Perhaps it was to mock him with the sight of freedom so near and yet unattainable.
His gaze turned instinctively to the Alamo like the magnet to the pole.
There was the fortress, gray and grim in the sunshine, with the dim figures of the watchers on the walls.

What were they doing inside now?
How were Crockett and Bowie?
His heart filled with grief that he had failed them.

But had he failed them?
Neither Urrea nor any other Mexican had spoken of the approach of a relieving force under Roylston.

There was no sign that the Mexicans were sending any part of their army to meet it.
The heavy thud of a great gun drew his attention, and he saw the black smoke from the discharge rising over the plain.

A second, a third and a fourth cannon shot were fired, but no answer came from the walls of the Alamo.