he sentinel.

"You're right when you say that," said Ned. "I don't think another will
ever get so near him, but if he should you see that my horse knows how
to take care of himself."

Ned wandered back toward the convent yard. It was now late, but a clear
moon was shining. He saw the figures of the sentinels clearly on the
walls, but he was confident that no attack would be made by the Mexicans
that night. His great tension and excitement began to relax and he felt
that he could sleep.

He decided that the old hospital would be a good place, and, taking his
blankets, he entered the long room of that building. Only the moonlight
shone there, but a friendly voice hailed him at once.

"It's time you were hunting rest, Ned," said Davy Crockett. "I saw you
wanderin' 'roun' as if you was carryin' the world on your shoulders, but
I didn't say anything. I knew that you would come to if left to
yourself. There's a place over there by the wall where the floor seems
to be a little softer than it is most everywhere else. Take it an' enjoy
it."

Ned laughed and took the place to which Crockett was pointing. The
hardness of a floor was nothing to him, and with one blanket under him
and another over him he went to sleep quickly, sleeping the night
through without a dream. He awoke early, took a breakfast of fresh beef
with the men in the convent yard, and then, rifle in hand, he mounted
the church wall.

All his intensity of feeling returned with the morning. He was eager to
see what was passing beyond the Alamo, and the first object that caught
his eye was the blood-red flag of no quarter hanging from the tower of
the Church of San Fernando. No wind was blowing and it drooped in heavy
scarlet folds like a pall.

Looking from the flag to the earth, he saw great activity in the Mexican
lines. Three or four batteries were being placed in position, and
Mexican officers, evidently messengers, were galloping about. The flat
roofs of the houses in San Antonio were covered with people. Ned knew
that they were there to see Santa Anna win a quick victory and take
immediate vengeance upon the Texans. He recognized Santa Anna himself
riding in his crouched attitude upon a great white horse, passing from
battery to battery and hurrying the work. There was proof that his
presence was effective, as the men always worked faster when he came.

Ned saw all the Texan leaders, Travis, Bowie, Crockett and Bonham,
watching the batteries. The who