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.
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