rely promising help if we should need it, hereafter."

"He looks like a man who would give it."

After some further talk it was decided that Ned, Will, Obed and the
Panther should ride south to watch the advance of Santa Anna, while
Crockett, Fields and the remainder should go to San Antonio and raise
such troops as they could.

"An' if you don't mind my sayin' it to you, Mr. Crockett," said the
Panther, "keep tellin' 'em over an' over again that they have need to
beware. Tell 'em that Santa Anna, with all the power of Mexico at his
back, is comin'."

"Fear not, my good friend," said Davy Crockett. "I shall tell them every
hour of the day. I shall never cease to bring the information before the
full quorum of the House. Again I am parliamentary, but I think you
understand, Mr. Panther."

"We all understan'," said the Panther, and then Crockett rode away at
the head of the little troop which tacitly made him commander. Ned's
eyes followed his figure as long as he was in sight. Little did he dream
of what was to pass when they should meet again, scenes that one could
never forget, though he lived a thousand years.

"A staunch man and true," said Obed. "He will be a great help to Texas."

Then they turned back to the cabin, the four of them, because they did
not intend to go forth until night. They missed their comrades, but the
cabin was a pleasant place, well stored now with meat of buffalo, deer
and wild turkey. Floor and walls alike were covered with dressed skins.

"Why not fasten it up just as tightly as we can before we go away,"
said Allen. "The Comanches are not likely to come back, the war is
swinging another way, and maybe we'll find it here handy for us again
some day."

"You're talkin' sense, Will Allen," said the Panther. "It's been a
shelter to us once, and it might be a shelter to us twice. The smell of
the meat will, of course, draw wolves an' panthers, but we can fix it so
they can't get in."

Taking sufficient provisions for themselves, they put the rest high up
on the rafters. Then they secured the windows, and heaped logs before
the door in such a manner that the smartest wolves and panthers in the
world could not force an entrance. As they sat on their horses in the
twilight preparatory to riding away, they regarded their work with great
content.

"There it is, waiting for us when we come again," said Obed White. "It's
a pleasant thing to have a castle for refuge when your enemies are
ma