They were going to fight. They weren’t going to fight. Until Jim growled to Ernest:
“Aw, blame it all! Let’s sleep first and then fight.”
The report passed around that volunteers were to be led in three columns, guided by Deaf Smith, John W. Smith (the engineer), and Henry Arnold. Nearly all night the light burned in the headquarters tent, where sat the council of war. But with dawn, when the orders to advance should have been given, instead there came the announcement that the attack had been postponed once more! Henry Arnold, the guide, had disappeared, and probably had deserted, to warn the garrison!
“Take Bejar anyway, and hang Arnold!” spread the angry cry.
“Traitor! The first Texas traitor!”
“Bejar! Bejar!”
“Boys!” called a Texan, striding rapidly through the Captain Dickinson company’s camp, “it’s all off. We’re to quit and go into winter quarters at Goliad. Get our orders this afternoon. I’ve just learned that straight, and I know.”
Ernest and Jim stared at one another.
“Oh, thunder!” gasped Jim. “Quit, and squat some more? If it hadn’t have been for that Arnold——! Let’s find Leo and Sion.”
They found Leo and Sion, who had heard the same news.