The horse was without experience with buffaloes, but he knew that those sharp horns meant no good to him, and he sprang aside with so much agility that Ned was almost unseated.
The big bull rushed on, and Ned, who had retained his hold upon his rifle, was tempted to take a shot at him for revenge, but, remembering the Panther's injunction, he controlled the impulse and fired at a young cow.
When the noise and confusion were over and the surviving buffaloes had lumbered away, they found that they had slain two of the young cows and that they had an ample supply of meat.
"Ned," said the Panther, "you know how to go back to the cabin, don't you ?" "I can go straight as an arrow." "Then ride your own horse, lead the other two an' bring two men.

We'll need 'em with the work here." The Panther and Obed were already at work skinning the cows.

Ned sprang upon Old Jack, and rode away at a trot, leading the other two horses by their lariats.

The snow was gone now and the breeze was almost balmy.
Ned felt that great rebound of the spirits of which the young are so capable.

They had outwitted Urrea, they had taken his prisoners from him, and then had escaped across the Rio Grande.