There was confusion among the Mexicans, as it was really their leader whom Ned had wounded, and, before the pursuit was resumed with energy, the fugitive had gained another hundred yards.  After that, the gap widened steadily, and, when he looked back a second time, the Mexicans were a full quarter of a mile in the rear.  He maintained his speed and in another hour they were lost behind the swells.

Sure that he had now made good his escape, Ned pulled his horse down to a walk.  The good animal was dripping with foam and perspiration and he did not allow him to cool too fast.  Without his horse he would be lost.  But when they had gone on another hour at a walk, he stopped and let him have a complete rest.

Ned was not able to see anything of the Mexicans.  The prairie, as far as he could tell, was bare of human life save himself.  To his right was the dark line of the forest, but everywhere else the open extended to the horizon.  He had escaped!

They had started as four and now but one was left.  Urrea had proved to be a traitor and his good friends, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were captured or—­he refused to consider the alternative.  They were alive.  Two men, so strong and vital as they, could not have fallen.

Now that his horse had rested, Ned mounted again, and rode at a trot for the forest.  He knew the direction in which the settlements lay, and he could go on with his mission.  Men would say that he had shown great skill and presence of mind in escaping from the ambush, when those older and more experienced had been trapped.  But when the alternatives were presented to Ned’s mind he had not hesitated.  They were lingering before San Antonio and the call for volunteers was not so urgent.  He was going back to rescue his comrades or be taken or fall in the attempt.

One of the great qualities in Ned’s mind was gratitude.  Had it not been for Obed he might yet be under the sea in a dungeon of the Castle of San Juan de Ulua.  The Ring Tailed Panther had done him a hundred services, and would certainly risk his life, if need be, to save Ned’s.  He would never desert them.

The forest was not so near as it looked on the prairie, but two hours’ riding brought him to it.  He knew that it was the same forest in which Obed and the Panther had been taken, here extending for many miles.

He believed that the Mexicans, being far north of their usual range, would remain in the forest, and he was glad of it.  He could work much better under cover than on the prairie.  This was undoubtedly the Mexican band of which the old hunter had spoken, and Urrea had given his signal to it from the tree.  Ned did not believe that it would remain long in this region, but would go swiftly south, probably to reinforce Cos in San Antonio.  He must act with speed.

It was several hours until night, and he rode southward through the forest which consisted chiefly of oak, ash, maple and sweet gum.  There was not much undergrowth here, and he did not have any great fear of ambush.  Turning in, yet farther to the right, he saw a fine creek, and he followed its course until the undergrowth began to grow thick again.  Then he dismounted and fastened his horse at the end of his lariat.