The air was full of hissing metal, shot and shell poured in
a storm upon the Alamo. Now and then the Texan cannon replied, but not
often.
The cannon fire was so great that for a time it shook Ned's nerves. It
seemed as if nothing could live under such a rain of missiles, but when
he looked along the parapet and saw all the Texans unharmed his courage
came back.
Many of the balls were falling inside the church, in the convent yard
and in the plazas, but the Texans there were protected also, and as far
as Ned could see not a single man had been wounded.
The cannonade continued for a full hour and then ceased abruptly. The
great cloud of smoke began to lift, and the Alamo, river and town came
again into the brilliant sunlight. The word passed swiftly among the
defenders that their fortress was uninjured and not a man hurt.
As the smoke rose higher Ned saw Mexican officers with glasses examining
the Alamo to see what damage their cannon had done. He hoped they would
feel mortification when they found it was so little. Davy Crockett knelt
near him on the parapet, and ran his hand lovingly along the barrel of
Betsy, as one strokes the head of a child.
"Do you want some more rifles, Davy?" asked Bowie.
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