ce, and he knew that he had seen aright. General
Urrea and the main army were certainly at hand. But he deemed it wiser
to say nothing more. Instead, he resumed his place on the wall, and kept
sharp watch on the point where he thought the Mexican force lay. King
and his scouts were already out of sight.

Ned suddenly heard the sound of shots, and he saw puffs of smoke from
the wood. Then a great shout arose and Mexican cavalry dashed from the
edge of the forest. Some of the other watchers thought the mission was
about to be attacked, but the horsemen bore down upon another point to
the northward. Ned divined instantly that they had discovered King and
his men and were surrounding them.

He leaped once more from the wall and shouted the alarm to Ward.

"The men out there are surrounded," he cried. "They will have no chance
without help!"

Ward was brave enough, and his men, though lacking skill, were brave
enough, too. At his command they threw open the gate of the mission and
rushed out to the relief of their comrades. Ned was by the side of Ward,
near the front. As they appeared in the opening they heard a great
shouting, and a powerful detachment of cavalry galloped toward their
right, while an equally strong force of infantry moved on their left.
The recruits were outnumbered at least five to one, but in such a
desperate situation they did not blench.

"Take good aim with your rifles," shouted Ward. And they did. A shower
of bullets cut gaps in the Mexican line, both horse and foot. Many
riderless horses galloped through the ranks of the foe, adding to the
confusion. But the Mexican numbers were so great that they continued to
press the Texans. Young Urrea, his head in thick bandages, was again
with the cavalry, and animated by more than one furious impulse he drove
them on.

It became evident now even to the rawest that the whole Mexican army was
present. It spread out to a great distance, and enfolded the Texans on
three sides, firing hundreds of muskets and keeping up a great shouting,
Ned's keen ear also detected other firing off to the right, and he knew
that it was King and his men making a hopeless defence against
overpowering numbers.

"We cannot reach King," groaned Ward.

"We have no earthly chance of doing so," said Ned, "and I think,
Colonel, that your own force will have a hard fight to get back inside
the mission."

The truth of Ned's words was soon evident to everyone. It was only the
deadl