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Updated: June 20, 2025
"Somebody has been here, and has carried off a dozen or more things. And your desk is broken open, too, and all your papers are scattered about. Did you have any money in the desk?" Dan's cry brought Mr. Radbury into the cabin without further delay, followed by Ralph and Poke Stover. "What has been stolen?" queried Amos Radbury. "I see that old Revolutionary sword of your grandfather is gone."
"I can tell you nothing of him, father." "We saw the white mustang twice, but nothing of him," added Amos Radbury, thoughtfully. And then he decided to go on a hunt for his boy as soon as the affair of the four Mexicans was settled. To the others Dan pointed out the exact location of the cave, and the entire party drew within a hundred yards of the opening, without exposing themselves.
When Dan reached the clearing about the ranch home he found his father in the doorway, rifle in hand, gazing anxiously in one direction and another. Mr. Radbury was tall and thin, and constant exposure to the sun had browned him considerably. A glance sufficed to show what he really was, a Southern gentleman of the old school, despite the rough life he was at present leading.
"We must trust for the best," answered Amos Radbury, and breathed a silent prayer that all might go well with his younger offspring. As night came on it was resolved to dig a trench across Soledad Street, so that the two divisions might communicate with each other. This was dangerous work, for the Mexicans kept a strict guard and fired every time a head was exposed to view.
"See, he is going to make another leap!" But in this the youngest Radbury was mistaken. Fatally wounded, the painter was merely endeavouring to get up on his legs, that he might crawl into the bushes. He stood for a moment, then stumbled and fell flat. Twice did he try thus to rise, then with a final whining growl he lay out, stretched himself, and gave a quiver or two and all was over.
The loss to the whites was one killed and two wounded. This fight had occurred some years before the opening of this tale, but, only a month previous to the events now being related, another encounter had come off, on Sandy Creek, but a few miles from the Radbury home.
His sword, also an old affair, was tied to his belt with bits of a lariat. Altogether he looked anything but a general bent upon leading a raw and undisciplined army to victory. "We will win!" he was saying. "We cannot afford to lose. The whole fate of Texas hangs upon our courage!" Amos Radbury looked at Dan, and something of a smile crossed his face. "Did you hear that, lad?" he asked.
Amos Radbury could not resist his son's appeal, especially as he was glad to have the boy where he might have an eye on him. So it was settled that Dan should accompany his parent; and thus did the youth become a soldier to fight for the liberty of Texas.
Early the next morning the party of four began the journey up the river to the ranch home. It was still cloudy, and Ralph declared that he saw a number of snowflakes come down, but the others were not so sure of this. Yet the weather was dismal enough. "We are going to have a pretty heavy winter for this section," said Amos Radbury, and the prediction proved a true one.
"It's rather an early visit." "I have to report that a large body of Mexicans are approaching the town," answered the old frontiersman, saluting in true military style. "Young Radbury here and myself were down along the Medina, when we spotted them trying to bring a couple of cannon over on a raft." "Mexican soldiers?" exclaimed the lieutenant-colonel. "You are certain of this?" "We are."
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