It was obvious that Crockett was impressed deeply by these blunt statements.
"What do you wish us to do?" he asked the Panther.
"You an' your friends come with us. We've got some good men at a cabin in the woods that we can reach to-night. We'll join with them, raise as many more as we can, spread the alarm everywhere, an' do everything possible for the defence of San Antonio."
"A good plan, Mr. Panther," said Crocket. "You lead the way to this cabin of yours, an' remember that we're servin' under you for the time bein'."
The Panther rode on without another word and the
party, now raised from three to sixteen, followed. Crockett fell in by the side of Ned, and soon showed that he was not averse to talking.
"A good country," he said, nodding at the landscape, "but it ain't like Tennessee. It would take me a long time to git used to the lack of hills an' runnin' water an' trees which just cover the state of Tennessee."
"We have them here, too," replied Ned, "though I'll admit they're scattered. But it's a grand country to fight for."
"An' as I see it we'll have a grand lot of fightin' to do," said Davy Crockett.
They continued at good speed until twilight, when they rested their horses and ate of the food that they carried. The night promised to be cold but clear, and the crisp air quickened their blood.