never before thought that I should be
firing at any one with intent to kill. But events are often too powerful
for us."

He closed his eyes again.

"I am going to sleep a little, if I can," he said.

But Ned and Will could not sleep. They went to Ned's old position at the
edge of the creek bed, and together watched the opening dawn. They saw
the bright sun rise over the great plains, and the dew sparkle for a
little while on the brown grass. The day was cold, but apparently it had
come with peace. They saw nothing on the plain, although they had no
doubt that the Mexicans were waiting just beyond the first swell. But
Ned and Will discerned three dark objects lying on the sand up the bed
of the creek, and they knew that they were the men who had fallen in the
first rush. Ned was glad that he could not see their faces.

At the suggestion of the Panther they lighted fires and had warm food
and coffee again, thus putting heart into all the defenders. Then the
Panther chose Ned for a little scouting work on horseback. Ned found Old
Jack seeking blades of grass within the limits allowed by his lariat.
But when the horse saw his master he stretched out his head and neighed.

"I think I understand you," said Ned. "Not enough food and no water.
Well, I'll see that you get both later, but just now we're going on a
little excursion."

The Panther and Ned rode boldly out of the trees, and advanced a short
distance upon the plain. Two or three shots were fired from a point
behind the first swell, but the bullets fell far short.

"I counted on that," said the Panther. "If a Mexican has a gun it's
mighty hard for him to keep from firing it. All we wanted to do was to
uncover their position an' we've done it. We'll go back now, an' wait
fur them to make the first move."

But they did not go just yet. A man on horseback waving a large white
handkerchief appeared on the crest of the swell and rode toward them. It
was Urrea.

"He knows that he can trust us, while we don't know that we can trust
him," said the Panther, "so we'll just wait here an' see what he has to
say."

Urrea, looking fresh and spirited, came on with confidence and saluted
in a light easy fashion. The two Americans did not return the salute,
but waited gravely.

"We can be polite, even if we are enemies," said Urrea, "so I say good
morning to you both, former friends of mine."

"I have no friendship with spies and traitors," growled the Panther.

"I ser