e was merely a band of volunteer soldiers there
was an abundance of sentinels and they were halted when they were within
a half mile of the Salado. But they were recognized quickly, and they
passed within the lines, where, in the first rosy shoot of the dawn,
they saw Bowie going the rounds of the outposts.

"What!" he exclaimed. "Back already! Then you did not get into the
town!"

"We went right into it. We split it wide open," said the Ring Tailed
Panther.

Bowie's blue eyes glittered.

"But you are only three," he said. "Where is Urrea?"

"We lost him an' we don't know how it happened. We know that he's gone,
an' that's all."

Bowie took them to Mr. Austin's tent, where they told to him, Houston,
Fannin and the others all that they had seen in San Antonio. In view of
the fact, now clearly proved, that Cos was fortifying night and day,
Bowie and all the more ardent spirits urged a prompt attack, but Mr.
Austin, essentially a man of peace, hung back. He thought their force
too small. He was confirmed, too, in the belief of his own unfitness to
be a leader in war.

"General," he said, turning to Houston, "you must take the command here.
It would be impossible to find one better suited to the place."

But Houston shook his head. He would not agree to it. Able and
ambitious, he refused, nevertheless. Perhaps he did not yet understand
the full fighting power of the Texans, and he feared to be identified
with failure, in case they made the assault upon San Antonio.

When Ned and his comrades withdrew from the tent they went to one of the
breakfast fires, where they ate broiled strips of buffalo and deer, and
drank coffee. Then Ned rolled in his blankets, and slept under an oak
tree. When he awoke about noon he sprang to his feet with a cry of joy
and surprise. Urrea was standing beside him, somewhat pale, and with his
left hand in a sling, but the young Mexican himself, nevertheless. Ned
seized his right hand and gave it a powerful grip.

"We thought you as good as dead, Don Francisco," he said. "We were sure
that you had been taken by Cos."

"I thought both things myself for a few wild moments," said Urrea,
smiling. "When we rushed from the patio one of the bullets grazed me,
but in my excitement as we passed the gate I ran down the alley toward
the street, instead of turning in toward the barn, as I have since
learned from Mr. White that you did. My wrist was grazed by one of the
bullets, fired from the piaz