were riding from the west and they
would have to cross the Guadalupe before they could enter Gonzales.
There were fords, but it would be a dangerous task to attempt their
passage in face of the Texan rifles.

The ferryboat was tied safely on the Gonzales side, and then the
eighteen, every one a fine marksman, distributed themselves at the
fords. Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther stayed together. They did
not anticipate the arrival of the Mexican forces before dawn, but
Castenada might send spies ahead, and the Mexican scouts were full of
wiles and stratagems.

"At any rate," said the Panther, "if we catch any Mexican prowling
around here we'll throw him into the river."

"All things, including Mexicans, come to him who waits," said Obed, "and
speaking for myself I'd rather they wouldn't come until day. It's more
comfortable to sit quiet in the dark."

These three and six others had taken a position under a great oak tree,
where they were well shaded but could easily see anyone who approached
the ford on the opposite side. Back of them a few lights burned in the
little town, where the anxious women watched, but no noise came from it
or the second ford, where the other half of the eighteen were on guard.
Their horses were tethered some distance in the rear and they, too,
rested in quiet.

The tree sent up a great gnarled root and Ned sat on the ground, leaning
against it. It just fitted into the curve of his back and he was very
comfortable. But he did not allow his comfort to lull him into lethargy.
Always he watched the river and the farther shore. He had now become no
mean scout and sentinel. The faculties develop fast amid the continuous
fight for life against all kinds of dangers. Above all, that additional
sense which may be defined as prescience, and, which was a development
of the other five, was alive within him, ready to warn him of a hostile
presence.

But Ned neither saw nor heard anything, nor did his sixth sense warn him
that an enemy was near. The Guadalupe, wide, yellow and comparatively
shallow like most of the Texas rivers, flowed slowly and without sound.
Now and then Obed and the Panther walked down to the other ford, where
all, too, was quiet, but Ned kept his place against the root. Toward
morning the Panther sat down beside him there.

"Waitin's hard," he said. "I like to jump on the enemy with claws an'
nails an' have it out right there an' then. I like to roar an' bite.
That's why I'm