Ned was in the largest column, near the head of it, and he watched everything with a wary eye.  He noticed that the Mexican colonels still left all the arrangements to Urrea, and that they remained extremely nervous.  Their hands were never quiet for a moment.

The column filed down through the town, and Ned saw the Mexican women looking at them.  He heard two or three of them say “pobrecitos” (poor fellows), and their use of the word struck upon his ear with an ominous sound.  He glanced back.  Close behind the mass of prisoners rode a strong squadron of cavalry with young Urrea at their head.  Ned could not see Urrea’s face, which was hidden partly by a cocked and plumed hat, but he noticed that the young Mexican sat very upright, as if he felt the pride of authority.  One hand held the reins, and the other rested on the silver hilt of a small sword at his side.

A column of Mexican infantry marched on either side of the prisoners, and only a few yards away.  It seemed to Ned that they were holding the Texans very close for men whom they were to release in a few hours.  Trusting the Mexicans in nothing, he was suspicious of everything, and he watched with a gaze that missed no detail.  But he seemed to be alone in such thoughts.  The recruits, enjoying the fresh air and the prospect of speedy freedom, were talking much, and exchanging many jests.

They passed out of the little town, and the last Ned saw of it was the Mexican women standing in the doorways and watching.  They continued along the road in double file, with the Mexican infantry still on either side, and the Mexican cavalry in the rear.  A half mile from the town, and Urrea gave an order.  The whole procession stopped, and the column of Mexican infantry on the left passed around, joining their comrades on the right.  The recruits paid no attention to the movement, but Ned looked instantly at Urrea.  He saw the man rise now in his saddle, his whole face aflame.  In a flash he divined everything.  His heart leaped and he shouted: 

“Boys, they are going to kill us!”

The startled recruits did not have time to think, because the next instant Urrea, rising to his full height in his stirrups, cried: 

“Fire!”

The double line of Mexicans, at a range of a few yards, fired in an instant into the column of unarmed prisoners.  There was a great blaze, a spurt of smoke and a tremendous crash.  It seemed to Ned that he could fairly hear the thudding of bullets upon bodies, and the breaking of bones beneath the sudden fierce impact of the leaden hail.  An awful strangled cry broke from the poor recruits, half of whom were already down.  The Mexicans, reloading swiftly, poured in another volley, and the prisoners fell in heaps.  Then Urrea and the cavalry, with swords and lances, charged directly upon them, the hoofs of their horses treading upon wounded and unwounded alike.