A fire had been built on the hearth, and a half dozen Texans were already busy there.

But they quickly made room for Crockett and Ned.

Crockett did not tell Ned that their supplies of powder and lead were running low, and that they must reduce their fire from the walls in order that they might have sufficient to meet an attack in force.
But it was a cheerful little party that occupied itself with molding bullets.

Ned put a bar of lead into a ladle, and held it over the fire until the bar became molten.

Then he poured it into the mold until it was full, closed it, and when he opened it again a shining bullet dropped out.