Another silver gleam flashed through the gray light of the early morning, ran along the edges of swords and lances, and lingered for a moment over the dark walls of the Alamo.
No sound came from the mission, not a shot, not a cry.

Were they asleep?
Was it possible that every man, overpowered by fatigue, had fallen into slumber at such a moment?
Could such as Crockett and Bowie and Travis be blind to their danger?
Such painful questions raced through Ned's mind.
He felt a chill run down his spine.

Yet his breath was like fire to his lips.
"Nothing will stop them!" cried Santa Anna.

"The Texans cower before such a splendid force! They will lay down their arms!" Ned felt his body growing colder and colder, and there was a strange tingling at the roots of the hair.

Now the people upon the roofs were shouting their utmost, and the voices of many women united in one shrill, piercing cry.