Toward night an uncommonly raw and cold wind began to blow.  That winter was one of great severity in Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, noted also for its frequent Northers.  Although the time for the Texan spring was near at hand, there was little sign of it.  Not knowing what else to do they sought the shelter of timber again and remained there a while.  By and by they saw for the second time a red glow in the south, and they knew that it came from the camp fires of Santa Anna.  But it was now many miles north of the Rio Grande.  Santa Anna was advancing.

“He’s pressin’ forward fast,” said the Panther, “an’ his skirmishers are scourin’ the plain ahead of him.  We’ve got to keep a sharp lookout, because we may run into ’em at any time.  I think we’d better agree that if by any luck we get separated an’ can’t reunite, every fellow should ride hard for San Antonio with the news.”

The plan seemed good to all, and, after a long wait, they rode to another clump of trees four or five hundred yards further south.  Here they saw the red glow more plainly.  It could not be more than two miles away, and they believed that to approach any nearer was to imperil their task.  Before the first light appeared the next day they would turn back on San Antonio as the heralds of Santa Anna’s advance.

The four sat on their horses among the trees, darker shadows in the shadow.  Beyond the little grove they saw the plain rolling away on every side bare to the horizon, except in the south, where the red glow always threatened.  Ned rode to the western edge of the grove in order to get a better view.  He searched the plain carefully with his keen vision, but he could find no sign of life there in the west.

He turned Old Jack in order to rejoin his comrades, when he suddenly heard a low sound from the east.  He listened a moment, and then, hearing it distinctly, he knew it.  It was the thud of hoofs, and the horsemen were coming straight toward the grove, which was two or three hundred yards in width.

Owing to the darkness and the foliage Ned could not see his comrades, but he started toward them at once.  Then came a sudden cry, the rapid beat of hoofs, the crack of shots, and a Mexican body of cavalry dashed into the wood directly between the boy and his comrades.  He heard once the tremendous shout of the Panther and the wild Mexican yells.  Two horsemen fired at him and a third rode at him with extended lance.

It was Old Jack that saved Ned’s life.  The boy was so startled that his brain was in a paralysis for a moment.  But the horse shied suddenly away from the head of the lance, which was flashing in the moonlight.  Ned retained both his seat and his rifle.  He fired at the nearest of the Mexicans, who fell from his saddle, and then, seeing that but one alternative was left him he gave Old Jack the rein and galloped from the grove into the west.

Amid all the rush and terrific excitement of the moment, Ned thought of his comrades.  It was not possible for him to join them now, but they were three together and they might escape.  The Panther was a wonderful borderer, and Obed White was not far behind him.  He turned his attention to his own escape.  Two more shots were fired at him, but in both cases the bullets went wide.  Then he heard only the thud of hoofs, but the pursuing horsemen were very near.