ion 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