“They’ll be slipping up soon to look at our dead bodies,” whispered Obed, “and between you and me, Ned, I think there will be a great surprise in Mexico to-day.”

They lay almost flat and put the muzzles of their rifles across the log.  Both, used to life on the border, where the rifle was a necessity, were fine shots and they were also keen of eye and ear.  They waited for a while which seemed interminably long to Ned, but which was not more than a quarter of an hour, and then he heard a slight movement among the trees somewhat to their left.  He called Obed’s attention to it and the man nodded: 

“I hear it, too,” he whispered.  “Those investigators are cautious, but they’ll have to come up in front before they can get at us, and then we can get at them, too.  We’ll just be patient.”

Ned was at least quiet and contained, although it was impossible to be patient.  They heard the rustling at intervals on their right, then it changed to their front, and he saw a black head, covered with a sombrero, peep from behind a tree.  The head came a little farther, disclosing a shoulder, and Obed White fired.  They heard a yell of pain, and a thrashing among the bushes, but the sound rapidly moved farther and farther away.

“That fellow was stung badly,” said Obed White with satisfaction, “and he won’t come back.  I’m glad to see, Ned, that you held your fire, keeping ready for any other who might come.”

Ned glowed at the compliment.  He had cocked his rifle, and was ready but he remained cool, wasting no shot.

“I fancy that they now know we are here,” said Obed, who loved to talk, “and that we have not been demolished by the several tons of rock that they have sent down from above.  A shot to the wise is sufficient.  Keep down, Ned!  Keep down!”

From a point sixty or seventy yards away Mexicans, lying among the trees or in the undergrowth, suddenly opened a heavy fire upon the rocky fort.  The Mexicans were invisible but jets of smoke arose in the brush.  Bullets thudded on the log or stones, or upon the stone wall above the two, but both Ned and Obed were sheltered well and they were not touched.  Nevertheless it was uncomfortable.  The impact of the bullets made an unpleasant sound, and there was always a chance that one of them might angle off from the stone and strike a human target.  Obed however was cheerful.

“They’re wasting good ammunition,” he said.  “They’ll need that later on when they attack the Texans.  After all, Ned, we’re serving a good purpose when we induce the Mexicans to shoot good powder and lead here, and not against our people.”

Encouraged by the failure of the besieged to reply to their fire the Mexicans came closer and grew somewhat incautious.  Ned saw one of them sheltered but partially by a bush and he fired.  The man uttered a cry and fell.  Ned saw the bush moving and he hoped the man was not slain, but he never knew.