The lean, muscular figure was poised for instant
action, and all the whimsicality and humor were gone from the eyes of
the sharpshooter.
A mighty shout of triumph burst from the Texans. Many a good marksman
was there, but never before had they seen such shooting. The great
reputation of Davy Crockett, universal in the southwest, was justified
fully. The crew of the gun had been annihilated in less than a minute.
For a while there was silence. Then the Mexicans, protected by the
earthwork that they had thrown up, drew the battery back a hundred
yards. Even in the farther batteries the men were very careful about
exposing themselves. The Texans, seeing no sure target, held their fire.
The Mexicans opened a new cannonade and for another half hour the roar
of the great guns drowned all other sounds. But when it ceased and the
smoke drifted away the Texans were still unharmed.
Ned was now by the side of Bowie, who showed great satisfaction.
"What will they do next?" asked Ned.
"I don't know, but you see now that it's not the biggest noise that
hurts the most. They'll never get us with cannon fire. The only way they
can do it is to attack the lowest part of our wall and make a bridge of
their own bodies.
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