about two hours before noon
He could direct his course by the sun , and he intended to go straight to San Antonio . He only hoped that he might get there before the arrival of Santa Anna and his army . He could not spare the time to seek his comrades , and he felt much apprehension for them , but he yet had the utmost confidence in the skill of the Panther and Obed White . It was about two hours before noon when Ned set out across the plain . Usually in this region antelope were to be seen on the horizon , but they were all gone now . The boy considered it a sure sign that Mexican detachments had passed that way . It was altogether likely , too , so he calculated , that the Mexican army was now nearer than he to San Antonio .