The group was sixty or eighty in number and they stopped for the smaller body to approach.

Ned's keen eyes recognized them first, and he uttered a cry of joy.
"There's Mr.Bowie," he said, "and there are Smith and Karnes, too! They are all on their way to San Antonio." He took off his hat and waved it joyously.

Smith and Karnes did the same and Bowie smiled gravely as the boy rode up.
"Well, Ned," he said, "we meet again and I judge that we ride on the same errand." "We do.

To San Antonio." "An' there'll be the biggest fight that was ever seen in Texas," said the Ring Tailed Panther, who knew Bowie well.

"If Mexicans an' Texans want to get to roarin' an' rippin' they'll have the chance." "They will, Panther," said Bowie, still smiling gravely.