e of the saddles were emptied, and
there was a rapid movement of the Mexicans, who withdrew further into
the wood. The defenders reloaded and waited.

Ned knew better than Captain King or any of his men the extremely
dangerous nature of their position. Since the vanguard was already here
the Mexican army must be coming on rapidly, and this was no Alamo. Nor
were these raw recruits defenders of an Alamo.

He saw presently a man, holding a white handkerchief on the end of a
lance, ride out from the wood. Ned recognized him at once. It was young
Urrea. As Ned had suspected, he was the leader of the cavalry for his
uncle, the general.

"What do you think he wants?" asked King.

"He will demand our surrender, but even if we were to yield it is likely
that we should be put to death afterward."

"I have no idea of surrendering under any circumstances. Do you speak
Spanish?"

"Oh, yes," said Ned, seizing the opportunity.

"Then, as I can't, you do the talking for us, and tell it to him
straight and hard that we're going to fight."

Ned climbed upon the roof, and sat with only his head showing above the
parapet, while Urrea rode slowly forward, carrying the lance and the
white flag jauntily. Ned could not keep from admiring his courage, as
the white flag, even, in such a war as this might prove no protection.
He stopped at a distance of about thirty yards and called loudly in
Spanish:

"Within the church there! I wish to speak to you!"

Ned stood up, his entire figure now being revealed, and replied:

"I have been appointed spokesman for our company. What do you want?"

Urrea started slightly in his saddle, and then regarded Ned with a look
of mingled irony and hatred.

"And so," he said, "our paths cross again. You escaped us at the Alamo.
Why General Santa Anna spared you then I do not know, but he is not here
to give new orders concerning you!"

"What do you want?" repeated Ned.

"We want the church, yourself and all the other bandits who are within
it."

Ned's face flushed at Urrea's contemptuous words and manner, and his
heart hardened into a yet deeper hatred of the Mexicans. But he
controlled his voice and replied evenly.

"And if we should surrender, what then?"

"The mercy of the illustrious General Santa Anna, whatever it may be."

"I saw his mercy at the Alamo," replied Ned, "and we want none of it.
Nor would we surrender, even if we could trust your most illustrious
General Santa Anna."

"T