them more bad names
than Ned had ever before heard. He aspersed the character of their
ancestors even to the eighth generation and of their possible
descendants also to the eighth generation. He issued every kind of
challenge to any kind of combat, and at last, red and panting, descended
the hillock.

"Do you feel better?" asked Obed.

"I've whispered a few of my thoughts. Yes, I can re'lly say that the
state of my health is improvin'."

"Then sit down and rest. It's never too late to try, try again. Remember
that the day is long and the Mexicans may certainly have a chance."

The Ring Tailed Panther growled, but sat down.

In the afternoon the Mexicans again formed in line and trotted down
toward the other ford, but as before they did not like the look of the
Texan rifles and turned away, after shouting many challenges,
brandishing lances and firing random shots. But the Texans contented
themselves again with a grim silence, and the Mexicans rode back to
their camp. The disgust of the Ring Tailed Panther was so deep that he
could not utter a word. But Obed was glad.

"More men will come to-night," he said to Ned. "You know that requests
for help were sent in all directions by the people of Gonzales, and if I
know our Texans, and I think I do, they'll ride hard to be here.
Castenada, in a way, is besieging us now, but--well, the tables may be
turned and he'll turn with 'em."

Just at twilight a great shout arose from the women in the village.
There was a snorting of horses, a jingling of spurs and embroidered
bridle reins, and twenty lean, brown men, very tall and broad of
shoulder, rode up. They were the vanguard of the Texan help, and they
rejoiced when they found that the Mexican force was still on the west
side of the Guadalupe.

Their welcome was not noisy but deep. The eighteen were now the
thirty-eight, and to-morrow they would be a hundred or more. The twenty
had ridden more than a hundred miles, but they were fresh and zealous
for the combat. They went down to the river, and, in the darkness,
looked at the Mexican camp fires, while the Ring Tailed Panther roared
out his opinion.

"The Mexicans won't bring the fight to us," he said, "so we must carry
it to them. They've galloped down here twice an' they've looked at the
river an' they've looked at us, an' they've galloped back again. We
can't let 'em set over there besiegin' us, we must cross an' besiege
them an' get to roarin' an' rippin' an' clawi