e horses a couple of
pistols in holsters, but they had no other weapons except those that Ned
carried. But they were free and they had horses. The Ring Tailed
Panther's customary growl between his teeth became a chant of triumph.

"Did the Mexicans capture Obed an' me?" he said. "They did. Did they
keep us? They didn't. Why didn't they? There was a boy named Ned who
escaped. He was a smart boy, a terribly smart boy. Did he run away an'
leave us? He didn't. There was only one trick in the world that he could
work to save us, an' he worked it. Oh, it was funny to see the Mexicans
run with the fire scorchin' the backs of their ears. But that boy, Ned,
ain't he smart? He whipped a hundred Mexicans all by himself."

Ned blushed.

"Stop that, you Panther," he said, "or I'll call for Urrea to come and
take you back."

"Having horses," said Obed, "there is no reason why we shouldn't ride.
Here, jump up behind me, Ned."

They were very soon back at the point where Ned had left his own horse,
and found him lying contentedly on his side. Then, well mounted each on
his own horses they resumed their broken journey.

CHAPTER XXI

THE TEXAN STAR

Just after the three started, they looked back and saw a faint light
over the trees, which they knew was caused by the forest fire still
traveling northward.

"It seemed almost a sin to set the torch to the woods," said the boy,
"but I couldn't think of any other way to get you two loose from the
Mexicans."

"It's a narrow fire," said the Ring Tailed Panther, "an' I guess it will
burn itself out ag'inst some curve of the creek a few miles further on."

This, in truth, was what happened, as they learned later, but for the
present they could bestow the thought of only a few moments upon the
subject. Despite the Mexican interruption they intended to go on with
their mission. With good horses beneath them they expected to reach the
Brazos settlements the next day unless some new danger intervened.

They turned from the forest into the prairie and rode northward at a
good gait.

"That was a fine scheme of yours, Ned," repeated the Ring Tailed
Panther, "an' nobody could have done it better. You set the fire an'
here we are, together ag'in."

"I was greatly helped by luck," said Ned modestly.

"Luck helps them that think hard an' try hard. Didn't that fellow,
Urrea, give you the creeps? I had my doubts about him before, but I
never believed he was quite as bad as he is."