They made considerable noise as they talked and adjusted their packs, but Ned paid no attention to them.

He was listening instead to a faint sound approaching the town from the south.

No one in the church or on the walls heard it but himself, but he knew that it was steadily growing louder.
Ned, moreover, could tell the nature of that sound, and as it swelled his heart sank within him.

The first spear of light, herald of dawn, appeared in the east and Ward called out cheerfully: "Well, we are all ready to go now." "It is too late," said Ned.

"The whole Mexican army is here.".