Ned kept his eye on the thieves while they were crossing the yard, and was gratified to see that they had not come off unscathed. Three of their number were limping along with the assistance of some of their comrades, and a fourth was being carried in a blanket. Whether he was killed or badly wounded Ned could not tell. He saw them mount and ride away, and the last object that caught his eye as they passed out of sight was the stolen horse, prancing and curveting behind them, his white legs showing plainly in the moonlight. CHAPTER X. THE TWO FRIENDS. The raiders were gone at last and so was the stolen horse. When the animal passed out of sight in the darkness, and the sound of his hoofs on the hard trail died away in the distance, Ned arose slowly to his feet, but sat down again in much less time than he had consumed in getting up. The intense excitement which had thus far kept up his strength was over now, and he was too weak to stand. He had never passed through such an ordeal before, and it was no wonder that he was terribly frightened. He wondered how he had lived to see the end of it. “But it is an awful mean wind that blows nobody good,” thought Ned, making another effort to stand on his feet after he had rested awhile. “This one has brought good to me in that it has taken off the stolen horse. I thought I had got an elephant on my hands, and I am glad he is gone. It takes me out of a scrape very nicely. The Mexicans are the only ones who suffered by this raid. They didn’t get their hands on the safe, and four of their number were shot, which served them just——” “_Carrajo!_” exclaimed some one near him, in muffled tones. Ned looked up and was almost ready to drop back into the manger again, when he saw a Mexican standing in the open part of the shed; but a second glance reassured him, for it was nobody but the cook. The man was probably sneaking back to the house after seeing his friends off, and had approached so noiselessly that Ned had not heard his footsteps. “I have learned one thing to-night,” said the boy, following out the thoughts that were in his mind, “and that is, that you are a rascal, Mr. Philip.” “What are you doing out here?” demanded the Mexican, who was so amazed that he could not speak immediately. “I was treed out here, and couldn’t get into the house,” replied Ned. “I have been out here ever since those strangers went away, and I saw all that passed between you and the raiders. I wouldn’t give much for you if the settlers should find out what you have been about to-night.” When Ned had said this much, he paused and looked at the man. He was sorry he had spoken his mind so freely, for if he made Philip angry there was no telling what might come of it. “And I wouldn’t give much for you if the settlers should find out that you stole that horse,” retorted Philip, after he had said something angry in Spanish.