Young Fulton instantly recognized Fannin.

“My name is Edward Fulton, you will recall me, Colonel,” he replied.  “I was in the Alamo, but went out the day before it fell.  I was taken by the Mexicans, but escaped, fled across the prairie, and was in the mission at Refugio when some of your men under Colonel Ward came to the help of King.”

“I have heard that the church was abandoned, but where is Ward, and where are his men?”

Ned hesitated and Fannin read the answer in his eyes.

“You cannot tell me so!” he exclaimed.

“I’m afraid that they will all be taken,” said Ned.  “They had no ammunition when I slipped away, and the Mexicans were following them.  There was no possibility of escape.”

Fannin paled.  But he pressed his lips firmly together for a moment and then said to Ned: 

“Keep this to yourself, will you?  Our troops are young and without experience.  It would discourage them too much.”

“Of course,” said Ned.  “But meanwhile I wish to fight with you.”

“There will be plenty of chance,” said Fannin.  “Hark to it!”

The sound of firing swelled on all sides of them, and above it rose the triumphant shouts of the Mexicans.

CHAPTER XVII

THE SAD SURRENDER

Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.  The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.  Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.  The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.  Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.

Yet, as Ned had foreseen, this was quite a different force from that which had held the Alamo so long, and against so many.  Most of the young faces were not yet browned by the burning sun of Texas.  Drawn by the reports of great adventure they had come from far places, and each little company had its own name.  There were the “Grays” from New Orleans, the “Mustangs” from Kentucky, the “Red Rovers” from Alabama and others with fancy names, but altogether they numbered, with the small reinforcements that had been received, only three hundred and fifty men.

Ned could have shed tears, when he looked upon the force.  He felt himself a veteran beside them.  Yet there was no lack of courage among them.  They did not flinch, as the fire grew heavier, and the cannon balls whistled over their heads.  Ned was sure now that General Urrea was around them with his whole army.  The presence of the cannon indicated it, and he saw enough to know that the Mexican force outnumbered the Texan four or five to one.