But one thing he saw clearly and never forgot.

It was the lame man with the thick white hair sitting with his back against a tree calmly firing a rifle at the Mexicans.

Roylston had time for only two shots, but when he reloaded the second time he placed the rifle across his knees as before and smiled.
Most Mexican troops would have been content with a single charge, but these returned, encouraged by shouts and driven on by fierce commands.
Ned saw a figure waving a sword.

He believed it to be Urrea, and he fired, but he missed, and the next moment the horseman was lost in the shadows.
The second charge was beaten back like the first, and several skirmishers who tried to come anew down the bed of the creek were also put to flight.

Two Mexicans got into the thickets and tried to stampede the horses, but the quickness of Obed and Fields defeated their aim.