When the horses were satisfied, the cavalrymen turned and rode away, passing so near that it seemed to him they had only to look down and see him lying among the bushes.  But they went on, and, when they were out of sight, he rose and continued his flight through the timber.

But this alternate fleeing and dodging was most exhausting work, and before the day was very old he decided that he would lie down in a thicket, and postpone further flight until night.  Just when he had found such a place he heard the faint sound of distant firing.  He put his ear to the earth, and then the crackle of rifles came more distinctly.  His ear, experienced now, told him that many men must be engaged, and he was sure that Fannin and the Mexican army had come into contact.

Young Fulton’s heart began to throb.  The dark vision of the Alamo came before him again.  All the hate that he felt for the Mexicans flamed up.  He must be there with Fannin, fighting against the hordes of Santa Anna.  He rose and ran toward the firing.  He saw from the crest of a hillock a wide plain with timber on one side and a creek on the other.  The center of the plain was a shallow valley, and there the firing was heavy.

Ned saw many flashes and puffs of smoke, and presently he heard the thud of cannon.  Then he saw near him Mexican cavalry galloping through the timber.  He could not doubt any longer that a battle was in progress.  His excitement increased, and he ran at full speed through the bushes and grass into the plain, which he now saw took the shape of a shallow saucer.  The firing indicated that the defensive force stood in the center of the saucer, that is, in the lowest and worst place.

A terrible fear assailed young Fulton, as he ran.  Could it be possible that Fannin also was caught in a trap, here on the open prairie, with the Mexicans in vastly superior numbers on the high ground around him?  He remembered, too, that Fannin’s men were raw recruits like those with Ward, and his fear, which was not for himself, increased as he ran.

He noticed that there was no firing from one segment of the ring in the saucer, and he directed his course toward it.  As soon as he saw horses and men moving he threw up his hands and cried loudly over and over again:  “I’m a friend!  Do not shoot!” He saw a rifle raised and aimed at him, but a hand struck it down.  A few minutes later he sprang breathless into the camp, and friendly hands held him up as he was about to pitch forward with exhaustion.

His breath and poise came back in a few moments, and he looked about him.  He had made no mistake.  He was with Fannin’s force, and it was already pressed hard by Urrea’s army.  Even as he drew fresh, deep breaths he saw a heavy mass of Mexican cavalry gallop from the wood, wheel and form a line between Fannin and the creek, the only place where the besieged force could obtain water.

“Who are you?” asked an officer, advancing toward Ned.