n experience was of value. It was the peculiar kind of
light that he had seen before, when a ray from the sun struck squarely
on the steel head of a lance.

"Look!" he said to Obed and Bowie.

They looked, and Bowie instantly halted his men. The face of the Ring
Tailed Panther suddenly lighted up. He too had good eyes, and he said in
tones of satisfaction:

"Figures are movin' among the trees, an' they are those of mounted men
with lances. Texans don't carry lances an' I think we shall be attacked
by a Mexican force within a few minutes, Colonel Bowie."

"It is altogether probable," replied Bowie. "See, they are coming from
the wood, and they number at least sixty."

"Nearer seventy, I think," said Obed.

"Whether sixty or seventy, they are not too many for us to handle," said
Bowie.

The Mexicans had seen the little group of Texans and they were coming
fast. The wind brought their shouts and they brandished their long
lances. Ned observed with admiration how cool Bowie and all the men
remained.

"Ride up in a line," said Bowie. "Here, Ned, bring your horse by me and
all of you face the Mexicans. Loosen your pistols, and when I give the
word to fire let 'em have it with your rifles."

They were on the crest of one of the swells and the sixteen horses stood
in a row so straight that a line stretched across their front would have
touched the head of every one. They were trained horses, too, and the
riders dropped the reins on their necks, while they held their rifles
ready.

It was hard for Ned to keep his nerves steady, but Obed was on one side
of him and Bowie on the other, while the Ring Tailed Panther was just
beyond Obed. Pride as well as necessity kept him motionless and taut
like the others.

Doubtless the Mexicans would have turned, had it not been for the
smallness of the force opposed to them, but they came on rapidly in a
long line, still shouting and brandishing their weapons. Ned saw the
flaming eyes of the horses, and he marked the foam upon their jaws. For
what was Bowie waiting! Nearer they came, and the beat of the hoofs
thundered in his ears. It seemed that the flashing steel of the lances
was at his throat. He had already raised his rifle and was taking aim at
the man in front of him, all his nerves now taut for the conflict.

"Fire!" cried Bowie, and sixteen rifles were discharged as one.

Not a bullet went astray. The Mexican line was split asunder, and horses
and men went down in a m