Neither Mexicans nor Lipans, neither prisons nor
storms nor deserts had been able to stop him.
After the triumphant leap of his blood the great peace possessed him
entirely. His mind and body relaxed completely. His eyelids drooped and
the flames danced before him. The figures of the men became dusky.
Sometimes he saw them and sometimes he did not. Then everything
vanished, and he fell into a long and sound sleep.
While Ned and Obed slept, the Texans conferred earnestly. They knew that
every word Ned had told was true, and they felt that the trouble between
Texas and Mexico had now come to a head. It must be war. They were fully
aware of the fearful odds, but they did not believe the Texans would
flinch. Three or four rode a long distance around the camp and scouted
carefully. But, as they had expected, they saw no sign of the Lipans,
who undoubtedly were still fleeing southward, carrying in their hearts a
healthy fear of the long rifles of the Texans.
After the scouts came back most of the men went to sleep, but Bowie and
"Deaf" Smith watched all through the night. Ned moved a little toward
the morning and displaced the blanket that lay over him. Bowie gently
put it back.
"He's a good boy as well as a brave one," he said to Smith, "and we owe
him a lot.
Pages:
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283