Ned was about to leave Sandoval’s room when he met at the door a young man, perspiring, wild of eye and bearing all the other signs of haste and excitement.  It was Francisco Urrea.

“I am too late!” he cried.  “Alas!  Alas!  I would have had a share in this glorious combat!  I should like to have taken Sandoval with my own hand!  I have cause to hate that man!”

Sandoval was sitting on the edge of his bed, and the eyes of the two Mexicans flashed anger at each other, Urrea went up, and shook his hand in the face of Sandoval.  Sandoval shook his in the face of Urrea.  Wrath was equal between them.  Fierce words were exchanged with such swiftness that Ned could not understand them.  He judged that the young Mexican must have some deep cause for hatred of Sandoval.  But the Ring Tailed Panther interfered.  He did not like this trait of abusing a fallen foe which he considered typically Mexican.

“Come away, Don Francisco,” he said.  “The rippin’ an’ tearin’ are over an’ we can do our roarin’ outside!”

He took Urrea by the arm and led him away.  Ned preceded them.  Outside he met Obed who was in the highest spirits.

“We’ve done more than capture Mexicans,” he said.  “It never rains but it turns into a storm.  We’ve gone through the Mexican barracks and we’ve made a big haul here.  Let’s take a look.”

Ned went with him, and, when he saw, he too exulted.  Goliad had been made a place of supply by the Mexicans, and, stored there, the Texans had taken a vast quantity of ammunition, rounds of powder and lead to the scores of thousands, five hundred rifles and three fine cannon.  Some of the Texans joined hands in a wild Indian dance, when they saw their spoils, and the eyes of Ned and Obed glistened.

“Unto the righteous shall be given,” said Obed.  “We’ve done far better to-night than we hoped.  We’ll need these in the advance on Cos and San Antonio.”

“They will be of the greatest service,” said Urrea who joined them at that moment.  “How I envy you your glory!”

“What happened to you, Don Francisco?” asked Obed.

“I carried the warning to my uncle and his family,” replied Urrea.  “I was just in time.  Guerrillas of Cos came an hour later, and burned the house to the ground.  They destroyed everything, the stables and barns, and they even killed the horses and the cattle.  Ah, what a ruin!  I rode back by there on my way to Goliad.”

The young Mexican pressed his hands over his eyes and Ned thrilled with sympathy.

“What became of your uncle and his family?” asked the boy.

“They rode north for San Felipe de Austin.  They will be safe but they lose all.”

“Never mind,” said Obed, “we’ll make the Mexicans pay it back, when we drive ’em out of Texas.  I don’t believe that any good patriot will suffer.”

“Nevertheless,” said Urrea, “my uncle is willing to lose and endure for the cause.”