rs riding to the east to join the force of
Santa Anna also passed the clump of trees, but the horse and man lay in
the densest part of it, and no pair of Mexican eyes was keen enough to
see them there. They were answering the call of Santa Anna, and they
rode on at a trot, the grove soon sinking out of sight behind them.

Ned was awakened at last by the sun shining in his face. He stirred,
recalled in a vague sort of way where he was and why he was there, and
then rose slowly to his feet. His joints were stiff like those of an old
man, and he rubbed them to acquire ease. A great bay horse, saddle on
his back, was searching here and there for the young stems of grass. Ned
rubbed his eyes. It seemed to him that he knew that horse. And a fine
big horse he was, too, worth knowing and owning. Yes, it was Old Jack,
the horse that had carried him to safety.

His little store of provisions was still tied to the saddle and he ate
hungrily. At the end of the grove was a small pool formed by the
winter's rains, and though the water was far from clear he drank his
fill. He flexed and tensed his muscles again until all the stiffness and
soreness were gone. Then he made ready for his departure.

He could direct his course by the sun, and he intended to go straight to
San Antonio. He only hoped that he might get there before the arrival of
Santa Anna and his army. He could not spare the time to seek his
comrades, and he felt much apprehension for them, but he yet had the
utmost confidence in the skill of the Panther and Obed White.

It was about two hours before noon when Ned set out across the plain.
Usually in this region antelope were to be seen on the horizon, but
they were all gone now. The boy considered it a sure sign that Mexican
detachments had passed that way. It was altogether likely, too, so he
calculated, that the Mexican army was now nearer than he to San Antonio.
His flight had taken him to the west while Santa Anna was moving
straight toward the Texan outworks. But he believed that by steady
riding he could reach San Antonio within twenty-four hours.

The afternoon passed without event. Ned saw neither human beings nor
game on the vast prairie. He had hoped that by some chance he might meet
with his comrades, but there was no sign of them, and he fell back on
his belief that their skill and great courage had saved them. Seeking to
dismiss them from his thoughts for the time in order that he might
concentrate all hi