You might comb Texas with a fine-tooth comb an' you'd never rake out such another." "If that ain't Mart Palmer, the Ring Tailed Panther, I'll go straight to Santa Anna an' ask him to shoot me as a fool." "You won't have to go to Santa Anna." Smith rode from the covert, put his curved hand to his mouth, and uttered a long piercing cry.

The three horsemen stopped at once, and the giant in the lead gave back the signal in the same fashion.

Then the two little parties rode rapidly toward each other.

While they were yet fifty yards apart they uttered words of hail and good fellowship, and when they met they shook hands with the friendship that has been sealed by common hardships and dangers.
"You're goin' toward the Alamo ?" said Smith.
"Yes," replied the Panther.

"We started that way several days ago, but we've been delayed.