ugh 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 i