"Santa Anna means to close us in entirely after a while.

Now, by the blue blazes, that was a close shave!" A bullet sang by his head and flattened against the wall.

He and Ned dropped down just in time.

Other bullets thudded against the stone.
Nevertheless, Ned lifted his head above the edge of the parapet and took a look.

His eyes swept a circle and he saw little puffs of smoke coming from the roofs and windows of the jacals or Mexican huts on their side of the river.