They stood in a group, strong, wiry men, but worn now by the eternal vigilance and danger of the siege.

One man held a small torch, which cast but a dim light over the brown faces.
Travis stood before them and spoke to them.
"Men," he said, "all of you know what I know, that we stand alone.

No help is coming for us.

The Texans cannot send it or it would have come.
For ten days we have beaten off every attack of a large army.

But another assault in much greater force is at hand.