Ward was destined never to know what had
become of King and his men, but Ned soon learned the terrible facts, and
they only hardened him still further. The thirteen had been compelled to
surrender to overwhelming numbers. Then they were immediately tied to
trees and killed, where their skeletons remained upright until the
Texans found them.
"You were right, Fulton," said Ward, after a long silence. "The Mexican
army was there, as we have plenty of evidence to show."
He smiled sadly, as he wiped the smoke and perspiration from his face.
Ned did not reply, but watched through a loophole. He had seen a glint
of bronze in the wood, and presently he saw the Mexicans pushing a
cannon from cover.
"They have artillery," he said to Ward. "See the gun. But I don't think
it can damage our walls greatly. They never did much with the cannon at
the Alamo. When they came too close there, we shot down all their
cannoneers, and we can do the same here."
Ward chose the best sharpshooters, posting them at the loopholes and on
the walls. They quickly slew the Mexicans who tried to man the gun, and
General Urrea was forced to withdraw it to such a distance that its
balls and shells had no effect whatever upon the strong walls of the
church.
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