heard of that," said Potter with a grave smile. "The grass so
far from growing scarcely bent under their feet. Still, the Mexicans at
times will fight with the greatest courage."

Here Urrea spoke.

"My friends," he said, "I must now leave you. I have an uncle and
cousins on the San Antonio River, not far above Goliad. Like myself they
are devoted adherents of the Texan cause, and it is more than likely
that they will suffer terribly at the hands of some raiding party from
Goliad, if they are not warned in time. I have tried to steel my heart
and go straight with you to Goliad, but I cannot forget those who are so
dear to me. However, it is highly probable that I can give them the
warning to flee, and yet rejoin you in time for the attack."

"We hate to lose a good man, when there's rippin' an' tearin' ahead of
us," said the Ring Tailed Panther.

"But if people of his blood are in such great danger he must even go,"
said Potter.

Urrea's face was drawn with lines of mental pain. His expressive eyes
showed great doubt and anguish. Ned felt very sorry for him.

"It is a most cruel quandary," said Urrea. "I would go with you, and yet
I would stay. Texas and her cause have my love, but to us of Mexican
blood the family also is very, very dear."

His voice faltered and Latin tears stood in his eyes.

"Go," said Obed. "You must save your kin, and perhaps, as you hope, you
can rejoin us in time."

"Farewell," said Urrea, "but you will see me again soon."

He spurred his horse, a powerful animal, and went ahead at a gallop.
Soon he disappeared over the swells of the prairie.

"I hate to see him go," growled the Ring Tailed Panther. "Mexicans are
uncertain even when they are on your side. But he's a big strong fellow,
an' he'd be handy in the fight for which we're lookin'."

But he kept Ned's sympathy.

"He must save his people," said the boy.

Obed and Potter said nothing. At twilight they found the other men
waiting for them in a thicket of mesquite, and the total, including the
four, was only forty. But with Texan daring and courage they made
straight for Goliad, and Ned did not doubt that they would have a fight.
Life was now moving fast for him, and it was crowded with incident.

The troop in loose formation rode swiftly, but the hoofs of their horses
made little sound on the prairie. The southern moon rode low, and the
night was clear. They crossed two or three creeks, and also went through
narrow belts o