Urrea, after the single flash of anger, sat down, and resuming his careless air, held out his hands.

“Since you intend to act like barbarians as well as fools,” he said, “I will not seek to impede you.”

None of the three replied.  The Ring Tailed Panther handily tied his wrists together, and then his ankles, but in such fashion that he could still sit in comfort, leaning against the tree, although the pleasure of the cigarette was no longer for him.

“If you don’t mind,” he said, “I think I shall go to sleep.”

“No objections a-tall, a-tall,” said the Ring Tailed Panther.  “Have nice dreams.”

Urrea closed his eyes, and his chest soon rose and fell in the regular manner of one who sleeps.  Ned could not tell whether he really slept.  A feeling of compassion for Urrea rose again in his heart.  What if he should be telling the truth after all?  Wild and improbable tales sometimes came true.  He was about to speak of his thoughts to the men, but he checked himself.  Disbelief was returning.  It was best to take every precaution.

“You go to sleep, Ned,” said Obed.  “You’ve done a good job and you are entitled to a rest.  The Panther and I will watch till day.”

Ned lay down between his blankets and everything was so still that contrary to his expectations, he fell asleep, and did not awaken again until after dawn, when Obed told him that they would resume the march, eating their breakfast as they went.  Urrea was unbound, although he was first searched carefully for concealed weapons.

“I wouldn’t have a man to ride with his arms tied,” said the Ring Tailed Panther, “but we’ll keep on both sides of you an’ you needn’t try to make a bolt of it, Urrea.”

“I shall not try to make any bolt of it,” said Urrea scornfully, “but you will pay dearly to Austin and Houston for the indignity that you have put upon me.”

The Ring Tailed Panther, true to his principle of never taunting a prisoner, did not reply, and they mounted.  The Panther rode ahead and Obed and Ned, with Urrea between them, followed.  Urrea was silent, his face melancholy and reproachful.

The belt of timber extended only a few hundred yards farther, when they came upon the open prairie extending to the horizon.  Far to the left some antelope were feeding, but there was no other sign of life of any kind.

“I don’t see anything of them friends of ours to whom you were signalin’,” said the Ring Tailed Panther.

Urrea would not reply.  The Panther said nothing further, and they rode on over the prairie.  But both the Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were watching the ground, and, when they had gone about two miles, they reined in their horses.

“See!” they exclaimed simultaneously.

They had come to a broad trail cutting directly across their path.  It was made by at least a hundred horses, and the veriest novice could not have missed it.  The trail was that of shod hoofs, indicating the presence of white men.