On his left beyond the river Ned saw the roofs of the town, now glistening in the clear morning air, and on his right, only four or five hundred yards away, he saw a numerous troop of Mexican cavalry.

In the figure at the head of the horsemen he was sure that he recognized Urrea.
Ned's first emotion was a terrible sinking of the heart.

After all that he had done, after all his great journeys, hardships and dangers, he was to fail with the towers and roofs of San Antonio in sight.

It was the triumphant cry of the Mexicans that startled him into life again.

They had seen the lone horseman by the river and they galloped at once toward him.