Without Urrea to urge them on they were afraid of the rifle that the fugitive used so well.

Two, also, had stopped to tend Urrea, and Ned decided that the others would not now enter the grove.
He was right in his surmise.

The horsemen rode about at a safe distance from the trees.

Ned, taking his time, reloaded his rifle again and departed for the mission.

There was now fairly good cover all the way, but he heard other troops of Mexicans riding about, and blowing trumpets as signals.