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