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"I am glad you have put the question, Mr. Palmer," said Roylston. "Our affairs have come to a crisis, and we must consider. I, too, wish to help Texas, but I can help it more by other ways than battle." It did not occur to any of them to doubt him. He had already established over them the mental ascendency that comes from a great mind used to dealing with great affairs.
I do not know why the name of Roylston was so powerful with our general, but I saw that it was." "It seemed to have its effect," said Ned. Urrea led the way to the flat roof of the house, a space reached by a single narrow stairway. "I shall leave you here with two guards," he said.
They worked nearly all night in the bare room, and when Houston sought his room he was exhausted. Houston's room was a bare little place, lighted by a tallow candle, and although it was not long until day he sat there a while before lying down. A man of wide experience, he alone, with the exception of Roylston, knew how desperate was the situation of the Texans.
Not under any circumstances!" Ned spoke with great energy, and again Roylston smiled, but he said no more. "It's time to start," said the Panther. Roylston again mounted one of the horses. Ned saw that it hurt his pride to have to ride, but he saw also that he would not complain when complaints availed nothing.
The horses were within the shed, unharmed and warm, but hungry. They relighted the fire and broiled more strips of the antelope, but they saw that little would be left. The Panther turned to Roylston, who inspired respect in them all. "Now, Mr. Roylston," he said, "we've got to agree upon some course of action an' we've got to put it to ourselves squar'ly.
The light was so faint that Ned could scarcely see Crockett's face, but it looked very tense and eager. "Get up, Ned! Get up!" said Crockett, shaking him again. "There's great work for you to do!" "Why, what is it?" exclaimed the boy, springing to his feet. "It's your friends, Roylston, an' that man, the Panther, you've been tellin' me about," replied Crockett in quick tones.
And here are Captain Palmer, 'Deaf' Smith, Henry Karnes, Obed White and Will Allen! I tell you that you have no time to lose! Put the supplies back on the schooner, and be as quick as you can! Captain Urrea and two hundred men are galloping fast to capture them!" Roylston started in astonishment at the appearance of Ned, whom he, too, had believed to be dead, but he wasted no time in questions.
Ned saw the truth at once. He had a talisman and that talisman was the name of Roylston. He did not know why it was so, but it was a wonderful talisman nevertheless, because it was going to save his life for the time being, at least. He glanced at the generals, and he saw a look of curiosity on the face of every one of them.
Roylston was in one of the boats and, springing upon the bank, he shouted to the defenders: "Come, lads! The supplies are all back on board! It's for your lives now!" All the men instantly abandoned the defence and rushed for the bank, the Panther uttering a groan of anger. "I hate to leave six good horses to Urrea, an' that gang," he said, "but I s'pose it has to be done."
Much of the charge was a blur to Ned, a medley of fire and smoke, of beating hoofs and of cries. But one thing he saw clearly and never forgot. It was the lame man with the thick white hair sitting with his back against a tree calmly firing a rifle at the Mexicans. Roylston had time for only two shots, but when he reloaded the second time he placed the rifle across his knees as before and smiled.
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