Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-10

with the evident intention of looking int
the boys retreat when the voice of th
Mexican commander called him back.
THE old place must be infested witt
rats, colonel" said Santa Anna" l as
sure you that we are the only human
tenants, but if your suspicious continue
why, we can search 1t before we go away.
But half satisfied, the Mexican colone
came back to the council of war and again
the four bent over the map and coolly dis
cussed the annihilation of General Hous
| tons army
Kit, the little Texan, lay quite close now
and scarcely breathed whild he looked dowr
upon the animated scene as revealed by the
lone candle.
KITS DECISION.
"If General Houston and mis- brave men
are to be saved l must not linger here" he
said to himself THE suspicious colonel
will insist on searching this place before they
go away and will be captured like gopher
| If stay"
With the greatest caution he crept toward
little window in one end OF the attic and
| looked out.
The night was not dark enough to con-
ceal tho forms of the horses near the cabin
and hitched to trees there, and the moment
| Kit saw them he formed hasty plan.
| 1t was a long drop to the ground with
fears of breaking a limb. and the boy did
| not intend risking It, He believed that he
could climb down the logs on the outside
as he had climbed into the garret from the
inside. and. with the rife secured to his back
| by leather strap, he lowered himself from
the window.
1t was a hazardous adventure for the boy
for the least noise would betray him and
a fall would seal his DOOM
Well did the little borderer know that life
trembled in the balances of fate as hand
over hand. with the skillfuness of an AL
pine climber, he made the descent.
He could hear the officers in the cabin
and through the chinks between the logs he
could catch glimpses of the council of war.
At last Kit dropped to the ground with
the softness of a cat and for half minute
stood still and listened
Ho had gotten out of the old trap and so
far was safe, but he had not passed the dan
ger line.
Making his way to the horses he ap-
preached them with the skill he knew; they
stood around the trees near the cabin and
did not seem to see him.
Once the boy went out of his way far
enough to look into the hut, the officers hav-
ing left the door open, and he saw the
angular figure of the arch enemy OF Texas
In the light OF the putterlng candle.
A thrill went through the little marksman
as he thought how some OF General Hous-
toms sharpshooters would have hailed the
opportunity he then On Dyed; the lie CT Santa
Anna would not have been worth the candle
at his feet. for they hated him and with all
a Texans hatred.
Turning from the cabin, Kit, the Texas
boy, moved toward the horses and began TO
unite the nearest one.
He saw that the animal was caparisonod
after the manner OF the horses OF Mexican
officers, and while he worked at tho lines he
threw cautious glances at the cabin
The council might end abruptly and the
men might emerge from the empty hut.
OFF FOR HoUSToNs CAMP.
It did not take the boy long to unite the
steed he had selected. and the following mo-
ment he threw himself into the saddle,
He had heard that General Houston was
enoamped at a certain spot miles from the
scene OF his adventure, and he resolved TO
ride thither and warn the friend OF Texas.
Kit was tolerably well acquainted with tho
lay OF the land, having rOamed over Il during
his hunting expeditionsi but he had never
penetrated to the place where the Texans
were supposed TO be encamped.
Kit guided the horse from the spot and for
some time rode slowly. but suddenly bending
forward he spoke to the animal, which
started on at a lively gait.
The four Mexicans then left the cabin and