Some of the men cheered feebly; some were silent and plainly distrustful.

But the women laughed and wept for joy as they crowded about their deliverer; and wide-eyed children stared at him in a friendly way, understanding but little of it all except that the newcomer was a desirable person.
It took Lee but a little time to overcome the hesitation of the few suspicious ones.

The plan he proposed was too plainly their only way of escape from a terrible death.

Their animals had been shot down or run off so that they could neither advance nor retreat.

Their ammunition was almost gone, so that they could not give battle.