CHAPTER VII
THE HERALD OF ATTACK
About midnight they rode into the thickest part of the woods that theycould find, and slept there until day. Then they continued their coursetoward the west, and before night they saw afar small bands of horsemen.
"What do you say they are?" asked the Panther of Ned when they beheldthe first group. "Seems to me they are Mexican."
Ned looked long before returning an answer. Then he replied withconfidence:
"Yes, they are Mexicans. The two men in the rear have lances, and noTexan ever carried such a weapon."
"Then," said Obed White, "it behooves us to have a care. We're scoutsnow and we're not looking for a battle. He who dodges the fight and runsaway may live to scout another day."
The Mexican horsemen were on their right, and the four continued theirsteady course to the west. They were reassured by the fact that theMexicans were likely to take them in the distance for other Mexicans. Itbecame evident now that Santa Anna was taking every precaution. He wassending forward scouts and skirmishers in force, and the task of thefour was likely to become one of great danger.
Toward night an uncommonly raw and cold wind began to blow. That winterwas one of great severity in Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, notedalso for its frequent Northers. Although the time for the Texan springwas near at hand, there was little sign of it. Not knowing what else todo they sought the shelter of timber again and remained there a while.By and by they saw for the second time a red glow in the south, and theyknew that it came from the camp fires of Santa Anna. But it was now manymiles north of the Rio Grande. Santa Anna was advancing.
"He's pressin' forward fast," said the Panther, "an' his skirmishers arescourin' the plain ahead of him. We've got to keep a sharp lookout,because we may run into 'em at any time. I think we'd better agree thatif by any luck we get separated an' can't reunite, every fellow shouldride hard for San Antonio with the news."
The plan seemed good to all, and, after a long wait, they rode toanother clump of trees four or five hundred yards further south. Herethey saw the red glow more plainly. It could not be more than two milesaway, and they believed that to approach any nearer was to imperil theirtask. Before the first light appeared the next day they would turn backon San Antonio as the heralds of Santa Anna's advance.
The four sat on their horses among the trees, darker shadows in theshadow. Beyond the little grove they saw the plain rolling away on everyside bare to the horizon, except in the south, where the red glow alwaysthreatened. Ned rode to the western edge of the grove in order to get abetter view. He searched the plain carefully with his keen vision, buthe could find no sign of life there in the west.
He turned Old Jack in order to rejoin his comrades, when he suddenlyheard a low sound from the east. He listened a moment, and then, hearingit distinctly, he knew it. It was the thud of hoofs, and the horsemenwere coming straight toward the grove, which was two or three hundredyards in width.
Owing to the darkness and the foliage Ned could not see his comrades,but he started toward them at once. Then came a sudden cry, the rapidbeat of hoofs, the crack of shots, and a Mexican body of cavalry dashedinto the wood directly between the boy and his comrades. He heard oncethe tremendous shout of the Panther and the wild Mexican yells. Twohorsemen fired at him and a third rode at him with extended lance.
It was Old Jack that saved Ned's life. The boy was so startled that hisbrain was in a paralysis for a moment. But the horse shied suddenly awayfrom the head of the lance, which was flashing in the moonlight. Nedretained both his seat and his rifle. He fired at the nearest of theMexicans, who fell from his saddle, and then, seeing that but onealternative was left him he gave Old Jack the rein and galloped from thegrove into the west.
Amid all the rush and terrific excitement of the moment, Ned thought ofhis comrades. It was not possible for him to join them now, but theywere three together and they might escape. The Panther was a wonderfulborderer, and Obed White was not far behind him. He turned his attentionto his own escape. Two more shots were fired at him, but in both casesthe bullets went wide. Then he heard only the thud of hoofs, but thepursuing horsemen were very near.
Something whizzed through the air and instinctively he bent forwardalmost flat on the neck of Old Jack. A coiling shape struck him on thehead, slipped along his back, then along the quarters of his horse andfell to the ground. He felt as if a deadly snake had struck at him, andthen had drawn its cold body across him. But he knew that it was alasso. The Mexicans would wish to take him alive, as they might securevaluable information from him. Now he heard them shouting to oneanother, every one boasting that his would be the successful throw. AsNed's rifle was empty, and he could not reload it at such speed, theyseemed to fear nothing for themselves.
He looked back. They numbered seven or eight, and they were certainlyvery near. They had spread out a little and whenever Old Jack veered ayard or two from the pursuers some one gained. He saw a coil of rope flythrough the air and he bent forward again. It struck Old Jack on thesaddle and fell to the ground. Ned wondered why they did not fire now,but he remembered that their rifles or muskets, too, might be empty, andsuddenly he felt a strange exultation. He was still lying forward on hishorse's neck, and now he began to talk to him.
"On! On! Old Jack," he said, "show 'em the cleanest heels that were everseen in Texas! On! On! my beauty of a horse, my jewel of a horse! Wouldyou let miserable Mexican ponies overtake you? You who were neverbeaten! Ah, now we gain! But faster! faster!"
It seemed that Old Jack understood. He stretched out his long neck andbecame a streak in the darkness. A third Mexican threw his lasso, butthe noose only touched his flying tail. A fourth threw, and the noosedid not reach him at all.
They were far out on the plain now, where the moonlight revealedeverything, and the horse's sure instinct would guide. Ned felt Old Jackbeneath him, running strong and true without a jar like the most perfectpiece of machinery. He stole a glance over his shoulder. All theMexicans were there, too far away now for a throw of the lasso, butseveral of them were trying to reload their weapons. Ned knew that ifthey succeeded he would be in great danger. No matter how badly theyshot a chance bullet might hit him or his horse. And he could afford forneither himself nor Old Jack to be wounded.
Once more the boy leaned far over on his horse's neck and cried in hisear:
"On, Old Jack, on! Look, we gain now, but we must gain more. Show tothem what a horse you are!"
And again the great horse responded. Fast as he was going it seemed toNed that he now lengthened his stride. His long head was thrust outalmost straight, and his great body fairly skimmed the earth. But theMexicans hung on with grim tenacity. Their ponies were tough andenduring, and, spread out like the arc of a bow, they continuallyprofited by some divergence that Old Jack made from the straight line.Aware of this danger Ned himself, nevertheless, was unable to tellwhether the horse was going in a direct course, and he let him have hishead.
"Crack!" went a musket, and a bullet sang past Ned's face. It grazed OldJack's ear, drawing blood. The horse uttered an angry snort and fairlyleaped forward. Ned looked back again. Another man had succeeded inloading his musket and was about to fire. Then the boy remembered thepistol at his belt. Snatching it out he fired at the fellow with theloaded musket.
The Mexican reeled forward on his horse's neck and his weapon dropped tothe ground. Whether the man himself fell also Ned never knew, because hequickly thrust the pistol back in his belt and once more was lookingstraight ahead. Now confidence swelled again in his heart. He hadescaped all their bullets so far, and he was still gaining. He wouldescape all the others and he would continue to gain.
He saw just ahead of him one of the clumps of trees that dotted theplain, but, although it might give momentary protection from the bulletshe was afraid to gallop into it, lest he be swept from his horse's backby the boughs or bushes. But his direct course would run close to theleft side of it, and once more he sought to urge Old Jack to
greaterspeed.
The horse was still running without a jar. Ned could not feel a singlerough movement in the perfect machinery beneath him. Unless wounded OldJack would not fail him. He stole another of those fleeting glancesbackward.
Several of the Mexicans, their ponies spent, were dropping out of therace, but enough were left to make the odds far too great. Ned nowskimmed along the edge of the grove, and when he passed it he turned hishorse a little, so the trees were between him and his nearest pursuers.Then he urged Old Jack to his last ounce of speed. The plain racedbehind him, and fortunate clouds, too, now came, veiling the moon andturning the dusk into deeper darkness. Ned heard one disappointed crybehind him, and then no sound but the flying beat of his own horse'shoofs.
When he pulled rein and brought Old Jack to a walk he could see or hearnothing of the Mexicans. The great horse was a lather of foam, his sidesheaving and panting, and Ned sprang to the ground. He reloaded his rifleand pistol and then walked toward the west, leading Old Jack by thebridle. He reckoned that the Mexicans would go toward the north,thinking that he would naturally ride for San Antonio, and hence hechose the opposite direction.
He walked a long time and presently he felt the horse rubbing his nosegently against his arm. Ned stroked the soft muzzle.
"You've saved my life. Old Jack," he said, "and not for the first time.You responded to every call."
The horse whinnied ever so softly, and Ned felt that he was not alone.Now he threw the bridle reins back over the horse's head, and then thetwo walked on, side by side, man and beast.
They stopped at times, and it may be that the horse as well as the boythen looked and listened for a foe. But the Mexicans had melted awaycompletely in the night. It was likely now that they were going in theopposite direction, and assured that he was safe from them for the timeNed collapsed, both physically and mentally. Such tremendous exertionsand such terrible excitement were bound to bring reaction. He began totremble violently, and he became so weak that he could scarcely stand.The horse seemed to be affected in much the same way and walked slowlyand painfully.
Ned saw another little grove, and he and the horse walked straighttoward it. It was fairly dense, and when he was in the center of it hewrapped his rifle and himself in his serape and lay down. The horse sankon his side near him. He did not care for anything now except to securerest. Mexicans or Comanches or Lipans might be on the plain only a fewhundred yards away. It did not matter to him. He responded to no emotionsave the desire for rest, and in five minutes he was in a deep sleep.
Ned slept until long after daylight. He was so much exhausted that hescarcely moved during all that time. Nor did the horse. Old Jack had runhis good race and won the victory, and he, too, cared for nothing but torest.
Before morning some Lipan buffalo hunters passed, but they took nonotice of the grove and soon disappeared in the west. After the dawn adetachment of Mexican lancers riding to the east to join the force ofSanta Anna also passed the clump of trees, but the horse and man lay inthe densest part of it, and no pair of Mexican eyes was keen enough tosee them there. They were answering the call of Santa Anna, and theyrode on at a trot, the grove soon sinking out of sight behind them.
Ned was awakened at last by the sun shining in his face. He stirred,recalled in a vague sort of way where he was and why he was there, andthen rose slowly to his feet. His joints were stiff like those of an oldman, and he rubbed them to acquire ease. A great bay horse, saddle onhis back, was searching here and there for the young stems of grass. Nedrubbed his eyes. It seemed to him that he knew that horse. And a finebig horse he was, too, worth knowing and owning. Yes, it was Old Jack,the horse that had carried him to safety.
His little store of provisions was still tied to the saddle and he atehungrily. At the end of the grove was a small pool formed by thewinter's rains, and though the water was far from clear he drank hisfill. He flexed and tensed his muscles again until all the stiffness andsoreness were gone. Then he made ready for his departure.
He could direct his course by the sun, and he intended to go straight toSan Antonio. He only hoped that he might get there before the arrival ofSanta Anna and his army. He could not spare the time to seek hiscomrades, and he felt much apprehension for them, but he yet had theutmost confidence in the skill of the Panther and Obed White.
It was about two hours before noon when Ned set out across the plain.Usually in this region antelope were to be seen on the horizon, butthey were all gone now. The boy considered it a sure sign that Mexicandetachments had passed that way. It was altogether likely, too, so hecalculated, that the Mexican army was now nearer than he to San Antonio.His flight had taken him to the west while Santa Anna was movingstraight toward the Texan outworks. But he believed that by steadyriding he could reach San Antonio within twenty-four hours.
The afternoon passed without event. Ned saw neither human beings norgame on the vast prairie. He had hoped that by some chance he might meetwith his comrades, but there was no sign of them, and he fell back onhis belief that their skill and great courage had saved them. Seeking todismiss them from his thoughts for the time in order that he mightconcentrate all his energies on San Antonio, he rode on. The horse hadrecovered completely from his great efforts of the preceding night, andonce more that magnificent piece of machinery worked without a jar. OldJack moved over the prairie with long, easy strides. It seemed to Nedthat he could never grow weary. He patted the sinewy and powerful neck.
"Gallant comrade," he said, "you have done your duty and more. You, atleast, will never fail."
Twilight came down, but Ned kept on. By and by he saw in the east, andfor the third time, that fatal red glow extending far along the duskyhorizon. All that he had feared of Santa Anna was true. The dictator wasmarching fast, whipping his army forward with the fierce energy that wasa part of his nature. It was likely, too, that squadrons of his cavalrywere much further on. A daring leader like Urrea would certainly bemiles ahead of the main army, and it was more than probable that bandsof Mexican horsemen were now directly between him and San Antonio.
Ned knew that he would need all his strength and courage to finish histask. So he gave Old Jack a little rest, although he did not seem toneed it, and drew once more upon his rations.
When he remounted he was conscious that the air had grown much colder. Achill wind began to cut him across the cheek. Snow, rain and wind haveplayed a great part in the fate of armies, and they had much to do withthe struggle between Texas and Mexico in that fateful February. Ned'sexperience told him that another Norther was about to begin, and he wasglad of it. One horseman could make much greater progress through itthan an army.
The wind rose fast and then came hail and snow on its edge. The red glowin the east disappeared. But Ned knew that it was still there. TheNorther had merely drawn an icy veil between. He shivered, and the horseunder him shivered, too. Once more he wrapped around his body thegrateful folds of the serape and he drew on a pair of buckskin gloves, apart of his winter equipment.
Then he rode on straight toward San Antonio as nearly as he couldcalculate. The Norther increased in ferocity. It brought rain, hail andsnow, and the night darkened greatly. Ned began to fear that he wouldget lost. It was almost impossible to keep the true direction in such adriving storm. He had no moon and stars to guide him, and he wascompelled to rely wholly upon instinct. Sometimes he was in woods,sometimes upon the plain, and once or twice he crossed creeks, thewaters of which were swollen and muddy.
The Norther was not such a blessing after all. He might be goingdirectly away from San Antonio, while Santa Anna, with innumerableguides, would easily reach there the next day. He longed for thosefaithful comrades of his. The four of them together could surely find away out of this.
He prayed now that the Norther would cease, but his prayer was of noavail. It whistled and moaned about him, and snow and hail werecontinually driven in his face. Fortunately the brim of the sombreroprotected his eyes. He floundered on until midnight. The Norther wasblowin
g as fiercely as ever, and he and Old Jack were brought up by athicket too dense for them to penetrate.
Ned understood now that he was lost. Instinct had failed absolutely.Brave and resourceful as he was he uttered a groan of despair. It wastorture to be so near the end of his task and then to fail. But thedespair lasted only a moment. The courage of a nature containing genuinegreatness brought back hope.
He dismounted and led his horse around the thicket. Then they came to apart of the woods which seemed thinner, and not knowing anything else todo he went straight ahead. But he stopped abruptly when his feet sank insoft mud. He saw directly before him a stream yellow, swollen andflowing faster than usual.
Ned knew that it was the San Antonio River, and now he had a clue. Byfollowing its banks he would reach the town. The way might be long, butit must inevitably lead him to San Antonio, and he would take it.
He remounted and rode forward as fast as he could. The river curved andtwisted, but he was far more cheerful now. The San Antonio was like agreat coiling rope, but if he followed it long enough he would certainlycome to the end that he wished. The Norther continued to blow. He andhis horse were a huge moving shape of white. Now and then the snow,coating too thickly upon his serape, fell in lumps to the ground, but itwas soon coated anew and as thick as ever. But whatever happened henever let the San Antonio get out of his sight.
He was compelled to stop at last under a thick cluster of oaks, where hewas somewhat sheltered from the wind and snow. Here he dismounted again,stamped his feet vigorously for warmth and also brushed the snow fromhis faithful horse. Old Jack, as usual, rubbed his nose against theboy's arm.
The horse was a source of great comfort and strength to Ned. He alwaysbelieved that he would have collapsed without him. As nearly as he couldguess the time it was about halfway between midnight and morning, and inorder to preserve his strength he forced himself to eat a little more.
A half hour's rest, and remounting he resumed his slow progress by theriver. The rest had been good for both his horse and himself, and theblood felt warmer in his veins. He moved for some time among trees andthickets that lined the banks, and after a while he recognized familiarground. He had been in some of these places in the course of the siegeof San Antonio, and the town could not be far away.
It was probably two hours before daylight when he heard a sound whichwas not that of the Norther, a sound which he knew instantly. It was thedull clank of bronze against bronze. It could be made only by one cannonstriking against another. Then Santa Anna, or one of his generals,despite the storm and the night, was advancing with his army, or a partof it. Ned shivered, and now not from the cold.
The Texans did not understand the fiery energy of this man. They wouldlearn of it too late, unless he told them, and it might be too late eventhen. He pressed on with as much increase of speed as the nature of theground would allow. In another hour the snow and hail ceased, but thewind still blew fiercely, and it remained very cold.
The dawn began to show dimly through drifting clouds. Ned did not recalluntil long afterward that it was the birthday of the great Washington.By a singular coincidence Santa Anna appeared before Taylor with avastly superior force on the same birthday eleven years later.
It was a hidden sun, and the day was bleak with clouds and drivingwinds. Nevertheless the snow that had fallen began to disappear. Ned andOld Jack still made their way forward, somewhat slowly now, as they werestiff and sore from the long night's fight with darkness and cold. Onhis right, only a few feet away, was the swollen current of the SanAntonio. The stream looked deep to Ned, and it bore fragments of timberupon its muddy bosom. It seemed to him that the waters rippled angrilyagainst the bank. His excited imagination--and full cause therewas--gave a sinister meaning to everything.
A heavy fog began to rise from the river and wet earth. He could not seefar in front of him, but he believed that the town was now only a mileor two away. Soon a low, heavy sound, a measured stroke, came out of thefog. It was the tolling of the church bell in San Antonio, and for somereason its impact upon Ned's ear was like the stroke of death. A strangechilly sensation ran down his spine.
He rode to the very edge of the stream and began to examine it for apossible ford. San Antonio was on the other side, and he must cross.But everywhere the dark, swollen waters threatened, and he continued hiscourse along the bank.
A thick growth of bushes and a high portion of the bank caused himpresently to turn away from the river until he could make a curve aboutthe obstacles. The tolling of the bell had now ceased, and the fog waslifting a little. Out of it came only the low, angry murmur of theriver's current.
As Ned turned the curve the wind grew much stronger. The bank of fog wassplit asunder and then floated swiftly away in patches and streamers. Onhis left beyond the river Ned saw the roofs of the town, now glisteningin the clear morning air, and on his right, only four or five hundredyards away, he saw a numerous troop of Mexican cavalry. In the figure atthe head of the horsemen he was sure that he recognized Urrea.
Ned's first emotion was a terrible sinking of the heart. After all thathe had done, after all his great journeys, hardships and dangers, he wasto fail with the towers and roofs of San Antonio in sight. It was thetriumphant cry of the Mexicans that startled him into life again. Theyhad seen the lone horseman by the river and they galloped at once towardhim. Ned had made no mistake. It was Urrea, pressing forward ahead ofthe army, who led the troop, and it may be that he recognized the boyalso.
With the cry of the Mexicans ringing in his ears, the boy shouted to OldJack. The good horse, as always, made instant response, and began torace along the side of the river. But even his mighty frame had beenweakened by so much strain. Ned noticed at once that the machineryjarred. The great horse was laboring hard and the Mexican cavalry,comparatively fresh, was coming on fast. It was evident that he wouldsoon be overtaken, and so sure were the Mexicans of it that they did notfire.
There were deep reserves of courage and fortitude in this boy, deeperthan even he himself suspected. When he saw that he could not escape byspeed, the way out flashed upon him. To think was to do. He turned hishorse without hesitation and urged him forward with a mighty cry.
Never had Old Jack made a more magnificent response. Ned felt the mightymass of bone and muscle gather in a bunch beneath him. Then, ready toexpand again with violent energy, it was released as if by the touch ofa spring. The horse sprang from the high bank far out into the deepriver.
Ned felt his serape fly from him and his rifle dropped from his hand.Then the yellow waters closed over both him and Old Jack. They came upagain, Ned still on the horse's back, but with an icy chill through allhis veins. He could not see for a moment or two, as the water was in hiseyes, but he heard dimly the shouts of the Mexicans and several shots.Two or three bullets splashed the water around him and another struckhis sombrero, which was floating away on the surface of the stream.
The horse, turning somewhat, swam powerfully in a diagonal course acrossthe stream. Ned, dazed for the moment by the shock of the plunge from aheight into the water, clung tightly to his back. He sat erect at first,and then remembering that he must evade the bullets leaned forward withthe horse's neck between him and the Mexicans.
More shots were fired, but again he was untouched, and then the horsewas feeling with his forefeet in the muddy bank for a hold. The nextinstant, with a powerful effort, he pulled himself upon the shore. Theviolent shock nearly threw Ned from his back, but the boy seized hismane and hung on.
The Mexicans shouted and fired anew, but Ned, now sitting erect, racedfor San Antonio, only a mile away.