Ned found the night cold and dark, but he shook off the chill by vigorous walking to and fro.  He discovered, however, that he could not see any better by use, as the darkness was caused by mists rather than clouds.  Vapors were rising from the prairie, and objects, seen through them, assumed thin and distorted shapes.  He saw west of him and immediately facing him flickering lights which he knew were those of the Mexican camp.  The heavy air seemed to act as a conductor of sound, and he heard faintly voices and the tread of horses’ hoofs.  They were on watch there, also.

He walked back and forth a long time, and the air continued to thicken.  A heavy fog was rising from the prairie, and it became so dense that he could no longer see the fires in the Mexican camp.  Everything there was shut out from the eye, but he yet heard the faint noises.

It seemed to him toward four o’clock in the morning that the noises were increasing, and curiosity took hold of him.  But the sentinel on the left and the sentinel on the right were now hidden by the fog, and, since he could not confer with them at once, he resolved to see what this increase of noise meant.

He cocked his rifle and stole forward over the prairie.  He could not see more than ten or fifteen yards ahead, but he went very near to the Mexican camp, and then lay down in the grass.  Now he saw the cause of the swelling sounds.  The Mexican force, gathering up its arms and horses, was retreating.

Ned stole back to the camp with his news.

“You have done well, Ned, lad,” said Moore.  “I think it likely, however, that they are merely withdrawing to a stronger position, but they can’t escape us.  We’ll follow ’em, and since they wanted that cannon so badly we’ll give ’em a taste of it.”

The cannon, a six-pounder, had been brought over on the ferryboat in the night and was now in the Texan camp.

“Ned,” said Moore, “do you, Obed and the Panther ride after those fellows and see what they do.  Then come back and report.”

It was a dangerous duty, but the three responded gladly.  They advanced cautiously through the fog and the Ring Tailed Panther roared softly.

“Runnin’ away?” he said.  “I’d be ashamed to come for a cannon an’ then to slink off with tail droopin’ like a cowardly coyote.  By the great horn spoon, I hope they are merely seekin’ a better position an’ will give us a fight.  It would be a mean Mexican trick to run clean away.”

“The Mexicans are not cowards,” said Ned.

“Depends on how the notion strikes ’em,” said the Panther.  “Sometimes they fight like all creation an’ sometimes they hit it for the high grass an’ the tall timber.  There’s never any tellin’ what they’ll do.”

“Hark!” said Obed, “don’t you hear their tramp there to our left?”

The three stopped and listened, and they detected sounds which they knew were made by the retreating force.  But they could see nothing through the heavy white fog which covered everything like a blanket of snow.