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