r out there and bring them back with him, but his second
impulse told him that it was only a chance, and he would abide with
Crockett and Bowie.

"I thank you for the offer, but I think, sir, that I'll stay," he said.

He saw Crockett give him a swift approving glance. Another was quickly
chosen in his stead, and Ned was in the grand plaza when they dropped
over the low wall and disappeared in the darkness. His comrades and he
listened attentively a long time, but as they heard no sound of shots
they were sure that they were now safe beyond the Mexican lines.

"I don't want to discourage anybody," said Bowie, "but I'm not hoping
much from the messengers. The Texans are scattered too widely."

"No, they can't bring many," said Crockett, "but every man counts.
Sometimes it takes mighty little to turn the tale, and they may turn
it."

"I hope so," said Bowie.

The Mexican cannon were silent that night and Ned slept deeply, awaking
only when the dawn of a clear day came. He was astonished at the
quickness with which he grew used to a state of siege and imminent
danger. All the habits of life now went on as usual. He ate breakfast
with as good an appetite as if he had been out on the prairie with his
friends, and he talked with his new comrades as if Santa Anna and his
army were a thousand miles away.

But when he did go upon the church wall he saw that Santa Anna had begun
work again and at a new place. The Mexican general, having seen that his
artillery was doing no damage, was making a great effort to get within
much closer range where the balls would count. Men protected by heavy
planking or advancing along trenches were seeking to erect a battery
within less than three hundred yards of the entrance to the main plaza.
They had already thrown up a part of a breastwork. Meanwhile the Texan
sharpshooters were waiting for a chance.

Ned took no part in it except that of a spectator. But Crockett, Bowie
and a dozen others were crouched on the wall with their rifles.
Presently an incautious Mexican showed above the earthwork. It was
Crockett who slew him, but Bowie took the next. Then the other rifles
flashed fast, eight or ten Mexicans were slain, and the rest fled. Once
more the deadly Texan rifles had triumphed.

Ned wondered why Santa Anna had endeavored to place the battery there in
the daytime. It could be done at night, when it was impossible for the
Texans to aim their rifles so well. He did not know that the