“I was sent here,” he replied, “by Santa Anna and his brother-in-law, Cos, because I knew too much, or rather suspected too much.  I was held at the capital with Mr. Austin.  We were not treated badly.  Santa Anna himself would come to see us and talk of the great good that he was going to do for Texas, but I could not believe him.  I was sure instead that he was gathering his forces to crush the Texans.  So, I escaped, meaning to go to Texas with a message of warning.”

“A wise boy and a brave one,” said Obed White with admiration.  “You suspected but you kept your counsel.  Still waters run slowly, but they run.”

Ned told all his story, neglecting scarcely a detail.  The feeling that came of human companionship was so strong and his trust was so great that he did not wish to conceal anything.

“You’ve endured about as much as ought to come to one boy,” said Obed White, “and you’ve gone through all this alone.  What you need is a partner.  Two heads can do what one can’t.  Well, I’m your partner.  As I’m the older, I suppose I ought to be the senior partner.  Do you hereby subscribe to the articles of agreement forming the firm of White & Fulton, submarine engineers, tunnel diggers, jail breakers, or whatever form of occupation will enable us to escape from the castle of San Juan de Ulua?”

“Gladly,” said Ned, and he held out a thin, white hand.  Obed White seized it, but he remembered not to grasp it too firmly.  This boy had been ill a long time, and he was white and very weak.  The heart of the man overflowed with pity.

“Good-night, Ned,” he said.  “I mustn’t stay too long, but I’ll come again lots of times, and you and I will talk business then.  The firm of White & Fulton will soon begin work of the most important kind.  Now you watch me unlock that door.  They say that pride goeth before a fall, but in this case it is going right through an open door.”

Obviously he was proud of his skill as he had a full right to be.  He inserted the hooked prongs of the fork in the great keyhole, twisted them about a little, and then the lock turned in its groove.

“Good-by, Ned,” said Obed again.  “It’s time I was back in my own tomb which is just like yours.  I hate to lock in a good friend like you, but it must be done.”

He disappeared in the hall, the door swung shut and Ned heard the lock slide in the groove again.  He was alone once more.  The light that had seemed to illuminate his dungeon went with the man, but he left hope behind.  Ned would not be alone in the spirit as long as he knew that Obed White was in the cell next to his.

He lay a while, thinking on the chances of fate.  They had served him ill, for a long time.  Had the turn now come?  He did not know it, but it was the human companionship, the friendly voice that had raised such a great hope in his breast.  He glided from thought into a peaceful sleep and slept a long time, without dreams or even vague, floating visions.  His breath came long and full at regular intervals, and with every beat of his pulse new strength flowed into his body.  While he slept nature was hard at work, rebuilding the strong young frame which had yielded only to overpowering circumstances.