"And your reply?"
"I told him that we meant to hold the place."
"Good enough," said King. "Now we will go back to business. I wish that we had more ammunition."
"Fannin's men may bring plenty," said Ned. "And now, if you don't mind, Captain King, I'm going to sleep down there at the foot of the wall, and to-night I'll join the guard."
"Do as you wish," said King, "you know more about Texas and these Mexicans than any of us."
"I'd suggest a very thorough watch when night comes. Wake me up about midnight, won't you?"
Ned lay down in the place that he had chosen. It was only the middle of the afternoon, but he had become so inured to hardship that he slept quickly. Several shots were fired before twilight came, but they did not awaken him. At midnight King, according to his request, took him by the shoulder and he stood up.
"Nothing of importance has happened," said King.
"You can see the camp fires of the Mexicans in the wood, but as far as we can tell they are not making any movement."