up into +the light, everything standing out, sharp and clear.</p> + +<p>Ned drew a deep breath. There was the Mexican array, massed along the +entire open space of the horseshoe, at least five to the Texan one, as +the scouts had said, and now not more than two hundred yards from them. +Five companies of cavalry were gathered ready to charge; infantry stood +just behind them and back of the infantry Ned caught the gleam of the +cannon he had heard in the night. Evidently the Mexicans had not yet +brought it to the front, because its fire would interfere with the +charge of the cavalry which they expected would end the battle in five +minutes. There was no chance for the Texans to retreat, but it was not +of retreat that they were thinking.<a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a></p> + +<p>"How's your pulse, Ned?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"It's beating fast and hard, I won't deny that," replied Ned, "but I +believe my finger will be steady when it presses the trigger."</p> + +<p>"Fine feathers make fine Mexicans," said Obed White. "How they do love +color! That's a gorgeous array out there, and it seems a pity to break +it up."</p> + +<p>The Mexican force certainly looked well. The cavalry, in brilliant +uniforms, presented a long front, their lances gleaming. The Texans, +standing in the steps that they had cut in the earth, were in sober +attire, but resolute eyes looked out from under their caps or the wide +brims of their hats.</p> + +<p>"They'll charge in a moment," said Obed, "and they'll try to break their +way through the wood. They cannot ride down this bluff."</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther raised his rifle, and looked down the sights. +His eyes were glittering. He drew the trigger and the sharp lashing +report ended the silence. A Mexican officer fell from his horse, and +then, with a great shout, the Mexican horsemen charged, presenting a +gallant array as they bent forward, their rifles and lances ready. The +beat of their horses' hoofs came over the prairie like roiling thunder. +They wheeled suddenly toward the wood, and then the infantry, advancing, +opened heavy and repeated volleys upon the Texans. The horsemen also +fired from their saddles.</p> + +<p>It was the heaviest fire under which Ned had ever come, and, for a few +moments, he quivered all over. He saw a great blaze in front, above it a +cloud of lifting smoke, and he heard over his head the hum of many +bullets, like the whistling of hail, driven by a heavy wind. But he was +experienced enough now to note that <a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a>the Mexican fire was wasted. That +bank was a wonderful protection.</p> + +<p>"It's almost a shame to shoot 'em," roared the Ring Tailed Panther who +had reloaded. But up went his rifle, his finger pressed the trigger and +another Mexican officer fell from his horse. All along the Texan front +ran the rifle fire, a rapid crackling sound like the ripping apart of +some great cloth. But the Texans were taking aim. There was no confusion +among the hardy veterans of the plains. Lying against the face of the +bluff they were sending in their bullets with deadly precision. Horse +after horse in the charging host galloped away riderless over the +prairie, and the front rank of the infantry was shot down.</p> + +<p>Ned, like the others, was loading and firing swiftly, but with care. The +imminent danger kept down any feeling that he would have had otherwise. +The Mexicans sought their lives, and he must seek theirs. The smoke and +the odor of burned gunpowder inflamed him. There was still a blaze in +front of him, but he also saw the brown faces of the Mexicans yet +pressing forward, and he yet heard the continued thunder of the charging +hoofs.</p> + +<p>"Another bullet, Ned," roared the Ring Tailed Panther and he and the +others around him sent a fresh volley at the horsemen. The Mexican +cavalry could stand no more. Five companies strong, they broke and +galloped away, seeking only to escape from the deadly fire of the Texan +rifles. The infantry also gave back and for a few minutes there was a +lull.</p> + +<p>"That's the end of Chapter One," said Obed White. "Our Mexican friends +came in haste and they will repent at a distance."</p> + +<p>The smoke lifted and Ned saw many fallen, both men <a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a>and horses, on the +plain in front of them, and there was confusion in the Mexican force, +which was now out of gunshot. Never had the Texan rifles done more +deadly service. The Texan loss was small.</p> + +<p>Ned dropped down from the steps and sat on the grass. His face was wet +with perspiration, and he wiped it on his sleeve. He was compelled to +cough once or twice to clear his throat of the smoke. The Ring Tailed +Panther also was warm, but satisfied.</p> + +<p>"A Texan does best in a fight against odds," he said, "an' we have the +odds to-day. But don't you think, Ned, that it's over already?"</p> + +<p>"I don't," said Ned. "I know that they will be up to some new trick +soon. They will realize that they underrated us at first."</p> + +<p>He sprang back into the steps that he had cut in the bluff, and took a +good look at the Mexicans.</p> + +<p>"They are nearly ready with Chapter Second, Obed," he said. "They are +bringing up that cannon."</p> + +<p>"Should have used it in the first place," said the Ring Tailed Panther. +"They didn't show much sense."</p> + +<p>The Mexicans were running the gun forward to a little mound, whence they +could drop shells and shot over the edge of the bluff, directly among +the Texans. It was a far more formidable danger than the impulsive +charge, and Bowie at once took measures to meet it. He called the best +rifle shots. Among them were Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"There are fifteen of you," said the dauntless leader, "and your rifles +will reach that gun. Shoot down every man who tries to handle it. The +rest of us will attend to the new charge that is coming."</p> + +<p>The second attack was to be more formidable than the first. The Mexican +cavalry had massed anew. Ned <a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a>saw the officers, driving the men into +place with the flats of swords, and he heard the note of a trumpet, +singing loud and clear over the prairie. Then his eyes turned back to +the gun, because there his duty lay.</p> + +<p>Ned heard the trumpet peal again, and then the thud of hoofs. He saw the +rammers and spongers gather about the gun. The rifle of the Ring Tailed +Panther cracked, and the man with the rammer fell. Another picked it up, +but he went down before the bullet of Obed. Then a sponger fell, and +then the gunner himself was slain by the bullet. The Texans were doing +wonderful sharpshooting. The gun could not be fired, because nobody +could live near it long enough to fire it. Its entire complement was +cleared away by the swift little bullets.</p> + +<p>Off to right and left, Ned heard again the rising crackle of the rifle +fire, and he also heard the steady monotonous beat of the hoofs. He knew +that the charge was still coming on, but Bowie would attend to that. He +and his immediate comrades never took their eyes from the gun. New +cannoneers, an entire complement, were rushing forward to take the place +of their fallen comrades. The Mexicans showed plenty of courage that +day but the deadly sharpshooters were slaying them as fast as they came. +They were yet unable to fire the gun. Nor could they draw it back from +its dangerous position. A second time all about it were slain, but a +third body came forward for the trial.</p> + +<p>"Greasers or no greasers," cried Obed, "those are men of courage!"</p> + +<p>But he continued to shoot straight at them nevertheless, and the third +group of cannoneers was fast melting away.</p> + +<p>"Some of you aim at the mules hitched to the caisson,"<a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a> cried the Ring +Tailed Panther. "I hate to kill a mule, but it will be a help now."</p> + +<p>One of the mules was slain and two others, wounded, dashed wildly +through the Mexican infantry, adding to the confusion and turmoil. The +last of the third group of cannoneers fell and the gun stood alone and +untouched, the shell still in place. No one now dared to approach it. +The dead now lay in a group all about it. Meanwhile, the second charge +broke like the first and the cavalry galloped wildly away.</p> + +<p>Ned could turn his eyes now. He saw more riderless horses than before, +while the fallen, lying still on the prairie, had doubled in number. +Then his eyes turned back to the gun, standing somber and silent among +those who had died for it. The battle-fire gone, for the present, Ned +felt pity for the Mexicans who lay so thick about the cannon. Nor did he +fail to admire the courage that had been spent so freely, but in vain.</p> + +<p>"They won't come again," said the Ring Tailed Panther, dropping to the +grass. "They have had enough."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame 'em," said Obed, lying down by his side. "They must have +lost a third of their number, and they'd have lost another third if they +had charged once more."</p> + +<p>"They're not going away," said Ned, who had remained on his perch. +"They're coming again."</p> + +<p>A third time the Mexicans charged and a third time they were driven back +by the rifles. Then they formed on the prairie beyond gunshot, and +marched away to San Antonio, leaving behind the mournful and silent +cannon as proof alike of their courage and defeat.<a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE WHEEL OF FIRE</h3> + + +<p>Ned watched the Mexicans marching away until the last lance had +disappeared behind a swell of the prairie. Then he joined in the cheer +that the Texans gave, after which he and his comrades went out upon the +field, and gazed upon their work. The killed among the Mexicans nearly +equaled in numbers the whole Texan force, sixteen lying dead around the +cannon alone, and many of them also had been wounded, while the Texans +had escaped with only a single man slain, and but few hurt. But Ned +quickly left the field. The sight of it was not pleasant to him, +although he was still heart and soul with the Texans, in what he +regarded as a defensive war.</p> + +<p>Bowie drew his forces out of the horseshoe and they rode for the Texan +camp, carrying with them the trophies of arms that they had taken. On +their way they met Mr. Austin and a strong force who had heard of their +plight and who were now coming to their relief. They, too, rejoiced +greatly at the victory, and all went back in triumph to the Salado.</p> + +<p>"Now that they have seen how we can fight I reckon that Mr. Austin and +Houston will order an attack right away on San Antonio," said the Ring +Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe they will," said Obed White. "Seeing is sometimes +doubting. I believe that they still fear our failure."<a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a></p> + +<p>Ned inclined to Obed's belief but he said nothing. At twilight Urrea +came back, rejoicing and also full of regrets. He rejoiced over the +victory and he regretted that he had not been there.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me, Don Francisco," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "that you're +missin' a lot of things."</p> + +<p>"There's many a slip 'twixt Francisco and the fight-o," said Obed.</p> + +<p>Ned was hurt by the irony of his friends, but Urrea only laughed as he +spread his blanket in a good place, and lay down on it.</p> + +<p>"I will admit, gentlemen," he said in his precise English, "that I seem +always to be absent when anything important happens, but it is owing to +the nature of the service that I can best render the Texans. Being of +the Mexican race and knowing the country so thoroughly, I am of most +value as a seeker after information. I had gone off on a long scout +about San Antonio, and I have news which I have given to Mr. Austin."</p> + +<p>"Spyin' is a dangerous business, but it's got to be done," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. Ned saw that he again looked with disfavor upon Urrea, +but he ascribed it as before to racial aversion.</p> + +<p>Obed was right. Despite the brilliant victory of Bowie, Houston and +Austin still held back, and the Ring Tailed Panther roared long and +loud. But his roaring was cut short by an order for him, Obed, Ned and +Urrea to ride eastward to some of the little Texan towns in search of +help. The leaders were anxious that their utmost strength be gathered +when they should at last make the attack upon San Antonio. Since he +could not have just what he wished, the Panther was glad to get the new +task, and the others were content.</p> + +<p>They rode away the next morning, armed and provisioned <a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a>well. Their +horses, having rested long and fed abundantly, were strong and fresh, +and they went at a good pace, until they came to the last swell from +which they could see San Antonio. The town was distant, but it was +magnified in the clear Texas sunlight. It looked to Ned, sitting there +on his horse, like a large city. It had come to occupy a great place in +his mind and just now it was to him the most important town in the +world. He wondered if they would ever take it. Urrea, who was watching +him, smiled.</p> + +<p>"I know what you are thinking," he said, "and I will wager that it was +just the same that I was thinking."</p> + +<p>"I was trying to read the future and tell whether we would take San +Antonio," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Those were my thoughts, too."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you two wasn't far away from my trail either," said the Ring +Tailed Panther, "'cause I was figgerin' that we'd take it inside of a +month."</p> + +<p>"Count me in, too," said Obed. "Great minds go in bunches. I was +calculating that we would capture it some day, but I left out the limit +of time."</p> + +<p>They turned their horses, and when they reached the crest of the next +swell San Antonio was out of sight. Before them stretched the prairies, +now almost as desolate as they had been when the Indians alone roamed +over them. They passed two or three small cabins, each built in a +cluster of trees near a spring, but the occupants had gone, fled to a +town for shelter. One seemed to have been abandoned only an hour or two +ago, as the ashes were scarcely cold on the hearth, and a bucket of +water, with its gourd in it, still stood on the shelf. The sight moved +the Ring Tailed Panther to sentiment.</p> + +<p>"Think of the women an' children havin' to sleep out on the prairie," he +said. "It ain't right an' fittin'."<a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a></p> + +<p>"We'll bring them all back before we are through," said Obed.</p> + +<p>They left the little cabin, exactly as they had found it, and then rode +at an increased pace toward the north and the east, making for the +settlements on the Brazos. A little while before nightfall, they met a +buffalo hunter who told them there were reports of a Mexican cavalry +force far north of San Antonio, although he could not confirm the truth +of the rumors. Urrea shook his head vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Impossible! impossible!" he said. "The Mexicans would not dare to come +away so far from their base at San Antonio."</p> + +<p>The hunter, an old man, looked at him with curiosity and disapproval.</p> + +<p>"That's more than you an' me can say," he said, "although you be a +Mexican yourself and know more about your people than I do. I jest tell +what I've heard."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Urrea is one of the most ardent of the Texan patriots," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"I jest tell what I've heard," said the old man, whistling to his pony +and riding away.</p> + +<p>"Obstinate!" said Urrea, laughing in his usual light, easy manner. +"These old hunters are very narrow. You cannot make them believe that a +Mexican, although born on Texas soil, which can be said of very few +Texans, is a lover of liberty and willing to fight against aggression +from the capital."</p> + +<p>At night they rode into a splendid belt of forest, and made their camp +by a cool spring that gushed from a rock and flowed away among the +trees. Ned and Obed scouted a little, and found the country so wild that +the deer sprang up from the bushes. It was difficult to resist the +temptation of a shot, but they were compelled <a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a>to let them go, and +returning to camp they reported to Urrea and the Ring Tailed Panther +that they seemed to have the forest to themselves, so far as human +beings were concerned.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it is safe to light a fire?" asked Urrea.</p> + +<p>"I see no danger in it," replied Obed, "that is, none in a little one. +There are so many bushes about us that it couldn't be seen fifty yards +away."</p> + +<p>It was now November and as the night had become quite cold Urrea's +suggestion of a fire seemed good to Ned. He showed much zeal in +gathering the dry wood, and then they deftly built a fire, one that +would throw out little flame, but which would yet furnish much heat. The +Ring Tailed Panther, who had the most skill in wilderness life, kindled +it with flint and steel, and while the flames, held down by brush, made +hot coals beneath, the smoke was lost among the trees and the darkness.</p> + +<p>The horses were tethered near, and they warmed their food by the coals +before eating it. The place was snug, a little cup set all around by +bushes and high trees, and the heat of the fire was very grateful. While +Ned sat before it, eating his food, he noticed great numbers of last +year's fallen leaves lying about, and he picked the very place where he +would make his bed. He would draw great quantities of the leaves there +under the big beech, and spread his blankets upon them.</p> + +<p>They were tired after the long day's journey, and they did not talk +much. The foliage about them was so thick, making it so dark within the +little shade that the need of a watch seemed small, but they decided to +keep it, nevertheless. The Ring Tailed Panther would take the first half +of the night and Urrea the second half. The next night would be divided +between Obed and Ned.</p> + +<p>Ned raked up the leaves at the place that he had selected, folded +<a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a>himself between his blankets, and was asleep in five minutes. The last +thing that he remembered seeing was the broad figure of the Ring Tailed +Panther, sitting with his back against a tree, and his rifle across his +knees.</p> + +<p>But Ned awoke hours later—after midnight in fact—although it was not a +real awakening, instead a sort of half way station from slumberland. He +did not move, but opened his eyes partly, and saw that Urrea was now on +guard. The young Mexican was not sitting as the Ring Tailed Panther had +been, but was standing some yards away, with his rifle across his +shoulder. Ned thought in a vague way that he looked trim and strong, and +then his heavy lids dropped down again. But he did not fall back into +the deep sleep from which he had come. The extra sense, his remarkable +power of intuition or divination was at work. Without any effort of his +will the mechanism of his brain was moving and gave him a signal. He +heard a slight noise and he lifted the heavy lids.</p> + +<p>Urrea had walked to the other side of the little glade, his feet +brushing some of the dry leaves as he went. There was nothing unusual in +such action on the part of a sentinel, but something in Urrea's attitude +seemed to Ned to denote expectancy. His whole figure was drawn close +together like that of one about to spring, and he leaned forward a +little. Yet this meant nothing. Any good man on guard would be attentive +to every sound of the forest, whether the light noise made by a +squirrel, as he scampered along the bark of a tree, or a stray puff of +wind rustling the leaves.</p> + +<p>Ned made another effort of the will, and closed his eyes for the second +time, but the warning sense, the intuitive note out of the infinite, +would not be denied. He <a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a>was compelled to open his eyes once more and +now his faculties were clear. Urrea had moved again and now he was +facing the sleepers. He regarded them attentively, one by one, and in +the dusk he could not see that Ned's eyelids were not closed. The boy +did not stir, but a cold shiver ran down his spine. He felt with all the +power of second sight that something extraordinary was going to happen.</p> + +<p>Urrea walked to the smoldering fire, and now Ned dropped his eyelids, +until he looked only through a space as narrow as the edge of a knife +blade. Urrea stooped and took from the dying heap a long stick, still +burning at the end. Then he took another look at the three and suddenly +disappeared among the bushes, carrying with him the burning stick. He +was so light upon his feet that he made no sound as he went.</p> + +<p>Ned was startled beyond measure, but he was like a spring released by a +key. He felt that the need of instant action was great, and, as light of +foot as Urrea himself, he sprang up, rifle in hand, and followed the +young Mexican. He was thankful for the wilderness training that he had +been compelled to acquire. He caught sight of Urrea about twenty yards +ahead, still moving swiftly on soundless feet. He moved thus a hundred +yards or more, with Ned, as his shadow, as dark and silent as he, and +then he stopped by the side of a great tree.</p> + +<p>Ned felt instinctively, when Urrea halted that he would look back to see +if by chance he were followed, and he sank down in the bushes before the +Mexican turned. Urrea gave only a glance or two in that direction and, +satisfied, began to examine the tree which was certainly worthy of +attention, as it rose to an uncommon height, much above its fellows.<a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"></a></p> + +<p>Ned's amazement grew. Why should Urrea be so particular about the size +or height of a tree? It grew still further, when he saw Urrea lay his +rifle down at the foot of the tree, spring up, grasp the lowest branch +with one hand, and then deftly draw himself up, taking with him the +burning stick. He paused a moment on the bough, looked again toward the +little camp and then climbed upward with a speed and dexterity worthy of +a great monkey.</p> + +<p>Ned saw the Mexican's figure going up and up, a dark blur against the +stem of the tree, and it was hard to persuade himself that it was +reality. He saw also the bright spark on the end of the stick that he +carried with him. The tree rose to a height of nearly 150 feet, and when +Urrea passed above the others that surrounded it, the moon's rays, +unobstructed, fell upon him. Then, although he became smaller and +smaller, Ned saw him more clearly. The boy was so much absorbed now in +the story that was unfolding before him that he did not have time to +wonder.</p> + +<p>Urrea went up as high as the stem would sustain him. Then he rested his +feet on a bough, wrapped his left arm around the tree, and, with his +right arm, began to whirl the burning stick rapidly. The spark leaped +up, grew into a blaze, and Ned saw a wheel of fire. He had seen many +strange things, but this, influenced by circumstances of time and place, +was the most uncanny of them all.</p> + +<p>Far above his head, and above the body of the forest revolved the wheel +of fire. Urrea's own body had melted away in the darkness, until it was +fused with the tree. Ned now saw only the fiery signal, for such it must +be, and his heart rose in fierce anger against Urrea. Once he lifted his +rifle a little, and studied the possibilities <a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"></a>of a shot at such range, +but he put the rifle down again. He would watch and wait.</p> + +<p>The wheel ceased presently to revolve, and Ned saw Urrea again, torch in +hand, but motionless. He, too, was waiting. He did not stir for a full +quarter of an hour, but all the while the torch burned steadily. Then he +suddenly began to whirl it again, but in a direction opposite to that +made by the first wheel of fire. Around and around went the burning +brand for some minutes. When he stopped, he waited at least ten minutes +longer. Then, as if he had received the answer that he wished, making +the claim of communication complete, he dropped the torch. Ned saw it +falling, a trail of light, until it struck among the bushes, where it +went out. Then Urrea began to descend the tree, but he came down more +slowly than he had gone up.</p> + +<p>Ned slipped forward, seized Urrea's rifle, and then slipped back among +the bushes. He put the Mexican's weapon at his feet, cocked his own and +waited.</p> + +<p>Urrea, coming slowly down the tree, stopped and stood there for a few +moments as if in contemplation. A shaft of moonlight piercing through +the foliage fell upon his face illumining the olive complexion and the +well-cut features. It was hard for Ned to believe what he had seen. What +could it be but a signal? and that signal to the enemies of the Texans! +And yet Urrea did not look like a villain and traitor. There was +certainly no malevolence in his face, which on the other hand had rather +a melancholy cast, as he stood there on the bough before swinging to the +ground.</p> + +<p>Ned strengthened his will. He had seen what he had seen. Such things +could not be passed over in times when lives were the forfeit of +weakness. Urrea let himself lightly to the earth, and stooped down for +his rifle. It <a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"></a>was not there, and when he straightened up again Ned saw +that his face was ghastly pale in the moonlight. Urrea, with his quick +perceptions, was bound to know from the absence of the rifle that he had +been followed and was caught. His hand went down toward his belt where a +pistol hung, but Ned instantly called from the bush:</p> + +<p>"Hands up, Don Francisco, or I shoot!"</p> + +<p>His tone was stern and menacing, and Urrea's hands went up by the side +of his head. But the paleness left his face, and his manner became +careless and easy.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Ned?" he called in the most friendly tones. "Is it a joke +that you play upon me? Ah, you Anglo-Saxons, you seem rough in your play +to us Latins."</p> + +<p>"It is no joke, Don Francisco. I was never more earnest in my life," +said Ned, stepping from the bush, but still keeping Urrea covered with +his rifle. "Your merits as a climber of trees are great, but you +interested me more with your wheel of fire. I think I can account now +for your absences, when any fighting with the Mexicans was to be done. +You are a spy and you were signaling with that torch to our enemies."</p> + +<p>Urrea laughed lightly, musically, and he regarded Ned with a look of +amusement. It seemed to say to him that he was only a boy, that one so +young was bound to make mistakes, but that the Mexican was not offended +because he was making one now at his cost. The laugh was irritating to +the last degree, and yet it implanted in the boy's mind a doubt, a fear +that he might have been mistaken.</p> + +<p>"Signaling to friends, not enemies, you mean," said Urrea. "This forest +ends but a few hundred yards beyond, and I learned when I was scouting +about San Antonio that some allies of ours in this region were <a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"></a>waiting +night and day for the news from us to come. I took this method to +communicate with them, a successful method, too, I am happy to say, as +they answered. In a wild region one must do strange things."</p> + +<p>His tone was so light, so easy, and it rang so true that Ned hesitated. +But it was only for a moment. Manner could not change substance. He +cleared away the mists and vapors made by Urrea's light tone and easy +assurance, and came back to the core of the matter.</p> + +<p>"Don Francisco," he said, "I have liked you, and I believed that you +were a true Texan patriot, but I cannot believe the story that you tell +me. It seems too improbable. If you wished to make these signals to +friends, why did you not tell us that you were going to do so?"</p> + +<p>"I did not know of the possibility of such a signal until I saw this +tree and its great height. Then, as all of you were asleep, I concluded +to make my signal, achieve the result and give you a pleasant surprise. +Come now, Señor Edward, hand me my rifle, and let us end this unpleasant +joke."</p> + +<p>Ned shook his head. It was hard to resist Urrea's assurance, but manner +was not all. His logical mind rejected the story.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Don Francisco," he said, "but I must refer this to my +comrades, Mr. Palmer and Mr. White. Meanwhile, I am compelled to hold +you a prisoner. You will walk before me to the camp, keeping your hands +up."</p> + +<p>Urrea shrugged his shoulders and gave Ned a glance, which seemed to be a +mixture of disgust and contempt.</p> + +<p>"Very well, if you will have it so," he said. "There is nothing like the +stubbornness of a boy."</p> + +<p>"March!" said Ned, who felt his temper rising.<a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"></a></p> + +<p>Urrea, hands up, walked toward the camp, and Ned came behind him, +carrying the two rifles, one of them cocked and ready for instant use. +The Mexican never looked back, but walked with unhesitating step +straight to the camp. The Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were still sound +asleep, but, when Ned called sharply to them, they sprang to their feet, +gazing in astonishment at the spectacle of Urrea with his hands up, and +the boy standing behind him with the two rifles.</p> + +<p>"Things seem to have happened while I slept," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if there might have been some rippin' an' tearin'," said the +Ring Tailed Panther. "What have you been up to, Urrea?"</p> + +<p>Urrea gave the Ring Tailed Panther a malignant glance.</p> + +<p>"I have not been up to anything, to use your own common language," he +replied. "If you want any explanation, you can ask it of your suspicious +young friend there. As for me, I am tired of holding my hands as high as +my head, and I intend to light a cigarette. Three of you, I suppose, are +sufficient to watch me."</p> + +<p>There were still a few embers and touching his cigarette to one of them +he sat down, leaned against the trunk of a tree and began to puff, as if +the future of the case had no interest for him.</p> + +<p>"Just hand me that pistol at your belt, will you?" said Obed. "There +seems to be some kind of a difference of opinion between you and Ned, +and, without knowing anything about it, I'm for Ned."</p> + +<p>Urrea took the pistol and tossed it toward Obed. The Maine man caught it +deftly and thrust it in his own belt. He did not seem to be at all +offended by the young Mexican's contemptuous manner.<a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a></p> + +<p>"Besides being one of the best watch makers the State of Maine ever +produced," he said, "I'm pretty good at sleight-of-hand. I could catch +loaded pistols all day, Urrea, if you were to pitch them at me."</p> + +<p>Urrea did not deign a reply and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther looked +at Ned, who told them all he had seen. Urrea did not deny a thing or say +a word throughout the narrative. When Ned finished the Ring Tailed +Panther roared in his accustomed fashion.</p> + +<p>"Signalin' to the enemy from a tree top while we was asleep an' he was +supposed to be on guard!" he exclaimed. "What have you got to say to +this, Urrea?"</p> + +<p>"Our young paragon of knowledge and wilderness lore has given you my +statement," replied Urrea. "You can believe it or not as you choose. I +shall not waste another word on thickheads."</p> + +<p>The teeth of the Ring Tailed Panther came together with a click, and he +looked ominously at Urrea.</p> + +<p>"You may not say anything," he growled, "but I will. I didn't trust you +at first, Don Francisco, an' there have been times all along since then +when I didn't trust you. You're a smooth talker, but your habit of +disappearin' has been too much for me. I believe just as Ned does that +you were signalin' to the enemy an' that you meant Texas harm, lots of +harm. It was a lucky thing that the boy awoke. Now, what do you think, +Obed?"</p> + +<p>"Appearances are deceitful sometimes but not always. Don Francisco seems +to have spun a likely yarn to Ned, but I've heard better and they were +not so mighty much."</p> + +<p>"You see the jury is clean ag'inst you, Don Francisco," said the Ring +Tailed Panther, "an' it's goin' to hold you to a higher court. Did you +hear what I said?"</p> + +<p>Urrea nodded.<a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard you," he replied, "but I heard only foolishness."</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but he had the spirit of a gentleman. +He would not upbraid a prisoner.</p> + +<p>"The verdict of the jury bein' given," he said soberly, "we've got to +hold the prisoner till we reach the higher court. We ain't takin' no +chances, Urrea, an' for that reason we've got to tie you. Ned, cut off a +piece of that lariat."</p> + +<p>Urrea leaped to his feet. He was stung at last.</p> + +<p>"I will not be bound," he cried.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "I ain't goin' to hurt +you, 'cause I'm pretty handy at that sort of thing, but I'll tie you so +you won't get loose in a hurry. Better set down an' take it easy."</p> + +<p>Urrea, after the single flash of anger, sat down, and resuming his +careless air, held out his hands.</p> + +<p>"Since you intend to act like barbarians as well as fools," he said, "I +will not seek to impede you."</p> + +<p>None of the three replied. The Ring Tailed Panther handily tied his +wrists together, and then his ankles, but in such fashion that he could +still sit in comfort, leaning against the tree, although the pleasure of +the cigarette was no longer for him.</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind," he said, "I think I shall go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"No objections a-tall, a-tall," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "Have nice +dreams."</p> + +<p>Urrea closed his eyes, and his chest soon rose and fell in the regular +manner of one who sleeps. Ned could not tell whether he really slept. A +feeling of compassion for Urrea rose again in his heart. What if he +should be telling the truth after all? Wild and improbable tales +sometimes came true. He was about to <a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"></a>speak of his thoughts to the men, +but he checked himself. Disbelief was returning. It was best to take +every precaution.</p> + +<p>"You go to sleep, Ned," said Obed. "You've done a good job and you are +entitled to a rest. The Panther and I will watch till day."</p> + +<p>Ned lay down between his blankets and everything was so still that +contrary to his expectations, he fell asleep, and did not awaken again +until after dawn, when Obed told him that they would resume the march, +eating their breakfast as they went. Urrea was unbound, although he was +first searched carefully for concealed weapons.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have a man to ride with his arms tied," said the Ring Tailed +Panther, "but we'll keep on both sides of you an' you needn't try to +make a bolt of it, Urrea."</p> + +<p>"I shall not try to make any bolt of it," said Urrea scornfully, "but +you will pay dearly to Austin and Houston for the indignity that you +have put upon me."</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther, true to his principle of never taunting a +prisoner, did not reply, and they mounted. The Panther rode ahead and +Obed and Ned, with Urrea between them, followed. Urrea was silent, his +face melancholy and reproachful.</p> + +<p>The belt of timber extended only a few hundred yards farther, when they +came upon the open prairie extending to the horizon. Far to the left +some antelope were feeding, but there was no other sign of life of any +kind.</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything of them friends of ours to whom you were +signalin'," said the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>Urrea would not reply. The Panther said nothing further, and they rode +on over the prairie. But both the Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were +watching the <a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"></a>ground, and, when they had gone about two miles, they +reined in their horses.</p> + +<p>"See!" they exclaimed simultaneously.</p> + +<p>They had come to a broad trail cutting directly across their path. It +was made by at least a hundred horses, and the veriest novice could not +have missed it. The trail was that of shod hoofs, indicating the +presence of white men.</p> + +<p>"What is this, Don Francisco?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"I do not have to reply to you unless I wish," said Urrea, "but I am +willing to tell you that it is undoubtedly the trail of the Texan +reinforcements to which I was signaling last night."</p> + +<p>Ned looked quickly at him. Again the young Mexican's voice had the ring +of truth. Was the wild and improbable tale now coming true? If so, he +could never forgive himself for the manner in which he had treated +Urrea. Still, it was for the older men to act now, and he continued his +silence.</p> + +<p>"Maybe Texans made this trail, and maybe they didn't," said Obed, "but I +think we'd better follow it for a while and see. About how old would you +say this trail is, Panther?"</p> + +<p>"Not more'n two hours."</p> + +<p>They turned their course, and followed the broad path left by the +horsemen across the prairie. Thus they rode at a good pace, until nearly +noon, and the trail was now so fresh that they could not be far away. +The change of direction had brought them toward forest, heavy with +undergrowth. It was evident that the horsemen had gone into this forest +as the trail continued to lead straight to it, and the Ring Tailed +Panther approached with the greatest caution.<a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"></a></p> + +<p>"Can you see anything, Ned, in there among them trees an' bushes?" he +asked. "You've got the sharpest eyes of all."</p> + +<p>"Not a thing," replied Ned, "nor do I see a bough or bush moving."</p> + +<p>"It would be hard for such a big party to hide themselves," said Obed, +"so I think we'd better ride straight in."</p> + +<p>They entered the forest, still following the trail among the trampled +bushes, riding slowly over rough ground, and watching wanly to right and +left. Urrea had not said a word, but when they were about a mile within +the wood, he suddenly leaned from his horse, snatched the knife from the +belt of the Ring Tailed Panther and slashed at him. Fortunately, the +range was somewhat long for such work, and, as the Panther threw up his +arm, the blade merely cut his buckskin sleeve from wrist to elbow, only +grazing his skin. Urrea, quick as lightning, turned his horse, threw him +against that of Obed which was staggered, and then started at a gallop +among the trees.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther raised his rifle, but Urrea threw himself behind +his horse, riding with all the dexterity of a Comanche in the fashion of +an Indian who wishes to protect himself; that is, hanging on the far +side of the horse by only hands and toes. The Panther shifted his aim +and shot the horse through the head. But Urrea leaped clear of the +falling body, avoided Obed's bullet, and darted into the thickest of the +bushes. As he disappeared a sharp, piercing whistle rose. Ned did not +have time to think, but when he heard the whistle, instinct warned him +that it was a signal. He had heard that whistle once before in exciting +moments, and by a nervous action as it were, he pulled hard upon the +reins <a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"></a>of his horse. In this emergency it was the boy whose action was +the wisest.</p> + +<p>"Come back, Obed, you and Panther!" he shouted. "He may have led us into +an ambush!"</p> + +<p>Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were still galloping after Urrea, and, +even as Ned shouted to them, a flash of flame burst from the +undergrowth. He saw Obed's horse fall, but Obed himself sprang clear. +The Panther did not seem to be hurt, but, in an instant, both were +surrounded by Mexicans. Obed was seized on the ground and the Panther +was quickly dragged from his horse. But the Maine man, even in such a +critical moment, did not forget the boy for whom he had such a strong +affection. He shouted at the top of his voice:</p> + +<p>"Ride, Ned! Ride for your life!"</p> + +<p>Ned, still guided by impulse, wheeled his horse and galloped away. It +was evident that his comrades had been taken, and he alone was left to +carry out their mission. Shots were fired at him and bullets whistled +past, but none touched him, and he only urged his horse to greater +speed.</p> + +<p>The boy felt a second impulse. It was to turn back and fall, or be taken +with the two comrades whom he liked so well. But then reason came. He +could do more for them free than a captive, and now he began to take +full thought for himself. He bent far over on his horse's neck, in order +to make as small a target as possible, holding the reins with one hand +and his rifle with the other. A minute had taken him clear of the +undergrowth, and once more he was on the prairie.</p> + +<p>Ned did not look back for some time. He heard several shots, but he +judged by the reports that he was practically out of range. Now he began +to feel sanguine. His horse was good and true, and he rode well. As +<a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"></a>long as the bullets could not reach and weaken, he felt that the +chances were greatly in his favor. He was riding almost due north and +the prairie stretched away without limit, although the forest extended +for a long distance on his right.</p> + +<p>He now straightened up somewhat in the saddle, but he did not yet look +back, fearing that he might check his speed by doing so, and knowing +that every moment was of the utmost value. But he listened attentively +to the pursuing hoofs and he was sure that the beat was steadily growing +fainter. The gap must be widening.</p> + +<p>He glanced back for the first time and saw about twenty Mexicans spread +out in the segment of a circle. They rode ponies and two or three were +recoiling lariats which they had evidently got ready in the hope of a +throw. Ned smiled to himself when he saw the lariats. Unless something +happened to his horse they could never come near enough for a cast. He +measured the gap and he believed that his rifle of long range would +carry it.</p> + +<p>One of the Mexicans rode a little in front of the others and Ned judged +him to be the leader. Twisting in his saddle he took aim at him. It is +difficult to shoot backward from a flying horse, but Ned had undergone +the wilderness training and he felt that he could make the hit. He +pulled the trigger. The jet of smoke leaped forth and the man, swaying, +fell from his saddle, but sprang to his feet and clapped his hands to +his shoulder, where the boy's bullet had struck.</p> + +<p>There was confusion among the Mexicans, as it was really their leader +whom Ned had wounded, and, before the pursuit was resumed with energy, +the fugitive had gained another hundred yards. After that, the gap +widened steadily, and, when he looked back a second <a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"></a>time, the Mexicans +were a full quarter of a mile in the rear. He maintained his speed and +in another hour they were lost behind the swells.</p> + +<p>Sure that he had now made good his escape, Ned pulled his horse down to +a walk. The good animal was dripping with foam and perspiration and he +did not allow him to cool too fast. Without his horse he would be lost. +But when they had gone on another hour at a walk, he stopped and let him +have a complete rest.</p> + +<p>Ned was not able to see anything of the Mexicans. The prairie, as far as +he could tell, was bare of human life save himself. To his right was the +dark line of the forest, but everywhere else the open extended to the +horizon. He had escaped!</p> + +<p>They had started as four and now but one was left. Urrea had proved to +be a traitor and his good friends, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were +captured or—he refused to consider the alternative. They were alive. +Two men, so strong and vital as they, could not have fallen.</p> + +<p>Now that his horse had rested, Ned mounted again, and rode at a trot for +the forest. He knew the direction in which the settlements lay, and he +could go on with his mission. Men would say that he had shown great +skill and presence of mind in escaping from the ambush, when those older +and more experienced had been trapped. But when the alternatives were +presented to Ned's mind he had not hesitated. They were lingering before +San Antonio and the call for volunteers was not so urgent. He was going +back to rescue his comrades or be taken or fall in the attempt.</p> + +<p>One of the great qualities in Ned's mind was gratitude. Had it not been +for Obed he might yet be under the sea in a dungeon of the Castle of San +Juan <a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"></a>de Ulua. The Ring Tailed Panther had done him a hundred services, +and would certainly risk his life, if need be, to save Ned's. He would +never desert them.</p> + +<p>The forest was not so near as it looked on the prairie, but two hours' +riding brought him to it. He knew that it was the same forest in which +Obed and the Panther had been taken, here extending for many miles.</p> + +<p>He believed that the Mexicans, being far north of their usual range, +would remain in the forest, and he was glad of it. He could work much +better under cover than on the prairie. This was undoubtedly the Mexican +band of which the old hunter had spoken, and Urrea had given his signal +to it from the tree. Ned did not believe that it would remain long in +this region, but would go swiftly south, probably to reinforce Cos in +San Antonio. He must act with speed.</p> + +<p>It was several hours until night, and he rode southward through the +forest which consisted chiefly of oak, ash, maple and sweet gum. There +was not much undergrowth here, and he did not have any great fear of +ambush. Turning in, yet farther to the right, he saw a fine creek, and +he followed its course until the undergrowth began to grow thick again. +Then he dismounted and fastened his horse at the end of his lariat.</p> + +<p>The boy had already come to his conclusion. The presence of the creek +had decided him. He believed that the Mexicans, for the sake of water, +had encamped somewhere along its course, and all he had to do was to +follow its stream. He marked well the spot at which he was leaving his +horse, and began what he believed to be the last stage of his journey.</p> + +<p>Ned was glad now that the undergrowth was dense. It concealed him well, +and he had acquired skill enough to go through it swiftly and without +noise. He advanced <a name="Page_337" id="Page_337"></a>two or three miles, when he saw a faint light ahead, +and he was quite sure that it came from the Mexican camp. As he went +nearer, he heard the sound of many voices, and, when he came to the edge +of a thicket, belief became certainty.</p> + +<p>The entire Mexican force was encamped in a semi-circular glade next to +the creek. The horses were tethered at the far side, and the men, eighty +or a hundred in number, were lying or standing about several fires that +burned brightly. It was a cold night, and the Mexicans were making +themselves comfortable. They were justified in doing so, as they knew +that there was no Texan force anywhere within a day's ride. They had put +out no sentinels, quite sure that wandering Texans who might see them +would quickly go the other way.</p> + +<p>Ned crept up as close as he dared, and, lying on his side in a dense +thicket, watched them. Their fires were large, and a bright moon was +shining. The whole glade was filled with light. The Mexicans talked +much, after their fashion, and there was much moving about from fire to +fire. Presently the eyes of the boy watching in the bush lighted up with +a gleam which was not exactly that of benevolence.</p> + +<p>Urrea was passing before one of the fires. Ned saw him clearly now, the +trim, well-knit figure, and the handsome, melancholy face. But he was no +prisoner. Many of the Mexicans made way for him and all showed him +deference. Ned had liked Urrea, but he could not understand how a man +could play the spy and traitor in such a manner, and his heart flamed +with bitterness against him.</p> + +<p>The Mexicans continued to shift about, and when two more men came into +view Ned's heart leaped. They were alive! Prisoners they were, but yet +alive. He had <a name="Page_338" id="Page_338"></a>believed that two so vivid and vital as they could not +perish, and he was right.</p> + +<p>Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther sat with their backs against the same +tree. They were unbound but the armed Mexicans were all about them, and +they did not have a chance. They were thirty yards away, and Ned could +see them very plainly, yet there was a wall between him and these trusty +comrades of his.</p> + +<p>Obed and the Panther remained motionless against the tree. Apparently +they took no interest in the doings of the Mexicans. Ned, yet seeing no +way in which he could help them, watched them a long time. He saw Urrea, +after a while, come up and stand before them. The light was good enough +for him to see that Urrea's expression was sneering and triumphant. +Again Ned's heart swelled with rage. The traitor was exulting over the +captives.</p> + +<p>Urrea began to speak. Ned could not hear his words, but he knew by the +movement of the man's lips that he was talking fast. Undoubtedly he was +taunting the prisoners with words as well as looks. But neither Obed nor +the Ring Tailed Panther made any sign that he heard. They continued to +lean carelessly against the tree, and Urrea, his desire to give pain +foiled for the time, went away.</p> + +<p>Now Ned bestirred his mind. Here were the Mexicans, and here were his +friends. How should he separate them? He could think of nothing at +present and he drew back deeper into the forest. There, lying very close +among the bushes, he pondered a long time. He might try to stampede the +horses, but the attempt would be more than doubtful, and he gave up the +idea.</p> + +<p>It was now growing late and the fires in the Mexican camp were sinking. +The wind began to blow, and the <a name="Page_339" id="Page_339"></a>leaves rustled dryly over Ned's head. +Best thoughts sometimes spring from little things, and it was the dry +rustle of the leaves that gave Ned his idea. It was a desperate chance, +but he must take it. The increasing strength of the wind increased his +hope. It was blowing from him directly toward the camp.</p> + +<p>He retreated about a quarter of a mile. Then he hunted until he found +where the fallen leaves lay thickest, and he raked them into a great +heap. Drawing both the flint and steel which he, like other borderers, +always carried, he worked hard until the spark leaped forth and set the +leaves on fire. Then he stood back.</p> + +<p>The forest was dry like tinder. Ned had nothing to do but to set the +torch. In an instant the leaves leaped into a roaring flame. The blaze +ran higher, took hold of the trees and ran from bough to bough. It +sprang to other trees, and, in an incredibly brief space, a forest fire, +driven by the wind, sending forth sparks in myriads, and roaring and +crackling, was racing down upon the Mexican camp.</p> + +<p>Ned kept behind the fire and to one side. Sparks fell upon him, and the +smoke was in his eyes and ears, but he thought little just then of such +things. The fire, like many others of its kind, took but a narrow path. +It was as if a flaming sword blade were slashed down across the woods.</p> + +<p>Ned saw it through the veil of smoke rush upon the Mexican camp. He saw +the startled Mexicans running about, and he heard the shrill neigh of +frightened horses. Never was a camp abandoned more quickly. The men +sprang upon their horses and scattered in every direction through the +woods. Two on horseback crowded by Ned. They did not see him, nor did he +pay any attention to them, but when a third man on foot came, <a name="Page_340" id="Page_340"></a>running +at the utmost speed, the boy seized him by the shoulder, and was dragged +from his feet.</p> + +<p>"It is I, Obed!" he cried. "It is I, Ned Fulton!"</p> + +<p>Obed White stopped abruptly and the Ring Tailed Panther, unable to check +himself, crashed into him. The three, men and boy, went to the ground, +where they lay for a few moments among the bushes, half stunned. It was +a fortunate chance, as Urrea, who had retained his presence of mind, was +on horseback looking for the prisoners, and he passed so near that he +would have seen them had they been standing.</p> + +<p>The three rose slowly to their feet and the two men gazed in admiration +at Ned.</p> + +<p>"You did it!" they exclaimed together.</p> + +<p>"I did," replied Ned with pride, "and it has worked beautifully."</p> + +<p>"I was never so much in love with a forest fire before," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. "How it roars an' tears an' bites! An' just let it roar +an' tear an' bite!"</p> + +<p>"We'd better go on the back track," said Obed. "The Mexicans are all +running in other directions."</p> + +<p>"My horse is back that way, too," said Ned. "Come on."</p> + +<p>They started back, running along the edge of the burned area. Before +they had gone far the Ring Tailed Panther caught a saddled and bridled +horse which was galloping through the woods, and, they were so much +emboldened, that they checked their flight, and hunted about until they +found a second.</p> + +<p>"There must be at least thirty or forty of 'em dashin' about through the +woods, mad with fright," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"Three are all we can use, includin' Ned's," said the Ring Tailed +Panther, "but I wish we had more weapons."<a name="Page_341" id="Page_341"></a></p> + +<p>They had found across the saddle of one of the horses a couple of +pistols in holsters, but they had no other weapons except those that Ned +carried. But they were free and they had horses. The Ring Tailed +Panther's customary growl between his teeth became a chant of triumph.</p> + +<p>"Did the Mexicans capture Obed an' me?" he said. "They did. Did they +keep us? They didn't. Why didn't they? There was a boy named Ned who +escaped. He was a smart boy, a terribly smart boy. Did he run away an' +leave us? He didn't. There was only one trick in the world that he could +work to save us, an' he worked it. Oh, it was funny to see the Mexicans +run with the fire scorchin' the backs of their ears. But that boy, Ned, +ain't he smart? He whipped a hundred Mexicans all by himself."</p> + +<p>Ned blushed.</p> + +<p>"Stop that, you Panther," he said, "or I'll call for Urrea to come and +take you back."</p> + +<p>"Having horses," said Obed, "there is no reason why we shouldn't ride. +Here, jump up behind me, Ned."</p> + +<p>They were very soon back at the point where Ned had left his own horse, +and found him lying contentedly on his side. Then, well mounted each on +his own horses they resumed their broken journey.<a name="Page_342" id="Page_342"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE TEXAN STAR</h3> + + +<p>Just after the three started, they looked back and saw a faint light +over the trees, which they knew was caused by the forest fire still +traveling northward.</p> + +<p>"It seemed almost a sin to set the torch to the woods," said the boy, +"but I couldn't think of any other way to get you two loose from the +Mexicans."</p> + +<p>"It's a narrow fire," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I guess it will +burn itself out ag'inst some curve of the creek a few miles further on."</p> + +<p>This, in truth, was what happened, as they learned later, but for the +present they could bestow the thought of only a few moments upon the +subject. Despite the Mexican interruption they intended to go on with +their mission. With good horses beneath them they expected to reach the +Brazos settlements the next day unless some new danger intervened.</p> + +<p>They turned from the forest into the prairie and rode northward at a +good gait.</p> + +<p>"That was a fine scheme of yours, Ned," repeated the Ring Tailed +Panther, "an' nobody could have done it better. You set the fire an' +here we are, together ag'in."</p> + +<p>"I was greatly helped by luck," said Ned modestly.</p> + +<p>"Luck helps them that think hard an' try hard. Didn't that fellow, +Urrea, give you the creeps? I had <a name="Page_343" id="Page_343"></a>my doubts about him before, but I +never believed he was quite as bad as he is."</p> + +<p>But Ned felt melancholy. It seemed to him that somebody whom he liked +had died.</p> + +<p>"I saw him talking to you and Obed," he said. "What was he saying?"</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther frowned and Ned heard his teeth grit upon one +another.</p> + +<p>"He was sayin' a lot of things," he replied. "He was talkin' low down, +hittin' at men who couldn't hit back, abusin' prisoners, which the same +was Obed an' me. He was doin' what I guess you would call tauntin', +tellin' of all the things we would have to suffer. He said that they'd +get you, too, before mornin' an' that we'd all be hanged as rebels an' +traitors to Mexico. He laughed at the way he fooled us. He said that +spat he had with Sandoval was only make-believe. He said that we'd never +get San Antonio; that he'd kept Cos informed about all our movements an' +that Santa Anna was comin' with a great army. He said that most of us +would be chawed right up, an' that them that wasn't chawed up would wish +they had been before Santa Anna got through with 'em."</p> + +<p>"Many a threatened man who runs away lives to fight another day," said +Obed cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"That's so," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I say it among us three +that if we don't take San Antonio we'll have a mighty good try at it, +an' if it comes to hangin' an' all that sort of business there's Texan +as well as Mexican ropes."</p> + +<p>They reached another belt of forest about 3 o'clock in the morning, and +they concluded to rest there and get some sleep. They felt no fear of +the Mexicans who, they were sure, were now riding southward. They <a name="Page_344" id="Page_344"></a>slept +here four or five hours, and late the next afternoon reached the first +settlement on the Brazos.</p> + +<p>Ned and his companions spent a week on the river and when they rode +south again they took with them nearly a hundred volunteers for the +attack on San Antonio, the last draft that the little settlements could +furnish. Very few, save the women and children, were left behind.</p> + +<p>On their return journey they passed through the very forest in which Ned +had made his singular rescue of Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. They +saw the camp and they saw the swath made by the fire, a narrow belt, +five or six miles in length, ending as the Ring Tailed Panther had +predicted at a curve of the creek. The Mexicans, as they now knew +definitely, were gone days ago from that region.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we'll meet Urrea when we attack San Antonio," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Obed.</p> + +<p>They rode to the camp on the Salado without interruption, and found that +indecision still reigned there. The blockade of San Antonio was going +on, and the men were eager for the assault, but the leaders were +convinced that the force was too small and weak. They would not consent +to what they considered sure disaster. The recruits that the three +brought were welcomed, but Ned noticed a state of depression in the +camp. He found yet there his old friends, Bowie, Smith, Karnes, and the +others. His news that Urrea was a spy and traitor created a sensation.</p> + +<p>Ned was asked by "Deaf" Smith the morning after his arrival to go with +him on a scout, and he promptly accepted. A rest of a single day was +enough for him and he was pining for new action.<a name="Page_345" id="Page_345"></a></p> + +<p>The two rode toward the town, and then curved away to one side, keeping +to the open prairie where they might see the approach of a superior +enemy, in time. They observed the Mexican sentinels at a distance, but +the two forces had grown so used to each other that no hostile +demonstration was made, unless one or the other came too close.</p> + +<p>Smith and Ned rode some distance, and then turned on another course, +which brought them presently to a hill covered with ash and oak. They +rode among the trees and from that point of vantage searched the whole +horizon. Ned caught the glint of something in the south, and called +Smith's attention to it.</p> + +<p>"What do you think it is?" he asked after Smith had looked a long time.</p> + +<p>"It's the sun shining on metal, either a lance head or a rifle barrel. +Ah, now I see horsemen riding this way."</p> + +<p>"And they are Mexicans, too," said Ned. "What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>A considerable force of mounted Mexicans was coming into view, and +Smith's opinion was formed at once.</p> + +<p>"It's reinforcements for Cos," he cried. "We heard that Ugartchea was +going to bring fresh troops from Laredo, and that he would also have +with him mule loads of silver to pay off Cos' men. We'll just cut off +this force and take their silver. We'll ride to Bowie!"</p> + +<p>They galloped at full speed to the camp and found the redoubtable +Georgian, who instantly gathered together a hundred men including the +Ring Tailed Panther and Obed and raced back. The Mexican horsemen were +still in the valley, seeming to move slowly, and Bowie at once formed up +the Texans for a charge. But before he could give the word a trumpet +pealed, and the Mexicans rode at full speed toward a great gully at the +end <a name="Page_346" id="Page_346"></a>of the valley into which they disappeared. The last that the Texans +saw were some heavily-loaded mules following their master into the +ravine.</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther burst into a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Them's not reinforcements," he cried, "an' them's not mules loaded with +silver. They're carryin' nothin' but grass. These men have been out +there cuttin' feed in the meadow for Cos' horses."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Panther," said "Deaf" Smith, somewhat crestfallen.</p> + +<p>"But we'll attack, just the same," said Bowie. "Our men need action. +We'll follow 'em into that gully. On, men, on!"</p> + +<p>A joyous shout was his reply and the men galloped into the plain. They +were about to charge for the gully when Bowie cried to them to halt. A +new enemy had appeared. A heavy force of cavalry with two guns was +coming from San Antonio to rescue the grass cutters. They rode forward +with triumphant cheers, but the Texans did not flinch. They would face +odds of at least three to one with calmness and confidence.</p> + +<p>"Rifles ready, men!" cried Bowie. "They're about to charge."</p> + +<p>The trumpets pealed out the signal again, and the Mexicans charged at a +gallop. Up went the Texans' rifles. A hundred fingers pressed a hundred +triggers, and a hundred bullets crashed into the front of the Mexican +line. Down went horses and men, and the Mexican column stopped. But it +opened in a few moments, and, through the breach, the two cannon began +to fire, the heavy reports echoing over the plain. The Texans +instinctively lengthened their line, making it as thin as possible, and +continued their deadly rifle fire.</p> + +<p>Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther as usual <a name="Page_347" id="Page_347"></a>kept close together, and +"Deaf" Smith also was now with them. All of them were aiming as well as +they could through the smoke which was gathering fast, but the Mexicans, +in greatly superior force, supported by the cannon, held their ground. +The grass cutters in the gully also opened fire on the Texan flank, and +for many minutes the battle swayed back and forth on the plain, while +the clouds of smoke grew thicker, at times almost hiding the combatants +from one another.</p> + +<p>The Texans now began to press harder, and the Mexicans, despite their +numbers and their cannon, yielded a little, but the fire from the men in +the gully was stinging their flank. If they pushed forward much farther +they would be caught between the two forces and might be destroyed. It +was an alarming puzzle, but at that moment a great shout rose behind +them. The sound of the firing had been heard in the main Texan camp and +more Texans were coming by scores.</p> + +<p>"It's all over now," said Obed.</p> + +<p>The Texans divided into two forces. One drove the main column of the +Mexicans in confusion back upon the town, and the other, containing Ned +and his friends, charged into the gully and put to flight or captured +all who were hidden there. They also took the mules with their loads of +grass which they carried back to their own camp.</p> + +<p>Ned, the Ring Tailed Panther, Obed and "Deaf" Smith rode back together +to the Salado. It had been a fine victory, won as usual against odds, +but they were not exultant. In the breast of every one of them had been +a hope that the whole Texan army would seize the opportunity and charge +at once upon Cos and San Antonio. Instead, they had been ordered back.</p> + +<p>They made their discontent vocal that and the <a name="Page_348" id="Page_348"></a>following evenings. There +was no particular order among the Texans. They usually acted in groups, +according to the localities from which they came, and some, believing +that nothing would be done, had gone home disgusted. Mr. Austin himself +had left, and Houston had persisted in his refusal to command. Burleson, +a veteran Indian fighter, had finally been chosen for the leadership. +Houston soon left, and Bowie, believing that nothing would be done, +followed him.</p> + +<p>It was only a few days after the grass fight, and despite that victory, +Ned felt the current of depression. It seemed that their fortune was +melting away without their ever putting it to the touch. Although new +men had come their force was diminishing in numbers and San Antonio was +farther from their hands than ever.</p> + +<p>"If we don't do something before long," said Henry Karnes, "we'll just +dissolve like a snow before a warm wind."</p> + +<p>"An' all our rippin' an' tearin' will go for nothin'," growled the Ring +Tailed Panther. "We've won every fight we've been in, an' yet they won't +let us go into that town an' have it out with Cos."</p> + +<p>"We'll get it yet," said Obed cheerfully. "In war it's a long lane that +has no battle at the end. Just you be patient, Panther. Patience will +have her good fight. I've tested it more than once myself."</p> + +<p>Ned did not say anything. He had made himself a comfortable place, and, +as the cold night wind was whistling among the oaks and pecans, the fire +certainly looked very good to him. He watched the flames leap and sink, +and the great beds of coals form, and once more he was very glad that he +was not alone again on the Mexican mountains. He resolutely put off the +feeling of depression. They might linger and hesitate now, <a name="Page_349" id="Page_349"></a>but he did +not doubt that the cause of Texas would triumph in the end.</p> + +<p>Ned was restless that night, so restless that he could not sleep, and, +after a futile effort, he rose, folded up his blankets and wandered +about the camp. It was a body of volunteers drawn together by patriotism +and necessity for a common purpose, and one could do almost as one +pleased. There was a ring of sentinels, but everybody knew everybody +else and scouts, skirmishers and foragers passed at will.</p> + +<p>Ned was fully armed, of course, and, leaving the camp, he entered an oak +grove that lay between it and the city. As there was no underbrush here +and little chance for ambush he felt quite safe. Behind him he saw the +camp and the lights of the scattered fires now dying, but before him he +saw only the trunks of the trees and the dusky horizon beyond.</p> + +<p>Ned had no definite object in view, but he thought vaguely of scouting +along the river. One could never know too much about the opposing force, +and experience added to natural gifts had given him great capabilities.</p> + +<p>He advanced deeper into the pecan grove, and reached the point where the +trees grew thickest. There, where the moonlight fell he saw a shadow +lying along the ground, the shadow of a man. Ned sprang behind a tree +and lay almost flat. The shadow had moved, but he could still see a +head. He felt sure that its owner was behind another tree not yet ten +feet distant. Perhaps some Mexican scout like himself. On the other +hand, it might be Smith or Karnes, and he called softly.</p> + +<p>No answer came to his call. Some freak of the moonlight still kept the +shadowy head in view, while its owner remained completely hidden, +unconscious, perhaps, that <a name="Page_350" id="Page_350"></a>any part of his reflection was showing. Ned +did not know what to do. After waiting a long time, and, seeing that the +shadow did not move, he edged his way partly around the trunk, and +stopped where he was still protected by the ground and the tree. He saw +the shadowy head shift to the same extent that he had moved, but he +heard no sound.</p> + +<p>He called again and more loudly. He said: "I am a Texan; if you are a +friend, say so!" No one would mistake his voice for that of a Mexican. +No reply came from behind the tree.</p> + +<p>Ned was annoyed. This was most puzzling and he did not like puzzles. +Moreover, his situation was dangerous. If he left his tree, the man +behind the other one—and he did not doubt now that he was an +enemy—could probably take a shot at him.</p> + +<p>He tried every maneuver that he knew to draw the shot, while he yet lay +in ambush, but none succeeded. His wary enemy knew every ruse. Had it +not been for the shadowy head, yet visible in the moonlight, Ned might +have concluded that he had gone. He had now been behind the tree a full +half hour, and during all that time he had not heard a single sound from +his foe. The singular situation, so unusual in its aspect, and so real +in its danger, began to get upon his nerves.</p> + +<p>He thought at last of something which he believed would draw the fire of +the ambushed Mexican. He carried a pistol as well as a rifle, and, +carefully laying the cocked rifle by his side, he drew the smaller +weapon. Then he crept about the tree, purposely making a little noise. +He saw the shadowy head move, and he knew that his enemy was seeking a +shot. He heard for the first time a slight sound, and he could tell from +it exactly where the man lay.<a name="Page_351" id="Page_351"></a></p> + +<p>Raising his pistol he fired, and the bark flew from the right side of +the tree. A man instantly sprang out, rifle in hand, and rushed toward +him expecting to take him, unarmed. Like a flash Ned seized his own +cocked rifle and covered the man. When he looked down the sights he saw +that it was Urrea.</p> + +<p>Urrea halted, taken by surprise. His own rifle was not leveled, and Ned +held his life at his gun muzzle.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Don Francisco, or I fire," said the boy. "I did not dream that it +was you, and I am sorry that I was wrong."</p> + +<p>Urrea recovered very quickly from his surprise. He did not seek to raise +his rifle, knowing that it was too late.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "why don't you fire?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Ned.</p> + +<p>"I would do it in your place."</p> + +<p>"I know it, but there is a difference between us and I am glad of that +difference, egotistical as it may sound."</p> + +<p>"There is another difference which perhaps you do not have in mind. You +are a Texan, an American, and I am a Mexican. That is why I came among +you and claimed to be one of you. You were fools to think that I, +Francisco Urrea, could ever fight for Texas against Mexico."</p> + +<p>"It seems that we were," said Ned.</p> + +<p>Urrea laughed somewhat scornfully.</p> + +<p>"There are some Mexicans born here in Texas who are so foolish," he +said, "but they do not know Mexico. They do not know the greatness of +our nation, or the greatness of Santa Anna. What are your paltry numbers +against us? You will fail here against San Antonio, and, even if you +should take the town, Santa Anna will come with a great army and destroy +you. And <a name="Page_352" id="Page_352"></a>then, remember that there is a price to be paid. Much rope +will be used to good purpose in Texas."</p> + +<p>"You have eaten our bread, you have received kindness from us, and yet +you talk of executions."</p> + +<p>"I ate your bread, because it was my business to do so. I am not ashamed +of anything that I have done. I do not exaggerate, when I say that I +have rendered my nation great service against the Texan rebels. It was I +who brought them against you more than once."</p> + +<p>"I should not boast of it. I should never pretend to belong to one side +in war and work for another."</p> + +<p>"Again there is a difference between us. Now, what do you purpose to do? +I am, as it were, your prisoner, and it is for you to make a beginning."</p> + +<p>Ned was embarrassed. He was young and he could not enforce all the +rigors of war. He knew that if he took Urrea to the camp the man would +be executed as a spy and traitor. The Mexicans had already committed +many outrages, and the Texans were in no forgiving mood. Ned could not +forget that this man had broken bread with his comrades and himself, and +once he had liked him. Even now his manner, which contained no fear nor +cringing, appealed to him.</p> + +<p>"Go," he said at last, "I cannot take your life, nor can I carry you to +those who would take it. Doubtless I am doing wrong, but I do not know +what else to do."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that you let me go free?"</p> + +<p>"I do. You cannot be a spy among us again, and as an open enemy you are +only as one among thousands. Of course you came here to-night to spy +upon us, and it was an odd chance that brought us together. Take the +direction of San Antonio, but don't look back. I warn you that I shall +keep you covered with my rifle."</p> + +<p>Urrea turned without another word and walked away. Ned <a name="Page_353" id="Page_353"></a>watched him for +a full hundred yards. He noticed that the man's figure was as trim and +erect as ever. Apparently, he was as wanting in remorse as he was in +fear.</p> + +<p>When Urrea had gone a hundred yards Ned turned and went swiftly back to +the camp. He said nothing about the incident either to Obed or the Ring +Tailed Panther. The next day Urrea was crowded from his mind by exciting +news. A sentinel had hailed at dawn three worn and unkempt Texans who +had escaped from San Antonio, where they had long been held prisoners by +Cos. They brought word that the Mexican army was disheartened. The heavy +reinforcements, promised by Santa Anna, had not come.</p> + +<p>A great clamor for an immediate attack arose. The citizen army gathered +in hundreds around the tent of Burleson, the leader, and demanded that +they be led against San Antonio. Fannin and Milam were there, and they +seconded the demands of the men. Ned stood on the outskirts of the +crowd. The Ring Tailed Panther on one side of him uttering a succession +of growls, but Obed on the other was silent.</p> + +<p>"It looks like a go this time," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"I think it is," said Obed, "and if it isn't a go now it won't be one at +all. Waiting wears out the best of men."</p> + +<p>The Ring Tailed Panther continued to growl.</p> + +<p>A great shout suddenly arose. The Panther ceased to growl and his face +beamed. Burleson had consented to the demand of the men. It was quickly +arranged that they should attack San Antonio in the morning, and risk +everything on the cast.</p> + +<p>The short day—it was winter now—was spent in preparations. Ned and his +comrades cleaned their rifles <a name="Page_354" id="Page_354"></a>and pistols and provided themselves with +double stores of ammunition. Ned did not seek to conceal from himself, +nor did the men seek to hide from him the greatness and danger of their +attempt.</p> + +<p>"They outnumber us and they hold a fortified town," said Obed. "Whatever +we do we three must stick together. In union there is often safety."</p> + +<p>"We stick as long as we stand," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "If one +falls the other two must go on, an', if two fall, the last must go on as +long as he can."</p> + +<p>"Agreed," said Ned and Obed.</p> + +<p>They were ready long before night, but after dark an alarming story +spread through the little army. Part of it at least proved to be true. +One of the scouts, sent out after the decision to attack had been taken, +had failed to come in. It was believed that he had deserted to the +Mexicans with news of the intended Texan advance. The leaders had +counted upon surprise, as a necessary factor in their success, and +without it they would not advance. Gloom settled over the army, but it +was not a silent gloom. These men spoke their disappointment in words +many and loud. Never had the Ring Tailed Panther roared longer, without +taking breath.</p> + +<p>The Texans were still talking angrily about the fires, when another +shout arose. The missing scout came in and he brought with him a Mexican +deserter, who confirmed all the reports about the discouragement of the +garrison. Once more, the Texans crowded about Burleson's tent, and +demanded that the attack be made upon San Antonio. At last Burleson +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Well, if you can get volunteers to attack, go and attack!"</p> + +<p>Milam turned, faced the crowd and raised his hand.</p> + +<p>There was a sudden hush save for the deep breathing <a name="Page_355" id="Page_355"></a>of many men. Then +in a loud, clear voice Milam spoke only ten words. They were:</p> + +<p>"Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?"</p> + +<p>And a hundred voices roared a single word in reply. It was:</p> + +<p>"I!"</p> + +<p>"That settles it," said the Ring Tailed Panther with deep satisfaction. +"Old Satan himself couldn't stop the attack now."</p> + +<p>The word was given that the volunteers for the direct attack, three +hundred in number, would gather at an old mill half way between the camp +and the town. Thence they would march on foot for the assault. Ned and +his comrades were among the first to gather at the mill and he waited as +calmly as he could, while the whole force was assembled, three hundred +lean, brown men, large of bone and long of limb.</p> + +<p>No light was allowed, and the night was cold. The figures of the men +looked like phantoms in the dusk. Ned stood with his friends, while +Milam gave the directions. They were to be divided into two forces. One +under Milam was to enter the town by the street called Acequia, and the +other under Colonel Johnson was to penetrate by Soledad Street. They +relied upon the neglect of the Mexicans to get so far, before the battle +began. Burleson, with the remainder of his men would attack the ancient +mission, then turned into a fort, called the Alamo.</p> + +<p>"Deaf" Smith, who knew the town thoroughly, led Johnson's column, and +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were just behind him.</p> + +<p>Ned was quivering in every nerve with excitement and suspense, but he +let no one see it. He moved forward with steady step and he heard behind +him the soft <a name="Page_356" id="Page_356"></a>tread of the men who intended to get into San Antonio +without being seen. He looked back at them. They came in the dusk like +so many shadows and no one spoke. It was like a procession of ghosts, +moving into a sleeping town. The chill wind cut across their faces, but +no one at that moment took notice of cold.</p> + +<p>High over Ned's head a great star danced and twinkled, and it seemed to +him that it was the Texan Star springing out.</p> + +<p>The houses of the town rose out of the darkness. Ned saw off to right +and left fresh earthworks and rifle pits, but either no men were +stationed there or they slept. The figure of Smith led steadily on and +behind came the long and silent file. How much farther would they go +without being seen or heard? It seemed amazing to Ned that they had come +so far already.</p> + +<p>They were actually at the edge of the town. Now they were in it, going +up the narrow Soledad Street between the low houses directly toward the +main plaza, which was fortified by barricades and artillery. A faint +glimmer of dawn was just beginning to appear in the east.</p> + +<p>A dusky figure suddenly appeared in the street in front of them and gave +a shout of alarm. "Deaf" Smith fired and the man fell. A bugle pealed +from the plaza and a cannon was fired down the street, the ball +whistling over the heads of the Texans. In an instant the garrison of +Cos was awake, and the alarm sounded from every point of San Antonio. +Lights flashed, arms rattled and men called to one another.</p> + +<p>"Into this house" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We cannot charge up the narrow +street in face of the cannon!"</p> + +<p>They were now within a hundred yards of the plaza, but they saw that the +guide was right. They dashed <a name="Page_357" id="Page_357"></a>into the large, solid house that he had +indicated, and Ned did not notice until he was inside that it was the +very house of the Vice-Governor, Veramendi, into which he had come once +before. Just as the last of the Texans sprang through the doors another +cannon ball whistled down the street, this time low enough. Milam's +division, meanwhile, had rushed into the house of De La Garcia, near by.</p> + +<p>As Ned and the others sprang to cover he trampled upon the flowers in a +patio, and he saw a little fountain playing. Then he knew. It was the +house of Veramendi, and he thought it a singular chance that had brought +him to the same place. But he had little time for reflection. The column +of Texans, a hundred and fifty in number, were taking possession of +every part of the building, the occupants of which had fled through the +rear doors.</p> + +<p>"To the roof!" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We can best meet the attack from +there."</p> + +<p>The doors and windows were already manned, but Smith and many of the +best men rushed to the flat roof, and looked over the low stone coping. +It was not yet day and they could not see well. Despite the lack of +light, the Mexicans opened a great fire of cannon and small arms. The +whole town resounded with the roar and the crash and also with the +shouting. But most of the cannon balls and bullets flew wide, and the +rest spent themselves in vain on the two houses.</p> + +<p>The Texans, meanwhile, held their fire, and waited for day. Ned, Smith +and the others on the roof lay down behind the low coping. They had +achieved their long wish. They were in San Antonio, but what would +happen to them there?</p> + +<p>Ned peeped over the coping. He saw many flashes <a name="Page_358" id="Page_358"></a>down the street toward +the plaza and he heard the singing of bullets. His finger was on the +trigger and the temptation to reply was great, but like the others he +waited.</p> + +<p>The faint light in the east deepened and the sun flashed out. The full +dawn was at hand and the two forces, Texans and Mexicans, faced each +other.<a name="Page_359" id="Page_359"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE TAKING OF THE TOWN</h3> + + +<p>The December sun, clear and cold, bathed the whole town in light. +Houses, whether of stone, adobe or wood, were tinted a while with gold, +but everywhere in the streets and over the roofs floated white puffs of +smoke from the firing, which had never ceased on the part of the +Mexicans. The crash of rifles and muskets was incessant, and every +minute or two came the heavy boom of the cannon with which Cos swept the +streets. The Texans themselves now pulled the trigger but little, calmly +waiting their opportunity.</p> + +<p>Ned and his comrades still lay on the roof of the Veramendi house. The +boy's heart beat fast but the scene was wild and thrilling to the last +degree. He felt a great surge of pride that he should have a share in so +great an event. From the other side of the river came the rattle of +rifle fire, and he knew that it was the detachment from Burleson +attacking the Alamo. But presently the sounds there died.</p> + +<p>"They are drawing off," said Obed, "and it is right. It is their duty to +help us here, but I don't see how they can ever get into San Antonio. I +wish the Mexicans didn't have those cannon which are so much heavier +than ours."</p> + +<p>The Texans had brought with them a twelve pounder and a six pounder, but +the twelve pounder had already been dismounted by the overpowering +Mexican fire, and, <a name="Page_360" id="Page_360"></a>without protection they were unable to use the six +pounder which they had drawn into the patio, where it stood silent.</p> + +<p>Ned from his corner could see the mouths of the guns in the heavy +Mexican battery at the far end of the plaza, and he watched the flashes +of flame as they were fired one by one. In the intervals he saw a lithe, +strong figure appear on the breastwork, and he was quite sure that it +was Urrea.</p> + +<p>An hour of daylight passed. From the house of De La Garcia the other +division of Texans began to fire, the sharp lashing of their rifles +sounding clearly amid the duller crash of musketry and cannon from the +Mexicans. The Texans in the lower part of the Veramendi house were also +at work with their rifles. Every man was a sharpshooter, and, whenever a +Mexican came from behind a barricade, he was picked off. But the +Mexicans had also taken possession of houses and they were firing with +muskets from windows and loopholes.</p> + +<p>"We must shoot down the cannoneers," shouted the Ring Tailed Panther to +"Deaf" Smith.</p> + +<p>Smith nodded. The men on the roof were fifteen in number and now they +devoted their whole attention to the battery. Despite the drifting smoke +they hit gunner after gunner. The fever in Ned's blood grew. Everything +was red before him. His temples throbbed like fire. The spirit of battle +had taken full hold of him, and he fired whenever he caught a glimpse of +a Mexican.</p> + +<p>"Deaf" Smith was on Ned's right, and he picked off a gunner. But to do +so he had lifted his head and shoulders above the coping. A figure rose +up behind the Mexican barricade and fired in return. "Deaf" Smith +uttered a little cry, and clapped his hand to his shoulder.<a name="Page_361" id="Page_361"></a></p> + +<p>"Never mind," he said in reply to anxious looks. "It's in the fleshy +part only, and I'm not badly hurt."</p> + +<p>The bullet had gone nearly through the shoulder and was just under the +skin on the other side. The Ring Tailed Panther cut it out with his +bowie knife and bound up the wound tightly with strips from his hunting +shirt. But Ned, although it was only a fleeting glimpse, had recognized +the marksman. It was Urrea who had sent the bullet through "Deaf" +Smith's shoulder. He was proving himself a formidable foe.</p> + +<p>But the men on the roof continued their deadly sharpshooting, and now, +the battery, probably at Urrea's suggestion, began to turn its attention +to them. Ned was seized suddenly by Obed and pulled flat. There was a +roaring and hissing sound over his head as a twelve pound cannon ball +passed, and Ned said to Obed: "I thank you." The cannon shot was +followed by a storm of bullets and then by more cannon shots. The +Mexican guns were served well that day. The coping was shot away and the +Texans were in imminent danger from the flying pieces. They were glad +when the last of it was gone.</p> + +<p>But they did not yet dare to raise themselves high enough for a shot. +Balls, shell, and bullets swept the roof without ceasing. Ned lay on his +side, almost flat. He listened to the ugly hissing and screaming over +his head until it became unbearable. He turned over on his other side +and looked at Smith, their leader. Smith was pale and weak from his +wound, but he smiled wanly.</p> + +<p>"You don't speak, but your face asks your question, Ned," he said. "I +hate to say it, but we can't hold this roof. I never knew the Mexicans +to shoot so well before, and their numbers and cannon give them a great +advantage. Below, lads, as soon as you can!"<a name="Page_362" id="Page_362"></a></p> + +<p>They crept down the stairway, and found that the house itself was +suffering from the Mexican cannon. Holes had been smashed in the walls, +but here the Texans were always replying with their rifles. They also +heard the steady fire in the house of De La Garcia and they knew that +their comrades were standing fast. Ned, exhausted by the great tension, +sat down on a willow sofa. His hands were trembling and his face was wet +with perspiration. The Ring Tailed Panther sat down beside him.</p> + +<p>"Good plan to rest a little, Ned," he said. "We've come right into a +hornets' nest an' the hornets are stingin' us hard. Listen to that, will +you!"</p> + +<p>A cannon ball smashed through the wall, passed through the room in which +they were sitting, and dropped spent in another room beyond. Obed joined +them on the sofa.</p> + +<p>"A cannon ball never strikes in the same place twice," misquoted Obed. +"So it's safer here than it is anywhere else in this Veramendi house. +I'd help with the rifles but there's no room for me at the windows and +loopholes just now."</p> + +<p>"Our men are giving it back to them," said Ned. "Listen how the rifles +crackle!"</p> + +<p>The battle was increasing in heat. The Mexicans, despite their +artillery, and their heavy barricades, were losing heavily at the hands +of the sharpshooters. The Texans, sheltered in the buildings, were +suffering little, but their position was growing more dangerous every +minute. They were inside the town, but the force of Burleson outside was +unable to come to their aid. Meanwhile, they must fight five to one, but +they addressed themselves with unflinching hearts to the task. Even in +the moment of imminent peril they did not think of <a name="Page_363" id="Page_363"></a>retreat, but clung +to their original purpose of taking San Antonio.</p> + +<p>Ned, tense and restless, was unable to remain more than a few minutes on +the sofa. He wandered into another room and saw a large table spread +with food. Bread and meat were in the dishes, and there were pots of +coffee. All was now cold. Evidently they had been making ready for early +breakfast in the Veramendi house when the Texans came. Ned called to his +friends.</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't we use it!" he said, "even if it is cold?"</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't we?" said Obed. "Even though we fight we must live."</p> + +<p>They took the food and coffee, cold as it was, to the men, and they ate +and drank eagerly. Then they searched everywhere and found large +supplies of provisions in the house, so much, in fact, that the Ring +Tailed Panther growled very pleasantly between his teeth.</p> + +<p>"There's enough here," he said, "to last two or three days, an' it's +well when you're in a fort, ready to stand a siege, to have something to +eat."</p> + +<p>Some of the men now left the windows and loopholes to get a rest and Ned +found a place at one of them. Peeping out he saw the bare street, torn +by shot and shell. He saw the flash of the Texan rifles from the De La +Garcia house and he saw the blaze of the Mexican cannon in the plaza. +Mexican men, women and children on the flat roofs, out of range, were +eagerly watching the battle. Clouds of smoke drifted over the city.</p> + +<p>While Ned was at the window, a second cannon ball smashed through the +wall of the Veramendi house, and caused the débris to fall in masses. +The Colonel grew uneasy. The cannon gave the Mexicans an immense +advantage, and they were now using it to the utmost. The <a name="Page_364" id="Page_364"></a>house would be +battered down over the heads of the Texans, and they could not live in +the streets, which the Mexicans, from their dominating position, could +sweep with cannon and a thousand rifles and muskets. A third ball +crashed through the wall and demolished the willow sofa on which the +three had been sitting. Plaster rained down upon the Texans. They looked +at one another. They could not stay in the house nor could they go out. +A boy suddenly solved the difficulty.</p> + +<p>"Let's dig a trench across the street to the De La Garcia house!" cried +Ned, "and join our comrades there!"</p> + +<p>"That's the thing!" they shouted. They had not neglected to bring +intrenching tools with them, and they found spades and shovels about the +house. But in order to secure the greatest protection for their work +they decided to wait until night, confident that they could hold their +present position throughout the day.</p> + +<p>It was many hours until the darkness, and the fire rose and fell at +intervals. More shattered plaster fell upon them, but they were still +holding the wreck of a house, when the welcome twilight deepened and +darkened into the night. Then they began work just inside the doorway, +cutting fast through plaster and adobe, and soon reaching the street. +They made the trench fairly wide, intending to get their six pounder +across also. Just behind those who worked with spade and shovel came the +riflemen.</p> + +<p>A third of the way across, and the Mexicans discovered what was going +on. Once more a storm of cannon, rifle and musket balls swept the +street, but the Texans, bent down in their trench, toiled on, throwing +the dirt above their heads and out on either side. The riflemen behind +them, sheltered by the earth, replied to the Mexican <a name="Page_365" id="Page_365"></a>fire, and, despite +the darkness, picked off many men.</p> + +<p>Ned was just behind Obed, and the Ring Tailed Panther was following him. +All three were acting as riflemen. Obed was seeking a glimpse of Urrea, +but he did not get it. Ned was watching for a shot at the gunners.</p> + +<p>Once the Mexicans under the cover of their artillery undertook to charge +down the street, but the sharpshooters in the trench quickly drove them +back.</p> + +<p>Thus they burrowed like a great mole all the way across Soledad Street, +and joined their comrades in the strong house of De La Garcia. They also +succeeded in getting both of their cannon into the house, and, now +united, the Texans were encouraged greatly. Ned found all the rooms +filled with men. A party broke through the joint wall and entered the +next house, thus taking them nearer to the plaza and the Mexican +fortifications.</p> + +<p>All through the night intermittent firing went on. The Mexicans +increased their fortifications, preparing for a desperate combat on the +morrow. They threw up new earthworks, and they loopholed many of the +houses that they held. Cos, his dark face darker with rage and fury, +went among them, urging them to renewed efforts, telling them that they +were bound to take prisoners all the Texans whom they did not slay in +battle, and that they should hang every prisoner. Great numbers of the +women and children had hidden in the Alamo on the other side of the +river. San Antonio itself was stripped for battle, and the hatred +between Texan and Mexican, so unlike in temperament, flamed into new +heat.</p> + +<p>Ned was worn to the bone. His lips were burnt with his feverish breath. +The smoke stung his eyes and nostrils, and his limbs ached. He felt that +he must rest or die, and, seeing two men sound asleep on the floor of +<a name="Page_366" id="Page_366"></a>one of the rooms, he flung himself down beside them. He slept in a few +minutes and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther seeing him there did not +disturb him.</p> + +<p>"If any boy has been through more than he has," said Obed, "I haven't +heard of him."</p> + +<p>"An' I guess that he an' all of us have got a lot more comin'," said the +Ring Tailed Panther grimly. "Cos ain't goin' to give up here without the +terriblest struggle of his life. He can't afford to do it."</p> + +<p>"Reckon you're right," said Obed.</p> + +<p>Ned awoke the next morning with the taste of gunpowder in his mouth, but +the Texans, besides finding food in the houses, had brought some with +them, and he ate an ample breakfast. Then ensued a day that he found +long and monotonous. Neither side made any decided movement. There was +occasional firing, but they rested chiefly on their arms. In the course +of the second night the Mexicans opened another trench, from which they +began to fire at dawn, but the Texan rifles quickly put them to flight.</p> + +<p>The Texans now began to grow restless. Cooped up in two houses they were +in the way of one another and they demanded freedom and action. Henry +Karnes suggested that they break into another house closer to the plaza. +Milam consented and Karnes, followed closely by Ned, Obed, the Ring +Tailed Panther and thirty others, dashed out, smashed in the door of the +house, and were inside before the astonished Mexicans could open an +accurate fire upon them. Here they at once secured themselves and their +bullets began to rake the plaza. The Mexicans were forced to throw up +more and higher intrenchments.</p> + +<p>Again the combat became intermittent. There were bursts of rifle fire, +and occasional shots from the cannon, <a name="Page_367" id="Page_367"></a>and, now and then, short periods +of almost complete silence. Night came on and Ned, watching from the +window, saw Colonel Milam, their leader, pass down the trench and enter +the courtyard of the Veramendi house. He stood there a moment, looking +at the Mexican position. A musket cracked and the Texan, throwing up his +arms, fell. He was dead by the time he touched the ground. The ball had +struck him in the center of the forehead.</p> + +<p>Ned uttered a cry of grief, and it was taken up by all the Texans who +had seen their leader fall. A half dozen men rushed forward and dragged +away his body, but that night they buried it in the patio. His death +only incited them to new efforts. As soon as his burial was finished +they rushed another house in their slow advance, one belonging to +Antonio Navarro, a solid structure only one block from the great plaza. +They also stormed and carried a redoubt which the Mexicans had erected +in the street beside the house. It now being midnight they concluded to +rest until the morrow. Meanwhile, they had elected Johnson their leader.</p> + +<p>Ned was in the new attack and with Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther he +was in the Navarro house. It was the fourth that he had occupied since +the attack on San Antonio. He felt less excitement than on the night +before. It seemed to him that he was becoming hardened to everything. He +looked at his comrades and laughed. They were no longer in the semblance +of white men. Their faces were so blackened with smoke, dirt and burned +gunpowder that they might have passed for negroes.</p> + +<p>"You needn't laugh, Ned," said Obed. "You're just as black as we are. +This thing of changing your boarding house every night by violence and +the use of firearms <a name="Page_368" id="Page_368"></a>doesn't lead to neatness. If fine feathers make +fine birds then we three are about the poorest flock that ever flew."</p> + +<p>"But when we go for a house we always get it," said the Ring Tailed +Panther. "You notice that. This place belongs to Antonio Navarro. I've +met him in San Antonio, an' I don't like him, but I'm willin' to take +his roof an' bed."</p> + +<p>Ned took the roof but not the bed. He could not sleep that night, and it +was found a little later that none would have a chance to sleep. The +Mexicans, advancing over the other houses, the walls of all of which +joined, cut loopholes in the roof of the Navarro house and opened fire +upon the Texans below. The Texans, with surer aim, cleared the Mexicans +away from the loopholes, then climbed to the roof and drove them off +entirely.</p> + +<p>But no one dared to sleep after this attack, and Ned watched all through +the dark hours. Certainly they were having action enough now, and he was +wondering what the fourth day would bring forth. From an upper window he +watched the chilly sun creep over the horizon once more, and the dawn +brought with it the usual stray rifle and musket shots. Both Texan and +Mexican sharpshooters were watching at every loophole, and whenever they +saw a head they fired at it. But this was only the beginning, the +crackling prelude to the event that was to come.</p> + +<p>"Come down, Ned," said Obed, "and get your breakfast. We've got coffee +and warm corn cakes and we'll need 'em, as we're already tired of this +boarding house and we intend to find another."</p> + +<p>"Can't stay more than one night in a place while we're in San Antonio," +said the Ring Tailed Panther, growling pleasantly. "A restless lot we +are an' it's time to move on again."<a name="Page_369" id="Page_369"></a></p> + +<p>Ned ate and drank in silence. His nerves were quite steady, and he had +become so used to battle that he awaited whatever they were going to +attempt, almost without curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Ain't you wantin' to know what we're goin' to do, Ned?" asked the Ring +Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking that I'll find out pretty quick," replied Ned.</p> + +<p>"Now this boy is shorely makin' a fine soldier," said the Panther to +Obed. "He don't ask nothin' about what he's goin' to do, but just eats +an' waits orders."</p> + +<p>Ned smiled and ate another corn cake.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Obed, "we'll meet our friend Urrea in the attack we're +going to make. If so, I'll take a shot at him, and I won't have any +remorse about it, either, if I hit him."</p> + +<p>They did not wait long. A strong body of the Texans gathered on the +lower floor, many carrying, in addition to their weapons, heavy iron +crowbars. The doors were suddenly thrown open and they rushed out into +the cool morning air, making for a series of stone houses called the +Zambrano Row, the farthest of which opened upon the main plaza, where +the Mexicans were fortified so strongly. Scattering shots from muskets +and rifles greeted them, but as usual, when any sudden movement +occurred, the Mexicans fired wildly, and the Texans broke into the first +of the houses, before they could take good aim.</p> + +<p>Ned was one of the last inside. He had lingered with the others to repel +any rush that the Mexicans might make. He was watching the Mexican +barricade, and he saw heads rise above it. One rose higher than the rest +and he recognized Urrea. The Mexican saw Ned also, and the eyes of the +two met. Urrea's were full of <a name="Page_370" id="Page_370"></a>anger and malice, and raising his rifle +he fired straight at the boy. Ned felt the bullet graze his cheek, and +instantly he fired in reply. But Urrea had quickly dropped down behind +the barricade and the bullet missed. Then Ned rushed into the house.</p> + +<p>The boy was blazing with indignation. He had spared Urrea's life, and +yet the Mexican had sought at the first opportunity to kill him. He +could not understand a soul of such caliber. But the incident passed +from his mind, for the time being, in the strenuous work that they began +now to do.</p> + +<p>They broke through partition wall after wall with their powerful picks +and crowbars. Stones fell about them. Plaster and dust rained down, but +the men relieving one another, the work with the heavy tools was never +stopped until they penetrated the interior of the last house in the row. +Then the Texans uttered a grim cry of exultation. They looked from the +narrow windows directly over the main plaza and their rifles covered the +Mexican barricades. The Mexicans tried to drive them out of the houses +with the guns, but the solid stone walls resisted balls and shells, and +the Texan rifles shot down the gunners.</p> + +<p>Then ensued another silence, broken by distant firing, caused by another +attack upon the Texan camp outside the town. It was driven off quickly +and the Texans in the houses lay quiet until evening. Then they heard a +great shouting, the occasion of which they did not know until later. +Ugartchea with six hundred men had arrived from the Rio Grande to help +Cos. But it would not have made any difference with the Texans had they +known. They were determined to take San Antonio, and all the time they +were pressing harder on Cos.</p> + +<p>That night, the Texans, Ned with them, seized another <a name="Page_371" id="Page_371"></a>large building +called the Priests' House, which looked directly over the plaza, and now +their command of the Mexican situation was complete. Nothing could live +in the square under their fire, and in the night Ned saw the Mexicans +withdrawing, leaving their cannon behind.</p> + +<p>Exhaustion compelled the boy to sleep from midnight until day, when he +was roused by Obed.</p> + +<p>"The Mexicans have all gone across the river to the Alamo," said the +Maine man. "San Antonio is ours."</p> + +<p>Ned went forth with his comrades. Obed had told the truth. The great +seat of the Mexican power in the north was theirs. Three hundred daring +men, not strongly supported by those whom they had left behind, had +penetrated to the very heart of the city through house after house, and +had driven out the defenders who were five to their one.</p> + +<p>The plaza and Soledad Street presented a somber aspect. The Mexican +dead, abandoned by their comrades, lay everywhere. The Texan rifles had +done deadly work. The city itself was silent and deserted.</p> + +<p>"Most of the population has gone with the Mexican army to the Alamo," +said Obed. "I suppose we'll have to attack that, too."</p> + +<p>But Cos, the haughty and vindictive general, did not have the heart for +a new battle with the Texans. He sent a white flag to Burleson and +surrendered. Ned was present when the flag came, and the leader of the +little party that brought it was Urrea. The young Mexican had lost none +of his assurance.</p> + +<p>"You have won now," he said to Ned, "but bear in mind that we will come +again. You have yet to hear from Mexico and Santa Anna."</p> + +<p>"When Santa Anna comes he will find us here ready to meet him," replied +Ned.<a name="Page_372" id="Page_372"></a></p> + +<p>The Texans in the hour of their great and marvelous victory behaved with +humanity and moderation. Cos and his army, which still doubled in +numbers both the Texans who had been inside and outside San Antonio, +were permitted to retire on parole beyond the Rio Grande. They left in +the hands of the Texans twenty-one cannon and great quantities of +ammunition. Rarely has such a victory been won by so small a force and +in reality with the rifle alone. All the Texans felt that it was a +splendid culmination to a perilous campaign.</p> + +<p>Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther, seated on their horses, watched +the captured army of Cos march away.</p> + +<p>"Well, Texas is free," said the Ring Tailed Panther.</p> + +<p>"And San Antonio is ours," said Obed.</p> + +<p>"But Santa Anna will come," said Ned, remembering the words of Urrea.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN STAR***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 15852-h.txt or 15852-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/8/5/15852">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/8/5/15852</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/15852-h/images/emblem.png b/15852-h/images/emblem.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7a9429 --- /dev/null +++ b/15852-h/images/emblem.png diff --git a/15852.txt b/15852.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..88d5de7 --- /dev/null +++ b/15852.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12353 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Texan Star, by Joseph A. Altsheler + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Texan Star + The Story of a Great Fight for Liberty + + +Author: Joseph A. Altsheler + +Release Date: May 18, 2005 [eBook #15852] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN STAR*** + + +E-text prepared by David Garcia, Emmy, and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (www.pgdp.net) from page images generously +made available by the Kentuckiana Digital Library (http://kdl.kyvl.org/) + + + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through the + Kentuckiana Digital Library. See + http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc= + 1;sid=caa2c727b67680024e59cd8a19d87559;q1=texan%20star;cite1= + texan%20star;cite1restrict=title;view=toc;idno=b92-172-30119856 + + + + + +THE TEXAN STAR + +The Story of a Great Fight for Liberty + +by + +JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER + +Author of +_The Quest of the Four_, _The Border Watch_, +_The Scouts of the Valley_, etc. + +Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. +New York + +1912 + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +"The Texan Star," while a complete story in itself, is the first of +three, projected by the author, and based upon the Texan struggle for +liberty against the power of Mexico. This revolution, epic in its +nature, and crowded with heroism and great events, divides itself +naturally into three parts. + +The first phase begins in Mexico with the treacherous imprisonment of +Austin, the Texan leader, the rise of Santa Anna and his attempt, +through bad faith, to disarm the Texans and leave them powerless before +the Indians. It culminates in the rebellion of the Texans, and their +capture, in the face of great odds, of San Antonio, the seat of the +Mexican power in the north. + +The second phase is the coming of Santa Anna with an overwhelming force, +the fall of the Alamo, the massacre of Goliad and the dark days of +Texas. Yet the period of gloom is relieved by the last stand of +Crockett, Bowie, and their famous comrades. + +The third phase is the coming of light in the darkness, Houston's +crowning victory at San Jacinto, and the complete victory of the Texans. + +The story of the Texan fight for freedom has always appealed to the +author, as one of the most remarkable of modern times. + + + + + CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + I THE PRISONERS + II A HAIR-CUT + III SANCTUARY + IV THE PALM + V IN THE PYRAMID + VI THE MARCH WITH COS + VII THE DUNGEON UNDER THE SEA + VIII THE BLACK JAGUAR + IX THE RUINED TEMPLES + X CACTUS AND MEXICANS + XI THE LONG CHASE + XII THE TRIAL OF PATIENCE + XIII THE TEXANS + XIV THE RING TAILED PANTHER + XV THE FIRST GUN + XVI THE COMING OF URREA + XVII THE OLD CONVENT +XVIII IN SAN ANTONIO + XIX THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER + XX THE WHEEL OF FIRE + XXI THE TEXAN STAR + XXII THE TAKING OF THE TOWN + + + + +THE TEXAN STAR + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE PRISONERS + + +A boy and a man sat in a room of a stone house in the ancient City of +Mexico, capital in turn of Aztec, Spaniard and Mexican. They could see +through the narrow windows masses of low buildings and tile roofs, and +beyond, the swelling shape of great mountains, standing clear against +the blue sky. But they had looked upon them so often that the mind took +no note of the luminous spectacle. The cry of a water-seller or the +occasional jingle of a spur came from the street below, but these, too, +were familiar sounds, and they were no longer regarded. + +The room contained but little furniture and the door was of heavy oak. +Its whole aspect indicated that it was a prison. The man was of middle +years, and his face showed a singular blend of kindness and firmness. +The pallor of imprisonment had replaced his usual color. The boy was +tall and strong and his cheeks were yet ruddy. His features bore some +resemblance to those of his older comrade. + +"Ned," said the man at last, "it has been good of you to stay with me +here, but a prison is no place for a boy. You must secure a release and +go back to our people." + +The boy smiled, and his face, in repose rather stern for one so young, +was illumined in a wonderful manner. + +"I don't want to leave you, Uncle Steve," he said, "and if I did it's +not likely that I could. This house is strong, and it's a long way from +here to Texas." + +"Perhaps I can induce them to let you go," said the man. "Why should +they wish to hold one so young?" + +Edward Fulton did not reply because he saw that Stephen Austin was +speaking to himself rather than his companion. Instead, he looked once +more through the window and over the city at the vast white peaks of +Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl silent and immutable, forever guarding the +sky-line. Yet they seemed to call to him at this moment and tell him of +freedom. The words of the man had touched a spring within him and he +wanted to go. He could not conceal from himself the fact that he longed +for liberty with every pulse and fiber. But he resolved, nevertheless, +to stay. He would not desert the one whom he had come to serve. + +Stephen Austin, the real founder of Texas, had now been in prison in +Mexico more than a year. Coming to Saltillo to secure for the Texans +better treatment from the Mexicans, their rulers, he had been seized and +held as a criminal. The boy, Edward Fulton, was not really his nephew, +but an orphan, the son of a cousin. He owed much to Austin and coming to +the capital to help him he was sharing his imprisonment. + +"They say that Santa Anna now has the power," said Ned, breaking the +somber silence. + +"It is true," said Stephen Austin, "and it is a new and strong reason +why I fear for our people. Of all the cunning and ambitious men in +Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna is the most cunning and ambitious. I +know, too, that he is the most able, and I believe that he is the most +dangerous to those of us who have settled in Texas. What a country is +this Mexico! Revolution after revolution! You make a treaty with one +president to-day and to-morrow another disclaims it! More than one of +them has a touch of genius, and yet it is obscured by childishness and +cruelty!" + +He sighed heavily. Ned, full of sympathy, glanced at him but said +nothing. Then his gaze turned back to the mighty peaks which stood so +sharp and clear against the blue. Truth and honesty were the most marked +qualities of Stephen Austin and he could not understand the vast web of +intrigue in which the Mexican capital was continually involved. And to +the young mind of the boy, cast in the same mold, it was yet more +baffling and repellent. + +Ned still stared at the guardian peaks, but his thoughts floated away +from them. His head had been full of old romance when he entered the +vale of Tenochtitlan. He had almost seen Cortez and the conquistadores +in their visible forms with their armor clanking about them as they +stalked before him. He had gazed eagerly upon the lakes, the mighty +mountains, the low houses and the strange people. Here, deeds of which +the world still talked had been done centuries ago and his thrill was +strong and long. But the feeling was gone now. He had liked many of the +Mexicans and many of the Mexican traits, but he had felt with increasing +force that he could never reach out his hand and touch anything solid. +He thought of volcanic beings on a volcanic soil. + +The throb of a drum came from the street below, and presently the shrill +sound of fifes was mingled with the steady beat. Ned stood up and +pressed his head as far forward as the bars of the window would let him. + +"Soldiers, a regiment, I think," he said. "Ah, I can see them now! What +brilliant uniforms their officers wear!" + +Austin also looked out. + +"Yes," he said. "They know how to dress for effect. And their music is +good, too. Listen how they play." + +It was a martial air, given with a splendid lilt and swing. The tune +crept into Ned's blood and his hand beat time on the stone sill. But the +music increased his longing for liberty. His thoughts passed away from +the narrow street and the marching regiment to the North, to the wild +free plains beyond the Rio Grande. It was there that his heart was, and +it was there that his body would be. + +"It is General Cos who leads them," said Austin. "I can see him now, +riding upon a white horse. It's the man in the white and silver uniform, +Ned." + +"He's the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, is he not?" + +"Yes, and I fear him. I know well, Ned, that he hates the Texans--all of +us." + +"Perhaps the regiment that we see now is going north against our +people." + +Austin's brows contracted. + +"It may be so," he said. "They give soft words all the time, and yet +they hold me a prisoner here. It would be like them to strike while +pretending to clear away all the troubles between us." + +He sighed again. Ned watched the soldiers until the last of them had +passed the window, and then he listened to the music, the sound of drum +and fife, until it died away, and they heard only the usual murmur of +the city. Then the homesickness, the longing for the great free country +to the north grew upon him and became almost overpowering. + +"Someone comes," said Austin. + +They heard the sound of the heavy bar that closed the door being moved +from its place. + +"Our dinner, doubtless," said Austin, "but it is early." + +The door swung wide and a young Mexican officer entered. He was taller +and fairer than most of his race, evidently of pure Northern Spanish +blood, and his countenance was frank and fine. + +"Welcome, Lieutenant," said Stephen Austin, speaking in Spanish, which +he, as well as Ned, understood perfectly. "You know that we are always +glad to see you here." + +Lieutenant Alfonso de Zavala smiled in a quick, responsive way, but in a +moment his face became grave. + +"I announce a visitor, a most distinguished visitor, Mr. Austin," he +said. "General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of the Mexican +Republic and Commander-in-chief of its armies and navies." + +Both Mr. Austin and the boy arose and bowed as a small man of middle +years, slender and nervous, strode into the room, standing for a few +moments near its center, and looking about him like a questing hawk. His +was, in truth, an extraordinary presence. He seemed to radiate an +influence that at once attracted and repelled. His dark features were +cut sharply and clearly. His eyes, set closely together, were of the +most intense black that Ned had ever seen in a human head. Nor were +those eyes ever at rest. They roamed over everything, and they seemed to +burn every object for the single instant they fell there. They never met +the gaze of either American squarely, although they continually came +back to both. + +This man was clothed in a white uniform, heavy with gold stripes and +gold epaulets. A small sword at his side had a gold hilt set with a +diamond. He wore a three-cornered hat shaped like that of Napoleon, but +instead of the Corsican's simple gray his was bright in color and +splendid with plumage. + +He was at once a powerful and sinister figure. Ned felt that he was in +the presence of genius, but it belonged to one of those sinuous +creatures, shining and terrible, that are bred under the vivid sun of +the tropics. There was a singular sensation at the roots of his hair, +but, resolved to show neither fear nor apprehension, he stood and gazed +directly at Santa Anna. + +"Be seated, Mr. Austin," said the General, "and close the door, de +Zavala, but remain with us. Your young relative can remain, also. I have +things of importance to say, but it is not forbidden to him, also, to +hear them." + +Ned sat down and so did Mr. Austin and young de Zavala, but Santa Anna +remained standing. It seemed to Ned that he did so because he wished to +look down upon them from a height. And all the time the black eyes, like +two burning coals, played restlessly about the room. + +Ned was unable to take his own eyes away. The figure in its gorgeous +uniform was so full of nervous energy that it attracted like a magnet, +while at the same time it bade all who opposed to beware. The boy felt +as if he were before a splendid leopard with no bars of a cage between. + +Santa Anna took three or four rapid steps back and forth. He kept his +hat upon his head, a right, it seemed, due to his superiority to other +people. He looked like a man who had a great thought which he was +shaping into quick words. Presently he stopped before Austin, and shot +him one of those piercing glances. + +"My friend and guest," he said in the sonorous Spanish. + +Austin bowed. Whether the subtle Mexican meant the words in satire or +in earnest he did not know, nor did he care greatly. + +"When I call you my friend and guest I speak truth," said Santa Anna. +"It is true that we had you brought here from Saltillo, and we insist +that you accept our continued hospitality, but it is because we know how +devoted you are to our common Mexico, and we would have you here at our +right hand for advice and help." + +Ned saw Mr. Austin smile a little sadly. It all seemed very strange to +the boy. How could one talk of friendship and hospitality to those whom +he held as prisoners? Why could not these people say what they meant? +Again he longed for the free winds of the plains. + +"You and I together should be able to quiet these troublesome Texans," +continued Santa Anna--and his voice had a hard metallic quality that +rasped the boy's nerves. "You know, Stephen Austin, that I and Mexico +have endured much from the people whom you have brought within our +borders. They shed good Mexican blood at the fort, Velasco, and they +have attacked us elsewhere. They do not pay their taxes or obey our +decrees, and when I send my officers to make them obey they take down +their long rifles." + +Austin smiled again, and now the watching boy thought the smile was not +sad at all. If Santa Anna took notice he gave no sign. + +"But you are reasonable," continued the Mexican, and now his manner was +winning to an extraordinary degree. "It was my predecessor, Farias, who +brought you here, but I would not see you go, because I love you like a +brother, and now I have come to you, that between us we may calm your +turbulent Texans." + +"But you must bear in mind," said Austin, "that our rights have been +taken from us. All the clauses of our charter have been broken, and now +your Congress has decreed that we shall have only one soldier to every +five hundred inhabitants and that all the rest of us shall be disarmed. +How are we, in a wild country, to protect ourselves from the Comanches, +Lipans and other Indians who roam everywhere, robbing and murdering?" + +Austin's face, usually so benevolent, flushed and his eyes were very +bright. Ned looked intently at Santa Anna to see how he would take the +daring and truthful indictment. But the Mexican showed no confusion, +only astonishment. He threw up his hands in a vivid southern gesture and +looked at Austin in surprised reproof. + +"My friend," he said in injured but not angry tones, "how can you ask me +such a question? Am I not here to protect the Texans? Am I not President +of Mexico? Am I not head of the Mexican army? My gallant soldiers, my +horsemen with their lances and sabers, will draw a ring around the +Texans through which no Comanche or Lipan, however daring, will be able +to break." + +He spoke with such fire, such appearance of earnestness, that Ned, +despite a mind uncommonly keen and analytical in one so young, was +forced to believe for a moment. Texas, however, was far and immense, and +there were not enough soldiers in all America to put a ring around the +wild Comanches. But the impression remained longer with Austin, who was +ever hoping for the best, and ever seeing the best in others. + +Ned was a silent boy who had suffered many hardships, and he had +acquired the habit of thought which in its turn brought observation and +judgment. Yet if Santa Anna was acting he was doing it with consummate +skill, and the boy who never said a word watched him all the time. + +Santa Anna began to talk now of the great future that awaited the Texans +under the banner of Mexico. He poured forth the words with so much Latin +fervor that it was almost like listening to a song. Ned felt the +influence of the musical roll coming over him again, but, with an effort +of the will that was almost physical, he shook it off. + +Santa Anna painted the picture of a dream, a gorgeous dream of many +colors. Mexico was to become a mighty country and the Texans with their +cool courage and martial energy would be no mean factor in it. Austin +would be one of his lieutenants, a sharer in his greatness and reward. +His eloquence was wonderful, and Ned felt once more the fascination of +the serpent. This was a man to whom only the grand and magnificent +appealed, and already he had achieved a part of his dream. + +Ned moved a little closer to the window. He wished the fresh air to blow +upon his face. He saw that Mr. Austin was fully under the spell. Santa +Anna was making the most beautiful and convincing promises. He himself +was going to Texas. He was the father of his people. He would right +every wrong. He loved the Texans, these children of the north who had +come to his country for a home. No one could ever say that he appealed +in vain to Santa Anna for protection. Texans would be proud that they +were a part of Mexico, they would be glad to belong to a nation which +already had a glorious history, and to come to a capital which had more +splendor and romance than any other in America. + +Ned literally withdrew his soul within itself. He sought to shut out the +influence that was radiating from this singular and brilliant figure, +but he saw that Mr. Austin was falling more deeply under it. + +"Look!" said Santa Anna, taking the man by the arm in the familiar +manner that one old friend has with another and drawing him to the +window. "Is not this a prospect to enchant? Is not this a capital of +which you and I can well be proud?" + +He lifted a forefinger and swept the half curve that could be seen from +the window. It was truly a panorama that would kindle the heart of the +dullest. Forty miles away the white crests of Popocatepetl and +Ixtaccihuatl still showed against the background of burning blue, like +pillars supporting the dome of heaven. Along the whole line of the half +curve were mountains in fold on fold. Below the green of the valley +showed the waters of the lake both fresh and salt gleaming with gold +where the sunlight shot down upon them. Nearer rose the spires of the +cathedral, and then the sea of tile roofs burnished by the vivid beams. + +Santa Anna stood in a dramatic position, his finger still pointing. +There was scarcely a day that Ned did not feel the majesty of this +valley of Tenochtitlan, but Santa Anna deepened the spell. Could the +world hold another place its equal? Might not the Texans indeed have a +glorious future in the land of which this city was the capital? Poetry +and romance appealed powerfully to the boy's thoughtful mind, and he +felt that here in Mexico he was at their very heart. Nothing else had +ever moved him so much. + +"You are pleased! It impresses you!" said Santa Anna to Austin. "I can +see it on your face. You are with us. You are one of us. Ah, my friend, +how noble it is to have a great heart." + +"Do I go with your message to the Texans?" asked Austin. + +"I must leave now, but I shall come again soon, and I will tell you +all. You shall carry words that will satisfy every one of them." + +He threw his arms about Austin's shoulders, gave Ned a quick salute, and +then left the room, taking young de Zavala with him, Ned heard the heavy +bar fall in place on the outside of the door, and he knew that they were +shut in as tightly as ever. But Mr. Austin was in a glow. + +"What a wonderful, flexible mind!" he said, more to himself than to the +boy. "I could have preferred a sort of independence for Texas, but since +we're to be ruled from the City of Mexico, Santa Anna will do the best +he can for us. As soon as he sweeps away the revolutionary troubles he +will repair all our injuries." + +Ned was silent. He knew that the generous Austin was still under Santa +Anna's magnetic spell, but after his departure the whole room was +changed to the boy. He saw clearly again. There were no mists and clouds +about his mind. Moreover, the wonderful half curve before the window was +changing. Vapors were rolling up from the south and the two great peaks +faded from view. Trees and water in the valley changed to gray. The +skies which had been so bright now became somber and menacing. + +The boy felt a deep fear at his heart, but Mr. Austin seemed to be yet +under the influence of Santa Anna, and talked cheerfully of their speedy +return to Texas. Ned listened in silence and unbelief, while the gloom +outside deepened, and night presently came over Anahuac. But he had +formed his resolution. He owed much to Mr. Austin. He had come a vast +distance to be at his side, and to serve him in prison, but he felt now +that he could be of more use elsewhere. Moreover, he must carry a +message, a warning to those who needed it sorely. One of the windows +opened upon the north, and he looked intently through it trying to +pierce, with the mind's eye at least, the thousand miles that lay +between him and those whom he would reach with the word. + +Mr. Austin had lighted a candle. Noticing the boy's gloomy face, he +patted him on the head with a benignant hand and said: + +"Don't be down of heart, Edward, my lad. We'll soon be on our way to +Texas." + +"But this is Mexico, and it is Santa Anna who holds us." + +"That is true, and it is Santa Anna who is our best friend." + +Ned did not dispute the sanguine saying. He saw that Mr. Austin had his +opinion, and he had his. The door was opened again in a half hour and a +soldier brought them their supper. Young de Zavala, who was their +immediate guardian, also entered and stood by while they ate. They had +never received poor food, and to-night Mexican hospitality exerted +itself--at the insistence of Santa Anna, Ned surmised. In addition to the +regular supper there was an ice and a bottle of Spanish wine. + +"The President has just given an order that the greatest courtesy be +shown to you at all times," said de Zavala, "and I am very glad. I, too, +have people in that territory of ours from which you come--Texas." + +He spoke with undeniable sympathy, and Ned felt his heart warm toward +him, but he decided to say nothing. He feared that he might betray by +some chance word the plan that he had in mind. But Mr. Austin, believing +in others because he was so truthful and honest himself, talked freely. + +"All our troubles will soon be over," he said to de Zavala. + +"I hope so, Senor," said the young man earnestly. + +By and by, when de Zavala and the soldier were gone, Ned went again to +the window, stood there a few moments to harden his resolution, and then +came back to the man. + +"Mr. Austin," he said, "I am going to ask your consent to something." + +The Texan looked up in surprise. + +"Why, Edward, my lad," he said kindly, "you don't have to ask my consent +to anything, after the way in which you have already sacrificed yourself +for me." + +"But I am not going to stay with you any longer, Mr. Austin--that is, if +I can help it. I am going back to Texas." + +Mr. Austin laughed. It was a mellow and satisfied laugh. + +"So you are, Edward," he said, "and I am going with you. You will help +me to bear a message of peace and safety to the Texans." + +Ned paused a moment, irresolute. There was no change in his +determination. He was merely uncertain about the words to use. + +"There may be delays," he said at last, "and--Mr. Austin, I have decided +to go alone--and within the next day or two if I can." + +The Texan's face clouded. + +"I cannot understand you," he said. "Why this hurry? It would in reality +be a breach of faith to our great friend, Santa Anna--that is, if you +could go. I don't believe you can." + +Ned was troubled. He was tempted to tell what was in his mind, but he +knew that he would not be believed, so he fell back again upon his +infinite capacity for silence. Mr. Austin read resolution in the closed +lips and rigid figure. + +"Do you really mean that you will attempt to steal away?" he asked. + +"As soon as I can." + +The man shook his head. + +"It would be better not to do so," he said, "but you are your own +master, and I see I cannot dissuade you from the attempt. But, boy, you +will promise me not to take any unnecessary or foolish risks?" + +"I promise gladly, and, Mr. Austin, I hate to leave you here." + +Their quarters were commodious and Ned slept alone in a small room to +the left of the main apartment. It was a bare place with only a bed and +a chair, but it was lighted by a fairly large window. Ned examined this +window critically. It had a horizontal iron bar across the middle, and +it was about thirty feet from the ground. He pulled at the iron bar with +both hands but, although rusty with time, it would not move in its +socket. Then he measured the two spaces between the bar and the wall. + +Hope sprang up in the boy's heart. Then he did a strange thing. He +removed nearly all his clothing and tried to press his head and +shoulders between the bar and the wall. His head, which was of the long +narrow type, so common in the scholar, would have gone through the +aperture, had it not been for his hair which was long, and which grew +uncommonly thick. His shoulders were very thick and broad and they, too, +halted him. He drew back and felt a keen thrill of disappointment. + +But he was a boy who usually clung tenaciously to an idea, and, sitting +down, he concentrated his mind upon the plan that he had formed. By and +by a possible way out came to him. Then he lay down upon the bed, drew a +blanket over him because the night was chill in the City of Mexico, and +calmly sought sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A HAIR-CUT + + +The optimism of Mr. Austin endured the next morning, but Ned was gloomy. +Since it was his habit to be silent, the man did not notice it at first. +The breakfast was good, with tortillas, frijoles, other Mexican dishes +and coffee, but the boy had no appetite. He merely picked at his food, +made a faint effort or two to drink his coffee and finally put the cup +back almost full in the saucer. Then Mr. Austin began to observe. + +"Are you ill, Ned?" he asked. "Is this imprisonment beginning to tell +upon you? I had thought that you were standing it well. Can't you eat?" + +"I don't believe I'm hungry," replied the boy, "but there is nothing +else the matter with me. I'll be all right, Uncle Steve. Don't you +bother about me." + +He ate a little breakfast, about one half of the usual amount, and then, +asking to be excused, went to the window, where he again stared out at +the tiled roofs, the green foliage in the valley of Mexico and the +ranges and peaks beyond. He was taking his resolution, and he was +carrying it out, but it was hard, very hard. He foresaw that he would +have to strengthen his will many, many times. Mr. Austin took no further +worry on Ned's account, thinking that he would be all right again in a +day or two. + +But at the dinner which was brought to them in the middle of the day +Ned showed a marked failure of appetite, and Mr. Austin felt real +concern. The boy, however, was sure that he would be all right before +the day was over. + +"It must be the lack of fresh air and exercise," said Mr. Austin. "You +can really take exercise in here, Ned. Besides, you said that you were +going to escape. If you fall ill you will have no chance at all." + +He spoke half in jest, but Ned took him seriously. + +"I am not ill, Uncle Steve," he said. "I really feel very well, but I +have lost my appetite. Maybe I am getting tired of these Mexican +dishes." + +"Take exercise! take exercise!" said Mr. Austin with emphasis. + +"I think I will," said Ned. + +Physical exercise, after all, fitted in with his ideas, and that +afternoon he worked hard at all the gymnastic feats possible within the +three rooms to which they were confined. De Zavala came in and expressed +his astonishment at the athletic feats, which Ned continued with +unabated zeal despite his presence. + +"Why do you do these things?" he asked in wonder. + +"To keep myself strong and healthy. I ought to have begun them sooner. +The Mexican air is depressing, and I find that I am losing my appetite." + +De Zavala's eyes opened wide while Ned deftly turned a handspring. Then +the young American sat down panting, his face flushed with as healthy a +color as one could find anywhere. + +"You'll have an appetite to-night," said Mr. Austin. But to his great +amazement Ned again played with his food, eating only half the usual +amount. + +"You're surely ill," said Mr. Austin. "I've no doubt de Zavala would +allow us to have a physician, and I shall ask him for one." + +"Don't do it, Uncle Steve," begged Ned. "There's nothing at all the +matter with me, and anyhow I wouldn't want a Mexican doctor fussing over +me. I've probably been eating too much." + +Mr. Austin was forced to accede. The boy certainly did not look ill, and +his appetite was bound to become normal again in a few days. But it did +not. As far as Mr. Austin could measure it, Ned was eating less and +less. It was obvious that he was thinner. He was also growing much +paler, except for a red flush on the cheek bones. Mr. Austin became +alarmed, but Ned obstinately refused any help, always asserting with +emphasis that he had no ailment of any kind. But the man could see that +he had become much lighter, and he wondered at the boy's physical +failure. De Zavala, also, expressed his sorrow in sonorous Spanish, but +Ned, while thanking them, steadily disclaimed any need of sympathy. + +The boy found the days hard, but the nights were harder. For the first +time in his life he could not sleep well. He would lie for hours so wide +awake that his eyes grew used to the dark, and he could see everything +in his room. He was troubled, too, by bad dreams and in many of these +dreams he was a living skeleton, wandering about and condemned to live +forever without food. More than once he bitterly regretted the +resolution he had taken, but having taken it, he would never alter it. +His silent, concentrated nature would not let him. Yet he endured +undoubted torture day by day. Torture was the only name for it. + +"I shall send an application to President Santa Anna to have you allowed +a measure of liberty," said Mr. Austin finally. "You are simply pining +away here, Edward, my lad. You cannot eat, that is, you eat only a +little. I have passed the most tempting and delicate things to you and +you always refuse. No boy of your age would do so unless something were +very much wrong with his physical system. You have lost many pounds, and +if this keeps on I do not know what will happen to you. I shall not ask +for more liberty for you, but you must have a doctor at once." + +"I do not want any doctor, Uncle Steve," said the boy. "He cannot do me +any good, but there is somebody else whom I want." + +"Who is he?" + +"A barber." + +"A barber! Now what good can a barber do you?" + +"A great deal. What I crave most in the world is a hair-cut, and only a +barber can do that for me. My hair has been growing for more than three +months, Uncle Steve, and you've seen how extremely thick it is. Now it +is so long, too, that it's falling all about my eyes. Its weight is +oppressing my brain. I feel a little touch of fever now and then, and I +believe it's this awful hair." + +He ran his fingers through the heavy locks until his head seemed to be +surrounded with a defense like the quills of a porcupine. Beneath the +great bush of hair his gray eyes glowed in a pale, thin face. + +"There is a lot of it," said Mr. Austin, surveying him critically, "but +it is not usual for anybody in our situation to be worrying about the +length and abundance of his hair." + +"I'm sure I'd be a lot better if I could get it cut close." + +"Well, well, if you are taking it so much to heart we'll see what can be +done. You are ill and wasted, Edward, and when one is in that condition +a little thing can affect his spirits. De Zavala is a friendly sort of +young fellow and through him we will send a request to Colonel Sandoval, +the commander of the prisons, that you be allowed to have your hair +cut." + +"If you please, Uncle Steve," said Ned gratefully. + +Mr. Austin was not wrong in his forecast about Lieutenant de Zavala. He +showed a full measure of sympathy. Hence a petition to Colonel Martin +Sandoval y Dominguez, commander of prisons in the City of Mexico, was +drawn up in due form. It stated that one Edward Fulton, a Texan of +tender years, now in detention at the capital, was suffering from the +excessive growth of hair upon his head. The weight and thickness of said +hair had heated his brain and destroyed his appetite. In ordinary cases +of physical decline a physician was needed most, but so far as young +Edward Fulton was concerned, a barber could render the greatest service. + +The petition, duly endorsed and stamped, was forwarded to Colonel Martin +Sandoval y Dominguez, and, after being gravely considered by him in the +manner befitting a Mexican officer of high rank and pure Spanish +descent, received approval. Then he chose among the barbers one Joaquin +Menendez, a dark fellow who was not of pure Spanish descent, and sent +him to the prison with de Zavala to accomplish the needed task. + +"I hope you will be happy now, Edward," said Mr. Austin, when the two +Mexicans came. "You are a good boy, but it seems to me that you have +been making an undue fuss about your hair." + +"I'm quite sure I shall recover fast," said Ned. + +It was hard for him to hide his happiness from the others. He felt a +thrill of joy every time the steel of the scissors clicked together and +a lock of hair fell to the floor. But Joaquin Menendez, the barber, had +a Southern temperament and the soul of an artist. It pained him to +shear away--"shear away" alone described it--such magnificent hair. It +was so thick, so long and so glossy. + +"Ah," he said, laying some of the clipped locks across his hand and +surveying them sorrowfully, "so great is the pity! What senorita could +resist the young senor if these were still growing upon his head!" + +"You cut that hair," said Ned with a vicious snap of his teeth, "and cut +it close, so close that it will look like the shaven face of a man. I +think you will find it so stated in the conditions if you will look at +the permit approved in his own handwriting by Colonel Sandoval y +Dominguez." + +Joaquin Menendez, still the artist, but obedient to the law, heaved a +deep sigh, and proceeded with his sad task. Lock by lock the abundant +hair fell, until Ned's head stood forth in the shaven likeness of a +man's face that he had wished. + +"I must tell you," said Mr. Austin, "that it does not become you, but I +hope you are satisfied." + +"I am satisfied," replied Ned. "I have every cause to be. I know I shall +have a stronger appetite to-morrow." + +"You are certainly a sensitive boy," said Mr. Austin, looking at him in +some wonder. "I did not know that such a thing could influence your +feelings and your physical condition so much." + +Ned made no reply, but that night he ate supper with a much better +appetite than he had shown in many days, bringing words of warm approval +and encouragement from Mr. Austin. + +An hour or two later, when cheerful good-nights had been exchanged, Ned +withdrew to his own little room. He lay down upon his bed, but he was +fully clothed and he had no intention of sleep. Instead the boy was +transformed. For days he had been walking with a weak and lagging gait. +Fever was in his veins. Sometimes he became dizzy, and the walls and +floors of the prison swam before him. But now the spirit had taken +command of the thin body. Weakness and dizziness were gone. Every vein +was infused with strength. Hope was in command, and he no longer doubted +that he would succeed. + +He rose from the bed and went to the window. The city was silent and the +night was dark. Floating clouds hid the moon and stars. The ranges and +the city roofs themselves had sunk into the dusk. It seemed to him that +all things favored the bold and persevering. And he had been +persevering. No one would ever know how he had suffered, what terrific +pangs had assailed him. He could not see now how he had done it, and he +was quite sure that he could never go through such an ordeal again. The +rack would be almost as welcome. + +Ned did not know it, but a deep red flush had come into each pale cheek. +He removed most of his clothes, and put his head forward between the +iron bar and the window sill. The head went through and the shoulders +followed. He drew back, breathing a deep and mighty breath of triumph. +Yet he had known that it would be so. When he first tried the space he +had been only a shade too large for it. Now his head and shoulders would +go between, but with nothing to spare. A sheet of paper could not have +been slipped in on either side. Yet it was enough. The triumph of +self-denial was complete. + +He had thought several times of telling Mr. Austin, but he finally +decided not to do so. He might seek to interfere. He would put a +thousand difficulties in the way, some real and some imaginary. It would +save the feelings of both for him to go quietly, and, when Mr. Austin +missed him, he would know why and how he had gone. + +Ned stood at the window a little while longer, listening. He heard far +away the faint rattle of a saber, probably some officer of Santa Anna +who was going to a place outside a lattice, the sharp cry of a Mexican +upbraiding his lazy mule, and the distant note of a woman singing an old +Spanish song. It was as dark as ever, with the clouds rolling over the +great valley of Tenochtitlan, which had seen so much of human passion +and woe. Ned, brave and resolute as he was, shivered. He was oppressed +by the night and the place. It seemed to him, for the moment, that the +ghosts of stern Cortez, and of the Aztecs themselves were walking out +there. + +Then he did a characteristic thing. Folding his arms in front of him he +grasped his own elbows and shook himself fiercely. The effort of will +and body banished the shapes and illusions, and he went to work with +firm hands. + +He tore the coverings from his bed into strips, and knotted them +together stoutly, trying each knot by tying the strip to the bar, and +pulling on it with all his strength. He made his rope at least thirty +feet long and then gave it a final test, knot by knot. He judged that it +was now near midnight and the skies were still very dark. Inside of a +half hour he would be gone--to what? He was seized with an intense +yearning to wake up Mr. Austin and tell him good-by. The Texan leader +had been so good to him, he would worry so much about him that it was +almost heartless to slip away in this manner. But he checked the +impulse again, and went swiftly ahead with his work. + +He kept on nothing but his underclothing and trousers. The rest he made +up into a small package which he tied upon his back. He was sorry that +he did not have any weapon. He had been deprived of even his +pocket-knife, but he did have a few dollars of Spanish coinage, which he +stowed carefully in his trousers pocket. All the while his energy +endured despite his wasted form. Hope made a bridge for his weakness. + +He let the line out of the window, and his delicate sense told him when +it struck against the ground. Six or eight feet were left in his hand, +and he tied the end firmly to the bar, knotting it again and again. Then +he slipped through the opening and the passage was so close that his +ears scraped as they went by. He hung for a few moments on the outside, +his feet on the stone sill and his hands clasping the iron bar. He felt +sheer and absolute terror. The spires of the cathedral were invisible +and only a few far lights showed dimly. It seemed to him that he was +suspended over a bottomless pit, and he shivered from head to foot. + +But he recalled his courage. Such a black night was best suited to his +task. The shivering ceased. Hope ruled once more. He knelt on the stone +sill, and, grasping his crude rope with both hands, let himself down +from the window. It required almost superhuman exertion to keep himself +from dropping sheer away, and the rope burned his palms. But he held on, +knowing that he must hold, and the stone wall felt cold to him, as he +lay against it, and slid slowly down. + +Perhaps his strength, which was more of the mind than of the body, +partly gave way under such a severe strain, but he felt pains shooting +through his arms, shoulders and chest. His most vivid recollections of +the descent were the coldness of the wall against which he lay and the +far tinkle of a mandolin which came to him with annoying distinctness. +The frequent knots where he had tied the strips together were a help, +and whenever he came to one he let his hands rest upon it a moment or +two lest he slide down too rapidly. + +He had been descending, it seemed to him, fully an hour, and he must +have come down a mile, when he heard the rattle of a saber. It was so +distinct and so near that it could not be imagination. He looked in the +direction of the sound and saw two dark figures in the street. As he +stared the two figures shaped themselves into two Mexican officers. +Truth, not fancy, told him also that they were not moving. They had seen +him escaping and they would come for him! He pressed his body hard +against the stone wall, and with his hands resting upon one of the knots +clung desperately to the rope. He was hanging in an alley, and the men +were on the street at the mouth of it six or seven yards away. They were +talking and it must be about him! + +He saw them create a light in some manner, and his hands almost slipped +from the rope. Then joy flooded back. They were merely lighting +cigarettes, and, with a few more words to each other, they walked on. +Ned slid slowly down, but when he came to the last knot his strength +gave way and he fell. It seemed to him that he was plunging an +immeasurable distance through depths of space. Then he struck and with +the force of the blow consciousness left him. + +When he revived he found himself lying upon a rough stone pavement and +it was still dark. He saw above a narrow cleft of somber sky, and +something cold and trailing lay across his face. He shivered with +repulsion, snatched at it to throw it off, and found that it was his +rope. Then he felt of himself cautiously and fearfully, but found that +no bones were broken. Nor was he bruised to any degree and now he knew +that he could not have fallen more than two or three feet. Perhaps he +had struck first upon the little pack which he had fastened upon his +back. It reminded him that he was shoeless and coatless and undoing the +pack he reclothed himself fully. + +He was quite sure that he had not lain there more than a quarter of an +hour. Nothing had happened while he was unconscious. It was a dark +little alley in the rear of the prison, and the buildings on the other +side that abutted upon it were windowless. He walked cautiously to the +mouth of the alley, and looked up and down the street. He saw no one, +and, pulling his cap down over his eyes, he started instinctively toward +the north, because it was to the far north that he wished to go. He was +fully aware that he faced great dangers, almost impossibilities. +Practically nothing was in his favor, save that he spoke excellent +Spanish and also Mexican versions of it. + +He went for several hundred yards along the rough and narrow street, and +he began to shiver again. Now it was from cold, which often grows +intense at night in the great valley of Mexico. Nor was his wasted frame +fitted to withstand it. He was assailed also by a fierce hunger. He had +carried self-denial to the utmost limit, and nature was crying out +against him in a voice that must be heard. + +He resolved to risk all and obtain food. Another hundred yards and he +saw crouched in an angle of the street an old woman who offered +tortillas and frijoles for sale. He went a little nearer, but +apprehension almost overcame him. It might be difficult for him to pass +for a Mexican and she would give the alarm. But he went yet nearer and +stood where he could see her face. It was broad, fat and dark, more +Aztec than Spaniard, and then he approached boldly, his speed increased +by the appetizing aroma arising from some flat cakes that lay over +burning charcoal. + +"I will take these, my mother," he said in Mexican, and leaning over he +snatched up half a dozen gloriously hot tortillas and frijoles. A cry of +indignation and anger was checked at the old woman's lips as two small +silver coins slipped from the boy's hands, and tinkled pleasantly +together in her own. + +Holding his spoils in his hands Ned walked swiftly up the street. He +glanced back once, and saw that the old Aztec woman had sunk back into +her original position. He had nothing to fear from any alarm by her, and +he looked ahead for some especially dark nook in which he could devour +the precious food. He saw none, but he caught a glimpse beyond of +foliage, and he recalled enough of the city of Mexico to know what it +was. It was the Zocalo or garden of the cathedral, the Holy Metropolitan +Church of Mexico. Above the foliage he could see the dark walls, and +above them he saw the dome, as he had seen it from the window of his +prison. Over the dome itself rose a beautiful lantern, in which a light +was now burning. + +Ned entered the garden which contained many trees, and sat down in the +thickest group of them. Then he began to eat. He was as ravenous as any +wolf, but he had been cultivating the power of will, and he ate like a +gentleman, knowing that to do otherwise would not be good for him. But, +tempered by discretion, it was a glorious pursuit. It was almost worth +the long period of fasting and suffering, for common Mexican food, +bought on the street from an old Aztec woman, to taste so well. Strength +flowed back into every vein and muscle. He would not now give way to +fears and tremblings which were of the body rather than the mind. He +stopped when half of the food was gone, put the remainder in his pocket, +and stood up. Fine drops of water struck him in the face. It had begun +to rain. And a raw wind was moaning in the valley. + +Despite the warm food and his returning strength Ned felt the desperate +need of shelter. It was growing colder, too. Even as he stood there the +fine rain turned to fine snow. It melted as it fell, but when it struck +him about the neck and face it had an uncommonly penetrating power and +the chill seemed to go into the bone. He must have shelter. He looked at +the dark walls of the cathedral and then at the light in the slender +lantern far up above the dome. What more truly a shelter than a church! +It had been a sanctuary in the dark ages, and he might use it now as +such. + +He left the trees and stood for a little while by a stone, one of the +124 which formerly enclosed an atrium. Still seeing nothing and hearing +nothing but the whistle of the wind which drove the cold drops of snow +under his collar he advanced boldly again, sprang over the iron railing, +and came to the walls of the old church, where he stood a moment. + +Ned knew that in great Catholic cathedrals, like the one of Mexico, +there were always side doors or little wickets used by priests or other +high officials of the church, and he was hoping to find one that he +could open. He passed half way around the building, feeling cautiously +along the cold stone. Once he saw a watchman with sombrero, heavy cloak +and lantern. He pressed into a niche, and the watchman went on his +automatic way, little thinking that anyone was near. + +The boy continued his circuit and presently he found a wooden door, +which he could not force. A little further and he came to a second which +opened to his pressure. It was so small an entrance that he stooped as +he passed in. He shut it carefully behind him, and stood in what was +almost total darkness, until his eyes grew used to the gloom. + +Then he saw that he was in a vast interior, Doric in architecture, +severe and simple. It was in the form of a Latin cross, with fluted +columns dividing the aisles from the nave. Above him rose a noble dome. + +He could make out nothing more for the present. It was very still, very +imposing, and at another time he would have been awed, but now he had +found sanctuary. The cold and the snow were shut out and a grateful +warmth took their place. He walked down one of the aisles, careful that +his footsteps should make no sound. He saw that there were rows of +chapels, seven on either side of the church. It occurred to him that he +would be safer in one of these rooms and he chose that which seemed to +be used the least. + +While on this search he passed the main altar in the center of the +building. He noticed above the stalls a picture of the Virgin. He was a +Protestant, but when he saw it he crossed himself devoutly. Was not her +church giving him shelter and refuge from his enemies? He also passed +the Altar of the Kings, beneath which now lie the heads of great +Mexicans who secured the independence of their country from Spain. He +looked a little at these before he entered the chapel of his choice. + +It was a small room, lighted scarcely at all by a narrow window, and it +contained a few straight wooden pews one of which had been turned about +facing the wall. He lay down in his pew, and, even in daylight, he would +have been hidden from anyone a yard away. The hard wood was soft to him. +He put his cap under his head and stretched himself out. Then, without +will, he relaxed completely. Nature could stand no more. His eyes closed +and he floated off into the far and happy region of sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +SANCTUARY + + +Ned Fulton's sleep was that of exhaustion, and it lasted long. Although +fine snow yet fell outside, and the raw wind blew it about, a pleasant +warmth pervaded the snug alcove, made by the back of the pew in which he +lay. He had been fortunate indeed to find such a place, because the body +of the church was gloomy and cold. But he did not hear the winds, and no +thought of the snow troubled him, as he slept on hour after hour. + +The night passed, the light snow had ceased, no trace of it was left on +the earth, and the brilliant sunshine flooded the ancient capital with +warmth. People went about their usual pursuits. Old men and old women +sold sweets, hot coffee, and tortillas and frijoles, also hot, in the +streets. Little plaster images of the saints and the Virgin were exposed +on trays. Donkeys loaded with vegetables, that had been brought across +the lakes, bumped one another in the narrow ways. Many officers in fine +uniforms and many soldiers in uniforms not so fine could be seen. + +Whatever else Mexico might be it was martial. The great Santa Anna whom +men called another Napoleon now ruled, and there was talk of war and +glory. Much of it was vague, but of one thing they were certain. Santa +Anna would soon crush the mutinous Texans in the wild north. Gringos +they were, always pushing where they were not wanted, and, however hard +their fate, they would deserve it. The vein of cruelty which, despite +great virtues, has made Spain a by-word among nations, showed in her +descendants. + +But the boy, Edward Fulton, sleeping in the chapel of the great +cathedral, knew nothing of it all. Nature, too long defrauded, was +claiming payment of her debt, and he slept peacefully on, although the +hours passed and noon came. + +The church had long been open. Priests came and went in the aisles, and +entered some of the chapels. Worshipers, most of them women, knelt +before the shrines. Service was held at the high altar, and the odor of +incense filled the great nave. Yet the boy was still in sanctuary, and a +kindly angel was watching over him. No one entered the chapel in which +he slept. + +It was almost the middle of the afternoon when he awoke. He heard a +faint murmur of voices and a pleasant odor came to his nostrils. He +quickly remembered everything, and, stirring a little on his wooden +couch he found a certain stiffness in the joints. He realized however +that all his strength had come back. + +But Ned Fulton understood, although he had escaped from prison and had +found shelter and sanctuary in the cathedral, that he was yet in an +extremely precarious position. The murmur of voices told him that people +were in the church, and he had no doubt that the odor came from burning +incense. + +A little light from the narrow window fell upon him. It came through +colored glass, and made red and blue splotches on his hands, at which he +looked curiously. He knew that it was a brilliant day outside, and he +longed for air and exercise, but he dared not move except to stretch his +arms and legs, until the stiffness and soreness disappeared from his +joints. Contact with Spaniard and Mexican had taught him the full need +of caution. + +He was very hungry again, and now he was thankful for his restraint of +the night before. He ate the rest of the food in his pockets and waited +patiently. + +Ned knew that he had slept a long time, and that it must be late in the +day. He was confirmed in his opinion by the angle at which the light +entered the window, and he decided that he would lie in the pew until +night came again. It was a trying test. School his will as he would he +felt at times that he must come from his covert and walk about the +chapel. The narrow wooden pew became a casket in which he was held, and +now and then he was short of breath. Yet he persisted. He was learning +very young the value of will, and he forced himself every day to use it +and increase its strength. + +In such a position and with so much threatening him his faculties became +uncommonly keen. He heard the voices more distinctly, and also the +footsteps of the priests in their felt slippers. They passed the door of +the chapel in which he lay, and once or twice he thought they were going +to enter, but they seemed merely to pause at the door. Then he would +hold his breath until they were gone. + +At last and with infinite joy he saw the colored lights fade. The window +itself grew dark, and the murmur in the church ceased. But he did not +come forth from his secure refuge until it was quite dark. He staggered +from stiffness at first, but the circulation was soon restored. Then he +looked from the door of the chapel into the great nave. An old priest in +a brown robe was extinguishing the candles. Ned watched him until he +had put out the last one, and disappeared in the rear of the church. + +Then he came forth and standing in the great, gloomy nave tried to +decide what to do next. He had found a night's shelter and no more. He +had escaped from prison, but not from the City of Mexico, and his Texas +was yet a thousand miles away. + +Ned found the little door by which he had entered, and passed outside, +hiding again among the trees of the Zocalo. The night was very cold and +he shivered once more, as he stood there waiting. The night was so dark +that the cathedral was almost a formless bulk. But above it, the light +in the slender lantern shone like a friendly star. While he looked the +great bell of Santa Maria de Guadalupe in the western tower began to +chime, and presently the smaller bell of Dona Maria in the eastern tower +joined. It was a mellow song they sung and they sang fresh courage into +the young fugitive's veins. He knew that he could never again see this +cathedral built upon the site of the great Aztec teocalli, destroyed by +the Spaniards more than three hundred years before, without a throb of +gratitude. + +Ned's first resolve was to take measures for protection from the cold, +and he placed his silver dollars in his most convenient pocket. Then he +left the trees and moved toward the east, passing in front of the +handsome church Sagrario Metropolitano, and entering a very narrow +street that led among a maze of small buildings. The district was +lighted faintly by a few hanging lanterns, but as Ned had hoped, some of +the shops were yet open. The people who sat here and there in the low +doorways were mostly short of stature and dark and broad of face. The +Indian in them predominated over the Spaniard, and some were pure Aztec. +Ned judged that they would not take any deep interest in the fortunes +of their rulers, Spanish or Mexican, royalist or republican. + +He pulled his cap over his eyes and a little to one side, and strolled +on, humming an old Mexican air. His walk was the swagger of a young +Mexican gallant, and in the dimness they would not notice his Northern +fairness. Several pairs of eyes observed him, but not with disapproval. +They considered him a trim Mexican lad. Some of the men in the doorways +took up the air that he was whistling and continued it. + +He saw soon the place for which he was looking, a tiny shop in which an +old Indian sold serapes. He stopped in the doorway, which he filled, +took down one of the best and heaviest and held out the number of +dollars which he considered an adequate price. The Indian shook his head +and asked for nearly twice as much. Ned knew how long they bargained and +chaffered in Mexico and what a delight they took in it. After an hour's +talk he could secure the serape, at the price he offered, but he dared +not linger in one place. Already the old Indian was looking at him +inquiringly. Doubtless he had seen that this was no Mexican, but Ned +judged shrewdly that he would not let the fact interfere with a +promising bargain. + +The boy acted promptly. He added two more silver dollars to the amount +that he had proffered, put the whole in the old Indian's palm, took down +the serape, folded it over his arm, and with a "gracias, senor," backed +swiftly out of the shop. The old Indian was too much astonished to move +for at least a half minute. Then tightly clutching the silver in his +hand he ran into the street. But the tall young senor, with the serape +already wrapped around his shoulders, was disappearing in the darkness. +The Indian opened his palm and looked at the silver. A smile passed over +his face. After all, it was two good Spanish dollars more than he had +expected, and he returned contentedly to his shop. If such generous +young gentlemen came along every night his fortune would soon be made. + +Ned soon left the shop far behind. It was a fine serape, very large, +thick and warm, and he draped himself in it in true Mexican fashion. It +kept him warm, and, wrapped in its folds, he looked much more like a +genuine Mexican. He had but little money left, but among the more +primitive people beyond the capital one might work his way. If suspected +he could claim to be English, and Mexico was not at war with England. + +He bought a sombrero at another shop with almost the last of his money, +and then started toward La Viga, the canal that leads from the lower +part of the city toward the fresh water lakes, Chalco and Xochimilco. He +hoped to find at the canal one of the bergantins, or flat-bottomed +boats, in which vegetables, fruit and flowers were brought to the city +for sale. They were good-natured people, those of the bergantins, and +they would not scorn the offer of a stout lad to help with sail and oar. + +Hidden in his serape and sombrero, and, secure in his knowledge of +Spanish and Mexican, he now advanced boldly through the more populous +and better lighted parts of the city. He even lingered a little while in +front of a cafe, where men were playing guitar and mandolin, and girls +were dancing with castanets. The sight of light and life pleased the boy +who had been so long in prison. These people were diverting themselves +and they smiled and laughed. They seemed to have kindly feelings for +everybody, but he remembered that cruel Spanish strain, often dormant, +but always there, and he hastened on. + +Three officers, their swords swinging at their thighs, came down the +narrow street abreast. At another time Ned would not have given way, and +even now it hurt him to do so, but prudence made him step from the +sidewalk. One of them laughed and applied an insulting epithet to the +"peon," but Ned bore it and continued, his sombrero pulled well down +over his eyes. + +His course now led him by the great palace of Yturbide, where he saw +many windows blazing with light. Several officers were entering and +chief among them he recognized General Martin Perfecto de Cos, the +brother-in-law of Santa Anna, whom Ned believed to be a treacherous and +cruel man. He hastened away from such an unhealthy proximity, and came +to La Viga. + +He saw a rude wharf along the canal and several boats, all with the +sails furled, except two. These two might be returning to the fresh +water lakes, and it was possible that he could secure passage. The +people of the bergantins were always humble peons and they cared little +for the intrigues of the capital. + +It was now about eleven o'clock and the night had lightened somewhat, a +fair moon showing. Ned could see distinctly the boats or bergantins as +the Mexicans called them. They were large, flat of bottom, shallow of +draft, and were propelled with both sail and oar. He was repulsed at the +first, where a surly Mexican of middle age told him with a curse that he +wanted no help, but at the next which had as a crew a man, a woman, +evidently his wife, and two half-grown boys, he was more fortunate. +Could he use an oar? He could. Then he might come, because there was +little promise of wind, and the sails would be of no use. A strong arm +would help, as it was sixteen miles down La Viga to the Lake of +Xochimilco, on the shores of which they lived. The boys were tired and +sleepy, and he would serve very well in their stead. + +Ned took his place in the boat, truly thankful that in this crisis of +his life he knew how to row. He saw that his hosts, or rather those for +whom he worked, were an ordinary peon family, at least half Indian, +sluggish of mind and kind of heart. They had brought vegetables and +flowers to the city, and now they were thriftily returning in the night +to their home on the lake that Benito Igarritos and his sons might not +miss the next day from their work. + +Igarritos and Ned took the oars. The two boys stretched themselves on +the bottom of the boat and were asleep in an instant. Juana, the wife, +spread a serape over them, and then sat down in Turkish fashion in the +center of the bergantin, a great red and yellow reboso about her head +and shoulders. Sometimes she looked at her husband, and sometimes at the +strange boy. He had spoken to them in good Mexican, he dressed like a +Mexican and he walked like a Mexican, but she had not been deceived. She +knew that the Mexican part of him ended with the serape and sombrero. +She wondered why he had come, and why he was anxious to go to the Lake +of Xochimilco. But she reflected with the patience and resignation of an +oppressed race that it was no business of hers. He was a good youth. He +had spoken to her with compliments as one speaks to a lady of high +degree, and he bent manfully on the oar. He was welcome. But he must +have a name and she would know it. + +"What do you call yourself?" she asked. + +"William," he replied. "I come from a far country, England, and it is my +pleasure to travel in new lands and see new peoples." + +"Weel-le-am," she said gravely, "you are far from your friends." + +Ned bent his head in assent. Her simple words made him feel that he was +indeed far from his own land and surrounded by a thousand perils. The +woman did not speak again and they moved on with an even stroke down the +canal which had an uniform width of about thirty feet. They were still +passing houses of stone and others of adobe, but before they had gone a +mile they were halted by a sharp command from the shore. An officer and +three soldiers, one of whom held a lantern, stood on the bank. + +Ned had expected that they would be stopped. These were revolutionary +times and people could not go in or out of the city unnoticed. +Particularly was La Viga guarded. He knew that his fate now rested with +Benito Igarritos and his wife Juana, but he trusted them. The officer +was peremptory, but the bergantin was most innocent in appearance. +Merely a humble vegetable boat returning down La Viga after a successful +day in the city. "Your family?" Ned heard the officer say to Benito, as +he flashed the lantern in turn upon every one. + +Taciturn, like most men of the oppressed races, Benito nodded, while his +wife sat silent in her great red and yellow reboso. Ned leaned +carelessly upon the oar, but his face was well hid by the sombrero, and +his heart was throbbing. When the light of the lantern passed over him +he felt as if he were seared by a flame, but the officer had no +suspicion, and with a gruff "Pass on" he withdrew from the bank with his +men. Benito nodded to Ned and they pulled again into the center of La +Viga. Neither spoke. Nor did the woman. + +Ned bent on the oar with renewed strength. He felt that the greatest of +his dangers was now passed, and the relief of the spirit brought fresh +strength. The night lightened yet more. He saw on the low banks of the +canal green shrubs and many plants with spikes and thorns. It seemed to +him characteristic of Mexico that nearly everything should have its +spikes and thorns. Through the gray night showed the background of the +distant mountains. + +They overtook and passed two other bergantins returning from the city +and they met a third on its way thither with vegetables for the morning +market. Benito knew the owners and exchanged a brief word with everyone +as he passed. Ned pulled silently at his oar. + +When it was far past midnight Ned felt a cool breeze rising. Benito +began to unfurl the sail. + +"You have pulled well, young senor," he said to Ned, "but the oar is +needed no more. Now the wind will work for us. You will sleep and Carlos +will help me." + +He awoke the elder of the two boys. Ned was so tired that his arms +ached, and he was glad to rest. He wrapped his heavy serape about +himself, lay down on the bottom of the boat, pillowed his head on his +arm, and went to sleep. + +When he awoke, it was day and they were floating on a broad sheet of +shallow water, which he knew instinctively was Xochimilco. The wind was +still blowing, and one of the boys steered the bergantin. Benito, Juana +and the other boy sat up, with their faces turned toward the rosy +morning light, as if they were sun-worshipers. Ned also felt the +inspiration. The world was purer and clearer here than in the city. In +the early morning the grayish, lonely tint which is the prevailing note +of Mexico, did not show. The vegetation was green, or it was tinted with +the glow of the sun. Near the lower shores he saw the Chiampas or +floating gardens. + +Benito turned the bergantin into a cove, and they went ashore. His +house, flat roofed and built of adobe, was near, standing in a field, +filled with spiky and thorny plants. They gave Ned a breakfast, the +ordinary peasant fare of the country, but in abundance, and then the +woman, who seemed to be in a sense the spokesman of the family, said +very gravely: + +"You are a good boy, Weel-le-am, and you rowed well. What more do you +wish of us?" + +Benito also bent his dark eyes upon him in serious inquiry. Ned was not +prepared for any reply. He did not know just what to do and on impulse +he answered: + +"I would stay with you a while and work. You will not find me lazy." + +He waved his hand toward the spiky and thorny field. Benito consulted +briefly with his wife and they agreed. For three or four days Ned toiled +in the hot field with Benito and the boys and at night he slept on the +floor of earth. The work was hard and it made his body sore. The food +was of the roughest, but these things were trifles compared with the +gift of freedom which he had received. How glorious it was to breathe +the fresh air and to have only the sky for a roof and the horizon for +walls! + +Benito and the older boy again took the bergantin loaded with vegetables +up La Viga to the city. They did not suggest that Ned go with them. He +remained working in the field, and trying to think of some way in which +he could obtain money for a journey. The wind was good, the bergantin +traveled fast, and Benito and his boy returned speedily. Benito greeted +Ned with a grave salute, but said nothing until an hour later, when they +sat by a fire outside the hut, eating the tortillas and frijoles which +Juana had cooked for them. + +"What is the news in the capital?" asked Ned. + +Benito pondered his reply. + +"The President, the protector of us all, the great General Santa Anna, +grows more angry at the Texans, the wild Americans who have come into +the wilderness of the far North," he replied. "They talk of an army +going soon against them, and they talk, too, of a daring escape." + +He paused and contemplatively lit a cigarrito. + +"What was the escape?" asked Ned, the pulse in his wrist beginning to +beat hard. + +"One of the Texans, whom the great Santa Anna holds, but a boy they say +he was, though fierce, slipped between the bars of his window and is +gone. They wish to get him back; they are anxious to take him again for +reasons that are too much for Benito." + +"Do you think they will find him?" + +"How do I know? But they say he is yet in the capital, and there is a +reward of one hundred good Spanish dollars for the one who will bring +him in, or who will tell where he is to be found." + +Benito quietly puffed at his cigarrito and Juana, the cooking being +over, threw ashes on the coals. + +"If he is still hiding within reach of Santa Anna's arm," said Ned, +"somebody is sure to betray him for the reward." + +"I do not know," said Benito, tossing away the stub of his cigarrito. +Then he rose and began work in the field. + +Ned went out with the elder boy, Carlos, and caught fish. They did not +return until twilight, and the others were already waiting placidly +while Juana prepared their food. None of them could read; they had +little; their life was of the most primitive, but Ned noticed that they +never spoke cross words to one another. They seemed to him to be +entirely content. + +After supper they sat on the ground in front of the adobe hut. The +evening was clear and already many stars were coming into a blue sky. +The surface of the lake was silver, rippling lightly. Benito smoked +luxuriously. + +"I saw this afternoon a friend of mine, Miguel Lampridi," he said after +a while. "He had just come down La Viga from the city." + +"What news did he bring?" asked Edward. + +"They are still searching everywhere for the young Texan who went +through the window--Eduardo Fulton is his name. Truly General Santa Anna +must have his reasons. The reward has been doubled." + +"Poor lad," spoke Juana, who spoke seldom. "It may be that the young +Texan is not as bad as they say. But it is much money that they offer. +Someone will find him." + +"It may be," said Benito. Then they sat a long time in silence. Juana +was the first to go into the house and to bed. After a while the two +boys followed. Another half hour passed, and Ned rose. + +"I go, Benito," he said. "You and your wife have been good to me, and I +cannot bring misfortune upon you. Why is it that you did not betray me? +The reward is large. You would have been a rich man here." + +Benito laughed low. + +"Yes, it would have been much money," he replied, "but what use have I +for it? I have the wife I wish, and my sons are good sons. We do not go +hungry and we sleep well. So it will be all the days of our life. Two +hundred silver dollars would bring two hundred evil spirits among us. +Thy face, young Texan, is a good face. I think so and my wife, Juana, +who knows, says so. Yet it is best that you go. Others will soon learn, +and it is hard to live between close stone walls, when the free world is +so beautiful. I will call Juana, and she, too, will tell you farewell. +We would not drive you away, but since you choose to go, you shall not +leave without a kind word, which may go with you as a blessing on your +way." + +He called at the door of the adobe hut. Juana came forth. She was stout, +and she had never been beautiful, but her face seemed very pleasant to +Ned, as she asked the Holy Virgin to watch over him in his wanderings. + +"I have five silver dollars," said Benito. "They are yours. They will +make the way shorter." + +But Ned refused absolutely to accept them. He would not take the store +of people who had been so kind to him. Instead he offered the single +dollar that he had left for a heavy knife like a machete. Benito brought +it to him and reluctantly took the dollar. + +"Do not try the northern way, Texan," he said, "it is too far. Go over +the mountains to Vera Cruz, where you will find passage on a ship." + +It seemed good advice to Ned, and, although the change of plan was +abrupt, he promised to take it. Juana gave him a bag of food which he +fastened to his belt under his serape, and at midnight, with the +blessing of the Holy Virgin invoked for him again, he started. Fifty +yards away he turned and saw the man and woman standing before their +door and gazing at him. He waved his hand and they returned the salute. +He walked on again a little mist before his eyes. They had been very +kind to him, these poor people of another race. + +He walked along the shore of the lake for a long time, and then bore in +toward the east, intending to go parallel with the great road to Vera +Cruz. His step was brisk and his heart high. He felt more courage and +hope than at any other time since he had dropped from the prison. He had +food for several days, and the possession of the heavy knife was a great +comfort. He could slash with it, as with a hatchet. + +He walked steadily for hours. The road was rough, but he was young and +strong. Once he crossed the pedregal, a region where an old lava flow +had cooled, and which presented to his feet numerous sharp edges like +those of a knife. He had good shoes with heavy soles and he knew their +value. On the long march before him they were worth as much as bread and +weapons, and he picked his way as carefully as a walker on a tight rope. +He was glad when he had crossed the dangerous pedregal and entered a +cypress forest, clustering on a low hill. Grass grew here also, and he +rested a while, wrapped in his serape against the coldness of the night. + +He saw behind and now below him the city, the towers of the churches +outlined against the sky. It was from some such place as this that +Cortez and his men, embarked upon the world's most marvelous adventure, +had looked down for the first time upon the ancient city of +Tenochtitlan. But it did not beckon to Ned. It seemed to him that a +mighty menace to his beloved Texas emanated from it. And he must warn +the Texans. + +He sprang to his feet and resumed his journey. At the eastern edge of +the hill he came upon a beautiful little spring, leaping from the rock. +He drank from it and went on. Lower down he saw some adobe huts among +the cypresses and cactus. No doubt their occupants were sound asleep, +but for safety's sake he curved away from them. Dogs barked, and when +they barked again the sound showed they were coming nearer. He ran, +rather from caution than fear, because if the dogs attacked he wished to +be so far away from the huts that their owners would not be awakened. + +Now he gave thanks that he had the machete. He thrust his hands under +the serape and clasped its strong handle. It was a truly formidable +weapon. He came to another little hill, also clothed in cypress, and +began to ascend it with decreased speed. The baying of the dogs was +growing much louder. They were coming fast. Near the summit he saw a +heap of rock, probably an Aztec tumulus, six or seven feet high. Ned +smiled with satisfaction. Pressed by danger his mind was quick. He was +where he would make his defense, and he did not think it would need to +be a long one. + +He settled himself well upon the top of the tumulus and drew his +machete. The dogs, six in number, coursed among the cypresses, and the +leader, foam upon his mouth, leaped straight at Ned. The boy +involuntarily drew up his feet a little, but he was not shaken from the +crouching position that was best suited to a blow. As the hound was in +mid-air he swung the machete with all his might and struck straight at +the ugly head. The heavy blade crashed through the skull and the dog +fell dead without a sound. Another which leaped also, but not so far, +received a deep cut across the shoulder. It fell back and retreated with +the others among the cypresses, where the unwounded dogs watched with +red eyes the formidable figure on the rocks. + +But Ned did not remain on the tumulus more than a few minutes longer. +When he sprang down the dogs growled, but he shook the machete until it +glittered in the moonlight. With howls of terror they fled, while he +resumed his journey in the other direction. + +Near morning he came into country which seemed to him very wild. The +soil was hard and dry, but there was a dense growth of giant cactus, +with patches here and there of thorny bushes. Guarding well against the +spikes and thorns he crept into one of the thickets and lay down. He +must rest and sleep and already the touch of rose in the east was +heralding the dawn. Sleep by day and flight by night. He was satisfied +with himself. He had really succeeded better so far than he had hoped, +and, guarded by the spikes and thorns, slumber took him before dawn had +spread from east to west. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PALM + + +Ned awoke about noon. The morning had been cold, but having been wrapped +very thoroughly in the great serape, he had remained snug and warm all +through his long sleep. He rose very cautiously, lest the spikes and +thorns should get him, and then went to a comparatively open place among +the giant cactus stems whence he could see over the hills and valleys. +He saw in the valley nearest him the flat roofs of a small village. +Columns of smoke rose from two or three of the adobe houses, and he +heard the faint, mellow voices of men singing in a field. Women by the +side of a small but swift stream were pounding and washing clothes after +the primitive fashion. + +Looking eastward he saw hills and a small mountain, but all the country +in that direction seemed to be extremely arid and repellent. The bare +basalt of volcanic origin showed everywhere, and, even at the distance, +he could see many deep quarries in the stone, where races older, +doubtless, than Aztecs and Toltecs, had obtained material for building. +It was always Ned's feeling when in Mexico that he was in an old, old +land, not ancient like England or France, but ancient as Egypt and +Babylon are ancient. + +He had calculated his course very carefully, and he knew that it would +lead through this desert, volcanic region, but on the whole he was not +sorry. Mexicans would be scarce in such a place. He remained a lad of +stout heart, confident that he would succeed. + +He ate sparingly and reckoned that with self-denial he had food enough +to last three days. He might obtain more on the road by some happy +chance or other. Then becoming impatient he started again, keeping well +among cypress and cactus, and laying his course toward the small +mountain that he saw ahead. He pressed forward the remainder of the +afternoon, coming once or twice near to the great road that led to Vera +Cruz. On one occasion he saw a small body of soldiers, deep in dust, +marching toward the port. All except the officers were peons and they +did not seem to Ned to show much martial ardor. But the officers on +horseback sternly bade them hasten. Ned, as usual, had much sympathy for +the poor peasants, but none for the officers who drove them on. + +About sunset he came to a little river, the Teotihuacan he learned +afterward, and he still saw before him the low mountain, the name of +which was Cerro Gordo. But his attention was drawn from the mountain by +two elevations rising almost at the bank of the river. They were +pyramidal in shape and truncated, and the larger, which Ned surmised to +be anywhere from 500 to 1000 feet square, seemed to rise to a height of +two or three hundred feet. The other was about two-thirds the size of +the larger, both in area and height. + +Although there was much vegetation clinging about them Ned knew that +these were pyramids erected by the hand of man. The feeling that this +was a land old like Egypt came back to him most powerfully in the +presence of these ancient monuments, which were in fact the Pyramid of +the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. There they stood, desolate and of +untold age. The setting sun poured an intense red light upon them, +until they stood out vivid and enlarged. + +So far as Ned knew, no other human being was anywhere near. The +loneliness in the presence of those tremendous ruins was overpowering. +He longed for human companionship. A peon, despite the danger otherwise, +would have been welcome. The whole land took on fantastic aspects. It +was not normal and healthy like the regions from which he came north of +the Rio Grande. Every nerve quivered. + +Then he did the bravest thing that one could do in such a position, +forcing his will to win a victory over weirdness and superstition. He +crossed the shallow river and advanced boldly toward the Pyramid of the +Sun. His reason told him that there were no such things as ghosts, but +it told him also that Mexican peons were likely to believe in them. +Hence it was probable that he would be safer about the Pyramid than far +from it. The country bade fair to become too rough for night traveling +and he would stop there a while, refreshing his strength. + +Although the sun was setting, the color of the skies promised a bright +night, and Ned approached boldly. As usual his superstitious fears +became weaker as he approached the objects that had called them into +existence. But before he reached the pyramids he found that he was among +many ruins. They stood all about him, stone fragments of ancient walls, +black basalt or lava, and, unless the twilight deceived him, there were +also traces of ancient streets. He saw, too, south of the larger +pyramids a great earthwork or citadel thirty or forty feet high +enclosing a square in which stood a small pyramid. The walls of the +earthwork were enormously thick, three hundred feet Ned reckoned, and +upon it at regular intervals stood other small pyramids fourteen in +number. + +Scattered all about, alone or in groups, were tumuli, and leading away +from the largest group of tumuli Ned saw a street or causeway, which, +passing by the Pyramid of the Sun, ended in front of the Pyramid of the +Moon, where it widened out into a great circle, with a tumulus standing +in the center. + +Despite all the courage that he had shown Ned felt a superstitious +thrill as he looked at these ancient and solemn ruins. He and they were +absolutely alone. Antiquity looked down upon him. The sun was gone now +and the moon was coming out, touching pyramids and tumuli, earthworks +and causeway with ghostly silver, deepening the effect of loneliness and +far-off time. + +While Ned was looking at these majestic remains he heard the sound of +voices, and then the rattle of weapons. He saw through the twilight the +glitter of uniforms and of swords and sabers. A company of Mexican +soldiers, at least a hundred in number, had come into the ancient city +and, no doubt, intended to camp there. Being so absorbed in the strange +ruins he had not noticed them sooner. + +As the men were already scattering in search of firewood or other needs +of the camp Ned saw that he was in great danger. He hid behind a +tumulus, half covered by the vegetation that had grown from its +crevices. He was glad that his serape was of a modest brown, instead of +the bright colors that most of the Mexicans loved. A soldier passed +within ten feet of him, but in the twilight did not notice him. It was +enough to make one quiver. Another passed a little later, and he, too, +failed to see the fugitive. But a third, if he came, would probably +see, and leaving the tumulus Ned ran to another where he hid again for +a few minutes. + +It was the boy's object to make off through the neighboring forest after +passing from tumulus to tumulus, but he found soon that another body of +soldiers was camping upon the far side of the ruined city. He might or +might not run the gauntlet in the darkness. The probabilities were that +he would not, and hiding behind a tumulus almost midway between the two +forces he took thought of his next step. + +The Pyramid of the Moon rose almost directly before him, its truncated +mass spotted with foliage. Ned could see that its top was flat and +instantly he took a bold resolution. He made his way to the base of the +pyramid and began to climb slowly and with great care, always keeping +hidden in the vegetation. He was certain that no Mexican would follow +where he was going. They were on other business, and their incurious +minds bothered little about a city that was dead and gone for them. + +Up he went steadily over uneven terraces, and from below he heard the +chatter of the soldiers. A third fire had been lighted much nearer the +pyramid, and pausing a moment he looked down. Twenty or thirty soldiers +were scattered about this fire. Their muskets were stacked and they were +taking their ease. Discipline was relaxed. One man was strumming a +mandolin already, and two or three began to sing. But Ned saw sentinels +walking among the tumuli and along the Calle de los Muertos which led +from the Citadel to the southern front of the Pyramid of the Moon. He +was very glad now that he had sought this lofty refuge, and he renewed +his climb. + +As he drew himself upon another terrace he saw before him a dark opening +into the very mass of the pyramid, which was built either of brick or +of stone, he could not tell which. He thought once of creeping in and of +hiding there, but after taking a couple of steps into the dark he drew +back. He was afraid of plunging into some well and he continued the +ascent. He was now about sixty or seventy feet up, but he was not yet +half way to the top of the pyramid. + +He was so slow and cautious that it took more than a half hour to reach +the crest, where he found himself upon a platform about twenty feet +square. It was an irregular surface with much vegetation growing from +the crevices, and here Ned felt quite safe. Near him and sixty feet +above him rose the crest of the Pyramid of the Sun. Beyond were ranges +of mountains silvery in the moonlight. He walked to the edge of the +pyramid and looked down. Four or five fires were burning now, and the +single mandolin had grown to four. Several guitars were being plucked +vigorously also, and the sound of the instruments joined with that of +the singing voices was very musical and pleasant. These Mexicans seemed +to be full of good nature, and so they were, with fire, food and music +in plenty, but now that he had been their prisoner Ned never forgot how +that dormant and Spanish strain of cruelty in their natures could flame +high under the influence of passion. The dungeons of Spanish Mexico and +of the new Mexico hid many dark stories, and he believed that he had +read what lay behind the smiling mask of Santa Anna's face. He would +suffer everything to keep out of Mexican hands. + +He crept away from the edge of the pyramid, and chose a place near its +center for his lofty camp. There was much vegetation growing out of the +ancient masonry, and he had a fear of scorpions and of more dangerous +reptiles, perhaps, but he thrashed up the grass and weeds well with his +machete. Then he sat down and ate his supper. Fortunately he had drunk +copiously at a brook before reaching the ruined city and he did not +suffer from thirst. + +Then, relying upon the isolation of his perch for safety, he wrapped +himself in the invaluable serape and lay down. The night was cold as +usual, and a sharp wind blew down from northern peaks and ranges, but +Ned, protected by vegetation and the heavy serape, had an extraordinary +feeling of warmth and snugness as he lay on the old pyramid. Held so +long within close walls the wild freedom and the fresh air that came +across seas and continents were very grateful to him. Even the presence +of an enemy, so near, and yet, as it seemed, so little dangerous, added +a certain piquancy to his position. The pleasant tinkle of the mandolins +was wafted upward to him, and it was wonderfully soothing, telling of +peace and rest. He inhaled the aromatic odors of strange and flowering +southern plants, and his senses were steeped in a sort of luxurious +calm. + +He fell asleep to the music of the mandolin, and when he awoke such a +bright sun was shining in his eyes that he was glad to close and open +them again several times before they would tolerate the brilliant +Mexican sky that bent above him. He lay still about five minutes, +listening, and then, to his disappointment, he heard sounds below. He +judged by the position of the sun that it must be at least 10 o'clock in +the morning, and the Mexicans should be gone. Yet they were undoubtedly +still there. He crept to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. There +was the Mexican force, scattered about the ruined city, but camped in +greatest numbers along the Calle de los Muertos. Their numbers had been +increased by two hundred or three hundred, and, as Ned saw no signs of +breaking camp, he judged that this was a rendezvous, and that there were +more troops yet to come. + +He saw at once that his problem was increased greatly. He could not +dream of leaving the summit of the pyramid before the next night came. +Food he had in plenty but no water, and already as the hot sun's rays +approached the vertical he felt a great thirst. Imagination and the +knowledge that he could not allay it for the present at least, increased +the burning sensation in his throat and the dryness of his lips. He +caught a view of the current of the Teotihuacan, the little river by the +side of which the pyramids stand, and the sight increased his torments. +He had never seen before such fresh and pure water. It sparkled and +raced in the sun before him and it looked divine. And yet it was as far +out of his reach as if it were all the way across Mexico. + +Ned went back to the place where he had slept and sat down. The sight of +the river had tortured him, and he felt better when it was shut from +view. Now he resolved to see what could be accomplished by will. He +undertook to forget the water, and at times he succeeded, but, despite +his greatest efforts, the Teotihuacan would come back now and then with +the most astonishing vividness. Although he was lying on the serape with +bushes and shrubs all around, there was the river visible to the eye of +imagination, brighter, fresher and more sparkling than ever. He could +not control his fancy, but will ruled the body and he did not stir from +his place for hours. The sun beat fiercely upon him and the thin bushes +and shrubs afforded little protection. Toward the northern edge of the +pyramid a small palm was growing out of a large crevice in the masonry, +and it might have given some shade, but it was in such an exposed +position that Ned did not dare to use it for fear of discovery. + +How he hated that sun! It seemed to be drying him up, through and +through, causing the very blood in his veins to evaporate. Why should +such hot days follow such cold nights? When his tongue touched the roof +of his mouth it felt rough and hot like a coal. Perhaps the Mexicans had +gone away. It seemed to him that he had not heard any sounds from them +for some time. He went to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. No, +the Mexicans were yet there, and the sight of them filled him with a +fierce anger. They were enjoying themselves. Tents were scattered about +and shelters of boughs had been erected. Many soldiers were taking their +siestas. Nobody was working and there was not the slightest sign that +they intended to depart that day. Ned's hot tongue clove to the roof of +his hot mouth, but he obstinately refused to look at the river. He did +not think that he could stand another sight of it. + +He went back to his little lair among the shrubs and prayed for night, +blessed night with its cooling touch. He had a horrible apprehension +which amounted to conviction that the troops would stay there for +several days, awaiting some maneuver or perhaps making it a rallying +point, and that in his hiding place on the pyramid he was in as bad case +as a sailor cast on a desert island without water. Nothing seemed left +for him but to steal down and try to escape in darkness. Thus night +would be doubly welcome and he prayed for it again and with renewed +fervor. + +Some hours are ten times as long as others, but the longest of all come +to an end at last. The sun began to droop in the west. The vertical +glare was gone, yet the masonry where it was bare was yet hot to the +touch. It, too, cooled soon. The sun dropped wholly down and darkness +came over all the earth. Then the fever in Ned's throat died down +somewhat, and the blood began to flow again in his veins. It seemed as +if a dew touched his face, delicious, soothing like drops of rain in the +burning desert. + +He rose and stretched his stiffened limbs. Overhead spread the dark, +cool sky, and the bright stars were coming out, one by one. After the +first few moments of relief he heard the cry for water again. Despite +the night and the coming chill he knew that it would make itself heard +often and often, and he began to study the possibilities of a descent. +But he saw the fires spread out again on all sides of the Pyramid of the +Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon and flame thickly along the Calle de los +Muertos. It did not seem that he could pass even on the blackest night. + +He moved over toward the northern edge of the pyramid, and stood under +the palm which he had noticed in the day. One of its broad green leaves, +swayed by the wind, touched him softly on the face. He looked up. It was +a friendly palm. Its very touch was kindly. He stroked the blades and +then he examined the stem or body minutely. He was a studious boy who +had read much. He had heard of the water palm of the Hawaiian and other +South Sea Islands. Might not the water palm be found in Mexico also? In +any event, he had never heard of a palm that was poisonous. They were +always givers of life. + +He raised the machete and slashed the stem of the palm at a point about +five feet from the ground. The wound gaped open and a stream of water +gushed forth. Ned applied his mouth at once and drank long and deeply. +It was not poison, nor was it any bitter juice. This was the genuine +water palm, yielding up the living fluid of its arteries for him. He +drank as long as the gash gave forth water and then sat down under the +blades of the palm, content and thankful, realizing that there was +always hope in the very heart of despair. + +Ned sat a long time, feeling the new life rushing into his veins. He ate +from the food of which he had a plentiful supply and once more gave +thanks to Benito and Juana. Then he stood up and the broad leaves of the +palm waving gently in the wind touched his face again. He reached up his +hand and stroked them. The palm was to him almost a thing of life. He +went to the edge of the pyramid and strove for a sight of the +Teotihuacan. He caught at last a flash of its waters in the moonlight +and he shook his fist in defiance. "I can do without you now," was his +thought. "The sight of you does not torture me." + +He returned to his usual place of sleep. As long as he had a water +supply it was foolish of him to attempt an escape through the Mexican +lines. He was familiar now with every square inch of the twenty feet +square of the crowning platform of the pyramid. It seemed that he had +been there for weeks and he began to have the feeling that it was home. +Once more, hunger and thirst satisfied, he sought sleep and slept with +the deep peace of youth. + +Ned awoke from his second night on the pyramid before dawn was complete. +There was silvery light in the east over the desolate ranges, but the +west was yet a dark blur. He looked down and saw that nearly all the +soldiers were still asleep, while those who did not sleep were as +motionless as if they were. In the half light the lost city, the tumuli +and the ruins of the old buildings took on strange and fantastic shapes. +The feeling that he was among the dead, the dead for many centuries, +returned to Ned with overpowering effect. He thought of Aztec and Toltec +and people back of all these who had built this city. The Mexicans below +were intruders like himself. + +He shook himself as if by physical effort he could get rid of the +feeling and then went to the water palm in which he cut another gash. +Again the fountain gushed forth and he drank. But the palm was a small +one. There was too little soil among the crevices of the ancient masonry +to support a larger growth, and he saw that it could not satisfy his +thirst more than a day or two. But anything might happen in that time, +and his courage suffered no decrease. + +He retreated toward the center of the platform as the day was now coming +fast after the southern fashion. The whole circle of the heavens seemed +to burst into a blaze of light, and, in a few hours, the sun was hotter +than it had been before. Many sounds now came from the camp below, but +Ned, although he often looked eagerly, saw no signs of coming departure. +Shortly after noon there was a great blare of trumpets, and a detachment +of lancers rode up. They were large men, mounted finely, and the heads +of their long lances glittered as they brandished them in the sun. + +Ned's attention was drawn to the leader of this new detachment, an +officer in most brilliant uniform, and he started. He knew him at once. +It was the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, +a man in whom that old, cruel strain was very strong, and whom Ned +believed to be charged with the crushing of the Texans. Then he was +right in his surmise that Mexican forces for the campaign were +gathering here on the banks of the Teotihuacan! + +More troops came in the afternoon, and the boy no longer had the +slightest doubt. The camp spread out further and further, and assumed +military form. Not so many men were lounging about and the tinkling of +the guitars ceased. Ned could see General de Cos plainly, a heavy man of +dark face, autocratic and domineering in manner. + +Night came and the boy went once more to the palm. When he struck with +his machete the water came forth, but in a much weaker stream. In +reality he was yet thirsty after he drank the full flow, but he would +not cut into the stem again. He knew that he must practice the severest +economy with his water supply. + +The third night came and as soon as he was safe from observation Ned +slashed the palm once more. The day had been very hot and his thirst was +great. The water come forth but with only half the vigor of the morning, +which itself had shown a decrease. The poor palm, too, trembled and +shook when he cut into it with the machete and the blades drooped. Ned +drank what it supplied and then turned away regretfully. It was a kindly +palm, a gift to man, and yet he must slay it to save his own life. + +He lay down again, but he did not sleep as well as usual. His nerves +were upset by the long delay, and the decline of the palm, and he was +not refreshed when he awoke in the morning. His head felt hot and his +limbs were heavy. + +As it was not yet bright daylight he went to the palm and cut into it. +The flow of water was only a few mouthfuls. Cautious and doubly +economical now he pursed his lips that not a single drop might escape. +Then, after eating a little food he lay down, protected as much as +possible by the scanty bushes, and also sheltering himself at times from +the sun with the serape which he drew over his head. He felt +instinctively and with the power of conviction that the Mexicans would +not depart. The coming of Cos had taken the hope from him. Cos! He hated +the short, brusque name. + +It was another day of dazzling brightness and intense heat. Certainly +this was a vertical sun. It shot rays like burning arrows straight down. +The blood in his veins seemed to dry up again. His head grew hotter. +Black specks in myriads danced before his eyes. He looked longingly at +his palm. When he first saw it, it stood up, vital and strong. Now it +seemed to droop and waver like himself. But it would have enough life to +fill its veins and arteries through the day and at night he would have +another good drink. + +He scarcely stirred throughout the day but spent most of the time +looking at the palm. He paid no attention to the sounds below, sure that +the Mexicans would not go away. He fell at times into a sort of fevered +stupor, and he aroused himself from the last one to find that night had +come. He took his machete, went to the tree, and cut quickly, because +his thirst was very great. + +The gash opened, but not a drop came forth. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +IN THE PYRAMID + + +Ned stared, half in amazement, half in despair. Yet he had known all the +while that this would happen. The palm had emptied every drop from its +veins and arteries for him, giving life for life. He had cut so deeply +and so often that it would wither now and die. He turned away in +sadness, and suddenly a bitter, burning thirst assailed him. It seemed +to have leaped into new life with the knowledge that there was nothing +now to assuage it. + +The boy sat down on a small projection of brickwork, and considered his +case. He had been more than twelve hours without water under a fierce +sun. His thirst would not increase so fast at night, but it would +increase, nevertheless, and the Mexican force might linger below a week. +Certainly its camp was of such a character that it would remain at least +two or three days, and any risk was preferable to a death of thirst. He +could wait no longer. + +Now chance which had been so cruel flung a straw his way. The night was +darker than usual. The moon and stars did not come out, and troops of +clouds stalked up from the southwest. Ned knew that it was a land of +little rain, and for a few moments he had a wild hope that in some +manner he might catch enough water for his use on the crest of the +pyramid. But reason soon drove the hope away. There was no depression +which would hold water, and he resolved instead to make the descent +under cover of the darkness. + +When he had come to this resolution the thirst was not so fierce. +Indecision being over, both his physical and mental courage rose. He ate +and had left enough food to last for two days, which he fastened +securely in a pack to his body. Then, machete in hand, he looked over +the edge of the pyramid. There was some noise in the camp, but most of +the soldiers seemed to be at rest. Lights flickered here and there, and +the ruined city, showing only in fragments through the darkness, looked +more ghostly and mournful than ever. + +Ned waited a long time. Drops of rain began to fall, and the wind moaned +with an almost human note around the pyramids and old walls. The rain +increased a little, but it never fell in abundance. It and the wind were +very cold, and Ned drew the serape very closely about his body. He was +anxious now for time to pass fast, because he was beginning to feel +afraid, not of the Mexicans, but of the dead city, and the ghosts of +those vanished long ago, although he knew there were no such things. But +the human note in the wind grew until it was like a shriek, and this +shriek was to him a warning that he must go. The pyramid had been his +salvation, but his time there was at an end. + +He drew the sombrero far down over his eyes, and once more calculated +the chances. He spoke Spanish well, and he spoke its Mexican variations +equally well. If they saw him he might be able to pass for a Mexican. He +must succeed. + +He lowered himself from the crowning platform of the pyramid and began +the descent. The cold rain pattered upon him and his body was weak from +privation, but his spirit was strong, and with steady hand and foot he +went down. He paused several times to look at the camp. Five or six +fires still burned there, but they flickered wildly in the wind and +rain. He judged that the sentinels would not watch well. For what must +they watch, there in the heart of their own country? + +But as he approached the bottom he saw two of these sentinels walking +back and forth, their bayonets reflecting a flicker now and then from +the flames. He saw also five or six large white tents, and he was quite +sure that the largest sheltered at that instant Martin Perfecto de Cos, +whom he wished very much to avoid. He intended, when he reached the +bottom, to keep as close as he could in the shadow of the pyramid, and +then seek the other side of the Teotihuacan. + +The rain was still blown about by the wind, and it was very cold. But +the influence of both wind and rain were inspiring to the boy. They were +a tonic to body and mind, and he grew bolder as he came nearer to the +ground. At last he stepped upon the level earth, and stood for a little +while black and motionless against the pyramid. + +He was aware that the cordon of Cos' army completely enclosed the +Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Calle de los Muertos +and the other principal ruins, and he now heard the sentinels much more +distinctly as they walked back and forth. Straining his eyes he could +see two of them, short, sallow men, musket on shoulder. The beat of one +lay directly across the path that he had chosen, reaching from the far +edge of the Pyramid of the Moon to a point about twenty yards away. He +believed that when this sentinel marched to the other end of his beat he +could slip by. At any rate, if he were seen he might make a successful +flight, and he slipped his hand to the handle of the machete in his +belt in order that he might be ready for resistance. + +He saw presently two or three dark heaps near him, and as his eyes grew +used to the darkness he made out camp equipage and supplies. The +smallest heap which was also nearest to him, consisted of large metal +canteens for water, such as soldiers of that day carried. His thirst +suddenly made itself manifest again. Doubtless those canteens contained +water, and his body which wanted water so badly cried aloud for it. + +It was not recklessness but a burning thirst which caused him to creep +toward the little heap of canteens at the imminent risk of being +discovered. When he reached them he lay flat on the ground and took one +from the top. He knew by its lack of weight that it was empty, and he +laid it aside. Then he paused for a glance at the sentinel who was still +walking steadily on his beat, and whom he now saw very clearly. + +He was disappointed to find the first canteen empty, but he was +convinced that some in that heap must contain water, and he would +persevere. The second and third failed him in like manner, but he would +yet persevere. The fourth was heavy, and when he shook it gently he +heard the water plash. That thirst at once became burning and +uncontrollable. The cry of his body to be assuaged overpowered his will, +and while deadly danger menaced he unscrewed the little mouthpiece and +drank deep and long. It was not cold and perhaps a little mud lurked at +the bottom of the canteen, but like the gift of the water palm it +brought fresh life and strength. + +He put down the canteen half empty and took another from the heap. It, +too, proved to be filled, and he hung it around neck and shoulder by the +strap provided for that purpose. He could have found no more precious +object for the dry regions through which he intended to make his +journey. + +Ned went back toward the pyramid, but his joy over finding the water +made him a little careless. Great fragments of stone lay about +everywhere, and his foot slipped on a piece of black basalt. He fell and +the metal of his canteen rang against the stone. + +He sprang to his feet instantly, but the sentinel had taken the alarm +and as Ned's sombrero had slipped back he saw the fair face. He knew +that it was the face of no Mexican, and shouting "Gringo!" he fired +straight at him. Luckily, haste and the darkness prevented good aim, +although he was at short range. But Ned felt the swish of the bullet so +close to him that every nerve jumped, and he jumped with them. The first +jump took him half way to the pyramid and the next landed him at its +base. There the second nearest sentinel fired at him and he heard the +bullet flatten itself against the stone. + +Fortunately for Ned, the silent, thoughtful lad, he had often tried to +imagine what he would do in critical junctures, and now, despite the +terrible crisis, he was able to take control of his nerves. He +remembered to pull the sombrero down over his face and to keep close to +the pyramid. The shots had caused an uproar in the camp. Men were +running about, lights were springing up, and officers were shouting +orders. A single fugitive among so many confused pursuers might yet pass +for one of them. Chance which had been against him was now for him. The +wind suddenly took a wilder sweep and the rain lashed harder. He left +the pyramid and darted behind a tumulus. He stood there quietly and +heard the uproar of the hunt at other points. Presently he slouched +away in the manner of a careless peon, with his serape drawn about chin +as well as body, for which the wind and the rain were a fitting excuse. +He also shouted and chattered occasionally with others, and none knew +that he was the Gringo at whom the two sentinels had fired. + +Ned thought to make a way through the lines, but so many lights now +flared up on all the outskirts that he saw it was impossible. + +He turned back again to the side of the pyramid, where he was almost +hidden by debris and foliage. Two or three false alarms had been sounded +on the other side of the great structure, and practically the whole mob +of searchers was drawn away in that direction. He formed a quick +decision. He would reascend the pyramid. And he would take with him a +water supply in the canteen that he still carried over his shoulder. He +began to climb, and he noticed as he went up that it was almost the +exact point at which he had ascended before. + +He heard the tumult below, caught glimpses of lights flashing here and +there, and he ascended eagerly. He was almost half way up when he came +face to face with a Mexican soldier who carried in his hand a small +lantern. The soldier, the only one perhaps who had suspected the pyramid +as a place of refuge, had come at another angle, and there on a terrace +the two had met. + +They were not more than three feet apart. Ned had put his machete back +in his belt that he might climb with more ease, but he hit out at once +with his clenched right hand. The blow took the Mexican full between the +eyes and toppling over backward he dropped the lantern. Then he slid on +the narrow terrace and with an instinctive cry of terror fell. Ned was +seized with horror and took a hasty glance downward. He was relieved +when he saw that the man, grasping at projections and outgrowing +vegetation, was sliding rather than falling, and would not be hurt +seriously. + +He turned to his own case. There lay the lantern on the stone, still +glowing. Below rose the tumult, men coming to his side of the pyramid, +drawn by his cry. He could no longer reach the top of the pyramid +without being seen, but he knew another way. He snatched up the lantern, +tucked it under his serape and made for the opening which he had noticed +in the side of the pyramid at his first ascent. It was scarcely ten feet +away, and he boldly stepped in, a thing that he would never have dared +to do had it not been for the happy chance of the lantern. + +His foot rested on solid stone, and he stood wholly in the dark. Yet the +uproar came clearly to his ears. It was a certainty now that more +soldiers would ascend the pyramid looking for him, but he believed that +ignorance and superstition would keep them from entering it. + +The air that came to his nostrils out of the unknown dark was cold and +clean, but he did not yet dare to take out his lantern. He felt +cautiously in front of him with one foot and touched a stone step below. +He also touched narrow walls with his outstretched hand. He descended to +the step, and then, feeling sure that the light of his lantern could not +be seen from without, he took it from under his serape and held it as +far in front of him as he could. A narrow flight of stone steps led +onward and downward further than he could see, and, driven by imminent +necessity, he walked boldly down them. + +The way was rough with the decay of time from which stone itself cannot +escape, but he always steadied himself with one hand against the wall. +The stone was very cold and Ned had the feeling that he was in a tomb. +Once more he had that overwhelming sense of old, old things, of things +as old as Egypt. At another time, despite every effort of reason, he +would have thrilled with superstitious terror, but now it was for his +life, and down he went, step by step. + +The air remained pure like that of great caves in the States, and Ned +did not stop until a black void seemed to open almost before him when he +drew back in affright. Calming himself he held up the lantern and looked +at the void. It was a deep and square well, its walls faced as far as he +could see with squared stones. His lantern revealed no water in the +depths and he fancied that it had something to do with ceremonials, +perhaps with sacrifice. There was a way around the well, but it was +narrow and he chose to go no further. Instead he crouched on the steps +where he was safe from a fall, and put the lantern beside him. + +It was an oil lamp. Had he possessed any means of relighting it he would +have blown it out, and sought sleep in the dark, but once out, out +always, and he moved it into a little niche of the wall, where no sudden +draught could get at it, and where its hidden light would be no beacon +to any daring Mexican who might descend the stairway. + +The sense of vast antiquity was still with the boy, but it did not +oppress him now as it might have done at another time. His feeling of +relief, caused by his escape from the Mexicans, was so great that it +created, for the time at least, a certain buoyancy of the mind. The +unknown depths of the ancient pyramid were at once a shelter and a +protection. He folded the serape, in order to make as soft a couch as +possible, and soon fell asleep. + +When Ned awoke he was lying in exactly the same position on the steps, +and the lantern was still burning in the niche. He had no idea how long +he had slept, or whether it was day or night, but he did not care. He +took the full canteen and drank. It was an unusually large canteen and +it contained enough, if he used economy, to last him two days. The cool +recesses of the pyramid's interior did not engender thirst like its +blazing summit. Then he ate, but whether breakfast, dinner or supper he +did not know, nor did he care. + +He was tempted to go up to the entrance of the stairway and see what was +going forward in the camp, but he resisted the impulse. For the sake of +caution he triumphed over curiosity, and remained a long time on the +steps, beside the niche in which his lamp sat. Then he began to +calculate how much longer the oil would last, and he placed the time at +about thirty hours. Surely some decisive event would happen in his favor +before the last drop was burned. + +After an interminable time the air on the stairway seemed to him to be +growing colder, and he inferred that night had come. Taking the lantern +he climbed the steps and peered out at the ancient doorway. He saw +lights below, and he could discern dimly the shapes of tents. +Disappointed, he returned to his place on the steps, and, after another +long wait, fell asleep again. When he awoke he calculated by the amount +of oil left in the lamp that at least twelve hours had passed since his +previous awakening. + +Once more he made a great effort of the will in order to achieve a +conquest over curiosity and impatience. He would not return to the +entrance until the oil had only an hour more to burn. Necessity had +proved so stern a master that he was able to keep his resolution. Many +long, long hours passed and sometimes he dozed or slept, but he did not +go to the entrance. The oil at last marked the final hour, and, taking +up the lamp, he went back to the entrance. + +Ned looked out and then gave a cry of joy. It was broad daylight, but +the army was gone, soldiers, horses, tents, everything. The Calle de los +Muertos was once more what its name meant. Silence and desolation had +regained the ruined city. He blew out the lantern and set it down at the +opening. It had served him well. Then he went out and climbed again to +the summit of the pyramid, from which he examined the valley long and +well. + +He saw no signs of human life anywhere. Traces of the camp remained in +abundance, but the army itself had vanished. There were no lurking camp +followers to make him trouble. He descended to the ground, and stood a +while, drawing in deep draughts of the fresh daylight air. It had not +been oppressive in the pyramid, but there is nothing like the open sky +above. He went down to the Teotihuacan, and, choosing a safe place, +bathed in its waters. Then he resumed the flight across the hills which +had been delayed so long. He knew by the sun that it was morning not far +advanced, and he wished to travel many miles before night. He saw +abundant evidences on the great highway that the army was marching +toward Vera Cruz, and as before he traveled on a line parallel with it, +but at least a mile away. He passed two sheep herders, but he displayed +the machete, and whistling carelessly went on. They did not follow, and +he was sure that they took him for a bandit whom it would be wise to let +alone. + +Ned wandered on for two or three days. In one of his turnings among the +mountains he lost the Vera Cruz highway, and came out again upon a wide, +sandy plain, dotted with scattered cactus. As he was crossing it a +Norther came up, and blew with great fierceness. Sand was driven into +his face with such force that it stung like shot. The cold became +intense, and if it had not been for the serape he might have perished. + +The storm was still blowing when he reached the far edge of the plain, +and came into extremely rough country, with patches of low, thorny +forest. Here he found a dilapidated bark hut, evidently used at times by +Mexican herdsmen, and, thankful for such shelter, he crept into it and +fell asleep. When he awoke he felt very weak. He had eaten the last of +his food seven or eight hours before. + +Driven by desperate need, Ned ate wild fruits, and, for a while, was +refreshed, but that night he fell ill, suffering greatly from internal +pains. He was afraid at first that he had poisoned himself, and he knew +that he had eaten something not used for food, but by morning the pains +were gone, although he was much weaker than before. + +Now he felt for the first time the pangs of despair. It was a full two +hundred miles yet to Vera Cruz, and he was in the heart of a hostile +country. He did not have the strength of a child left, and the chance +that he could deliver his message of warning to the Texans seemed to +have gone. He rambled about all that day, light-headed at times, and, +toward evening, he fell into a stupor. Unable to go any further, he sank +down beside a rock, and lapsed wholly into unconsciousness. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MARCH WITH COS + + +When Ned came to himself he was surrounded by men, and at first he +thought he was back among his Texans. He was in a vague and dreamy state +that was not unpleasant, although he was conscious of a great weakness. +He knew that he was lying on the ground upon his own serape, and that +another serape was spread over him. In a little while mind and vision +grew more definite and he saw that the soldiers were Mexicans. After his +long endurance and ingenuity on the pyramid he had practically walked +into their hands. But such was his apathy of mind and body that it +roused no great emotion in him. He closed his eyes for a little while, +and then fresh strength poured into his veins. When he opened his eyes +again his interest in life and his situation was of normal keenness. + +They were in a little valley and the soldiers, lancers, seemed to number +about two hundred. Their horses were tethered near them, and their +lances were stacked in glittering pyramids. It was early morning. +Several men were cooking breakfast for the whole troop at large fires. +The far edge of the little valley was very rocky and Ned inferred that +he had fallen there by a big outcropping of stone, and that the +soldiers, looking around for firewood, had found him. But they had not +treated him badly, as the serape spread over his body indicated. + +Feeling so much better he sat up. The odor of the cooking made him +realize again that he was fiercely hungry. A Mexican brought him a large +tin plate filled with beans and meat chopped small. He ate slowly +although only an effort of the will kept him from devouring the food +like a famished wild animal. The Mexican who had brought him the plate +stood by and watched him, not without a certain sympathy on his face. +Several more Mexicans approached and looked at him with keen curiosity, +but they did not say or do anything that would offend the young Gringo. +Knowing that it was now useless, Ned no longer made any attempt to +conceal his nationality which was evident to all. He finished the plate +and handed it back to the Mexican. + +"Many thanks," he said in the native tongue. + +"More?" said the soldier, looking at him with understanding. + +"I could, without hurting myself," replied Ned with a smile. + +A second plate and a cup of water were brought to him. He ate and drank +in leisurely fashion, and began to feel a certain relief. He imagined +that he would be returned to imprisonment in the City of Mexico with Mr. +Austin. At any rate, he had made a good attempt and another chance might +come. + +An officer dressed in a very neat and handsome uniform approached and +the other Mexicans fell back respectfully. This man was young, not more +than thirty-two or three, rather tall, fairer than most of his race, and +with a singularly open and attractive face. His dress was that of a +colonel, and the boy knew at once that he was commander of the troop. He +smiled down at Ned, and Ned, despite himself, smiled back. + +"I know you," said he, speaking perfect English. "You are Edward Fulton, +the lad who was held in the prison with Stephen Austin, the Texan, the +lad who starved himself that he might slip between the bars of his +window. There was much talk at the capital about it, and you were not +without admirers. You showed so much courage and resource that you +deserved to escape, but we could not let you go." + +"I got lost and I was without food." + +"Rather serious obstacles. They have held many a boy and man. But since +I know so much about you and you know nothing about me I will tell you +who I am. My name is Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, and I am a colonel in the +service of Mexico and of our great Santa Anna. I was educated in that +United States of yours, Texan, though you call yourself. That is why I +speak the English that you hear. I have friends, too, among your +people." + +"Well, Colonel Almonte," said Ned, "since I had to be recaptured, I'm +glad I fell into your hands." + +"I wish I could keep you in them," he said, "but I am under the command +of General Cos, and I have to rejoin the main force which he leads." + +Ned understood. Cos was a man of another type. But he resolved not to +anticipate trouble. Almonte again looked at him curiously, and then +leaning forward said confidentially: + +"Tell me, was it you who knocked our soldier down on the side of the +pyramid and took his lantern? If it is true, it can't do you any harm to +acknowledge it now." + +"Yes," replied Ned with some pride, "it was I. I came upon him suddenly +and I was as much surprised as he. I hit out on the impulse of the +moment, and the blow landed in exactly the right place. I hope he was +not much hurt." + +"He wasn't," replied Almonte, laughing with deep unction. "He was +pretty well covered with bruises and scratches, but he forgot them in +the awful fright you gave him. He took you to be some demon, some +mysterious Aztec god out of a far and dim past, who had smitten him with +lightning, because he presumed to climb upon a sacred pyramid. But some +of us who were not so credulous, perhaps because we did not have his +bruises and scratches, searched all the sides and the top of the +pyramid. We failed to find you and we knew that you could not get +through our lines. Now, will you tell me where you were?" + +His tone was so intent and eager that Ned could not keep from laughing. +Besides, the boy had a certain pride in the skill, daring and resource +with which he had eluded the men of Cos. + +"Did you look inside the pyramid?" he asked. + +"Inside it?" + +"Yes, inside. There's an opening sixty or seventy feet above the ground. +I took your man's lantern when he dropped it and entered. There's a +stairway, leading down to a deep, square well, and there's something +beyond the well, although I don't know what. I stayed in there until +your army went away. Before that I had been for two or three days on top +of the pyramid, where a little water palm gave up its life to save me." + +Almonte regarded him with wonder. + +"I am not superstitious myself--that is, not unnecessarily so," he said, +"but yours must be a lucky star. After all that, you should have +escaped, and your present capture must be a mere delay. You will slip +from us again." + +"I shall certainly try," said Ned hopefully. + +"It is bound to come true," said Almonte. "All the omens point that +way." + +Ned smiled. Almonte, young, brilliant and generous, had made him almost +feel as if he were a guest and not a prisoner. He did not discern in him +that underlying strain of Spanish cruelty, which passion might bring to +the surface at any moment. It might be due to his youth, or it might be +due to his American education. + +"We march in an hour," said Almonte. "We are to rejoin General Cos on +the Vera Cruz road, but that will not occur for two or three days. +Meanwhile, as the way is rough and you are pretty weak, you can ride on +a burro. Sorry I can't get you a horse, but our lancers have none to +spare. Still, you'll find a burro surer of foot and more comfortable +over the basalt and lava." + +Ned thanked him for his courtesy. He liked this cheerful Mexican better +than ever. In another hour they started, turning into the Vera Cruz +road, and following often the path by which great Cortez had come. Ned's +burro, little but made of steel, picked the way with unerring foot and +never stumbled once. He rode in the midst of the lancers, who were full +that day of the Latin joy that came with the sun and the great panorama +of the Mexican uplands. Now and then they sang songs of the South, +sometimes Spanish and sometimes Indian, Aztec, or perhaps even Toltec. +Ned felt the influence. Once or twice he joined in the air without +knowing the words, and he would have been happy had it not been for his +thoughts of the Texans. + +The courtesy and kindliness of Almonte must not blind him to the fact +that he was the bearer of a message to his own people. That message +could not be more important because its outcome was life and death, and +he watched all the time for a chance to escape. None occurred. The +lancers were always about him, and even if there were an opening his +burro, sure of foot though he might be, could not escape their strong +horses. So he bided his time, for the present, and shared in the gayety +of the men who rode through the crisp and brilliant southern air. All +the time they ascended, and Ned saw far below him valley after valley, +much the same, at the distance, as they were when Cortez and his men +first gazed upon them more than three hundred years before. Yet the look +of the land was always different from that to which he was used north of +the Rio Grande. Here as in the great valley of Tenochtitlan it seemed +ancient, old, old beyond all computation. Here and there, were ruins of +which the Mexican peons knew nothing. Sometimes these ruins stood out on +a bare slope, and again they were almost hidden by vegetation. In the +valleys Ned saw peons at work with a crooked stick as a plow, and once +or twice they passed swarthy Aztec women cooking tortillas and frijoles +in the open air. + +The troop could not advance very rapidly owing to the roughness of the +way, and Ned learned from the talk about him that they would not +overtake Cos until the evening of the following day. About twilight they +encamped in a slight depression in the mountain side. No tents were set, +but a large fire was built, partly of dry stems of the giant cactus. The +cactus burned rapidly with a light, sparkling blaze, and left a white +ash, but the heavier wood, mixed with it, made a bed of coals that +glowed long in the darkness. + +Ned sat beside the fire on his serape with another thrown over his +shoulders, as the night was growing very chill with a sharp wind +whistling down from the mountains. The kindness of his captors did not +decrease, and he found a genuine pleasure in the human companionship and +physical comfort. Almonte found a comfortable place, took a guitar out +of a silken case, and hummed and played a love song. No American officer +would have done it at such a time and place, but it seemed natural in +him. + +Ned could not keep from being attracted by the picture that he +presented, the handsome young officer bending over his guitar, his heart +in the song that he played, but ready at any instant to be the brave and +wary soldier. Circumstance and place seemed to the boy so full of wild +romance that he forgot, for the time, his own fate and the message that +he wished to bear to those far Texans. + +It was very cold that night on the heights, and, now and then, a little +snow was blown about by the wind, but Ned kept warm by the fire and +between the two serapes. He fell asleep to the tinkling of Almonte's +guitar. They started again at earliest dawn, descended the slopes into a +highway to Vera Cruz, and pushed on in the trail of Cos. Ned still rode +his burro, which trotted along faithfully with the best, and he kept an +eager eye for the road and all that lay along it. The silent youth had +learned the value of keen observation, and he never neglected it. + +Before noon Ned saw a dim, white cone rising on the eastern horizon. It +was far away and misty, a thing of beauty which seemed to hang in the +air above the clouds. + +"Orizaba, the great mountain!" said Almonte. + +Ned had seen Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl, but this was a shade loftier +and more beautiful than either, shooting up nearly four miles, and +visible to sailors far out at sea. It grew in splendor as they +approached. Great masses of oak and pine hung on its lofty sides, up the +height of three miles, and above the forest rose the sharp cone, +gleaming white with snow. The face of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte flushed as +he gazed at it. + +"It is ours, the great mountain!" he exclaimed. "And the many other +magnificent mountains and the valleys and rivers of Mexico. Can you +wonder, then, Edward Fulton, that we Mexicans do not wish to lose any +part of our country? Texas is ours, it has always been ours, and we will +not let the Texans sever it from us!" + +"The Texans have not wished to do so," said Ned. "You have been kind to +me, Colonel Almonte, and I do not wish to tell you anything but the +truth. The Texans will fight oppression and bad faith. You do not know, +the Mexicans do not know, how hard they will fight. Our charter has been +violated and President Santa Anna would strip our people of arms and +leave them at the mercy of savage Indians." + +Almonte was about to make a passionate reply, but he checked himself +suddenly and said in mild tones: + +"It is not fair for me to attack you, a prisoner, even in words. Look +how Orizaba grows! It is like a pillar holding up the heavens!" + +Ned gazed in admiration. He did not wonder that Almonte loved this +country of his, so full of the strange and picturesque. The great +mountain grew and grew, until its mighty cone, dark below, and white +above, seemed to fill the horizon. But much of the gayety of Almonte +departed. + +"Before night," he said, "we will be with General Cos, who is my +commander. As you know, he is the brother-in-law of General Santa Anna, +and--he is much inflamed against the Texans. I fear that he will be hard +with you, but I shall do what I can to assuage his severity." + +"I thank you, Colonel Almonte," said Ned with a gravity beyond his +years. "You are a generous enemy, and chance may help me some day to +return your kindness, but whatever treatment General Cos may accord me, +I hope I shall be able to stand it." + +In another hour they saw a column of dust ahead of them. The column grew +and soon Ned saw lances and bayonets shining through it. He knew that +this was the army of Cos, and, just as the eastern light began to fade, +they joined it. Cos was going into camp by the side of a small stream, +and, after a little delay, Almonte took the prisoner to him. + +A large tent had been erected for General Cos, but he was sitting before +it, eating his supper. A cook was serving him with delicate dishes and +another servant filled his glass with red wine. His dark face darkened +still further, as he looked at Ned, but he saluted Almonte courteously. +It was evident to Ned that through family or merit, probably both, +Almonte stood very high in the Mexican service. + +"I have the honor to report to you, General Cos," said Almonte, "that we +have retaken the young Texan who escaped through the bars of his prison +at the capital. We found him in the mountains overcome by exhaustion." + +General Cos' lips opened in a slow, cold smile,--an evil smile that +struck a chill to Ned's heart. Here was a man far different from the +gallant and gay young Almonte. That cruel strain which he believed was +in the depths of the Spanish character, dormant though it might usually +be, was patent now in General Cos. Moreover, this man was very powerful, +and, as brother-in-law of Santa Anna, he was second only to the great +dictator. He did not ask Ned to sit down and he was brusque in speech. +The air about them grew distinctly colder. Almonte had talked with Ned +in English, but Cos spoke Spanish: + +"Why did you run away from the capital?" he asked, shortly. "You were +treated well there." + +"No man can be held in prison and be treated well." + +General Martin Perfecto de Cos frowned. The bearing of the young Gringo +did not please him. Nor did his answer. + +"I repeat my question," he said, his voice rising. "Why did you run like +a criminal from the capital? You were with the man Austin. You, like he, +were the guest of our great and illustrious Santa Anna who does no +wrong. Answer me, why did you slip away like a thief?" + +"I slipped away, but it was not like a thief nor any other kind of +criminal. And if you must know, General Cos, I went because I did not +believe the words of the great and illustrious Santa Anna. He promises +the Texans redress for their wrongs, and, at the same time, he orders +them to give up their weapons. Do you think, and does General Santa Anna +think, that the Texans are fools?" + +Despite all his study and thought, Ned Fulton was only a boy and he did +not have the wisdom of the old. The manner and words of General Cos had +angered him, and, on impulse, he gave a direct reply. But he knew at +once that it was impolitic. Cos' eyes lowered, and his lips drew back +like those of an angry jaguar, showing his strong white teeth. There was +no possible doubt now about that Spanish strain of cruelty. + +"I presume," he said, and he seemed to Ned to bite each word, "that you +meant to go to the Texans with the lying message that the word of the +most illustrious General Santa Anna was not to be believed?" + +"I meant to go with such a message," said Ned proudly, "but it would not +be a lying one." + +Knowing that he was already condemned he resolved to seek no subterfuge. + +"The President cannot be insulted in my presence," said Cos ominously. + +"He is only a boy, General," said Almonte appealingly. + +"Boys can do mischief," said Cos, "and this seems to be an unusually +cunning and wicked one. You are zealous, Colonel Almonte, I will give +you that much credit, but you do not hate the Gringos enough." + +Almonte flushed, but he bowed and said nothing. Cos turned again to Ned. + +"You will bear no message to the Texans," he said. "I think that instead +you will stay a long time in this hospitable Mexico of ours." + +Ned paled a little. The words were full of menace, and he knew that they +came straight from the cruel heart of Cos. But his pride would not +permit him to reply. + +"You will be kept under close guard," said the General. "I will give +that duty to the men of Tlascala. They are infantry and to-morrow you +march on foot with them. Colonel Almonte, you did well to take the +prisoner, but you need trouble yourself no longer about him." + +Two men of the Tlascalan company were summoned and they took Ned with +them. The name "Tlascala" had appealed to Ned at first. It was the brave +Tlascalan mountaineers who had helped Cortez and who had made possible +his conquest of the great Mexican empire. But these were not the +Tlascalans of that day. They were a mongrel breed, short, dirty and +barefooted. He ate of the food they gave him, said nothing, and lay down +on his serape to seek sleep. Almonte came to him there. + +"I feared this," he said. "I would have saved you from General Cos had I +been able." + +"I know it," said Ned warmly, "and I want to thank you, Colonel +Almonte." + +Almonte held out his hand and Ned grasped it. Then the Mexican strode +away. Ned lay back again and watched the darkness thin as the moon and +stars came out. Far off the silver cone of Orizaba appeared like a spear +point against the sky. It towered there in awful solemnity above the +strife and passion of the world. Ned looked at it long, and gradually it +became a beacon of light to him, his "pillar of flame" by night. It was +the last thing he saw as he fell asleep, and there was no thought then +in his mind of the swart and menacing Cos. + +They resumed the march early in the morning. Ned no longer had his +patient burro, but walked on foot among the Tlascalans. Often he saw +General Cos riding ahead on a magnificent white horse. Sometimes the +peons stood on the slopes and looked at them but generally they kept far +from the marching army. Ned surmised that they had no love of military +service. + +The way was not easy for one on foot. Clouds of dust arose, and stung +nose and throat. The sharp lava or basalt cut through the soles of +shoes, and at midday the sun's rays burned fiercely. Weakened already by +the hardships of his flight Ned was barely able to keep up. Once when he +staggered a horseman prodded him with the butt of his lance. Ned was not +revengeful, but he noted the man's face. Had he been armed then he +would have struck back at any cost. But he took care not to stagger +again, although it required a supreme effort. + +They halted about an hour at noon, and Ned ate some rough food and drank +water with the Tlascalans. He was deeply grateful for the short rest, +and, as he sat trying to keep himself from collapse, Almonte came up and +held out a flask. + +"It is wine," he said. "It will strengthen you. Drink." + +Ned drank. He was not used to wine, but he had been so near exhaustion +that he took it as a medicine. When he handed the flask back the color +returned to his face and the blood flowed more vigorously in his veins. + +"General Cos does not wish me to see you at all," said Almonte. "He +thinks you should be treated with the greatest harshness, but I am not +without influence and I may be able to ease your march a little." + +"I know that you will do it if you can," said Ned gratefully. + +Yet Almonte was able to do little more for him. The march was resumed +under equally trying conditions, after the short rest. When night came +and the detachment stopped, Ned ached in every bone, and his feet were +sore and bleeding. Almonte was sent away in the morning on another +service, and there was no one to interfere for him. + +He struggled on all of the next day. Most of his strength was gone, but +pride still kept him going. Orizaba was growing larger and larger, +dominating the landscape, and Ned again drew courage from the lofty +white cone that looked down upon them. + +Late in the afternoon he heard a trumpet blow, and there was a great +stir in the force of Cos. Men held themselves straighter, lines were +re-formed, and the whole detachment became more trim and smart. General +Cos on his white horse rode to its head, and he was in his finest +uniform. Somebody of importance was coming! Ned was keen with curiosity +but he was too proud to ask. The Tlascalans had proved a churlish lot, +and he would waste no words on them. + +The road now led down into a beautiful savanna, thick in grass, and with +oaks and pines on all sides. Cos' companies turned into the grass, and +Ned saw that another force entering at the far side was doing the same. +All the men in the second force were mounted, the officer who was at +their head riding a horse even finer than that of Cos. His uniform, too, +was more splendid, and his head was surmounted by a great three-cornered +hat, heavy with gold lace. He was compact of figure, sat his saddle +well, and rode as if the earth belonged to him. Ned recognized him at +once. It was the general, the president, the dictator, the father of his +country, the illustrious Santa Anna himself. + +The mellow trumpet pealed forth again, and Santa Anna advanced to meet +his brother, Cos, who likewise advanced to meet him. They met in full +view of both forces, and embraced and kissed each other. Then a shout +came forth from hundreds of throats at the noble spectacle of fraternal +amity. The two forces coalesced with much Latin joy and chatter, and +camp was pitched in the savanna. + +Ned stayed with the Tlascalans, because he had no choice but to do so. +They flung him a tortilla or two, and he had plenty of water, but what +he wanted most was rest. He threw himself on the grass, and, as the +Tlascalans did not disturb him, he lay there until long after +nightfall. He would have remained there until morning had not two +soldiers come with a message that he was wanted by Santa Anna himself. + +Ned rose, smoothed out his hair, draped his serape as gracefully as he +could about his shoulders, and, assuming all the dignity that was +possible, went with the men. He had made up his mind that boldness of +manner and speech was his best course and it suited his spirit. He was +led into a large tent or rather a great marquee, and he stood there for +a few moments dazzled. + +The floor of the marquee was spread with a thick velvet carpet. A table +loaded with silver dishes was between the generals, and a dozen lamps on +the walls shed a bright light over velvet carpet, silver dishes and the +faces of the two men who held the fortunes of Mexico in the hollows of +their hands. General Cos smiled the same cold and evil smile that Ned +had noticed at their first meeting, but Santa Anna spoke in a tone half +of surprise and half of pity. + +"Ah, it is the young Fulton! And he is in evil plight! You would not +accept my continued hospitality at the capital, and behold what you have +suffered!" + +Ned looked steadily at him. He could not fathom the thought that lay +behind the words of Santa Anna. The man was always appearing to him in +changing colors. So he merely waited. + +"It was a pleasure to me," said Santa Anna, "to learn from General Cos +that you had been retaken. Great harm might have come to you wandering +through the mountains and deserts of the north. You could never have +reached the Texans alive, and since you could not do so it was better to +have come back to us, was it not?" + +"I have not come willingly." + +General Cos frowned, but Santa Anna laughed. + +"That was frank," he said, "and we will be equally frank with you. You +would go north to the Texans, telling them that I mean to come with an +army and crush them. Is it not so?" + +"It is," replied Ned boldly. + +Santa Anna smiled. He did not seem to be offended at all. His manner, +swift, subtle and changing, was wholly attractive, and Ned felt its +fascination. + +"Be your surmise true or not," said the dictator, "it is best for you +not to reach Texas. I have discussed the matter with my brother, General +Cos, in whom I have great confidence, and we have agreed that since you +undertook to reach Vera Cruz you can go there. General Cos will be your +escort on the way, and, as I go to the capital in the morning, I wish +you a pleasant journey and a happy stay in our chief seaport." + +It seemed to Ned that there was the faintest touch of irony in his last +word or two, but he was not sure. He was never sure of Santa Anna, that +complex man of great abilities and vast ambition. And so after his +fashion when he had nothing to say he said nothing. + +"You are silent," said Santa Anna, "but you are thinking. You of the +north are silent to hide your thoughts, and we of the south talk to hide +ours!" + +Ned still said nothing, and Santa Anna examined him searchingly. He sent +his piercing gaze full into the eyes of the boy. Ned, proud of his race +and blood, endured it, and returned it with a firm and steady look. Then +the face of Santa Anna changed. He became all at once smiling and +friendly, like a man who receives a welcome guest. He put a hand on +Ned's shoulder, and apparently he did not notice that the shoulder +became rigid under his touch. + +"I like you," he said, "I like your courage, your truth, and your +bluntness. You Texans, or rather you Americans,--because the Texans are +Americans,--have some of the ruder virtues which we who are of the +Spanish and Latin blood now and then lack. You are only a boy, but you +have in you the qualities that can make a career. The Texans belong to +Mexico. Your loyalty is due to Mexico and to me. I have said that you +would go to Vera Cruz and take the hospitality that my brother, Cos, +will offer you, but there is an alternative." + +He stopped as if awaiting a natural question, but still Ned did not +speak. A spark appeared in the eye of Santa Anna, but it passed so +quickly that it was like a momentary gleam. + +"I would make of you," continued the dictator in his mellow, coaxing +tone, "a promising young member of my staff, and I would assign to you +an immediate and important duty. I would send you to the Texans with a +message entirely different from the one you wish to bear. I would have +you to tell them that Santa Anna means only their greatest good; that he +loves them as his children; that he is glad to have these strong, tall, +fair men in the north to fight for him and Mexico; that he is a man who +never breaks a promise; that he is the father of his people, and that he +loves them all with a heart full of tenderness. To show you how much I +trust and value you I would take your word that you would bear such a +message, and I would send you with an escort that would make your way +safe and easy." + +Again he sent his piercing gaze into the eyes of the boy, but Ned was +still silent. + +"You would tell them," said Santa Anna in the softest and most +persuasive tones, "that you have been much with me, that you know me, +and that no man has a softer heart or a more just mind." + +"I cannot do it," said Ned. + +"Why?" + +"Because it is not so." + +The change on the face of Santa Anna was sudden and startling. His eyes +became black with wrath, and his whole aspect was menacing. The hand of +Cos flew to the hilt of his sword, and he half rose from his chair. But +Santa Anna pushed him back, and then the face of the dictator quickly +underwent another transformation. It became that of the ruler, grave but +not threatening. + +"Softly, Cos, my brother," he said. "Bear in mind that he is only a boy. +I offered too much, and he does not understand. He has put away a +brilliant career, but, my good brother Cos, he has left to him your +hospitality, and you will not be neglectful." + +Cos sank back in his chair and laughed. Santa Anna laughed. The two +laughs were unlike, one heavy and angry, and the other light and gay, +but their effect upon Ned was precisely the same. He felt a cold shiver +at the roots of his hair, but he was yet silent, and stood before them +waiting. + +"You can go," said Santa Anna. "You have missed your opportunity and it +will not come again." + +Ned turned away without a word. The Tlascalans were waiting at the door +of the marquee, and he went with them. Once more he slept under the +stars. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE DUNGEON UNDER THE SEA + + +Ned, early the next morning, saw Santa Anna with his brilliant escort +ride away toward the capital, while General Cos resumed his march to +Vera Cruz. Almonte did not reappear at all, and the boy surmised that he +was under orders to join the dictator. + +Ned continued on foot among the Tlascalans. Cos offered him no kindness +whatever, and his pride would not let him ask for it. But when he looked +at his sore and bleeding feet he always thought of the patient burro +that he had lost. They marched several more days, and the road dropped +down into the lowlands, into the tierra caliente. The air grew thick and +hot and Ned, already worn, felt an almost overpowering languor. The +vegetation became that of the tropics. Then, passing through marshes and +sand dunes, they reached Vera Cruz, the chief port of Mexico, a small, +unhealthy city, forming a semicircle about a mile in length about the +bay. + +Ned saw little of Vera Cruz, as they reached it at nightfall, but the +approach through alternations of stagnant marsh and shifting sand +affected him most unpleasantly. Offensive odors assailed him and he +remembered that this was a stronghold of cholera and yellow fever. He +ate rough food with the Tlascalans again, and then Cos sent for him. + +"You have reached your home," said the General. "You will occupy the +largest and most expensive house in the place, and my men will take you +there at once. Do you not thank me?" + +"I do not," replied Ned defiantly. Yet he knew that he had much to +dread. + +"You are an ungrateful young dog of a Texan," said Cos, laughing +maliciously, "but I will confer my hospitality upon you, nevertheless. +You will go with these men and so I bid you farewell." + +Four barefooted soldiers took Ned down through the dirty and +evil-smelling streets of the city. He wondered where they were going, +but he would not ask. They came presently to the sea and Ned saw before +him, about a half mile away, a somber and massive pile rising upon a +rocky islet. He knew that it was the great and ancient Castle of San +Juan de Ulua. In the night, with only the moon's rays falling upon its +walls, it looked massive and forbidding beyond all description. That +cold shiver again appeared at the roots of the boy's hair. He knew now +the meaning of all this talk of Santa Anna and Cos about their +hospitality. He was to be buried in the gloomiest fortress of the New +World. It was a fate that might well make one so young shudder many +times. But he said not a word in protest. He got silently into a boat +with the soldiers, and they were rowed to the rocky islet on which stood +the huge castle. + +Not much time was wasted on Ned. He was taken before the governor, his +name and age were registered, and then two of the prison guards, one +going before and the other behind, led him down a narrow and steep +stairway. It reminded him of his descent into the pyramid, but here the +air seemed damper. They went down many steps and came into a narrow +corridor upon which a number of iron doors opened. The guards unlocked +one of the doors, pushed Ned in, relocked the door on him, and went +away. + +Ned staggered from the rude thrust, but, recovering himself stood erect, +and tried to accustom his eyes to the half darkness. He stood in a +small, square room with walls of hard cement or plaster. The roof of the +same material was high, and in the center of it was a round hole, +through which came all the air that entered the cell. In a corner was a +rude pallet of blankets spread upon grass. There was no window. The +place was hideous and lonely beyond the telling. He had not felt this +way in the pyramid. + +Ned now had suffered more than any boy could stand. He threw himself +upon the blanket, and only pride kept him from shedding tears. But he +was nevertheless relaxed completely, and his body shook as if in a +chill. He lay there a long time. Now and then, he looked up at the walls +of his prison, but always their sodden gray looked more hideous than +ever. He listened but heard nothing. The stillness was absolute and +deadly. It oppressed him. He longed to hear anything that would break +it; anything that would bring him into touch with human life and that +would drive away the awful feeling of being shut up forever. + +The air in the dungeon felt damp to Ned. He was glad of it, because damp +meant a touch of freshness, but by and by it became chilly, too. The bed +was of two blankets, and, lying on one and drawing the other over him, +he sought sleep. He fell after a while into a troubled slumber which was +half stupor, and from which he awakened at intervals. At the third +awakening he heard a noise. Although his other faculties were deadened +partially by mental and physical exhaustion, his hearing was uncommonly +acute, concentrating in itself the strength lost by the rest. The sound +was peculiar, half a swish and half a roll, and although not loud it +remained steady. Ned listened a long time, and then, all at once, he +recognized its cause. + +He was under the sea, and it was the rolling of the waves over his head +that he heard. He was in one of the famous submarine dungeons of the +Castle of San Juan de Ulua. This was the hospitality of Cos and Santa +Anna, and it was a hospitality that would hold him fast. Never would he +take any word of warning to the Texans. Buried under the sea! He +shivered all over and a cold sweat broke out upon him. + +He lay a long time until some of the terror passed. Then he sat up, and +looked at the round hole in the cement ceiling. It was about eight +inches in diameter and a considerable stream of fresh air entered there. +But the pipe or other channel through which it came must turn to one +side, as the sea was directly over his head. He could not reach the +hole, and even could he have reached it, he was too large to pass +through it. He had merely looked at it in a kind of vague curiosity. + +Feeling that every attempt to solve anything would be hopeless, he fell +asleep again, and when he awoke a man with a lantern was standing beside +him. It was a soldier with his food, the ordinary Mexican fare, and +water. Another soldier with a musket stood at the door. There was no +possible chance of a dash for liberty. Ned ate and drank hungrily, and +asked the soldier questions, but the man replied only in monosyllables +or not at all. The boy desisted and finished in silence the meal which +might be either breakfast, dinner or supper for all he knew. Then the +soldier took the tin dishes, withdrew with his comrade, and the door +was locked again. + +Ned was left to silence and solitude. But he felt that he must now move +about, have action of some kind. He threw himself against the door in an +effort to shake it, but it did not move a jot. Then he remembered that +he had seen cell doors in a row, and that other prisoners might be on +either side of him. He kicked the heavy cement walls, but they were not +conductors of sound and no answer came. + +He grew tired after a while, but the physical exertion had done him +good. The languid blood flowed in a better tide in his veins and his +mind became more keen. There must be some way out of this. Youth could +not give up hope. It was incredible, impossible that he should remain +always here, shut off from that wonderful free world outside. The roll +of the sea over his head made reply. + +After a while he began to walk around his cell, around and around and +around, until his head grew dizzy, and he staggered. Then he would +reverse and go around and around and around the other way. He kept this +up until he could scarcely stand. He lay down and tried to sleep again. +But he must have slept a long time before, and sleep would not come. He +lay there on the blankets, staring at the walls and not seeing them, +until the soldiers came again with his food. Ned ate and drank in +silence. He was resolved not to ask a question, and, when the soldiers +departed, not a single word had been spoken. + +The next day Ned had fever, the day after that he was worse, and on the +third day he became unconscious. Then he passed through a time, the +length of which he could not guess, but it was a most singular period. +It was crowded with all sorts of strange and shifting scenes, some +colored brilliantly, and vivid, others vague and fleeting as moonlight +through a cloud. It was wonderful, too, that he should live again +through things that he had lived already. He was back with Mr. Austin. +He saw the kind and generous face quite plainly and recognized his +voice. He saw Benito and Juana, Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl; he was on +the pyramid and in it, and he saw the silver cone of Orizaba. Then he +shifted suddenly back to Texas and the wild border, the Comanche and the +buffalo. + +His life now appeared to have no order. Time turned backward. Scenes +occurred out of their sequence. Often they would appear for a second or +third time. It was the most marvelous jumble that ever ran through any +kaleidoscope. His brain by and by grew dizzy with the swift interplay of +action and color. Then everything floated away and blackness and silence +came. Nor could he guess how long this period endured, but when he came +out of it he felt an extraordinary weakness and a lassitude that was of +both mind and body. + +His eyes were only half open and he did not care to open them more. He +took no interest in anything. But he became slowly conscious that he had +emerged from somewhere out of a vast darkness, and that he had returned +to his life in the dungeon under the sea. + +His eyes opened fully by automatic process rather than by will, and the +heavy dark of the dungeon was grateful then, because they, too, like all +the rest of him, were very weak. Yet a little light came in as usual +with the fresh air from above, and by and by he lifted one hand and +looked at it. It was a strange hand, very white, very thin, with the +blue veins standing out from the back. + +It was almost the hand of a skeleton. He did not know it. Certainly it +did not belong to him. He looked at it wondering, and then he did a +strange thing. It was his left hand that he was holding before him. He +put his right hand upon it, drew that hand slowly over the fingers, then +the palm and along the wrist until he reached his shoulder. It was his +hand after all. His languid curiosity satisfied he let the hand drop +back by his body. It fell like a stone. After a while he touched his +head, and found that his hair was cut closely. It seemed thin, too. + +He realized that he had been ill, and very ill indeed he must have been +to be so weak. He wondered a little how long it had been since he first +lapsed into unconsciousness, and then the wonder ceased. Whether the +time had been long or short it did not matter. But he shut his eyes and +listened for the last thing that he remembered. He heard it presently, +that low roll of the sea. He was quite sure of one thing. He was in the +same submarine dungeon of the famous Castle of San Juan de Ulua. + +His door was opened, and a man, not a soldier, came in with soup in a +tin basin. He uttered a low exclamation, when he saw that Ned was +conscious, but he made no explanations. Nor did Ned ask him anything. +But he ate the soup with a good appetite, and felt very much stronger. +His mind, too, began to wake up. He knew that he was going to get well, +but it occurred to him that it might be better for him to conceal his +returning strength. With a relaxed watch he would have more chance to +escape. + +The soup had a soothing effect, and his mind shared with his body in the +improvement. It was obvious that they had not intended for him to die or +they would not have taken care of him in his illness. The shaven head +was proof. But he saw nothing that he could do. He must wait upon the +action of his jailers. Having come to this conclusion he lay upon his +pallet, and let vague thoughts float through his head as they would. + +About three hours after they had brought him his soup he heard a +scratching at the keyhole of his door. He was not too languid to be +surprised. He did not think it likely that any of his jailers would come +back so soon, and heretofore the key had always turned in the lock +without noise. + +Ned sat up. The scratching continued for a few moments, and the door +swung open. A tall, thin figure of a man entered, the door closed behind +him, and with some further scratching he locked it. Then the man turned +and stared at Ned. Ned stared with equal intentness at him. + +The figure that he saw was thin and six feet four; the face that he saw +was thin and long. The face was also bleached to an indescribable dead +white, the effect of which was heightened by the thick and fiery red +hair that crowned a head, broad and shaped finely. His hair even in the +dark seemed to be vital, the most vital part of him. Ned fancied that +his eyes were blue, although in the dimness he could not tell. But he +knew that this was no Mexican. A member of his own race stood before +him. + +"Well," said Ned. + +"Well?" replied the man in a singularly soft and pleasant voice. + +"Who are you and what do you want?" + +"To the first I am Obed White; to the second I want to talk to you, and +I would append as a general observation that I am harmless. Evil to him +that would evil do." + +"The quotation is wrong," said Ned, smiling faintly. "It is 'evil to him +who evil thinks.'" + +"Perhaps, but I have improved upon it. I add, for your further +information, that I am your nearest neighbor. I occupy the magnificent +concrete parlor next door to you, where I live a life of undisturbed +ease, but I have concluded at last to visit you, and here I am. How I +came I will explain later. But I am glad I am with you. One crowded hour +of glorious company is worth a hundred years in a solitary cell. I may +have got that a little wrong, too, but it sounds well." + +He sat down in Turkish fashion on the floor, folding a pair of extremely +long legs beneath him, and regarded Ned with a slow, quizzical smile. +For the life of him the boy could not keep from smiling back. With the +nearer view he could see now that the eyes were blue and honest. + +"You may think I'm a Mexican," continued the man in his mellow, pleasant +voice, "but I'm not. I'm a Texan--by the way of Maine. As I told you, I +live in the next tomb, the one on the right. I'm a watch, clock and tool +maker by trade and a bookworm by taste. Because of the former I've come +into your cell, and because of the latter I use the ornate language that +you hear. But of both those subjects more further on. Meanwhile, I +suppose it's you who have been yelling in here at the top of your voice +and disturbing a row of dungeons accustomed to peace and quiet." + +"It was probably I, but I don't remember anything about it." + +"It's not likely that you would, as I see you've had some one of the +seven hundred fevers that are customary along this coast. Yours must +have been of the shouting kind, as I heard you clean through the wall, +and, once when I was listening at the keyhole, you made a noise like +the yell of a charging army." + +"You don't mean to say that you've been listening at the keyhole of my +cell." + +"It's exactly what I mean. You wouldn't come to see your neighbor so he +decided to come to see you. Good communications correct evil manners. +See this?" + +He held up a steel pronged instrument about six inches long. + +"This was once a fork, a fork for eating, large and crude, I grant you, +but a fork. It took me more than a month to steal it, that is I had to +wait for a time when I was sure that the soldier who brought my food was +so lazy or so stupid that he would not miss it. I waited another week as +an additional precaution, and after that my task was easy. If the best +watch, clock and instrument maker in the State of Maine couldn't pick +any lock with a fork it was time for him to lie on his back and die. I +picked the lock of my own door in a minute the first time by dead +reckoning, but it took me a full two minutes to open yours, although +I'll relock it in half that time when I go out. Where there's a will +there will soon be an open door." + +He flourished the fork, the two prongs of which now curved at the end, +and grinned broadly. He had a look of health despite the dead whiteness +of his face, which Ned now knew was caused by prison pallor. Ned liked +him. He liked him for many reasons. He liked him because his eyes were +kindly. He liked him because he was one of his own race. He liked him +because he was a fellow prisoner, and he liked him above all because +this was the first human companionship that he had had in a time that +seemed ages. + +Obed meanwhile was examining him with scrutinizing eyes. He had heard +the voice of fever, but he did not expect to find in the "tomb" next to +his own a mere boy. + +"How does it happen," he asked, "that one as young as you is a prisoner +here in a dungeon with the castle of San Juan de Ulua and the sea on top +of him?" + +Obed White had the mellowest and most soothing voice that Ned had ever +heard. Now it was like that of a father speaking to the sick son whom he +loved, and the boy trusted him absolutely. + +"I was sent here," he replied, "by Santa Anna and his brother-in-law, +Cos, because I knew too much, or rather suspected too much. I was held +at the capital with Mr. Austin. We were not treated badly. Santa Anna +himself would come to see us and talk of the great good that he was +going to do for Texas, but I could not believe him. I was sure instead +that he was gathering his forces to crush the Texans. So, I escaped, +meaning to go to Texas with a message of warning." + +"A wise boy and a brave one," said Obed White with admiration. "You +suspected but you kept your counsel. Still waters run slowly, but they +run." + +Ned told all his story, neglecting scarcely a detail. The feeling that +came of human companionship was so strong and his trust was so great +that he did not wish to conceal anything. + +"You've endured about as much as ought to come to one boy," said Obed +White, "and you've gone through all this alone. What you need is a +partner. Two heads can do what one can't. Well, I'm your partner. As I'm +the older, I suppose I ought to be the senior partner. Do you hereby +subscribe to the articles of agreement forming the firm of White & +Fulton, submarine engineers, tunnel diggers, jail breakers, or whatever +form of occupation will enable us to escape from the castle of San Juan +de Ulua?" + +"Gladly," said Ned, and he held out a thin, white hand. Obed White +seized it, but he remembered not to grasp it too firmly. This boy had +been ill a long time, and he was white and very weak. The heart of the +man overflowed with pity. + +"Good-night, Ned," he said. "I mustn't stay too long, but I'll come +again lots of times, and you and I will talk business then. The firm of +White & Fulton will soon begin work of the most important kind. Now you +watch me unlock that door. They say that pride goeth before a fall, but +in this case it is going right through an open door." + +Obviously he was proud of his skill as he had a full right to be. He +inserted the hooked prongs of the fork in the great keyhole, twisted +them about a little, and then the lock turned in its groove. + +"Good-by, Ned," said Obed again. "It's time I was back in my own tomb +which is just like yours. I hate to lock in a good friend like you, but +it must be done." + +He disappeared in the hall, the door swung shut and Ned heard the lock +slide in the groove again. He was alone once more. The light that had +seemed to illuminate his dungeon went with the man, but he left hope +behind. Ned would not be alone in the spirit as long as he knew that +Obed White was in the cell next to his. + +He lay a while, thinking on the chances of fate. They had served him +ill, for a long time. Had the turn now come? He did not know it, but it +was the human companionship, the friendly voice that had raised such a +great hope in his breast. He glided from thought into a peaceful sleep +and slept a long time, without dreams or even vague, floating visions. +His breath came long and full at regular intervals, and with every beat +of his pulse new strength flowed into his body. While he slept nature +was hard at work, rebuilding the strong young frame which had yielded +only to overpowering circumstances. + +Ned ate his breakfast voraciously the next day and wanted more. Dinner +also left him hungry, but, carrying out his original plan, he +counterfeited weakness, and, before the soldier left, lay down upon the +pallet as if he were too languid to care for anything. He disposed of +supper in similar fashion, and then waited with a throbbing pulse for +the second call from the senior member of the firm of White & Fulton. + +After an incredible period of waiting he heard the slight rasping of the +fork in the keyhole. Then the door was opened and the older partner +entered. Before speaking he carefully relocked the door. + +"I believe you're glad to see me," he said to Ned. "You're sitting up. I +don't think I ever before saw a boy improve so much in twenty-four +hours. I'll just feel your pulse. It will be one of my duties as senior +partner to practice medicine for a little while. Yes, it's a strong +pulse, a good pulse. You're quite clear of fever. You need nothing now +but your strength back again, and we'll wait for that. All things come +to him who waits, if he doesn't die of old age first." + +His talk was so rapid and cheerful that he seemed fairly to radiate +vigor. It was a powerful tonic to Ned who felt so strong that he was +prepared to attempt escape at once. But Obed shook his head when he +suggested it. + +"That strength comes from your feelings," he said. "All that glitters +isn't gold or silver or any other precious metal. That false strength +would break down under a long and severe test. We'll just wait and plan. +For what we're going to undertake you're bound to have every ounce of +vigor that you can accumulate." + +"You've been able to go out in the hall when you chose, then why haven't +you gone away already?" asked Ned. + +"I didn't get my key perfected until a few days ago, and then as I heard +you yelling in here I decided to find out about you. Two are company; +one is none, and so we formed a partnership. Now when the firm acts both +partners must act." + +Ned did not reply directly. He did not know how to thank him for his +generosity. + +"Have you explored the hall?" he asked. + +"It leads up a narrow stairway, down which I came some time ago when my +Mexican brethren decided that I was too much of a Texan patriot. +Doubtless you trod the same dark and narrow path. At the head of that is +another door which I have not tried, but which I know I can open with +this master key of mine. Beyond that I'm ignorant of the territory, but +there must be a way out since there was one in. Now, Ned, we must make +no mistake. We must not conceal from ourselves that the firm of White & +Fulton is confronted by a great task. We must select our time, and have +ready for the crisis every particle of strength, courage and quickness +that we possess." + +Ned knew that he was right, and yet, despite his youth and natural +strength, his convalescence was slow. He had passed through too terrible +an ordeal to recover entirely in a day or even a week. He would test his +strength often and at night Obed White would test it, too, but always he +was lacking in some particular. Then Obed would shake his head wisely +and say: "Wait." + +One night they heard the sea more loudly than ever before. It rolled +heavily, just over their heads. + +"There must be a great storm on the gulf," said Obed White. "I've lost +count of time, but perhaps the period of gales is at hand. If so, I'm +not sorry, it'll hide our flight across the water. You'll remember, Ned, +that we're a half mile from the mainland." + +Fully two weeks passed before they decided that Ned was restored to his +old self. Meanwhile they had matured their plan. + +"We came in as Texans," said Obed, "but we must go out as Mexicans. +There is no other way. It's all simple in the saying, but we've got to +be mighty quick in the doing. We must make the change right here in this +cell of yours, because, you having been an invalid so long, they're +likely to be careless about you." + +Ned agreed with him fully, and they began to train their bodies and +minds for a supreme effort. They were now able to tell the difference +between night and day by the temperature. The air that came through the +holes in the ceiling was a little cooler by night, enough for senses +trained to preternatural acuteness by long imprisonment to tell it. The +guard always came about eight o'clock with Ned's supper and they chose +that time for the attempt. + +Obed White entered Ned's cell about six o'clock. The boy could scarcely +restrain himself and the man's blue eyes were snapping with excitement. +But Obed patted Ned on the shoulder. + +"We must both keep cool," he said. "The more haste the less likely the +deed. The first man comes in with the tray carrying your food. I stand +here by the door and he passes by without seeing me. I seize the second, +drag him in and slam the door. Then the victory is to the firm of White +& Fulton, if it prove to be the stronger. But we'll have surprise in our +favor." + +They waited patiently. Ned lay upon his pallet. Obed flattened himself +against the wall beside the door. Their plan fully arranged, neither now +spoke. Overhead they heard the slow roll of the sea, lashed by the waves +sweeping in from the gulf. But inside the cell the silence was absolute. + +Ned lay in an attitude apparently relaxed. His face was still white. It +could not acquire color in that close cell, but he had never felt +stronger. A powerful heart pumped vigorous blood through every artery +and vein. His muscles had regained their toughness and flexibility, and +above all, the intense desire for freedom had keyed him to supreme +effort. + +Usually he did not hear the soldier's key turn in the lock, but soon he +heard it and his heart pumped. He glanced at White, but the gray figure, +flattened against the wall, never moved. The door swung open and the +soldier, merely a shambling peon, bearing the tray, entered. Behind him +according to custom came the second man who stood in the doorway, +leaning upon his musket. But he stood there only an instant. A pair of +long, powerful arms which must have seemed to him at that moment like +the antennae of a devil-fish, reached out, seized him in a fierce grip +by either shoulder, and jerked him gun and all into the cell. The door +was kicked shut and the grasp of the hands shifted from his shoulders to +his throat. He could not cry out although the terrible face that bent +over him made his soul start with fear. + +The man with the tray heard the noise behind him and turned. Ned sprang +like a panther. All the force and energy that he had been concentrating +so long were in the leap. The soldier went down as if he had been +struck by a cannon ball and his tray and dishes rattled upon him. But he +was a wiry fellow and grasping his assailant he struggled fiercely. + +"Now stop, my good fellow. Just lie still! That's the way!" + +It was Obed White who spoke, and he held the muzzle of a pistol at the +man's head. The other soldier lay stunned in the corner. It was from his +belt that Obed had snatched the pistol. + +"Get up, Ned," said White. "The first step in our escape from the Castle +of San Juan de Ulua has been taken. Meanwhile, you lie still, my good +fellow; we're not going to hurt you. No, you needn't look at your +comrade. I merely compressed his windpipe rather tightly. He'll come to +presently. Ned, take that gay red handkerchief out of his pocket and tie +his arms. If I were going to be bound I should like for the deed to be +done with just such a beautiful piece of cloth. Meanwhile, if you cry +out, my friend, I shall have to blow the top of your head off with this +pistol. It's not likely that they would hear your cry, but they might +hear my pistol shot." + +Ned bound the man rapidly and deftly. There was no danger that he would +utter a sound, while Obed White held the pistol. Under the circumstances +he was satisfied with the status quo. The second man was bound in a +similar fashion just as he was reviving, and he, too, was content to +yield to like threats. Obed drew a loaded pistol from the first man's +belt and handed it, too, to Ned. He also looked rather contemptuously at +the musket that the guard by the door had dropped. + +"A cheap weapon," he said. "A poor substitute for our American rifle, +but we'll take it along, Ned. We may need it. You gather their +ammunition while I stand handy with this pistol in case they should +burst their bonds." + +Ned searched the men, taking all their ammunition, their knives and also +the key to the door. Then he and Obed divested the two of their outer +clothing and put it upon themselves. Fortunately both soldiers had worn +their hats and they pulled them down over their own faces. + +"If we don't come into too bright a light, Ned," said White, "you'll +pass easily for a Mexican. Mexican plumage makes a Mexican bird. Now how +do I look?" + +"I could take you for Santa Anna himself," said Ned, elated at their +success. + +"That promises well. There's another advantage. You speak Spanish and so +do I." + +"It's lucky that we do." + +"And now," said Obed White to the two Mexicans, "we will leave you to +the hospitality of Cos and Santa Anna, which my young friend and I have +enjoyed so long. We feel that it is time for you to share in it. We're +going to lock you in this cell, where you can hear the sea rolling over +your head, but you will not stay here forever. It's a long lane that +does not come somewhere to a happy ending, and your comrades will find +you by to-morrow. Farewell." + +He went into the hall and they locked the door. They listened beside it +a little while but no sound came from within. + +"They dare not cry out," said Obed. "They're afraid we'll come back. Now +for the second step in our escape. It's pretty dark here. Those fellows +must have known the way mighty well to have come down as they did +without a lantern." + +"There are other prisoners in these cells," said Ned. "Shouldn't we +release them? You can probably open any of the doors with your key." + +White shook his head. + +"I'm sure that we're the only Texans or Americans in San Juan de Ulua, +and we couldn't afford to be wasting time on Mexicans whether +revolutionaries or criminals. There would merely be a tumult with every +one of us sure to be recaptured." + +The two now advanced down the passage, which was low and narrow, walled +in with massive stone. It was so dark here that they held each other's +hands and felt the way before every footstep. + +"I think we're going in the right direction," whispered White, "As I +remember it this is the way I came in." + +"I'm sure of it," Ned whispered back. "Ah, here are more steps." + +They had reached the stairway which led down to the hall of the +submarine cells, and still feeling their way they ascended it +cautiously. As they rose the air seemed to grow fresher, as if they were +nearing the openings by which it entered. + +"Those fellows who took our places must have left a lamp or a lantern +standing somewhere here at the top of these steps," whispered White. +"The man who carried the tray could not have gone down them without a +light." + +"It's probably here," said Ned, "burned out or blown out by a draught of +wind." + +He smelled a slight smoke and in a niche carved in the stone he found +the lamp. The wick was still smoking a little. + +"We'll leave it as it is," said Obed White. "Somebody may relight it +for those men when they come back again, but that won't be for several +hours yet." + +Three more steps and they reached the crest of the flight, where they +were confronted by a heavy door of oak, ribbed with iron. Obed gently +tried the key that they had seized, but it did not fit. + +"They must have banged on the door for it to be opened whenever they +came back," said Obed. "Now I shall use my fork which is sure to turn +the lock if I take long enough. I wasn't the best watch and key maker in +Maine for nothing. If first you don't succeed, then keep on trying till +you do." + +Ned sat down on the steps while White inserted the fork. He could hear +it scratching lightly for a minute and then the bolt slid. The boy rose +and the man stepped back by his side. + +"Draw your pistol and have it ready," he said, "and I'll do as much with +the old musket. We don't know what's on the other side of the door but +whatever it is we've got to meet it. Thrice armed is he who hath his +weapon leveled." + +Ned needed no urging. He drew the pistol and held it ready for instant +use. What, in truth, was on the other side of the door? His whole fate +and that of his comrade might depend upon the revelation. Obed pushed +gently and the door opened without noise three or four inches. A shaft +of light from the room fell upon them but they could not yet see into +the room. They listened, and, hearing nothing, Obed pushed more boldly. +Then they saw before them a large apartment, containing little +furniture, but with some faded old uniforms hanging about the walls. +Evidently it was used as a barracks for soldiers. At the far end was a +door and on the side to the right were two windows. + +Ned went to the window and looked out. He saw across a small court a +high and blank stone wall, but when he looked upward he saw also a patch +of sky. It was a black sky, across which clouds were driving before a +whistling wind, but it was the most beautiful sight that he had ever +seen. The sky, the free, open sky curving over the beautiful earth, was +revealed again to him who had been buried for ages in a dungeon under +the sea. He would not go back. In the tremendous uplift of feeling he +would willingly choose death first. He beckoned to White who joined him +and who looked up without being bid. + +"It's out there that we're going," he said. "We'll have to cross a +stormy sea before we reach freedom, but Ned, you and I are keyed up just +high enough to cross. We'll put it to the touch and win it all. Now for +the next door." + +The second door was not locked and when they pushed it open they entered +a small room, furnished handsomely in the Spanish fashion. A lamp burned +on a table, at which an officer sat looking over some papers. He heard +the two enter and it was too late for them to retreat, as he turned at +once and looked at them, inquiry in his face. + +"Who are you?" he asked. + +"We are the soldiers who have charge of the two Texans in the cells," +replied Obed White boldly. "We have just taken them their food and now +we are going back to our quarters." + +"I have no doubt that you tell the truth," replied the officer, "but +your voice has changed greatly since yesterday. You remember that I gave +you an order then about the man White." + +"Quite true," replied Obed quickly, raising his musket and taking aim, +"and now I'm giving the order back to you. It's a poor rule that won't +work first one way and then the other. Just you move or cry out and I +shoot. I'd hate to do it, because you're not bad looking, but necessity +knows the law of self-preservation." + +"You need not worry," said the officer, smiling faintly. "I will not +move, nor will I cry out. You have too great an advantage, because I see +that your aim is good and your hand steady. I surmise that you are the +man White himself." + +"None other, and this is my young friend, Edward Fulton, who likes San +Juan de Ulua as a castle but not as a hotel. Hence he has decided to go +away and so have I. Ned, look at those papers on his desk. You might +find among them a pass or two which would be mighty useful to us." + +"Do you mind if I light a cigarette?" asked the officer. "You can see +that my hands and the cigarettes alike are on the table." + +"Go ahead," said Obed hospitably, "but don't waste time." + +The officer lighted the cigarette and took a satisfied whiff. Ned +searched among the papers, turning them over rapidly. + +"Yes, here is a pass!" exclaimed he joyfully, "and here is another and +here are two more!" + +"Two will be enough," said Obed. + +"I'll take this one made out to Joaquin de la Barra for you and one to +Diego Fernandez for me. Ah, what are these?" + +He held up four papers, looking at them in succession. + +"What are they?" asked Obed White. + +"Death warrants. They are all for men with Mexican names, and they are +signed with the name of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, General-in-chief +and President of the Mexican Republic." + +The officer took the cigarette from his mouth and sent out a little +smoke through his nostrils. + +"Yes, they are death warrants," he said. "I was looking over them when +you came in, and I was troubled. The men were to have been executed +to-morrow." + +"Were to have been?" said Ned. Then a look passed between him and the +officer. The boy held the death warrants one by one in the flame of the +lamp and burned them to ashes. + +"I cannot execute a man without a warrant duly signed," said the +officer. + +"Which being the case, we'd better go or we might have to help at our +own executions," said Obed White. "Now you just sit where you are and +have a peaceful and happy mind, while we go out and fight with the +storm." + +The officer said nothing and the two passed swiftly through the far +door, stepping into a paved court, and reaching a few yards further a +gate of the castle. It was quite dark when they stepped once more into +the open world, and both wind and rain lashed them. But wind and rain +themselves were a delight to the two who had come from under the sea. +Besides, the darker the better. + +Two sentinels were at the gate and Ned thrust the passes before their +eyes. They merely glanced at the signatures, opened the gate, and in an +instant the two were outside the castle of San Juan de Ulua. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE BLACK JAGUAR + + +It was so dark that the two could see but a narrow stretch of masonry on +which they stood and a tossing sea beyond. Behind them heaved up the +mass of the castle, mighty and somber. A fierce wind was blowing in from +the gulf, and it whistled and screamed about the great walls. The rain, +bitter and cold, lashed against them like hail. Shut off so long from +the outer air they shivered now, but the shiver was merely of the air. +Their spirit was as high as ever and they faced their crisis with +undaunted souls. + +Yet they were far from escape. The wind was of uncommon strength, +seeming to increase steadily in power, and a half mile of wild waters +raced between them and the town. Weaker wills would have yielded and +turned back to prison, but not they. They ran eagerly along the edge of +the masonry, pelted by rain and wind. + +"There must be a boat tied up somewhere along here," exclaimed Ned. "The +castle, of course, keeps communication with the town!" + +"Yes, here it is!" said Obed. "Fortune favors the persistent. It's only +a small boat, and it's a big sea before us, but, Ned, my lad, we've got +to try it. We can't look any further. Listen! That's the alarm in the +castle." + +They heard shouts and clash of arms above the roaring of the wind. They +picked in furious haste at the rope that held the boat, cast it loose, +and sprang in, securing the oars. The waves at once lifted them up and +tossed them wildly. It was perhaps fortunate that they lost control of +their boat for a minute or two. Two musket shots were fired at them, but +good aim in the darkness at such a bobbing object was impossible. Ned +heard one of the bullets whistle near, and it gave him a queer, creepy +feeling to realize that for the first time in his life someone was +firing at him to kill. + +"Can you row, Ned?" asked White. + +"Yes." + +"Then pull with all your strength. Bend as low as you can at the same +time. They'll be firing at us as long as we are in range." + +They strove for the cover of the darkness, but they were compelled to +devote most of their efforts to keeping themselves afloat. The little +boat was tossed here and there like a bit of plank. Spray from the sea +was dashed over them, and, in almost a moment, they were wet through and +through. The captured musket lay in the bottom and rolled against their +feet. The wind shrieked continually like some wild animal in pain. + +Many torches appeared on the wharf that led up to the castle, and there +was a noise of men shouting to one another. The torches disclosed the +little boat rising and falling with the swell of the sea, and numerous +shots were now fired, but all fell short or went wild. + +"I don't think we're in much danger from the muskets," said Obed, "so we +won't pay any more attention to them. But in another minute they'll have +big boats out in pursuit We must make for the land below the town, and +get away somehow or other in the brush. If we were to land in the town +itself we'd be as badly off as ever. Hark, there goes the alarm!" + +A heavy booming report rose above the mutter of the waters and the +screaming of the wind. One of the great guns on the castle of San Juan +de Ulua had been fired. After a brief interval it was followed by a +second shot and then a third. The reports could be heard easily in Vera +Cruz, and they said that either a fresh revolution had begun, or that +prisoners were escaping. The people would be on the watch. White turned +the head of the boat more toward the south. + +"Ned," he said, "we must choose the longer way. We cannot run any risk +of landing right under the rifles of Santa Anna's troops. Good God!" + +Some gunner on the walls of San Juan de Ulua, of better sight and aim +than the others, had sent a cannon ball so close that it struck the sea +within ten feet of them. They were deluged by a water spout and again +their little vessel rocked fearfully. Obed White called out cheerfully: + +"Still right side up! They may shoot more cannon balls at us, Ned, but +they won't hit as near as that again!" + +"No, it's not likely," said Ned, "but there come the boats!" + +Large boats rowed by eight men apiece had now put out, but they, too, +were troubled by the wind and the high waves, and the boat they pursued +was so small that it was lost to sight most of the time. The wind and +darkness while a danger on the one hand were a protection on the other. +Fortunately both current and wind were bearing them in the direction +they wished, and they struggled with the energy that the love of life +can bring. All the large boats save one now disappeared from view, but +the exception, having marked them well, came on, gaining. An officer +seated in the prow, and wrapped in a long cloak, hailed them in a loud +voice, ordering them to surrender. + +"Ned," said Obed White, "you keep the boat going straight ahead and I'll +answer that man. But I wish this was a rifle in place of a musket." + +He picked up the musket and took aim. When he fired the leading rower on +the right hand side of the pursuing boat dropped back, and the boat was +instantly in confusion. White laid down the musket and seized the oar +again. + +"Now, Ned," he exclaimed, "if we pull as hard as we can and a little +harder, we'll lose them!" + +The boat, driven by the oars and the wind, sprang forward. Fortune, as +if resolved now to favor fugitives who had made so brave a fight against +overwhelming odds, piled the clouds thicker and heavier than ever over +the bay. The little boat was completely concealed from its pursuers. +Another gun boomed from San Juan de Ulua, and both Ned and Obed saw its +flash on the parapet, but, hidden under the kindly veil of the night, +they pulled straight ahead with strong arms. The sea seemed to be +growing smoother, and soon they saw an outline which they knew to be +that of the land. + +"We're below the town now," said Obed. "I don't know any particular +landing place, but it's low and sandy along here. So I propose that we +ride right in on the the highest wave, jump out of the boat when she +strikes and leave her." + +"Good enough," said Ned. "Yes, that's the land. I can see it plainly +now, and here comes our wave." + +The crest of the great wave lifted them up, and bore them swiftly +inland, the two increasing the speed with their oars. They went far up +on a sandy beach, where the boat struck. They sprang out, Obed taking +with him the unloaded musket, and ran. The retreating water caught them +about the ankles and pulled hard, but could not drag them back. They +passed beyond the highest mark of the waves, and then dropped, +exhausted, on the ground. + +"We've got all Mexico now to escape in," said Obed White, "instead of +that pent-up castle." + +The alarm gun boomed once more from San Juan de Ulua, and reminded them +that they could not linger long there. The rain was still falling, the +night was cold, and, after their tremendous strain, they would need +shelter as well as refuge. + +"They'll be searching the beach soon," said Obed, "and we'd best be off. +It's against my inclination just now to stay long in one place. A +rolling stone keeps slick and well polished, and that's what I'm after." + +"I think our safest course is to travel inland just as fast and as far +as we can," said Ned. + +"Correct. Good advice needs no bush." + +They started in the darkness across the sand dunes, and walked for a +long time. They knew that a careful search along the beach would be made +for them, but the Mexicans were likely to feel sure when they found +nothing that they had been wrecked and drowned. + +"I hope they'll think the sea got us," said Ned, "because then they +won't be searching about the country for us." + +"We weren't destined to be drowned that time," said Obed with great +satisfaction. "It just couldn't happen after our running such a gauntlet +before reaching the sea. But the further we get away from salt water the +safer we are." + +"It was my plan at first," said Ned, "to go by way of the sea from Vera +Cruz to a Texan port." + +"Circumstances alter journeys. It can't be done now. We've got to cut +across country. It's something like a thousand miles to Texas, but I +think that you and I together, Ned, can make it." + +Ned agreed. Certainly they had no chance now to slip through by the way +of Vera Cruz, and the sea was not his element anyhow. + +The rain ceased, and a few stars came out. They passed from the sand +dunes into a region of marshes. Constant walking kept their blood warm, +and their clothes were drying upon them. But they were growing very +tired and they felt that they must rest and sleep even at the risk of +recapture. + +"There's a lot of grass growing on the dry ground lying between the +marshes," said Ned, "and I suppose that the Mexicans cut it for the Vera +Cruz market. Maybe we can find something like a haystack or a windrow. +Dry grass makes a good bed." + +They hunted over an hour and persistence was rewarded by a small heap of +dry grass in a little opening surrounded by thorn bushes. They spread +one covering of it on the ground, covered themselves to the mouth with +another layer, and then went sound asleep, the old, unloaded musket +lying by Obed White's side. + +The two slept the sleep of deep exhaustion, the complete relaxation of +both body and mind. Boy and man they had passed through ordeals that few +can endure, but, healthy and strong, they suffered merely from weariness +and not from shattered nerves. So they slept peacefully and their +breathing was long and deep. They were warm as they lay with the grass +above and below them like two blankets. It had not rained much here, +and the grass had dried before their coming, so they were free from +danger of cold. + +The night passed and the brilliant Mexican day came, touching with red +and gold the town that curved about the bay, and softening the tints of +the great fortress that rose on the rocky isle. All was quiet again +within San Juan de Ulua and Vera Cruz. It had become known in both +castle and town that two Texans, boy and man, had escaped from the +dungeons under the sea only to find a grave in the sea above. Their boat +had been found far out in the bay where the returning waves carried it, +but the fishes would feed on their bodies, and it was well, because the +Texans were wicked people, robbers and brigands who dared to defy the +great and good Santa Anna, the father of his people. + +Meanwhile, the two slept on, never stirring under the grass. It is true +that the boy had dreams of a mighty castle from which he had fled and of +a roaring ocean over which he had passed, but he landed happily and the +dream sank away into oblivion. Peons worked in a field not a hundred +yards away, but they sought no fugitives, and they had no cruel thoughts +about anything. That Spanish strain in them was wholly dormant now. They +had heard in the night the signal guns from San Juan de Ulua and the +tenderest hearted of them said a prayer under his breath for the boy +whom the storm had given to the sea. Then they sang together as they +worked, some soft, crooning air of love and sacrifice that had been sung +among the hills of Spain before the Moor came. Perhaps if they had known +that the boy and man were asleep only a hundred yards away, the +tenderest hearted among them at least would have gone on with their work +just the same. + +Ned was the first to awake and it was past noon. He threw off the grass +and stood up refreshed but a little stiff. He awoke Obed, who rose, +yawning tremendously and plucking wisps of grass from his hair. The +droning note of a song came faintly, and the two listened. + +"Peons at work in a field," said the boy, looking through the trees. +"They don't appear to be very warlike, but we'd better go in the other +direction." + +"You're right," said Obed. "It's best for us to get away. If we tempt +our fate too much it may overtake us, but before we go let's take a last +view of our late home, San Juan de Ulua. See it over there, cut out in +black against the blue sky. It's a great fortress, but I'm glad to bid +it farewell." + +"Shall we take the musket?" asked Ned. "It's unloaded, and we have +nothing with which to load it." + +"I think we'll stick to it," replied Obed, "we may find a use for it, +but the first thing we want, Ned, is something to eat, and we've got to +get it. Curious, isn't it, how the fear of recapture, the fear of +everything, melts away before the demands of hunger." + +"Which means that we'll have to go to some Mexican hut and ask for +food," said Ned. "Now, I suggest, since we have no money, that we offer +the musket for as much provisions as we can carry." + +"It's not a bad idea. But our pistols are loaded and we'll keep them in +sight. It won't hurt if the humble peon takes us for brigands. He'll +trade a little faster, and, as this is a time of war so far as we are +concerned, we have the right to inspire necessary fear." + +They started toward the north and west, anxious to leave the tierra +caliente as soon as they could and reach the mountains. Ned saw once +more the silver cone of Orizaba now on his left. It had not led him on a +happy quest before, but he believed that it was a true beacon now. They +walked rapidly, staying their hunger as best they could, not willing to +approach any hut, until they were a considerable distance from Vera +Cruz. It was nearly nightfall when they dared a little adobe hut on a +hillside. + +"We'll claim to be Spaniards out of money and walking to the City of +Mexico," said Obed. "They probably won't believe our statements, but, +owing to the sight of these loaded pistols, they will accept them." + +It was a poor hut with an adobe floor and its owner, a surly Mexican, +was at home, but it contained plenty of food of the coarsest Mexican +type, and Obed White stated their requests very plainly. + +"Food we must have," he said, "sufficient for two or three days. +Besides, we want the two serapes hanging there on the wall. I think they +are clean enough for our use. In return we offer you this most excellent +musket, a beautiful weapon made at Seville. Look at it. It is worth +twice what we demand for it. Behold the beautifully carved stock and the +fine steel barrel." + +The Mexican, a dark, heavy-jawed fellow, regarded them maliciously, +while his wife and seven half-naked children sat by in silence, but +watching the strangers with the wary, shifting eyes of wild animals. + +"Yes, it is a good musket," he said, "but may I inquire if it is your +own?" + +"For the purposes of barter and sale it is my own," replied Obed +politely. "In this land as well as some others possession is ten points +of the law." + +"The words you speak are Spanish but your tone is Gringo." + +"Gringo or Spanish, it does not change the beauty and value of the +musket." + +"I was in Vera Cruz this morning. Last night there was a storm and the +great guns at the mighty Castle of San Juan de Ulua were firing." + +"Did they fire the guns to celebrate the storm?" + +"No. They gave a signal that two prisoners, vile Texans, were escaping +from the dungeons under the sea. But the storm took them, and buried +them in the waters of the bay. I heard the description of them. One was +a very tall man, thin and with very thick, red hair. The other was a +boy, but tall and strong for his age. He had gray eyes and brown hair. +Wretched infidel Texans they were, but they are gone and may the Holy +Virgin intercede for their souls." + +He lifted his heavy lashes, and he and Obed White looked gravely into +the eyes of each other. They and Ned, too, understood perfectly. + +"You were informed wrongly," said Obed. "The man who escaped was short +and fat, and he had yellow hair. The boy was very dark with black hair +and black eyes. But the statement that they were drowned in the bay is +correct." + +"One might get five hundred good silver pesos for bringing in their +bodies." + +"One might, but one won't, and you, amigo, are just concluding an +excellent bargain. You get this fine, unloaded musket, and we get the +food and the serapes for which we have so courteously asked. The entire +bargain will be completed inside of two minutes." + +The blue eyes and the black eyes met again and the owner of each pair +understood. + +"It is so," said the Mexican, evenly, and he brought what they wished. + +"Good-day, amigo," said Obed politely. "I will repeat that the musket is +unloaded, and you cannot find ammunition for it any nearer than Vera +Cruz, which will not trouble you as you are here at home in your +castle. But our pistols are loaded, and it is a necessary fact for my +young friend and myself. We purpose to travel in the hills, where there +is great danger of brigands. Fortunately for us we are both able and +willing to shoot well. Once more, farewell." + +"Farewell," said the Mexican, waving his hand in dignified salute. + +"That fellow is no fool," said Obed, as they strode away. "I like a man +who can take a hint. A word to the wise is like a stitch in time." + +"Will he follow us?" + +"Not he. He has that musket which he craved, and at half its value. He +does not desire wounds and perhaps death. The chances are ninety-nine +out of a hundred that he will never say a word for fear his government +will seize his musket." + +"And now for the wildest country that we can find," said Ned. "I'm glad +it doesn't rain much down here. We can sleep almost anywhere, wrapped in +our serapes." + +They ate as they walked and they kept on a long time after sunset, +picking their way by the moonlight. Two or three times they passed peons +in the path, but their bold bearing and the pistols in their belts +always gave them the road. Brigands flourished amid the frequent +revolutions, and the humbler Mexicans found it wise to attend strictly +to their own business. They slept again in the open, but this time on a +hill in a dense thicket. They had previously drunk at a spring at its +base, and lacking now for neither food nor water they felt hope rising +continually. + +Ned had no dreams the second night, and both awoke at dawn. On the far +side of the hill, they found a pool in which they bathed, and with +breakfast following they felt that they had never been stronger. Their +food was made up in two packs, one for each, and they calculated that +with economy it would last two days. They could also reckon upon further +supplies from wild fruits, and perhaps more frijoles and tortillas from +the people themselves. When they had summed up all their circumstances, +they concluded that they were not in such bad condition. Armed, strong +and bold, they might yet traverse the thousand miles to Texas. + +Light of heart and foot they started. Off to the left the great silver +head of Orizaba looked down at them benignantly, and before them they +saw the vast flowering robe of the tierra caliente into which they +pushed boldly, even as Cortez and his men had entered it. + +Ned was almost overpowered by a vegetation so grand and magnificent. +Except on the paths which they followed, it was an immense and tangled +mass of gigantic trees and huge lianas. Many of the lianas had wound +themselves like huge serpents about the trees and had gradually pulled +them, no matter how strong, into strange and distorted shapes. Overhead +parrots and paroquets chattered amid the vast and gorgeous bloom of red +and pink, yellow and white. Ned and Obed were forced to keep to the +narrow peon paths, because elsewhere one often could not pass save +behind an army of axes. + +The trees were almost innumerable in variety. They saw mahogany, +rosewood, Spanish cedar and many others that they did not know. They +also saw the cactus and the palm, turned by the struggle for existence +in this tremendous forest, into climbing plants. Obed noted these facts +with his sharp eye. + +"It's funny that the cactus and the palm have to climb to live," he +said, "but they've done it. It isn't any funnier, however, than the +fact that the whale lived on land millions of years ago, and had to take +to the water to escape being eaten up by bigger and fiercer animals than +himself. I'm a Maine man and so I know about whales." + +They came now and then to little clearings, in which the peons raised +many kinds of tropical and semitropical plants, bananas, pineapples, +plantains, oranges, cocoa-nuts, mangoes, olives and numerous others. In +some places the fruit grew wild, and they helped themselves to it. Twice +they asked at huts for the customary food made of Indian corn, and on +both occasions it was given to them. The peons were stolid, but they +seemed kind and Ned was quite sure they did not care whether the two +were Gringos or not. Two or three times, heavy tropical rains gushed +down in swift showers, and they were soaked through and through, despite +their serapes, but the hot sun, coming quickly afterward, soon dried +them out again. They were very much afraid of chills and fever, but +their constitutions, naturally so strong, held them safe. + +Deeper and deeper they went into the great tropical wilderness of the +tierra caliente. Often the heat under the vast canopy of interlacing +vines and boughs was heavy and intense. Then they would lie down and +rest, first threshing up grass and bushes to drive away snakes, +scorpions and lizards. Sometimes they would sleep, and sometimes they +would watch the monkeys and parrots darting about and chattering +overhead. Twice they saw fierce ocelots stealing among the tree trunks, +stalking prey hidden from the man and boy. The first ocelot was a tawny +yellow and the second was a reddish gray. Both were marked with black +spots in streaks and in lengthened rings. The second was rather the +larger of the two. He seemed to be slightly over four feet in length, +of which the body was three feet and the tail about a foot. + +Ned and Obed were lying flat upon the ground, when the second ocelot +appeared, and, as the wind was blowing from him toward them, he did not +detect their presence. At the distance the figure of the great cat was +enlarged. He looked to them almost like a tiger and certainly he was a +ferocious creature, as he stalked his prey. Neither would have cared to +meet him even with weapons in hand. Suddenly he darted forward, ran up +the trunk of a great tree and disappeared in the dense foliage. As he +did not come down again they inferred that he had caught what he was +pursuing and was now devouring it. + +Ned shivered a little and put his hand on the butt of his loaded pistol. + +"Obed," he said, "I don't like the jungle, and I shall be glad when I +get out of it. It's too vast, too bewildering, and its very beauty fills +me with fear. I always feel that fangs and poison are lurking behind the +beauty and the bloom." + +"You're not so far wrong, Ned. I believe I'd rather be on the dusty +deserts of the North. We'll go through the tierra caliente just as +quickly as we can." + +The next day they became lost among the paths, and did not regain their +true direction until late in the afternoon. Sunset found them by the +banks of a considerable creek, the waters of which were cold, as if its +source were in the high mountains. Being very tired they bathed and +arranged couches of grass on the banks. After the heat and perplexity of +the jungle they were very glad to see cold, running water. The sight and +the pleasant trickle of the flowing stream filled Ned with desires for +the north, for the open land beyond the Rio Grande, where cool winds +blew, and you could see to the horizon's rim. He was sicker than ever of +the jungle, the beauty of which could not hide from him its steam and +poison. + +"How much longer do you think it will be before we leave the tierra +caliente?" he asked. + +"We ought to reach the intermediate zone between the tierra caliente and +the higher sierras in three or four days," replied Obed. "It's mighty +slow traveling in the jungle, but to get out of it we've only to keep +going long enough. Meanwhile, we'll have a good snooze by the side of +this nice, clean little river." + +As usual after hard traveling, they fell asleep almost at once, but Ned +was awakened in the night by some strange sound, the nature of which he +could not determine at first. The jungle surrounded them in a vast, high +circle, wholly black in the night, but overhead was a blue rim of sky +lighted by stars. He raised himself on his elbow. Obed, four or five +feet away, was still sleeping soundly on his couch of grass. The little +river, silver in the moonlight, flowed with a pleasant trickle, but the +trickle was not the sound that had awakened him. + +The forest was absolutely silent. Not a breath of wind stirred, but the +boy, although awed by the night and the great jungle, still listened +intently. + +The sound rose again, a low, hoarse rumble. It was distant thunder. A +storm was coming. He heard it a third time. It was not thunder. It was +the deep growl of some fierce, wild animal. For a moment the boy was +afraid. Then he remembered the heavy pistol that never left his belt. It +still carried the original load, a large bullet with plenty of gunpowder +behind it. + +The sounds were repeated and they were nearer. They were like a long +drawn p-u, p-u, p-u. The tone was of indescribable ferocity. Ned was +brave, but he shivered all over and there was a prickly sensation at the +roots of his hair. He felt like some primeval youth who with club alone +must face the rush of the saber-toothed tiger. But he drew upon his +reserves of pride which were large. He would not awaken Obed, but, +drawing the pistol and holding his fingers on trigger and hammer, he +walked a little distance down the bank of the stream. That terrible p-u, +p-u, p-u, suddenly sounded much closer at hand, and Ned shrank back, +stiffening with horror. + +A great black beast, by far the largest wild animal that he had ever +seen, came silently out of the jungle and stood before the boy. He was a +good seven feet in length, black as a coal, low but of singularly thick +and heavy build. His shoulders and paws were more powerful than those of +a tiger. As he stood there before Ned, black and sinister as Satan, he +opened his mouth, and emitted again that fearful, rumbling p-u, p-u, +p-u. + +Ned could not move. All his power seemed to have gone into his eyes and +he only looked. He saw the red eyes, the black lips wrinkling back from +the long, cruel fangs, and the glossy skin rippling over the tremendous +muscles. Ned suddenly wrenched himself free from this paralysis of the +body, leveled the pistol and fired at a mark midway between the red +eyes. + +There was a tremendous roar and the animal leaped. Ned sprang to one +side. The huge beast with blood pouring from his head turned and would +have been upon him at the second leap, but a long barrel and then an arm +was projected over Ned's shoulder. A pistol was fired almost in his ear. +The monster's spring was checked in mid-flight, and he fell to the +earth, dead. Ned too, fell, but in a faint. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE RUINED TEMPLES + + +Ned revived and sat up. Cold water which Obed had brought in his hat +from the river was dripping from his face. At his feet lay a huge black +animal, terrible even in death. There was one wound in his head, where +Ned's bullet had gone in, and another through the right eye, where +Obed's had entered, reaching the brain. Ned's strength now returned +fully and the color came back to his face. He stood up, but he shuddered +nevertheless. + +"Obed," he said gratefully, "you came just in time." + +"I surely did," said that cheerful artisan. "A bullet in time saved a +life like thine. But you had already given him a bad wound." + +"What is he, Obed?" + +"About the biggest and finest specimen of a black jaguar that ever +ravaged a Mexican jungle. I always thought the black kind was found only +in Paraguay and the regions down there, but I'm quite sure now that at +least one of them has been roaming up here, and he is bound to have kin, +too. Ned, isn't he a terror? If he'd got at you he'd have ripped you in +pieces in half a minute." + +Ned shuddered again. Even in death the great black jaguar was capable of +inspiring terror. He had never before seen such a picture of magnificent +and sinister strength. He was heavier and more powerful than a tiger, +and he knew that the jaguar often became a man-eater. + +"I'd like to have that skin to lay upon the parlor of my palatial home, +if I ever have one," said Obed, "and I reckon that you and I had better +stick pretty close together while we are in this jungle. Our pistols are +not loaded now, and we have no more ammunition." + +They did not dare to sleep again in the same place, fearing that the +jaguar might have a mate which would seek revenge upon them, but, a +couple of hundred yards further down, they found in the river a little +island, twelve or fifteen feet square. Here they felt that the water +would somehow give them security, and they lay down once more. + +Ned was awakened a second time by that terrifying pu-pu-pu. It +approached through the forest but it stopped at the point where the dead +body of the black giant lay. He knew that it was the voice of the mate. +He listened a long time, but he did not hear it again, and he concluded +that the second jaguar, after the brief mourning of animals, had gone +away. He fell asleep again, and did not awaken until day. + +They were now practically unarmed, but they kept the pistols, for the +sake of show in case any peons of the jungle should offer trouble, and +pressed forward, with all the speed possible in so dense a tangle of +forest. In the deep shade of trees and bushes Ned continually saw the +shadows of immense black jaguars. He knew that it was only nerves and +imagination, but he did not like to be in a condition that enabled fancy +to play him such tricks. He longed more than ever for the open plains, +even with dust and thirst. + +Already they saw the mountains rising before them, terrace after +terrace, and, three days after the encounter with the jaguar, they +began to ascend the middle slopes between the tierra caliente and the +lofty sierras. The whole character of the country changed. The tropical +jungle ceased. They now entered magnificent forests of oak, pine, plane +tree, mimosas, chestnut and many other varieties. They also saw the +bamboo, the palm and the cactus. The water was fresher and colder, and +they felt as if they had come into a new world. + +But the question of food supply returned. They had used the wild fruits +in abundance, always economizing strictly with their tortillas and +frijoles. Now they had eaten the last of these and a diet of fruit alone +would not do. + +"We'll have to sell a pistol in the way that we sold the musket," said +Ned. + +"I hate to do it," said Obed, "but I don't see anything else that we can +do. We might seize our food at the first hut we find, but whatever may +be the quarrels between the Mexicans and Texans, I'm not willing to rob +any of these poor peons." + +"Nor I," said Ned with emphasis. "My pistol goes first." + +They found the usual adobe hut in a pleasant valley, and the noble +senor, the proprietor, was at home playing a mandolin. He did not +suspect them to be Gringos, but he was quite sure that they were +brigands and he made the exchange swiftly and gladly. Two days later the +other pistol went in the same way, and they began to think how they +could acquire new weapons and plenty of ammunition for them. They sat in +the shade of a great oak while they discussed the question. It was +certainly a vital one. Dangerous enough at any time, the long journey +through Mexico would become impossible without arms. + +"If we could loot them from the soldiers I wouldn't mind at all," said +Obed. "The soldiers are to act against Texas, according to the tale you +tell, and the tale is true. All's fair in flight and war, and if such a +chance comes our way I'm going to take it." + +"So am I," said Ned. + +But such a chance was in no hurry to present itself. They went on for a +number of days and came now to the region, bordering the high sierras, +passing through vast forests of oak and pine, and seeing scarcely any +habitation. Here, as they walked toward twilight along one of the narrow +paths, a voice from the bushes cried: "Halt!" + +Ned saw several gun barrels protruding from the foliage, and was +obedient to the command. He also threw up his hands and Obed White was +no slower than he. Ned judged from the nature of the ambush that they +had fallen among brigands, then so prevalent in Mexico, and the thought +gave him relief. Soldiers would carry him back to Santa Anna, but surely +brigands would not trouble long those who had nothing to lose. + +"It is well, friends, that you obey so quickly," said a man in gaudy +costume as he stepped from the bushes followed by a half dozen others, +evil looking fellows, all carrying guns and pistols. Ned noticed that +two of the guns were rifles of long and slender barrel, undoubtedly of +American make. + +"Good-evening, Captain," said Obed White in his smoothest tones. "We +were expecting to meet you, as we learned that we are in the territory +which you rule so well." + +The man frowned and then smiled. + +"I see that you are a man of humor, amigo," he said, "and it is well. +Your information is correct. I rule this territory. I am Captain Juan +Carossa and these are my men. We collect tribute from all who pass this +way." + +"A worthy task and, I have no doubt, a profitable one." + +"Always worthy but not always profitable. However, I trust that you can +make it worth our while." + +A look of sadness passed over the expressive features of Obed White. + +"You look like a brave and generous man, Senor Juan Carossa," he said +sorrowfully, "and it grieves both my young friend and myself to the very +center of our hearts to disappoint you. We have nothing. There is not a +cent of either gold or silver upon us. Jewels we admire, but we have +them not. You may search." + +He held wide his arms and Ned did likewise. Carossa gave an order to one +of his men, a tall fellow, swathed in a red serape, to make the search, +and he did so in such a rapid and skillful manner that Ned marveled. He +felt hands touching him here and there, as light as the fall of a leaf. +Obed was treated in the same fashion, and then the man in the red serape +turned two empty and expressive palms to his chief. + +Carossa swore fluently, and bent a look of deep reproach upon Ned and +Obed. + +"Senors," he said, "this is an injustice, nay more, it is a crime. You +come upon the territory over which we range. You put us to the trouble +of stopping you, and you have nothing. All our risk and work are +wasted." + +Obed shook his head in apology. + +"It is not our fault," he said. "We had a little money, but we spent it +for food. We had some arms also, but they went for food too, so you see, +good kind Captain Carossa, we had nothing left for you." + +"But you have two good serapes," said the Captain. "Had you money we +would not take them from you, but it must not be said of Captain Carossa +and his men that they went away with nothing. I trust, senor, that you +do not think me unreasonable." + +Obed White considered. Captain Carossa was a polite man. So was he. + +"We can ill afford to part with these cloaks or serapes," he said, "but +since it must be we cannot prevent it. Meanwhile, we ask you to offer us +your hospitality. We are on the mountains now, and the nights are cold. +We would be chilled without our cloaks. Take us with you, and, in the +morning, when the warm sunshine comes we will proceed." + +Carossa laughed and pulled his long black mustaches. "Santiago, but you +have a spirit," he said, "and I like it. You shall have your request and +you may come with us but to-morrow you go forth stripped and shorn. My +men cannot work for nothing. Spanish or Mexican, English or Gringo you +must pay. Gringo you are, but for that I do not care. It is in truth the +reason why I yield to your little request, because you can never bring +the soldiers of Santa Anna down upon us." + +Obed While smiled. The look upon his face obviously paid tribute to the +craft and courage of Juan Carossa, the great, and Carossa therefore was +pleased. The brigand captain did not abate one whit from his resolution +to have their serapes and their coats too, but he would show them first +that he was a gentleman. He spoke to his men, and the fellow with the +red serape led the way along a narrow path through a forest of myrtle +oaks. They went in single file, the Captain about the middle, and just +behind him Obed, with Ned following. Ned as usual was silent, but Obed +talked nearly all the time and Carossa seemed to like it. Ned saw that +the brigand leader was vain, eager to show his power and resource, but +he was sure that, at bottom, he was cruel, and that he would turn them +forth stripped and helpless in the forest. + +Night came down suddenly, but the man in front lighted a small lantern +that he took from under his serape, and they continued the march with +unabated speed. The forest thinned, and about nine o'clock they came +into an open space. The moon was now out and Ned saw a group of four +rectangular buildings, elevated on mounds. The buildings, besides being +rectangles themselves, were so placed that the group made a rectangle. +The structures of stone were partly ruined, and of great age. They +followed the uniform plan of those vast and mysterious ruins found so +often in Southern and Central Mexico. The same race that erected the +pyramids on the Teotihuacan might have raised these buildings. + +"My home! The quarters of myself and my men," said Carossa, +dramatically, pointing to the largest of the buildings. "We do not know +who built it. It goes far beyond the time of Cortez, but it serves us +now. The peon will not approach it, because Carossa is there and maybe +ghosts too." + +"I'm not afraid of ghosts," said Obed White. "Lead on, most noble +captain. We appreciate your hospitality. We did not know that you were +taking us to a palace." + +Captain Carossa deigned to be pleased again with himself, and, taking +the lantern from the man in the red serape, he led the way. He entered +the large building by means of a narrow passageway in one of the angles, +passed through an unroofed room, and then came to a door at which both +Ned and Obed gazed with the most intense curiosity. The doorway was made +of only three stones, two huge monolithic door jambs, each seven feet +high, nearly as wide and more than two feet thick. Upon them rested a +lintel also monolithic, but at least twenty feet in length, with a width +of five feet and a thickness of three feet. It was evident to Ned that +mighty workmen had once toiled here. + +"Is not that an entrance fit for a king?" said the brigand captain, +again making a dramatic gesture. + +"It is fit for Captain Juan Carossa, which is more," said Obed White +with suave courtesy. + +Captain Carossa bowed. Once more he deigned to be pleased with himself. +Then he led through the doorway and Ned uttered a little cry of +admiration. They stood in a great room with a magnificent row of +monolithic pillars running down the center. A stone roof had once +covered the room, but it had long since fallen in. The interior of the +walls was plain, made of stones and mortar, once covered with cement, +deep blood red in color, of which a few fragments remained. But the +walls on the outside were covered with splendid panels of mosaic work +varied now and then by sculptured stones. The stone used on the outside +was of a light cream color. But the boy did not see the mosaic panels +until later. + +Silent and studious, these vast ruins of a mysterious race made a great +appeal to Ned. He forgot the rough brigands for a moment, and stood +there looking at the walls and great columns, upon which the moon was +pouring a flood of beams. What were these outlaws to those mighty +builders whom the past had swallowed up so completely? + +The brigands were already lighting a fire beside one of the huge +monoliths, and Carossa lay down on a serape. The fire blazed up, but it +did not detract from the weird effect of the Hall of Pillars. One of the +men warmed food which he brought from another of the ruined houses, and +Carossa told his prisoners to eat. + +"What I give you to-night, and what I shall give you to-morrow morning +may be the last food that you will have for some time," he said, "so +enjoy it as best you may." + +He smiled, his lips drawing back from his white teeth, and in some +singular way he made Ned think of the black jaguar and his black lips +writhing back from his great fangs. Why had Obed spoken of coming with +them? Better to have been stripped in the path, and to have gone on +alone. But he ate the food, as the long marching had made him hungry, +and lay down within the rim of the firelight. + +The men also ate, and Ned saw that they were surly. Doubtless they had +endured much hardship recently and had secured little spoil. He heard +muttered sounds which he knew were curses. He became more uneasy than +ever. Certainly little human kindness lurked in the hearts of such as +these, and he believed that Carossa was playing with them for his own +amusement, just as a trainer with a steel bar makes the animals in a +cage do their tricks. + +The mutterings among the men increased. Carossa spoke to one of them, +who brought forth a stone jar from a recess in the wall. Tin cups were +produced and all, including Carossa, drank pulque made from the maguey +plant. They offered it also to Ned and Obed, but both declined. + +The pulque did not make the men more quarrelsome, but seemed to plunge +them into a lethargy. Two or three of them hummed doleful songs, as if +they were thinking of homes to which they could not go. One began to +weep, but finally spread out his serape, lay down on it and went to +sleep. Three or four others soon did the same. Two sat near the great +monolithic doorway, with muskets across their knees. Undoubtedly they +were intended to be sentinels, but Ned noted that their heads drooped. + +"I shall sleep now, my Gringo guests," said Carossa, "and I advise you +to do the same. You cannot alter anything, and you will need the +strength that sleep brings." + +"Your advice is good," said Obed, "and we thank you, Captain Carossa, +for your advice and courtesy. Manners are the fine finish of a man." + +His serape had not yet been taken from him, and he rolled himself in it. +Ned was already in his, lying with his feet to the smoldering fire. The +boy did not wish to sleep, nor could he have slept had he wished. But he +saw that Carossa soon slumbered, and the sentinels by the doorway +seemed, at least, to doze. He turned slightly on his side, and looked at +Obed who lay about eight feet away. He could not see the man's face, but +his body did not stir. Perhaps Obed also slept. + +A wind was now rising and it made strange sounds among the vast ruins. +It was a moan, a shriek and a hoarse sigh. Perhaps the peons were not so +far wrong! The ghosts did come back to their old abodes. Ned was glad +that he was not alone. Even without Obed the company of brigands would +have been a help. He lay still a long time. + +The coals of the fire went out, one by one, and where they had glowed +only black ashes lay. The wind among the ruins played all kinds of +strange variations, and Ned was never more awake in his life. He took a +last look at the sentinels, and he was sure that they slept, sitting, +with their muskets across their laps. Then he rose to his knees and +with difficulty checked a cry of astonishment when he saw Obed rising at +the same time. They remained on their knees a moment or two looking at +each other and then, simultaneously they rose to their feet. Their +comprehension was complete. + +Ned looked down at Carossa. The brigand chief slept soundly and his face +in repose was wholly evil. The gayety and courtesy that they had seen +upon it awake were only a mask. + +Obed stepped lightly to one of the pillars and Ned followed him. He knew +what Obed was seeking. Here was the great chance. The brigands, careless +from long immunity, had stacked their guns against the pillar, and Ned +and Obed promptly selected the two American rifles that Ned had noticed. +Hung by each was a large supply of powder and bullets to fit which they +also took. Two of the best machetes were chosen too, and then they were +ready to go. With the rifle in his hand, the great weapon with which the +pioneer made his way from ocean to ocean, Ned had strength and courage. +He believed that Obed and he could defeat the entire force of brigands, +but he awaited the signal of his older comrade. + +Standing close together behind the massive pillar they could not now see +the sentinels at the doorway. Ned was quite sure that they were sleeping +and that he and his comrade could steal past them. But Obed turned in +another direction and Ned followed without a word. The man had caught a +glimpse of a second entrance at the opposite side of this hall of +pillars, and the two darted into it. + +They found themselves in a passage less than the height of a man, and +only about three feet wide, but Obed led on boldly, and Ned, with equal +boldness, followed. The wall was about five feet thick, and they came +out into a court or patio surrounded by four ruined buildings. The floor +of the patio was cement, upon which their footsteps made no noise, and, +going through the great apertures in one of the ruined buildings, they +stood entirely on the outside of the mass of ancient temples, or +whatever it may have been. + +"Ned," whispered Obed, "we ought to go right down on our knees and give +thanks. We've not only escaped from Carossa and his cutthroats, but +we've brought with us two American rifles; good enough for anybody and +two or three hundred rounds of ammunition, the things that we needed +most of all." + +"It must have been more than chance," said Ned with emotion. "It must +have been a hand leading us." + +"When I proposed to go with them I thought we might have a chance of +some kind or other. Well, Captain Carossa, you meant us evil, but you +did us good. Come, Ned, the faster we get away from these ghosts the +better. Besides, we've got more to carry now." + +They had also brought away with them their packs of food, but they did +not mind the additional weight of the weapons, which were worth more to +them than gold or jewels. They listened a minute or two to see if any +alarm had been raised, but no sound came from the Hall of Pillars, and +with light steps and strong hearts they began another march on their +northward journey. + +They traveled by the moon and stars, and, as they were not hindered now +by any great tangle of undergrowth, they made many miles before dawn, +although they were ascending steadily. They had come upon the edge of +the great central plateau of Mexico, which runs far into the north and +which includes much of Texas. Before them lay another and great change +in the country. They were now to enter a land of little rain, where +they would find the ragged yucca tree, the agave and the cactus, the +scrubby mesquite bush and clumps of coarse grass. But they had passed +through so much that they did not fear it. + +They hunted for an hour after sunrise, before they found a small brook, +at which they drank, and, in spirit, returned the thanks which Obed had +said so emphatically were due. Then, wrapped in the useful serapes, they +went to sleep once more in a thicket. They had been sure that the +Mexicans could not trail them, and their confidence was justified. When +they awoke in the afternoon no human being was in sight, and their +loaded rifles lay undisturbed beside them. + +Then they entered upon the plain, plodding steadily on over a dusty gray +landscape, but feeling that their rifles would be ample protection +against anything that they might meet. The sun became very hot, and they +longed at times for the shade of the forest that they had left behind, +but they did not cease their march. Off to their left they saw towering +mountains with a green film along their slopes that they knew to be +forests of oak and pine; and such was the nature of man that they looked +at them regretfully. Obed White, glancing at Ned, caught Ned glancing at +him, and both laughed. + +"That's it," said Obed. "How precious is the thing that slips away. When +we were in the forest we wanted the open country, but now in the open +country we want the forest. But we're making progress, Ned. Don't forget +that." + +"I don't," said Ned. "But when we get further North into the vast +stretches of the arid plateau, we must have something more to +carry--water bottles." + +"That's so. We can't do without them. Maybe, too, Ned, we can pick up a +couple of good horses. They'd be a wonderful help." + +"We'll hope for everything we need," said Ned cheerfully. "Now I wonder, +Obed, if the attack has been made on Texas. Do you think we can yet get +there in time?" + +"I hope so," replied Obed thoughtfully. "You were a long time in San +Juan de Ulua, but armies move slowly, and they have plenty of troubles +of their own here in Mexico. I would wager almost anything that no +Mexican force in great numbers has yet crossed the Rio Grande." + +"Then we may be in time. Obed, we'll push for the north with every ounce +of strength we have." + +"That's just what we'll do. Courage defeats a multitude of sins." + +They traveled now for nearly a week in a direction north slightly by +west, suffering at times from heat, and once from a tropical rain storm +that deluged them. While the rain poured upon them, they kept their +serapes wrapped around their powder, and let their bodies take the +worst. The rain, for a while, was very cold, but the powder was +precious, and after a while the sun came out, drying and warming them +again. They were compelled to swim two narrow but deep rivers, a most +difficult task, as they had arms, ammunition and food to carry with +them. + +They noticed stretches of forest again, and passed both scattered houses +and villages. Their knowledge of Spanish and their rifles were their +protection. But in some places the people seemed to care nothing either +about Santa Anna or those who might oppose him. They were content to +lead lives in a region which furnished food almost of its own accord. +Just before approaching one of these villages Ned shot another jaguar. +It was not black like the first, nor so large. It was about five feet in +length, and yellowish in color, with a splendid skin, which, at Obed's +suggestion, they removed for purposes of barter. It was a wise idea, as +they traded it in the village for two large water bottles. The people +there were so indifferent to their identity that they sat in the plaza +in the evening, and watched the young people dance the fandango. + +It was only a crude little village in the Mexican wilderness. The people +were more Indian than Mexican. There was not much melody in their music, +and not much rhythm in their dance, but they were human beings, enjoying +themselves after labor and without fear. Both Ned and Obed, sitting +outside the circle of light with their rifles across their knees, felt +it. The sense of human companionship, even of strangers, was very +pleasant. The music and the glowing faces appealed very strongly to the +boy. Silent, thoughtful, and compelled by circumstances to live a hard +life, he was nevertheless young with all the freshness of youth. Obed +saw, and he felt a deep sympathy for this lad who had wrapped himself +like a younger brother around his heart. + +"Just you wait, Ned," he said, "until we reach our own people across the +Rio Grande. Then we'll have lots of friends and they'll be friends all +the stronger, because you will be the first to bring them news of the +treacherous attack that is to be made upon them." + +"If we get there in time," said Ned, "and, Obed, I am beginning to +believe that we will get there in time." + +They passed for hunters, and that night they slept in the village, where +they received kindness, and departed again the next morning on the long, +long journey that always led to the north. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +CACTUS AND MEXICANS + + +They now came upon bare, wind-swept plains, which alternated with +blazing heat and bitter cold. Once they nearly perished in a Norther, +which drove down upon them with sheets of hail. Fortunately their +serapes were very thick and large, and they found additional shelter +among some ragged and mournful yucca trees. But they were much shaken by +the experience, and they rested an entire day by the banks of a shallow +little brook. + +"Oh, for a horse, two horses!" said Obed. "I'd give all our castles in +Spain for two noble Barbary steeds to take us swiftly o'er the plain." + +"I think we'll keep on walking," said Ned. + +"At any rate, we're good walkers. We must be the very best walkers in +the world judging from the way we've footed it since we left the castle +of San Juan de Ulua." + +They refilled their water bottles, despite the muddiness of the stream, +and went on for three or four days over the plain, having nothing for +scenery save the sandy ridges, the ragged yuccas, dwarfed and ugly +mesquite bushes, and the deformed cactus. + +It was an ugly enough country by day, but, by night, it had a sort of +weird charm. The moonlight gave soft tints to the earth. Now and then +the wind would pick up the sand and carry it away in whirling gusts. The +wind itself had a voice that was almost human and it played many notes. +Lean and hungry wolves now appeared and howled mournfully, but were +afraid to attack that terrible creature, man. + +They saw sheep herders several times, but the herders invariably +disappeared over the horizon with great speed. Neither Ned nor Obed +meant them any harm, and they would have liked to exchange a few words +with human beings. + +"They think of course that we're brigands," said Obed. "It's what +anybody would take us for. Evil looks corrupt good intentions." + +The next day Obed was lucky enough to shoot an antelope, and they had +fresh food. It was a fine fat buck, and they jerked and dried the +remainder of the body in the sun, taking a long rest at the same time. +Obed was continually restraining Ned's eagerness to hurry on. + +"The race is to the swift if he doesn't break down," he said, "but +you've got to guard mighty well against breaking down. I think we're +going to enter a terrible long stretch of dry country, and we want our +muscles to be tough and our wind to be good." + +Obed was partially right in his prediction as they passed for three days +through an absolutely sterile region. It was not sandy, however, but the +soil was hard and baked like a stone. Then they saw on their left high +but bare and desolate mountains, and soon they came to a little river of +clear water, apparently flowing down from the range. The stream was not +over twenty feet wide and two feet deep, but its appearance was +inexpressibly grateful to both. They sat down on its banks and looked at +each other. + +"Ned," said Obed, "how much dust of the desert do you think I am +carrying upon me? Let your answer be without prejudice. Friendship in +this case must not stand in the way of truth." + +"Do you mean by weight or by area?" + +"Both." + +"Answering by guess I should say about three square yards, or about +three pounds. Wouldn't you say about the same for me?" + +"Just about the same. I should say, too, that we carry at least twelve +or fifteen kinds of dirt. It is well soaked in our hair and also in our +clothes, and, as we may not get another good chance for a bath in a +month, we'd better use our opportunity." + +They reveled in the cool waters. They also washed out all their +clothing, including their serapes, and let the garments dry in the sun. +It was the most luxurious stop that they had made and they enjoyed it to +the full. Ned, scouting a little distance up the stream, shot a fine fat +deer among the bushes, and that night they had a feast of tender steaks. +Obed had obtained flint and steel at the Indian village, at which they +had seen the fandango, and he could light a fire with them, a most +difficult thing to do. Their fire was of dried cactus, burning rapidly, +but it lasted long enough for their cooking. After the heartiest meal +that they had eaten in a long time, they stretched out by the river, +listening to its pleasant flow. The remainder of the deer they had hung +high in the branches of a myrtle oak about forty yards away. + +"We haven't got our horses," said Obed, "but we're making progress. Time +and tide will carry man with them if he's ready with his boat." + +"Perhaps we've been lucky, too," said Ned, "in passing through what is +mostly a wilderness." + +"That's so. The desert is a hard road, but in our case it keeps enemies +away." + +They were lying on their serapes, the waters sang softly, the night was +dark but very cool and pleasant, and they were happy. But Ned suddenly +saw something that made him reach out and touch his companion. + +"Look!" he whispered, pointing a finger. + +They saw a dark figure creep on noiseless feet toward the tree, from a +bough of which hung their deer. It was only a shadow in the night, but +they knew that it was a cougar, drawn by the savor of the deer. + +"Don't shoot," whispered Obed. "He can't get our meat, but we'll watch +him try." + +They lay quite still and enjoyed the joke. The cougar sprang again and +again, making mighty exertions, but always the rich food swung just out +of his reach. Once or twice his nose nearly touched it, but the two or +three inches of gulf which he could never surmount were as much as two +or three miles. He invariably fell back snarling, and he became so +absorbed in the hopeless quest that there was no chance of his noticing +the man and boy who lay not far away. + +The humor of it appealed strongly to Ned and Obed. The cougar, after so +many vain leaps, lay on the ground for a while panting. Then he ran up +the tree, and as far out on the bough as he dared. He reached delicately +with a forefoot, but he could not touch the strips of bark with which +the body was tied. Then he lay flat upon the bough and snarled again and +again. + +"That's a good punishment for a rascally thief," whispered Obed. "I +don't blame him for trying to get something to eat, but it's our deer. +Let him go away and do his own hunting." + +The cougar came back down the tree, but his descent was made with less +spirit than his ascent. Nevertheless he made another try at the jumping. +Ned saw, however, that he did not do as well as before. He never came +within six inches of the deer now. At last he lay flat again on the +ground and panted, staying there a full five minutes. When he got up he +made one final and futile jump, and then sneaked away, exhausted and +ashamed. + +"Now, Ned," said Obed, "since the comedy is over I think we can safely +go to sleep." + +"Especially as we know our deer is safe," said Ned. + +Both slept soundly throughout the remainder of the night. Toward morning +the cougar came back and looked longingly at the body of the deer +hanging from the bough of the tree. He thought once or twice of leaping +for it again, but there was a shift of the wind and he caught the human +odor from the two beings who lay forty yards away. He was a large and +strong beast of prey, but this odor frightened him, and he slunk off +among the trees, not to return. + +Ned and Obed stayed two days beside the little river, taking a complete +rest, bathing frequently in the fresh waters, and curing as much of the +deer as possible for their journey. Then, rather heavily loaded, they +started anew, always going northward through a sad and rough land. Now +they entered another bare and sterile region of vast extent, walking for +five days, without seeing a single trace of surface water. Had it not +been for their capacious water bottles they would have perished, and, +even with their aid, it was only by the strictest economy that they +lived. The evaporation from the heat was so great that after a mouthful +or two of water they were invariably as thirsty as ever, inside of five +minutes. + +They passed from this desert into a wide, dry valley between bare +mountains, and entered a great cactus forest, one of the most wonderful +things that either of them had ever seen. The ground was almost level, +but it was hard and baked. Apparently no more rain fell here than in the +genuine desert of shifting sand, and there was not a drop of surface +water. Ned, when he first saw the mass of green, took it for a forest of +trees, such as one sees in the North, but so great was his interest that +he was not disappointed, when he saw that it was the giant cactus. + +The strange forest extended many miles. The stems of the cactus rose to +a height of sixty feet or more, with a diameter often reaching two feet. +Sometimes the stems had no branches, but, in case they did, the branches +grew out at right angles from the main stem, and then curving abruptly +upward continued their growth parallel to the parent stock. + +The stems of these huge plants were divided into eighteen or twenty +ribs, within which at intervals of an inch or so were buds, with +cushions, yellow and thick, from which grew six or seven large, and many +smaller spines. + +Most of the cactus trees were gorgeous with flowers, ranging from a deep +rich crimson through rose and pink to a creamy white. + +The green of the plants and the delicate colors of the flowers were +wonderfully soothing to the two who had come from the bare and burning +desert. There their eyes had ached with the heat and glare. They had +longed for shade as men had longed of old for the shadow of a rock in a +weary land. In truth they found little shade in the cactus forest, but +the green produced the illusion of it. They expected to find flowing or +standing water, but they went on for many miles and the soil remained +hard and baked, as it can bake only in the rainless regions of high +plateaus. + +They found the forest to be fully thirty miles in length and several +miles in width. Everywhere the giant cactus predominated, and on its +eastern border they found two Indian men and several women and children +gathering the fruit, from which they made an excellent preserve. The +Indians were short in stature and very dark. All started to run when +they saw the white man and boy, both armed with rifles, approaching, but +Ned and Obed held up their hands as a sign of amity and, after some +hesitation, they stopped. They spoke a dialect which neither Ned nor +Obed could understand, but by signs they made a treaty of peace. + +They slept that night by the fire of their new friends and the next day +they were fortunate enough to shoot a deer, the greater part of which +they gave to the Indians. The older of the men then guided them out of +the forest at the northern end, and indicated as nearly as he could, by +the same sign language, the course they should pursue in order to reach +Texas. They had gone too far to the west, and by coming back toward the +east they would save distance, as well as pass through a better country. +Then he gravely bade them farewell and went back to his people. + +Ned and Obed now crossed a low but rugged range of mountains, and came +into good country where they were compelled to spend a large part of +their time, escaping observation. It was only the troubled state of the +people and the extreme division of sentiment among them that saved the +two from capture. But they obtained news that filled both with joy. +Fighting had occurred in Texas, but no great Mexican army had yet gone +into the north. + +Becoming bold now from long immunity and trusting to their Mexican +address and knowledge of Spanish and its Mexican variants, they turned +into the main road and pursued their journey at a good pace. They were +untroubled the first day but on the second day they saw a cloud of dust +behind them. + +"Sheep being driven to market," said Obed. + +"I don't know," replied Ned, looking back. "That cloud of dust is at +least a mile away, but it seems to me I saw it give out a flash or two." + +"What kind of a flash do you mean?" + +"Bright, like silver or steel. There, see it!" + +"Yes, I see it now, and I think you know what makes it, Ned." + +"I should say that it is the sun striking on the steel heads of long +lances." + +"So should I, and I say also that those lances are carried by Mexican +cavalrymen bound for Texas. It may not be a bad guess either that this +is the vanguard of the army of Cos. I infer from the volume of dust that +it is a considerable force." + +"Therefore it is wise for us to leave the road and hide as best we can." + +"Correctly spoken. The truth needs no bush. It walks without talking." + +They turned aside at once, and entered a field of Indian corn, where +they hoped to pass quietly out of sight, but some of the lancers came on +very fast and noticed the dusty figures at the far edge of the field. +Many of the Mexicans were skilled and suspicious borderers, and the +haste with which the two were departing seemed suspicious to them. + +Ned and Obed heard loud and repeated shouts to halt, but pretending not +to hear passed out of the field and entered a stretch of thin forest +beyond. + +"We must not stop," said Obed. "Being regular soldiers they will surely +discover, if they overtake us, that we are not Mexicans, and two or +three lance thrusts would probably be the end of us. Now that we are +among these trees we'll run for it." + +A shout came from the lancers in the corn field as soon as they saw the +two break into a run. Ned heard it, and he felt as the fox must feel +when the hounds give tongue. Tremors shook him, but his long and silent +mental training came to his aid. His will strengthened his body and he +and Obed ran rapidly. Nor did they run without purpose. Both +instinctively looked for the roughest part of the land and the thickest +stretches of forest. Only there could they hope to escape the lancers +who were thundering after them. + +Ned more than once wished to use his rifle, but he always restrained the +impulse, and Obed glanced at him approvingly. He seemed to know what was +passing in the boy's mind. + +"Our bullets would be wasted now, even if we brought down a lancer or +two," he said, "so we'll just save 'em until we're cornered--if we are. +Then they will tell. Look, here are thorn bushes! Come this way." + +They ran among the bushes which reached out and took little bits of +their clothing as they passed. But they rejoiced in the fact. Horses +could never be driven into that dense, thorny growth, and they might +evade pursuers on foot. The thorn thicket did not last very long, +however. They passed out of it and came into rough ground with a general +trend upward. Both were panting now and their faces were wet with +perspiration. The breath was dry and hot and the heart constricted +painfully. They heard behind them the noise of the pursuit, spread now +over a wide area. + +"If only these hills continue to rise and to rise fast," gasped Obed +White, "we may get away among the rocks and bushes." + +There was a rapid tread of hoofs, and two lancers, with their long +weapons leveled, galloped straight at them. Obed leaped to one side, but +Ned, so startled that he lost command of himself, stopped and stood +still. He saw one of the men bearing down upon him, the steel of the +lance head glittering in the sunlight, and instinctively he closed his +eyes. He heard a sharp crack, something seemed to whistle before his +face, and then came a cry which he knew was the death cry of a man. He +had shut his eyes only for a moment, and when he opened them he saw the +Mexican falling to the ground, where he lay motionless across his lance. +Obed White stood near, and his rifle yet smoked. Ned instantly recovered +himself, and fired at the second lancer who, turning about, galloped +away with a wound in his shoulder. + +"Come Ned," cried Obed White. "There is a time for all things, and it is +time for us to get away from here as fast as we can." + +He could not be too quick for Ned, who ran swiftly, avoiding another +look at the silent and motionless figure on the ground. The riderless +horse was crashing about among the trees. From a point three or four +hundred yards behind there came the sound of much shouting. Ned thought +it to be an outburst of anger caused by the return of the wounded +lancer. + +"We stung 'em a little," he panted. + +"We did," said Obed White. "Remember that when you go out to slay you +may be slain. But, Ned, we must reload." + +They curved about, and darting into a thick clump of bushes put fresh +charges in their rifles. Ned was trembling from excitement and +exertion, but his anger was beginning to rise. There must always come a +time when the hunted beast will turn and rend if it can. Ned had been +the hunted, now he wanted to become the hunter. Obed and he had beaten +off the first attack. There were plenty more bullets where the other two +had come from, and he was eager to use them. He peered out of the +bushes, his face red, his eyes alight, his rifle ready for instant use. +But Obed placed one hand on his shoulder: + +"Gently, Ned, gently!" he said. "We can't fight an entire Mexican army, +but if we slip away to some good position we can beat off any little +band that may find us." + +It was evident that the Mexicans had lost the trail, for the time being. +They were still seeking the quarry but with much noise and confusion. A +trumpet was blown as if more help were needed. Officers shouted orders +to men, and men shouted to one another. Several shots were fired, +apparently at imaginary objects in the bushes. + +"While they're running about and bumping into one another we'll regain a +little of our lost breath which we'll need badly later," said Obed. "We +can watch from here, and when they begin to approach then it's up and +away again." + +Those were precious minutes. The ground was not good for the lancers who +usually advanced in mass, and, after the fall of one man and the +wounding of another, the soldiers on foot were not very zealous in +searching the thickets. The breathing of the two fugitives became easy +and regular once more. The roofs of their mouths were no longer hot and +dry, and their limbs did not tremble from excessive exertion. Ned had +turned his eyes from the Mexicans and was examining the country in the +other direction. + +"Obed," he said, "there's a low mountain about a mile back of us, and +it's covered with forest. If we ever reach it we can get away." + +"Yes--if we reach it," said Obed, "and, Ned, we'll surely try for it. +Ah, there they come in this direction now!" + +A squad of about twenty men was approaching the thicket rapidly. Ned and +Obed sprang up and made at top speed for the mountain. The soldiers +uttered a shout and began to fire. But they had only muskets and the +bullets did not reach. Ned and Obed, having rested a full ten minutes, +ran fast. They were now descending the far side of the hill and meant to +cross a slight valley that lay between it and the mountain. When they +were near the center of this valley they heard the hoofs of horsemen, +and again saw lancers galloping toward them. These horsemen had gone +around the hill, and now the hunt was in full cry again. + +Ned and Obed would have been lost had not the valley been intersected a +little further on by an arroyo seven or eight feet deep and at least +fifteen feet wide. They scrambled down it, then up it and continued +their flight among the bushes, while the horsemen, compelled to stop on +the bank, uttered angry and baffled cries. + +"The good luck is coming with the bad," said Obed. "The foot soldiers +will still follow. They know that we're Texans and they want us. Do you +see anybody following us now, Ned?" + +"I can see the heads of about a dozen men above the bushes." + +"Perhaps they are delegated to finish the work. The whole army of Cos +can't stop to hunt down two Texans, and when we get on that mountain, +Ned, we may be able to settle with these fellows on something like fair +terms." + +"Let's spurt a little," said Ned. + +They put on extra steam, but the Mexicans seemed to have done the same, +as presently, appearing a little nearer, they began to shout or fire. +Ned heard the bullets pattering on the bushes behind him. + +"A hint to the wise is a stitch in time," said Obed White. "Those +fellows are getting too noisy. I object to raucous voices making loud +outcries, nor does the sound of bullets dropping near please me. I shall +give them a hint." + +Wheeling about he fired at the nearest Mexican. His rifle was a long +range weapon and the man fell with a cry. The others hesitated and the +fugitives increased their speed. Now they were at the base of the +mountain. Now they were up the slope which was densely clothed with +trees and bushes. + +Then they came to a great hollow in the stone side of the ridge, an +indentation eight or ten feet deep and as many across, while above them +the stone arched over their heads at a height of seventy or eighty feet. + +"We'll just stay here," said Obed White. "You can run and you can run, +but the time comes when you can run no more. They can't get at us from +overhead, and they can't get at us from the sides. As for the front, I +think that you and I, Ned, can hold it against as many Mexicans as may +come." + +"At least we'll make a mighty big try," said Ned, whose courage rose +high at the sight of their natural fort. They had their backs to the +wall, but this wall was of solid stone, and it also curved around on +either side of them. Moreover, he had a chance to regain his breath +which was once more coming in hot and painful gasps from his chest. + +"Let's lie down, Ned," said Obed, "and pull up that log in front of +this." + +Near them lay the stem of an oak that had fallen years before. All the +boughs had decayed and were gone, so it was not a very difficult task to +drag the log in front of them, forming a kind of bar across the alcove. +As it was fully a foot in diameter it formed an excellent fortification +behind which they lay with their rifles ready. It was indeed a miniature +fort, the best that a wilderness could furnish at a moment's notice, and +the fighting spirit of the two rose fast. If the enemy came on they were +ready to give him a welcome. + +But the two heard nothing in the dense forest in front of them. The +pursuers evidently were aware of the place, in which they had taken +refuge, and knew the need of cautious approach. Mexicans do not lack +bravery, but both Obed and Ned were sure there would be a long delay. + +"I think that all we've got to do for the present," said Obed, "is to +watch the woods in front of us, and see that none of them sneaks up near +enough for a good shot." + +Nearly an hour passed, and they neither saw nor heard anything in the +forest. Then there was a rushing sound, a tremendous impact in front of +them and something huge bounded and bounded again among the bushes. It +was a great rock that had been rolled over the cliff above, in the hope +that it would fall upon them, but the arch of stone over their heads was +too deep. It struck fully five feet in front of them. Both were +startled, although they knew that they were safe, and involuntarily they +drew back. + +"More will come," said Obed. "Just as one swallow does not make a +summer, one stone does not make a flight. Ah, there it is now!" + +They heard that same rushing sound through the air, and a bowlder +weighing at least half a ton struck in front of their log. It did not +bound away like the first, but being so much heavier buried half its +weight in the earth and lay there. Obed chuckled and regarded the big +stone with an approving look. + +"It's an ill stone that doesn't fall to somebody's good," he said. "That +big fellow is squarely in the path of anybody who advances to attack us, +and adds materially to our breastwork. If they'll only drop a few more +they'll make an impregnable fortification for us." + +The third came as he spoke, but being a light one rolled away. The +fourth was also light, and alighting on the big one bounded back into +the alcove, striking just between Ned and Obed. It made both jump and +shiver, but they knew that it was a chance not likely to happen again in +a hundred times. The bombardment continued for a quarter of an hour +without any harm to either of the two, and then the silence came again. +Ned and Obed pushed the rock out of the alcove, leaving it in front of +them and now their niche had a formidable stone reinforcement. + +"They'll be slipping up soon to look at our dead bodies," whispered +Obed, "and between you and me, Ned, I think there will be a great +surprise in Mexico to-day." + +They lay almost flat and put the muzzles of their rifles across the log. +Both, used to life on the border, where the rifle was a necessity, were +fine shots and they were also keen of eye and ear. They waited for a +while which seemed interminably long to Ned, but which was not more +than a quarter of an hour, and then he heard a slight movement among the +trees somewhat to their left. He called Obed's attention to it and the +man nodded: + +"I hear it, too," he whispered. "Those investigators are cautious, but +they'll have to come up in front before they can get at us, and then we +can get at them, too. We'll just be patient." + +Ned was at least quiet and contained, although it was impossible to be +patient. They heard the rustling at intervals on their right, then it +changed to their front, and he saw a black head, covered with a +sombrero, peep from behind a tree. The head came a little farther, +disclosing a shoulder, and Obed White fired. They heard a yell of pain, +and a thrashing among the bushes, but the sound rapidly moved farther +and farther away. + +"That fellow was stung badly," said Obed White with satisfaction, "and +he won't come back. I'm glad to see, Ned, that you held your fire, +keeping ready for any other who might come." + +Ned glowed at the compliment. He had cocked his rifle, and was ready but +he remained cool, wasting no shot. + +"I fancy that they now know we are here," said Obed, who loved to talk, +"and that we have not been demolished by the several tons of rock that +they have sent down from above. A shot to the wise is sufficient. Keep +down, Ned! Keep down!" + +From a point sixty or seventy yards away Mexicans, lying among the trees +or in the undergrowth, suddenly opened a heavy fire upon the rocky fort. +The Mexicans were invisible but jets of smoke arose in the brush. +Bullets thudded on the log or stones, or upon the stone wall above the +two, but both Ned and Obed were sheltered well and they were not +touched. Nevertheless it was uncomfortable. The impact of the bullets +made an unpleasant sound, and there was always a chance that one of them +might angle off from the stone and strike a human target. Obed however +was cheerful. + +"They're wasting good ammunition," he said. "They'll need that later on +when they attack the Texans. After all, Ned, we're serving a good +purpose when we induce the Mexicans to shoot good powder and lead here, +and not against our people." + +Encouraged by the failure of the besieged to reply to their fire the +Mexicans came closer and grew somewhat incautious. Ned saw one of them +sheltered but partially by a bush and he fired. The man uttered a cry +and fell. Ned saw the bush moving and he hoped the man was not slain, +but he never knew. + +The volleys from the Mexicans ceased, and silence came again in the +woods. Wisps of smoke floated here and there among the trees, but a +light wind soon caught them and carried them away. Ned and Obed, rolling +into easier positions, talked cheerfully. + +"I don't think they'll try to rush us," said Obed. "The Mexicans are not +afraid to charge breastworks, but they'll hardly think we two are worth +the price they would have to pay. Perhaps they'll try to starve us out." + +"And that they can't do because we have provisions for several days." + +"But they don't know it. Nor do we want to stay here for several days, +Ned. Texas is calling to us, and we should be traveling northward +instead of lying under a rock besieged by Mexicans." + +But they were compelled anew to make heavy drafts upon their patience. +The Mexicans kept quiet a long time. Finally a shot fired from some high +point grazed Ned's cap, and flattened against the rock behind him. The +boy involuntarily ducked against the earth. Obed also lay lower. + +"Some Mexican must have climbed a tree," said the Maine man. "He's where +he can look over our fortifications and that gives him an advantage. It +also gives him a disadvantage because it will be harder for him to come +down out of that tree unaided than it was for him to go up in it. We'll +stick as close as we can under the log, until he sends in the second +shot." + +They waited about ten minutes until the Mexican fired again. He was in +the boughs of a great oak about fifty yards away, and following the +flash of his weapon they saw his chest and shoulders as he leaned +forward to take aim and pull the trigger. Obed fired and the soldier +dropped to the ground. There was a noise in the underbrush, as if his +comrades were dragging him away and then the great silence came again. +As Obed reloaded he said grimly: + +"I think we're done with the tree-climbers. Evil to him who evil does. +They're cured of that habit." + +It was now mid-afternoon and the sun was blazing down over the cliffs +and forest. It grew very hot in the alcove. No breath of wind reached +them there, and they began to pant for air. + +"I hope night will come soon," said Ned. + +"It will be here before long," said Obed, "but something else will +arrive first." + +"What is that?" + +"Look, there to the right over the trees. See the dark spot in the sky. +Ned, my boy, a storm is coming and it is for you and me to say 'let it +come.'" + +"What will it do for us?" + +"Break up the siege, or at least I think so. Unless it drives directly +in our faces we will be sheltered out here, but the Mexicans will have +no such protection. And, Ned, if you will listen to one who knows, you +will understand that storms down here can be terrific." + +"Then the more terrific it is the better for us." + +"Just so. See, Ned, how that black spot grows! It is a cloud of quite +respectable size. Before long it will cover all the skies, and you +notice too that there is absolutely no wind." + +"It is so. The stillness is so great that I feel it. It oppresses me. It +is hard for me to draw my breath." + +"Exactly. I feel just the same way. The storm is coming fast and it is +going to be a big one. The sun is entirely hidden already, and the air +is growing dark. We'll crouch against the wall, Ned, and keep our +rifles, powder and ourselves as dry as possible. There goes the thunder, +growling away, and here's the lightning! Whew, but that made me jump!" + +An intense flash of lightning burned across the sky, and showed the +forest and hills for one blazing moment. Then the darkness closed in, +thick and black. The two, wrapped closely in their serapes, crouched +against the stone wall and watched the storm gather in its full majesty +and terror. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE LONG CHASE + + +Ned, despite his brave heart and strong will, felt a deep awe. Storms on +the great uplands of North America often present aspects which are +sublime and menacing to the last degree. The thunder which had been +growling before now crashed continually like batteries of great guns, +and the lightning flashed so fast that there was a rapid alternation of +dazzling glare and impervious blackness. Once, the lightning struck in +the forest near them with a terrible, rending crash, and trees went +down. Far down in the gorges they heard the fierce howl of the wind. + +Ned shrank closer and closer against the rocky wall, and, now and then, +he veiled his eyes with one hand. If one were to judge by eye and ear +alone it would seem that the world was coming to an end. Cast away in +the wilderness, he was truly thankful for the human companionship of the +man, Obed White, and it is likely that the man, Obed White, was just as +thankful for the companionship of the boy, Edward Fulton. + +All thought of another attack by the Mexicans passed for the present. +They knew that the besiegers themselves would be awed, and would flee +for refuge, particularly from the trees falling before the strokes of +lightning. It was at least two miles to any such point of safety, and +Ned and Obed saw a coming opportunity. Both lightning and thunder ceased +so abruptly that it was uncanny. The sudden stillness was heavy and +oppressive, and after the continued flare of the lightning, the darkness +was so nearly impenetrable that they could not see ten yards in front of +them. + +Then the rain came in a tremendous cataract, but it came from the south, +while they faced the north. Hence it drove over and past their alcove +and they remained dry. But it poured so hard and with such a sweep and +roar that Obed was forced to shout when he said to Ned: + +"I've never been to Niagara and of course I've never been behind the +falls there but this must be like it. The luck has certainly turned in +our favor, Ned. The Mexicans could never stand it out there without +shelter." + +"I don't see how it can last long," shouted Ned in reply. + +"It can't. It's too violent. But it's the way down here, rushing from +one extreme to another. As soon as it begins to ease up, we'll move." + +The darkness presently began to thin rapidly, and the heavy drumming of +the rain on the rocks and forest turned to a patter. + +"I think it's a good time to go, Ned," said Obed. "In fifteen minutes it +will stop raining entirely and the Mexicans, if they are not drowned, +may come back for us. We can't keep ourselves dry, but we'll protect our +rifles and ammunition. We've got a good chance to escape now, especially +since night will soon be here." + +They left the overhanging cliff which had guarded them so well in more +ways than one, and entered the forest, veering off to the left, and +picking their way carefully through the underbrush. Ned suddenly sprang +aside, shuddering. A Mexican, slain in the battle, lay upon his side. +But Obed was practical. + +"I know it's unpleasant to touch him," he said, "but he may have what +we need. Ah, here is a pistol and bullets for it, and a flask of powder +which his own body has helped to keep dry. It's likely that we'll have +use for these before we get through, and so I'll take 'em." + +He quickly secured the pistol and ammunition, and they went on, +traveling rapidly westward. The rain ceased entirely in twenty minutes, +and all the clouds passed away, but night came in their place, covering +their flight with its friendly mantle. They were wet to the waist and +the water dripped from the trees upon them, but these things did not +trouble them. They felt all the joy of escape. Ned knew that neither of +them, if taken, could expect much mercy from the brutal Cos. + +They came after a while to a gorge, through which a torrent rushed, +cutting off their way. It was midnight now. They saw that the stream was +very muddy and that it bore on its current much debris. + +"We'll just sit down here and rest," said Obed. "This is nothing more +than a brook raised to a river by the storm, and, in another hour or +two, it will be a brook again. Rise fast, fall fast holds true." + +They sat on a log near the stream and watched it go down. As their +muscles relaxed they began to feel cold, and had it not been for the +serapes they would have been chilled. In two hours the muddy little +river was a muddy little brook and they walked across. All the while +now, a warm, drying wind was blowing, but they kept on for some time +longer in order that the vigorous circulation of the blood might warm +their bodies. Then, seeking the best place they could find, they lay +down among the bushes, despite the damp, and slept. + +Ned was the first to awake the next day, and he saw, by a high sun, that +they were on a slope, leading to a pretty valley well grown in grass. +He took a few steps and also stretched both arms. He found that his +muscles were neither stiff nor sore and his delight was great. Obed +still slumbered peacefully, his head upon his arm. + +Ned walked a little further down the slope. Then he jumped back and hid +behind a bush. He had caught a glimpse of a horse saddled and bridled in +the Mexican manner, and it was his first thought that a detachment from +the army of Cos was riding straight toward them. But as he stood behind +the bush, heart beating, eyes gazing through the leaves, he saw that it +was only a single horse. Nor was it coming toward him. It seemed to be +moving about slowly in a circle of very limited area. Then, leaving the +bush, he saw that the horse was riderless. He watched a long time to see +if the owner would appear, and as none came he went back and awakened +Obed White. + +"What! What!" said Obed, opening his eyes slowly and yawning mightily. +"Has the day come? Verily, it is a long night that has no ending. And so +you have seen a horse, Ned, a horse saddled and bridled and with no +owner! It can't be the one that King Richard offered his kingdom for, +and since it isn't we'll just see why this caparisoned animal is there +grazing in our valley." + +The two went down the slope. The horse was still there, grazing in his +grassy circle, and as the two approached he drew away a little but did +not seem to be frightened. Then Ned understood, or at least his belief +was so strong that it amounted to conviction. + +"It's the horse of the soldier whom you shot yesterday," he said. "You +remember that he galloped away among the bushes. No doubt, too, he was +driven a long distance by the storm. He can't be accounted for in any +other manner." + +"There are some guesses so good that you know at once they're right," +said Obed, "and yours is one of them, Ned. Now that is a valuable horse. +One of the most valuable that ever grazed in a valley of Mexico or any +other valley. He's so precious because we want him, and we want him so +bad that he's worth a million dollars to us." + +"That one of us may ride him to Texas." + +"Yes, and we may be able to secure another. You stay here, Ned, and let +me catch him. Horses like me better than some men do." + +Ned sat down and Obed advanced warily, holding out his hand and +whistling gently. It was a most persuasive whistle, soft and thrilling +and the horse raised his head, looked contemplatively out of large +lustrous eyes at the whistler. Obed advanced, still whistling, in the +most wonderful, enticing manner. Ned felt that if he were a horse he +could not resist it, that he would go to the whistler, expecting to +receive oats, corn, and everything else that a healthy horse loves. It +seemed to have some such effect upon the quarry that Obed coveted, +because the horse, after withdrawing a step, advanced toward the man. + +Obed stopped, but continued to whistle, pouring forth the most beautiful +and winning trills and quavers. The horse came and Obed, reaching out, +seized the bridle which hung loose. He stroked the horse's head and the +animal rubbed his nose against his shoulder. The conquest was complete. +Bridle in hand, Obed led the way and Ned met him. + +"I think our good horse here was lonesome," said Obed, "Horses that are +used to human beings miss 'em for a while when they lose 'em, and we're +not enslaving our friend by taking him. Here's a lariat coiled at the +saddle bow; we'll just tether him by that, and let him go on with his +grazing, while we get our breakfast. You will notice, too, Ned, that +we've taken more than a horse. See this pair of holster pistols swung +across the saddle and ammunition to fit. The enemy is still supplying us +with our needs, Ned." + +As they ate breakfast they resolved to secure another horse. Obed was of +the opinion that the army of Cos was not far away, and he believed that +he could steal one. At least, he was willing to try on the following +night, and, if he succeeded, their problem would be simplified greatly. + +They remained nearly all the morning in the little valley and devoted a +large part of the time to developing their acquaintance with the horse, +which was a fine animal, amenable to good treatment, and ready to follow +his new masters. + +"He looks like an American horse," said Obed, with satisfaction, "and +maybe he is one, stolen from the Texans. He'll carry one of us over many +miles of sand and cactus, and he'll be none the worse for it. But he +needs a friend. Horse was not made to live alone. It's my sympathy for +him as much as the desire for another mount that drives me to the theft +we contemplate." + +Ned laughed and lolled on the grass which was now dry. + +"Yon stay here with Bucephalus or Rosinante or whatever you choose to +call him," continued Obed, "and I think I'll cross the hills, and see if +Cos is near. If we're going to capture a horse, we must first know where +the horse is to be found." + +"Suppose I go along, too." + +"No, it would be easier for the Mexicans to see two than one, and we +shouldn't take unnecessary risks. Be sure you stay in the valley, Ned, +because I want to know where to find you when I come back. I've an idea +that the Mexican army isn't far, as we wound around a good deal during +the storm and darkness, and covered no great distance, if it were +counted in a straight line. At least I think so." + +"You'll find me here." + +Obed went toward the east, and Ned continued to make himself comfortable +on the grass, which was so long and thick that it almost hid his body. +But it was truly luxurious. It seemed that after so much hardship and +danger he could not get enough rest. He felt quite safe, too. It would +take a careful observer to see him lying there in the deep grass. It was +warm and dry where he lay, and the little valley was well hemmed in by +forest in which crotons, mimosas, myrtle oaks, okote pine and many other +trees grew. Some had large rich blossoms and he admired their beauty. + +His eyes wandered back from the forest to their new friend, the horse. +Besides being an animal of utility the horse added to their comradeship. +Ned felt that he still had a friend with him, although Obed was away. +Obed had spoken truly. It was a fine horse, a bay, tall, strong and +young, grazing with dignified content, at the end of a lariat about +forty feet in length. + +Ned watched the horse idly, and soon he saw him raise his head, stand +perfectly still for a moment or two, and then sniff the wind. The next +instant an extraordinary manifestation came from him. He whirled about +and galloped so fast to the end of his tether that he was thrown down by +the sharp jerk. He regained his feet and stood there, trembling all +over. His great eyes were distended. Ned had never before seen such a +picture of terror. + +The boy raised himself a little in the grass, but not so high that he +would be seen by an enemy. It was his first idea that Mexicans had come, +but the horse would not show such fright at the presence of human +beings. He looked in the direction opposite to the spot on which the +horse was standing. At first he saw nothing, but with intent looking he +detected a great body crouched in the grass and stealing forward slowly. +It was their old enemy, the jaguar, not a black one but tawny in color. + +Ned's rage rose. First a jaguar had attacked him, and now another was +stalking their horse. He felt pity for the poor animal which was tied, +and which could not escape. Now man who had tied him must save him. Ned +knew that if he cut the lariat the horse in its terror might run away +and never be retaken. A shot might be heard by the Mexicans, but he +believed that the probabilities were against it, and he decided to use +the rifle. + +He raised himself just a little more, careful to make no noise, and +watched the jaguar stealing through the tall grass, so intent on the +horse that it failed to notice the most dangerous of all enemies who lay +near. But Ned waited until the flank of the animal was well presented, +and, taking a sure aim, fired. + +The jaguar shot up into the air, as if an electric spring had been +released, then came down with a thump and was dead. The horse neighed in +terror at sight of his leaping foe and trembled more violently than +ever. Ned went to him first, and tried to soothe him which was a long +and difficult task. At last, he untethered the horse and led him to the +far end of the valley, where he tethered him again at least two hundred +yards from the dead body of the jaguar. Returning he looked at the +fallen animal, and marked with pleasure the correctness of his aim. He +had shot the jaguar squarely through the heart. Then he went back to his +place in the grass, but he did not doze or dream. The Mexicans might +come, drawn by his shot, and even if they did not, a member of the +unpleasant jaguar tribe might take a notion to stalk the only available +human being in that grassy little valley. + +But no Mexicans appeared, nor did he observe any other jaguar. When the +sun set, he began to feel a little uneasy about Obed. His uneasiness +increased with the darkness, but he was finally reassured by a whistle +from the head of the valley. Then he saw Obed's tall figure striding +down the slope in the dusk, and he went forward to meet him. + +"I suppose you've spent the afternoon sleeping," said Obed. + +"I might have done so, but we had a visitor." + +"A visitor? What kind of a visitor?" + +"A jaguar. He wanted to eat our horse and as the horse could not get +away, being tethered strongly, I had to shoot his jaguarship." + +He showed Obed the body, and his comrade approved highly of the shot. + +"And now for the history of my own life and adventures during the +afternoon," said Obed. "The country to the eastward is not rough, and I +made good time through it. Sure enough the army of Cos is there, about +five miles away, camped in a plain. It was beaten about a good deal by +the storm, and it keeps poor guard, because it is in its own country far +from any expected foe, and because the Mexicans are Mexicans. I think, +Ned, that we can lift a horse without great trouble or excessive danger. +We'll go over there about midnight." + +"And we'd better take our present horse with us," said Ned, "or other +jaguars may come." + +They remained in their own valley until the appointed time, and then set +out on a fairly dark night, each taking his turn at riding the horse. +They halted at the crest of a low hill, from which they saw the flash of +camp fires. + +"That's Cos and his army," said Obed. "They're down there, sprawled all +about the valley, and I imagine that by this time they're all asleep, +including a majority of the sentinels, and that's our opportunity." + +They tethered their own horse and crept down the slope. Soon they came +to the edge of the woods and saw the camp fires more plainly. All had +burned low, but they made out the shapes of tents, and, nearer by, a +dark mass which they concluded to be the horses belonging to the lancers +and other cavalry. They approached within a hundred yards, and saw no +sentinels by the horses, although they were able to discern several +moving figures farther on. + +"Now, Ned," said Obed, "you stay here and I'll try to cut out a horse, +the very best that I can find. Sit down on the ground, and have your +rifle ready. If I'm discovered and have to run for it you shoot the +first of my pursuers." + +Ned obeyed and Obed stole down toward the horses. Ned knew his comrade's +skill, and he believed he would employ the soft whistle that had been so +effective with the first horse. He watched the dark figure stealing +forward, and he admired Obed's skill. It would be almost impossible for +anyone to notice so faint a shadow in the darkness. Nevertheless, his +heart beat heavily. Despite all that Obed had said it was a dangerous +task, requiring both skill and luck. + +The faint shadow reached the black blur of the horses and disappeared. +Ned waited five minutes, ten, fifteen minutes, while the little pulses +beat hard in his temples. Then he saw a shadow detach itself from the +black blur. It was the figure of a man and he was on horseback. Obed had +succeeded. + +Ned remained kneeling, rifle in hand, to guard against any mistake. The +man on horseback rode toward him, while the sprawling army of Cos still +slept. Then Ned saw clearly that it was Obed, and that he rode a +magnificent black horse, sixteen hands high, as fiery as any that could +be found in all Mexico. + +In another moment Obed was by his side, looking down from the height of +his horse. In the moonlight Ned saw that his face was glowing. + +"Isn't he a beauty?" he said. "And I think, too, that he likes me. There +were three or four sentinels down there by the horses, but all of them +were fast asleep, and I had time to pick. I've also brought away a roll +of blankets, two for each of us, and I never woke a man. Now, Ned, we're +furnished complete, and we're off to Texas with your message." + +"The first thing, I suppose, is to introduce our horses to each other." + +"Correct. You and I are friends, Ned, and so must our horses be." + +They took a last look at the sleeping camp and went away through the +woods. Obed dismounted, and led his horse to the place where the second +was tied. The two horses whinnied and rubbed noses. + +"It's all right," said Obed. "When horse and man agree who can stop us?" + +Ned mounted the first, the bay, while Obed retained the black. Then they +rode all through the night, coming about dawn to a plain which turned +to sand and cactus, as they advanced further into the north. There was +no water here, but they had rilled their water bottles at the last brook +and they had no fear of perishing by thirst. Although they had passed +the army of Cos they did not fail to keep a vigilant watch. They knew +that patrols of Mexicans would be in the north, and the red men were +also to be feared. They were coming into regions across which mounted +Indians often passed, doing destruction with rifle and lance, spear and +arrow. Both had more apprehension now about Indians than Mexicans. + +At noon of that day they saw four horsemen on their left who shaped +their course toward theirs in such a manner that if they moved at an +equal pace they would meet at the point of a triangle. But the horses +that Ned and Obed rode were powerful animals, far superior to the +ordinary Mexican mounts, and they rode steadily ahead, apparently taking +no notice of the four on their flank. + +"They're Mexican scouts," said Obed, "I'm sure of it, but I don't +believe that they'll come too close. They see that we have rifles, and +they know the deadly nature of the Texan rifle. If we are friends it's +all right, if we are Texans it will be wise to keep at a good distance." + +Obed was a good prophet. The Mexicans, at a distance of almost a quarter +of a mile, raised a great shout. The two took no notice of it, but rode +on, their faces toward the north. + +"I can talk good Spanish or Mexican," said Obed, "and so can you, but +I'm out riding now and I don't feel like stopping for conversation. Ah, +there they are shouting again, and as I live, Ned, they're increasing +their speed. We'll give 'em a sign." + +Obed and Ned wheeled about and raised their rifles. The four Mexicans, +who were galloping their ponies, stopped abruptly. Obed and Ned turned +and rode on. + +"We gave 'em a sign," said Obed, "and they saw it. We're in no danger, +Ned. We could beat 'em either in a fight or a run. The battle is +sometimes to the strong and the race to the swift." + +It was obvious that the Mexicans, who were probably only scouts, did not +want a fight with formidable Texans who carried such long rifles. They +dropped back until Ned, taking a final look, could not tell their +distant figures from the stem of the lonesome cactus. + +"Horses and rifles are mighty useful in their place," said Obed. "Add to +them wood and water and what little more a man needs he should be able +to find." + +"It's wood and water that we ought to hunt now." + +"We may strike both before night, but if not we'll ride on a while +anyhow, and maybe we'll find 'em." + +They went deeper into the great upland which was half a desert and half +a plain. Occasionally they saw besides the cactus, mesquite and yucca +and some clumps of coarse grass. + +"Bunch grass," said Obed, "like that which you find further north, and +mighty good it is, too, for cattle and horses. We'll have plenty of food +for these two noble steeds of ours, and I shouldn't be surprised, too, +if we ran across big game. It's always where the bunch grass grows." + +They did not reach wood and water by nightfall, but, riding two hours +longer in a clear twilight, they found both. The plain rose and fell in +deep swells, and in the deepest of the swells to which they had yet to +come they found a trickling stream of clear water, free from alkali, +fringed on either shore with trees of moderate size. + +"Here we are," said Obed, "and here we stay till morning. You never know +how fine water looks until you've been a long time without it." + +They let their horses drink first, and then, going further up the +stream, drank freely of the water themselves. They found it cold and +good, and they were refreshed greatly. There was also a belt of +excellent grass, extending a hundred yards back on either side of the +stream, and, unsaddling and tethering their horses, they let them graze. +Both Ned and Obed would have liked a fire, but they deemed it dangerous, +and they ate their food cold. After supper, Obed walked up the stream a +little distance, examining the ground on either side of the water. When +he came back he said to Ned: + +"I saw animal tracks two or three hundred yards up the creek, and they +were made by big animals. Buffalo range about here somewhere, and we may +see 'em before we get through." + +"I wouldn't mind having a shot at a fine buffalo," said Ned. But he was +not very eager about it. He was thinking more then of sleep. Obed, while +thinking of sleep also, was thinking of other things, too, and he was +somewhat troubled in his mind. But he bore himself as a man of cheerful +countenance. + +"Now, Ned," he said, "you and I cannot go forever without sleep. We've +been through a good deal and we haven't closed our eyes for thirty-six +hours. I feel as if I had pound weights tied to my eyelids." + +"Two-pound weights are tied to mine." + +"Then we'll prove the value of my foresight in obtaining the two sets of +blankets by using them at once." + +Each lay down between his blankets, and Ned was soon asleep, but Obed, +by a violent effort, kept his eyes open. He could never remember a time +when it seemed sweeter to sleep, but he struggled continually against +it. When he saw that Ned's slumber was deep he rose and walked up and +down the stream again, going a half mile in either direction. + +At one point where there was a break in the fringe of trees the imprints +of the mighty hoofs were numerous, and, mingled with them, were tracks +made by horses' hoofs. It was these that worried Obed so much. They were +made by unshod hoofs, but evidently they were two or three days old, +and, after all, the riders might have passed on, not to return. +Smothering his anxiety as much as possible he went back to their little +camp, crept between his two blankets which felt very warm, and began to +watch with his eyes and ears, vowing to himself that he would not sleep. + +Yet within two hours he slept. Exhausted nature triumphed over will and +claimed her own. He was not conscious of any struggle. He was awake and +then he was not. The two tethered horses, having eaten all they wanted, +also settled themselves comfortably and slept. + +But while the two, or rather the four slept, something was moving far +out on the plain. + +It was an immense black mass with a front of more than a mile, and it +was coming toward Ned and Obed. This mass had been disturbed by a great +danger and it advanced with mighty heavings and tramplings. Ned and Obed +slept calmly for a long time, but as the black front of the moving mass +drew closer to the creek and its thin lines of trees, the boy stirred in +his blankets. A vague dream came and then a state that was half an +awakening. He was conscious in a dim way of a low, thundering sound that +approached and he sprang to his feet. The next instant a neigh of terror +came from one of the horses and Obed, too, awoke. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Ned. "Hear that roar! And it's drawing near, too!" + +"Yes, it's a buffalo herd!" said Obed. "We're far enough north now to be +within the buffalo ranges, and they're coming down on us fast. But they +must be scared or be drawn on by something, because it's not yet dawn." + +"All of which means that it's time for us to go." + +"Or be trodden to death." + +Naturally, they had slept in their clothes and they quickly gathered up +their arms and baggage. Then they released their frightened horses, +sprang upon their backs and galloped toward the north. They felt secure +now, so far as the herd was concerned. Their horses could easily take +them out of its reach. + +"Maybe they'll stop at the creek," said Ned. "I should think that the +water would hold anything in this thirsty land." + +Obed shook his head, but offered no further answer. The thunder of the +hoofs now filled their ears, and, as the sound advanced steadily, it was +evident that the creek had not stopped the buffalo herd. + +The dawn suddenly came up sharp and clear after the manner of southern +lands. The heavens turned blue, and a rosy light suffused the prairie. +Then Ned saw the front of the buffalo herd extending two or three miles +to right and to left. And he saw more. He saw the cause of the terror +that had smitten the herd. + +Brown men, almost naked and on horseback, darted in and out among the +buffaloes, shooting and stabbing. They were muscular men, fierce of +countenance, and their long black hair streamed out behind them. Some +carried rifles and muskets, and others carried lances and bows and +arrows. + +"Lipans," said Obed, "one of the fiercest of all the southwestern +tribes. They belong mostly across the Rio Grande, but I suppose they've +come for the buffalo. Ned, we're not wanted here." + +After the single look they were away toward the north, moving at a +smooth and easy gallop. They were truly thankful now that the horses +they rode were so large and powerful, evidently of American breed. It +was not difficult to increase the distance between them and the herd, +and they hoped to slip away before they were seen by any of the Lipans. +But a sudden shout behind them, a long, piercing whoop showed that they +had reckoned wrong. + +The two looked back. A group of warriors had gathered in advance of the +band, and it was obvious, as they galloped on, that they had seen the +two fugitives. Two or three shook their long lances, and pointed them +straight at Ned and Obed. Then uttering that long, menacing whoop again, +the group, about twenty in number, rode straight for the two, while the +rest continued their work with the herd. + +"It's a chase," said Obed. "Those fellows want scalps and they don't +care whether we're Texans or Mexicans. Besides, they may have better +horses than the Mexican ponies. But it's a long chase that has no +turning, and if our horses don't stumble we'll beat them. Look out for +potholes and such places." + +They rode knee to knee, not yet putting the horses to their full speed, +but covering the ground, nevertheless, at a great rate. It seemed play +for their fine horses, which arched their necks and sped on, not a drop +of perspiration yet staining their glossy skins. Ned felt the thrill, as +the ground spun back under his horse's feet, and the air rushed past his +face. It did not occur to him that the Lipans could overtake them, and +their pursuit merely added a fresh spice to a magnificent ride. + +He took another look back. The Lipans, although they had lost ground, +were still following. They came in a close group, carrying, besides +their arms, shields, made of layers of buffalo hide. Several wore +magnificent war bonnets. Otherwise all were naked save for the +breech-cloth, and their brown bodies were glistening with war paint. +Behind them, yet came the black front of the buffalo herd, but it was a +full mile away. + +Obed looked also, and his heart smote him. Older and more experienced +than Ned, he knew that with the fierce Lipans the most powerful of all +lures was the lure of scalps. Just as the wolf can trail down the moose +at last, they could follow for days on their tough mustangs. But as he +shifted his good rifle a bit he felt better. Both he and Ned were +splendid marksmen, and if the chase were a success for the Lipans there +would also be a bitter fight at the end of it. + +Now he and Ned ceased to talk, the sun blazed down on the plain, and on +sped the chase, hour after hour. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE TRIAL OF PATIENCE + + +The hours of the afternoon trailed slowly away, one by one. Perspiration +appeared at last upon the glossy skins of the horses, but their stride +did not abate. The powerful muscles still worked with their full +strength and ease. Ned never felt a tremor in the splendid horse beneath +him. But when he looked back again there were the Lipans, a little +further away, but hanging on as grimly as before, still riding in a +close group. + +Ned began to understand now the deadly nature of the pursuit. These +Lipans would follow not merely for hours, but into the night, and if he +and Obed were lost to sight in the darkness they would pick up the trail +the next day by the hoof prints on the plain. He felt with absolute +certainty that chance had brought upon them one of the deadliest dangers +they had yet encountered. + +"It's growing a little cooler, Obed," he said. + +"So it is. The evening wanes. But, Ned, do you see any sign of forest or +high hills ahead?" + +"I do not, Obed. There is nothing but the plain which waves like the +ripples on a lake, the bunches of buffalo grass here and there, and now +and then an ugly yucca." + +"You see just what I see, Ned, and as there is no promise of shelter +we'd better ease our horses a little. Our lives depend upon them, and +even if the Lipans do regain some of their lost ground now it will not +matter in the end." + +They let the horses drop into a walk, and finally, to put elasticity +back into their own stiffened limbs, they dismounted and walked awhile. + +"If the Lipans don't rest their horses now they will have to do it +later," said Obed, "but as they're mighty crafty they'll probably slow +down when we do. Do you see them now, Ned?" + +"Yes, there they are on the crest of a swell. They don't seem to gain on +us much. I should say they are a full mile away." + +"A mile and a half at least. The air of these great uplands is very +deceptive, and things look much nearer than they really are." + +"Look how gigantic they have grown! They stand squarely in the center of +the sun now." + +The sun was low and the Lipans coming out of the southwest were +silhouetted so perfectly against it that they seemed black and +monstrous, like some product of the primitive world. The fugitives felt +a chill of awe, but in a moment or two they threw it off, only to have +its place taken a little later by the real chill of the coming night. A +wind began to moan over the desolate plain, and their faces were stung +now and then by the fine grains of sand blown against them. But as the +Lipans were gaining but little, Ned and Obed still walked their horses. + +They went on thus nearly an hour. The night came, but it was not dark, +and they could yet see the Lipans following as certain as death. Before +them the plain still rolled away, bare and brown. There was not a sign +of cover. Ned's spirits began to sink. The silent and tenacious pursuit +weighed upon him. It was time to rest and sleep. The Lipans had been +pursuing for seven or eight hours now, and if they could not catch +fugitives in that time they ought to turn back. Nevertheless, there they +were, still visible in the moonlight and still coming. + +Ned and Obed remounted and rode at a running walk, which was easy but +which nevertheless took them on rapidly. But it became evident that the +Lipans had increased their pace in the same ratio, as the distance of a +mile and a half named by Obed did not decrease. Ned looked up longingly +at the sky. There was not a cloud. The moon, round and full, never shone +more brightly, and it seemed that countless new stars had arrived that +very night. He sighed. They might as well have been riding in broad +daylight. + +Toward midnight the swells and dips of the plain became accentuated, and +they lost sight of the pursuing Lipans. But there was yet no forest to +hide them, only the miserable mesquite and the ragged yucca. Save for +them the plain stretched away as bare and brown as ever. Two hours more +with the Lipans still lost to view, Obed called a halt. + +"The Lipans will pick up our trail in the morning," he said. "Though +lost to sight we are to their memory dear, and they will hang on. But +our horses are faster than theirs, and as they cannot come near us on +this bare plain, without being seen we can get away. Whereas, I say, and +hence and therefore we might as well rest and let our good steeds rest, +too." + +"What time would you say it is?" + +"About two o' the morning by the watch that I haven't got, and it will +be four or five hours until day. Ned, if I were you I'd lie down between +blankets. You can relax more comfortably and rest better that way." + +Ned did not wish to do it, but Obed insisted so strongly, and was so +persuasive that he acceded at last. They had chosen a place on a swell +where they could see anything that approached a quarter of a mile away, +and Obed stood near the recumbent boy, holding the bridles of the two +horses in one hand and his rifle in the other. + +The man's eyes continually traveled around the circle of the horizon, +but now and then he glanced at the boy. Ned, brave, enduring and +complaining so little, had taken a great hold upon his affection. They +were comrades, tried by many dangers, and no danger yet to come could +induce him to desert the boy. + +The moon and stars were still very bright, and Obed, as his eyes +traveled the circle of the horizon, saw no sign of the Indian approach. +But that the Lipans would come with the dawn, or some time afterward, he +did not have the slightest doubt. He glanced once more at Ned and then +he smiled. The boy, while never meaning it, was sleeping soundly, and +Obed was very glad. This was what he intended, relying upon Ned's utter +exhaustion of body and mind. + +All through the remaining hours of the night the man, with the bridles +of the two horses in one hand and the rifle in the other, kept watch. +Now and then he walked in a circle around and around the sleeping boy, +and once or twice he smiled to himself. He knew that Ned when he awoke +would be indignant because Obed let him sleep, but the man felt quite +able to stand such reproaches. + +Obed, staunch as he was, felt the weirdness and appalling loneliness of +time and place. A wolf howled far out on the plain, and the answering +howl of a wolf came back from another point. He shivered a little, but +he continued his steady tread around and around the circle. + +Dawn shot up, gilding the bare brown plain with silver splendor for a +little while. Obed awoke Ned, and laughed at the boy's protests. + +"You feel stronger and fresher, Ned," he said, "and nothing has been +lost." + +"What of you?" + +"I? Oh, I'll get my chance later. All things come to him who works while +he waits. Meanwhile, I think we'd better take a drink out of our water +bottles, eat a quick breakfast and be off before we have visitors." + +Once more in the saddle, they rode on over a plain unchanged in +character, still the same swells and dips, still the same lonesome +yuccas and mesquite, with the occasional clumps of bunch grass. + +"Don't you think we have shaken them off?" asked Ned. + +"No," replied Obed. "They would scatter toward dawn and the one who +picked up the trail would call the others with a whoop or a rifle shot." + +"Well, they've been called," said Ned, who was looking back. "See, +there, on the highest ridge." + +A faint, dark blur had appeared on a crest three or four miles behind +them, one that would have been wholly invisible had not the air been so +clear and translucent. It was impossible at the distance to distinguish +shapes or detach anything from the general mass, but they knew very well +that it was the Lipans. Each felt a little chill at this pursuit so +tenacious and so menacing. + +"I wish that we had some sort of a place like that in which we faced the +Mexicans, where we could put our backs to the wall and fight!" exclaimed +Ned. + +"I know how you feel," said Obed, "because I feel the same way myself, +but there isn't any such place, Ned, and this plain doesn't ever give +any sign of producing one, so we'll just ride on. We'll trust to time +and chance. Something may happen in our favor." + +They strengthened their hearts, whistled to their horses and rode +ahead. As on the day before the interminable pursuit went on hour after +hour. It was another hot day, and their water bottles were almost +emptied. The horses had had nothing to drink since the day before and +the two fugitives began to feel for them, but about noon they came to a +little pool, lying in a dip or hollow between the swells. It was perhaps +fifty feet either way, less than a foot deep and the water was yellowish +in color, but it contained no alkali nor any other bitter infusion. +Moreover, grass grew around its edges and some wild ducks swam on its +surface. It would have been a good place for a camp and they would have +stayed there gladly had it not been for that threat which always hung on +the southern horizon. + +The water was warm, but the horses drank deeply, and Ned and Obed +refilled their bottles. The stop enabled the pursuing Lipans to come +within a mile of them, but, moving away at an increased pace, they began +to lengthen the gap. + +"The Lipans will stop and water their ponies and themselves just as we +have done," said Obed. "Everything that we have to endure they have to +endure, too. It's a poor rule that doesn't work for one side as well as +the other." + +"It would all look like play," said Ned, "if we didn't know that it was +so much in earnest. Just as you said, Obed, they're stopping to drink at +the pond." + +A shadow seemed to pass between himself and the blazing glare of the +sun. He looked up. It was a shadow thrown by a great bird, with black +wings, flying low. Others of the same kind circled higher. Ned saw with +a shiver that they were vultures. Obed saw them, too, and he also saw +Ned's face pale a little. + +"You take it as an omen," he said, "and maybe it is, but it's a poor +omen that won't work both ways. They're flying back now towards the +Indians, so I guess the Lipans had better look out." + +Nevertheless, both were depressed by the appearance of the vultures and +the heat that afternoon grew more intense than ever. The horses, at +last, began to show signs of weariness, but Ned reflected that for every +mile they traveled the Lipans must travel one also, and he recalled the +words of Obed that chance might come to their aid. + +Another night followed, clear and bright, with the great stars dancing +in the southern skies, and Ned and Obed rode long after nightfall. Again +the Lipans sank from sight, and, as before, the two stopped on one of +the swells. + +"Now, Obed," said Ned, "it is your time to sleep and mine to watch. I +submitted last night and you must submit to-night. You know that you +can't go on forever without sleep." + +"Your argument is good," said Obed, "and I yield. It isn't worth while +for me to tell you to watch well, because I know you'll do it." + +He stretched himself out, folded between his blankets, and was soon +asleep. The horses tethered to a lonesome yucca found a few blades of +grass on the swell, which they cropped luxuriously. Then they lay down. +Ned walked about for a long time rifle on shoulder. It turned colder and +he wrapped his serape around his shoulders and chest. Finally he grew +tired of walking, and sat down on the ground, holding his rifle across +his lap. He sat on the highest point of the swell, and, despite the +night, he could see a considerable distance. + +His sight and hearing alike were acute, but neither brought him any +alarm. He tried to reconstruct in his mind the Lipan mode of procedure. +With the coming of the night and the disappearance of the fugitives from +their sight they would spread out in a long line, in order that they +might not pass the two without knowing it, and advance until midnight, +perhaps. Then they, too, would rest, and pick up the trail again in the +morning. + +Ned did not know that time could be so long. He had not been watching +more than three or four hours, and yet it seemed like as many days. But +it was not long until dawn, and then it would be time for them to be up +and away again. The horses reposed by the yucca, and, down the far side +of the swell, close to the bottom of the dip, was another yucca. Ned's +glance wandered toward the second yucca, and suddenly his heart thumped. + +There was a shadow within the shadow of the yucca. Then he believed that +it must be imagination, but nevertheless he rose to his feet and cocked +his rifle. The shadow blended with the shadow of the yucca just behind +its stern, but Ned, watching closely, saw in the next instant the two +shadows detach and separate. The one that moved was that of a Lipan +warrior, naked save for the breech-cloth and horrible with war paint. +Ned instantly raised his rifle and fired. The Lipan uttered a cry and +fell, then sprang to his feet, and ran away down the dip. In answer to +the shot came the fierce note of the war whoop. + +"Up, Obed, up!" cried Ned. "The Lipans are coming down upon us. I just +shot at one of them in the bush!" + +But Obed was up already, running toward the alarmed horses, his blankets +under one arm and his rifle under the other. Ned followed, and, in an +instant, they were on their horses with their arms and stores. From the +next swell behind them came a patter of shots, and, for the second +time, the war cry. But the two were now galloping northward at full +speed. + +"Good work, Ned, my lad," cried Obed. "I didn't have time to see what +you shot, but I heard the yell and I knew it must have been a Lipan." + +"He was stalking us, a scout, I suppose, and I just got a glimpse of him +behind a yucca. I hit him." + +"Good eyes and good hand. You saved us. They must have struck our trail +in some manner during the night and then they thought they had us. Ah, +they still think they have us!" + +The last remark was drawn by a shout and another spatter of shots. Two +or three bullets struck alarmingly close, and they increased the speed +of their horses, while the Lipans urged their ponies to their best. + +"They're too eager," said Obed. "It's time to give them a hint that +their company is not wanted." + +He wheeled and executed with success that most difficult of feats, a +running shot. A Lipan fell from his horse, and the others drew back a +little for fear of Ned, the second marksman. + +"They've taken the hint," said Obed grimly, as he accomplished a second +difficult feat, that of reloading his rifle while they were at full +gallop. The Lipans did not utter another war cry, but settled down into +a steady pursuit. + +"I think I'll try a shot, Obed," said Ned. + +"All right," said Obed, "but be sure that you hit something. Never waste +a good bullet on empty air." + +Ned fired. He missed the Lipan at whom he aimed, but he killed the pony +the warrior was riding. The Indian leaped on the pony that had been +ridden by the warrior slain by Obed and continued in the group of +pursuers. Ned looked somewhat chagrined, and Obed noticed it. + +"You did very well, Ned," he said. "Of course, no one likes to kill a +horse, but it's the horses that bring on the Lipans, and the fewer +horses they have the better for us." + +Ned also reloaded as they galloped and then said: + +"Don't you think they're dropping back a little?" + +"Yes, they want to keep out of range. They know that our rifles carry +farther than theirs, and they will not take any more risk until they +finally corner us, of which they feel sure." + +"But of which we are not so sure." + +"No, and we are going to be hidden from them, for a while, by something. +You haven't noticed, Ned, that the country is rapidly growing much +worse, and that we are now in what is practically a sandy desert. You +don't see even a yucca, but you do see something whirling there in the +southwest. That's a 'dust devil,' and there's a half dozen more whirling +in our direction. We're going to have a sand storm." + +Ned looked with interest. The "dust devils," rising up like water +spouts, danced over the surface of the sand. They were a half dozen, +then a dozen, then twenty. A sharp wind struck the faces of the two +fugitives, and it had an edge of fine sand that stung. All the "dust +devils" were merged and the air darkened rapidly. The cloud of dust +about them thickened. They drew their sombreros far down over their +eyes, and rode very close together. They could not see twenty yards +away, and if they became separated in the dust storm it was not likely +that they would ever see each other again. But they urged their horses +on at a good rate, trusting to the instinct of the animals to take them +over a safe course. + +Ned had not only pulled the brim of his sombrero down over his eyes, but +he reinforced it with one hand to keep from being blinded, for the time, +by the sand, but it was hard work. As a final resort he let the lids +remain open only enough for him to see his comrade who was but three +feet away. Meanwhile, he felt the sand going down his collar, and +entering every opening of his clothing, scratching and stinging his +skin. The wind all the time was roaring in his ears, and now and then +the horses neighed in alarm. But they kept onward. Ned knew that they +were passing dips and swells, but he knew nothing else. + +The storm blew itself out in about three hours. Ned and Obed emerged +from an obscurity as great as that of night. The wind ceased shrieking +and was succeeded by a stillness that was almost deathly in comparison. +The sun came out suddenly, and shone brightly over the dips and swells. +But Ned and Obed looked at each other and laughed. Both were so thickly +plastered with sand and dust that they had little human semblance. + +Ned shook himself, and a cloud of dust flew from him, but so much +remained that he could not tell the difference. + +"I think we'd better take a drink out of our water bottles," said Obed. +"I'd like mighty well to have a bath, too, but I don't see a bath tub +convenient. Is there any sign of our friends, the enemy, Ned?" + +"None," replied Ned, examining the horizon line. "There is absolutely +nothing within view on the plains." + +"Don't you fret about 'em. They'll come. They'll spread out and pick up +our trail just as they do every morning." + +Obed spoke dispassionately, as if he and Ned were not concerned in it. +His predictions were justified. Before night they saw the Lipans coming +as usual in a close group, now at a distance of about three miles. Ned +could not keep from shuddering. They were as implacable as fate. Night, +the storm and bullets did not stop them. They could not shake them off +in the immense spaces of plain and desert. A kind of horror seized him. +Such tenacity must triumph. Was it possible that Obed and he would fall +victims after all? At least it seemed sure that in the end they would be +overtaken, and Ned began to count the odds in a fight. Anything seemed +better than this interminable flight. + +They were cheered a little by the aspect of the country, which began to +change considerably for the better. The cactus reappeared and then a few +trees, lonesome and ragged, but trees, nevertheless. It is wonderful how +much humanity a tree has in a sad and sandy land. The soil grew much +firmer and soon they saw clumps of buffalo grass. Several small groups +of buffalo were also visible. + +"There's better country ahead, as you see," said Obed. "Besides, I've +been along this way before. We'll strike water by dark." + +They reached a tiny brook just as the twilight came, at which both they +and their horses drank. They also took the time to wash their hands and +faces, but they dared not delay any longer for fear of being overtaken +by the Lipans. The night and the following day passed in the same manner +as the others, and the horses of Ned and Obed, splendid animals though +they were, began to show signs of fatigue. One limped a little. The +dreaded was happening. The Indian ponies made only of bone and muscle +were riding them down. + +On the other hand, the character of the country now encouraged the +fugitives. The yucca and the mesquite turned into oak. They passed +through large groves and they hoped that they might soon enter a great +forest in which they could hide their trail wholly from the Lipans. They +crossed two considerable streams, knee deep on the horses, and then they +entered the forest for which they had hoped so much. It was of oaks +without much undergrowth and the ground was hilly. They rode through it +until past midnight. Then they stopped by the edge of a blue pool, and +while the other watched with the rifle each took the bath that he had +coveted so long. + +"I feel that I can fight battles and also run better now that I've got +rid of ten pounds of sand and dust," said Obed, "and I guess you feel +the same way, Ned. I suppose you've noticed that the other horse has +gone lame, too?" + +"Yes, I noticed it. I don't believe either could make much speed +to-morrow." + +"They certainly couldn't unless they had a long rest, and here we stay. +There need be no secrets between you and me, Ned, about this pursuit. I +think it's likely that we'll have a fight in the morning, and we might +as well choose our fort." + +The horses were panting and both now limped badly. It was quite evident +that they were spent. Beyond the pool was a tiny valley or glade with a +good growth of grass, and, after tying the reins to the pommels of the +saddles, they released the two faithful beasts there. Obed thought once +of tethering them but he reflected that to do so would make them sure +targets of the Indian bullets or arrows. They, too, deserved a chance to +escape. + +Then he and Ned looked around for the fort, of which they had spoken, +and they found it beyond the pool in an opening which would have been +called a little prairie in the far north. In the center of this opening +grew a rather thick cluster of trees, and there was some fallen wood. A +rifle bullet would not reach from any point of the forest to the +cluster. + +They drew up all the fallen wood they could find, helping to turn the +ring of trees into a kind of fortification, refilled their water bottles +from the pool, and sat down to wait, with their rifles and pistols +ready. + +Ned felt a kind of relief, the relief that comes to one who, having +faced the worst so long, now knows that it has been realized. The +terrible chase had gone on for nights and days. Always the Lipans were +behind them. Well, if they were so fond of pursuing, now let them come. +By the aid of the dead wood they were fairly well protected from a fire +in any direction, and the light was sufficient for them to see an enemy +who attempted to cross the open. There was a certain grim pleasure in +the situation. + +"They've run us down at last," said Obed, "but they haven't got us yet. +Before you scalp your man just catch him is a proverb that I would +recommend to the Lipans. Now, Ned, suppose we eat a little, and brace +ourselves for the arrival of the pursuit." + +They ate with a good appetite and then lay propped on their elbows, +where they could look just over the logs at the circling forest. It was +very quiet. Nothing stirred among the trees. Their eyes, used now to the +half dusk, could see almost as well as if it were daylight. Ned finally +noticed some dark objects on the boughs of the trees and called Obed's +attention to them. + +"Wild turkeys," said Obed, after a long look. "The first we've seen and +we can't take a shot at them. They must know it or they wouldn't sit +there so quiet and easy." + +A half hour later, Ned saw something move among the trees at the nearest +point of the forest. It looked like a shadow and was gone in an +instant. But his heart leaped. He felt sure that it was a Lipan, and +told Obed of his suspicion. + +"Of course you're right," said the Maine man. "They may have been there +in the woods for an hour spying us out. They've dismounted and have left +their horses further back among the trees. Suppose you watch to the +right while I face to the left. I think the two of us together can cover +a whole circle." + +Ned felt a singular composure. It seemed to him that he had passed +through so many emotions that he had none left now but calm and +expectancy. As the night was somewhat cold he even remembered to throw +one of the blankets over his body, as he lay behind the log. Obed +noticed it and his sharp eyes brightened with approval. It was obvious +that the Lipans were now in the woods about them, and that the long +chase was at an end, but the boy was as steady as a rock. + +Ned looked continually for the second appearance of the shadows. Nothing +within the range of his half circle escaped him. He saw the wild turkeys +unfold their wings, and fly heavily away, which was absolute proof of +the presence of the Lipans. He finally saw the shadow for the second +time, and, at almost the same moment, a pink dot appeared in the woods. +The crack of a rifle followed, and a bullet knocked up a little dust at +least fifty yards short of them. Obed sniffed contemptuously. + +"One good bullet wasted," he said, "and one good bullet, I suppose, +deserves another, but they won't fire again--yet. It shows that they +know we're on guard. They won't rush us. They'll wait for time, thirst +and starvation." + +Obed was right. Not another shot was fired, nor did any of the Lipans +show themselves. Day came, and the forest was as quiet and peaceful as +if it were a park. Some little birds of brilliant plumage sang as +heralds of dawn, and sunlight flooded the trees and the opening. Ned and +Obed moved themselves into more comfortable positions and waited. + +They were to have another terrible trial of Indian patience. No attack +was made. The two lay behind the logs and watched the circle of the +forest, until their eyes grew weary. The silence and peace that had +marked the dawn continued through all the hours of the morning. Although +the wild turkeys had flown away, the birds that lived in this forest +seemed to take no alarm. They hopped peacefully from bough to bough, and +sang their little songs as if there were no alien presence. But Ned and +Obed had been through too many dangers to be entrapped into a belief +that the Lipans had gone. They matched patience with patience. The sun +went slowly up toward the zenith, and the earth grew hot, but they were +protected from the fiery rays by the foliage of the trees. Yet Ned grew +restless. He was continually poking the muzzle of his rifle over the log +and seeking a target, although the forest revealed no human being. +Finally Obed put his hand upon his arm. + +"Easy, now, easy, Ned," he said. "Don't waste your strength and nerves. +They can't charge us, at least in the daylight, without our seeing them, +and, when they come, we want to be as strong of body and brain as +possible. We won't take the fight to them. They must bring it to us." + +Ned blushed. Meanwhile the afternoon dragged on, slow and silent, as the +morning had been. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE TEXANS + + +Late in the afternoon Ned's nerves began to affect him again. Once more, +the old longing for action took such strong hold upon him that he could +not cast it off for a long time. But he hid his face from Obed. He did +not want his older comrade to see that he was white and trembling. +Finally, he took some food from his pack and bit fiercely upon it, as he +ate. It was not for the food that he cared, but it was a relief to bring +his teeth together so hard. Obed looked at him approvingly. + +"You're setting a good example, Ned," he said, "and I'll follow it." + +He too ate, and then took a satisfactory drink from his water bottle. +Meanwhile the sun was setting in a cloudless sky, and both noticed with +satisfaction that it would be a clear night. Eyes, trained like theirs, +could see even in the dusk an enemy trying to creep upon them. + +"Do you think you could sleep a while, Ned?" said Obed, persuasively. +"Of course, I'll awake you at the first alarm, if the alarm itself +doesn't do it. Sleep knits us up for the fray, and a man always wants to +be at his best when he goes into battle." + +"How could a fellow sleep now?" + +"Only the brave and resolute can do it," replied Obed, cunningly. +"Napoleon slept before Austerlitz, and while no Austerlitz is likely to +happen down here in the wilderness of Northern Mexico there is nothing +to keep those who are able from copying a great man." + +The appeal to Ned's pride was not lost. + +"I think I'll try it," he said. + +He lay down behind the log with his rifle by his side, and closed his +eyes. He had no idea that he could go to sleep, but he wished to show +Obed his calmness in face of danger. Yet he did sleep, and he did not +awaken until Obed's hand fell upon his shoulder. He would have sprung +up, all his faculties not yet regained, but Obed's hand pressed him +down. + +"Don't forget where you are, Ned," said the Maine man, "and that we are +still besieged." + +Yet the night was absolutely still and Ned, from his recumbent position, +looked up at a clear sky and many glittering stars. + +"Has anything happened?" he asked. + +"Not a thing. No Lipan has shown himself even among the trees." + +"About what time do you think it is?" + +"Two or three hours after midnight, and now I'm going to take a nap +while you watch. Ned, do you know, I've an idea those fellows are going +to sit in the woods indefinitely, safe, beyond range, and wait for us to +come out. Doesn't it make you angry?" + +"It does, and it makes me angry also to think that they have our horses. +Those were good horses." + +Obed slept until day, and Ned watched with a vigilance that no creeping +enemy could pass. The Lipans made no movement, but the siege, silent and +invisible, went on. Ned had another attack of the nerves, but, as his +comrade was sleeping soundly, he took no trouble to hide it, and let the +spell shake itself out. + +The day was bright, burning and hot, and it threatened to pass like its +predecessor, in silence and inaction. Ned and Obed had been lying down +or sitting down so long that they had grown stiff, and now, knowing that +they were out of range they stood up and walked boldly about, tensing +and flexing their muscles, and relieving the bodily strain. Ned thought +that their appearance might tempt the Lipans to a shot or some other +demonstration, but no sound came from the woods, and they could not see +any human presence there. "Maybe they have gone away after all," said +Ned hopefully. + +"If you went over there to the woods you'd soon find out that they +hadn't." + +"Suppose they really went away. We'd have no way of knowing it and then +we'd have to sit here forever all the same." + +Obed laughed, despite the grimness of their situation. + +"That is a problem," he said, "but if you can't work a problem it will +work itself if you only give it enough time." + +The morning was without result, but in the afternoon they saw figures +stirring in the wood and concluded that some movement was at hand. + +"Ned," said Obed, "I think we've either won in the contest of patience, +or that something else has occurred to disturb the Lipans. Don't you see +horses as well as Indians there among the trees?" + +"I can count at least five horses, and I've no doubt there are others." + +"All of which to my mind indicates a rush on horseback. Perhaps they +think they can gallop over us. We'd better lay our pistols on the logs, +where we can get at 'em quick, and be ready." + +Ned's sharp eye caught sight of more horses at another point. + +"They're coming from all sides," he said. + +"You face to the right and I'll face to the left," said Obed, "and be +sure your bullet counts. If we bring down a couple of them they will +stop. Indians are not fond of charging in the open, and, besides, it +will be hard for them to force their horses in among these logs and +trees of ours." + +Ned did not answer, but he had listened attentively. The muzzle of his +rifle rested upon the log beside his pistol, and, with his eye looking +down the sights, he was watching for whatever might come. + +A sharp whistle sounded from the wood. At the same instant, three bands +of Lipans galloped from the trees at different points, and converged +upon the little fortress. They were all naked to the waist, and the sun +blazed down upon their painted bodies, lighting up their lean faces and +fierce eyes. They uttered shout after shout, as they advanced, and as +they came closer, bent down behind the shoulders of their ponies or +clung to their sides. + +The tremor of the nerves seized Ned again, but it was gone in a moment. +Then a fierce passion turned the blood in his veins to fire. Why were +these savages seeking his life? Why had they hung upon his trail for +days and days? And why had they kept up that silent and invincible siege +so long? Yet he did not forget his earlier resolution to watch for a +good shot, knowing that his life hung upon it. But it was hard to hold +one's fire when the thud of those charging hoofs was coming closer. + +The horsemen in front of him were four in number, and the leader who +wore a brilliant feathered headdress, seemed to be a chief. Ned chose +him for his target, but for a few moments the Lipan made his pony bound +from side to side in such a manner that he could not secure a good aim. +But his chance came. The Lipan raised his head and opened his mouth to +utter a great shout of encouragement to his followers. The shout did not +pass his lips, because Ned's bullet struck him squarely in the forehead, +and he fell backward from his horse, dead before he touched the ground. + +Ned heard Obed's rifle crack with his own, but he could not turn his +head to see the result. He snatched up his pistol and fired a second +shot which severely wounded a Lipan rider, and then all three parties of +the Lipans, fearing the formidable hedge, turned and galloped back, +leaving two of their number lifeless upon the ground. + +Obed had not fired his pistol, but he stood holding it in his hand, his +eyes flashing with grim triumph. Ned was rapidly reloading his rifle. + +"If we didn't burn their noble Lipan faces then I'm mightily mistaken," +said Obed, as he too began to reload his rifle. "A charge that is not +pressed home is no charge at all. Hark, what is that?" + +There was a sudden crash of rifle shots in the forest, the long whining +whoop of the Lipans and then hard upon it a deep hoarse cheer. + +"White men!" exclaimed Ned. + +"And Texans!" said Obed. "Such a roar as that never came from Mexican +throats. It's friends! Do you hear, Ned, it's friends! There go the +Indians!" + +Across the far edge of the open went the Lipans in wild flight, and, as +they pressed their mustangs for more speed, bullets urged them to +efforts yet greater. Fifteen or twenty men galloped from the trees, and +Ned and Obed, breaking cover, greeted them with joyous shouts, which the +men returned in kind. + +"You don't come to much," exclaimed Ned, "but we can say to you that +never were men more welcome." + +"Which I beg to repeat and emphasize," said Obed White. + +"Speak a little louder," said the foremost of the men, leaning from his +horse and couching one hand behind his ear. + +Ned repeated his words in a much stronger tone, and the man nodded and +smiled. Ned looked at him with the greatest interest. He was of middle +age and medium size. Hair and eyes were intensely black, and his +complexion was like dark leather. Dressed in Indian costume he could +readily have passed for a warrior. Yet this man had come from the far +northern state of New York, and it was only the burning suns of the +Texas and North Mexican plains that had turned him to his present +darkness. + +"Glad to meet you, my boy," he said, leaning from his horse and holding +out a powerful hand, burnt as dark as his face. "My name's Smith, +Erastus Smith." + +Ned grasped his hand eagerly. This was the famous "Deaf" Smith--destined +to become yet more famous--although they generally pronounced it D-e-e-f +in Texas. + +"Guess we didn't come out of season," said Smith with a smile. + +"You certainly didn't," broke in Obed. "There's a time for all things, +and this was your time!" + +"I believe they're real glad to see us. Don't you think so, Jim?" said +Smith with a smile. + +The man whom he called Jim had been sitting on his horse, silent, and he +remained silent yet, but he nodded in reply. Ned's gaze traveled to him +and he was certainly a striking figure. He was over six feet in height, +with large blue eyes and fair hair. His expression was singularly +gentle and mild, but his appearance nevertheless, both face and figure, +indicated unusual strength. Obed had not noticed him before, but now he +exclaimed joyfully: + +"Why, it's Colonel Jim Bowie! Jim, it's me, Obed White! Shake hands!" + +"So it is you, Obed," said the redoubtable Bowie, "and here we shake." + +The hands of the two met in a powerful clasp. Then they all dismounted +and another man, short and thick, shook Obed by the hand and called him +by his first name. He was Henry Karnes, the Tennesseean, great scout and +famous borderer of the Texas plains. + +Ned looked with admiration at these men, whose names were great to him. +On the wild border where life depended almost continually upon skill and +quickness with weapons, "Deaf" Smith, Jim Bowie and Henry Karnes were +already heroes to youth. Ned thrilled. He was here with his own people, +and with the greatest of them. He had finished his long journey and he +was with the Texans. The words shaped themselves again and again in his +brain, the Texans! the Texans! the Texans! + +"You two seem to have given the Lipans a lot of trouble," said Bowie, +looking at the two fallen warriors. + +"We were putting all the obstacles we could in the way of what they +wanted," said Obed modestly, "but we don't know what would have happened +if you hadn't come. Those fellows had been following us for days, and +they must have had some idea that you were near, or they would have +waited still longer." + +"They must not have known that we were as near as we were," said Bowie, +"or they would not have invited our attack. We heard the firing and +galloped to it at once. But you two need something better than talk." + +He broke off suddenly, because Ned had sat down on one of the logs, +looking white and ill. The collapse had come after so many terrible +trials and privations, and not even his will could hold him. + +"Here, you take a drink of this water, it's good and cold," said "Deaf" +Smith kindly as he held out a canteen. "I reckon that no boy has ever +passed through more than you have, and if there's any hero you are one." + +"Good words," said Bowie. + +Ned smiled. These words were healing balm to his pride. To be praised +thus by these famous Texans was ample reward. Besides, he had great and +vital news to all, and he knew that Obed would wait for him to tell it. + +"I think," said Bowie, "that we'd better camp for the night in the clump +of trees that served you two so well, and, before it's dark, we'll look +around and see what spoil is to be had." + +They found three rifles that had been dropped by slain or wounded +Lipans, and they were well pleased to get them, as rifles were about to +become the most valuable of all articles in Texas. They also recovered +Ned and Obed's horses, which the Indians had left in the valley, +evidently expecting to take them away, when they secured the scalps of +the two fugitives. + +Ned, after the cold water and a little rest, fully recovered his +strength and poise, but the men would not let him do any work, telling +him that he had already done his share. So he sat on his log and watched +them as they prepared camp and supper. Besides being the Texans and his +own people, to whom he had come after the long journey of perils, they +made a wonderful appeal. These were the bold riders, the dauntless, the +fearless. He would not find here the pliancy, the cunning, the craft and +the dark genius of Santa Anna, but he would find men who talked +straight, who shot straight, and who feared nobody. + +They were sixteen in number, and all were clad wholly in buckskin, with +fur caps upon their heads. They were heavily armed, every man carrying +at least a rifle, a pistol, and a formidable knife, invented by Bowie. +All were powerful physically, and every face had been darkened by the +sun. Ned felt that such a group as this was a match for a hundred +Mexicans or Lipans. + +They worked dextrously and rapidly, unsaddling their horses and +tethering them where they could graze in the open, drawing up the dead +wood until it made a heap which was quickly lighted, and then cooking +strips of venison over the coals. There was so much life, so much +cheerfulness, and so much assurance of strength and invincibility that +Ned began to feel as if he did not have a care left. All the men already +called him Ned, and he felt that every one of them was his friend. + +Karnes put a strip of venison on the sharp end of a stick, and broiled +it over the blaze. It gave out a singularly appetizing odor, and when it +was done he extended it to the boy. + +"Here, Ned," he said, "take this on the end of your knife and eat it. +I'll wager that you haven't had any good warm victuals for a week, and +it will taste mighty well." + +Ned ate it and asked for more. He would have done his own cooking, but +they would not let him. They seemed to take a pleasure in helping him, +and, used as they were to hardships and danger, they admired all the +more the tenacity and courage that had brought a boy so far. + +"We can promise you one thing, Ned," said "Deaf" Smith. "We'll see that +you and Obed have a full night's good sleep and I guess you'll like +that about as much as a big supper." + +"We certainly will," said Obed. "Sleep has got a lot of knitting to do +in my case." + +"The same is true of me," said Ned, who had now eaten about all he +wanted, "but before I roll up in the blankets I want to say something to +you men." + +His voice had suddenly become one of great gravity, and, despite his +youth, it impressed them. The darkness had now come, but the fire made a +center of light. They had put themselves in easy attitudes about it, +while the horses grazed just beyond them. + +"I come from Texas myself," said Ned, "although I was born in Missouri. +My parents are dead, and I thought I could make my way in Texas. I met +Mr. Austin who is related to me, and he was good to me more than once. +When he went to Mexico to talk with the rulers there about our troubles +I went with him. I was a prisoner with him in the City of Mexico, and I +often saw the dictator, Santa Anna, and his brother-in-law, General +Cos." + +Ned paused and a deep "Ah!" came from the men. They felt from his face +and manner that he was telling no idle tale. + +"They said many fine words to Mr. Austin," said Ned, "and always they +promised that they were going to do great things for Texas. But much +time passed and they did nothing. Also they kept Mr. Austin a prisoner. +Then I escaped. I believed that they were preparing to attack Texas. I +was right. I was recaptured and both President Santa Anna and General +Cos told me so. They told me because they did not believe I could escape +again, as they sent me to one of the submarine dungeons under the castle +of San Juan de Ulua. But even under the sea I found a friend, Obed +here, and we escaped together. We have since seen the army of General +Cos, and it is marching straight upon Texas. Santa Anna means to crush +us and to execute all our leaders." + +Again came that deep murmurous "Ah!" and now it was full of anger and +defiance. + +"You say you saw the army of Cos?" asked Bowie. + +"Yes," replied Ned, "I saw it before I was taken to the castle of San +Juan de Ulua and afterward in Northern Mexico, marching straight toward +Texas. It is a large force, cannon and lancers, horse and foot." + +"And so Santa Anna has been lulling us with promises, while sending an +army to destroy us." + +Bowie's tone, so gentle and mild before, grew hard and bitter. The +firelight flickered across his face and to Ned the blue eyes looked as +cold and relentless as death. He had heard strange stories of this man, +tales of desperate combats in Mississippi and Louisiana, and he believed +now that they were true. He could see the daring and determined soul +behind the blue eyes. + +While Ned was talking "Deaf" Smith was leaning forward with his hand +behind his ear. When the story was finished the dark face grew still +darker, but he said nothing. The others, too, were silent but Ned knew +their minds. It was a singular little company drawn from different +American states, some from the far north, but all alike in their +devotion to the vague region then known as Texas. + +"I think, Ned," said Bowie, "that you have served Texas well. We have +been divided among ourselves. Many have believed in propitiating Santa +Anna and Mexico, but how can you propitiate a tiger that is about to +devour you? We cannot trust Mexico, and we cannot trust Santa Anna. +Your message settles all doubt and gives us time to arm. Thank God we +refused to give up our rifles, because we are going to need them more +than anything else on earth. It was surely more than luck that brought +us this way. We came down here, Ned, on an expedition, half for hunting +and half for scouting, and we've found more than we expected. We must +start for Texas in the morning. Is it not so, boys?" + +"Yes," they answered all together. + +"Then, Ned," said Bowie, "you can tell your story to Sam Houston and all +our leaders, and I think I know what they will say. We are few, but +Santa Anna and all Mexico cannot ride over Texas. And now it's time for +you and Obed to go to sleep. I should think that after being chased +nearly a week you'd be glad to rest." + +"We are," said Obed, answering for them both, "and once more we want to +thank you. If you hadn't come the Lipans would certainly have got us." + +The night, as usual, was chilly, and Ned spread his blankets in front of +the fire. His saddle formed a pillow for his head, and with one blanket +beneath him, another above him, and the stalwart Texans all about him, +he felt a deep peace, nay more, a great surge of triumph. He had made +his way through everything. Santa Anna and Cos could not attack the +Texans, unwarned. Neither Mexicans nor Lipans, neither prisons nor +storms nor deserts had been able to stop him. + +After the triumphant leap of his blood the great peace possessed him +entirely. His mind and body relaxed completely. His eyelids drooped and +the flames danced before him. The figures of the men became dusky. +Sometimes he saw them and sometimes he did not. Then everything +vanished, and he fell into a long and sound sleep. + +While Ned and Obed slept, the Texans conferred earnestly. They knew that +every word Ned had told was true, and they felt that the trouble between +Texas and Mexico had now come to a head. It must be war. They were fully +aware of the fearful odds, but they did not believe the Texans would +flinch. Three or four rode a long distance around the camp and scouted +carefully. But, as they had expected, they saw no sign of the Lipans, +who undoubtedly were still fleeing southward, carrying in their hearts a +healthy fear of the long rifles of the Texans. + +After the scouts came back most of the men went to sleep, but Bowie and +"Deaf" Smith watched all through the night. Ned moved a little toward +the morning and displaced the blanket that lay over him. Bowie gently +put it back. + +"He's a good boy as well as a brave one," he said to Smith, "and we owe +him a lot." + +"Never a doubt of that," said Smith, "and he'll be with us in the coming +struggle." + +When Ned awoke the dawn was barely showing, but all the horses, +including his own, were saddled and ready. They ate a brief breakfast, +and then they galloped northward over a good country. They did not +trouble to look for the army of Cos, as they knew that it was coming and +it was their object to spread the alarm as soon as possible through all +the Texas settlements. Ned, refreshed and strong, was in the center of +the troop and he rode with a light heart. Obed was on one side of him, +and "Deaf" Smith on the other. + +"To-night," said Smith, "we water our horses in the Rio Grande." + +"And then ho for Texas!" said Obed. + +On they sped, their even pace unbroken until noon, when they made a +short rest for food and water. Then they sped north once more, Bowie, +Smith and Karnes leading the way. They said very little now, but every +one in the group was thinking of the scattered Texans, of the women and +children in the little cabins beyond the Rio Grande, harried already by +Comanches and Lipans and now threatened by a great Mexican force. They +had come from different states and often they were of differing +counsels, but a common danger would draw them together. It was +significant that Smith, the New Yorker, and Bowie, the Georgian, rode +side by side. + +All through the hot sun of the afternoon they rode on. Twilight found +them still riding. Far in the night they waded and swam the Rio Grande, +and the next morning they stood on the soil that now is Texas. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE RING TAILED PANTHER + + +Texas was then a vague and undetermined name in the minds of many. It +might extend to the Rio Grande or it might extend only to the Nueces, +but to most the Rio Grande was the boundary between them and Mexico. So +felt Ned and all his comrades. They were now on the soil which might own +the overlordship of Mexico, but for which they, the Texans, were +spending their blood. It was strange what an attachment they had for it, +although not one of them was born there. Beyond, in the outer world, +there was much arguing about the right or wrong of their case, but they +knew that they would have to fight for their lives, and for the homes +they had built in the wilderness on the faith of promises that had been +broken. That to them was the final answer and to people in such a +position there could be no other. + +The sight of Texas, green and fertile, with much forest along the +streams was very pleasant to Ned, and those rough frontiersmen in +buckskin who rode with him were the very men whom he had chosen. He had +been in a great city, and he had talked with men in brilliant uniforms, +but there everything seemed old, so far away in thought and manner from +the Texans, and he could never believe the words of the men in brilliant +uniforms. There, the land itself looked ancient and worn, but here it +was fresh and green, and men spoke the truth. + +They rode until nearly noon, when they stopped in a fine grove of oaks +and pecans by the side of a clear creek. The grass was also rich and +deep here, and they did not take the trouble to tether their horses. Ned +was exceedingly glad to dismount as he was stiff and sore from the long +ride, and he was also as hungry as a wolf. + +"Lay down on the grass, Ned, an' stretch yourself," said Karnes. "When +you're tired the best way to rest is to be just as lazy as you can be. +The ground will hold you up an' let your lungs do their own breathin'. +Don't you go to workin' 'em yourself." + +Ned thought it good advice and took it. It was certainly a great luxury +to make no physical exertion and just to let the ground hold him up, as +Karnes had said. Obed imitated his example, stretching himself out to +his great thin length on the soft turf. + +"Two are company and twenty are more so," he said, "especially if you're +in a wild country. My burden of care isn't a quarter as heavy since we +met Jim Bowie, and all the rest of these sure friends and sure shots. +This isn't much like San Juan de Ulua is it, Ned? You wouldn't like to +be back there." + +The boy looked up at the vast blue dome of the heavens, then he listened +a moment to the sigh of the free wind which came unchecked a thousand +miles and he replied with so much emphasis that his words snapped: + +"Not for worlds, Obed!" + +Obed White laughed and rolled over in the grass. + +"I do believe you mean that, Ned," he said, "and the sentiments that you +speak so well are also mine own." + +Smith and Karnes went a little distance up the creek, and found some +buffalo feeding. They shot a young cow, and in an incredibly short space +tender steaks were broiling over a fire. After dinner all but two went +to sleep. They understood well the old maxim that the more haste the +less speed, and that the sleep and rest through the hours of the +afternoon would make them fit for the long riding that was yet before +them. + +At five o'clock they were in the saddle again, and rode until midnight. +The next morning the party separated. The men were to carry the blazing +torch throughout the settlements, telling all the Texans that the +Mexicans were coming and that they were bringing war with them. But +Bowie, "Deaf" Smith and Karnes kept on with Ned and Obed. + +"We're taking you to Sam Houston," said Bowie to Ned. "He's to be the +general of all the Texan forces, we think, and we want you to tell him +what you've told us." + +They began now to see signs of settlements in the river bottoms where +the forests grew. There were stray little log cabins, almost hidden +among the oaks and pecans. Women and children came forth to see the +riders go by. The women were tanned like the men, and often they, too, +were clothed in buckskin. The children, bare of foot and head, seemed +half wild, but all, despite the sun, had the features of the Northern +races. + +Ned could not keep from waving his hand to them. These were his people, +and he was thankful that he should have so large a part in the attempt +to save them. But he only had fleeting glimpses because they rode very +fast now. He was going to Sam Houston, famous throughout all the +Southwest, and Houston was at one of the little new settlements some +distance away. He would tell his story again, but he knew that the +Texans were already gathering. The messengers detached from the group +had now carried the alarm to many a cabin. + +Several times at night they saw points of fire on the horizon and they +would pause to look at them. + +"That's the Texans signaling to one another," said "Deaf" Smith. +"They're passing the word westward. They're calling in the buffalo +hunters and those who went out to fight the Comanches and Lipans." + +Ned had alternations of hope and despondency. He saw anew how few the +Texans were. Their numbers could be counted only in thousands, while the +Mexicans had millions. Moreover, the tiny settlements were scattered +widely. Could such a thin force make a successful defense against the +armies of Cos and Santa Anna? But after every moment of despair, the +rebound came, and he saw that the spirit of the people was indomitable. + +At last, they rode into a straggling little village by the side of a +wide and shallow river. All the houses were built of logs or rough +boards, and Ned and his companions dismounted before the largest. They +had already learned that Sam Houston was inside. Ned felt intense +curiosity as they approached. He knew the history of Houston, his +singular and picturesque career, and the great esteem in which he was +held by the Texans. A man with a rifle on his shoulder stood by the door +as guard, but he recognized Smith and Karnes, and held the door open for +the four, who went inside without a word. + +Several men, talking earnestly were sitting in cane-bottomed chairs, and +Ned, although he had never seen him before, knew at once which was +Houston. The famous leader sat in the center of the little group. He was +over six feet high, very powerful of build, with thick, longish hair, +and he was dressed carefully in a suit of fine dark blue cloth. He rose +and saluted the four with great courtesy. Despite his long period of +wild life among the Indians his manners were distinguished. + +"We welcome you, Smith and Karnes, our faithful scouts," he said, "and +we also welcome those with you who, I presume, are the two escaped from +the City of Mexico." + +It was evident that the story of Ned and Obed had preceded them, but +Karnes spoke for them. + +"Yes, General," he said. "They are the men, or rather the man and the +boy. These are Obed White and Ned Fulton, General Houston." + +Houston's glance ran swiftly over them. Evidently he liked both, as he +smiled and gave each a hearty hand. + +"And now for your story," he said. + +Obed nodded toward Ned. + +"He's the one who saw it all," he said, "and he's the one who brings the +warning." + +Ned was a little abashed by the presence of Houston and the other +important Texans, but he told the tale once more rapidly and succinctly. +Every one listened closely. They were the chief members of the temporary +Texan government, but the room in which they met was all of the +frontier. Its floor was of rough boards. Its walls and ceilings were +unplastered. There was not a single luxury and not all of the +necessities. + +When Ned finished, Houston turned to the others and said quietly: + +"Gentlemen, we all know that this is war. I think there need be no +discussion of the point. It seems necessary to send out more messengers +gathering up every Texan who will fight. Do you agree with me?" + +All said yes. + +"I think, too," said Houston, "that Santa Anna may now send Mr. Austin +back to us. He does not know how well informed we are, and doubtless he +will believe that such an act will keep us in a state of blindness." + +"And you, my brave and resourceful young friend, what do you want to +do?" + +"Fight under you." + +Houston laughed and put his hand affectionately on the boy's shoulder. + +"I see that there is something of the courtier in you, too," he said. +"It is not a bad quality sometimes, and you shall have the chance that +you ask, later on. But meanwhile, you and Mr. White would better rest +here, a while. You may have some scouting and skirmishing to do first. +We must feel our way." + +Ned and Obed now withdrew, and received the hospitality of the little +town which was great, at least so far as food was concerned. They longed +for action, but the rest was really necessary. Both body and spirit were +preparing for greater deeds. Meanwhile, Houston, the scouts and the +Texan government went away, but Ned and Obed stayed, awaiting the call. +They knew that the signals had now passed through all Texas and they did +not think that they would have to remain there long. + +They heard soon that Houston's prediction in regard to Austin had come +true. Santa Anna had released him, and he had arrived in Texas. But he +had not been cajoled. His eyes had been opened at last to the designs of +the dictator and immediately upon his return to Texas he had warned his +countrymen in a great speech. Meanwhile, the army of Cos was approaching +San Antonio, preceded by the heralds of coming Texan ruin. + +Ned and Obed sat under the shade of some live oaks, when a horseman came +to the little village. He was a strange man, great in size, dressed in +buckskin, very brown of countenance and with long hair, tied as the +western Indians would wear it. He was something of a genial boaster, +was this man, and he was known up and down the Texas border as the Ring +Tailed Panther although his right name was Martin Palmer. But he had +lived long among the Osage, Kiowa and Pawnee Indians, and he was +renowned throughout all the Southwestern country for his bravery, skill +and eccentricity. An Indian had killed a white man and eaten his heart. +He captured the Indian and compelled him to eat until he died. When his +favorite bear dog died he rode sixty miles and brought a minister to +preach a sermon over his body. A little boy was captured on the +outskirts of a settlement by some Comanche Indians. He followed them +alone for three hundred miles, stole the boy away from them in the +night, and carried him back safely to his father and mother. + +Such was the Ring Tailed Panther, a name that he had originally given to +himself and which the people had adopted, one who boasted that he feared +no man, the boast being true. He was heavily armed and he rode a black +and powerful horse, which he directed straight toward the place where +Ned and Obed were sitting. + +"You are Ned Fulton an' Obed White, if report tells no lie?" he said in +a deep growling voice. + +"We are," said Ned, who did not know the identity of their formidable +visitor. + +"So I knew. I just wanted to see if you'd deny it. Glad to meet you, +gentlemen. As for me, I'm the Ring Tailed Panther." + +"The Ring Tailed Panther?" + +"Exactly. Didn't you hear me say so? I'm the Ring Tailed Panther, an' I +can whip anything livin', man or beast, lion or grizzly bear. That's why +I'm the Ring Tailed Panther." + +"Happy to know you, Mr. Ring Tailed Panther," said Ned, "and having no +quarrel with you we don't wish to fight you." + +The man laughed, his broad face radiating good humor. + +"And I don't want to fight you, either," he said, "'cause all of us have +got to fight somebody else. See here, your name's Obed an' yours is Ned, +and that's what I'm goin' to call you. No Mistering for me. It don't +look well for a Ring Tailed Panther to be givin' handles to people's +names." + +"Ned and Obed it is," said Ned with warmth. + +"Then, Ned an' Obed, it's Mexicans. I've been fightin' Indians a long +time. Besides bein' a Ring Tailed Panther, I'm three parts grizzly bear +an' one part tiger, an' I want you both to come with guns." + +"Is it fighting?" asked Ned, starting up. + +"It's ridin' first an' then fightin'. Our people down at Gonzales have a +cannon. The Mexicans are comin' to take it away from them, an' I think +there's goin' to be trouble over the bargain. The Texans got the gun as +a defense against the Indians an' they need it. Some of us are goin' +down there to take a hand in the matter of that gun, an' you are goin' +with us." + +"Of course we are!" said Ned and Obed together. In five minutes they +were riding, fully armed, with the Ring Tailed Panther over the prairie. +He gave them more details as they rode along. + +"Some of our people had been gatherin' at San Felipe to stop the march +of Cos if they could," he said, "but they've been drawn off now to help +Gonzales. They're comin' from Bastrop, too, an' other places, an' if +there ain't a fight then I'm the Ring Tailed Panther for nothing. If we +keep a good pace we can join a lot of the boys by nightfall." + +"We'll keep it," said Ned. The boy's heart was pounding. Somehow he felt +that an event of great importance was at hand, and he was glad to have a +share in it. But the three spoke little. The Panther led the way. Ned +saw that despite his boasting words he was a man of action. Certainly he +was acting swiftly now, and it was quite evident that he knew what he +was doing. At last he turned to Ned and said: + +"You're only a boy. You know what you're goin' into, of course?" + +"A fight, I think." + +"And you may get killed?" + +"I know it. One can't go into a fight without that risk." + +"You're a brave boy. I've heard of what you did, an' you don't talk +much. I'm glad of that. I can do all the talkin' that's needed by the +three of us. The Lord created me with a love of gab." + +The man spoke in a whimsical tone and Ned laughed. + +"You can have all my share of the talking, Mr. Palmer," he said. + +"The Ring Tailed Panther," corrected the man. "I told you not to be +Misterin' me. I like that name, the Ring Tailed Panther. It suits me, +because I fit an' I fight till they get me down, then I curl my tail an' +I take another round. Once in New Orleans I met a fellow who said he was +half horse, half alligator, that he could either claw to death the best +man living, stamp him to pieces or eat him alive. I invited him to do +any one of these things or all three of them to me." + +"What happened?" asked Ned. + +A broad smile passed over the man's brown face. + +"After they picked up the pieces an' put him back together," he said, "I +told him he might try again whenever he felt like it, but he said his +challenge was directed to human beings, not to Ring Tailed Panthers. Him +an' me got to be great friends an' he's somewhere in Texas now. I may +run acrost him before our business with the Mexicans is over, which I +take it is goin' to last a good while." + +It was now late in the afternoon, and dismounting at a clump of trees +the Panther lighted the end of a dead stick and waved the torch around +his head many times. + +"Watch there in the west for another light like this," he said. + +Ned, who sat on his horse, was the first to see the faint circling light +far down under the horizon. It was so distant that he could not have +seen it had he not been looking for it, but when he pointed it out the +Panther ceased to whirl his own torch. + +"It's some friends," he said, "an' they're answerin'. They're sayin' +that they've seen us an' that they're waitin'. When they get through +we'll say that we understan' an' are comin'." + +The whirling torch on the horizon stopped presently. The Panther whirled +his own for half a minute, then he sprang back upon his horse and the +three rode rapidly forward. + +The sight of the lights sparkling in the twilight so far across the +prairie thrilled Ned. He felt that he was in very truth riding to a +fight as the Panther had said. Perhaps it was a part of the force of Cos +that was coming to Gonzales. Cos himself had turned from the land route +with a part of his force and, coming by sea, had landed at Copano about +two weeks before. Ned, having full cause, hated this brutal man, and he +hoped that the Texans would come to grips with him. + +The night was at hand when they reached four men sitting on horseback +and waiting for them. They greeted the Ring Tailed Panther with few +words but with warmth. They gave to Ned and Obed, too, the strong +handclasp which men in danger give to friends who come. Ned thrilled +once more with pride that he should be associated with heroes in great +deeds. Such they undoubtedly were to him. + +"The Mexicans will be at Gonzales to-morrow," said one of the men. "The +place, as you know, has refused to give up its cannon and has defied +them, but it's almost bare of men. I don't think they have a dozen +there." + +"The battle is generally to the strong if they get there in time," said +Obed, "and here are seven of us on good horses." + +"Not countin' the fact that one of us is a Ring Tailed Panther with +claws a foot long an' two sets of teeth in his mouth," said Palmer. +"Ride on, boys, an' ride hard." + +They urged their horses into a gallop and sped over the prairie. At +midnight they clattered into the tiny village of Gonzales on the +Guadalupe River, where everybody except the little children was awake +and watching. Lights flared from the cabins, and the alarm at first, +lest they were Mexicans, changed to joy when they were disclosed as +Texans. + +But the armed force of the place, though stout of heart, was pitifully +small. They found only eleven men in Gonzales capable of bearing arms, +and no more help could be expected before the Mexicans came the next +day. But eleven and seven make eighteen, and now that they were joined, +and communicating spirit and hope to one another, the eighteen were more +than twice as strong as the eleven had been. The Ring Tailed Panther +poured forth a stream of cheer and encouragement. He grew more voluble +at the approach of danger. Never had his teeth and claws been longer or +sharper. + +"I'm afraid of nothin' except that they won't come," he said. "If they +don't, my health will give way. I'll be a-droopin' an' a-pinin' an' I'll +have to go off an' fight the Comanches an' Lipans to get back my +strength." + +But he was assured that his health would not suffer. Mexican cavalry, a +hundred strong, were coming under a captain, Castenada, sent by +Ugartchea, the Mexican commander at San Antonio de Bexar. Scouts had +brought that definite news. They were riding from the west and they +would have to cross the Guadalupe before they could enter Gonzales. +There were fords, but it would be a dangerous task to attempt their +passage in face of the Texan rifles. + +The ferryboat was tied safely on the Gonzales side, and then the +eighteen, every one a fine marksman, distributed themselves at the +fords. Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther stayed together. They did +not anticipate the arrival of the Mexican forces before dawn, but +Castenada might send spies ahead, and the Mexican scouts were full of +wiles and stratagems. + +"At any rate," said the Panther, "if we catch any Mexican prowling +around here we'll throw him into the river." + +"All things, including Mexicans, come to him who waits," said Obed, "and +speaking for myself I'd rather they wouldn't come until day. It's more +comfortable to sit quiet in the dark." + +These three and six others had taken a position under a great oak tree, +where they were well shaded but could easily see anyone who approached +the ford on the opposite side. Back of them a few lights burned in the +little town, where the anxious women watched, but no noise came from it +or the second ford, where the other half of the eighteen were on guard. +Their horses were tethered some distance in the rear and they, too, +rested in quiet. + +The tree sent up a great gnarled root and Ned sat on the ground, leaning +against it. It just fitted into the curve of his back and he was very +comfortable. But he did not allow his comfort to lull him into lethargy. +Always he watched the river and the farther shore. He had now become no +mean scout and sentinel. The faculties develop fast amid the continuous +fight for life against all kinds of dangers. Above all, that additional +sense which may be defined as prescience, and, which was a development +of the other five, was alive within him, ready to warn him of a hostile +presence. + +But Ned neither saw nor heard anything, nor did his sixth sense warn him +that an enemy was near. The Guadalupe, wide, yellow and comparatively +shallow like most of the Texas rivers, flowed slowly and without sound. +Now and then Obed and the Panther walked down to the other ford, where +all, too, was quiet, but Ned kept his place against the root. Toward +morning the Panther sat down beside him there. + +"Waitin's hard," he said. "I like to jump on the enemy with claws an' +nails an' have it out right there an' then. I like to roar an' bite. +That's why I'm a Ring Tailed Panther." + +Ned laughed. + +"If Castenada is coming, and they say he surely is," he said, "we'll +soon have use for all our claws and teeth." + +"Patience will bring our Mexicans," said Obed White. + +At daylight women from the cabins brought them all coffee and warm food, +for which they were very grateful. Then the sun rose, and the morning +was fresh and crisp, it now being autumn. The men remained by the +river, still watching intently and Ned caught a sudden sharp glint which +was not that of the sun, far out on the prairie. He knew that it was a +brilliant ray reflected from the polished head of a lance, and he said +as he pointed a finger: + +"The Mexicans are coming." + +"So they are," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "I see a horseman, an' +another, an' another, an' now a lot of 'em. They must be a hundred at +least. It's the troop of Castenada, an' they're after that cannon. Well, +I'm glad." + +The man seemed to swell and his eyes darkened. He was like some +formidable beast about to spring. The boaster was ready to make good his +boast. + +"Run down to the other ford, Ned," said Palmer, "an' tell the men there +that the Mexicans are at hand." + +Ned did his errand, but returned very quickly. He was anxious to see the +advance of Castenada's troop. The Mexicans, about half of whom were +lancers and the rest armed with muskets, came on very steadily. An +officer in fine uniform, whom Ned took to be Castenada himself, rode at +their head. When they came within rifle shot a white flag was hoisted on +a lance. + +"A white flag! This is no time for white flags," growled the Ring Tailed +Panther. "Never have any faith in a Mexican comin' under a white flag. +What we've got to do now is to roar an' rip an' claw." + +"Still," said Obed, "it's evil to him who evil does, and we've got to +wait till these Mexicans do it. First we've got to hear what they say, +and if the saying isn't to our liking, as I'm thinking it won't be, then +it's ripping and roaring and clawing and all the other 'ings' to our +taste as long as we can stand it." + +"Go ahead," growled the Ring Tailed Panther, "I'm not much on talkin'. +Fightin's more in my line an' when it's that I come with a hop, a skip +an' a jump, teeth an' claws all ready." + +"Ned," said Obed, "you speak the best Spanish, so go down there to the +bank of the river, and hear what they have to say. Just remember that +we're not giving up the cannon, and clothe the answers in what fine +words you please. There isn't any rock here, but sooner this rock shall +fly from its firm base than the Texans will yield their cannon when they +are sure to be attacked by Indians and maybe Mexicans too." + +Ned walked down to the edge of the river and the officer, whom he +rightly supposed to be Castenada, dismounting, came to the shore at an +opposite point. + +"What do you want?" cried Ned in pure Spanish across the water. + +"Are you empowered to speak for the people of Gonzales?" + +"You hear me speaking and you see the other Texans listening." + +"Then I have to say that on the order of General Cos I demand your +cannon in the name of General Santa Anna and Mexico." + +"We've made up our minds to keep it. We're sure to need it later on." + +"This is insolent. If you do not give it we shall come and take it." + +"Tell him, Ned," growled the Ring Tailed Panther, "that we just hope +he'll come an' try to take it, that I'm here roarin' all the time, that +I've filed my teeth an' nails 'till they're like the edge of a razor, +an' that I'm just hungerin' to rip an' claw." + +"The men of Gonzales mean to defend their cannon and themselves," +called Ned across the river. "If you come to take the gun it means war. +It means more, too. It means that you will lose many of your soldiers. +The Texans, as you know, are both able and willing to shoot." + +"This is rebellion and treason!" cried Castenada. "The great Santa Anna +will come with a mighty force, and when he is through not a Texan will +trouble the surface of the earth." + +A roar of approval came from the men behind the Mexican captain, but Ned +replied: + +"Until the earth is rid of us we may make certain spots of it dangerous +for you. So, I warn you to draw back. Our bullets carry easily across +this river." + +Captain Castenada, white with rage, retired with his troop beyond the +range of the Texan rifles. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE FIRST GUN + + +"Well, Ned, it's sometimes ask and ye shall not receive, isn't it?" said +Obed White, looking at the retreating Mexicans. + +But the Ring Tailed Panther growled between his shut teeth. Then he +opened his mouth and gave utterance to his dissatisfaction. + +"It's a cheat, a low Mexican trick," he said, "to come here an' promise +a fight an' then go away. I'm willin' to bet my claws that them Mexicans +will hang around here two or three days, without tryin' to do a thing." + +"An' won't that be all the better for us?" asked Ned. "We're only +eighteen and we surely need time for more." + +"That's so," admitted the Ring Tailed Panther, "but when you've got all +your teeth and claws sharpened for a fight you want it right then an' +not next week." + +The Mexicans tethered their horses and began to form camp about a half +mile from the river. They went about it deliberately, spreading tents +for their officers and lighting fires for cooking. The Texans could see +them plainly and the Mexicans showed the carelessness and love of +pleasure natural to children of the sun. Some lay down on the grass and +three or four began to strum mandolins and guitars. + +There was a sterner manner on the Texan side of the Guadalupe. The watch +at the fords was not relaxed, but Ned went back into the little town to +carry the word to the women and children. Most of the women, like the +men, were dressed in deerskin and they, too, volunteered to fight if +they were needed. Ned told them what Castenada had asked, and he also +told them the reply which was received with grim satisfaction. The women +were even more bitter than the men against the Mexicans. + +Ned passed a long day by the Guadalupe, keeping his place most of the +time at the ford with the Ring Tailed Panther, who was far less patient +than he. + +"My teeth an' claws will shorely get dull with me a-settin' here an' +doin' nothin'," said Palmer. "I can roar an' I can keep on roarin' but +what's the good of roarin' when you can't do any bitin' an' tearin'?" + +"Patience will have its perfect fight," said Obed, giving one of his +misquotations. "I've always heard that every kind of panther would lie +very quiet until the chance came for him to spring." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled between his shut teeth. + +The sight of the Mexican force in the afternoon became absolutely +tantalizing. Although it was early autumn the days were still very hot +at times and Castenada's men were certainly taking their ease. Ned could +see many of them enjoying the siesta, and through a pair of glasses he +saw others lolling luxuriously and smoking cigarettes. It was especially +irritating to the Ring Tailed Panther, who grew very red in the face but +who now only emitted growls between his shut teeth. + +It was evident that the Mexicans were going to make no demonstration +just yet and the night came, rather dark and cloudy. Now the anxiety in +Gonzales increased since the night can be cover for anything, and, +besides guarding the fords, several of the defenders were placed at +intermediate points. + +Ned took a station with Obed in a clump of oaks that grew to the very +edge of the Guadalupe. There they sat a long time and watched the +surface of the river grow darker and darker. The Mexican camp had been +shut from sight long since, and no sounds now came from it. Ned +appreciated fully the need of a close watch. The Mexicans might swim the +river on their horses in the darkness, and gallop down on the town. So +he never ceased to watch, and he also listened with ears which were +rapidly acquiring the delicacy and sensitiveness peculiar to those of +expert frontiersmen. + +Ned was not warlike in temper. He knew, from his reading, all the waste +and terrible passions of war, but he was heart and soul with the Texans. +He was one of them, and to him the coming struggle was a fight for home +and liberty by an oppressed people. With the ardor of youth flaming in +him he was willing for that struggle to begin at once. + +Night on the Guadalupe! He felt that the darkness was full of omens and +presages for Texas and for him, too, a boy among its defenders. His +pulses quivered, and a light moisture broke out on his face. His +prescience, the gift of foresight, was at work. It was telling him that +the time, in very truth, had come. Yet he could not see or hear a single +thing that bore the remotest resemblance to an enemy. + +The boy stepped from a clump of trees in order that he might get a +better look down the river. There was a crack on the farther shore, a +flash of fire, and a bullet sang past his ear. He caught a hasty glimpse +of a Mexican with a smoking rifle leaping to cover, and he, too, sprang +back into the shelter of the trees. + +It was the first shot of the great Texan struggle for independence! + +Ned felt all of its significance even then, and so did Obed. + +"You saw him?" asked the Maine man. + +"I did, and I felt the breath of his bullet on my face, but he gained +cover too quick for me to return his fire." + +"The first shot was theirs and it was at you. It seems odd, Ned, that +you should have been used as a target for the opening of the war." + +"I'm proud of the honor." + +"So would I be in your place." + +Others came, drawn by the shot. + +"Was it a Mexican?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther eagerly. "Tell me it +was a Mexican and make me happy." + +"You can be happy," said Obed. "It was a Mexican and he was shooting +with what the law would define as an intent to kill. He sent a rifle +bullet across the Guadalupe, aimed at our young friend, Edward Fulton. +Ned did not see the bullet, but his sensitiveness to touch showed that +it passed within an inch of his face." + +Now the Ring Tailed Panther roared, but it was not between his shut +teeth. + +"By the great horn spoon, I'm glad!" he said, "All the waitin' an' +backin' an' fillin' are over. We do our talkin' now with cannon an' +rifles." + +But not another shot was fired that night. It was merely some scout or +skirmisher who had sent the fugitive bullet across the river, but it was +enough. The Mexican intentions were now evident. + +Ned went off duty toward morning and slept a few hours in one of the +cabins. When he awoke he ate a hearty breakfast and went back to the +river. About half of the eighteen had taken naps, but they were all +gathered once more along the Guadalupe. Ned observed the Mexican camp +and saw some movement there. Presently all the soldiers rode out, with +Castenada at their head. + +"They're comin' to our ford! By the great horn spoon, they are comin'!" +roared the Ring Tailed Panther. + +It seemed that he was right as the Mexicans were approaching at a +gallop, making a gallant show, their lances glittering in the sun. + +"Lay down, all!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "The moment they strike +the water turn loose with your rifles an' roar an' scratch an' claw!" + +But when they were within one hundred yards of the Guadalupe the +Mexicans suddenly sheered off. Evidently they did not like the looks of +the Texan rifles which they could plainly see. The defenders of the +fords uttered a derisive shout, and some of the Mexicans fired. But +their bullets fell short, only a single one of them coming as far as the +edge of the Guadalupe. The Texans did not reply. They would not waste +ammunition in any such foolish fashion. + +The Mexicans stopped, when four or five hundred yards away, and began to +wave their lances and utter taunting shouts. The Texans only laughed, +all except the Ring Tailed Panther, who growled. + +"You see, Ned," said Obed, "that one charge does not make a passage. It +appears to me that our friend Castenada does not want his uniform or +himself spoiled by our good Texas lead. Now, I take it, we can rest easy +awhile longer." + +He lay down in the grass under the trees and Ned did likewise, but the +Ring Tailed Panther would not be consoled. An opportunity had been lost, +and he hurled strange and miscellaneous epithets at the distant +Mexicans. Standing upon a little hillock he called them more bad names +than Ned had ever before heard. He aspersed the character of their +ancestors even to the eighth generation and of their possible +descendants also to the eighth generation. He issued every kind of +challenge to any kind of combat, and at last, red and panting, descended +the hillock. + +"Do you feel better?" asked Obed. + +"I've whispered a few of my thoughts. Yes, I can re'lly say that the +state of my health is improvin'." + +"Then sit down and rest. It's never too late to try, try again. Remember +that the day is long and the Mexicans may certainly have a chance." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but sat down. + +In the afternoon the Mexicans again formed in line and trotted down +toward the other ford, but as before they did not like the look of the +Texan rifles and turned away, after shouting many challenges, +brandishing lances and firing random shots. But the Texans contented +themselves again with a grim silence, and the Mexicans rode back to +their camp. The disgust of the Ring Tailed Panther was so deep that he +could not utter a word. But Obed was glad. + +"More men will come to-night," he said to Ned. "You know that requests +for help were sent in all directions by the people of Gonzales, and if I +know our Texans, and I think I do, they'll ride hard to be here. +Castenada, in a way, is besieging us now, but--well, the tables may be +turned and he'll turn with 'em." + +Just at twilight a great shout arose from the women in the village. +There was a snorting of horses, a jingling of spurs and embroidered +bridle reins, and twenty lean, brown men, very tall and broad of +shoulder, rode up. They were the vanguard of the Texan help, and they +rejoiced when they found that the Mexican force was still on the west +side of the Guadalupe. + +Their welcome was not noisy but deep. The eighteen were now the +thirty-eight, and to-morrow they would be a hundred or more. The twenty +had ridden more than a hundred miles, but they were fresh and zealous +for the combat. They went down to the river, and, in the darkness, +looked at the Mexican camp fires, while the Ring Tailed Panther roared +out his opinion. + +"The Mexicans won't bring the fight to us," he said, "so we must carry +it to them. They've galloped down here twice an' they've looked at the +river an' they've looked at us, an' they've galloped back again. We +can't let 'em set over there besiegin' us, we must cross an' besiege +them an' get to roarin' an' rippin' an' clawin'." + +"To-morrow," said Obed, "more of our friends will be here and when we +all get together we will discuss it and make a decision." + +"Of course we'll discuss it!" roared the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' then +we'll come to a decision, an' there's only one decision that we can come +to. We'll cross the river an' mighty quick we'll make them Mexicans wish +they'd chose a camp a hundred miles from Gonzales." + +The others laughed, but after all, the Ring Tailed Panther had stated +their position truly. Every man agreed with him. The watch at the river +that night was as vigilant as ever, and the next morning parties of +Texans arrived from different points, swelling their numbers to more +than one hundred and fifty men, fully equaling the company of Castenada, +after allowing for reinforcements received by the Mexican captain. + +With one of the Texan troops came a quiet man of confident bearing, +dressed like the others in buckskin, but with more authority in his +manner. The Ring Tailed Panther greeted him with great warmth, shaking +his hand and saying: + +"John! John! We're awful glad you've come 'cause there's to be a lot of +roarin' an' tearin' an' clawin' to be done." + +The man smiled and replied in his quiet tones: + +"We know it and that's why we've come. Now, I suggest that while we +leave ten men at each ford, we hold a meeting in the village. Everything +we have is at stake and as one Texan is as good as another we ought to +talk it over." + +"Who is he?" asked Ned of Obed. + +"That's John Moore. He's been a great Indian fighter and one of the +defenders of the frontier. I think it likely that he'll be our leader in +whatever we undertake. He's certainly the man for the place." + +"Oyez! Oyez!" roared the Ring Tailed Panther with mouth wide open. "Come +all ye upon the common, an' hear the case of Texas against Mexico which +is now about to be debated. The gentlemen representin' the other side +are on the west shore of the river about a mile from here, an' after +decidin' upon our argyment an' the manner of it we'll communicate it to +'em later whether they like our decision or not." + +They poured upon the common in a tumultuous throng, the women and +children forming a continuous fringe about them. + +"I move that John Moore be made the Chairman of this here meetin' an' +the leader in whatever it decides to do, 'specially as we know already +what it's goin' to decide," roared the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' +wherever he leads we will follow." + +Ned said nothing, but his pulses were leaping. Perhaps the silent boy +appreciated more than any other present that this was the beginning of +a great epic in the American story. The young student, his head filled +with completed dramas of the past, could look further into the future +than the veteran men of action around him. + +The debate was short. In truth it was no debate at all, because all were +of one mind. Since the Mexicans had already fired upon them and would +not go away they would cross the river and attack Castenada. As Obed had +predicted, Moore was unanimously chosen leader, the title of Colonel +being bestowed upon him, and they set to work at once for the attack. + +Ned and Obed walked together to the cluster of oaks in which the two had +spent so much time. Both were grave, appreciating fully the fact that +they were about to go into battle. + +"Ned," said Obed, "you and I have been through a lot of dangers together +and we're not afraid to talk about dangers to come. In case anything +should happen to you is there any word you want sent anybody?" + +"To nobody except Mr. Austin. He's been very good to me here and in +Mexico. I suppose I've got some relatives in Missouri, but they are so +distant I've forgotten who they are, and probably they never knew +anything about me. If it's the other way about, Obed, what word shall I +send?" + +"Nothing to nobody. I had a stepfather in Maine, who didn't like me, and +my mother died five years after her second marriage. I'm a Texan, Ned, +same as if I were born on this soil, and my best friends are around me. +I'll live and die with 'em." + +The two, the man and the boy, shook hands, but made no further display +of feeling. The force was organized in the village, beyond the sight of +the Mexicans, who were lounging in the grass, although they had posted +sentinels. Every Texan was well armed, carrying a rifle, pistol and +knife. Some had in addition the Indian tomahawk. + +It was the first day of October and the coolness of late afternoon had +come. A fresh breeze was blowing from the southwest. The little command, +silent save for the hoof beats of their horses, rode down to the river. +The women and children looked after them and they, too, were silent. A +strange Indian stoicism possessed them all. + +Ned and Obed were side by side. The breeze cooled the forehead and +cheeks of the boy, but his pulses beat hard and fast. He looked back at +Gonzales and he knew that he would never forget that little village of +little log cabins. Then he looked straight before him at the yellow +river, and the shore beyond, where the Mexican camp lay. + +It was now seven o'clock and the twilight was coming. + +"Isn't it late to make an attack?" he said to Obed. + +"It depends on what happens. Circumstances alter battles. If we surprise +them there'll be time for a fine fight. If they discover our advance it +may be better to wait until morning." + +They rode into the water twenty abreast, and made for the farther shore. +So many horses made much splashing, and Ned expected bullets, but none +came. Dripping, they reached the farther shore and went straight toward +the Mexican camp. Then came sudden shouts, the flash of rifles and the +singing of bullets. The Mexican sentinels had discovered the Texan +advance. + +Moore ordered his men to halt, and then he held a short conference with +the leaders. It was very late, and they would postpone the attack until +morning. Hence, they tethered their horses in sight of the Mexican camp, +set many sentinels and deliberately began to cook their suppers. + +It was all very strange and unreal to Ned. Having started for a battle +it was battle he wanted at once and the wait of a night rested heavily +upon his nerves. + +"Take it easy, Ned," said Obed, who observed him. "Willful haste makes +woeful fight. Eat your supper and then you'd better lie down and sleep +if you can. I'd rather go on watch toward morning if I were you, because +if anything happens in the night it will happen late." + +Ned considered it good advice and he lay down in his blankets, having +been notified that he would be called at one o'clock in the morning to +take his turn. Once more he exerted will to the utmost in the effort to +control nerves and body. He told himself that he was now surrounded by +friends, who would watch while he slept, and that he could not be +surprised. Slumber came sooner than he had hoped, but at the appointed +hour he was awakened and took his place among the sentinels. + +Ned found the night cold and dark, but he shook off the chill by +vigorous walking to and fro. He discovered, however, that he could not +see any better by use, as the darkness was caused by mists rather than +clouds. Vapors were rising from the prairie, and objects, seen through +them, assumed thin and distorted shapes. He saw west of him and +immediately facing him flickering lights which he knew were those of the +Mexican camp. The heavy air seemed to act as a conductor of sound, and +he heard faintly voices and the tread of horses' hoofs. They were on +watch there, also. + +He walked back and forth a long time, and the air continued to thicken. +A heavy fog was rising from the prairie, and it became so dense that he +could no longer see the fires in the Mexican camp. Everything there was +shut out from the eye, but he yet heard the faint noises. + +It seemed to him toward four o'clock in the morning that the noises were +increasing, and curiosity took hold of him. But the sentinel on the left +and the sentinel on the right were now hidden by the fog, and, since he +could not confer with them at once, he resolved to see what this +increase of noise meant. + +He cocked his rifle and stole forward over the prairie. He could not see +more than ten or fifteen yards ahead, but he went very near to the +Mexican camp, and then lay down in the grass. Now he saw the cause of +the swelling sounds. The Mexican force, gathering up its arms and +horses, was retreating. + +Ned stole back to the camp with his news. + +"You have done well, Ned, lad," said Moore. "I think it likely, however, +that they are merely withdrawing to a stronger position, but they can't +escape us. We'll follow 'em, and since they wanted that cannon so badly +we'll give 'em a taste of it." + +The cannon, a six-pounder, had been brought over on the ferryboat in the +night and was now in the Texan camp. + +"Ned," said Moore, "do you, Obed and the Panther ride after those +fellows and see what they do. Then come back and report." + +It was a dangerous duty, but the three responded gladly. They advanced +cautiously through the fog and the Ring Tailed Panther roared softly. + +"Runnin' away?" he said. "I'd be ashamed to come for a cannon an' then +to slink off with tail droopin' like a cowardly coyote. By the great +horn spoon, I hope they are merely seekin' a better position an' will +give us a fight. It would be a mean Mexican trick to run clean away." + +"The Mexicans are not cowards," said Ned. + +"Depends on how the notion strikes 'em," said the Panther. "Sometimes +they fight like all creation an' sometimes they hit it for the high +grass an' the tall timber. There's never any tellin' what they'll do." + +"Hark!" said Obed, "don't you hear their tramp there to our left?" + +The three stopped and listened, and they detected sounds which they knew +were made by the retreating force. But they could see nothing through +the heavy white fog which covered everything like a blanket of snow. + +"Suppose we ride parallel with them," whispered Ned. "We can go by the +sounds and by the same means we can tell exactly what they do." + +"A good idea," said Obed. "We are going over prairie which affords easy +riding. We've got nothing to fear unless some lamb strays from the +Mexican flock, and blunders upon us. Even then he's more likely to be +shorn than to shear." + +They advanced for some time, guided by the hoofbeats from the Mexican +column. But before the sun could rise and dispel the fog the sound of +the hoofbeats ceased. + +"They've stopped," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther, joyously. "After +all they're not goin' to run away an' they will give us a fight. They +are expectin' reinforcements of course, or they wouldn't make a stand." + +"But we must see what kind of a position they have taken up," said Obed. +"Seeing is telling and you know that when we get back to Colonel Moore +we've got to tell everything, or we might as well have stayed behind." + +"You're the real article, all wool an' a yard wide, Obed White," said +the Ring Tailed Panther. "Now I think we'd better hitch our horses here +to these bushes an' creep as close as we can without gettin' our heads +knocked off. They might hear the horses when they wouldn't hear us." + +"Good idea," said Obed White. "Nothing risk, nothing see." + +They tethered the horses to the low bushes, marking well the place, as +the heavy, white fog was exceedingly deceptive, distorting and +exaggerating when it did not hide. Then the three went forward, side by +side. Ned looked back when he had gone a half dozen yards, and already +the horses were looming pale and gigantic in the fog. Three or four +steps more and they were gone entirely. + +But they heard the sounds again in front of them, although they were now +of a different character. They were confined in one place, which showed +that the Mexicans had not resumed their march, and the tread of horses' +hoofs was replaced by a metallic rattle. It occurred to Ned that the +Mexicans might be intrenching and he wondered what place of strength +they had found. + +The boy had the keenest eyes of the three and presently he saw a dark, +lofty shape, showing faintly through the fog. It looked to him like an +iceberg clothed in mist, and he called the attention of his comrades to +it. They went a little nearer, and the Ring Tailed Panther laughed low +between his shut teeth. + +"We'll have our fight," he said, "an' these Mexicans won't go back to +Cos as fine as they were when they started. The tall an' broad thing +that you see is a big mound on the prairie an' they're goin' to make a +stand on it. It ain't a bad place. A hundred Texans up there could beat +off a thousand Mexicans." + +They went a little nearer and saw that a fringe of bushes surrounded the +base of the mound. Further up the Mexicans were digging in the soft +earth with their lances as best they could and throwing up a breastwork. +The horses had been tethered in the bushes. Evidently they felt sure +that they would be attacked by the Texans. They knew the nature of these +riders of the plains. + +"I think we've seen enough," said Obed. "We'll go back now to Colonel +Moore and the men." + +They found their horses undisturbed and were about to gallop back to the +main body with the news that the Mexicans were on the mound, when some +Mexican sentinels saw them and uttered a shout. The three exchanged +shots with them but knowing that a strong force would be upon them in an +instant returned to their original intention and went at full speed +toward the camp. It was lucky that the fog still held, as the pursuing +bullets went wide, but Ned heard more than one sing. The Mexicans showed +courage and followed the three until they reached the Texan camp. As Ned +and his comrades dismounted they shouted that the Mexicans were on a +hill not far away and were fortifying. + +Moore promptly had his men run forward that bone of contention, the +cannon, and a solid shot was sent humming toward those who had pursued +the three. The heavy report came back in sullen echoes from the prairie, +and the stream of fire split the fog asunder. But in a moment the mists +and vapors closed in again, and the Mexicans were gone. Then the little +army stood for a few moments, motionless, but breathing heavily. The +cannon shot had made the hearts of everyone leap. They were inured to +Indian battle and every kind of danger, but this was a great war. + +"Boys," said Moore, "we are here and the enemy is before us." + +A deep shout from broad chests and powerful lungs came forth. Then by a +single impulse the little army rushed forward, led by Ned, Obed and the +Ring Tailed Panther, who took them straight toward the mound. As they +ran, the great Texan sun proved triumphant. It seemed to cleave the fog +like a sword blade, and then the mists and vapors rolled away on either +side, to right and to left of the Texans. The whole plain, dewy and +fresh, sprang up in the light of the morning. + +They saw the steep mound crowned by the Mexicans, and men still at work +on the hasty trench. Again that full-throated cheer came from the Texans +and they quickened their pace, but Captain Castenada came down from the +mound and a soldier came with him bearing a white flag. + +"Now, what in thunder can he want?" growled the Ring Tailed Panther to +Ned and Obed. "Shorely he ain't goin' to surrender. He's jest goin' to +waste our time in talk." + +Deep disgust showed on his face. + +"By waiting we will see," quoth Obed oracularly. "Now, Panther, don't +you be too impatient. Remember that the tortoise beat the hare in the +great Greek horse race." + +Moore waved his hand and the Texans halted. Castenada on foot came on. +Moore also dismounted, and, calling to Ned and Obed to accompany him, +went forward to meet him. Ned and Obed, delighted, sprang from their +horses, and walked by his side. The Ring Tailed Panther growled between +his teeth that he was glad to stay, that he would have no truck with +Mexicans. + +Castenada, with the soldier beside him, came forward. He was rather a +handsome young man of the dark type. As the two little parties met midway +between the lines, the forces on the hill and on the plain were alike +silent. Every trace of the fog was now gone, and the sun shone with full +splendor upon brown faces, upon rifles and lances. + +Castenada saluted in Mexican fashion. + +"What do you want?" he asked in Spanish, which all understood. + +"Your surrender," replied Moore coolly, "either that or the sworn +adherence of you and your men to Texas." + +Castenada uttered an angry exclamation. + +"This is presumption carried to the last degree," he said. "My own honor +and the honor of Mexico will not allow me to do either." + +"It is that or fight." + +"I bid you beware. General Cos is coming with a force that all Texas +cannot resist, and after him comes our great Santa Anna with another yet +greater. If the Texans make war they will be destroyed. The buffalo will +feed where their houses now stand." + +"You have already made war. Accept our terms or fight. We deal with you +now. We deal with Cos and Santa Anna later on." + +"There is nothing more to be said," replied Castenada with haughtiness. +"We are here in a strong position and you cannot take us." + +He withdrew and Moore turned back with Ned and Obed. + +"I don't think he ever meant this parley for anything except to gain +time," said Moore. "He's expecting a fresh Mexican force, but we'll see +that it comes too late." + +Then raising his voice, he shouted to his command: + +"Boys, they've chosen to fight, and they are there on the hill. A man +cannot rush that hill with his horse, but he can rush it with his two +legs." + +The face of the Ring Tailed Panther became a perfect full moon of +delight. Then he paled a little. + +"Do you think there can yet be any new trick to hold us back?" he asked +Obed anxiously. + +"No," replied Obed cheerfully. "Time and tide wait for no Mexicans, and +the tide's at the flood. We charge within a minute." + +Even as he spoke, Moore shouted: + +"Now, boys, rush 'em!" + +For the third time the Texans uttered that deep, rolling cheer. The +cannon sent a volley of grape shot into the cluster on the mound and +then the Texans rushed forward at full speed, straight at the enemy. + +The Mexicans opened a rapid fire with rifles and muskets and the whole +mound was soon clothed in smoke. But the rush of the Texans was so great +that in an instant they were at the first slope. They stopped to send in +a volley and then began the rush up the hill, but there was no enemy. + +The Mexicans gave way in a panic at the very first onset, ran down the +slope to their horses, leaped upon them and galloped away over the +prairie. Many threw away their rifles and lances, and, bending low on +the necks of their horses, urged them to greater speed. + +Ned had been in the very front of the rush, Obed on one side and the +Ring Tailed Panther on the other. His heart was beating hard and there +was a fiery mist before his eyes. He heard the bullets whiz past, but +once more Providence was good to him. None touched him, and when the +first tremors were over he was as eager as any of them to reach the +crest of the mound, and come to grips with the enemy. Suddenly he heard +a tremendous roar of disgust. The Ring Tailed Panther was the author of +it. + +"Escaped after all!" he cried. "They wouldn't stay an' fight, when they +promised they would!" + +"At least, the Mexicans ride well," said Obed. + +Ned gazed from the crest of the mound at the flying men, rapidly +becoming smaller and smaller as they sped over the prairie. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE COMING OF URREA + + +Many of the Texans were hot for pursuit, but Moore recalled them. His +reasons were brief and grim. "You will not overtake them," he said, "and +you will need all your energies later on. This is only the beginning." + +A number of the Mexicans had been slain, but none of the Texans had +fallen, the aim of their opponents being so wild. The triumph had +certainly been an easy one, but Ned perhaps rejoiced less than any other +one present. The full mind again projected itself into the future, and +foresaw great and terrible days. The Texans were but few, scattered +thinly over a long frontier, and the rage of Cos and Santa Anna would be +unbounded, when they heard of the fight and flight of their troops at +Gonzales. + +"Obed," he said to his friend, "we are victorious to-day without loss, +but I feel that dark days are coming." + +The Maine man looked curiously at the boy. He already considered Ned, +despite his youth, superior in some ways to himself. + +"You've been a reader and you're a thinker, Ned," he said, "and I like +to hear what you say. The dark days may come as you predict, because +Santa Anna is a great man in the Mexican way, but night can't come until +the day is ended and it's day just now. We won't be gloomy yet." + +After the fallen Mexicans had been buried, the little force of voluntary +soldiers began to disperse, just as they had gathered, of their own +accord. The work there was done, and they were riding for their own +little villages or lone cabins, where they would find more work to do. +The Mexicans would soon fall on Texas like a cloud, and every one of +them knew it. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther rode back to Gonzales, where the +women and children welcomed the victors with joyous acclaim. + +The three sat down with others to a great feast, spread on tables under +the shade of oaks, and consisting chiefly of game, buffalo, deer, +squirrels, rabbits and other animals which had helped the early Texans +to live. But throughout the dinner Ned and Obed were rather quiet, +although the Ring Tailed Panther roared to his heart's content. It was +Ned who spoke first the thought that was in the minds of both Obed and +himself. Slowly and by an unconscious process he was becoming the +leader. + +"Obed," he said, "everybody can do as he pleases, and I propose that you +and I and the Ring Tailed Panther scout toward San Antonio. Cos and his +army are marching toward that town, and while the Texan campaign of +defense is being arranged and the leaders are being chosen we might give +a lot of help." + +"Just what I was thinking," said Obed. + +"Jest what I ought to have thought," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +San Antonio was a long journey to the westward, and they started at +twilight fully equipped. They carried their usual arms, two blankets +apiece, light but warm, food for several days, and double supplies of +ammunition, the thing that they would now need most. Gonzales gave them +a farewell full of good wishes. Some of the women exclaimed upon Ned's +youth, but Obed explained that the boy had lived through hardships and +dangers that would have overcome many a veteran pioneer of Texas. + +They forded the Guadalupe for the second time on the same day. Then they +rode by the mound on which the Mexicans had made their brief stand. The +three said little. Even the Ring Tailed Panther had thoughts that were +not voiced. The hill, the site of the first battle in their great +struggle, stood out, clear and sharp, in the moonlight. But it was very +still now. + +"We'll date a good many things from that hill," said Ned as they rode +on. + +They followed in the path of the flying Mexicans who, they were quite +sure, would make for Cos and San Antonio. The Ring Tailed Panther knew +the most direct course and as the moon was good they could also see the +trail left by the Mexicans. It was marked further by grim objects, two +wounded horses that had died in the flight, and then by a man +succumbing, who had been buried in a grave so shallow that no one could +help noticing it. + +A little after midnight they saw a light ahead, and they judged by the +motions that a man was waving a torch. + +"It can't be a trap," said Obed, "because the Mexicans would not stop +running until they were long past here." + +"An' there ain't no cover where that torch is," added the Ring Tailed +Panther. + +"Then suppose we ride forward and see what it means," said Ned. + +They cocked their rifles, ready for combat if need be, and rode forward +slowly. Soon they made out the figure of a man standing on a swell of +the prairie, and vigorously waving a torch made of a dead stick lighted +at one end. He had a rifle, but it leaned against a bush beside him. +His belt held a pistol and knife, but his free hand made no movement +toward them, as the three rode up. The man himself was young, slender, +and of olive complexion with black hair and eyes. He was a Mexican, but +he was dressed in the simple Texan style. Moreover, there were Mexicans +born in Texas some of whom, belonging to the Liberal party, inclined to +the Texan side. This man was distinctly handsome and the look with which +he returned the gaze of the three was frank, free and open. + +"I saw you from afar," he said in excellent English. "I climbed the +cottonwood there in order to see what might be passing on the prairie, +and as my eyes happen to be very good I detected three black dots in the +moonlight, coming out of the east. As I saw the men of Santa Anna going +west as fast as hoofs would carry them I knew that only Texans could be +riding out of the east." + +He laughed, threw his torch on the ground and stamped out the light. + +"I felt that sooner or later someone would come upon Castenada's track," +he said, "and you see that I was not wrong." + +He smiled again. Ned's impression was distinctly favorable, and when he +glanced at Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther he saw that they, too, were +attracted. + +"Who are you, stranger?" asked Palmer. "People who meet by night in +Texas in these times had best know the names and business of one +another." + +"Not a doubt of it," replied the young Mexican. "My name is Francisco +Urrea, and I was born on the Guadalupe. So, you see, I am a Texan, +perhaps more truly a Texan than any of you, because I know by looking at +you that all three of you were born in the States. As for my business?" + +He grew very serious and looked at the three one after another. + +"My business," he said, "is to fight for Texas." + +"Well spoke, by the great horn spoon," roared the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"Yes, to fight for Texas," resumed young Urrea. "I was on my way to +Gonzales to join you. I was too late for the fight, but I saw the men of +Castenada, with Castenada himself at their head, flying across the +prairie. I assure you there was no delay on their part. First they were +here and then they were gone. The prairie rumbled with their hasty +tread, their lances glittered for only a single instant, and then they +were lost over the horizon." + +He laughed again, and his laugh was so infectious that the three laughed +with him. + +"I know most people in Texas," rumbled the Ring Tailed Panther, "though +there are some Mexican families I don't know. But I've heard of the +Urreas, an' if you want to go with us an' join in tearin' an' chawin' +we'll be glad to have you." + +"So we will," said Ned and Obed together, and Obed added: "Three are +company, four are better." + +"Very well, then," said Urrea, "I shall be happy to become one of your +band, and we will ride on together. I've no doubt that I can be of help +if you mean to keep a watch on Cos. My horse is tied here in a clump of +chaparral. Wait a moment and I will rejoin you." + +He came back, riding a fine horse, and he was as well equipped as the +Texans. Then the four rode on toward San Antonio de Bexar. They found +that Urrea knew much. Cos himself would probably be in San Antonio +within a week, and heavy reinforcements would arrive later. The three +in return gave him a description of the fight at the mound, and they +told how the Texans afterward had scattered for different points on the +border. + +They were not the only riders that night. Men were carrying along the +whole frontier the news that the war had begun, that the death struggle +was now on between Mexico and Texas, the giant on one side and the pigmy +on the other. + +But the ride of the four in the trail of Castenada's flying troop was +peaceful enough. About three hours after midnight they stopped under the +shelter of some cottonwoods. The Ring Tailed Panther took the watch +while the other three slept. Ned lay awake for a little while between +his blankets, but he saw that Urrea, who was not ten feet away, had gone +sound asleep almost instantly. His olive face lighted dimly by the +moon's rays was smooth and peaceful, and Ned was quite sure that he +would be a good comrade. Then he, too, entered the land of slumber. + +The Ring Tailed Panther stalked up and down, his broad powerful figure +becoming gigantic in the moonlight. Belligerent by nature and the born +frontiersman, he was very serious now. + +He knew that they were riding toward great danger and he glanced at the +face of the sleeping boy. The Ring Tailed Panther had a heart within +him, and the temptation to make Ned go back, if he could, was very +strong. But he quickly dismissed it as useless. The boy would not go. +Besides, he was skillful, strong and daring. + +The Ring Tailed Panther tramped on. Coyotes howled on the prairie, and +the deeper note of a timber wolf came from the right, where there was a +thick fringe of trees along a creek. But he paid no attention to them. +All the while he watched the circle of the horizon, narrow by night, for +horsemen. If they came he believed that his warning must be quick, +because they were likely to be either Mexicans or Indians. He saw no +riders but toward daylight he saw horses in the west. They were without +riders and he walked to the nearest swell to look at them. + +He looked down upon a herd of wild horses, many of them clean and fine +of build. At their head was a great black stallion and when the Ring +Tailed Panther saw him he sighed. At another time, he would have made a +try for the stallion's capture, but now there was other business afoot. + +The wind shifted. The stallion gave a neigh of alarm and galloped off +toward the south, the whole herd with streaming manes and tails +following close behind. The Ring Tailed Panther walked back to the +cottonwoods and awoke his companions, because it was now full day. + +"I saw some wild horses grazing close by," he said, "an' that means that +nobody else is near. Mebbe we can ride clean to San Antonio without +anybody to stop us." + +"And gain great information for the Texans," said Urrea quickly. +"Houston is to command the forces of Eastern Texas, and he will be glad +enough to know just what Cos is doing." + +"And glad will we be to take such news to him," said Ned. "I've seen him +and talked with him, Don Francisco. He is a great man. And I've ridden, +too, with Jim Bowie and 'Deaf' Smith and Karnes." + +Urrea smiled pleasantly at Ned's boyish enthusiasm. + +"And they are great men, too," he said, "Bowie, Smith and Karnes. I +should not want any one of them to send his bullet at me." + +"Jim Bowie is best with the knife," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "but I +guess no better shots than 'Deaf' Smith and Hank Karnes were ever born." + +"A horseman is coming," said Ned who was in advance. The boy had shaded +his eyes from the sun, and his uncommonly keen sight had detected the +black moving speck before any of the others could see it. + +"It's sure to be a Texan," said Obed. "You won't find any Mexican riding +alone on these plains just now." + +They rode forward to meet him and the horseman, who evidently had keen +eyes, too, came forward with equal confidence. It soon became obvious +that he was a Texan as Obed had predicted. His length of limb and body +showed despite the fact that he was on horseback, and the long rifle +that he carried across the saddle bow was of the frontier type. + +"My name is Jim Potter," he said as he came within hailing distance. + +"You're welcome, Jim Potter," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "The long, +red-headed man here on my right is Obed White, the boy is Ned Fulton; +our young Mexican friend, who is a good Texan patriot, is Don Francisco +Urrea, an' as for me, I'm Martin Palmer, better an' more properly known +as the Ring Tailed Panther." + +"I've heard of you, Panther," said Potter, "and you and your friends are +just the people I want." + +He spoke with great eagerness, and the soul of the Ring Tailed Panther, +foreseeing an impending crisis of some kind, responded. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"A crowd is gathering to march on Goliad," replied Potter. "The Mexican +commander there is treating the people with great cruelty and he is +sending out parties to harass lone Texan homes. We mean to smite him." + +Potter spoke with a certain solemnity of manner and he had the lean, +ascetic face of the Puritan. Ned judged that he was from one of the +Northern States of New England, but Obed, a Maine man, was sure of it. + +"Friend," said Obed, "from which state do you come, New Hampshire or +Vermont? I take it that it is Vermont." + +"It is Vermont as you rightly surmise," replied Potter, "and the accent +with which you speak, if I mistake not is found only in Maine." + +"A good guess, also," said Obed, "but we are both now Texans, heart and +soul; is it not so?" + +"It is even so," replied Potter gravely. Then he and Obed reached across +from their horses and gave each other a powerful clasp. + +"You will go with us to Goliad and help smite the heathen?" said Potter. + +Obed glanced at his comrades, and all of them nodded. + +"We were riding to San Antonio," said the Maine man, "to find out what +was going on there, but I see no reason why we should not turn aside to +help you, since we seem to be needed." + +"Our need of you is great," said Potter in his solemn, unchanging tones, +"as we are but few, and the enemy may be wary. Yet we must smite him and +smite him hard." + +"Then lead the way," said Obed. "It's better to be too soon than too +late." + +Without another word Potter turned his horse toward the south. He was +tall and rawboned, his face burned well by the sun, but he had an +angularity and he bore himself with a certain stiffness that did not +belong to the "Texans" of Southern birth. Ned did not doubt that he +would be most formidable in combat. + +After riding at least two hours without anyone speaking a word, Potter +said: + +"We will meet the remainder of our friends and comrades about nightfall. +We will not exceed fifty, and more probably we shall be scarcely so many +as that, but with the strength of a just cause in our arms it is likely +that we shall be enough." + +"When we charged at Gonzales they stayed for but one look at our faces," +said the Ring Tailed Panther. "Then they ran so fast that they were +rippin' an' tearin' up the prairie for the next twenty-four hours." + +"I have heard of that," said Potter with a grave smile. "The grass so +far from growing scarcely bent under their feet. Still, the Mexicans at +times will fight with the greatest courage." + +Here Urrea spoke. + +"My friends," he said, "I must now leave you. I have an uncle and +cousins on the San Antonio River, not far above Goliad. Like myself they +are devoted adherents of the Texan cause, and it is more than likely +that they will suffer terribly at the hands of some raiding party from +Goliad, if they are not warned in time. I have tried to steel my heart +and go straight with you to Goliad, but I cannot forget those who are so +dear to me. However, it is highly probable that I can give them the +warning to flee, and yet rejoin you in time for the attack." + +"We hate to lose a good man, when there's rippin' an' tearin' ahead of +us," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"But if people of his blood are in such great danger he must even go," +said Potter. + +Urrea's face was drawn with lines of mental pain. His expressive eyes +showed great doubt and anguish. Ned felt very sorry for him. + +"It is a most cruel quandary," said Urrea. "I would go with you, and yet +I would stay. Texas and her cause have my love, but to us of Mexican +blood the family also is very, very dear." + +His voice faltered and Latin tears stood in his eyes. + +"Go," said Obed. "You must save your kin, and perhaps, as you hope, you +can rejoin us in time." + +"Farewell," said Urrea, "but you will see me again soon." + +He spurred his horse, a powerful animal, and went ahead at a gallop. +Soon he disappeared over the swells of the prairie. + +"I hate to see him go," growled the Ring Tailed Panther. "Mexicans are +uncertain even when they are on your side. But he's a big strong fellow, +an' he'd be handy in the fight for which we're lookin'." + +But he kept Ned's sympathy. + +"He must save his people," said the boy. + +Obed and Potter said nothing. At twilight they found the other men +waiting for them in a thicket of mesquite, and the total, including the +four, was only forty. But with Texan daring and courage they made +straight for Goliad, and Ned did not doubt that they would have a fight. +Life was now moving fast for him, and it was crowded with incident. + +The troop in loose formation rode swiftly, but the hoofs of their horses +made little sound on the prairie. The southern moon rode low, and the +night was clear. They crossed two or three creeks, and also went through +narrow belts of forest, but they never halted or hesitated. Potter and +several others knew the way well, and night was the same as day to +them. + +At midnight Ned saw a wide but shallow stream, much like the Guadalupe. +Trees and reeds lined its banks. Potter informed him that this was the +San Antonio River, and that they were now below the town of Goliad, +where they meant to attack the Mexican force. + +"And if Providence favors us," said Potter, "we shall smite them quick +and hard." + +"Providence favors those who hit first and hard," said Obed, mixing +various quotations. + +The men forded the river, and, after a brief stop began to move +cautiously through thickets of mesquite and chaparral toward the town, +the lights of which they could not yet see. At one point the mesquite +became so thick that Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther dismounted, +in order to pick their way and led their horses. + +Ned, who was in advance, heard a noise, as of something moving in the +thicket. At first he thought it was a deer, but the sounds ceased +suddenly, as if whatever made them were trying to seek safety in +concealment rather than flight. Ned's experience had already made him +skillful and daring. The warrior's instinct, born in him, was developing +rapidly, and flinging his bridle to Obed he asked him to hold it for a +moment. + +Before the surprised man could ask why, Ned left him with the reins in +his hand, cocked his rifle and crept through the mesquite toward the +point whence the sounds had come. He saw a stooping shadow, and then a +man sprang up. Quick as a flash Ned covered him with his rifle. + +"Surrender!" he cried. + +"Gladly," cried the man, throwing up his hands and laughing in a +hysterical way. "I yield because you must be a Texan. That cannot be the +voice of any Mexican." + +Obed and the others came forward and the man strode toward them. He was +tall, but gaunt and worn, until he was not much more than a skeleton. +His clothing, mere rags, hung loosely on a figure that was now much too +narrow for them. Two bloodshot eyes burned in dark caverns. + +"Thank God," he cried, "you are Texans, all of you!" + +"Why, it's Ben Milam," said Potter. "We thought you were a prisoner at +Monterey in Mexico." + +"I was," replied Milam, one of the Texan leaders, "but I escaped and +obtained a horse. I have ridden nearly seven hundred miles day and +night. My horse dropped dead down there in the chaparral and I've been +here, trying to take a look at Goliad, uncertain about going in, because +I do not know whether it is held by Texans or Mexicans." + +"It is held by Mexicans at present," replied Potter, solemnly. "But I +think that within an hour or two it will be held by Texans." + +"If it ain't there'll be some mighty roarin' an' rippin' an' tearin'," +said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"Give me a bite to eat and something to drink," said Milam; "and I'll +help you turn Goliad from a Mexican into a Texan town." + +Exhausted and nearly starved, he showed, nevertheless, the dauntless +spirit of the Texans. Food and drink were given to him and the little +party moved toward the town. Presently they saw one or two lights. Far +off a dog howled, but it was only at the moon. He had not scented them. +By and by the ground grew so rough and the bushes so thick that all +dismounted and tethered their horses. Then they crept into the very edge +of the town, still unseen and unheard. Potter pointed to a large +building. + +"That," he said, "is the headquarters of Colonel Sandoval, the +commandant, and if you look closely you will see a sentinel walking up +and down before the door." + +"We will make a rush for that house," said the leader of the Texans, +"and call upon the sentinel to yield." + +They slipped from the cover and ran toward the house, shouting to the +Mexican on guard to surrender. But he fired at them point blank, +although his bullet missed, and a shot from one of the Texans slew him. +The next moment they were thundering at the door of the house, in which +were Sandoval and the larger part of his garrison. The door held fast, +and shots were fired at them from the windows. + +Some of the Texans ran to the neighboring houses, obtained axes and +smashed in the door. Then they poured in, every man striving to be +first, and most of the Mexicans fled through the back doors or the +windows, escaping in the darkness into the mesquite and chaparral. +Sandoval himself, half dressed, was taken by the Ring Tailed Panther and +Obed. He made many threats, but Obed replied: + +"You have chosen war and the Texans are giving it to you as best they +can. Our bullets fall on all Mexicans, whether just or unjust." + +Sandoval said no more, but finished his interrupted toilet. It was clear +to Ned, watching his face, that the Mexican colonel considered all the +Texans doomed, despite their success of the moment. Sandoval was still +in his quarters. His arms had been taken away but he suffered no ill +treatment. Despite the rapid flight of the Mexican soldiers twenty-five +or thirty had been taken and they were held outside. The Texans not +knowing what to do with them decided to release them later on parole. + +Ned was about to leave Sandoval's room when he met at the door a young +man, perspiring, wild of eye and bearing all the other signs of haste +and excitement. It was Francisco Urrea. + +"I am too late!" he cried. "Alas! Alas! I would have had a share in this +glorious combat! I should like to have taken Sandoval with my own hand! +I have cause to hate that man!" + +Sandoval was sitting on the edge of his bed, and the eyes of the two +Mexicans flashed anger at each other, Urrea went up, and shook his hand +in the face of Sandoval. Sandoval shook his in the face of Urrea. Wrath +was equal between them. Fierce words were exchanged with such swiftness +that Ned could not understand them. He judged that the young Mexican +must have some deep cause for hatred of Sandoval. But the Ring Tailed +Panther interfered. He did not like this trait of abusing a fallen foe +which he considered typically Mexican. + +"Come away, Don Francisco," he said. "The rippin' an' tearin' are over +an' we can do our roarin' outside!" + +He took Urrea by the arm and led him away. Ned preceded them. Outside he +met Obed who was in the highest spirits. + +"We've done more than capture Mexicans," he said. "It never rains but it +turns into a storm. We've gone through the Mexican barracks and we've +made a big haul here. Let's take a look." + +Ned went with him, and, when he saw, he too exulted. Goliad had been +made a place of supply by the Mexicans, and, stored there, the Texans +had taken a vast quantity of ammunition, rounds of powder and lead to +the scores of thousands, five hundred rifles and three fine cannon. Some +of the Texans joined hands in a wild Indian dance, when they saw their +spoils, and the eyes of Ned and Obed glistened. + +"Unto the righteous shall be given," said Obed. "We've done far better +to-night than we hoped. We'll need these in the advance on Cos and San +Antonio." + +"They will be of the greatest service," said Urrea who joined them at +that moment. "How I envy you your glory!" + +"What happened to you, Don Francisco?" asked Obed. + +"I carried the warning to my uncle and his family," replied Urrea. "I +was just in time. Guerrillas of Cos came an hour later, and burned the +house to the ground. They destroyed everything, the stables and barns, +and they even killed the horses and the cattle. Ah, what a ruin! I rode +back by there on my way to Goliad." + +The young Mexican pressed his hands over his eyes and Ned thrilled with +sympathy. + +"What became of your uncle and his family?" asked the boy. + +"They rode north for San Felipe de Austin. They will be safe but they +lose all." + +"Never mind," said Obed, "we'll make the Mexicans pay it back, when we +drive 'em out of Texas. I don't believe that any good patriot will +suffer." + +"Nevertheless," said Urrea, "my uncle is willing to lose and endure for +the cause." + +Ned slept half through the morning in one of the little adobe houses, +and at noon he, Obed, the Ring Tailed Panther and others rode toward San +Antonio. They slept that night in a pecan grove, and the next day +continued their journey, meeting in the morning a Texan who informed +them that Cos with a formidable force was in San Antonio. He also +confirmed the information that the Texans were gathering from all points +for the attack upon this, the greatest Mexican fortress in all Texas. +Mr. Austin was commander-in-chief of the forces, but he wished to yield +the place to Houston who would not take it. + +Late in the afternoon they saw horsemen and rode toward them boldly. The +group was sixty or eighty in number and they stopped for the smaller +body to approach. Ned's keen eyes recognized them first, and he uttered +a cry of joy. + +"There's Mr. Bowie," he said, "and there are Smith and Karnes, too! They +are all on their way to San Antonio." + +He took off his hat and waved it joyously. Smith and Karnes did the same +and Bowie smiled gravely as the boy rode up. + +"Well, Ned," he said, "we meet again and I judge that we ride on the +same errand." + +"We do. To San Antonio." + +"An' there'll be the biggest fight that was ever seen in Texas," said +the Ring Tailed Panther, who knew Bowie well. "If Mexicans an' Texans +want to get to roarin' an' rippin' they'll have the chance." + +"They will, Panther," said Bowie, still smiling gravely. Then he looked +inquiringly at Urrea. + +"This is Don Francisco Urrea," said Obed. "He was born in Texas, and he +is with us heart and soul. By a hard ride he saved his uncle and family +from slaughter by the guerrillas of Cos, and he reached Goliad just a +few minutes too late to take part in the capture of the Mexican force." + +"Some of the Mexicans born in Texas are with us," said Bowie, "and +before we are through at San Antonio, Don Francisco, you will have a +good chance to prove your loyalty to Texas." + +"I shall prove it," said Urrea vehemently. + +"The place for the gathering of our troops is on Salado Creek near San +Antonio," said Bowie, "and I think that we shall find both Mr. Austin +and General Houston there." + +Bowie was extremely anxious to be at a conference with the leaders, and +taking Ned, Obed, the Ring Tailed Panther and a few others he rode +ahead. Ned suggested that Urrea go too, but Bowie did not seem anxious +about him, and he was left behind. + +"Maybe he would not be extremely eager to fire upon people of his own +blood if we should happen to meet the Mexican lancers," said Bowie. "I +don't like to put a man to such a test before I have to do it." + +Urrea showed disappointment, but, after some remonstrance, he submitted +with a fair grace. + +"I'll see you again before San Antonio," he said to Ned. + +Ned shook his hand, and galloped away with the little troop, which all +told numbered only sixteen. Bowie kept them at a rapid pace until +sundown and far after. Ned saw that the man was full of care, and he too +appreciated the importance of the situation. Events were coming to a +crisis and very soon the Texans and the army of Cos would stand face to +face. + +They slept on the open prairie, and were in the saddle again before +dawn. Bowie now curved a little to the North. They were coming into +country over which Mexicans rode, and he did not wish a clash. But the +Ring Tailed Panther was not sanguine about a free passage, nor did he +seem to care. + +"It's likely that the Mexican bands are out ridin'," he said. "Cos ain't +no fool, an' he'll be on the lookout for us. There's more timber as you +come toward San Antonio, an' there'll be a lot of chances for ambushes." + +"I believe you are hoping for one," said Ned. + +The Ring Tailed Panther did not answer, but he looked upon this young +friend of his of whom he thought so much, and his dark face parted in +one of the broadest smiles that Ned had ever seen. + +"I ain't runnin' away from the chance of it," he replied. + +They saw a little later a belt of timber to their right. Ned's +experience told him that it masked the bed of a creek, probably flowing +to the San Antonio River, and he noticed, although they were at some +distance, that the trees seemed to be of unusually fine growth. This +fact first attracted his attention, but he lost sight of it when he saw +a glint of unusually bright light among the trunks. He looked more +closely. Here again experience was of value. It was the peculiar kind of +light that he had seen before, when a ray from the sun struck squarely +on the steel head of a lance. + +"Look!" he said to Obed and Bowie. + +They looked, and Bowie instantly halted his men. The face of the Ring +Tailed Panther suddenly lighted up. He too had good eyes, and he said in +tones of satisfaction: + +"Figures are movin' among the trees, an' they are those of mounted men +with lances. Texans don't carry lances an' I think we shall be attacked +by a Mexican force within a few minutes, Colonel Bowie." + +"It is altogether probable," replied Bowie. "See, they are coming from +the wood, and they number at least sixty." + +"Nearer seventy, I think," said Obed. + +"Whether sixty or seventy, they are not too many for us to handle," said +Bowie. + +The Mexicans had seen the little group of Texans and they were coming +fast. The wind brought their shouts and they brandished their long +lances. Ned observed with admiration how cool Bowie and all the men +remained. + +"Ride up in a line," said Bowie. "Here, Ned, bring your horse by me and +all of you face the Mexicans. Loosen your pistols, and when I give the +word to fire let 'em have it with your rifles." + +They were on the crest of one of the swells and the sixteen horses stood +in a row so straight that a line stretched across their front would have +touched the head of every one. They were trained horses, too, and the +riders dropped the reins on their necks, while they held their rifles +ready. + +It was hard for Ned to keep his nerves steady, but Obed was on one side +of him and Bowie on the other, while the Ring Tailed Panther was just +beyond Obed. Pride as well as necessity kept him motionless and taut +like the others. + +Doubtless the Mexicans would have turned, had it not been for the +smallness of the force opposed to them, but they came on rapidly in a +long line, still shouting and brandishing their weapons. Ned saw the +flaming eyes of the horses, and he marked the foam upon their jaws. For +what was Bowie waiting! Nearer they came, and the beat of the hoofs +thundered in his ears. It seemed that the flashing steel of the lances +was at his throat. He had already raised his rifle and was taking aim at +the man in front of him, all his nerves now taut for the conflict. + +"Fire!" cried Bowie, and sixteen rifles were discharged as one. + +Not a bullet went astray. The Mexican line was split asunder, and horses +and men went down in a mass. A few, horses and men, rose, and ran across +the plain. But the wings of the Mexican force closed in, and continued +the charge, expecting victory, now that the rifles were empty. But they +forgot the pistols. Ned snatched his from the holster, and fired +directly into the evil face of a lancer who was about to crash into him. +The Mexican fell to the ground and his horse, swerving to one side, +galloped on. + +The pistols cracked all around Ned, and then, the Mexicans, sheering +off, fled as rapidly as they had charged. But they left several behind +who would never charge again. + +"All right, Ned?" said the cheery voice of Obed. + +"Not hurt at all," replied the boy. But as he spoke he gazed down at the +face of the man who had tried to crash into him, and he shuddered. He +knew that face. At the first glance it had seemed familiar, and at the +second he had remembered perfectly. It was the face of the man who had +struck him with the butt of a lance on that march in Mexico, when he was +the prisoner of Cos. It seemed a vengeance dealt out by the hand of +fate. He who had received the blow had given it in return, although not +knowing at the time. Ned recognized the justice of fate, but he did not +rejoice. Nor did he speak of the coincidence to anyone. It was not a +thing of which he wished to talk. + +"They're gone," said the Ring Tailed Panther, speaking now in satisfied +tones. "They came, they stayed half a minute, an' then they went, but +there was some rippin' an tearin' an' chawin'." + +"Yes, they've gone, and they've gone to stay," said Bowie. "It was a +foolish thing to do to charge Texans armed with rifles on the open +prairie." + +Ned was looking at the last Mexican as he disappeared over the plain. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE OLD CONVENT + + +The Texans gathered up the arms of the fallen Mexicans, except the +lances for which they had no use, finding several good rifles and a +number of pistols of improved make which were likely to prove of great +value, and then they rode on as briskly as if nothing had happened. + +The next day they drew near to San Antonio and entered the beautiful +valley made by the San Antonio River and the creek to which the Mexicans +gave the name San Pedro. Ned found it all very luxuriant and very +refreshing to eyes tired of the prairies and the plains. Despite the +fact that it was the middle of October the green yet endured in that +southern latitude. Splendid forests still in foliage bounded both creek +and river. They rode through noble groves of oak and tall pecans. They +saw many fine springs spouting from the earth, and emptying into river +and creek. + +It was a noble land, but, although it had been settled long by Spaniard +and Mexican, the wilderness still endured in many of its aspects. Now +and then a deer sprang up from the thickets, and the wild turkeys still +roosted in the trees. Churches and other buildings, many of massive +stone adorned with carved and costly marbles, extended ten or twelve +miles down the river, but most of them were abandoned and in decay. The +Comanche and his savage brother, the Apache, had raided to the very +gates of San Antonio. The deep irrigation ditches, dug by the Spanish +priests and their Indian converts, were abandoned, and mud and refuse +were fast filling them up. Already an old civilization, sunk in decay, +was ready to give place to another, rude and raw, but full of youth and +vigor. + +It was likely that Ned alone felt these truths, as they reached the +lowest outskirts of the missions, and stopped at an abandoned stone +convent, built at the very edge of the San Antonio, where the waters of +the river, green and clear, flowed between banks clothed in a deep and +luxuriant foliage. Half of the troop entered the convent, while the +others watched on the horses outside. It impressed Ned with a sense of +desolation fully equal to that of the ancient pyramid or the lost city. +Everything of value that the nuns had not taken away had been stripped +from the place by Comanche, Apache or Lipan. + +It was nearly night when they arrived at the convent. The Texan camp +still lay some miles away, their horses were very tired, and Bowie +decided to remain in the ruined building until morning. The main portion +of the structure was of stone, two stories high, but there were some +extensions of wood, from one of which the floor had been taken away by +plunderers. It was Ned who discovered this floorless room and he +suggested that they lead the horses into it, especially as the night was +turning quite cold, and there were signs of rain. + +"A good thought," said Bowie. "We'll do it." + +The horses made some trouble at the door, but when they were finally +driven in, and unsaddled and unbridled they seemed content. Two windows, +from which the glass was long since gone, admitted an abundance of air, +and Ned and several others, taking their big bowie knives, went out to +cut grass for them. + +On foot, Ned was impressed more than ever by the desolation and +loneliness of the place. The grounds had been surrounded by an adobe +wall, now broken through in many places. On one side had been a little +flower garden, and on the other a larger kitchen garden. One or two late +roses bloomed in the flower garden, but most of it had been destroyed by +weather. + +Ned and the others cut armfuls of grass in a little meadow, just beyond +the adobe wall, and they hastened the work. They did not like the looks +of the night. The skies were darkening very fast, and they saw +occasional flashes of lightning in the far southwest. Ned looked back at +the convent. It was now an almost formless bulk against the somber sky, +its most prominent feature being the cupola in which a bronze bell still +hung. + +The wind rose and cold drops of rain struck him. He shivered. It +promised to be one of those raw, cold nights frequent in the southwest, +and he knew that the rain would be chill and penetrating. He was glad +that they had found the convent. + +They gave the grass to the horses, and then they went into the main +portion of the convent, where Bowie and the rest were already at work. +Here the ruin was not so great, as the Spaniards had built in a solid +manner, according to their custom. They found a large room, with an open +fireplace, in which Ned would have been glad to see wood blazing, but +Bowie did not consider it worth while to gather materials for a fire. +Adjoining this room was a chapel, in which a pulpit, a desecrated image +of the Virgin, and some frames without the pictures, yet remained. Anger +filled Ned's heart that anyone should plunder and spoil such a place, +and he turned sorrowfully away. + +Back of the large rooms were workrooms, kitchen and laundry, all +stripped of nearly everything. The narrow stairway that led to the upper +floor was in good condition, and, when Ned mounted it, he saw rows of +narrow little cell-like rooms in which the nuns had slept. All were +bleak and bare, but, from a broken window at the end of the corridor, he +looked out upon the San Antonio and the forests of oak and pecan. He +could barely see the river, the night had grown so dark. The cold rain +increased and was lashed against the building by a moaning wind. Once +more Ned shivered, and once more he was glad that they had found the old +convent. He was glad to return to the main room, where Bowie and the +others were gathered. + +The room had been lighted by two windows, facing the San Antonio and two +on the side. They had been closed originally by shutters, which were now +gone, but as the windows were narrow the driving rain did not enter far. +One or two of the men, sharing Ned's earlier feeling, spoke up in favor +of a fire. They wanted the cheerfulness that light and warmth give. But +Bowie refused again. + +"Not necessary," he said. "We are here in the enemy's country, and we do +not want to give him warning of our presence. We met the lancers to-day, +and we have no desire to meet them again to-night." + +"Right," the Ring Tailed Panther roared gently to Ned. "When you're +makin' war you must fight first an' take your pleasure afterward." + +It was warm enough in the room and the open windows gave them all the +air they needed. Every man, except those detailed for the guard, spread +his blankets and went to sleep. Ned was on the early watch. He, too, +would have liked sleep. He could have felt wonderfully fine rolled in +the blankets with the cold rain pattering on the walls outside. But he +was chosen for the first watch, and his time would come later. + +Ned was posted at a broken door that led to the extension in which the +horses were sheltered. The remaining sentinels, three in number, +including the Ring Tailed Panther, were stationed in different parts of +the building. The boy from his position in the broken doorway could see +into the room where his comrades slept, and, when he looked in the other +direction, he could also see the horses, some of which were now lying +down. + +It was all very still in the old convent. So deep was this silence that +Ned began to fancy that he heard the breathing of his sleeping comrades. +It was only fancy. The horses had ceased to stir. Perhaps they were as +glad as the men that they had found shelter. But outside Ned heard +distinctly the moaning of the wind, and the lashing of the cold rain +against roof and walls. + +On the right where the extension had been connected with the main +building of stone there was a great opening, and through this Ned looked +down toward the adobe wall and the San Antonio. He saw dimly across the +river a dark waving mass which he knew to be the pecan trees, bending in +the wind, but on his own side of the stream he could distinguish +nothing. But he watched there unceasingly, save for occasional glances +at the horses or his sleeping comrades. + +He could now see objects very well within the room. He was able to count +his comrades sleeping on the floor. He saw two empty picture frames on +the wall, and, near by, a rope, which he surmised led to the bell in the +cupola, and which some chance had allowed to remain there. Now and then +Ned and one of his comrades of the watch met and exchanged a few words, +but they always spoke in whispers, lest they awaken the sleeping men. +After these brief meetings Ned would return to his watch at the opening. + +The character of the night did not change as time trailed its slow +length away. One solid black cloud covered the sky from horizon to +horizon. The wind out of the southwest never ceased to moan, and the +cold rain blew steadily upon the walls and roof of the ruined convent. It +was not a night when either Texans or Mexicans would wish to be abroad, +and, as the chill grew sharper and more penetrating, Ned wrapped one of +his blankets about his shoulders. + +As the night advanced, Ned's sense of oppression deepened. He felt once +more as he had felt at the pyramid, that he was among old dead things. +Ghosts could walk here as truly as they could walk on the banks of the +Teotihuacan. Sometimes as the great cloud lightened the least bit he +caught glimpses of the grass and weeds that grew between him and the +broken adobe wall which was about fifteen yards away. + +Only an hour more, and the second watch would come on. Ned began to +think of his place on the floor, and of the deep and dreamless sleep +that he knew would be his. Then he was attracted by a glimpse of the +adobe wall. It seemed to him that he had seen a projection, where there +was none before. He looked a second time, and he did not see it. Fancy +played strange tricks at midnight in the enemy's country, and in the +desolate silence. + +Ned shook himself. Although a vivid imagination might be excusable at +such a time even in a man, a veteran of many campaigns, he was +essentially an uncompromising realist, and he wished to see facts +exactly as they were. The work upon which he was engaged allowed no time +for the breeding of fancy. + +He looked again and there were two projections where he had seen only +one before. They resembled knobs on the adobe wall, rising perhaps half +a foot above it, and the sight troubled Ned. Was fancy to prove too +strong, when he had drilled himself so long to see the real? Was he to +be played with by the imagination, as if he had no will of his own? + +He thought once of speaking to the sentinels at the other doors, but he +could not compel himself to do it. They would laugh at him, and it is a +bitter thing to be laughed at. So he kept his watch, and while he looked +the projections appeared, disappeared and appeared once more. + +He could stand it no longer. Putting his rifle under his blanket in +order to keep the weapon dry he stepped out of doors, but flattened +himself against the wall of the convent. The rain and wind whipped him +unmercifully, and the cold ran through him, but he was resolved to see +what was happening by the adobe wall. The projections were there and +they had increased to four. They did not go away. + +Ned was now convinced that it was not fancy. His mind had obeyed his +will, and he was the true realist, no victim of the imagination. He was +about to kneel down in the grass, and crawl toward the wall, when +something caused him to change his mind. One of the projections suddenly +extended a full yard above the wall, and resolved itself into the shape +of a man. But what a man! The body from the waist up was naked, and +above it rose a head crested with long hair, black and coarse. Other +heads and bodies also savage and naked rose up beside it on the wall. +Ned knew in an instant and springing back within the convent he cried: + +"Comanches! Comanches! Up men, up!" + +At the same moment, acting on impulse, he seized the rope that hung by +the wall and pulled it hard, fast and often. Above in the cupola the +great bronze bell boomed forth a tremendous solemn note that rose far +over the moaning of the wind. From the adobe wall came a fierce yell, a +sinister cry that swelled until it became a high and piercing volume of +sound, and then died away in a menacing note like the howl of wolves. +But Ned, impulse still his master, never ceased to pull the bell. + +All the Texans were on their feet at once, wide awake, rifles in their +hands. + +"Lie down, men, by the doors!" cried Bowie, "and shoot anything that +tries to come in. Ned, let go the rope, you are in range there, and lie +down with us! But you have done well, boy! You have done well! You have +saved us all from being scalped, and perhaps the booming of the big bell +will bring us help that we may need badly!" + +Ned threw himself on the floor just in time to avoid a bullet that sang +in at the open doorway. But no other shot was fired then. The Comanches +in silence sank back into the darkness and the rain. The defenders lay +on the floor, guarding the doorways with open rifles. They could not see +much, but they could hear well, and since Ned had given the warning in +time every one of the little party felt that they held a fortress. + +Ned's pulses were still leaping, but great pride was in his heart. It +was he, not one of the veterans, who had saved them, and Bowie had +instantly spoken words of high approval. He was now lying flat on the +floor, but he looked out once more at the same opening. There were +certainly no projections on the wall now, but he could not tell whether +the Comanches were inside it or outside. If they crept to the sides of +the convent's stone walls the riflemen could not reach them there. He +wondered how many they were and how they had happened to raid so near to +San Antonio at this time. + +Then ensued a long and trying period of silence. Less experienced men +than the Texans might have thought that the Comanches had gone away +after the failure of their attempt at surprise, but these veterans knew +better. Bowie and all of them were trying to divine their point of +attack and how to meet it. For the present, they could do nothing but +watch the doorways, and guard themselves against a sudden rush of their +dangerous foe. + +"Panther," said Obed White, "it seems to me that you're getting all the +ripping and tearing and chawing that you want on this trip." + +"It ain't what you might call monotonous," said the Ring Tailed Panther. +"I agree to that much." + +It had been fully an hour now since Ned had rung the great bell, and +they had heard no noises save the usual ones of that night, the wind and +the rain. He surmised at last that the Comanches had taken advantage of +the war between the Texans and Mexicans to make a raid on the San +Antonio Valley, expecting to gallop in, do their terrible work, and then +be away. Doubtless it had not occurred to them that they would meet such +a group as that led by Bowie and the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"Ned," said Bowie, "creep across the floor there to that rope and ring +the bell again. Ring it a long time. Either it will hurry the Comanches +into action, or friends of ours will hear it. It's likely that all the +Mexicans have now withdrawn into San Antonio, and that only Texans, +besides this band of Comanches, are abroad in the valley." + +Ned wormed himself across the floor, and then, pressing himself against +the wall, reached up for the rope. A strange thought darted into his +brain. He had a deep feeling for music, and he could play both the +violin and piano. He could also ring chimes. He was keyed to the utmost, +every pulse and vein surcharged with the emotion that comes from a +desperate situation and a great impulse to save it. + +The great bell suddenly began to peal forth the air of The Star Spangled +Banner. Some of the notes may have gone wrong, there may have been +errors of time and emphasis, but the old tune, then young, was there. +Every man lying on the floor, every one of whom was born in the States, +knew it, and every heart leaped. Elsewhere it might have been a +commonplace thing to do, but there in the night and the storm, +surrounded by enemies, on a vast and lonely frontier it was an +inspiration. Every Texan in the valley who heard it would know that it +was the call of a friend asking for help, and he would come. + +Not a Texan moved, but they breathed heavily. Overhead the great bell +boomed solemnly on, and Ned, his hand on the rope, put all his heart and +strength into the task. A rifle cracked and a bullet entered the +doorway, but it passed over the heads of the Texans, and flattened +against the stone wall beyond. A rifle inside cracked in response, and a +Comanche in the grass and weeds uttered a death yell. + +"I was watchin' for just such a chance," said the Ring Tailed Panther in +satisfied tones. "I saw him when he rose to fire. Just as you thought, +Mr. Bowie, the bell is makin' their nerves raw, an' they feel that they +must do somethin' right away." + +"What a queer note that was in Ned's tune!" suddenly exclaimed Obed. + +Bowie laughed. + +"An angry Comanche shot at the bell and hit it. That's what happened," +he said. "They can waste as many bullets as they please that way." + +But the Comanches wasted no more just then. A noise came from the +horses. The shots evidently had alarmed them, and they were beginning to +stamp and rear. Four men, at the order of Bowie, slipped into the +improvised stable and sought to quiet them. They also remained there to +keep a guard at the broken windows. Ned, unconscious how much time had +passed, was still ringing the bell. + +"You can rest now, Ned," said Bowie. "That was a good idea of yours and +you can repeat it later on. I'm thinking that the Comanches will soon +act, if they are going to act at all." + +But nothing occurred for nearly an hour, when the horses began to rear +and stamp again. Two or three of them also uttered shrill neighs. Bowie, +with Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther joined the four already in +the improvised stable. The horses would not be quieted. It was quite +evident that instinct was warning them of something that human beings +could not yet detect. + +Ned wondered. He put his hand on the neck of his own horse which knew +him well, yet the beast trembled all over, and uttered a sudden shrill +neigh. It was quite dark in the place, only a little light coming +through the broken windows, yet Ned was quite sure that no Comanches had +managed to get inside, and lie in hiding there. + +A few moments later the Ring Tailed Panther uttered a fierce cry. + +"I smell smoke!" he cried. "That's why the horses are so scared. The +demons have managed to set fire to this place which is wood. That's why +they've been so quiet!" + +Ned, too, now smelt the strong odor of smoke, and a spurt of fire +appeared at a crack between two of the planks at the far end of the +place. The struggles of the horses increased. They were wild with +fright. + +Ned instantly recognized the danger. The burning wooden building would +fill the stone convent itself with flame and smoke, and make it +untenable. The sparks already had become many, and the odor of smoke was +increasing. Their situation, suddenly become desperate, was growing more +so every instant. But they were Texans, inured to every kind of danger. +Bowie shouted for more men to come from the convent, leaving only five +or six on guard there. + +Then the Texans began to bring method and procedure out of the turmoil. +Some held the horses, others, led by Bowie, kicked loose the light +planks where the fire had been started, and hurled them outward. They +were nearly choked by the smoke but they worked on. + +The Comanches, many of whom were hugging the wall, shouted their war +cry, and began to fire into the opening that Bowie and his men had made. +They could not take much aim, because of the smoke, but their bullets +wounded two Texans. Despite the danger Bowie and most of his men were +still compelled to work at the fire. The room was full of smoke, and +behind them the horses were yet struggling with those who held them. + +The Ring Tailed Panther lay down and resting himself on one elbow took +aim with his rifle. He was almost clear of the smoke which hung in a +bank above him. Ned noticed him and imitated him. He saw a dusky figure +outside and when he fired it fell. The Ring Tailed Panther did as well, +and Obed joined them. While Bowie and the others were dashing out the +fire, three great marksmen were driving back the Comanches who sought to +take advantage of the diversion. + +"Good! good!" cried Bowie, as they knocked out the last burning plank. + +"That ends the fire," said Obed, "and now we've got a hole here which is +not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a barn door, but I do not think it +will suffice for our friends, the Comanches." + +All the men turned their attention to the enemy, and, lying on the +ground, they took as good aim as the darkness would permit. The Texan +rifles cracked fast and, despite the darkness, the bullets often found +the chosen targets. The Comanches had been shouting the war whoop +continuously, but now their cries began to die, and their fire died with +it. Never a very good marksman, the Indian was no match for the Texans, +every one of whom was a sharpshooter, armed with a fine rifle of long +range. + +The Texans also fired from the shelter of the building, and, as the +great cloud was now parting, letting through shafts from the moon, the +Comanches were unable to find good hiding in the weeds and grass. The +bullets pursued them there. No matter how low they lay the keen eye of +some Texan searched them out, and sent in the fatal or wounding bullet. +Soon they were driven to the shelter of the adobe wall, where they lay, +and for a little while returned a scattering fire which did no harm. +After it ceased no Comanche uttered a war whoop and there was silence +again, save for the rain which now trickled down softly. + +Bowie distributed sentinels at the openings, including the new one made +by the fire, and then the Texans took count of themselves. They had not +escaped unscathed. One lying on the floor had received a bullet in his +head and had died in silence, unnoticed in the battle. Two men had +suffered wounds, but they were not severe, and would not keep them from +taking part in a renewal of the combat, should it come. + +All this reckoning was made in the dusk of the old convent, and with the +weariness of both body and soul that comes after a period of great and +prolonged exertion. Within the two rooms that they had defended, the +odor of burned gunpowder was strong, stinging throat and nostrils. +Eddies of smoke hung between floor and ceiling. Many of the men coughed, +and it was long before they could reduce the horses to entire quiet. + +They wrapped the dead man in his blankets and laid him in the corner. +They bound up the hurts of the others, as best they could and then, save +for the watching, they relaxed completely. Ned, his back against the +wall, sat with his friends Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. He was +utterly exhausted, and even in the dusk the men noticed it. + +"Here, Ned," said Obed, "take a chew of this. You may not feel that you +need it, but it will be a good thing for you." + +He extended a strip of dried venison. Ned thanked him and ate, although +he had not felt hungry. By and by he grew stronger, and then Bowie +called to him. + +"Ned," he said, "crawl across the floor again. Be sure you do not raise +your head until you reach the wall. Then ring the bell, until I tell you +to stop. I've a notion that somebody will come by morning. Boys, the +rest of you be ready with your rifles. It was the bell before that +brought on the attack." + +Ned slid across the floor, and once more pulled the rope with the old +fervor, sending the notes of the tune that he could play best far out +over the valley of the San Antonio. But no reply came from the +Comanches. They did not dare to rush the place again in the face of +those deadly Texan rifles. They made no sound while the bell played on, +but the Texans knew that they still lay behind the adobe wall, ready for +a shot at any incautious head. + +Ned rang for a full half hour, before Bowie told him to quit. Then he +crept back to his place. He put his head on his folded blanket and, +although not intending it, fell asleep, despite the close air of the +place. But he awoke before it was dawn, and hastily sat up, ashamed. +When he saw in the dark that half the men were asleep he was ashamed no +longer. Bowie, who was standing by one of the doors, but sheltered from +a shot, smiled at him. + +"The sun will rise in a half hour, Ned," he said, "and you've waked up +in time to hear the answer to your ringing of the bell. Listen!" + +Ned strained his ears, and he heard a faint far sound, musical like his +own call. It seemed to him to be the note of a trumpet. + +"Horsemen are coming," said Bowie, "and unless I am far wrong they are +Texans. Ring again, Ned." + +The bell boomed forth once more, and for the last time. Clear and sharp, +came the peal of the trumpet in answer. One by one the men awoke. The +light was now appearing in the East, the gray trembling into silver. +From the valley came the rapid beat of hoofs, a rifle shot and then +three or four more. Bowie ran out at the door, and Ned followed him. +Across the meadows the Comanches scurried on their ponies, and a group +of white men sent a volley after them. Then the white men galloped +toward the convent. Bowie walked forward to meet them. + +"You were never more welcome, Fannin," he said to the leader of the +group. + +The man sprang from his horse, and grasped Bowie's hand. + +"We rode as fast as we could, but I didn't know it was you, Jim," he +said. "Some of our scouts heard a bell somewhere playing The Star +Spangled Banner in the night. We thought they were dreaming, but they +swore to it. So we concluded it must be a call for help and I came with +the troop that you see here. We lost the direction once or twice, but +the bell called us back." + +"For that," said Bowie, "you have to thank this boy here, a boy in years +only, a man in action, and two men in mind and courage. This is Ned +Fulton, Colonel Fannin." + +Ned blushed and expostulated, but Bowie took nothing back. Fannin looked +about him curiously. + +"You seem to have had something of a fight here," he said. "Down in the +grass and weeds we saw several Comanches who will trouble no more." + +"We had all we wanted," said Bowie, "and we shall be glad to ride at +once with you to camp. I bring some good men for the cause, and there +are more behind." + +They buried the fallen man in the old flower garden, and then rode +swiftly for the Texan camp on the Salado. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN SAN ANTONIO + + +It was a crisp October morning, and as he galloped through the fresh +air, all of Ned's spirits came back to him. He would soon be with the +full array of the Texans, marching forward boldly to meet Cos himself +and all his forces. The great strain of the fight the night before +passed away as he inhaled the sparkling air. The red came back to his +cheeks, and he felt that he was ready to go wherever the boldest of the +Texans led. The Ring Tailed Panther shared his emotions. + +"Fine, isn't it?" said he. "Great valley, too, but it oughtn't to belong +to the Mexicans. It's been going down under them for a long time. They +haven't been able to protect it from Comanches, Apaches and Lipans. The +old convent that we held last night had been abandoned for fear of the +Indians, an' lots of other work that the Spaniards an' Mexicans did has +gone the same way." + +The beauty of the country increased, as they rode. Fine springs of cold +water gushed from the hills and flowed down into the clear green stream +of the San Antonio. The groves of oaks and pecans were superb, but they +passed more desolate and abandoned buildings and crossed more irrigation +ditches choked up with refuse. + +Bowie called Ned up to his side, and had him to relate again all that he +had seen and heard in Mexico. + +"Mr. Austin is at the camp," said Fannin, "and he has been asking about +you." + +Ned's heart thrilled. There was a strong bond between him and the +gentle, kindly man who strove so hard to serve both Texas and Mexico, +and whom Santa Anna had long kept a prisoner for his pains. + +"When will we reach the camp?" he asked Bowie. + +"In less than a half hour. See, the scouts have already sighted us." + +The scouts came up in a few moments, and then they drew near the camp. +Ned, eager of eye, observed everything. + +The heart of the camp was in the center of a pecan grove, where a few +tents for the leading men stood, but the Texans were spread all about in +both groves and meadows, where they slept under the open sky. They wore +no uniforms. All were in hunting suits of dressed deerskin or homespun, +but they were well armed with the long rifles which they knew how to use +with such wonderful skill. They had no military tactics, but they +invariably pressed in where the foe was thickest and the danger +greatest. They were gathered now in hundreds from all the Texas +settlements to defend the homes that they had built in the wilderness, +and Cos with his Mexican army did not dare to come out of San Antonio. + +The Texans welcomed Bowie and his men with loud acclaim. Ned and his +comrades unsaddled, tethered their horses and lay down luxuriously in +the grass. Mr. Austin was busy in his tent at a conference of the +leaders and Ned would wait until the afternoon to see him. Obed +suggested that they take a nap. + +"In war eat when you can and sleep when you can," he said. "Sleep lost +once is lost forever." + +"Obed has got some sense if he don't look like it," chuckled the Ring +Tailed Panther. "Here's to followin' his advice." + +Ned took it, too, and slept until the afternoon, when a messenger asked +him to come to Mr. Austin's tent, a large one, with the sides now open. +Obed was invited to come with him, and, as Ned stood in the door of the +tent the mild, grave man advanced eagerly, a glow of pleasure and +affection on his face. + +"My boy! my boy!" he said, putting both hands on Ned's shoulders. "I was +sure that I should never see you again, after you made your wonderful +escape from our prison in Mexico. But you are here in Texas none the +worse, and they tell me you have passed through a very Odyssey of +hardship and danger." + +Water stood in Ned's eyes. He rejoiced in the affection and esteem of +this man, and yet Mr. Austin was very unlike the rest of the Texans. +They were rough riders; men of the plains always ready to fight, but he, +cultivated and scholarly, was for peace and soft words. He had used his +methods, and they had failed, inuring only to the advantage of Santa +Anna and Mexico. He had failed most honorably, but he looked very much +worn and depressed. He was now heart and soul for the war, knowing that +there was no other resort, but for battle he did not feel himself +fitted. + +Ned introduced Obed as the companion of most of his wanderings, and Obed +received a warm greeting. Then other men in the great tent came forward, +and Ned, surprised, saw that one of them was Urrea, dressed neatly, +handsome and smiling. But the boy was glad to see him. + +"Ah, Senor Ned," he said, "you did not expect that I would get here +before you. I came by another way, and I have brought information for +our leader." + +Ned met the other men in the tent, all destined to become famous in the +great war, and then he gave in detail once more all that he knew of the +Mexicans and their plans. Mr. Austin sat on a little camp stool, as he +listened, and Ned noticed how pale and weak he looked. The boy's heart +sank, and then flamed up again as he thought of Santa Anna. It was he +who had done this. Away from Santa Anna and free from his magnetism he +had a heart full of hatred for him. Yet it depressed him to see Mr. +Austin who, good man, was obviously unfit for the leadership of an army, +about to enter upon a desperate war against great odds. + +When Ned was excused, and left the tent he found that Smith, Karnes and +the rest of their force had come up. The camp which was more like that +of hunters than of an army, was in joyous mood. Several buffaloes had +been killed on the plains and the men had brought them in, quartered. +Now they were cooking the meat over great fires, scattered about the +groves. The younger spirits were in boisterous mood. Several groups were +singing, and others were dancing the breakdowns of the border. + +Ned and Obed were joined by the Ring Tailed Panther and then by Urrea. +Ned felt the high spirits of the young Texans, but he did not join in +the singing and dancing. He learned from Urrea that Houston would arrive +in a day or two with more volunteers from Eastern Texas, and the young +Mexican also told him something about San Antonio. + +"Cos has a large force of regular troops," he said, "but he is alarmed. +He did not think that the Texans were in such earnest, and that they +would dare so much. Now, he is barricading the streets and building +breastworks." + +The Texans were so resolute and confident that the next day they sent a +demand to Cos for his surrender. He would not receive it, and threatened +that if another white flag appeared he would fire upon it. A day or two +later, Houston and the Eastern Texans arrived, and Ned, Obed, the Ring +Tailed Panther and Urrea planned a daring adventure for the following +night. They had heard how Cos was fortifying San Antonio, and as they +expected the Texan army to make an assault they intended to see just +what he was doing. + +They made their way very cautiously toward the town, left on foot when +the full dark had come. It was only four miles to San Antonio, and they +could reach the line of Mexican sentinels within an hour. The Ring +Tailed Panther was growling pleasantly between his teeth. He had tired +of inaction. His was a character such as only the rough world of the +border could produce. If he did not live by the sword he lived by the +rifle, and since childhood he had been in the midst of alarms. Long +habit had made anything else tiresome to him beyond endurance, but he +was by nature generous and kindly. Like Obed he had formed a strong +attachment for Ned who appealed to him as a high-souled and generous +youth. + +They made their way very cautiously toward the town, passing by +abandoned houses and crossing fields, overgrown with weeds. Both the +Ring Tailed Panther and Urrea knew San Antonio well, and Obed had been +there once. They were of the opinion that the town with its narrow +streets, stone and adobe houses was adapted particularly to defense, but +it was of the greatest importance to know just where the new outworks +were placed. + +The four came within sight of Mexican lights about nine o'clock. The +town was in the midst of gently rolling prairies and as nearly as they +could judge these lights--evidently those of camp fires--were about a +quarter of a mile from San Antonio. They were three in number and +appeared to be two or three hundred yards apart. They watched a little +while but they did not see any human outlines passing in front of the +fires. + +"They are learnin' caution," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "They are +afraid of the Texan rifles, an' while those fires light up a lot of +ground they keep their own bodies back in the shadow." + +"Wise men," said Obed. + +The Ring Tailed Panther looked his companions in the eye, one by one. + +"We come out here for business," he said. "What we want to acquire is +learnin', learnin' about the new defenses of San Antonio, an' we'd feel +cheap if we went back without it. Now, I don't care to feel cheap +myself. Good, careful, quiet fellows could slip between them sentinels, +an' get into San Antonio. I mean to do it. Are you game to go with me?" + +"I am," said Urrea, speaking very quickly and eagerly. + +"And I," said Ned. + +"To turn back is to confess one's weakness," said Obed. + +The Ring Tailed Panther roared gently, and with satisfaction. + +"That's the talk I like to hear an' expected to hear," he said. "You +boys ain't afraid of rippin' an' tearin', when it's in a good cause. +There's pretty good grass here. We'll just kneel down in it, an' crawl." + +The Panther marked a point about midway between the nearest two lights +and they advanced straight for it on hands and knees, stopping at +intervals of a hundred yards or so to rest, as that method of locomotion +was neither convenient nor comfortable. As they drew near to the fires +they saw the sentinels some distance back of them, and entirely in the +shadow, pacing up and down, musket on shoulder. The four were now near +enough to have been seen had they been standing erect, but they lay very +close to the earth, while they conferred a moment or two. + +"There's a patch of bushes between those two sentinels," whispered the +Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I think we'd better creep by in its shelter. +If either of the sentinels should look suspicious every one of us must +lay flat an' hold his breath. We could handle the sentinels, but what we +want to do is to get into San Antonio." + +They continued their slow and tiresome creeping. Only once did they +stop, and then it was because one of the sentinels paused in his walk +and took his musket from his shoulder. But it was only to light a +cigarette and, relieved, they crept on until they were well beyond the +fires, and within the ring of sentinels. Then at the signal of the Ring +Tailed Panther they rose to their feet, and stretched their cramped +limbs. + +"It is certainly good," whispered Obed, "to stand up on two legs again +and walk like a man." + +They were now very near to the town and they saw the dark shapes of +houses, in some of which lights burned. It was the poorer portion of San +Antonio, where the Mexican homes were mostly huts or jacals, made of +adobe, and sometimes of mere mud and wattles. As all the four spoke +Spanish, they advanced, confident in themselves, and the protecting +shadows of the night. A dog barked at them, but Obed cursed him in good, +strong Mexican, and he slunk away. Two peons wrapped to the eyes in +serapes passed them but Obed boldly gave them the salutations of the +night and they walked on, not dreaming that the dreaded Texans were by. + +Fifty yards further they saw a long earthwork, with the spades and +shovels lying beside it, as if the Mexicans expected to resume work +there in the morning. Toward the north they saw another such defense but +they did not go very near, as Mexican soldiers were camped beside it. +But Ned retained a very clear idea of the location of the two +earthworks. + +Then they curved in toward the more important portion of the town, the +center of which was two large squares, commonly called Main Plaza and +Military Plaza, separated only by the church of San Fernando. Here were +many houses built heavily of stone in the Spanish style. They had thick +walls and deep embrasured windows. Often they looked like and were +fortresses. + +Ned and his comrades were extremely anxious to approach those squares, +but the danger was now much greater. They saw barricades on several +important streets and many soldiers were passing. They learned from a +peon that both the squares and many other open places also were filled +with the tents of the soldiers. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther having seen so much were eager to +see more, but Urrea hung back. He thought they should return with the +information they had obtained already, and not risk the loss of +everything by capture, but the Ring Tailed Panther was determined. + +"I know San Antonio by heart," he said, "an' there's somethin' I want to +see. Down this street is the house of the Vice-Governor, Veramendi, and +I want to see what is going on there. If the rest of you feel that the +risk ain't justified you can turn back, but I'm goin' on." + +"If you go I'm going with you," said Ned. + +"Me, too," said Obed. + +Urrea shrugged his shoulders. + +"Very well," he said. "It's against my judgment, but I follow." + +They had pulled their slouch hats down over their faces, in the Mexican +style, and they handled their rifles awkwardly, after the fashion of +Mexican recruits. The Ring Tailed Panther led boldly down the street, +until they came to the stone house of Veramendi. Lights shone from the +deep embrasured windows of both the first and second floors. The Ring +Tailed Panther saw a small door in the stone wall, and he pushed it +open. + +"Come in! Come quick!" he said to his comrades. + +His tone was so sharp and commanding that they obeyed him by impulse, +and he quickly closed the door behind the little party. They stood in a +small, dark alley that ran beside the house and they heard the sound of +music. Crouching against the wall they listened, and heard also the +sounds of laughter and feminine voices. + +The Ring Tailed Panther grinned in the darkness. + +"Some kind of a fandango is goin' on," he said. "It's just like the +Mexicans to dance and sing at such a time. I wouldn't be s'prised if Cos +himself was here, an' I mean to see." + +He led the way down the little alley, which was roughly paved with +stone, and, as they advanced, the sounds of music and laughter +increased. Unquestionably Governor Veramendi was giving a ball, and Ned +did not doubt that the Panther's surmise about the presence of Cos would +prove correct. + +They found a little gate opening from the alley into a large patio or +enclosed court. This gate, like the first, was not locked and the Ring +Tailed Panther pushed it open also. The patio was filled with palms, +flowering plants and a dense shrubbery. + +The Ring Tailed Panther again led boldly on, and entered the patio, +hiding instantly among the palms and flowers. The others followed and +did likewise. Ned quivered with excitement. He knew that the danger was +great. He knew also that if they lay close and waited they were likely +to hear what was worth hearing. + +The boy was in a dense mat of shrubbery. To his right was Obed and to +his left were the Ring Tailed Panther and Urrea. He saw that the patio +was faced on three sides by piazzas or porticos, from which wide doors +opened into the house. He heard the music now as clearly as if it were +at his side. It was the music of a full band, and it was played with a +mellow, gliding rhythm. He saw, also, officers in brilliant uniform and +handsome women, as in the dance they passed and repassed the open doors. +It was Spanish, Mexican to the core, full of the South, full of warmth +and color. The lean, brown Texans crouching in the shrubbery furnished a +striking contrast. + +While they waited, several officers and ladies came out on the piazzas, +ate ices and drank sweet drinks. They were so near that the four easily +heard all they said. It was mostly idle chatter, high-pitched +compliments, allusions to people in the distant City of Mexico, and now +and then a jest at the expense of the Texans. Ned realized that many of +the younger Mexicans did not take the siege of San Antonio seriously. +They could not understand how a strong city, held by an army of Mexican +regulars, could have anything to fear from a few hundred Texan +horsemen, mostly hunters in buckskin. + +The music began again and the officers and women went in, but presently +several older men, also in uniform, came out. Ned instantly recognized +in the first the square figure and the dark, lowering face of Cos. + +"De La Garcia, Ugartchea, Veramendi," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther, +indicating the others. "Now we may hear something." + +Cos stood at the edge of the piazza and his face was troubled. He held +in his hand a small cane, with which he cut angrily at the flowers. The +others regarded him uneasily, but for a while he said nothing. Ned +hardly breathed, so intense was his interest and curiosity, but when Cos +at last spoke his disappointment was great. + +The General complimented Veramendi on his house and hospitality, and the +Vice-Governor thanked him in ornate sentences. Some more courtesies were +exchanged, but Cos continued to cut off the heads of the flowers with +his cane, and Ned knew now that they had come from the ballroom to talk +of more important things. Meanwhile, the music flowed on. It was the +swaying strains of the dance, and it would have been soothing to anyone, +whose mind was not forced elsewhere. The flowers and the palms rippled +gently under a light breeze, but Ned did not hear them. He was waiting +to hear Cos speak of what was in the mind of himself and the other men +on the piazza, the same things that were in the minds of the Texans in +the shrubbery. + +"Have you any further word from the Texan desperadoes, General?" asked +Veramendi, at last. + +Swish went the general's cane, and a flower fell from its stem. + +"Nothing direct," he replied, his voice rising in anger. + +"They have not sent again demanding my surrender knowing that a +messenger would be shot. The impudence of these border horsemen passes +all belief. How dare a few hundred such men undertake to besiege us here +in San Antonio? What an insult to Mexico!" + +"But they can fight," said Ugartchea. "They ride and shoot like demons. +They will give us trouble." + +"I know it," said Cos, "but the more trouble they make us the more they +shall suffer. It was an evil day when the first American was allowed to +come into Texas." + +"Yet they will attack us here," persisted Ugartchea, "They have driven +our men off the prairies. Our lances are not a match for their rifles. +Your pardon, General, but it will be wise for us to fortify still +further." + +Cos frowned and made another wicked sweep with the cane. But he said: + +"What you say is truth, Colonel Ugartchea, but with qualifications. Our +men are not a match for them on the open prairie, but should they attack +us here in the city they will be destroyed." + +Then he asked further questions about the fortifications, and Ugartchea, +who seemed to be in immediate charge, began to repeat the details. It +was for this that the Texans had come into the patio, and Ned leaned +forward eagerly. He saw Obed on one side of him and the Ring Tailed +Panther on the other do the same. Suddenly there was a noise as of +something falling in the shrubbery, and then a sharp whistle. The men on +the piazza instantly looked in the direction of the hidden Texans. Cos +and Ugartchea drew pistols. + +The Ring Tailed Panther acted with the greatest promptness and decision. + +"We must run for it, boys," he exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Something, +I don't know what, has happened to warn them that we are here. Keep your +heads low." + +Still partly hidden by the palms and flowers they ran for the gate. Cos +and Veramendi fired at the flitting forms and shouted for soldiers. Ned +felt one of the bullets scorch the back of his hand, but in a few +moments he was out of the gate and in the little dark alley. The Ring +Tailed Panther was just before him, and Obed was just behind. The +Panther, instead of running toward the street continued up the alley +which led to a large building of adobe, in the rear of the governor's +house. + +"It's a stable and storehouse," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' we'll +hide in it while the hunt roars on through the city." + +He jerked open a door, and they rushed in. Ned in the dusk saw some +horses eating in their stalls, and he also saw a steep ladder leading to +lofts above. The Ring Tailed Panther never hesitated, but ran up the +ladder and Ned followed sharply after him. He heard Obed panting at his +heels. + +The lofts contained dried maize and some vegetables, but they were +mostly filled with hay. The fugitives plunged into the hay and pulled it +around them, until only their heads and the muzzles of their rifles +protruded. They lay for a few moments in silence, save for the sound of +their own hard breathing, and then Ned suddenly noticed something. They +were only three! + +"Why, where is Urrea?" he exclaimed. + +"Yes, where in thunder is Don Francisco?" said the Ring Tailed Panther +in startled tones. + +Urrea was certainly missing, and no one could tell when they had lost +him. Their flight had been too hurried to take any count of numbers. +There could be only one conclusion. Urrea had been taken in the patio. +The Ring Tailed Panther roared between his teeth, low but savagely. + +"I don't like many Mexicans," he said, "but I got to like Don Francisco. +The Mexicans have shorely got him, an' it will go 'specially hard with +him, he bein' of their own race." + +Ned sighed. He did not like to think of Don Francisco at the mercy of +Cos. But they could do nothing, absolutely nothing. To leave the hay +meant certain capture within a few minutes. Already they heard the +sounds of the hunt, the shouts of soldiers and the mob, of men calling +to one another. Through the chinks in the wall they saw the light of +torches in the alley. They lay still for a few minutes and then the +noise of the search drifted down toward the plazas. The torches passed +out of the alley. + +"Did you hear that whistle just before Cos and Ugartchea fired?" asked +Ned. + +"I did," replied Obed. "I don't understand it, and what I don't +understand bothers me." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled, and his growl was the most savage that +Ned had ever heard from him. The growl did not turn into words for at +least a minute. Then he said: + +"I'm like you, Obed; I hate riddles, an' this is the worst one that I +was ever mixed up with. Somethin' fell in the shrubbery; then came the +whistle, the Mexicans shot, away we went, lickety split, an' now we're +here. That's all I know, an' it ain't much." + +"I wonder if we'll ever find out," said Ned. + +"Doubtful," replied the Ring Tailed Panther. "I'm afeard, boys, they +won't waste much time on Urrea, he bein' a spy an' of their own blood, +too. It's war an' we've got to make the best of it." + +But Ned could not make very well of it. A fugitive hidden there in the +hay and the dark, the fate of Urrea seemed very terrible to him. The +three sank into silence. Occasionally they heard cries from distant +parts of the town, but the hunt did not seem to come back toward them. +Ned was thankful that the Ring Tailed Panther had been so ready of wit. +The Mexicans would not dream that the Texans were hiding in the +Vice-Governor's own barn, just behind the Vice-Governor's own house. He +made himself cozy in the hay and waited. + +After about an hour, the town turned quiet, and Ned inferred that the +hunt was over. The Mexicans, no doubt, would assume that the three had +escaped from San Antonio, and they would not dare to hunt far out on the +prairies. But what of Urrea! Poor Urrea! Ned could not keep from +thinking of him, but think as hard as he could he saw no way to find out +about his fate. Perhaps the Ring Tailed Panther was right. They would +never know. + +The three did not stir for a long time. Ned felt very comfortable in the +hay. The night was cold without, but here he was snug and warm. He +waited for those older and more experienced than himself to decide upon +their course and he knew that Obed or the Ring Tailed Panther would +speak in time. He was almost in a doze when Obed said that it must be +about one o'clock in the morning. + +"You ain't far wrong," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "but I'd wait at +least another hour. That ball will be over then, if we didn't break it +up when we were in the garden." + +They waited the full hour, and then they stole from the hay. +Veramendi's house was silent and dark, and they passed safely into the +street. Ned had a faint hope that Urrea would yet appear from some dark +hiding place, but there was no sign of the young Mexican. + +They chose the boldest possible course, thinking that it would be +safest, claiming to one soldier whom they passed that they were +sentinels going to their duty at the farthest outposts. Luck, as it +usually does, came to the aid of courage and skill, and they reached the +outskirts of San Antonio, without any attempt at interference. + +Once more, after long and painful creeping, they stole between the +sentinels, took mental note of the earthworks again, and also a last +look at the dark bulk that was the town. + +"Poor Urrea!" said Ned. + +"Poor Urrea," said Obed. "I wonder what in the name of the moon and the +stars gave the alarm!" + +"Poor Urrea!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "This is the worst riddle I +ever run up ag'inst an' the more I think about it the more riddlin' it +gets." + +The three sighed together and then sped over the prairie toward the camp +on the Salado. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER + + +It was not yet daylight when they approached the Texan camp. Despite the +fact that the Texan force was merely a band of volunteer soldiers there +was an abundance of sentinels and they were halted when they were within +a half mile of the Salado. But they were recognized quickly, and they +passed within the lines, where, in the first rosy shoot of the dawn, +they saw Bowie going the rounds of the outposts. + +"What!" he exclaimed. "Back already! Then you did not get into the +town!" + +"We went right into it. We split it wide open," said the Ring Tailed +Panther. + +Bowie's blue eyes glittered. + +"But you are only three," he said. "Where is Urrea?" + +"We lost him an' we don't know how it happened. We know that he's gone, +an' that's all." + +Bowie took them to Mr. Austin's tent, where they told to him, Houston, +Fannin and the others all that they had seen in San Antonio. In view of +the fact, now clearly proved, that Cos was fortifying night and day, +Bowie and all the more ardent spirits urged a prompt attack, but Mr. +Austin, essentially a man of peace, hung back. He thought their force +too small. He was confirmed, too, in the belief of his own unfitness to +be a leader in war. + +"General," he said, turning to Houston, "you must take the command here. +It would be impossible to find one better suited to the place." + +But Houston shook his head. He would not agree to it. Able and +ambitious, he refused, nevertheless. Perhaps he did not yet understand +the full fighting power of the Texans, and he feared to be identified +with failure, in case they made the assault upon San Antonio. + +When Ned and his comrades withdrew from the tent they went to one of the +breakfast fires, where they ate broiled strips of buffalo and deer, and +drank coffee. Then Ned rolled in his blankets, and slept under an oak +tree. When he awoke about noon he sprang to his feet with a cry of joy +and surprise. Urrea was standing beside him, somewhat pale, and with his +left hand in a sling, but the young Mexican himself, nevertheless. Ned +seized his right hand and gave it a powerful grip. + +"We thought you as good as dead, Don Francisco," he said. "We were sure +that you had been taken by Cos." + +"I thought both things myself for a few wild moments," said Urrea, +smiling. "When we rushed from the patio one of the bullets grazed me, +but in my excitement as we passed the gate I ran down the alley toward +the street, instead of turning in toward the barn, as I have since +learned from Mr. White that you did. My wrist was grazed by one of the +bullets, fired from the piazza, but fortunately I had the presence of +mind to wrap it in the serape that I wore. + +"When I reached the street there was much excitement and many soldiers +running about, but being a Mexican it was easy for me to pass +unsuspected in the crowd. I reached the home of a relative, at heart a +sympathizer with Texas and liberty, where my wound was bound up, and +where I lay hidden until morning, when I was smuggled out of the town. +Then I made my way among the oaks and pecans, until I came here to our +camp on the Salado. I had inquired for you during the night, and, not +hearing any news of your capture, I was sure that you were in hiding as +I was, and when I came here my best hopes were confirmed by the news of +your complete escape. Mr. White has already given me all the details. We +have been very lucky indeed, and we should be thankful." + +"We are! We truly are!" exclaimed Ned, grasping his hand again. + +The news brought by Ned and his comrades was so important that the +Texans could not be restrained. A few mornings later Bowie called upon +the boy, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther for a new service. + +"Mr. Austin has told me to take a strong party," he said, "and scout up +to the very suburbs of San Antonio, because we are going to choose a new +and closer position. There are to be ninety of us, including you three, +'Deaf' Smith and Henry Karnes, and we are to retire if the Mexicans +undertake an attack upon us, that is, if we have time--you understand, +if we have time." + +Ned saw Bowie's big eyes glitter, and he understood. The party, the envy +of all the others, rode out of the camp in the absence of Urrea. Bowie +had not asked him, as he did not seem to fancy the young Mexican, but +Ned put it down to racial prejudice. Urrea had not been visible when +they started, but Ned thought chagrin at being ignored was the cause of +it. Fannin also went along, associated with Bowie in the leadership, but +Bowie was the animating spirit. They rode directly toward San Antonio, +and, as the distance was very short, they soon saw Mexican sentinels on +horseback, some carrying lances and some with rifles or muskets. They +would withdraw gradually at the appearance of the Texans, keeping just +out of gunshot, but always watching these dangerous horsemen whom they +had learned to fear. The Texans were near enough to see from some points +the buildings of the town, and the veins of the Ring Tailed Panther +swelled with ambition. + +"Ned," he said to the boy who rode by his side, "if Bowie would only +give the word we would gallop right into town, smashing through the +Mexicans." + +"We might gallop into it," said Ned, laughing, "but we couldn't gallop +out again. No, no, Panther, we mustn't forget that the Mexicans can +fight. Besides, Bowie isn't going to give the word." + +"No, he ain't," said the Ring Tailed Panther with a sigh, "an' we won't +get the chance to make one of the finest dashes ever heard of in war." + +"He who doesn't dash but rides away will live to dash another day," said +Obed White oracularly. + +They rode on in a half circle about the town, keeping a fairly close +array, every man sitting his saddle erect and defiant. It seemed to Ned +that they were issuing a challenge to the whole army of Cos, and he +enjoyed it. It appealed to his youthful spirit of daring. They +practically said to the Mexican army in the town: "Come out and fight us +if you dare!" + +But the Mexicans did not accept the challenge. Save for the little +scouting parties that always kept a watch at a safe distance they +remained within their intrenchments. But Bowie and Fannin were able to +take a look at the fortifications, confirming in every respect all that +Ned and his comrades had told them. + +They ate in the saddle at noon, having provided themselves with rations +when they started, and then rode back on their slow half circle about +the town, Mexican scouts riding parallel with them on the inner side of +the circle, five hundred yards away. The Texans said little, but they +watched all the time. + +It made a powerful appeal to Ned, who had been a great reader, and whose +mind was surcharged with the old romances. It seemed to him that his +comrades and he were like knights, riding around a hostile city and +issuing a formal challenge to all who dared to meet them. He was proud +to be there in such company. The afternoon waned. Banks of vapor, rose +and gold, began to pile up in the southwest, their glow tinting the +earth with the same colors. But beauty did not appeal just then to the +Ring Tailed Panther, who began to roar. + +"A-ridin', an' a-ridin'," he said, "an' nothin' done. Up to San Antonio +an' back to camp, an' things are just as they were before." + +"A Texas colonel rode out on the prairie with ninety men, and then rode +back again," said Obed. + +"But we are not going back again!" cried Ned joyfully. + +Bowie, who was in the lead, suddenly turned his horse away from the camp +and rode toward the river. The others followed him without a word, but +nearly every man in the company drew a long breath of satisfaction. Ned +knew and all knew that they were not going back to camp that night. + +Ned eagerly watched the leader. They rode by the Mission Concepcion, +passed through a belt of timber and came abruptly to the river, where +Bowie called a halt, and sprang from his horse. Ned leaped down also, +and he saw at once the merits of the position into which Bowie had led +them. They were in a horseshoe or sharp bend of the river, here a +hundred yards in width. The belt of thick timber curved on one side +while the river coiled in a half-circle about them and in front of the +little tongue of land on which they stood, the bank rose to a height of +eighteen feet, almost perpendicular. It was a secluded place, and, as no +Mexicans had been following them in the course of the last hour, Ned +believed that they might pass a peaceful night there. But the Ring +Tailed Panther had other thoughts, although, for the present, he kept +them to himself. + +They tethered the horses at the edge of the wood, but where they could +reach the grass, and then Bowie placed numerous pickets in the wood +through which an enemy must come, if he came. Ned was in the first watch +and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were with him. Ned stood among the +trees at a point where he could also see the river, here a beautiful, +clear stream with a greenish tint. He ate venison from his knapsack as +he walked back and forth, and he watched the last rays of the sun, +burning like red fire in the west, until they went out and the heavy +twilight came, trailing after it the dark. + +Ned's impression of mediaevalism that he had received in the day when +they were riding about San Antonio continued in the night. They had gone +back centuries. Hidden here in this horseshoe, water on one side and +wood on the other, they seemed to be in an absolutely wild and primitive +world. Centuries had rolled back. His vivid imagination made the forest +about them what it had been before the white man came. + +The surface of the river was now dark. The stream flowed gently, and +without noise. It, too, struck upon the boy's imagination. It would be +fitting for an Indian canoe to come stealing down in the darkness, and +he almost fancied he could see it there. But no canoe came, and Ned +walked back and forth in a little space, always watching the wood or the +river. + +The night was very quiet. The horses, having grazed for an hour or two, +now rested content. The men not on guard, used to taking their sleep +where they could find it, were already in slumber. There was no wind. + +The dark hours as usual were full of chill, but Ned's vigorous walk back +and forth kept him warm. He was joined after a while by the famous +scout, Henry Karnes, who, like "Deaf" Smith, seemed to watch all the +time, although he came and went as he pleased. + +"Well, boy," said Karnes, "do you find it hard work, this watching and +watching and watching for hours and hours?" + +"Not at all," replied Ned, responding to his tone of humorous kindness. +"I might have found it so once, but I don't now. I'm always anxious to +see what will happen." + +"That's a good spirit to have," said Karnes, smiling, "and you need it +down here, where a man must always be watching for something. In Texas +boys have to be men now." + +He walked back and forth with Ned, and the lad felt flattered that so +famous a scout should show an interest in him. The two were at the edge +of the wood and they could see duskily before them a stretch of bare +prairie. Karnes was watching this open space intently, and Ned was +watching it also. + +The boy saw nothing, but suddenly he heard, or thought he heard, a low +sound. It was faint, but, unconsciously bending forward a little, he +heard it again. It was a metallic rattle and instantly he called the +attention of Karnes to it. The scout stopped his walk and listened. Then +Ned saw his form grow rigid and tense. + +"Let's put our ears to the ground, Ned," said he. + +The two stretched out ear to earth, and then Ned not only heard the +noise much more distinctly, but he knew at once what it was. He had +heard it more than once in the marching army of Cos. It was the sound +made by the approaching wheel of a cannon. + +"Artillery," he said in a whisper. + +"Beyond a doubt," said Karnes. "It means that the Mexicans have crossed +the river--there's a ford two or three hundred yards above--and mean to +attack us. It was your good ear, Ned, that gave us the first warning." + +Ned flushed with pleasure at the compliment, but, a moment or two later, +they saw dark figures rising out of the prairie and advancing toward +them. + +"Mexicans!" cried Karnes, and instantly fired at a dusky outline. The +figures flitted away in the dusk, but the camp of Bowie was aroused at +once. Inside of a minute every man was on his feet, rifle in hand, +facing the open place in the horseshoe. They knew that they could not be +attacked from the river. Bowie came to the side of Ned and Karnes. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"Ned heard a sound," Karnes replied, "and when we put our ears to the +earth we knew that it was made by artillery. Then I saw their scouts and +skirmishers and fired upon them. They must have crossed the river in +strong force, Colonel." + +"Very likely," said Bowie. "Well, we shall be ready for them. Henry, you +and Smith and the Ring Tailed Panther scout across the prairie there, +and see what has become of them." + +"Can't I go, too?" asked Ned. + +Bowie patted him on the shoulder. + +"You young fire eater!" he replied. "Haven't you done enough for one +night? You gave us the first warning that the Mexicans were at hand. I +think you'd better rest now, and let these old boys do this job." + +The three chosen men disappeared in the darkness, and Ned sat down among +the trees with Obed. They, like everybody else, waited as patiently as +they could for the reports of the scouts. + +"Obed," said Ned, "do you think we're going to have a battle?" + +"The signs point that way." + +Bowie set everybody to work cutting out undergrowth, in order that they +might have a clear field for the work that they expected. By the time +this task was completed the scouts returned and their report was +alarming. + +The Mexicans had crossed the river in heavy force, outnumbering the +troop of Texans at least five to one. They had artillery, infantry and +cavalry, and they were just out of range, expecting to attack at dawn. +The avenue of escape was cut off already. + +"Very good," said Bowie. "We'll wait for them." + +It was too dark to see, but Ned knew that his blue eyes were glittering. +He advanced to the point where the bluff rose nearly ten feet to the +edge of the prairie, and took a long look. + +"I can see nothing," he said, "but I know you men are right. Now we'll +cut steps all along the edge of this bluff, in order that our men can +stand in them, and fire at the enemy as he comes. Then we'll have as +fine a fort here as anybody could ask." + +The men fell to work with hatchets and big knives, cutting steps in the +soft earth, at least a hundred of them in order that everybody might +have a chance. Meanwhile the hour of dawn was at hand, but a heavy mist +had thickened over prairie and river. Beyond the mists and vapors, the +sun showed only a yellow blur, and it did not yet cast any glow over the +earth. + +But Ned could clearly hear the Mexicans; officers shouting to men; men +shouting to horses; horses neighing and mules squealing, and he knew +from these noises that the report of their great force by the scouts was +correct. He also heard the clank of the artillery wheels again, and he +feared that the cannon would prove a very dangerous foe to them. All the +pulses in his body began to beat fast and hard. + +"Will the sun ever get through the fog and let us see?" he exclaimed +impatiently. It was hard to wait at such a time. + +"It's comin' through now," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +The pale yellow light turned suddenly to full red gold. The banks of +mist and vapor dissolved under the shining beams, and floated away in +shreds and patches. The river, the forest and the prairie rose up into +the light, everything standing out, sharp and clear. + +Ned drew a deep breath. There was the Mexican array, massed along the +entire open space of the horseshoe, at least five to the Texan one, as +the scouts had said, and now not more than two hundred yards from them. +Five companies of cavalry were gathered ready to charge; infantry stood +just behind them and back of the infantry Ned caught the gleam of the +cannon he had heard in the night. Evidently the Mexicans had not yet +brought it to the front, because its fire would interfere with the +charge of the cavalry which they expected would end the battle in five +minutes. There was no chance for the Texans to retreat, but it was not +of retreat that they were thinking. + +"How's your pulse, Ned?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"It's beating fast and hard, I won't deny that," replied Ned, "but I +believe my finger will be steady when it presses the trigger." + +"Fine feathers make fine Mexicans," said Obed White. "How they do love +color! That's a gorgeous array out there, and it seems a pity to break +it up." + +The Mexican force certainly looked well. The cavalry, in brilliant +uniforms, presented a long front, their lances gleaming. The Texans, +standing in the steps that they had cut in the earth, were in sober +attire, but resolute eyes looked out from under their caps or the wide +brims of their hats. + +"They'll charge in a moment," said Obed, "and they'll try to break their +way through the wood. They cannot ride down this bluff." + +The Ring Tailed Panther raised his rifle, and looked down the sights. +His eyes were glittering. He drew the trigger and the sharp lashing +report ended the silence. A Mexican officer fell from his horse, and +then, with a great shout, the Mexican horsemen charged, presenting a +gallant array as they bent forward, their rifles and lances ready. The +beat of their horses' hoofs came over the prairie like roiling thunder. +They wheeled suddenly toward the wood, and then the infantry, advancing, +opened heavy and repeated volleys upon the Texans. The horsemen also +fired from their saddles. + +It was the heaviest fire under which Ned had ever come, and, for a few +moments, he quivered all over. He saw a great blaze in front, above it a +cloud of lifting smoke, and he heard over his head the hum of many +bullets, like the whistling of hail, driven by a heavy wind. But he was +experienced enough now to note that the Mexican fire was wasted. That +bank was a wonderful protection. + +"It's almost a shame to shoot 'em," roared the Ring Tailed Panther who +had reloaded. But up went his rifle, his finger pressed the trigger and +another Mexican officer fell from his horse. All along the Texan front +ran the rifle fire, a rapid crackling sound like the ripping apart of +some great cloth. But the Texans were taking aim. There was no confusion +among the hardy veterans of the plains. Lying against the face of the +bluff they were sending in their bullets with deadly precision. Horse +after horse in the charging host galloped away riderless over the +prairie, and the front rank of the infantry was shot down. + +Ned, like the others, was loading and firing swiftly, but with care. The +imminent danger kept down any feeling that he would have had otherwise. +The Mexicans sought their lives, and he must seek theirs. The smoke and +the odor of burned gunpowder inflamed him. There was still a blaze in +front of him, but he also saw the brown faces of the Mexicans yet +pressing forward, and he yet heard the continued thunder of the charging +hoofs. + +"Another bullet, Ned," roared the Ring Tailed Panther and he and the +others around him sent a fresh volley at the horsemen. The Mexican +cavalry could stand no more. Five companies strong, they broke and +galloped away, seeking only to escape from the deadly fire of the Texan +rifles. The infantry also gave back and for a few minutes there was a +lull. + +"That's the end of Chapter One," said Obed White. "Our Mexican friends +came in haste and they will repent at a distance." + +The smoke lifted and Ned saw many fallen, both men and horses, on the +plain in front of them, and there was confusion in the Mexican force, +which was now out of gunshot. Never had the Texan rifles done more +deadly service. The Texan loss was small. + +Ned dropped down from the steps and sat on the grass. His face was wet +with perspiration, and he wiped it on his sleeve. He was compelled to +cough once or twice to clear his throat of the smoke. The Ring Tailed +Panther also was warm, but satisfied. + +"A Texan does best in a fight against odds," he said, "an' we have the +odds to-day. But don't you think, Ned, that it's over already?" + +"I don't," said Ned. "I know that they will be up to some new trick +soon. They will realize that they underrated us at first." + +He sprang back into the steps that he had cut in the bluff, and took a +good look at the Mexicans. + +"They are nearly ready with Chapter Second, Obed," he said. "They are +bringing up that cannon." + +"Should have used it in the first place," said the Ring Tailed Panther. +"They didn't show much sense." + +The Mexicans were running the gun forward to a little mound, whence they +could drop shells and shot over the edge of the bluff, directly among +the Texans. It was a far more formidable danger than the impulsive +charge, and Bowie at once took measures to meet it. He called the best +rifle shots. Among them were Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"There are fifteen of you," said the dauntless leader, "and your rifles +will reach that gun. Shoot down every man who tries to handle it. The +rest of us will attend to the new charge that is coming." + +The second attack was to be more formidable than the first. The Mexican +cavalry had massed anew. Ned saw the officers, driving the men into +place with the flats of swords, and he heard the note of a trumpet, +singing loud and clear over the prairie. Then his eyes turned back to +the gun, because there his duty lay. + +Ned heard the trumpet peal again, and then the thud of hoofs. He saw the +rammers and spongers gather about the gun. The rifle of the Ring Tailed +Panther cracked, and the man with the rammer fell. Another picked it up, +but he went down before the bullet of Obed. Then a sponger fell, and +then the gunner himself was slain by the bullet. The Texans were doing +wonderful sharpshooting. The gun could not be fired, because nobody +could live near it long enough to fire it. Its entire complement was +cleared away by the swift little bullets. + +Off to right and left, Ned heard again the rising crackle of the rifle +fire, and he also heard the steady monotonous beat of the hoofs. He knew +that the charge was still coming on, but Bowie would attend to that. He +and his immediate comrades never took their eyes from the gun. New +cannoneers, an entire complement, were rushing forward to take the place +of their fallen comrades. The Mexicans showed plenty of courage that +day but the deadly sharpshooters were slaying them as fast as they came. +They were yet unable to fire the gun. Nor could they draw it back from +its dangerous position. A second time all about it were slain, but a +third body came forward for the trial. + +"Greasers or no greasers," cried Obed, "those are men of courage!" + +But he continued to shoot straight at them nevertheless, and the third +group of cannoneers was fast melting away. + +"Some of you aim at the mules hitched to the caisson," cried the Ring +Tailed Panther. "I hate to kill a mule, but it will be a help now." + +One of the mules was slain and two others, wounded, dashed wildly +through the Mexican infantry, adding to the confusion and turmoil. The +last of the third group of cannoneers fell and the gun stood alone and +untouched, the shell still in place. No one now dared to approach it. +The dead now lay in a group all about it. Meanwhile, the second charge +broke like the first and the cavalry galloped wildly away. + +Ned could turn his eyes now. He saw more riderless horses than before, +while the fallen, lying still on the prairie, had doubled in number. +Then his eyes turned back to the gun, standing somber and silent among +those who had died for it. The battle-fire gone, for the present, Ned +felt pity for the Mexicans who lay so thick about the cannon. Nor did he +fail to admire the courage that had been spent so freely, but in vain. + +"They won't come again," said the Ring Tailed Panther, dropping to the +grass. "They have had enough." + +"I don't blame 'em," said Obed, lying down by his side. "They must have +lost a third of their number, and they'd have lost another third if they +had charged once more." + +"They're not going away," said Ned, who had remained on his perch. +"They're coming again." + +A third time the Mexicans charged and a third time they were driven back +by the rifles. Then they formed on the prairie beyond gunshot, and +marched away to San Antonio, leaving behind the mournful and silent +cannon as proof alike of their courage and defeat. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE WHEEL OF FIRE + + +Ned watched the Mexicans marching away until the last lance had +disappeared behind a swell of the prairie. Then he joined in the cheer +that the Texans gave, after which he and his comrades went out upon the +field, and gazed upon their work. The killed among the Mexicans nearly +equaled in numbers the whole Texan force, sixteen lying dead around the +cannon alone, and many of them also had been wounded, while the Texans +had escaped with only a single man slain, and but few hurt. But Ned +quickly left the field. The sight of it was not pleasant to him, +although he was still heart and soul with the Texans, in what he +regarded as a defensive war. + +Bowie drew his forces out of the horseshoe and they rode for the Texan +camp, carrying with them the trophies of arms that they had taken. On +their way they met Mr. Austin and a strong force who had heard of their +plight and who were now coming to their relief. They, too, rejoiced +greatly at the victory, and all went back in triumph to the Salado. + +"Now that they have seen how we can fight I reckon that Mr. Austin and +Houston will order an attack right away on San Antonio," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. + +"I don't believe they will," said Obed White. "Seeing is sometimes +doubting. I believe that they still fear our failure." + +Ned inclined to Obed's belief but he said nothing. At twilight Urrea +came back, rejoicing and also full of regrets. He rejoiced over the +victory and he regretted that he had not been there. + +"Seems to me, Don Francisco," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "that you're +missin' a lot of things." + +"There's many a slip 'twixt Francisco and the fight-o," said Obed. + +Ned was hurt by the irony of his friends, but Urrea only laughed as he +spread his blanket in a good place, and lay down on it. + +"I will admit, gentlemen," he said in his precise English, "that I seem +always to be absent when anything important happens, but it is owing to +the nature of the service that I can best render the Texans. Being of +the Mexican race and knowing the country so thoroughly, I am of most +value as a seeker after information. I had gone off on a long scout +about San Antonio, and I have news which I have given to Mr. Austin." + +"Spyin' is a dangerous business, but it's got to be done," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. Ned saw that he again looked with disfavor upon Urrea, +but he ascribed it as before to racial aversion. + +Obed was right. Despite the brilliant victory of Bowie, Houston and +Austin still held back, and the Ring Tailed Panther roared long and +loud. But his roaring was cut short by an order for him, Obed, Ned and +Urrea to ride eastward to some of the little Texan towns in search of +help. The leaders were anxious that their utmost strength be gathered +when they should at last make the attack upon San Antonio. Since he +could not have just what he wished, the Panther was glad to get the new +task, and the others were content. + +They rode away the next morning, armed and provisioned well. Their +horses, having rested long and fed abundantly, were strong and fresh, +and they went at a good pace, until they came to the last swell from +which they could see San Antonio. The town was distant, but it was +magnified in the clear Texas sunlight. It looked to Ned, sitting there +on his horse, like a large city. It had come to occupy a great place in +his mind and just now it was to him the most important town in the +world. He wondered if they would ever take it. Urrea, who was watching +him, smiled. + +"I know what you are thinking," he said, "and I will wager that it was +just the same that I was thinking." + +"I was trying to read the future and tell whether we would take San +Antonio," said Ned. + +"Exactly. Those were my thoughts, too." + +"I reckon you two wasn't far away from my trail either," said the Ring +Tailed Panther, "'cause I was figgerin' that we'd take it inside of a +month." + +"Count me in, too," said Obed. "Great minds go in bunches. I was +calculating that we would capture it some day, but I left out the limit +of time." + +They turned their horses, and when they reached the crest of the next +swell San Antonio was out of sight. Before them stretched the prairies, +now almost as desolate as they had been when the Indians alone roamed +over them. They passed two or three small cabins, each built in a +cluster of trees near a spring, but the occupants had gone, fled to a +town for shelter. One seemed to have been abandoned only an hour or two +ago, as the ashes were scarcely cold on the hearth, and a bucket of +water, with its gourd in it, still stood on the shelf. The sight moved +the Ring Tailed Panther to sentiment. + +"Think of the women an' children havin' to sleep out on the prairie," he +said. "It ain't right an' fittin'." + +"We'll bring them all back before we are through," said Obed. + +They left the little cabin, exactly as they had found it, and then rode +at an increased pace toward the north and the east, making for the +settlements on the Brazos. A little while before nightfall, they met a +buffalo hunter who told them there were reports of a Mexican cavalry +force far north of San Antonio, although he could not confirm the truth +of the rumors. Urrea shook his head vigorously. + +"Impossible! impossible!" he said. "The Mexicans would not dare to come +away so far from their base at San Antonio." + +The hunter, an old man, looked at him with curiosity and disapproval. + +"That's more than you an' me can say," he said, "although you be a +Mexican yourself and know more about your people than I do. I jest tell +what I've heard." + +"Mr. Urrea is one of the most ardent of the Texan patriots," said Ned. + +"I jest tell what I've heard," said the old man, whistling to his pony +and riding away. + +"Obstinate!" said Urrea, laughing in his usual light, easy manner. +"These old hunters are very narrow. You cannot make them believe that a +Mexican, although born on Texas soil, which can be said of very few +Texans, is a lover of liberty and willing to fight against aggression +from the capital." + +At night they rode into a splendid belt of forest, and made their camp +by a cool spring that gushed from a rock and flowed away among the +trees. Ned and Obed scouted a little, and found the country so wild that +the deer sprang up from the bushes. It was difficult to resist the +temptation of a shot, but they were compelled to let them go, and +returning to camp they reported to Urrea and the Ring Tailed Panther +that they seemed to have the forest to themselves, so far as human +beings were concerned. + +"Do you think it is safe to light a fire?" asked Urrea. + +"I see no danger in it," replied Obed, "that is, none in a little one. +There are so many bushes about us that it couldn't be seen fifty yards +away." + +It was now November and as the night had become quite cold Urrea's +suggestion of a fire seemed good to Ned. He showed much zeal in +gathering the dry wood, and then they deftly built a fire, one that +would throw out little flame, but which would yet furnish much heat. The +Ring Tailed Panther, who had the most skill in wilderness life, kindled +it with flint and steel, and while the flames, held down by brush, made +hot coals beneath, the smoke was lost among the trees and the darkness. + +The horses were tethered near, and they warmed their food by the coals +before eating it. The place was snug, a little cup set all around by +bushes and high trees, and the heat of the fire was very grateful. While +Ned sat before it, eating his food, he noticed great numbers of last +year's fallen leaves lying about, and he picked the very place where he +would make his bed. He would draw great quantities of the leaves there +under the big beech, and spread his blankets upon them. + +They were tired after the long day's journey, and they did not talk +much. The foliage about them was so thick, making it so dark within the +little shade that the need of a watch seemed small, but they decided to +keep it, nevertheless. The Ring Tailed Panther would take the first half +of the night and Urrea the second half. The next night would be divided +between Obed and Ned. + +Ned raked up the leaves at the place that he had selected, folded +himself between his blankets, and was asleep in five minutes. The last +thing that he remembered seeing was the broad figure of the Ring Tailed +Panther, sitting with his back against a tree, and his rifle across his +knees. + +But Ned awoke hours later--after midnight in fact--although it was not a +real awakening, instead a sort of half way station from slumberland. He +did not move, but opened his eyes partly, and saw that Urrea was now on +guard. The young Mexican was not sitting as the Ring Tailed Panther had +been, but was standing some yards away, with his rifle across his +shoulder. Ned thought in a vague way that he looked trim and strong, and +then his heavy lids dropped down again. But he did not fall back into +the deep sleep from which he had come. The extra sense, his remarkable +power of intuition or divination was at work. Without any effort of his +will the mechanism of his brain was moving and gave him a signal. He +heard a slight noise and he lifted the heavy lids. + +Urrea had walked to the other side of the little glade, his feet +brushing some of the dry leaves as he went. There was nothing unusual in +such action on the part of a sentinel, but something in Urrea's attitude +seemed to Ned to denote expectancy. His whole figure was drawn close +together like that of one about to spring, and he leaned forward a +little. Yet this meant nothing. Any good man on guard would be attentive +to every sound of the forest, whether the light noise made by a +squirrel, as he scampered along the bark of a tree, or a stray puff of +wind rustling the leaves. + +Ned made another effort of the will, and closed his eyes for the second +time, but the warning sense, the intuitive note out of the infinite, +would not be denied. He was compelled to open his eyes once more and +now his faculties were clear. Urrea had moved again and now he was +facing the sleepers. He regarded them attentively, one by one, and in +the dusk he could not see that Ned's eyelids were not closed. The boy +did not stir, but a cold shiver ran down his spine. He felt with all the +power of second sight that something extraordinary was going to happen. + +Urrea walked to the smoldering fire, and now Ned dropped his eyelids, +until he looked only through a space as narrow as the edge of a knife +blade. Urrea stooped and took from the dying heap a long stick, still +burning at the end. Then he took another look at the three and suddenly +disappeared among the bushes, carrying with him the burning stick. He +was so light upon his feet that he made no sound as he went. + +Ned was startled beyond measure, but he was like a spring released by a +key. He felt that the need of instant action was great, and, as light of +foot as Urrea himself, he sprang up, rifle in hand, and followed the +young Mexican. He was thankful for the wilderness training that he had +been compelled to acquire. He caught sight of Urrea about twenty yards +ahead, still moving swiftly on soundless feet. He moved thus a hundred +yards or more, with Ned, as his shadow, as dark and silent as he, and +then he stopped by the side of a great tree. + +Ned felt instinctively, when Urrea halted that he would look back to see +if by chance he were followed, and he sank down in the bushes before the +Mexican turned. Urrea gave only a glance or two in that direction and, +satisfied, began to examine the tree which was certainly worthy of +attention, as it rose to an uncommon height, much above its fellows. + +Ned's amazement grew. Why should Urrea be so particular about the size +or height of a tree? It grew still further, when he saw Urrea lay his +rifle down at the foot of the tree, spring up, grasp the lowest branch +with one hand, and then deftly draw himself up, taking with him the +burning stick. He paused a moment on the bough, looked again toward the +little camp and then climbed upward with a speed and dexterity worthy of +a great monkey. + +Ned saw the Mexican's figure going up and up, a dark blur against the +stem of the tree, and it was hard to persuade himself that it was +reality. He saw also the bright spark on the end of the stick that he +carried with him. The tree rose to a height of nearly 150 feet, and when +Urrea passed above the others that surrounded it, the moon's rays, +unobstructed, fell upon him. Then, although he became smaller and +smaller, Ned saw him more clearly. The boy was so much absorbed now in +the story that was unfolding before him that he did not have time to +wonder. + +Urrea went up as high as the stem would sustain him. Then he rested his +feet on a bough, wrapped his left arm around the tree, and, with his +right arm, began to whirl the burning stick rapidly. The spark leaped +up, grew into a blaze, and Ned saw a wheel of fire. He had seen many +strange things, but this, influenced by circumstances of time and place, +was the most uncanny of them all. + +Far above his head, and above the body of the forest revolved the wheel +of fire. Urrea's own body had melted away in the darkness, until it was +fused with the tree. Ned now saw only the fiery signal, for such it must +be, and his heart rose in fierce anger against Urrea. Once he lifted his +rifle a little, and studied the possibilities of a shot at such range, +but he put the rifle down again. He would watch and wait. + +The wheel ceased presently to revolve, and Ned saw Urrea again, torch in +hand, but motionless. He, too, was waiting. He did not stir for a full +quarter of an hour, but all the while the torch burned steadily. Then he +suddenly began to whirl it again, but in a direction opposite to that +made by the first wheel of fire. Around and around went the burning +brand for some minutes. When he stopped, he waited at least ten minutes +longer. Then, as if he had received the answer that he wished, making +the claim of communication complete, he dropped the torch. Ned saw it +falling, a trail of light, until it struck among the bushes, where it +went out. Then Urrea began to descend the tree, but he came down more +slowly than he had gone up. + +Ned slipped forward, seized Urrea's rifle, and then slipped back among +the bushes. He put the Mexican's weapon at his feet, cocked his own and +waited. + +Urrea, coming slowly down the tree, stopped and stood there for a few +moments as if in contemplation. A shaft of moonlight piercing through +the foliage fell upon his face illumining the olive complexion and the +well-cut features. It was hard for Ned to believe what he had seen. What +could it be but a signal? and that signal to the enemies of the Texans! +And yet Urrea did not look like a villain and traitor. There was +certainly no malevolence in his face, which on the other hand had rather +a melancholy cast, as he stood there on the bough before swinging to the +ground. + +Ned strengthened his will. He had seen what he had seen. Such things +could not be passed over in times when lives were the forfeit of +weakness. Urrea let himself lightly to the earth, and stooped down for +his rifle. It was not there, and when he straightened up again Ned saw +that his face was ghastly pale in the moonlight. Urrea, with his quick +perceptions, was bound to know from the absence of the rifle that he had +been followed and was caught. His hand went down toward his belt where a +pistol hung, but Ned instantly called from the bush: + +"Hands up, Don Francisco, or I shoot!" + +His tone was stern and menacing, and Urrea's hands went up by the side +of his head. But the paleness left his face, and his manner became +careless and easy. + +"Is that you, Ned?" he called in the most friendly tones. "Is it a joke +that you play upon me? Ah, you Anglo-Saxons, you seem rough in your play +to us Latins." + +"It is no joke, Don Francisco. I was never more earnest in my life," +said Ned, stepping from the bush, but still keeping Urrea covered with +his rifle. "Your merits as a climber of trees are great, but you +interested me more with your wheel of fire. I think I can account now +for your absences, when any fighting with the Mexicans was to be done. +You are a spy and you were signaling with that torch to our enemies." + +Urrea laughed lightly, musically, and he regarded Ned with a look of +amusement. It seemed to say to him that he was only a boy, that one so +young was bound to make mistakes, but that the Mexican was not offended +because he was making one now at his cost. The laugh was irritating to +the last degree, and yet it implanted in the boy's mind a doubt, a fear +that he might have been mistaken. + +"Signaling to friends, not enemies, you mean," said Urrea. "This forest +ends but a few hundred yards beyond, and I learned when I was scouting +about San Antonio that some allies of ours in this region were waiting +night and day for the news from us to come. I took this method to +communicate with them, a successful method, too, I am happy to say, as +they answered. In a wild region one must do strange things." + +His tone was so light, so easy, and it rang so true that Ned hesitated. +But it was only for a moment. Manner could not change substance. He +cleared away the mists and vapors made by Urrea's light tone and easy +assurance, and came back to the core of the matter. + +"Don Francisco," he said, "I have liked you, and I believed that you +were a true Texan patriot, but I cannot believe the story that you tell +me. It seems too improbable. If you wished to make these signals to +friends, why did you not tell us that you were going to do so?" + +"I did not know of the possibility of such a signal until I saw this +tree and its great height. Then, as all of you were asleep, I concluded +to make my signal, achieve the result and give you a pleasant surprise. +Come now, Senor Edward, hand me my rifle, and let us end this unpleasant +joke." + +Ned shook his head. It was hard to resist Urrea's assurance, but manner +was not all. His logical mind rejected the story. + +"I'm sorry, Don Francisco," he said, "but I must refer this to my +comrades, Mr. Palmer and Mr. White. Meanwhile, I am compelled to hold +you a prisoner. You will walk before me to the camp, keeping your hands +up." + +Urrea shrugged his shoulders and gave Ned a glance, which seemed to be a +mixture of disgust and contempt. + +"Very well, if you will have it so," he said. "There is nothing like the +stubbornness of a boy." + +"March!" said Ned, who felt his temper rising. + +Urrea, hands up, walked toward the camp, and Ned came behind him, +carrying the two rifles, one of them cocked and ready for instant use. +The Mexican never looked back, but walked with unhesitating step +straight to the camp. The Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were still sound +asleep, but, when Ned called sharply to them, they sprang to their feet, +gazing in astonishment at the spectacle of Urrea with his hands up, and +the boy standing behind him with the two rifles. + +"Things seem to have happened while I slept," said Obed. + +"Looks as if there might have been some rippin' an' tearin'," said the +Ring Tailed Panther. "What have you been up to, Urrea?" + +Urrea gave the Ring Tailed Panther a malignant glance. + +"I have not been up to anything, to use your own common language," he +replied. "If you want any explanation, you can ask it of your suspicious +young friend there. As for me, I am tired of holding my hands as high as +my head, and I intend to light a cigarette. Three of you, I suppose, are +sufficient to watch me." + +There were still a few embers and touching his cigarette to one of them +he sat down, leaned against the trunk of a tree and began to puff, as if +the future of the case had no interest for him. + +"Just hand me that pistol at your belt, will you?" said Obed. "There +seems to be some kind of a difference of opinion between you and Ned, +and, without knowing anything about it, I'm for Ned." + +Urrea took the pistol and tossed it toward Obed. The Maine man caught it +deftly and thrust it in his own belt. He did not seem to be at all +offended by the young Mexican's contemptuous manner. + +"Besides being one of the best watch makers the State of Maine ever +produced," he said, "I'm pretty good at sleight-of-hand. I could catch +loaded pistols all day, Urrea, if you were to pitch them at me." + +Urrea did not deign a reply and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther looked +at Ned, who told them all he had seen. Urrea did not deny a thing or say +a word throughout the narrative. When Ned finished the Ring Tailed +Panther roared in his accustomed fashion. + +"Signalin' to the enemy from a tree top while we was asleep an' he was +supposed to be on guard!" he exclaimed. "What have you got to say to +this, Urrea?" + +"Our young paragon of knowledge and wilderness lore has given you my +statement," replied Urrea. "You can believe it or not as you choose. I +shall not waste another word on thickheads." + +The teeth of the Ring Tailed Panther came together with a click, and he +looked ominously at Urrea. + +"You may not say anything," he growled, "but I will. I didn't trust you +at first, Don Francisco, an' there have been times all along since then +when I didn't trust you. You're a smooth talker, but your habit of +disappearin' has been too much for me. I believe just as Ned does that +you were signalin' to the enemy an' that you meant Texas harm, lots of +harm. It was a lucky thing that the boy awoke. Now, what do you think, +Obed?" + +"Appearances are deceitful sometimes but not always. Don Francisco seems +to have spun a likely yarn to Ned, but I've heard better and they were +not so mighty much." + +"You see the jury is clean ag'inst you, Don Francisco," said the Ring +Tailed Panther, "an' it's goin' to hold you to a higher court. Did you +hear what I said?" + +Urrea nodded. + +"Yes, I heard you," he replied, "but I heard only foolishness." + +The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but he had the spirit of a gentleman. +He would not upbraid a prisoner. + +"The verdict of the jury bein' given," he said soberly, "we've got to +hold the prisoner till we reach the higher court. We ain't takin' no +chances, Urrea, an' for that reason we've got to tie you. Ned, cut off a +piece of that lariat." + +Urrea leaped to his feet. He was stung at last. + +"I will not be bound," he cried. + +"Yes, you will," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "I ain't goin' to hurt +you, 'cause I'm pretty handy at that sort of thing, but I'll tie you so +you won't get loose in a hurry. Better set down an' take it easy." + +Urrea, after the single flash of anger, sat down, and resuming his +careless air, held out his hands. + +"Since you intend to act like barbarians as well as fools," he said, "I +will not seek to impede you." + +None of the three replied. The Ring Tailed Panther handily tied his +wrists together, and then his ankles, but in such fashion that he could +still sit in comfort, leaning against the tree, although the pleasure of +the cigarette was no longer for him. + +"If you don't mind," he said, "I think I shall go to sleep." + +"No objections a-tall, a-tall," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "Have nice +dreams." + +Urrea closed his eyes, and his chest soon rose and fell in the regular +manner of one who sleeps. Ned could not tell whether he really slept. A +feeling of compassion for Urrea rose again in his heart. What if he +should be telling the truth after all? Wild and improbable tales +sometimes came true. He was about to speak of his thoughts to the men, +but he checked himself. Disbelief was returning. It was best to take +every precaution. + +"You go to sleep, Ned," said Obed. "You've done a good job and you are +entitled to a rest. The Panther and I will watch till day." + +Ned lay down between his blankets and everything was so still that +contrary to his expectations, he fell asleep, and did not awaken again +until after dawn, when Obed told him that they would resume the march, +eating their breakfast as they went. Urrea was unbound, although he was +first searched carefully for concealed weapons. + +"I wouldn't have a man to ride with his arms tied," said the Ring Tailed +Panther, "but we'll keep on both sides of you an' you needn't try to +make a bolt of it, Urrea." + +"I shall not try to make any bolt of it," said Urrea scornfully, "but +you will pay dearly to Austin and Houston for the indignity that you +have put upon me." + +The Ring Tailed Panther, true to his principle of never taunting a +prisoner, did not reply, and they mounted. The Panther rode ahead and +Obed and Ned, with Urrea between them, followed. Urrea was silent, his +face melancholy and reproachful. + +The belt of timber extended only a few hundred yards farther, when they +came upon the open prairie extending to the horizon. Far to the left +some antelope were feeding, but there was no other sign of life of any +kind. + +"I don't see anything of them friends of ours to whom you were +signalin'," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +Urrea would not reply. The Panther said nothing further, and they rode +on over the prairie. But both the Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were +watching the ground, and, when they had gone about two miles, they +reined in their horses. + +"See!" they exclaimed simultaneously. + +They had come to a broad trail cutting directly across their path. It +was made by at least a hundred horses, and the veriest novice could not +have missed it. The trail was that of shod hoofs, indicating the +presence of white men. + +"What is this, Don Francisco?" asked the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"I do not have to reply to you unless I wish," said Urrea, "but I am +willing to tell you that it is undoubtedly the trail of the Texan +reinforcements to which I was signaling last night." + +Ned looked quickly at him. Again the young Mexican's voice had the ring +of truth. Was the wild and improbable tale now coming true? If so, he +could never forgive himself for the manner in which he had treated +Urrea. Still, it was for the older men to act now, and he continued his +silence. + +"Maybe Texans made this trail, and maybe they didn't," said Obed, "but I +think we'd better follow it for a while and see. About how old would you +say this trail is, Panther?" + +"Not more'n two hours." + +They turned their course, and followed the broad path left by the +horsemen across the prairie. Thus they rode at a good pace, until nearly +noon, and the trail was now so fresh that they could not be far away. +The change of direction had brought them toward forest, heavy with +undergrowth. It was evident that the horsemen had gone into this forest +as the trail continued to lead straight to it, and the Ring Tailed +Panther approached with the greatest caution. + +"Can you see anything, Ned, in there among them trees an' bushes?" he +asked. "You've got the sharpest eyes of all." + +"Not a thing," replied Ned, "nor do I see a bough or bush moving." + +"It would be hard for such a big party to hide themselves," said Obed, +"so I think we'd better ride straight in." + +They entered the forest, still following the trail among the trampled +bushes, riding slowly over rough ground, and watching wanly to right and +left. Urrea had not said a word, but when they were about a mile within +the wood, he suddenly leaned from his horse, snatched the knife from the +belt of the Ring Tailed Panther and slashed at him. Fortunately, the +range was somewhat long for such work, and, as the Panther threw up his +arm, the blade merely cut his buckskin sleeve from wrist to elbow, only +grazing his skin. Urrea, quick as lightning, turned his horse, threw him +against that of Obed which was staggered, and then started at a gallop +among the trees. + +The Ring Tailed Panther raised his rifle, but Urrea threw himself behind +his horse, riding with all the dexterity of a Comanche in the fashion of +an Indian who wishes to protect himself; that is, hanging on the far +side of the horse by only hands and toes. The Panther shifted his aim +and shot the horse through the head. But Urrea leaped clear of the +falling body, avoided Obed's bullet, and darted into the thickest of the +bushes. As he disappeared a sharp, piercing whistle rose. Ned did not +have time to think, but when he heard the whistle, instinct warned him +that it was a signal. He had heard that whistle once before in exciting +moments, and by a nervous action as it were, he pulled hard upon the +reins of his horse. In this emergency it was the boy whose action was +the wisest. + +"Come back, Obed, you and Panther!" he shouted. "He may have led us into +an ambush!" + +Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were still galloping after Urrea, and, +even as Ned shouted to them, a flash of flame burst from the +undergrowth. He saw Obed's horse fall, but Obed himself sprang clear. +The Panther did not seem to be hurt, but, in an instant, both were +surrounded by Mexicans. Obed was seized on the ground and the Panther +was quickly dragged from his horse. But the Maine man, even in such a +critical moment, did not forget the boy for whom he had such a strong +affection. He shouted at the top of his voice: + +"Ride, Ned! Ride for your life!" + +Ned, still guided by impulse, wheeled his horse and galloped away. It +was evident that his comrades had been taken, and he alone was left to +carry out their mission. Shots were fired at him and bullets whistled +past, but none touched him, and he only urged his horse to greater +speed. + +The boy felt a second impulse. It was to turn back and fall, or be taken +with the two comrades whom he liked so well. But then reason came. He +could do more for them free than a captive, and now he began to take +full thought for himself. He bent far over on his horse's neck, in order +to make as small a target as possible, holding the reins with one hand +and his rifle with the other. A minute had taken him clear of the +undergrowth, and once more he was on the prairie. + +Ned did not look back for some time. He heard several shots, but he +judged by the reports that he was practically out of range. Now he began +to feel sanguine. His horse was good and true, and he rode well. As +long as the bullets could not reach and weaken, he felt that the +chances were greatly in his favor. He was riding almost due north and +the prairie stretched away without limit, although the forest extended +for a long distance on his right. + +He now straightened up somewhat in the saddle, but he did not yet look +back, fearing that he might check his speed by doing so, and knowing +that every moment was of the utmost value. But he listened attentively +to the pursuing hoofs and he was sure that the beat was steadily growing +fainter. The gap must be widening. + +He glanced back for the first time and saw about twenty Mexicans spread +out in the segment of a circle. They rode ponies and two or three were +recoiling lariats which they had evidently got ready in the hope of a +throw. Ned smiled to himself when he saw the lariats. Unless something +happened to his horse they could never come near enough for a cast. He +measured the gap and he believed that his rifle of long range would +carry it. + +One of the Mexicans rode a little in front of the others and Ned judged +him to be the leader. Twisting in his saddle he took aim at him. It is +difficult to shoot backward from a flying horse, but Ned had undergone +the wilderness training and he felt that he could make the hit. He +pulled the trigger. The jet of smoke leaped forth and the man, swaying, +fell from his saddle, but sprang to his feet and clapped his hands to +his shoulder, where the boy's bullet had struck. + +There was confusion among the Mexicans, as it was really their leader +whom Ned had wounded, and, before the pursuit was resumed with energy, +the fugitive had gained another hundred yards. After that, the gap +widened steadily, and, when he looked back a second time, the Mexicans +were a full quarter of a mile in the rear. He maintained his speed and +in another hour they were lost behind the swells. + +Sure that he had now made good his escape, Ned pulled his horse down to +a walk. The good animal was dripping with foam and perspiration and he +did not allow him to cool too fast. Without his horse he would be lost. +But when they had gone on another hour at a walk, he stopped and let him +have a complete rest. + +Ned was not able to see anything of the Mexicans. The prairie, as far as +he could tell, was bare of human life save himself. To his right was the +dark line of the forest, but everywhere else the open extended to the +horizon. He had escaped! + +They had started as four and now but one was left. Urrea had proved to +be a traitor and his good friends, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were +captured or--he refused to consider the alternative. They were alive. +Two men, so strong and vital as they, could not have fallen. + +Now that his horse had rested, Ned mounted again, and rode at a trot for +the forest. He knew the direction in which the settlements lay, and he +could go on with his mission. Men would say that he had shown great +skill and presence of mind in escaping from the ambush, when those older +and more experienced had been trapped. But when the alternatives were +presented to Ned's mind he had not hesitated. They were lingering before +San Antonio and the call for volunteers was not so urgent. He was going +back to rescue his comrades or be taken or fall in the attempt. + +One of the great qualities in Ned's mind was gratitude. Had it not been +for Obed he might yet be under the sea in a dungeon of the Castle of San +Juan de Ulua. The Ring Tailed Panther had done him a hundred services, +and would certainly risk his life, if need be, to save Ned's. He would +never desert them. + +The forest was not so near as it looked on the prairie, but two hours' +riding brought him to it. He knew that it was the same forest in which +Obed and the Panther had been taken, here extending for many miles. + +He believed that the Mexicans, being far north of their usual range, +would remain in the forest, and he was glad of it. He could work much +better under cover than on the prairie. This was undoubtedly the Mexican +band of which the old hunter had spoken, and Urrea had given his signal +to it from the tree. Ned did not believe that it would remain long in +this region, but would go swiftly south, probably to reinforce Cos in +San Antonio. He must act with speed. + +It was several hours until night, and he rode southward through the +forest which consisted chiefly of oak, ash, maple and sweet gum. There +was not much undergrowth here, and he did not have any great fear of +ambush. Turning in, yet farther to the right, he saw a fine creek, and +he followed its course until the undergrowth began to grow thick again. +Then he dismounted and fastened his horse at the end of his lariat. + +The boy had already come to his conclusion. The presence of the creek +had decided him. He believed that the Mexicans, for the sake of water, +had encamped somewhere along its course, and all he had to do was to +follow its stream. He marked well the spot at which he was leaving his +horse, and began what he believed to be the last stage of his journey. + +Ned was glad now that the undergrowth was dense. It concealed him well, +and he had acquired skill enough to go through it swiftly and without +noise. He advanced two or three miles, when he saw a faint light ahead, +and he was quite sure that it came from the Mexican camp. As he went +nearer, he heard the sound of many voices, and, when he came to the edge +of a thicket, belief became certainty. + +The entire Mexican force was encamped in a semi-circular glade next to +the creek. The horses were tethered at the far side, and the men, eighty +or a hundred in number, were lying or standing about several fires that +burned brightly. It was a cold night, and the Mexicans were making +themselves comfortable. They were justified in doing so, as they knew +that there was no Texan force anywhere within a day's ride. They had put +out no sentinels, quite sure that wandering Texans who might see them +would quickly go the other way. + +Ned crept up as close as he dared, and, lying on his side in a dense +thicket, watched them. Their fires were large, and a bright moon was +shining. The whole glade was filled with light. The Mexicans talked +much, after their fashion, and there was much moving about from fire to +fire. Presently the eyes of the boy watching in the bush lighted up with +a gleam which was not exactly that of benevolence. + +Urrea was passing before one of the fires. Ned saw him clearly now, the +trim, well-knit figure, and the handsome, melancholy face. But he was no +prisoner. Many of the Mexicans made way for him and all showed him +deference. Ned had liked Urrea, but he could not understand how a man +could play the spy and traitor in such a manner, and his heart flamed +with bitterness against him. + +The Mexicans continued to shift about, and when two more men came into +view Ned's heart leaped. They were alive! Prisoners they were, but yet +alive. He had believed that two so vivid and vital as they could not +perish, and he was right. + +Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther sat with their backs against the same +tree. They were unbound but the armed Mexicans were all about them, and +they did not have a chance. They were thirty yards away, and Ned could +see them very plainly, yet there was a wall between him and these trusty +comrades of his. + +Obed and the Panther remained motionless against the tree. Apparently +they took no interest in the doings of the Mexicans. Ned, yet seeing no +way in which he could help them, watched them a long time. He saw Urrea, +after a while, come up and stand before them. The light was good enough +for him to see that Urrea's expression was sneering and triumphant. +Again Ned's heart swelled with rage. The traitor was exulting over the +captives. + +Urrea began to speak. Ned could not hear his words, but he knew by the +movement of the man's lips that he was talking fast. Undoubtedly he was +taunting the prisoners with words as well as looks. But neither Obed nor +the Ring Tailed Panther made any sign that he heard. They continued to +lean carelessly against the tree, and Urrea, his desire to give pain +foiled for the time, went away. + +Now Ned bestirred his mind. Here were the Mexicans, and here were his +friends. How should he separate them? He could think of nothing at +present and he drew back deeper into the forest. There, lying very close +among the bushes, he pondered a long time. He might try to stampede the +horses, but the attempt would be more than doubtful, and he gave up the +idea. + +It was now growing late and the fires in the Mexican camp were sinking. +The wind began to blow, and the leaves rustled dryly over Ned's head. +Best thoughts sometimes spring from little things, and it was the dry +rustle of the leaves that gave Ned his idea. It was a desperate chance, +but he must take it. The increasing strength of the wind increased his +hope. It was blowing from him directly toward the camp. + +He retreated about a quarter of a mile. Then he hunted until he found +where the fallen leaves lay thickest, and he raked them into a great +heap. Drawing both the flint and steel which he, like other borderers, +always carried, he worked hard until the spark leaped forth and set the +leaves on fire. Then he stood back. + +The forest was dry like tinder. Ned had nothing to do but to set the +torch. In an instant the leaves leaped into a roaring flame. The blaze +ran higher, took hold of the trees and ran from bough to bough. It +sprang to other trees, and, in an incredibly brief space, a forest fire, +driven by the wind, sending forth sparks in myriads, and roaring and +crackling, was racing down upon the Mexican camp. + +Ned kept behind the fire and to one side. Sparks fell upon him, and the +smoke was in his eyes and ears, but he thought little just then of such +things. The fire, like many others of its kind, took but a narrow path. +It was as if a flaming sword blade were slashed down across the woods. + +Ned saw it through the veil of smoke rush upon the Mexican camp. He saw +the startled Mexicans running about, and he heard the shrill neigh of +frightened horses. Never was a camp abandoned more quickly. The men +sprang upon their horses and scattered in every direction through the +woods. Two on horseback crowded by Ned. They did not see him, nor did he +pay any attention to them, but when a third man on foot came, running +at the utmost speed, the boy seized him by the shoulder, and was dragged +from his feet. + +"It is I, Obed!" he cried. "It is I, Ned Fulton!" + +Obed White stopped abruptly and the Ring Tailed Panther, unable to check +himself, crashed into him. The three, men and boy, went to the ground, +where they lay for a few moments among the bushes, half stunned. It was +a fortunate chance, as Urrea, who had retained his presence of mind, was +on horseback looking for the prisoners, and he passed so near that he +would have seen them had they been standing. + +The three rose slowly to their feet and the two men gazed in admiration +at Ned. + +"You did it!" they exclaimed together. + +"I did," replied Ned with pride, "and it has worked beautifully." + +"I was never so much in love with a forest fire before," said the Ring +Tailed Panther. "How it roars an' tears an' bites! An' just let it roar +an' tear an' bite!" + +"We'd better go on the back track," said Obed. "The Mexicans are all +running in other directions." + +"My horse is back that way, too," said Ned. "Come on." + +They started back, running along the edge of the burned area. Before +they had gone far the Ring Tailed Panther caught a saddled and bridled +horse which was galloping through the woods, and, they were so much +emboldened, that they checked their flight, and hunted about until they +found a second. + +"There must be at least thirty or forty of 'em dashin' about through the +woods, mad with fright," said Obed. + +"Three are all we can use, includin' Ned's," said the Ring Tailed +Panther, "but I wish we had more weapons." + +They had found across the saddle of one of the horses a couple of +pistols in holsters, but they had no other weapons except those that Ned +carried. But they were free and they had horses. The Ring Tailed +Panther's customary growl between his teeth became a chant of triumph. + +"Did the Mexicans capture Obed an' me?" he said. "They did. Did they +keep us? They didn't. Why didn't they? There was a boy named Ned who +escaped. He was a smart boy, a terribly smart boy. Did he run away an' +leave us? He didn't. There was only one trick in the world that he could +work to save us, an' he worked it. Oh, it was funny to see the Mexicans +run with the fire scorchin' the backs of their ears. But that boy, Ned, +ain't he smart? He whipped a hundred Mexicans all by himself." + +Ned blushed. + +"Stop that, you Panther," he said, "or I'll call for Urrea to come and +take you back." + +"Having horses," said Obed, "there is no reason why we shouldn't ride. +Here, jump up behind me, Ned." + +They were very soon back at the point where Ned had left his own horse, +and found him lying contentedly on his side. Then, well mounted each on +his own horses they resumed their broken journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE TEXAN STAR + + +Just after the three started, they looked back and saw a faint light +over the trees, which they knew was caused by the forest fire still +traveling northward. + +"It seemed almost a sin to set the torch to the woods," said the boy, +"but I couldn't think of any other way to get you two loose from the +Mexicans." + +"It's a narrow fire," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I guess it will +burn itself out ag'inst some curve of the creek a few miles further on." + +This, in truth, was what happened, as they learned later, but for the +present they could bestow the thought of only a few moments upon the +subject. Despite the Mexican interruption they intended to go on with +their mission. With good horses beneath them they expected to reach the +Brazos settlements the next day unless some new danger intervened. + +They turned from the forest into the prairie and rode northward at a +good gait. + +"That was a fine scheme of yours, Ned," repeated the Ring Tailed +Panther, "an' nobody could have done it better. You set the fire an' +here we are, together ag'in." + +"I was greatly helped by luck," said Ned modestly. + +"Luck helps them that think hard an' try hard. Didn't that fellow, +Urrea, give you the creeps? I had my doubts about him before, but I +never believed he was quite as bad as he is." + +But Ned felt melancholy. It seemed to him that somebody whom he liked +had died. + +"I saw him talking to you and Obed," he said. "What was he saying?" + +The Ring Tailed Panther frowned and Ned heard his teeth grit upon one +another. + +"He was sayin' a lot of things," he replied. "He was talkin' low down, +hittin' at men who couldn't hit back, abusin' prisoners, which the same +was Obed an' me. He was doin' what I guess you would call tauntin', +tellin' of all the things we would have to suffer. He said that they'd +get you, too, before mornin' an' that we'd all be hanged as rebels an' +traitors to Mexico. He laughed at the way he fooled us. He said that +spat he had with Sandoval was only make-believe. He said that we'd never +get San Antonio; that he'd kept Cos informed about all our movements an' +that Santa Anna was comin' with a great army. He said that most of us +would be chawed right up, an' that them that wasn't chawed up would wish +they had been before Santa Anna got through with 'em." + +"Many a threatened man who runs away lives to fight another day," said +Obed cheerfully. + +"That's so," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I say it among us three +that if we don't take San Antonio we'll have a mighty good try at it, +an' if it comes to hangin' an' all that sort of business there's Texan +as well as Mexican ropes." + +They reached another belt of forest about 3 o'clock in the morning, and +they concluded to rest there and get some sleep. They felt no fear of +the Mexicans who, they were sure, were now riding southward. They slept +here four or five hours, and late the next afternoon reached the first +settlement on the Brazos. + +Ned and his companions spent a week on the river and when they rode +south again they took with them nearly a hundred volunteers for the +attack on San Antonio, the last draft that the little settlements could +furnish. Very few, save the women and children, were left behind. + +On their return journey they passed through the very forest in which Ned +had made his singular rescue of Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther. They +saw the camp and they saw the swath made by the fire, a narrow belt, +five or six miles in length, ending as the Ring Tailed Panther had +predicted at a curve of the creek. The Mexicans, as they now knew +definitely, were gone days ago from that region. + +"Perhaps we'll meet Urrea when we attack San Antonio," said Ned. + +"Maybe," said Obed. + +They rode to the camp on the Salado without interruption, and found that +indecision still reigned there. The blockade of San Antonio was going +on, and the men were eager for the assault, but the leaders were +convinced that the force was too small and weak. They would not consent +to what they considered sure disaster. The recruits that the three +brought were welcomed, but Ned noticed a state of depression in the +camp. He found yet there his old friends, Bowie, Smith, Karnes, and the +others. His news that Urrea was a spy and traitor created a sensation. + +Ned was asked by "Deaf" Smith the morning after his arrival to go with +him on a scout, and he promptly accepted. A rest of a single day was +enough for him and he was pining for new action. + +The two rode toward the town, and then curved away to one side, keeping +to the open prairie where they might see the approach of a superior +enemy, in time. They observed the Mexican sentinels at a distance, but +the two forces had grown so used to each other that no hostile +demonstration was made, unless one or the other came too close. + +Smith and Ned rode some distance, and then turned on another course, +which brought them presently to a hill covered with ash and oak. They +rode among the trees and from that point of vantage searched the whole +horizon. Ned caught the glint of something in the south, and called +Smith's attention to it. + +"What do you think it is?" he asked after Smith had looked a long time. + +"It's the sun shining on metal, either a lance head or a rifle barrel. +Ah, now I see horsemen riding this way." + +"And they are Mexicans, too," said Ned. "What does it mean?" + +A considerable force of mounted Mexicans was coming into view, and +Smith's opinion was formed at once. + +"It's reinforcements for Cos," he cried. "We heard that Ugartchea was +going to bring fresh troops from Laredo, and that he would also have +with him mule loads of silver to pay off Cos' men. We'll just cut off +this force and take their silver. We'll ride to Bowie!" + +They galloped at full speed to the camp and found the redoubtable +Georgian, who instantly gathered together a hundred men including the +Ring Tailed Panther and Obed and raced back. The Mexican horsemen were +still in the valley, seeming to move slowly, and Bowie at once formed up +the Texans for a charge. But before he could give the word a trumpet +pealed, and the Mexicans rode at full speed toward a great gully at the +end of the valley into which they disappeared. The last that the Texans +saw were some heavily-loaded mules following their master into the +ravine. + +The Ring Tailed Panther burst into a laugh. + +"Them's not reinforcements," he cried, "an' them's not mules loaded with +silver. They're carryin' nothin' but grass. These men have been out +there cuttin' feed in the meadow for Cos' horses." + +"You're right, Panther," said "Deaf" Smith, somewhat crestfallen. + +"But we'll attack, just the same," said Bowie. "Our men need action. +We'll follow 'em into that gully. On, men, on!" + +A joyous shout was his reply and the men galloped into the plain. They +were about to charge for the gully when Bowie cried to them to halt. A +new enemy had appeared. A heavy force of cavalry with two guns was +coming from San Antonio to rescue the grass cutters. They rode forward +with triumphant cheers, but the Texans did not flinch. They would face +odds of at least three to one with calmness and confidence. + +"Rifles ready, men!" cried Bowie. "They're about to charge." + +The trumpets pealed out the signal again, and the Mexicans charged at a +gallop. Up went the Texans' rifles. A hundred fingers pressed a hundred +triggers, and a hundred bullets crashed into the front of the Mexican +line. Down went horses and men, and the Mexican column stopped. But it +opened in a few moments, and, through the breach, the two cannon began +to fire, the heavy reports echoing over the plain. The Texans +instinctively lengthened their line, making it as thin as possible, and +continued their deadly rifle fire. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther as usual kept close together, and +"Deaf" Smith also was now with them. All of them were aiming as well as +they could through the smoke which was gathering fast, but the Mexicans, +in greatly superior force, supported by the cannon, held their ground. +The grass cutters in the gully also opened fire on the Texan flank, and +for many minutes the battle swayed back and forth on the plain, while +the clouds of smoke grew thicker, at times almost hiding the combatants +from one another. + +The Texans now began to press harder, and the Mexicans, despite their +numbers and their cannon, yielded a little, but the fire from the men in +the gully was stinging their flank. If they pushed forward much farther +they would be caught between the two forces and might be destroyed. It +was an alarming puzzle, but at that moment a great shout rose behind +them. The sound of the firing had been heard in the main Texan camp and +more Texans were coming by scores. + +"It's all over now," said Obed. + +The Texans divided into two forces. One drove the main column of the +Mexicans in confusion back upon the town, and the other, containing Ned +and his friends, charged into the gully and put to flight or captured +all who were hidden there. They also took the mules with their loads of +grass which they carried back to their own camp. + +Ned, the Ring Tailed Panther, Obed and "Deaf" Smith rode back together +to the Salado. It had been a fine victory, won as usual against odds, +but they were not exultant. In the breast of every one of them had been +a hope that the whole Texan army would seize the opportunity and charge +at once upon Cos and San Antonio. Instead, they had been ordered back. + +They made their discontent vocal that and the following evenings. There +was no particular order among the Texans. They usually acted in groups, +according to the localities from which they came, and some, believing +that nothing would be done, had gone home disgusted. Mr. Austin himself +had left, and Houston had persisted in his refusal to command. Burleson, +a veteran Indian fighter, had finally been chosen for the leadership. +Houston soon left, and Bowie, believing that nothing would be done, +followed him. + +It was only a few days after the grass fight, and despite that victory, +Ned felt the current of depression. It seemed that their fortune was +melting away without their ever putting it to the touch. Although new +men had come their force was diminishing in numbers and San Antonio was +farther from their hands than ever. + +"If we don't do something before long," said Henry Karnes, "we'll just +dissolve like a snow before a warm wind." + +"An' all our rippin' an' tearin' will go for nothin'," growled the Ring +Tailed Panther. "We've won every fight we've been in, an' yet they won't +let us go into that town an' have it out with Cos." + +"We'll get it yet," said Obed cheerfully. "In war it's a long lane that +has no battle at the end. Just you be patient, Panther. Patience will +have her good fight. I've tested it more than once myself." + +Ned did not say anything. He had made himself a comfortable place, and, +as the cold night wind was whistling among the oaks and pecans, the fire +certainly looked very good to him. He watched the flames leap and sink, +and the great beds of coals form, and once more he was very glad that he +was not alone again on the Mexican mountains. He resolutely put off the +feeling of depression. They might linger and hesitate now, but he did +not doubt that the cause of Texas would triumph in the end. + +Ned was restless that night, so restless that he could not sleep, and, +after a futile effort, he rose, folded up his blankets and wandered +about the camp. It was a body of volunteers drawn together by patriotism +and necessity for a common purpose, and one could do almost as one +pleased. There was a ring of sentinels, but everybody knew everybody +else and scouts, skirmishers and foragers passed at will. + +Ned was fully armed, of course, and, leaving the camp, he entered an oak +grove that lay between it and the city. As there was no underbrush here +and little chance for ambush he felt quite safe. Behind him he saw the +camp and the lights of the scattered fires now dying, but before him he +saw only the trunks of the trees and the dusky horizon beyond. + +Ned had no definite object in view, but he thought vaguely of scouting +along the river. One could never know too much about the opposing force, +and experience added to natural gifts had given him great capabilities. + +He advanced deeper into the pecan grove, and reached the point where the +trees grew thickest. There, where the moonlight fell he saw a shadow +lying along the ground, the shadow of a man. Ned sprang behind a tree +and lay almost flat. The shadow had moved, but he could still see a +head. He felt sure that its owner was behind another tree not yet ten +feet distant. Perhaps some Mexican scout like himself. On the other +hand, it might be Smith or Karnes, and he called softly. + +No answer came to his call. Some freak of the moonlight still kept the +shadowy head in view, while its owner remained completely hidden, +unconscious, perhaps, that any part of his reflection was showing. Ned +did not know what to do. After waiting a long time, and, seeing that the +shadow did not move, he edged his way partly around the trunk, and +stopped where he was still protected by the ground and the tree. He saw +the shadowy head shift to the same extent that he had moved, but he +heard no sound. + +He called again and more loudly. He said: "I am a Texan; if you are a +friend, say so!" No one would mistake his voice for that of a Mexican. +No reply came from behind the tree. + +Ned was annoyed. This was most puzzling and he did not like puzzles. +Moreover, his situation was dangerous. If he left his tree, the man +behind the other one--and he did not doubt now that he was an +enemy--could probably take a shot at him. + +He tried every maneuver that he knew to draw the shot, while he yet lay +in ambush, but none succeeded. His wary enemy knew every ruse. Had it +not been for the shadowy head, yet visible in the moonlight, Ned might +have concluded that he had gone. He had now been behind the tree a full +half hour, and during all that time he had not heard a single sound from +his foe. The singular situation, so unusual in its aspect, and so real +in its danger, began to get upon his nerves. + +He thought at last of something which he believed would draw the fire of +the ambushed Mexican. He carried a pistol as well as a rifle, and, +carefully laying the cocked rifle by his side, he drew the smaller +weapon. Then he crept about the tree, purposely making a little noise. +He saw the shadowy head move, and he knew that his enemy was seeking a +shot. He heard for the first time a slight sound, and he could tell from +it exactly where the man lay. + +Raising his pistol he fired, and the bark flew from the right side of +the tree. A man instantly sprang out, rifle in hand, and rushed toward +him expecting to take him, unarmed. Like a flash Ned seized his own +cocked rifle and covered the man. When he looked down the sights he saw +that it was Urrea. + +Urrea halted, taken by surprise. His own rifle was not leveled, and Ned +held his life at his gun muzzle. + +"Stop, Don Francisco, or I fire," said the boy. "I did not dream that it +was you, and I am sorry that I was wrong." + +Urrea recovered very quickly from his surprise. He did not seek to raise +his rifle, knowing that it was too late. + +"Well," he said, "why don't you fire?" + +"I don't know," replied Ned. + +"I would do it in your place." + +"I know it, but there is a difference between us and I am glad of that +difference, egotistical as it may sound." + +"There is another difference which perhaps you do not have in mind. You +are a Texan, an American, and I am a Mexican. That is why I came among +you and claimed to be one of you. You were fools to think that I, +Francisco Urrea, could ever fight for Texas against Mexico." + +"It seems that we were," said Ned. + +Urrea laughed somewhat scornfully. + +"There are some Mexicans born here in Texas who are so foolish," he +said, "but they do not know Mexico. They do not know the greatness of +our nation, or the greatness of Santa Anna. What are your paltry numbers +against us? You will fail here against San Antonio, and, even if you +should take the town, Santa Anna will come with a great army and destroy +you. And then, remember that there is a price to be paid. Much rope +will be used to good purpose in Texas." + +"You have eaten our bread, you have received kindness from us, and yet +you talk of executions." + +"I ate your bread, because it was my business to do so. I am not ashamed +of anything that I have done. I do not exaggerate, when I say that I +have rendered my nation great service against the Texan rebels. It was I +who brought them against you more than once." + +"I should not boast of it. I should never pretend to belong to one side +in war and work for another." + +"Again there is a difference between us. Now, what do you purpose to do? +I am, as it were, your prisoner, and it is for you to make a beginning." + +Ned was embarrassed. He was young and he could not enforce all the +rigors of war. He knew that if he took Urrea to the camp the man would +be executed as a spy and traitor. The Mexicans had already committed +many outrages, and the Texans were in no forgiving mood. Ned could not +forget that this man had broken bread with his comrades and himself, and +once he had liked him. Even now his manner, which contained no fear nor +cringing, appealed to him. + +"Go," he said at last, "I cannot take your life, nor can I carry you to +those who would take it. Doubtless I am doing wrong, but I do not know +what else to do." + +"Do you mean that you let me go free?" + +"I do. You cannot be a spy among us again, and as an open enemy you are +only as one among thousands. Of course you came here to-night to spy +upon us, and it was an odd chance that brought us together. Take the +direction of San Antonio, but don't look back. I warn you that I shall +keep you covered with my rifle." + +Urrea turned without another word and walked away. Ned watched him for +a full hundred yards. He noticed that the man's figure was as trim and +erect as ever. Apparently, he was as wanting in remorse as he was in +fear. + +When Urrea had gone a hundred yards Ned turned and went swiftly back to +the camp. He said nothing about the incident either to Obed or the Ring +Tailed Panther. The next day Urrea was crowded from his mind by exciting +news. A sentinel had hailed at dawn three worn and unkempt Texans who +had escaped from San Antonio, where they had long been held prisoners by +Cos. They brought word that the Mexican army was disheartened. The heavy +reinforcements, promised by Santa Anna, had not come. + +A great clamor for an immediate attack arose. The citizen army gathered +in hundreds around the tent of Burleson, the leader, and demanded that +they be led against San Antonio. Fannin and Milam were there, and they +seconded the demands of the men. Ned stood on the outskirts of the +crowd. The Ring Tailed Panther on one side of him uttering a succession +of growls, but Obed on the other was silent. + +"It looks like a go this time," said Ned. + +"I think it is," said Obed, "and if it isn't a go now it won't be one at +all. Waiting wears out the best of men." + +The Ring Tailed Panther continued to growl. + +A great shout suddenly arose. The Panther ceased to growl and his face +beamed. Burleson had consented to the demand of the men. It was quickly +arranged that they should attack San Antonio in the morning, and risk +everything on the cast. + +The short day--it was winter now--was spent in preparations. Ned and his +comrades cleaned their rifles and pistols and provided themselves with +double stores of ammunition. Ned did not seek to conceal from himself, +nor did the men seek to hide from him the greatness and danger of their +attempt. + +"They outnumber us and they hold a fortified town," said Obed. "Whatever +we do we three must stick together. In union there is often safety." + +"We stick as long as we stand," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "If one +falls the other two must go on, an', if two fall, the last must go on as +long as he can." + +"Agreed," said Ned and Obed. + +They were ready long before night, but after dark an alarming story +spread through the little army. Part of it at least proved to be true. +One of the scouts, sent out after the decision to attack had been taken, +had failed to come in. It was believed that he had deserted to the +Mexicans with news of the intended Texan advance. The leaders had +counted upon surprise, as a necessary factor in their success, and +without it they would not advance. Gloom settled over the army, but it +was not a silent gloom. These men spoke their disappointment in words +many and loud. Never had the Ring Tailed Panther roared longer, without +taking breath. + +The Texans were still talking angrily about the fires, when another +shout arose. The missing scout came in and he brought with him a Mexican +deserter, who confirmed all the reports about the discouragement of the +garrison. Once more, the Texans crowded about Burleson's tent, and +demanded that the attack be made upon San Antonio. At last Burleson +exclaimed: + +"Well, if you can get volunteers to attack, go and attack!" + +Milam turned, faced the crowd and raised his hand. + +There was a sudden hush save for the deep breathing of many men. Then +in a loud, clear voice Milam spoke only ten words. They were: + +"Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?" + +And a hundred voices roared a single word in reply. It was: + +"I!" + +"That settles it," said the Ring Tailed Panther with deep satisfaction. +"Old Satan himself couldn't stop the attack now." + +The word was given that the volunteers for the direct attack, three +hundred in number, would gather at an old mill half way between the camp +and the town. Thence they would march on foot for the assault. Ned and +his comrades were among the first to gather at the mill and he waited as +calmly as he could, while the whole force was assembled, three hundred +lean, brown men, large of bone and long of limb. + +No light was allowed, and the night was cold. The figures of the men +looked like phantoms in the dusk. Ned stood with his friends, while +Milam gave the directions. They were to be divided into two forces. One +under Milam was to enter the town by the street called Acequia, and the +other under Colonel Johnson was to penetrate by Soledad Street. They +relied upon the neglect of the Mexicans to get so far, before the battle +began. Burleson, with the remainder of his men would attack the ancient +mission, then turned into a fort, called the Alamo. + +"Deaf" Smith, who knew the town thoroughly, led Johnson's column, and +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were just behind him. + +Ned was quivering in every nerve with excitement and suspense, but he +let no one see it. He moved forward with steady step and he heard behind +him the soft tread of the men who intended to get into San Antonio +without being seen. He looked back at them. They came in the dusk like +so many shadows and no one spoke. It was like a procession of ghosts, +moving into a sleeping town. The chill wind cut across their faces, but +no one at that moment took notice of cold. + +High over Ned's head a great star danced and twinkled, and it seemed to +him that it was the Texan Star springing out. + +The houses of the town rose out of the darkness. Ned saw off to right +and left fresh earthworks and rifle pits, but either no men were +stationed there or they slept. The figure of Smith led steadily on and +behind came the long and silent file. How much farther would they go +without being seen or heard? It seemed amazing to Ned that they had come +so far already. + +They were actually at the edge of the town. Now they were in it, going +up the narrow Soledad Street between the low houses directly toward the +main plaza, which was fortified by barricades and artillery. A faint +glimmer of dawn was just beginning to appear in the east. + +A dusky figure suddenly appeared in the street in front of them and gave +a shout of alarm. "Deaf" Smith fired and the man fell. A bugle pealed +from the plaza and a cannon was fired down the street, the ball +whistling over the heads of the Texans. In an instant the garrison of +Cos was awake, and the alarm sounded from every point of San Antonio. +Lights flashed, arms rattled and men called to one another. + +"Into this house" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We cannot charge up the narrow +street in face of the cannon!" + +They were now within a hundred yards of the plaza, but they saw that the +guide was right. They dashed into the large, solid house that he had +indicated, and Ned did not notice until he was inside that it was the +very house of the Vice-Governor, Veramendi, into which he had come once +before. Just as the last of the Texans sprang through the doors another +cannon ball whistled down the street, this time low enough. Milam's +division, meanwhile, had rushed into the house of De La Garcia, near by. + +As Ned and the others sprang to cover he trampled upon the flowers in a +patio, and he saw a little fountain playing. Then he knew. It was the +house of Veramendi, and he thought it a singular chance that had brought +him to the same place. But he had little time for reflection. The column +of Texans, a hundred and fifty in number, were taking possession of +every part of the building, the occupants of which had fled through the +rear doors. + +"To the roof!" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We can best meet the attack from +there." + +The doors and windows were already manned, but Smith and many of the +best men rushed to the flat roof, and looked over the low stone coping. +It was not yet day and they could not see well. Despite the lack of +light, the Mexicans opened a great fire of cannon and small arms. The +whole town resounded with the roar and the crash and also with the +shouting. But most of the cannon balls and bullets flew wide, and the +rest spent themselves in vain on the two houses. + +The Texans, meanwhile, held their fire, and waited for day. Ned, Smith +and the others on the roof lay down behind the low coping. They had +achieved their long wish. They were in San Antonio, but what would +happen to them there? + +Ned peeped over the coping. He saw many flashes down the street toward +the plaza and he heard the singing of bullets. His finger was on the +trigger and the temptation to reply was great, but like the others he +waited. + +The faint light in the east deepened and the sun flashed out. The full +dawn was at hand and the two forces, Texans and Mexicans, faced each +other. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE TAKING OF THE TOWN + + +The December sun, clear and cold, bathed the whole town in light. +Houses, whether of stone, adobe or wood, were tinted a while with gold, +but everywhere in the streets and over the roofs floated white puffs of +smoke from the firing, which had never ceased on the part of the +Mexicans. The crash of rifles and muskets was incessant, and every +minute or two came the heavy boom of the cannon with which Cos swept the +streets. The Texans themselves now pulled the trigger but little, calmly +waiting their opportunity. + +Ned and his comrades still lay on the roof of the Veramendi house. The +boy's heart beat fast but the scene was wild and thrilling to the last +degree. He felt a great surge of pride that he should have a share in so +great an event. From the other side of the river came the rattle of +rifle fire, and he knew that it was the detachment from Burleson +attacking the Alamo. But presently the sounds there died. + +"They are drawing off," said Obed, "and it is right. It is their duty to +help us here, but I don't see how they can ever get into San Antonio. I +wish the Mexicans didn't have those cannon which are so much heavier +than ours." + +The Texans had brought with them a twelve pounder and a six pounder, but +the twelve pounder had already been dismounted by the overpowering +Mexican fire, and, without protection they were unable to use the six +pounder which they had drawn into the patio, where it stood silent. + +Ned from his corner could see the mouths of the guns in the heavy +Mexican battery at the far end of the plaza, and he watched the flashes +of flame as they were fired one by one. In the intervals he saw a lithe, +strong figure appear on the breastwork, and he was quite sure that it +was Urrea. + +An hour of daylight passed. From the house of De La Garcia the other +division of Texans began to fire, the sharp lashing of their rifles +sounding clearly amid the duller crash of musketry and cannon from the +Mexicans. The Texans in the lower part of the Veramendi house were also +at work with their rifles. Every man was a sharpshooter, and, whenever a +Mexican came from behind a barricade, he was picked off. But the +Mexicans had also taken possession of houses and they were firing with +muskets from windows and loopholes. + +"We must shoot down the cannoneers," shouted the Ring Tailed Panther to +"Deaf" Smith. + +Smith nodded. The men on the roof were fifteen in number and now they +devoted their whole attention to the battery. Despite the drifting smoke +they hit gunner after gunner. The fever in Ned's blood grew. Everything +was red before him. His temples throbbed like fire. The spirit of battle +had taken full hold of him, and he fired whenever he caught a glimpse of +a Mexican. + +"Deaf" Smith was on Ned's right, and he picked off a gunner. But to do +so he had lifted his head and shoulders above the coping. A figure rose +up behind the Mexican barricade and fired in return. "Deaf" Smith +uttered a little cry, and clapped his hand to his shoulder. + +"Never mind," he said in reply to anxious looks. "It's in the fleshy +part only, and I'm not badly hurt." + +The bullet had gone nearly through the shoulder and was just under the +skin on the other side. The Ring Tailed Panther cut it out with his +bowie knife and bound up the wound tightly with strips from his hunting +shirt. But Ned, although it was only a fleeting glimpse, had recognized +the marksman. It was Urrea who had sent the bullet through "Deaf" +Smith's shoulder. He was proving himself a formidable foe. + +But the men on the roof continued their deadly sharpshooting, and now, +the battery, probably at Urrea's suggestion, began to turn its attention +to them. Ned was seized suddenly by Obed and pulled flat. There was a +roaring and hissing sound over his head as a twelve pound cannon ball +passed, and Ned said to Obed: "I thank you." The cannon shot was +followed by a storm of bullets and then by more cannon shots. The +Mexican guns were served well that day. The coping was shot away and the +Texans were in imminent danger from the flying pieces. They were glad +when the last of it was gone. + +But they did not yet dare to raise themselves high enough for a shot. +Balls, shell, and bullets swept the roof without ceasing. Ned lay on his +side, almost flat. He listened to the ugly hissing and screaming over +his head until it became unbearable. He turned over on his other side +and looked at Smith, their leader. Smith was pale and weak from his +wound, but he smiled wanly. + +"You don't speak, but your face asks your question, Ned," he said. "I +hate to say it, but we can't hold this roof. I never knew the Mexicans +to shoot so well before, and their numbers and cannon give them a great +advantage. Below, lads, as soon as you can!" + +They crept down the stairway, and found that the house itself was +suffering from the Mexican cannon. Holes had been smashed in the walls, +but here the Texans were always replying with their rifles. They also +heard the steady fire in the house of De La Garcia and they knew that +their comrades were standing fast. Ned, exhausted by the great tension, +sat down on a willow sofa. His hands were trembling and his face was wet +with perspiration. The Ring Tailed Panther sat down beside him. + +"Good plan to rest a little, Ned," he said. "We've come right into a +hornets' nest an' the hornets are stingin' us hard. Listen to that, will +you!" + +A cannon ball smashed through the wall, passed through the room in which +they were sitting, and dropped spent in another room beyond. Obed joined +them on the sofa. + +"A cannon ball never strikes in the same place twice," misquoted Obed. +"So it's safer here than it is anywhere else in this Veramendi house. +I'd help with the rifles but there's no room for me at the windows and +loopholes just now." + +"Our men are giving it back to them," said Ned. "Listen how the rifles +crackle!" + +The battle was increasing in heat. The Mexicans, despite their +artillery, and their heavy barricades, were losing heavily at the hands +of the sharpshooters. The Texans, sheltered in the buildings, were +suffering little, but their position was growing more dangerous every +minute. They were inside the town, but the force of Burleson outside was +unable to come to their aid. Meanwhile, they must fight five to one, but +they addressed themselves with unflinching hearts to the task. Even in +the moment of imminent peril they did not think of retreat, but clung +to their original purpose of taking San Antonio. + +Ned, tense and restless, was unable to remain more than a few minutes on +the sofa. He wandered into another room and saw a large table spread +with food. Bread and meat were in the dishes, and there were pots of +coffee. All was now cold. Evidently they had been making ready for early +breakfast in the Veramendi house when the Texans came. Ned called to his +friends. + +"Why shouldn't we use it!" he said, "even if it is cold?" + +"Why shouldn't we?" said Obed. "Even though we fight we must live." + +They took the food and coffee, cold as it was, to the men, and they ate +and drank eagerly. Then they searched everywhere and found large +supplies of provisions in the house, so much, in fact, that the Ring +Tailed Panther growled very pleasantly between his teeth. + +"There's enough here," he said, "to last two or three days, an' it's +well when you're in a fort, ready to stand a siege, to have something to +eat." + +Some of the men now left the windows and loopholes to get a rest and Ned +found a place at one of them. Peeping out he saw the bare street, torn +by shot and shell. He saw the flash of the Texan rifles from the De La +Garcia house and he saw the blaze of the Mexican cannon in the plaza. +Mexican men, women and children on the flat roofs, out of range, were +eagerly watching the battle. Clouds of smoke drifted over the city. + +While Ned was at the window, a second cannon ball smashed through the +wall of the Veramendi house, and caused the debris to fall in masses. +The Colonel grew uneasy. The cannon gave the Mexicans an immense +advantage, and they were now using it to the utmost. The house would be +battered down over the heads of the Texans, and they could not live in +the streets, which the Mexicans, from their dominating position, could +sweep with cannon and a thousand rifles and muskets. A third ball +crashed through the wall and demolished the willow sofa on which the +three had been sitting. Plaster rained down upon the Texans. They looked +at one another. They could not stay in the house nor could they go out. +A boy suddenly solved the difficulty. + +"Let's dig a trench across the street to the De La Garcia house!" cried +Ned, "and join our comrades there!" + +"That's the thing!" they shouted. They had not neglected to bring +intrenching tools with them, and they found spades and shovels about the +house. But in order to secure the greatest protection for their work +they decided to wait until night, confident that they could hold their +present position throughout the day. + +It was many hours until the darkness, and the fire rose and fell at +intervals. More shattered plaster fell upon them, but they were still +holding the wreck of a house, when the welcome twilight deepened and +darkened into the night. Then they began work just inside the doorway, +cutting fast through plaster and adobe, and soon reaching the street. +They made the trench fairly wide, intending to get their six pounder +across also. Just behind those who worked with spade and shovel came the +riflemen. + +A third of the way across, and the Mexicans discovered what was going +on. Once more a storm of cannon, rifle and musket balls swept the +street, but the Texans, bent down in their trench, toiled on, throwing +the dirt above their heads and out on either side. The riflemen behind +them, sheltered by the earth, replied to the Mexican fire, and, despite +the darkness, picked off many men. + +Ned was just behind Obed, and the Ring Tailed Panther was following him. +All three were acting as riflemen. Obed was seeking a glimpse of Urrea, +but he did not get it. Ned was watching for a shot at the gunners. + +Once the Mexicans under the cover of their artillery undertook to charge +down the street, but the sharpshooters in the trench quickly drove them +back. + +Thus they burrowed like a great mole all the way across Soledad Street, +and joined their comrades in the strong house of De La Garcia. They also +succeeded in getting both of their cannon into the house, and, now +united, the Texans were encouraged greatly. Ned found all the rooms +filled with men. A party broke through the joint wall and entered the +next house, thus taking them nearer to the plaza and the Mexican +fortifications. + +All through the night intermittent firing went on. The Mexicans +increased their fortifications, preparing for a desperate combat on the +morrow. They threw up new earthworks, and they loopholed many of the +houses that they held. Cos, his dark face darker with rage and fury, +went among them, urging them to renewed efforts, telling them that they +were bound to take prisoners all the Texans whom they did not slay in +battle, and that they should hang every prisoner. Great numbers of the +women and children had hidden in the Alamo on the other side of the +river. San Antonio itself was stripped for battle, and the hatred +between Texan and Mexican, so unlike in temperament, flamed into new +heat. + +Ned was worn to the bone. His lips were burnt with his feverish breath. +The smoke stung his eyes and nostrils, and his limbs ached. He felt that +he must rest or die, and, seeing two men sound asleep on the floor of +one of the rooms, he flung himself down beside them. He slept in a few +minutes and Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther seeing him there did not +disturb him. + +"If any boy has been through more than he has," said Obed, "I haven't +heard of him." + +"An' I guess that he an' all of us have got a lot more comin'," said the +Ring Tailed Panther grimly. "Cos ain't goin' to give up here without the +terriblest struggle of his life. He can't afford to do it." + +"Reckon you're right," said Obed. + +Ned awoke the next morning with the taste of gunpowder in his mouth, but +the Texans, besides finding food in the houses, had brought some with +them, and he ate an ample breakfast. Then ensued a day that he found +long and monotonous. Neither side made any decided movement. There was +occasional firing, but they rested chiefly on their arms. In the course +of the second night the Mexicans opened another trench, from which they +began to fire at dawn, but the Texan rifles quickly put them to flight. + +The Texans now began to grow restless. Cooped up in two houses they were +in the way of one another and they demanded freedom and action. Henry +Karnes suggested that they break into another house closer to the plaza. +Milam consented and Karnes, followed closely by Ned, Obed, the Ring +Tailed Panther and thirty others, dashed out, smashed in the door of the +house, and were inside before the astonished Mexicans could open an +accurate fire upon them. Here they at once secured themselves and their +bullets began to rake the plaza. The Mexicans were forced to throw up +more and higher intrenchments. + +Again the combat became intermittent. There were bursts of rifle fire, +and occasional shots from the cannon, and, now and then, short periods +of almost complete silence. Night came on and Ned, watching from the +window, saw Colonel Milam, their leader, pass down the trench and enter +the courtyard of the Veramendi house. He stood there a moment, looking +at the Mexican position. A musket cracked and the Texan, throwing up his +arms, fell. He was dead by the time he touched the ground. The ball had +struck him in the center of the forehead. + +Ned uttered a cry of grief, and it was taken up by all the Texans who +had seen their leader fall. A half dozen men rushed forward and dragged +away his body, but that night they buried it in the patio. His death +only incited them to new efforts. As soon as his burial was finished +they rushed another house in their slow advance, one belonging to +Antonio Navarro, a solid structure only one block from the great plaza. +They also stormed and carried a redoubt which the Mexicans had erected +in the street beside the house. It now being midnight they concluded to +rest until the morrow. Meanwhile, they had elected Johnson their leader. + +Ned was in the new attack and with Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther he +was in the Navarro house. It was the fourth that he had occupied since +the attack on San Antonio. He felt less excitement than on the night +before. It seemed to him that he was becoming hardened to everything. He +looked at his comrades and laughed. They were no longer in the semblance +of white men. Their faces were so blackened with smoke, dirt and burned +gunpowder that they might have passed for negroes. + +"You needn't laugh, Ned," said Obed. "You're just as black as we are. +This thing of changing your boarding house every night by violence and +the use of firearms doesn't lead to neatness. If fine feathers make +fine birds then we three are about the poorest flock that ever flew." + +"But when we go for a house we always get it," said the Ring Tailed +Panther. "You notice that. This place belongs to Antonio Navarro. I've +met him in San Antonio, an' I don't like him, but I'm willin' to take +his roof an' bed." + +Ned took the roof but not the bed. He could not sleep that night, and it +was found a little later that none would have a chance to sleep. The +Mexicans, advancing over the other houses, the walls of all of which +joined, cut loopholes in the roof of the Navarro house and opened fire +upon the Texans below. The Texans, with surer aim, cleared the Mexicans +away from the loopholes, then climbed to the roof and drove them off +entirely. + +But no one dared to sleep after this attack, and Ned watched all through +the dark hours. Certainly they were having action enough now, and he was +wondering what the fourth day would bring forth. From an upper window he +watched the chilly sun creep over the horizon once more, and the dawn +brought with it the usual stray rifle and musket shots. Both Texan and +Mexican sharpshooters were watching at every loophole, and whenever they +saw a head they fired at it. But this was only the beginning, the +crackling prelude to the event that was to come. + +"Come down, Ned," said Obed, "and get your breakfast. We've got coffee +and warm corn cakes and we'll need 'em, as we're already tired of this +boarding house and we intend to find another." + +"Can't stay more than one night in a place while we're in San Antonio," +said the Ring Tailed Panther, growling pleasantly. "A restless lot we +are an' it's time to move on again." + +Ned ate and drank in silence. His nerves were quite steady, and he had +become so used to battle that he awaited whatever they were going to +attempt, almost without curiosity. + +"Ain't you wantin' to know what we're goin' to do, Ned?" asked the Ring +Tailed Panther. + +"I'm thinking that I'll find out pretty quick," replied Ned. + +"Now this boy is shorely makin' a fine soldier," said the Panther to +Obed. "He don't ask nothin' about what he's goin' to do, but just eats +an' waits orders." + +Ned smiled and ate another corn cake. + +"Maybe," said Obed, "we'll meet our friend Urrea in the attack we're +going to make. If so, I'll take a shot at him, and I won't have any +remorse about it, either, if I hit him." + +They did not wait long. A strong body of the Texans gathered on the +lower floor, many carrying, in addition to their weapons, heavy iron +crowbars. The doors were suddenly thrown open and they rushed out into +the cool morning air, making for a series of stone houses called the +Zambrano Row, the farthest of which opened upon the main plaza, where +the Mexicans were fortified so strongly. Scattering shots from muskets +and rifles greeted them, but as usual, when any sudden movement +occurred, the Mexicans fired wildly, and the Texans broke into the first +of the houses, before they could take good aim. + +Ned was one of the last inside. He had lingered with the others to repel +any rush that the Mexicans might make. He was watching the Mexican +barricade, and he saw heads rise above it. One rose higher than the rest +and he recognized Urrea. The Mexican saw Ned also, and the eyes of the +two met. Urrea's were full of anger and malice, and raising his rifle +he fired straight at the boy. Ned felt the bullet graze his cheek, and +instantly he fired in reply. But Urrea had quickly dropped down behind +the barricade and the bullet missed. Then Ned rushed into the house. + +The boy was blazing with indignation. He had spared Urrea's life, and +yet the Mexican had sought at the first opportunity to kill him. He +could not understand a soul of such caliber. But the incident passed +from his mind, for the time being, in the strenuous work that they began +now to do. + +They broke through partition wall after wall with their powerful picks +and crowbars. Stones fell about them. Plaster and dust rained down, but +the men relieving one another, the work with the heavy tools was never +stopped until they penetrated the interior of the last house in the row. +Then the Texans uttered a grim cry of exultation. They looked from the +narrow windows directly over the main plaza and their rifles covered the +Mexican barricades. The Mexicans tried to drive them out of the houses +with the guns, but the solid stone walls resisted balls and shells, and +the Texan rifles shot down the gunners. + +Then ensued another silence, broken by distant firing, caused by another +attack upon the Texan camp outside the town. It was driven off quickly +and the Texans in the houses lay quiet until evening. Then they heard a +great shouting, the occasion of which they did not know until later. +Ugartchea with six hundred men had arrived from the Rio Grande to help +Cos. But it would not have made any difference with the Texans had they +known. They were determined to take San Antonio, and all the time they +were pressing harder on Cos. + +That night, the Texans, Ned with them, seized another large building +called the Priests' House, which looked directly over the plaza, and now +their command of the Mexican situation was complete. Nothing could live +in the square under their fire, and in the night Ned saw the Mexicans +withdrawing, leaving their cannon behind. + +Exhaustion compelled the boy to sleep from midnight until day, when he +was roused by Obed. + +"The Mexicans have all gone across the river to the Alamo," said the +Maine man. "San Antonio is ours." + +Ned went forth with his comrades. Obed had told the truth. The great +seat of the Mexican power in the north was theirs. Three hundred daring +men, not strongly supported by those whom they had left behind, had +penetrated to the very heart of the city through house after house, and +had driven out the defenders who were five to their one. + +The plaza and Soledad Street presented a somber aspect. The Mexican +dead, abandoned by their comrades, lay everywhere. The Texan rifles had +done deadly work. The city itself was silent and deserted. + +"Most of the population has gone with the Mexican army to the Alamo," +said Obed. "I suppose we'll have to attack that, too." + +But Cos, the haughty and vindictive general, did not have the heart for +a new battle with the Texans. He sent a white flag to Burleson and +surrendered. Ned was present when the flag came, and the leader of the +little party that brought it was Urrea. The young Mexican had lost none +of his assurance. + +"You have won now," he said to Ned, "but bear in mind that we will come +again. You have yet to hear from Mexico and Santa Anna." + +"When Santa Anna comes he will find us here ready to meet him," replied +Ned. + +The Texans in the hour of their great and marvelous victory behaved with +humanity and moderation. Cos and his army, which still doubled in +numbers both the Texans who had been inside and outside San Antonio, +were permitted to retire on parole beyond the Rio Grande. They left in +the hands of the Texans twenty-one cannon and great quantities of +ammunition. Rarely has such a victory been won by so small a force and +in reality with the rifle alone. All the Texans felt that it was a +splendid culmination to a perilous campaign. + +Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther, seated on their horses, watched +the captured army of Cos march away. + +"Well, Texas is free," said the Ring Tailed Panther. + +"And San Antonio is ours," said Obed. + +"But Santa Anna will come," said Ned, remembering the words of Urrea. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN STAR*** + + +******* This file should be named 15852.txt or 15852.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/8/5/15852 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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