icans would not dream that the Texans were hiding in the
Vice-Governor's own barn, just behind the Vice-Governor's own house. He
made himself cozy in the hay and waited.

After about an hour, the town turned quiet, and Ned inferred that the
hunt was over. The Mexicans, no doubt, would assume that the three had
escaped from San Antonio, and they would not dare to hunt far out on the
prairies. But what of Urrea! Poor Urrea! Ned could not keep from
thinking of him, but think as hard as he could he saw no way to find out
about his fate. Perhaps the Ring Tailed Panther was right. They would
never know.

The three did not stir for a long time. Ned felt very comfortable in the
hay. The night was cold without, but here he was snug and warm. He
waited for those older and more experienced than himself to decide upon
their course and he knew that Obed or the Ring Tailed Panther would
speak in time. He was almost in a doze when Obed said that it must be
about one o'clock in the morning.

"You ain't far wrong," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "but I'd wait at
least another hour. That ball will be over then, if we didn't break it
up when we were in the garden."

They waited the full hour, and then they stole from the hay.
Veramendi's house was silent and dark, and they passed safely into the
street. Ned had a faint hope that Urrea would yet appear from some dark
hiding place, but there was no sign of the young Mexican.

They chose the boldest possible course, thinking that it would be
safest, claiming to one soldier whom they passed that they were
sentinels going to their duty at the farthest outposts. Luck, as it
usually does, came to the aid of courage and skill, and they reached the
outskirts of San Antonio, without any attempt at interference.

Once more, after long and painful creeping, they stole between the
sentinels, took mental note of the earthworks again, and also a last
look at the dark bulk that was the town.

"Poor Urrea!" said Ned.

"Poor Urrea," said Obed. "I wonder what in the name of the moon and the
stars gave the alarm!"

"Poor Urrea!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "This is the worst riddle I
ever run up ag'inst an' the more I think about it the more riddlin' it
gets."

The three sighed together and then sped over the prairie toward the camp
on the Salado.

CHAPTER XIX

THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER

It was not yet daylight when they approached the Texan camp. Despite the
fact that the Texan forc