"Tell us how it happened," said the Panther, after they had set
sentinels in the forest.
"They attacked us about an hour after dark," replied Fields. "We knew
that no Mexicans were near, but we never thought of Indians raiding
this far to the eastward. Some of the men were outside looking after
jerked meat when they suddenly opened fire from the brush. Two of the
boys, Campbell and Hudson, were hurt so badly that they died after they
were helped into the house by the others. The Comanches tried to rush in
with our own men, but we drove them off and we could have held the cabin
against 'em forever, if they hadn't begun to shoot the burning arrows.
Then you came."
Campbell and Hudson were buried. Ned had been welcomed warmly by Allen,
and the two boys compared notes. Will's face glowed when he heard of
Ned's adventures within the Mexican lines.
"I could never have done it," he said. "I couldn't have kept steady
enough when one crisis after another came along. I suppose this means,
of course, that we must try to meet Santa Anna in some way. What do you
think we can do, Ned?"
"I don't know, but just at present I'm going to sleep. The Panther, Davy
Crockett and Obed will debate the plans.
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