Now they still shivered with fear, and pulled at their ropes.

Ned felt sorry for the poor brutes.

Full cause had they for fright.
The afternoon was waning, and he ate a little supper, followed by a single drink of water.

Every man received a similar drink and no more from the canteens.

The coming twilight brought a coolness that was refreshing, but the Indians, taking advantage of the dusk, crept forward, and began to fire again at the Texans cooped up in the crater.
These red sharpshooters had the advantage of always knowing the position of their enemy, while they could shift their own as they saw fit.
The Texan marksmen, worn and weary though they were, returned to their task.