They knew perfectly well that Ned was telling the full truth, and the
faces of all of them darkened. The same thought was in the heart of
every one, vengeance for the deed, but however intense was the thought
it did not approach the feeling of Ned, who had seen it all, and who had
been through it all.

"I guess that was the firing we heard," said Smith, "when we thought it
was the boys making a last stand at Goliad. I tell you, comrades, this
means the freedom of Texas. No matter how the quarrel came about no
people can stand such things."

"It's so," said the others together.

They did not declaim. They were of a tribe that was not given much to
words, but they felt sure that their own resolve to fight until no
Mexicans were left in Texas would now be shared by every Texan.

After Ned rested a while longer and ate more of the good soup, he told
the full story of the great and tragic scenes through which he had
passed since he became separated from them. Seasoned as they were, these
men hung with breathless interest on every detail. He told them
everything that had passed in the Alamo during the long days of the
siege. He told of Crockett and Bowie and Travis and of the final
assault.

The Panther drew a deep breath, when he finished that part of the story.

"They were certainly great men in the Alamo, them fellers," he said,
"and when my time comes to die I believe I'd rather die that way than
any other."

Ned did not linger long over the tale of Goliad. He could not yet bear
the detailed repetition.

"I think we'd better make for the coast," said "Deaf" Smith, when he
had finished. "Our forces in the field are about wiped out, an' we've
got to raise a new army of some kind. We can look for our government,
too. It's wanderin' aroun', tryin' to keep out of the hands of Santa
Anna. We haven't any horse for you now, Ned, but you can ride behind
Will Allen. Maybe we can get you a mount before long."

They remained in the timber the rest of the day, in order that Ned might
recover sufficiently for the journey. About the middle of the afternoon
they saw a dozen Mexican cavalrymen on the plain, and they hoped that
they would invade the timber. They were keyed to such a pitch of anger
and hate that they would have welcomed a fight, and they were more than
confident of victory, but the Mexicans disappeared beyond the swells,
and every one of the men was disappointed.

At night they began their march toward the north