Instead, he resumed his place on the wall, and kept sharp watch on the point where he thought the Mexican force lay.

King and his scouts were already out of sight.
Ned suddenly heard the sound of shots, and he saw puffs of smoke from the wood.

Then a great shout arose and Mexican cavalry dashed from the edge of the forest.

Some of the other watchers thought the mission was about to be attacked, but the horsemen bore down upon another point to the northward.

Ned divined instantly that they had discovered King and his men and were surrounding them.
He leaped once more from the wall and shouted the alarm to Ward.
"The men out there are surrounded," he cried.