The Texan Scouts | Page 7

is always right, because I made it myself.
We've had a pretty good rest, enough to go on, and what we find may
be worth finding. A needle in a haystack may be well hid, but you'll
find it if you look long enough."
They rode almost due south in the great path made by the buffalo herd,
not stopping for a full two hours when a halt was made at a signal from
the Panther. They were in a wide plain, where buffalo grass yet grew

despite the winter, and the Panther said with authority that the herd had
been grazing here before it was started on its night journey into the
north.
"An' if we ride about this place long enough," he said, "we'll find the
reason why the buffaloes left it."
He turned his horse in a circuit of the plain and Ned and Obed followed
the matchless tracker, who was able, even in the moonlight, to note any
disturbance of the soil. Presently he uttered a little cry and pointed
ahead. Both saw the skeleton of a buffalo which evidently had been
killed not long and stripped of its meat. A little further on they saw
another and then two more.
"That tells it," said the Panther succinctly. "These buffaloes were killed
for food an' most likely by Mexicans. It was the shots that set the herd
to runnin'. The men who killed 'em are not far away, an' I'm not a Ring
Tailed Panther an' a Cheerful Talker if they don't belong to Urrea's
band."
"Isn't that a light?" said Ned, pointing to the west, "or is it a firefly or
something of the kind?"
A glowing spark was just visible over the plain, but as it neither moved
nor went out the three concluded that it was made by a distant fire.
"I think it's in chaparral or among trees," said Obed, "or we would see it
more plainly. It's a poor camp fire that hides its light under a bushel."
"I think you're right an' it must be chaparral," said the Panther. "But
we'll ride toward it an' soon answer our own questions."
The light was more than a mile away and, as they advanced slowly,
they saw it grow in size and intensity. It was surely a campfire, but no
sound that they could yet hear came from it. They did not expect to
hear any. If it was indeed Urrea and his men they would probably be
sleeping soundly, not expecting any foe to be near. The Panther now
dismounted, and the other two did likewise.

"No need to show too high above the plain," he said, "an' if we have to
run it won't take a second to jump back on our horses."
Ned did not take the bridle of his horse as the others did. He knew that
Old Jack would follow as faithful as any dog to his master, and he was
right. As they advanced slowly the velvet nose more than once pressed
trustfully against his elbow.
They saw now that an extensive growth of chaparral rose before them,
from the center of which the light seemed to be shining. The Panther
lay down on the prairie, put his ear to the ground, and listened a long
time.
"I think I hear the feet of horses movin' now an' then," he said, "an' if so,
one of us had better stay behin' with ours. A horse of theirs might neigh
an' a horse of ours might answer. Yon can't tell. Obed, I guess it'll be
for you to stay. You've got a most soothin' disposition with animals."
"All right," said Obed philosophically, "I'd rather go on, but, if it's
better for me to stay, I'll stay. They also serve who stand and hold the
reins. If you find you've got to leave in a hurry I'll be here waiting."
He gathered up the reins of the three horses and remained quietly on the
plain, while Ned and the Panther went forward, making straight for the
light.
When they came to the edge of the chaparral they knelt among the
bushes and listened. Now both distinctly heard the occasional
movement of horses, and they saw the dusky outlines of several figures
before the fire, which was about three hundred yards away.
"They are bound to be Mexicans," whispered the Panther, "'cause there
are no Texans in this part of the country, an' you an' me, Ned, must find
out just who they are."
"You lead the way, Panther," said Ned. "I'll follow wherever you go."
"Then be mighty careful. Look out for the thorns an' don't knock your

rifle against any bush."
The Panther lay almost flat. His huge figure seemed to blend with the
earth, and he crept forward among