anta Anna and General
Cos told me so. They told me because they did not believe I could escape
again, as they sent me to one of the submarine dungeons under the castle
of San Juan de Ulua. But even under the sea I found a friend, Obed
here, and we escaped together. We have since seen the army of General
Cos, and it is marching straight upon Texas. Santa Anna means to crush
us and to execute all our leaders."

Again came that deep murmurous "Ah!" and now it was full of anger and
defiance.

"You say you saw the army of Cos?" asked Bowie.

"Yes," replied Ned, "I saw it before I was taken to the castle of San
Juan de Ulua and afterward in Northern Mexico, marching straight toward
Texas. It is a large force, cannon and lancers, horse and foot."

"And so Santa Anna has been lulling us with promises, while sending an
army to destroy us."

Bowie's tone, so gentle and mild before, grew hard and bitter. The
firelight flickered across his face and to Ned the blue eyes looked as
cold and relentless as death. He had heard strange stories of this man,
tales of desperate combats in Mississippi and Louisiana, and he believed
now that they were true. He could see the daring and determined soul
behind the blue eyes.

While Ned was talking "Deaf" Smith was leaning forward with his hand
behind his ear. When the story was finished the dark face grew still
darker, but he said nothing. The others, too, were silent but Ned knew
their minds. It was a singular little company drawn from different
American states, some from the far north, but all alike in their
devotion to the vague region then known as Texas.

"I think, Ned," said Bowie, "that you have served Texas well. We have
been divided among ourselves. Many have believed in propitiating Santa
Anna and Mexico, but how can you propitiate a tiger that is about to
devour you? We cannot trust Mexico, and we cannot trust Santa Anna.
Your message settles all doubt and gives us time to arm. Thank God we
refused to give up our rifles, because we are going to need them more
than anything else on earth. It was surely more than luck that brought
us this way. We came down here, Ned, on an expedition, half for hunting
and half for scouting, and we've found more than we expected. We must
start for Texas in the morning. Is it not so, boys?"

"Yes," they answered all together.

"Then, Ned," said Bowie, "you can tell your story to Sam Houston and all
our leaders, and I think I know what they will