The burning wooden building would fill the stone convent itself with flame and smoke, and make it untenable.

The sparks already had become many, and the odor of smoke was increasing.

Their situation, suddenly become desperate, was growing more so every instant.

But they were Texans, inured to every kind of danger.
Bowie shouted for more men to come from the convent, leaving only five or six on guard there.
Then the Texans began to bring method and procedure out of the turmoil.
Some held the horses, others, led by Bowie, kicked loose the light planks where the fire had been started, and hurled them outward.

They were nearly choked by the smoke but they worked on.
The Comanches, many of whom were hugging the wall, shouted their war cry, and began to fire into the opening that Bowie and his men had made.
They could not take much aim, because of the smoke, but their bullets wounded two Texans.