Ned felt a prickling of the blood.
An incautious footstep or a stumble by one of the horses might bring the whole Mexican force down upon them at any moment.

But there was no incautious footstep.

Nor did any horse stumble.

The silent procession moved on, passed the curve in the bed of the creek and continued its course.
Urrea had surrounded the grove completely.

His men were on both sides of the creek, but no sound came to them, and they had a healthy respect for the deadly Texan rifles.