say. We are few, but
Santa Anna and all Mexico cannot ride over Texas. And now it's time for
you and Obed to go to sleep. I should think that after being chased
nearly a week you'd be glad to rest."

"We are," said Obed, answering for them both, "and once more we want to
thank you. If you hadn't come the Lipans would certainly have got us."

The night, as usual, was chilly, and Ned spread his blankets in front of
the fire. His saddle formed a pillow for his head, and with one blanket
beneath him, another above him, and the stalwart Texans all about him,
he felt a deep peace, nay more, a great surge of triumph. He had made
his way through everything. Santa Anna and Cos could not attack the
Texans, unwarned. Neither Mexicans nor Lipans, neither prisons nor
storms nor deserts had been able to stop him.

After the triumphant leap of his blood the great peace possessed him
entirely. His mind and body relaxed completely. His eyelids drooped and
the flames danced before him. The figures of the men became dusky.
Sometimes he saw them and sometimes he did not. Then everything
vanished, and he fell into a long and sound sleep.

While Ned and Obed slept, the Texans conferred earnestly. They knew that
every word Ned had told was true, and they felt that the trouble between
Texas and Mexico had now come to a head. It must be war. They were fully
aware of the fearful odds, but they did not believe the Texans would
flinch. Three or four rode a long distance around the camp and scouted
carefully. But, as they had expected, they saw no sign of the Lipans,
who undoubtedly were still fleeing southward, carrying in their hearts a
healthy fear of the long rifles of the Texans.

After the scouts came back most of the men went to sleep, but Bowie and
"Deaf" Smith watched all through the night. Ned moved a little toward
the morning and displaced the blanket that lay over him. Bowie gently
put it back.

"He's a good boy as well as a brave one," he said to Smith, "and we owe
him a lot."

"Never a doubt of that," said Smith, "and he'll be with us in the coming
struggle."

When Ned awoke the dawn was barely showing, but all the horses,
including his own, were saddled and ready. They ate a brief breakfast,
and then they galloped northward over a good country. They did not
trouble to look for the army of Cos, as they knew that it was coming and
it was their object to spread the alarm as soon as possible through all
the Texas settlements. N