noon
They knew that patrols of Mexicans would be in the north , and the red men were also to be feared . They were coming into regions across which mounted Indians often passed , doing destruction with rifle and lance , spear and arrow . Both had more apprehension now about Indians than Mexicans . At noon of that day they saw four horsemen on their left who shaped their course toward theirs in such a manner that if they moved at an equal pace they would meet at the point of a triangle . But the horses that Ned and Obed rode were powerful animals , far superior to the ordinary Mexican mounts , and they rode steadily ahead , apparently taking no notice of the four on their flank . `` They 're Mexican scouts , '' said Obed , `` I 'm sure of it , but I do n't believe that they 'll come too close . They see that we have rifles , and they know the deadly nature of the Texan rifle .