They were so near that the four easily heard all they said.

It was mostly idle chatter, high-pitched compliments, allusions to people in the distant City of Mexico, and now and then a jest at the expense of the Texans.

Ned realized that many of the younger Mexicans did not take the siege of San Antonio seriously.
They could not understand how a strong city, held by an army of Mexican regulars, could have anything to fear from a few hundred Texan horsemen, mostly hunters in buckskin.
The music began again and the officers and women went in, but presently several older men, also in uniform, came out.

Ned instantly recognized in the first the square figure and the dark, lowering face of Cos.
"De La Garcia, Ugartchea, Veramendi," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther, indicating the others.

"Now we may hear something." Cos stood at the edge of the piazza and his face was troubled.