ndergrowth began to grow thick again.
Then he dismounted and fastened his horse at the end of his lariat.

The boy had already come to his conclusion. The presence of the creek
had decided him. He believed that the Mexicans, for the sake of water,
had encamped somewhere along its course, and all he had to do was to
follow its stream. He marked well the spot at which he was leaving his
horse, and began what he believed to be the last stage of his journey.

Ned was glad now that the undergrowth was dense. It concealed him well,
and he had acquired skill enough to go through it swiftly and without
noise. He advanced two or three miles, when he saw a faint light ahead,
and he was quite sure that it came from the Mexican camp. As he went
nearer, he heard the sound of many voices, and, when he came to the edge
of a thicket, belief became certainty.

The entire Mexican force was encamped in a semi-circular glade next to
the creek. The horses were tethered at the far side, and the men, eighty
or a hundred in number, were lying or standing about several fires that
burned brightly. It was a cold night, and the Mexicans were making
themselves comfortable. They were justified in doing so, as they knew
that there was no Texan force anywhere within a day's ride. They had put
out no sentinels, quite sure that wandering Texans who might see them
would quickly go the other way.

Ned crept up as close as he dared, and, lying on his side in a dense
thicket, watched them. Their fires were large, and a bright moon was
shining. The whole glade was filled with light. The Mexicans talked
much, after their fashion, and there was much moving about from fire to
fire. Presently the eyes of the boy watching in the bush lighted up with
a gleam which was not exactly that of benevolence.

Urrea was passing before one of the fires. Ned saw him clearly now, the
trim, well-knit figure, and the handsome, melancholy face. But he was no
prisoner. Many of the Mexicans made way for him and all showed him
deference. Ned had liked Urrea, but he could not understand how a man
could play the spy and traitor in such a manner, and his heart flamed
with bitterness against him.

The Mexicans continued to shift about, and when two more men came into
view Ned's heart leaped. They were alive! Prisoners they were, but yet
alive. He had believed that two so vivid and vital as they could not
perish, and he was right.

Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther sat with their