The little valley was filled with the smoke of their firing.

They breathed it and tasted it, and it inflamed their brains.
Ned's experience had made him a veteran, and when he heard the thunder of the horse's hoofs and saw the lance points so near he knew that the crisis had come.
"One more volley.

One for your lives!" he cried to those around him.
The volley was forthcoming.

The rifles were discharged at the range of only a few yards into the mass of Mexican cavalry.

Horses and men fell headlong, some pitching to the very feet of the Texans and then one of the cannon poured a shower of grape shot into the midst of the wavering square.