they
shall suffer. It was an evil day when the first American was allowed to
come into Texas."

"Yet they will attack us here," persisted Ugartchea, "They have driven
our men off the prairies. Our lances are not a match for their rifles.
Your pardon, General, but it will be wise for us to fortify still
further."

Cos frowned and made another wicked sweep with the cane. But he said:

"What you say is truth, Colonel Ugartchea, but with qualifications. Our
men are not a match for them on the open prairie, but should they attack
us here in the city they will be destroyed."

Then he asked further questions about the fortifications, and Ugartchea,
who seemed to be in immediate charge, began to repeat the details. It
was for this that the Texans had come into the patio, and Ned leaned
forward eagerly. He saw Obed on one side of him and the Ring Tailed
Panther on the other do the same. Suddenly there was a noise as of
something falling in the shrubbery, and then a sharp whistle. The men on
the piazza instantly looked in the direction of the hidden Texans. Cos
and Ugartchea drew pistols.

The Ring Tailed Panther acted with the greatest promptness and decision.

"We must run for it, boys," he exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Something,
I don't know what, has happened to warn them that we are here. Keep your
heads low."

Still partly hidden by the palms and flowers they ran for the gate. Cos
and Veramendi fired at the flitting forms and shouted for soldiers. Ned
felt one of the bullets scorch the back of his hand, but in a few
moments he was out of the gate and in the little dark alley. The Ring
Tailed Panther was just before him, and Obed was just behind. The
Panther, instead of running toward the street continued up the alley
which led to a large building of adobe, in the rear of the governor's
house.

"It's a stable and storehouse," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' we'll
hide in it while the hunt roars on through the city."

He jerked open a door, and they rushed in. Ned in the dusk saw some
horses eating in their stalls, and he also saw a steep ladder leading to
lofts above. The Ring Tailed Panther never hesitated, but ran up the
ladder and Ned followed sharply after him. He heard Obed panting at his
heels.

The lofts contained dried maize and some vegetables, but they were
mostly filled with hay. The fugitives plunged into the hay and pulled it
around them, until only their heads and the muzzles of their rifles
p