Ned did his errand, but returned very quickly.  He was anxious to see the advance of Castenada’s troop.  The Mexicans, about half of whom were lancers and the rest armed with muskets, came on very steadily.  An officer in fine uniform, whom Ned took to be Castenada himself, rode at their head.  When they came within rifle shot a white flag was hoisted on a lance.

“A white flag!  This is no time for white flags,” growled the Ring Tailed Panther.  “Never have any faith in a Mexican comin’ under a white flag.  What we’ve got to do now is to roar an’ rip an’ claw.”

“Still,” said Obed, “it’s evil to him who evil does, and we’ve got to wait till these Mexicans do it.  First we’ve got to hear what they say, and if the saying isn’t to our liking, as I’m thinking it won’t be, then it’s ripping and roaring and clawing and all the other ‘ings’ to our taste as long as we can stand it.”

“Go ahead,” growled the Ring Tailed Panther, “I’m not much on talkin’.  Fightin’s more in my line an’ when it’s that I come with a hop, a skip an’ a jump, teeth an’ claws all ready.”

“Ned,” said Obed, “you speak the best Spanish, so go down there to the bank of the river, and hear what they have to say.  Just remember that we’re not giving up the cannon, and clothe the answers in what fine words you please.  There isn’t any rock here, but sooner this rock shall fly from its firm base than the Texans will yield their cannon when they are sure to be attacked by Indians and maybe Mexicans too.”

Ned walked down to the edge of the river and the officer, whom he rightly supposed to be Castenada, dismounting, came to the shore at an opposite point.

“What do you want?” cried Ned in pure Spanish across the water.

“Are you empowered to speak for the people of Gonzales?”

“You hear me speaking and you see the other Texans listening.”

“Then I have to say that on the order of General Cos I demand your cannon in the name of General Santa Anna and Mexico.”

“We’ve made up our minds to keep it.  We’re sure to need it later on.”

“This is insolent.  If you do not give it we shall come and take it.”

“Tell him, Ned,” growled the Ring Tailed Panther, “that we just hope he’ll come an’ try to take it, that I’m here roarin’ all the time, that I’ve filed my teeth an’ nails ’till they’re like the edge of a razor, an’ that I’m just hungerin’ to rip an’ claw.”

“The men of Gonzales mean to defend their cannon and themselves,” called Ned across the river.  “If you come to take the gun it means war.  It means more, too.  It means that you will lose many of your soldiers.  The Texans, as you know, are both able and willing to shoot.”

“This is rebellion and treason!” cried Castenada.  “The great Santa Anna will come with a mighty force, and when he is through not a Texan will trouble the surface of the earth.”

A roar of approval came from the men behind the Mexican captain, but Ned replied: