“The younger Urrea has heard something of these debts.  He is devoted to Santa Anna, and he knew that he would have rendered his chief an immense service if he could have secured his release from them.  That was what he tried to force from me when I was in his hands, but you and your friends saved me.  You little thought, Edward Fulton, that you were then saving your own life also.  Otherwise, Santa Anna would have had you slain instantly when you were brought before him at San Antonio.  Ah, how thoroughly I know that man!  That he can be a terrible and cruel enemy he has already proved to Texas!”

The others listened with deep interest to every word spoken by Roylston.  When he was through, the Panther rose, stretched his arms, and expanded his mighty chest.  All the natural brown had returned to his cheeks, and his eyes sparkled with the fire of confidence.

“Mr. Roylston,” he said, “the hosts of our foe have come an’ they have devoured our people as the locusts ate up Egypt in the Bible, but I think our worst days have passed.  We’ll come back, an’ we’ll win.”

“Yes,” said Ned.  “I know as truly as if a prophet had told me that we’ll square accounts with Santa Anna.”

He spoke with such sudden emphasis that the others were startled.  His face seemed cut in stone.  At that moment he saw only the Alamo and Goliad.

The “Star of the South” sped northward, and Edward Fulton sat long on her deck, dreaming of the day when the Texans, himself in the first rank, should come once more face to face with Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

***End of the project gutenberg EBOOK the Texan scouts***

******* This file should be named 15767.txt or 15767.zip *******

This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:  http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/6/15767

Updated editions will replace the previous one—­the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the project gutenberg-tm concept and trademark.  Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research.  They may be modified and printed and given away—­you may do practically anything with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.