Then Santa Anna, or one of his generals, despite the storm and the night, was advancing with his army, or a part of it.

Ned shivered, and now not from the cold.
The Texans did not understand the fiery energy of this man.

They would learn of it too late, unless he told them, and it might be too late even then.

He pressed on with as much increase of speed as the nature of the ground would allow.

In another hour the snow and hail ceased, but the wind still blew fiercely, and it remained very cold.
The dawn began to show dimly through drifting clouds.