. A large force of Mexicans was approaching from
that side, evidently expecting to make an opening under cover of the
smoke.

The assailants were already within range, and the deadly Texan rifles
began to crack at once from the wall. The whole front line of the
Mexican column was quickly burned away. The return fire of the Mexicans
was hasty and irregular and they soon broke and ran.

"An' that's over," said Crockett, as he sent a parting shot. "It was
easy, an' bein' sheltered not a man of ours was hurt. But, Ned, don't
let the idea that we have a picnic here run away with you. We've got to
watch an' watch an' fight an' fight all the time, an' every day more
Mexicans will come."

"I understand, Mr. Crockett," said Ned. "You know that we may never get
out of here alive, and I know it, too."

"You speak truth, lad," said Crockett, very soberly. "But remember that
it's a chance we take every day here in the southwest. An' it's pleasant
to know that they're all brave men here together. You haven't seen any
flinchin' on the part of anybody an' I don't think you ever will."

"What are you going to do now?" asked Ned.

"I'm goin' to eat dinner, an' after that I'll take a nap. My advice to
you is to do the same, 'cause you'll be on watch to-night."

"I know I can eat," said Ned, "and I'll try to sleep."

He found that his appetite was all right, and after dinner he lay down
in the long room of the hospital. Here he heard the cannon of Santa Anna
still thundering, but the walls softened the sound somewhat and made it
seem much more distant. In a way it was soothing and Ned, although sure
that he could not sleep, slept. All that afternoon he was rocked into
deeper slumber by the continuous roar of the Mexican guns. Smoke floated
over the convent yard and through all the buildings, but it did not
disturb him. Now and then a flash of rifle fire came from the Texans on
the walls, but that did not disturb him, either.

Nature was paying its debt. The boy lying on his blankets breathed
deeply and regularly as he slept. The hours of the afternoon passed one
by one, and it was dark when he awoke. The fire of the cannon had now
ceased and two or three lights were burning in the hospital. Crockett
was already up, and with some of the other men was eating beefsteak at a
table.

"You said you'd try to sleep, Ned," he exclaimed, "an' you must have
made a big try, 'cause you snored so loud we couldn't hear Santa Anna's
cannon."