“I vote that we enlarge the name of our inn,” said Allen.  “Since our leader has black hair and black eyes, let’s call it the Inn of the Black Panther.  All in favor of that motion say ‘Aye.’”

“Aye!” they roared.

“All against it say ‘no.’”

Silence.

“The Inn of the Black Panther it is,” said Will, “an’ it is the most welcome inn that ever housed me.”

The Panther smiled benevolently.

“I don’t blame you boys for havin’ a little fun,” he said.  “It does feel good to be here after all that we’ve been through.”

The joy of the Texans was irrepressible.  Fields began to pat and three or four of them danced up and down the earthen floor of the cabin.  Will watched with dancing eyes.  Ned, more sober, sat by his side.

However, the highest spirits must grow calm at last, and gradually the singing and dancing ceased.  It had grown quite close in the cabin now, and one of the window shutters was thrown open, permitting a rush of cool, fresh air that was very welcome.  Ned looked out.  The wind was still whistling and moaning, and the snow, like a white veil, hid the trees.

The men one by one went to sleep on the floor.  Obed and Fields kept watch at the window during the first half of the night, and the Panther and Ned relieved them for the second half.  They heard nothing but the wind, and saw nothing but the snow.  Day came with a hidden sun, and the fine snow still driven by the wind, but the Panther, a good judge of weather, predicted a cessation of the snow within an hour.

The men awoke and rose slowly from the floor.  They were somewhat stiff, but no one had been overcome, and after a little stretching of the muscles all the soreness disappeared.  The horses were within the shed, unharmed and warm, but hungry.  They relighted the fire and broiled more strips of the antelope, but they saw that little would be left.  The Panther turned to Roylston, who inspired respect in them all.

“Now, Mr. Roylston,” he said, “we’ve got to agree upon some course of action an’ we’ve got to put it to ourselves squar’ly.  I take it that all of us want to serve Texas in one way or another, but we’ve got only three horses, we’re about out of food, an’ we’re a long distance from the main Texas settlements.  It ain’t any use fur us to start to rippin’ an’ t’arin’ unless we’ve got somethin’ to rip an’ t’ar with.”

“Good words,” said Obed White.  “A speech in time saves errors nine.”

“I am glad you have put the question, Mr. Palmer,” said Roylston.  “Our affairs have come to a crisis, and we must consider.  I, too, wish to help Texas, but I can help it more by other ways than battle.”

It did not occur to any of them to doubt him.  He had already established over them the mental ascendency that comes from a great mind used to dealing with great affairs.