He decided to follow, and near nightfall he saw the camp fires of a numerous force.

He rode as near as he dared and reckoned that there were twelve or fifteen hundred men in the camp.

He was sure that it was no part of the army with which Santa Anna had taken the Alamo.
Ned rode a wide circuit around the camp and continued his ride in the night.

He was forced to rest and sleep a while toward morning, but shortly after daylight he went forward again to warn he knew not whom.
Two or three hours later he saw two horsemen on the horizon, and he rode toward them.

He knew that if they should prove to be Mexicans Old Jack was swift enough to carry him out of reach.