d gone on another hour at a walk, he stopped and let him
have a complete rest.

Ned was not able to see anything of the Mexicans. The prairie, as far as
he could tell, was bare of human life save himself. To his right was the
dark line of the forest, but everywhere else the open extended to the
horizon. He had escaped!

They had started as four and now but one was left. Urrea had proved to
be a traitor and his good friends, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were
captured or--he refused to consider the alternative. They were alive.
Two men, so strong and vital as they, could not have fallen.

Now that his horse had rested, Ned mounted again, and rode at a trot for
the forest. He knew the direction in which the settlements lay, and he
could go on with his mission. Men would say that he had shown great
skill and presence of mind in escaping from the ambush, when those older
and more experienced had been trapped. But when the alternatives were
presented to Ned's mind he had not hesitated. They were lingering before
San Antonio and the call for volunteers was not so urgent. He was going
back to rescue his comrades or be taken or fall in the attempt.

One of the great qualities in Ned's mind was gratitude. Had it not been
for Obed he might yet be under the sea in a dungeon of the Castle of San
Juan de Ulua. The Ring Tailed Panther had done him a hundred services,
and would certainly risk his life, if need be, to save Ned's. He would
never desert them.

The forest was not so near as it looked on the prairie, but two hours'
riding brought him to it. He knew that it was the same forest in which
Obed and the Panther had been taken, here extending for many miles.

He believed that the Mexicans, being far north of their usual range,
would remain in the forest, and he was glad of it. He could work much
better under cover than on the prairie. This was undoubtedly the Mexican
band of which the old hunter had spoken, and Urrea had given his signal
to it from the tree. Ned did not believe that it would remain long in
this region, but would go swiftly south, probably to reinforce Cos in
San Antonio. He must act with speed.

It was several hours until night, and he rode southward through the
forest which consisted chiefly of oak, ash, maple and sweet gum. There
was not much undergrowth here, and he did not have any great fear of
ambush. Turning in, yet farther to the right, he saw a fine creek, and
he followed its course until the u