to wait on the
Mexicans. It's always for them to make the move, and then we'll meet it
if we can. I wish we could hear from Bonham. I'm afraid he's been
taken."

"Not likely," said Crockett. "One man, all alone, an' as quick of eye
an' foot as Bonham, would be pretty sure to make his way safely."

"I certainly hope so," said Travis. "At any rate, I intend to send out
another letter soon. If the Texans are made to realize our situation
they will surely come, no matter how far away they may be."

"I hope they will," said Crockett. But Ned noticed that he did not seem
to speak with any great amount of confidence. Balancing everything as
well as he could, he did not see how much help could be expected. The
Texan towns were tiny. The whole fringe of Texan settlements was small.
The Texans were but fifty or sixty thousands against the seven or eight
millions of Mexico, and now that they knew a great Mexican army was in
Texas the scattered borderers would be hard put to it to defend
themselves. He did not believe that in any event they could gather a
force great enough to cut its way through the coil of Santa Anna's
multitude.

But Travis' faith in Bonham, at least, was justified. The next night,
about halfway between midnight and morning, in the darkest hour, a man
scaled the wall and dropped inside the plaza. It proved to be Bonham
himself, pale, worn, covered with mud and dust, but bringing glad
tidings. Ned was present when he came into the church and was met by
Travis. Bowie, Crockett and Smith. Only a single torch lighted up the
grim little group.

"Fannin has left Goliad with 300 men and four cannon to join us," Bonham
said. "He started five days ago, and he should be here soon. With his
rifles and big guns he'll be able to cut his way through the Mexicans
and enter the Alamo."

"I think so, too," said Travis, with enthusiasm.

But Ned steadily watched Bowie and Crockett. They were the men of
experience, and in matters such as these they had minds of uncommon
penetration. He noticed that neither of them said anything, and that
they showed no elation.

Everybody in the Alamo knew the next day that Bonham had come from
Fannin, and the whole place was filled with new hope. As Ned reckoned,
it was about one hundred and fifty miles from San Antonio de Bexar to
Goliad; but, according to Bonham, Fannin had already been five days on
the way, and they should hear soon the welcome thunder of his guns. He
eagerly scann