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Updated: July 8, 2025
"It's a woman that's ridin'," said Smith at last, "an' she's carryin' some sort of a bundle before her." "You're shorely right, Deaf," said Karnes, "an' I think the one walkin' is a black fellow. Looks like it from here." "I'm your way of thinkin'," said the Panther, "an' the woman on the horse is American, or I'm mightily fooled in my guess. S'pose we ride ahead faster an' see for shore."
He was dressed with a neatness and care unusual on the border, wearing a fine black suit, while his face was shaded by the wide brim of a white sombrero. The famous scouts, "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes, and young Zavala, whom Ned had known in Mexico, were there also. Fifty-eight delegates representing Texas gathered in the largest room of a frame building.
You can tell by lookin' at him that he's been through all kinds of trouble, an' a powerful lot of it." These skilled borderers knew that Ned was suffering from exhaustion. They forced open his mouth, poured a drink down his throat from a flask that Karnes carried, and rubbed his hands vigorously. Ned, after a while, opened his eyes and looked at them dimly.
"I figger it this way," said the Panther. "People don't go travelin' through this country except on horses, an' this fellow, whoever he is, didn't have any horse, as we all can see as plain as day." "An' in such times as these," said "Deaf" Smith, "fellers don't go swimmin' rivers just for fun. The one that made these tracks was in a hurry. Ain't that so, Hank?" "'Course he was," replied Karnes.
"Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes were up early they seldom slept late and saw the sun rise out of the prairie. They were in a house which had a small porch, looking toward the Brazos. After breakfast they lighted their cob pipes again, smoked and meditated. "Reckon somethin' was done by our leadin' statesmen last night," said Smith. "Reckon there was," said Karnes. "Reckon I can guess what it was."
I've knowed 'em well for some time, and there was another that belonged to their little band. But he's in the Alamo now, an' they was wild to rescue him." "Do you think Fannin will get through?" asked Houston. "I don't," replied Smith decidedly, "an' if he did it would just mean the loss of more good men for us. What do you think about it, Hank?" "The same that you do," replied Karnes.
Karnes was watching this open space intently, and Ned was watching it also. The boy saw nothing, but suddenly he heard, or thought he heard, a low sound. It was faint, but, unconsciously bending forward a little, he heard it again. It was a metallic rattle and instantly he called the attention of Karnes to it. The scout stopped his walk and listened. Then Ned saw his form grow rigid and tense.
Several small Texan vessels were flitting around the gulf, now and then entering obscure bays and landing arms, ammunition and recruits for he cause. Both Smith and Karnes were of the opinion that they might find a schooner or sloop, and they resolved to try for it.
"That we've got to ride hard, an' fast," said the Panther. "It's our business to get there first," said Karnes. "Let's take to the saddle now," said Will Allen. Ned said nothing. He had given his opinion already. They saddled their horses, and were on the plain in five minutes, riding directly in the trail of the Mexican cavalry.
"Well, boy," said Karnes, "do you find it hard work, this watching and watching and watching for hours and hours?" "Not at all," replied Ned, responding to his tone of humorous kindness. "I might have found it so once, but I don't now. I'm always anxious to see what will happen."
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