"When horse and man agree who can stop us ?" Ned mounted the first, the bay, while Obed retained the black.

Then they rode all through the night, coming about dawn to a plain which turned to sand and cactus, as they advanced further into the north.

There was no water here, but they had rilled their water bottles at the last brook and they had no fear of perishing by thirst.

Although they had passed the army of Cos they did not fail to keep a vigilant watch.

They knew that patrols of Mexicans would be in the north, and the red men were also to be feared.