General Castrillon, a brave man, sought to drive them back, but neither blows nor oaths availed.

Santa Anna himself came and made many threats, but the men would not stir.

They preferred punishment to the sure death that awaited them from the muzzles of the Texan rifles.
The light puffs of rifle smoke were quickly gone, and once more the town with the people watching on the flat roofs came into full view.

A wind burst out the folds of the red flag of no quarter on the tower of the church of San Fernando, but Ned paid no attention to it now.

He was watching for Santa Anna's next move.
"That's a bridge that will never be built," said Davy Crockett.