noon
The horses , splashing the water , made some noise , but they were not so careful in that particular now since they had put a mile between themselves and the grove . In fact , the Panther urged them to greater speed , careless of the sounds , and they kept in the water for a full two miles further . Then they quit the stream at a point where the soil seemed least likely to leave traces of their footsteps , and stood for a little while upon the prairie , resting and shivering . Then they started at a rapid pace across the country , pushing for the Rio Grande until noon . Then Fields stalked and shot an antelope , with which they renewed their supply of food . In the afternoon it rained heavily , but by dark they reached the Rio Grande , across which they made a dangerous passage , as the waters had risen , and stood once more on the soil of Texas . `` Thank God ! ''