Yellow water streamed from his hair, beard, and clothing, and formed a little pool about him.
But he noticed it not at all, urging the men on with all the fiery energy which a dauntless mind had stored in a frame so great and capable.
"If it can be done the Panther will get the guns across," said Will to Obed.
"That's so," said Obed, "but who'd have thought of this?
When we started out we expected to have our big fight with an army and not with a river." They took the cannon into the water a second time, but the result was the same.

They could not get it across, and with infinite exertion they dragged it back to the bank.

Then they looked at one another in despair.
They could ford the river, but it seemed madness to go on without the cannon.

While they debated there, a messenger came with news that the investment of the Alamo by Santa Anna was now complete.

He gave what rumor said, and rumor told that the Mexican army numbered ten or twelve thousand men with fifty or sixty guns.