Some of the men now left the windows and loopholes to get a rest and Ned found a place at one of them.  Peeping out he saw the bare street, torn by shot and shell.  He saw the flash of the Texan rifles from the De La Garcia house and he saw the blaze of the Mexican cannon in the plaza.  Mexican men, women and children on the flat roofs, out of range, were eagerly watching the battle.  Clouds of smoke drifted over the city.

While Ned was at the window, a second cannon ball smashed through the wall of the Veramendi house, and caused the debris to fall in masses.  The Colonel grew uneasy.  The cannon gave the Mexicans an immense advantage, and they were now using it to the utmost.  The house would be battered down over the heads of the Texans, and they could not live in the streets, which the Mexicans, from their dominating position, could sweep with cannon and a thousand rifles and muskets.  A third ball crashed through the wall and demolished the willow sofa on which the three had been sitting.  Plaster rained down upon the Texans.  They looked at one another.  They could not stay in the house nor could they go out.  A boy suddenly solved the difficulty.

“Let’s dig a trench across the street to the De La Garcia house!” cried Ned, “and join our comrades there!”

“That’s the thing!” they shouted.  They had not neglected to bring intrenching tools with them, and they found spades and shovels about the house.  But in order to secure the greatest protection for their work they decided to wait until night, confident that they could hold their present position throughout the day.

It was many hours until the darkness, and the fire rose and fell at intervals.  More shattered plaster fell upon them, but they were still holding the wreck of a house, when the welcome twilight deepened and darkened into the night.  Then they began work just inside the doorway, cutting fast through plaster and adobe, and soon reaching the street.  They made the trench fairly wide, intending to get their six pounder across also.  Just behind those who worked with spade and shovel came the riflemen.

A third of the way across, and the Mexicans discovered what was going on.  Once more a storm of cannon, rifle and musket balls swept the street, but the Texans, bent down in their trench, toiled on, throwing the dirt above their heads and out on either side.  The riflemen behind them, sheltered by the earth, replied to the Mexican fire, and, despite the darkness, picked off many men.

Ned was just behind Obed, and the Ring Tailed Panther was following him.  All three were acting as riflemen.  Obed was seeking a glimpse of Urrea, but he did not get it.  Ned was watching for a shot at the gunners.

Once the Mexicans under the cover of their artillery undertook to charge down the street, but the sharpshooters in the trench quickly drove them back.

Thus they burrowed like a great mole all the way across Soledad Street, and joined their comrades in the strong house of De La Garcia.  They also succeeded in getting both of their cannon into the house, and, now united, the Texans were encouraged greatly.  Ned found all the rooms filled with men.  A party broke through the joint wall and entered the next house, thus taking them nearer to the plaza and the Mexican fortifications.