"It's jest as well to
keep a stone roof over your head when you're under fire of a few dozen
cannon. Never take foolish risks, Ned, for the sake of showin' off.
That's the advice of an old man."
Crockett spoke very earnestly, and Ned remembered his words. Bonham
called to them a few minutes later that the Mexicans seemed to be
meditating some movement on the lower wall around the grand plaza.
"Like as not you're right," said Crockett. "It would be the time to try
it while our attention was attracted by the big cannonade."
Crockett himself was detailed to meet the new movement, and he led fifty
sharpshooters. Ned was with him, his brain throbbing with the certainty
that he was going into action once more. Great quantities of smoke hung
over the Alamo and had penetrated every part of it. It crept into Ned's
throat, and it also stung his eyes. It inflamed his brain and increased
his desire for combat. They reached the low wall on a run, and found
that Bonham was right. A large force of Mexicans was approaching from
that side, evidently expecting to make an opening under cover of the
smoke.
The assailants were already within range, and the deadly Texan rifles
began to crack at once from the wall.
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