THE TEXANS Late in the afternoon Ned's nerves began to affect him again.

Once more, the old longing for action took such strong hold upon him that he could not cast it off for a long time.

But he hid his face from Obed.

He did not want his older comrade to see that he was white and trembling.
Finally, he took some food from his pack and bit fiercely upon it, as he ate.

It was not for the food that he cared, but it was a relief to bring his teeth together so hard.