orseshoe. They knew that they could not be
attacked from the river. Bowie came to the side of Ned and Karnes.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Ned heard a sound," Karnes replied, "and when we put our ears to the
earth we knew that it was made by artillery. Then I saw their scouts and
skirmishers and fired upon them. They must have crossed the river in
strong force, Colonel."

"Very likely," said Bowie. "Well, we shall be ready for them. Henry, you
and Smith and the Ring Tailed Panther scout across the prairie there,
and see what has become of them."

"Can't I go, too?" asked Ned.

Bowie patted him on the shoulder.

"You young fire eater!" he replied. "Haven't you done enough for one
night? You gave us the first warning that the Mexicans were at hand. I
think you'd better rest now, and let these old boys do this job."

The three chosen men disappeared in the darkness, and Ned sat down among
the trees with Obed. They, like everybody else, waited as patiently as
they could for the reports of the scouts.

"Obed," said Ned, "do you think we're going to have a battle?"

"The signs point that way."

Bowie set everybody to work cutting out undergrowth, in order that they
might have a clear field for the work that they expected. By the time
this task was completed the scouts returned and their report was
alarming.

The Mexicans had crossed the river in heavy force, outnumbering the
troop of Texans at least five to one. They had artillery, infantry and
cavalry, and they were just out of range, expecting to attack at dawn.
The avenue of escape was cut off already.

"Very good," said Bowie. "We'll wait for them."

It was too dark to see, but Ned knew that his blue eyes were glittering.
He advanced to the point where the bluff rose nearly ten feet to the
edge of the prairie, and took a long look.

"I can see nothing," he said, "but I know you men are right. Now we'll
cut steps all along the edge of this bluff, in order that our men can
stand in them, and fire at the enemy as he comes. Then we'll have as
fine a fort here as anybody could ask."

The men fell to work with hatchets and big knives, cutting steps in the
soft earth, at least a hundred of them in order that everybody might
have a chance. Meanwhile the hour of dawn was at hand, but a heavy mist
had thickened over prairie and river. Beyond the mists and vapors, the
sun showed only a yellow blur, and it did not yet cast any glow over the
earth.

But Ned could cl