Hurrah! But there are too many Mexican soldiers. Isn’t the general sending reinforcements? No.
“Back to the camp, boys,” shouted Colonel Sherman; and just in nick of time they skirted the timber island and cleared the fast approaching Mexicans.
General Houston was furious. He asserted that Colonel Sherman had tried to bring on a fight, against orders. Colonel Sherman was angry, also. He claimed that the general had left him out there in danger of being cut off.
“That Lamar sure can ride, though, can’t he!” declared Jim. “He’s afraid of nothing, that man!”
“We lost two good men, just the same,” replied Ernest. “Trask will die, the doctor says; and Woodliffe can’t fight any more.”
This night the camp fires of the two armies twinkled at each other in the low mist across the dip of prairie. General Houston posted double pickets, beyond the timber of the bayou, to guard against any surprise.
After a good supper――the first square meal in thirty-six hours――there was a short interval of liberty. Sion and Leo strolled over to the cavalry. The four comrades had not met for several days.
“Hello,” greeted Sion. “Say――why didn’t we fight to a finish to-day? Those Mexicans are fortifying. From our end of the line you can see breastworks going up.”
“Yes; and to-morrow Cos is liable to get here,” added Leo. “To-day we’re about even match.”
He and Sion were thin and ragged, but still game.
“I don’t know,” retorted Ernest, rather irritated, for men were putting the same question, one to another, and again the army were indignant with General Houston. “I suppose he wants to rest us up.”
“Shucks! I’m never too tired out to fight a Santa Anna Mexican,” proclaimed Sion. “That was a toler’bly smart march he put us through, anyway. And you fellows had a nice little scrimmage, while it lasted.”
“It’d have lasted longer if some of you other fellows had come out and backed us up,” accused Jim. “Then we could have gone on and taken Santa Anna and his whole bunch――just like Sherman intended.”
“How could we go out and back you up, when we didn’t have orders?” answered Leo. “One thing’s sure, though: we don’t retreat any more. If Houston wants to retreat, he’ll go alone. We’ve got Santa Anna pocketed and we’re going to put our hands on him while we can.”