Toward night an uncommonly raw and cold wind began to blow. That winter
was one of great severity in Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, noted
also for its frequent Northers. Although the time for the Texan spring
was near at hand, there was little sign of it. Not knowing what else to
do 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 they
knew that it came from the camp fires of Santa Anna. But it was now many
miles north of the Rio Grande. Santa Anna was advancing.
"He's pressin' forward fast," said the Panther, "an' his skirmishers are
scourin' 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 that
if by any luck we get separated an' can't reunite, every fellow should
ride hard for San Antonio with the news."
The plan seemed good to all, and, after a long wait, they rode to
another clump of trees four or five hundred yards further south. Here
they saw the red glow more plainly. It could not be more than two miles
away, and they believed that to approach any nearer was to imperil their
task. Before the first light appeared the next day they would turn back
on San Antonio as the heralds of Santa Anna's advance.
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