Obed nodded toward Ned.

“He’s the one who saw it all,” he said, “and he’s the one who brings the warning.”

Ned was a little abashed by the presence of Houston and the other important Texans, but he told the tale once more rapidly and succinctly.  Every one listened closely.  They were the chief members of the temporary Texan government, but the room in which they met was all of the frontier.  Its floor was of rough boards.  Its walls and ceilings were unplastered.  There was not a single luxury and not all of the necessities.

When Ned finished, Houston turned to the others and said quietly: 

“Gentlemen, we all know that this is war.  I think there need be no discussion of the point.  It seems necessary to send out more messengers gathering up every Texan who will fight.  Do you agree with me?”

All said yes.

“I think, too,” said Houston, “that Santa Anna may now send Mr. Austin back to us.  He does not know how well informed we are, and doubtless he will believe that such an act will keep us in a state of blindness.”

“And you, my brave and resourceful young friend, what do you want to do?”

“Fight under you.”

Houston laughed and put his hand affectionately on the boy’s shoulder.

“I see that there is something of the courtier in you, too,” he said.  “It is not a bad quality sometimes, and you shall have the chance that you ask, later on.  But meanwhile, you and Mr. White would better rest here, a while.  You may have some scouting and skirmishing to do first.  We must feel our way.”

Ned and Obed now withdrew, and received the hospitality of the little town which was great, at least so far as food was concerned.  They longed for action, but the rest was really necessary.  Both body and spirit were preparing for greater deeds.  Meanwhile, Houston, the scouts and the Texan government went away, but Ned and Obed stayed, awaiting the call.  They knew that the signals had now passed through all Texas and they did not think that they would have to remain there long.

They heard soon that Houston’s prediction in regard to Austin had come true.  Santa Anna had released him, and he had arrived in Texas.  But he had not been cajoled.  His eyes had been opened at last to the designs of the dictator and immediately upon his return to Texas he had warned his countrymen in a great speech.  Meanwhile, the army of Cos was approaching San Antonio, preceded by the heralds of coming Texan ruin.

Ned and Obed sat under the shade of some live oaks, when a horseman came to the little village.  He was a strange man, great in size, dressed in buckskin, very brown of countenance and with long hair, tied as the western Indians would wear it.  He was something of a genial boaster, was this man, and he was known up and down the Texas border as the Ring Tailed Panther although his right name was Martin Palmer.  But he had lived long among the Osage, Kiowa and Pawnee