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 deadly Texan rifles that kept the Mexican cavalry from galloping over them and crushing them at once.  The Mexican fire itself, coming from muskets of shorter range, did little damage.  Yet the Texans were compelled to load and pull trigger very fast, as they retreated slowly upon the mission.

At last they reached the great door and began to pass rapidly inside.  Now the Mexicans pressed closer, firing heavy volleys.

A score of the best Texan marksmen whirled and sent their bullets at the pursuing Mexicans with such good aim that a dozen saddles were emptied, and the whole force reeled back.  Then all the Texans darted inside, and the great door was closed and barricaded.  Many of the men sank down, breathless from their exertions, regardless of the Mexican bullets that were pattering upon the church.  Ward leaned against the wall, and wiped the perspiration from his face.