Fearing every moment to see the victorious Texans at the heels of their retreating infantry, they had orders to dash in, at the first glimpse of the advance-guard of the enemy.

But night closed and none appeared, and, dreading the morning light, many lay down to sleep at the close of that eventful day.
Several hours elapsed, and then the Texan forces, under General Burleson, wound across the valley, and settled along the verge of the town.

The Alamo was beleaguered.
Forced, as it were, to remain a witness of the horrors of the then approaching conflict, the cousins strove to cast from them the gloomy forebodings which crept into their hearts, darkening the present and investing the future with phantoms of terror.

Mrs.Carlton and Mary were far more hopeful than the remainder of the little circle, and kept up the semblance of cheerfulness, which ever flies at the approach of danger.

The girls saw but little of the gentlemen, for Mr.
Carlton was ever out in search of tidings from the camp, and Frank, in opposition to his sister's tearful entreaties, had enlisted immediately after General Burleson's arrival.