"The Mexican general doubtless will not expect any such move on our part, and we may get away." He said nothing of his plan to the recruits until the darkness came, and then the state of the powder horns and the bullet pouches was announced.
Most of the men had supposed that they alone were suffering from the shortage, and something like despair came over them when they found that they were practically without weapons.

They were more than willing to leave the church, as soon as the night deepened, and seek refuge over the prairie.
"You think that we can break through ?" said Ward to Ned.
"I have no doubt of it," replied Ned, "but in any event it seems to me, Colonel, that we ought to try it.

All the valor and devotion of the men in the Alamo did not suffice to save them.

We cannot hold the place against a determined assault." "That is undoubtedly true," said Ward, "and flushed by the success that they have had elsewhere it seems likely to me that the Mexicans will make such an attack very soon." "In any event," said Ned, "we are isolated here, cut off from Fannin, and exposed to imminent destruction." "We start at midnight," said Ward.
Ned climbed upon the walls, and examined all the surrounding country.

He saw lights in the wood, and now and then he discerned the figures of Mexican horsemen, riding in a circle about the church, members of the patrol that had been left by General Urrea.