d in a few more steps he
gained the second wood. He did not know how much Urrea was hurt, nor did
he care. He had paid back a little, too. He was sure, also, that the
pursuit would be less vigorous, now that its leader was disabled.

The second grove did not contain so many vines and bushes, but, hiding
behind a tree there, Ned saw the horsemen hold off. Without Urrea to
urge them on they were afraid of the rifle that the fugitive used so
well. Two, also, had stopped to tend Urrea, and Ned decided that the
others would not now enter the grove.

He was right in his surmise. The horsemen rode about at a safe distance
from the trees. Ned, taking his time, reloaded his rifle again and
departed for the mission. There was now fairly good cover all the way,
but he heard other troops of Mexicans riding about, and blowing trumpets
as signals. No doubt the shots had been heard at the main camp, and many
men were seeking their cause.

But Ned, fortunately for himself, was now like the needle in the
haystack. While the trumpets signaled and the groups of Mexican horsemen
rode into one another he stole back to the old mission and knocked upon
the door with the butt of his rifle. Answering King's questions through
the loophole, he was admitted quickly.

"The main army hasn't come up yet," he said, in reply to the eager
inquiries of the defenders. "Fannin's men may get here in time, and if
they are in sufficient force to beat off the cavalry detachment I
suggest that we abandon the mission before we are caught in a trap, and
retreat toward Fannin. If we linger the whole Mexican army will be
around us."

"Sounds right," said King, "but we've got to hear from Fannin first. Now
you look pretty tired, Fulton. Suppose you roll up in some blankets
there by the wall and take a nap."

"I don't want to sleep now," said Ned. "You remember that I slept until
nearly midnight. But I would like to stretch out a while. It's not very
restful to be hunted through woods by Mexicans, even if you do get
away."

Ned lay by the wall upon the blankets and watched the sun go slowly up
the arch of the heavens. It seemed a hard fate to him that he should
again be trapped thus in an old mission. Nor did he have here the
strength and support of the great borderers like Bowie and Crockett. He
missed them most of all now.

The day passed slowly and with an occasional exchange of shots that did
little harm. Toward the twilight one of the sentinels on the