ed an' can't reunite, every fellow should
ride hard for San Antonio with the news."

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

The four sat on their horses among the trees, darker shadows in the
shadow. Beyond the little grove they saw the plain rolling away on every
side bare to the horizon, except in the south, where the red glow always
threatened. Ned rode to the western edge of the grove in order to get a
better view. He searched the plain carefully with his keen vision, but
he could find no sign of life there in the west.

He turned Old Jack in order to rejoin his comrades, when he suddenly
heard a low sound from the east. He listened a moment, and then, hearing
it distinctly, he knew it. It was the thud of hoofs, and the horsemen
were coming straight toward the grove, which was two or three hundred
yards in width.

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

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

Amid all the rush and terrific excitement of the moment, Ned thought of
his comrades. It was not possible for him to join them now, but they
were three together and they might escape. The Panther was a wonderful
borderer, and Obed White was not far behind him. He turned his attention
to his own escape. Two more shots were fired at him, but in both cases
the bullets went wide. Then he heard o