a Ring Tailed Panther."

Ned laughed.

"If Castenada is coming, and they say he surely is," he said, "we'll
soon have use for all our claws and teeth."

"Patience will bring our Mexicans," said Obed White.

At daylight women from the cabins brought them all coffee and warm food,
for which they were very grateful. Then the sun rose, and the morning
was fresh and crisp, it now being autumn. The men remained by the
river, still watching intently and Ned caught a sudden sharp glint which
was not that of the sun, far out on the prairie. He knew that it was a
brilliant ray reflected from the polished head of a lance, and he said
as he pointed a finger:

"The Mexicans are coming."

"So they are," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "I see a horseman, an'
another, an' another, an' now a lot of 'em. They must be a hundred at
least. It's the troop of Castenada, an' they're after that cannon. Well,
I'm glad."

The man seemed to swell and his eyes darkened. He was like some
formidable beast about to spring. The boaster was ready to make good his
boast.

"Run down to the other ford, Ned," said Palmer, "an' tell the men there
that the Mexicans are at hand."

Ned did his errand, but returned very quickly. He was anxious to see the
advance of Castenada's troop. The Mexicans, about half of whom were
lancers and the rest armed with muskets, came on very steadily. An
officer in fine uniform, whom Ned took to be Castenada himself, rode at
their head. When they came within rifle shot a white flag was hoisted on
a lance.

"A white flag! This is no time for white flags," growled the Ring Tailed
Panther. "Never have any faith in a Mexican comin' under a white flag.
What we've got to do now is to roar an' rip an' claw."

"Still," said Obed, "it's evil to him who evil does, and we've got to
wait till these Mexicans do it. First we've got to hear what they say,
and if the saying isn't to our liking, as I'm thinking it won't be, then
it's ripping and roaring and clawing and all the other 'ings' to our
taste as long as we can stand it."

"Go ahead," growled the Ring Tailed Panther, "I'm not much on talkin'.
Fightin's more in my line an' when it's that I come with a hop, a skip
an' a jump, teeth an' claws all ready."

"Ned," said Obed, "you speak the best Spanish, so go down there to the
bank of the river, and hear what they have to say. Just remember that
we're not giving up the cannon, and clothe the answers in what fine
words you ple