rectly upon the church,
carrying in its center men with heavy bars of wood to be used in
smashing in the door. But they yielded once more to the rapid fire of
the Texan rifles, and did not succeed in reaching the building. Those
who bore the logs and bars dropped them, and fled out of range.

A great cheer burst from the young recruits. They thought victory
complete already, but Ned knew that the Mexicans would not abandon the
enterprise. General Urrea, after another futile charge, repulsed in the
same deadly manner, withdrew some distance, but posted a strong line of
sentinels about the church.

Having much food and water the recruits rejoiced again and thought
themselves secure, but Ned noticed a look of consternation on the face
of Ward, and he divined the cause.

"It must be the ammunition, Colonel," he said in a whisper.

"It is," replied Ward. "We have only three or four rounds left. We could
not possibly repel another attack."

"Then," said young Fulton, "there is nothing to do but for us to slip
out at night, and try to cut our way through."

"That is so," said Ward. "The Mexican general doubtless will not expect
any such move on our part, and we may get away."

He said nothing of his plan to the recruits until the darkness came, and
then the state of the powder horns and the bullet pouches was announced.
Most of the men had supposed that they alone were suffering from the
shortage, and something like despair came over them when they found that
they were practically without weapons. They were more than willing to
leave the church, as soon as the night deepened, and seek refuge over
the prairie.

"You think that we can break through?" said Ward to Ned.

"I have no doubt of it," replied Ned, "but in any event it seems to me,
Colonel, that we ought to try it. All the valor and devotion of the men
in the Alamo did not suffice to save them. We cannot hold the place
against a determined assault."

"That is undoubtedly true," said Ward, "and flushed by the success that
they have had elsewhere it seems likely to me that the Mexicans will
make such an attack very soon."

"In any event," said Ned, "we are isolated here, cut off from Fannin,
and exposed to imminent destruction."

"We start at midnight," said Ward.

Ned climbed upon the walls, and examined all the surrounding country. He
saw lights in the wood, and now and then he discerned the figures of
Mexican horsemen, riding in a circle about the church