Once more, after long and painful creeping, they stole between the
sentinels, took mental note of the earthworks again, and also a last
look at the dark bulk that was the town.
"Poor Urrea!" said Ned.
"Poor Urrea," said Obed. "I wonder what in the name of the moon and the
stars gave the alarm!"
"Poor Urrea!" said the Ring Tailed Panther. "This is the worst riddle I
ever run up ag'inst an' the more I think about it the more riddlin' it
gets."
The three sighed together and then sped over the prairie toward the camp
on the Salado.
CHAPTER XIX
THE BATTLE BY THE RIVER
It was not yet daylight when they approached the Texan camp. Despite the
fact that the Texan force was merely a band of volunteer soldiers there
was an abundance of sentinels and they were halted when they were within
a half mile of the Salado. But they were recognized quickly, and they
passed within the lines, where, in the first rosy shoot of the dawn,
they saw Bowie going the rounds of the outposts.
"What!" he exclaimed. "Back already! Then you did not get into the
town!"
"We went right into it. We split it wide open," said the Ring Tailed
Panther.
Bowie's blue eyes glittered.
"But you are only three," he said.
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