Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 20, 2025
"A good shot, lad," said the old frontiersman to Ralph. "No one could have made a better." "Yes, it was a good shot," answered the boy. "I'm afraid I'll not be able to do as well every time." "You mustn't expect it. If you could do as well every time you'd be as fine a shot as Davy Crockett himself." "They tell me Crockett thinks of coming down to Texas," put in Mr. Radbury.
Lieutenant Radbury lost no time in making his way to the tent in which Colonel Fannin was poring over an old map of San Antonio. "I have to report the coming of some artillery," he said, as he saluted. "Artillery?" repeated the commander. "Mexican artillery?" "I think so, colonel." And Lieutenant Radbury related as much as he knew. He had scarcely finished, when Colonel Bowie came in on the run.
At first they followed the winding trail, but, coming to one of the numerous creeks of the vicinity, they branched off and took almost a direct route to the town. "Will you go back with us?" asked Mr. Radbury of Poke Stover, when it came time for the Radburys to separate from the others.
"Good-bye, boys," said Mr. Radbury, when the order was passed around to prepare for the march. "It may be some time before I see you again." "I wish I could go," answered Dan, pleadingly. "Your time may come, Dan. But for the present I think we have enough men for this expedition. I think you and Ralph will have enough to do around the ranch, with me absent."
All of the settlers' horses were thirsty, and some refused to budge from the stream until they had slaked their thirst. "Do you think they will be caught?" asked Dan, as he swept along beside his father. "They will not be caught if they can help it," replied Mr. Radbury, with a faint smile. "They know it will go hard with them if we do come up with them." "What of the wounded?" asked Ralph.
"I can't say." Amos Radbury looked over a number of the papers. "I guess they are all right. No, there is my discharge from the army, after the war of 1812. The rascal who broke open the desk took the pleasure of tearing that in half." He rummaged about a bit more. "Hullo, it's gone!" he cried. "What's gone?" came from both boys. "The papers relating to this grant of land."
Radbury, did not allow their live stock to wander far away, to be rounded up once or twice a year. If they had allowed this, cattle and ponies might have gotten into the Indian country and never been heard of again. At the end of the week Poke Stover left, stating that he was going to make a trip to San Antonio de Bexar, to learn how matters were going politically.
Stover told the particulars as they were climbing out of the ravine, Dan leading the mustang by the head. In a short while, the youth was with his father. Of course the parent was astonished to find his son in this wilderness, so many miles from the ranch home, and Dan had to tell his story in detail. "I am glad you are safe," said Amos Radbury. "But what of Ralph?"
"Good-bye, and may success go with them!" cried Ralph, half sadly. "I do hope father comes back safe and sound." "If he doesn't, I shall take his place in the ranks," replied Dan, quickly. "But come, we must be getting home now, or Pompey will be anxious about us." "Here comes a horseman, riding like the wind," came from the younger Radbury, a moment later. "I declare, it's Poke Stover!"
His going was a great relief to the planter, for he was afraid Ralph might get into trouble if left to his own devices. And in this he was not far wrong, for when Stover reached the ranch he found that the youngest Radbury had just heard of the fall of the Alamo, and was going to ride off in the direction of San Antonio, thinking to find his father and brother there.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking