It was the heaviest fire under which Ned had ever come, and, for a few moments, he quivered all over.  He saw a great blaze in front, above it a cloud of lifting smoke, and he heard over his head the hum of many bullets, like the whistling of hail, driven by a heavy wind.  But he was experienced enough now to note that the Mexican fire was wasted.  That bank was a wonderful protection.

“It’s almost a shame to shoot ’em,” roared the Ring Tailed Panther who had reloaded.  But up went his rifle, his finger pressed the trigger and another Mexican officer fell from his horse.  All along the Texan front ran the rifle fire, a rapid crackling sound like the ripping apart of some great cloth.  But the Texans were taking aim.  There was no confusion among the hardy veterans of the plains.  Lying against the face of the bluff they were sending in their bullets with deadly precision.  Horse after horse in the charging host galloped away riderless over the prairie, and the front rank of the infantry was shot down.

Ned, like the others, was loading and firing swiftly, but with care.  The imminent danger kept down any feeling that he would have had otherwise.  The Mexicans sought their lives, and he must seek theirs.  The smoke and the odor of burned gunpowder inflamed him.  There was still a blaze in front of him, but he also saw the brown faces of the Mexicans yet pressing forward, and he yet heard the continued thunder of the charging hoofs.

“Another bullet, Ned,” roared the Ring Tailed Panther and he and the others around him sent a fresh volley at the horsemen.  The Mexican cavalry could stand no more.  Five companies strong, they broke and galloped away, seeking only to escape from the deadly fire of the Texan rifles.  The infantry also gave back and for a few minutes there was a lull.

“That’s the end of Chapter One,” said Obed White.  “Our Mexican friends came in haste and they will repent at a distance.”

The smoke lifted and Ned saw many fallen, both men and horses, on the plain in front of them, and there was confusion in the Mexican force, which was now out of gunshot.  Never had the Texan rifles done more deadly service.  The Texan loss was small.

Ned dropped down from the steps and sat on the grass.  His face was wet with perspiration, and he wiped it on his sleeve.  He was compelled to cough once or twice to clear his throat of the smoke.  The Ring Tailed Panther also was warm, but satisfied.

“A Texan does best in a fight against odds,” he said, “an’ we have the odds to-day.  But don’t you think, Ned, that it’s over already?”

“I don’t,” said Ned.  “I know that they will be up to some new trick soon.  They will realize that they underrated us at first.”

He sprang back into the steps that he had cut in the bluff, and took a good look at the Mexicans.

“They are nearly ready with Chapter Second, Obed,” he said.  “They are bringing up that cannon.”