But when it ceased and the smoke drifted away the Texans were still unharmed.
Ned was now by the side of Bowie, who showed great satisfaction.
"What will they do next ?" asked Ned.
"I don't know, but you see now that it's not the biggest noise that hurts the most.

They'll never get us with cannon fire.

The only way they can do it is to attack the lowest part of our wall and make a bridge of their own bodies." "They are doing something now," said Ned, whose far-sighted vision always served him well.

"They are pulling down houses in the town next to the river." "That's so," said Bowie, "but we won't have to wait long to see what they're about." Hundreds of Mexicans with wrecking hooks had assailed three or four of the houses, which they quickly pulled to pieces.

Others ran forward with the materials and began to build a bridge across the narrow San Antonio.
"They want to cross over on that bridge and get into a position at once closer and more sheltered," said Bowie, "but unless I make a big mistake those men at work there are already within range of our rifles.