They watched that day and the next through all the bombardment and the more dangerous rifle fire.

But they never saw on the horizon the welcome flash from any of Fannin's guns.

No sound that was made by a friend reached their ears.
The only flashes of fire they saw outside were those that came from the mouths of Mexican cannon, and the only sounds they heard beyond the Alamo were made by the foe.

The sun, huge, red and vivid, sank in the prairie and, as the shadows thickened over the Alamo, Ned was sure in his heart that Fannin would never come.
* * * * * A few days before the defenders of the Alamo had begun to scan the southeast for help a body of 300 men were marching toward San Antonio de Bexar.

They were clad in buckskin and they were on horseback.