Ned left the council, depressed and uneasy.  He felt that his countrymen held the Mexicans too lightly.  Were other tragedies to be added to that of the Alamo?  He was no egotist, but he was conscious of his superiority to all those present in the grave affairs with which they were now dealing.

He took his rifle and went upon the wall, where he resolved to watch all through the night.  He saw the lights in the wood where the Mexicans were camped, but darkness and silence prevailed everywhere else.  He had no doubt that young Urrea had sent messengers back to hurry up the main force.  He smiled to himself at the thought of Urrea.  He was sure that the young Mexican had sustained no fatal injury, but he must have painful wounds.  And Ned, with the Alamo as vivid as ever in his mind, was glad that he had inflicted them.

Midnight came, and Ward told Ned that he need not watch any longer when the second relay of sentinels appeared.  But the boy desired to remain and Ward had no objection.

“But you’ll be sleepy,” he said, in a good-humored tone, “when we start at the break of day, and you won’t have much chance to rest on a long march.”

“I’ll have to take the risk,” said Ned.  “I feel that I ought to be watching.”

Toward morning the men in the mission were awakened and began to prepare for the march.  They made considerable noise as they talked and adjusted their packs, but Ned paid no attention to them.  He was listening instead to a faint sound approaching the town from the south.  No one in the church or on the walls heard it but himself, but he knew that it was steadily growing louder.

Ned, moreover, could tell the nature of that sound, and as it swelled his heart sank within him.  The first spear of light, herald of dawn, appeared in the east and Ward called out cheerfully: 

“Well, we are all ready to go now.”

“It is too late,” said Ned.  “The whole Mexican army is here.”

CHAPTER XVI

FANNIN’S CAMP

When Ned made his startling announcement he leaped down lightly from the wall.

“If you will look through the loophole there,” he said to Colonel Ward, “you will see a great force only a few hundred yards away.  The man on the large horse in front is General Urrea, who commands them.  He is one of Santa Anna’s most trusted generals.  His nephew, Captain Urrea, led the cavalry who besieged us yesterday and last night.”

Captain Ward looked, but the Mexicans turned into the wood and were hidden from sight.  Then the belief became strong among the recruits that Ned was mistaken.  This was only a little force that had come, and Ward and King shared their faith.  Ward, against Ned’s protest, sent King and thirteen men out to scout.

Ned sadly watched them go.  He was one of the youngest present, but he was first in experience, and he knew that he had seen aright.  General Urrea and the main army were certainly at hand.  But he deemed it wiser to say nothing more.  Instead, he resumed his place on the wall, and kept sharp watch on the point where he thought the Mexican force lay.  King and his scouts were already out of sight.