n Antonio and two
on the side. They had been closed originally by shutters, which were now
gone, but as the windows were narrow the driving rain did not enter far.
One or two of the men, sharing Ned's earlier feeling, spoke up in favor
of a fire. They wanted the cheerfulness that light and warmth give. But
Bowie refused again.

"Not necessary," he said. "We are here in the enemy's country, and we do
not want to give him warning of our presence. We met the lancers to-day,
and we have no desire to meet them again to-night."

"Right," the Ring Tailed Panther roared gently to Ned. "When you're
makin' war you must fight first an' take your pleasure afterward."

It was warm enough in the room and the open windows gave them all the
air they needed. Every man, except those detailed for the guard, spread
his blankets and went to sleep. Ned was on the early watch. He, too,
would have liked sleep. He could have felt wonderfully fine rolled in
the blankets with the cold rain pattering on the walls outside. But he
was chosen for the first watch, and his time would come later.

Ned was posted at a broken door that led to the extension in which the
horses were sheltered. The remaining sentinels, three in number,
including the Ring Tailed Panther, were stationed in different parts of
the building. The boy from his position in the broken doorway could see
into the room where his comrades slept, and, when he looked in the other
direction, he could also see the horses, some of which were now lying
down.

It was all very still in the old convent. So deep was this silence that
Ned began to fancy that he heard the breathing of his sleeping comrades.
It was only fancy. The horses had ceased to stir. Perhaps they were as
glad as the men that they had found shelter. But outside Ned heard
distinctly the moaning of the wind, and the lashing of the cold rain
against roof and walls.

On the right where the extension had been connected with the main
building of stone there was a great opening, and through this Ned looked
down toward the adobe wall and the San Antonio. He saw dimly across the
river a dark waving mass which he knew to be the pecan trees, bending in
the wind, but on his own side of the stream he could distinguish
nothing. But he watched there unceasingly, save for occasional glances
at the horses or his sleeping comrades.

He could now see objects very well within the room. He was able to count
his comrades sleeping on the floo