When they learn from their trailers how few we are they'll follow." The rescued were silent, save one, evidently a veteran frontiersman, who said: "Let 'em come.

I was took by surprise, not thinkin' any Mexicans was north of the Rio Grande.

But now that I've got a rifle on one shoulder an' a musket on the other I think I could thrash an acre-lot full of 'em." "That's the talk," said Obed White.

"We'll say to 'em: 'Come one, come all, this rock from its firm base may fly, but we're the boys who'll never say die.'" They relapsed once more into silence.

The rain had lightened a little, but the night was as dark as ever.