Long
habit had made anything else tiresome to him beyond endurance, but he
was by nature generous and kindly. Like Obed he had formed a strong
attachment for Ned who appealed to him as a high-souled and generous
youth.
They made their way very cautiously toward the town, passing by
abandoned houses and crossing fields, overgrown with weeds. Both the
Ring Tailed Panther and Urrea knew San Antonio well, and Obed had been
there once. They were of the opinion that the town with its narrow
streets, stone and adobe houses was adapted particularly to defense, but
it was of the greatest importance to know just where the new outworks
were placed.
The four came within sight of Mexican lights about nine o'clock. The
town was in the midst of gently rolling prairies and as nearly as they
could judge these lights--evidently those of camp fires--were about a
quarter of a mile from San Antonio. They were three in number and
appeared to be two or three hundred yards apart. They watched a little
while but they did not see any human outlines passing in front of the
fires.
"They are learnin' caution," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "They are
afraid of the Texan rifles, an' while those fires light up a lot of
ground they keep their own bodies back in the shadow.
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