Inside of a minute every man was on his feet, rifle in hand,
facing the open place in the horseshoe. They knew that they could not be
attacked from the river. Bowie came to the side of Ned and Karnes.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Ned heard a sound," Karnes replied, "and when we put our ears to the
earth we knew that it was made by artillery. Then I saw their scouts and
skirmishers and fired upon them. They must have crossed the river in
strong force, Colonel."
"Very likely," said Bowie. "Well, we shall be ready for them. Henry, you
and Smith and the Ring Tailed Panther scout across the prairie there,
and see what has become of them."
"Can't I go, too?" asked Ned.
Bowie patted him on the shoulder.
"You young fire eater!" he replied. "Haven't you done enough for one
night? You gave us the first warning that the Mexicans were at hand. I
think you'd better rest now, and let these old boys do this job."
The three chosen men disappeared in the darkness, and Ned sat down among
the trees with Obed. They, like everybody else, waited as patiently as
they could for the reports of the scouts.
"Obed," said Ned, "do you think we're going to have a battle?"
"The signs point that way."
Bowie set everybody to work cutting out undergrowth, in order that they
might have a clear field for the work that they expected.
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