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diff --git a/15767-8.txt b/15767-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d494fe --- /dev/null +++ b/15767-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12060 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Texan Scouts, by Joseph A. Altsheler + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Texan Scouts + A Story of the Alamo and Goliad + + +Author: Joseph A. Altsheler + +Release Date: May 4, 2005 [eBook #15767] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN SCOUTS*** + + +E-text prepared by David Garcia and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (www.pgdp.net) from page images generously +made available by the Kentuckiana Digital Library + + + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through the + Kentuckiana Digital Library. See + http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts; + xc=1&idno=B92-172-30119848&view=toc + + + + + +THE TEXAN SCOUTS + +A Story of the Alamo and Goliad + +by + +JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER + +Author of _The Texan Star_, _The Quest of the Four_, _The Scouts of the +Valley_, etc. + +Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. +New York + + +1913 + + + + FOREWORD + + "THE TEXAN SCOUTS," WHILE A COMPLETE STORY IN ITSELF, CONTINUES + THE FORTUNES OF NED FULTON AND HIS FRIENDS, WHO WERE THE CENTRAL + CHARACTERS IN "THE TEXAN STAR." + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER + + I. IN THE STORM + + II. THE CAPTIVES + + III. THE FIGHT WITH URREA + + IV. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS + + V. SANTA ANNA'S ADVANCE + + VI. FOR FREEDOM'S SAKE + + VII. THE HERALD OF ATTACK + + VIII. IN THE ALAMO + + IX. THE FLAG OF NO QUARTER + + X. CROCKETT AND BOWIE + + XI. THE DESPERATE DEFENCE + + XII. BEFORE THE DICTATOR + + XIII. TO THE LAST MAN + + XIV. THE NEWS OF THE FALL + + XV. IN ANOTHER TRAP + + XVI. FANNIN'S CAMP + + XVII. THE SAD SURRENDER + +XVIII. THE BLACK TRAGEDY + + XIX. THE RACE FOR THE BOAT + + XX. THE CRY FOR VENGEANCE + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +IN THE STORM + + +The horseman rode slowly toward the west, stopping once or twice to +examine the wide circle of the horizon with eyes that were trained to +note every aspect of the wilderness. On his right the plains melted away +in gentle swell after swell, until they met the horizon. Their brown +surface was broken only by the spiked and thorny cactus and stray bits +of chaparral. + +On his left was the wide bed of a river which flowed through the sand, +breaking here and there into several streams, and then reuniting, only +to scatter its volume a hundred yards further into three or four +channels. A bird of prey flew on strong wing over the water, dipped and +then rose again, but there was no other sign of life. Beyond, the +country southward rolled away, gray and bare, sterile and desolate. + +The horseman looked most often into the south. His glances into the +north were few and brief, but his eyes dwelled long on the lonely land +that lay beyond the yellow current. His was an attractive face. He was +young, only a boy, but the brow was broad and high, and the eyes, grave +and steady, were those of one who thought much. He was clad completely +in buckskin, and his hat was wide of brim. A rifle held in one hand lay +across the pommel of his saddle and there were weapons in his belt. Two +light, but warm, blankets, folded closely, were tied behind him. The +tanned face and the lithe, strong figure showed a wonderful degree of +health and strength. + +Several hours passed and the horseman rode on steadily though slowly. +His main direction was toward the west, and always he kept the river two +or three hundred yards on his left. He never failed to search the plains +on either side, but chiefly in the south, with the eager, intent gaze +that missed nothing. But the lonesome gray land, cut by the coiling +yellow river, still rolled before him, and its desolation and chill +struck to his heart. It was the depth of the Texan winter, and, at +times, icy gusts, born in far mountains, swept across the plains. + +The rider presently turned his horse toward the river and stopped on a +low bluff overlooking it. His face showed a tinge of disappointment, as +if his eyes failed to find objects for which they sought. Again he gazed +long and patiently into the south, but without reward. + +He resumed his ride parallel with the river, but soon stopped a second +time, and held up an open hand, like one who tests the wind. The air was +growing perceptibly colder. The strong gusts were now fusing into a +steady wind. The day, which had not been bright at any time, was turning +darker. The sun was gone and in the far north banks of mists and vapor +were gathering. A dreary moaning came over the plain. + +Ned Fulton, tried and brave though he was, beheld the omens with alarm. +He knew what they portended, and in all that vast wilderness he was +alone. Not a human being to share the danger with him! Not a hand to +help! + +He looked for chaparral, something that might serve as a sort of +shelter, but he had left the last clump of it behind, and now he turned +and rode directly north, hoping that he might find some deep depression +between the swells where he and his horse, in a fashion, could hide. + +Meanwhile the Norther came down with astonishing speed. The temperature +fell like a plummet. The moan of the wind rose to a shriek, and cold +clouds of dust were swept against Ned and his horse. Then snow mingled +with the dust and both beat upon them. Ned felt his horse shivering +under him, and he shivered, too, despite his will. It had turned so dark +that he could no longer tell where he was going, and he used the wide +brim of his hat to protect himself from the sand. + +Soon it was black as night, and the snow was driving in a hurricane. The +wind, unchecked by forest or hill, screamed with a sound almost human. +Ned dismounted and walked in the lee of his horse. The animal turned his +head and nuzzled his master, as if he could give him warmth. + +Ned hoped that the storm would blow itself out in an hour or two, but +his hope was vain. The darkness did not abate. The wind rose instead of +falling, and the snow thickened. It lay on the plain several inches +deep, and the walking grew harder. At last the two, the boy and the +horse, stopped. Ned knew that they had come into some kind of a +depression, and the full force of the hurricane passed partly over their +heads. + +It was yet very dark, and the driving snow scarcely permitted him to +open his eyes, but by feeling about a little he found that one side of +the dip was covered with a growth of dwarf bushes. He led the horse into +the lower edge of these, where some protection was secured, and, +crouching once more in the lee of the animal, he unfolded the two +blankets, which he wrapped closely about himself to the eyes. + +Ned, for the first time since the Norther rushed down upon him, felt +secure. He would not freeze to death, he would escape the fate that +sometimes overtook lone hunters or travelers upon those vast plains. +Warmth from the blankets began gradually to replace the chill in his +bones, and the horse and the bushes together protected his face from the +driven snow which had been cutting like hail. He even had, in some +degree, the sense of comfort which one feels when safe inside four walls +with a storm raging past the windows. The horse whinnied once and rubbed +his nose against Ned's hand. He, too, had ceased to shiver. + +All that afternoon the Norther blew with undiminished violence. After a +while the fall of snow thinned somewhat, but the wind did not decrease. +Ned was devoutly thankful for the dip and the bushes that grew within +it. Nor was he less thankful for the companionship of his horse. It was +a good horse, a brave horse, a great bay mustang, built powerfully and +with sinews and muscles of steel. He had secured him just after taking +part in the capture of San Antonio with his comrades, Obed White and the +Ring Tailed Panther, and already the tie between horse and rider had +become strong and enduring. Ned stroked him again, and the horse, +twisting his neck around, thrust his nose under his arm. + +"Good old boy! Good fellow!" said Ned, pinching his ear. "We were lucky, +you and I, to find this place." + +The horse neighed ever so gently, and rubbed his nose up and down. After +a while the darkness began to increase. Ned knew that it was not a new +development of the storm, but the coming of night, and he grew anxious +again. He and his horse, however secure at the present moment, could not +stay always in that dip among the bushes. Yet he did not dare to leave +it. Above on the plain they would receive the full sweep of the wind, +which was still bitterly cold. + +He was worn by the continued buffetings of blast and snow, but he did +not dare to lie down, even in the blankets, lest he never wake again, +and while he considered he saw darker shadows in the darkness above him. +He gazed, all attention, and counted ten shadows, following one another, +a dusky file. He knew by the set of their figures, short and stocky, +that they were Mexicans, and his heart beat heavily. These were the +first Mexicans that any one had seen on Texan soil since the departure +of Cos and his army on parole from captured San Antonio. So the Mexicans +had come back, and no doubt they would return in great force! + +Ned crouched lower, and he was very glad that the nose of the horse was +still under his arm. He would not have a chance to whinny to his kind +that bore the Mexicans. But the horse made no attempt to move, and Ned +watched them pass on and out of sight. He had not heard the sound of +footsteps or voices above the wind, and after they were gone it seemed +to him that he had seen a line of phantoms. + +But he was sure that his own mortal eyes had beheld that for which he +was looking. He and his comrades had been watching the Rio Grande to see +whether the Mexicans had crossed, and now he at least knew it. + +He waited patiently three or four hours longer, until the wind died and +the fall of snow ceased, when he mounted his horse and rode out of the +dip. The wind suddenly sprang up again in about fifteen minutes, but +now it blew from the south and was warm. The darkness thinned away as +the moon and stars came out in a perfect sky of southern blue. The +temperature rose many degrees in an hour and Ned knew that the snow +would melt fast. All danger of freezing was past, but he was as hungry +as a bear and tired to death. + +He unwrapped the blankets from his body, folded them again in a small +package which he made fast to his saddle, and once more stroked the nose +of his horse. + +"Good Old Jack," he murmured--he had called him Old Jack after Andrew +Jackson, then a mighty hero of the south and west, "you passed through +the ordeal and never moved, like the silent gentleman that you are." + +Old Jack whinnied ever so softly, and rubbed his nose against the boy's +coat sleeve. Ned mounted him and rode out of the dip, pausing at the top +of the swell for a long look in every direction. The night was now +peaceful and there was no noise, save for the warm wind that blew out of +the south with a gentle sighing sound almost like the note of music. +Trickles of water from the snow, already melting, ran down the crests. +Lighter and lighter grew the sky. The moon seemed to Ned to be poised +directly overhead, and close by. New stars were springing out as the +last clouds floated away. + +Ned sought shelter, warmth and a place in which to sleep, and to secure +these three he felt that he must seek timber. The scouts whom he had +seen were probably the only Mexicans north of the Rio Grande, and, as he +believed, there was not one chance in a thousand of meeting such enemies +again. If he should be so lucky as to find shelter he would sleep there +without fear. + +He rode almost due north for more than two hours, seeing patches of +chaparral on both right and left. But, grown fastidious now and not +thinking them sufficient for his purpose, he continued his northern +course. Old Jack's feet made a deep sighing sound as they sank in the +snow, and now there was water everywhere as that soft but conquering +south wind blew steadily over the plain. + +When he saw a growth of timber rising high and dark upon a swell he +believed that he had found his place, and he urged his horse to renewed +speed. The trees proved to be pecans, aspens and oaks growing so densely +that he was compelled to dismount and lead Old Jack before they could +force an entrance. Inside he found a clear space, somewhat like the +openings of the north, in shape an irregular circle, but not more than +fifteen feet across. Great spreading boughs of oaks had protected it so +well that but little snow had fallen there, and that little had melted. +Already the ground in the circle was drying. + +Ned uttered an exclamation of relief and gratitude. This would be his +camp, and to one used to living in the wilderness it furnished good +shelter. At one edge of the opening was an outcropping of flat rock now +quite dry, and there he would spread his bed. He unsaddled and unbridled +his horse, merely tethering him with a lariat, and spread the horse +blanket upon the flat rock. He would lie upon this and cover himself +with his own blankets, using the saddle as a pillow. + +But the security of the covert tempted the boy, who was now as hungry as +a bear just come from winter quarters. He felt weak and relaxed after +his long hours in the snow and storm, and he resolved to have warm food +and drink. + +There was much fallen wood among the trees, and with his strong hunting +knife he whittled off the bark and thin dry shavings until he had a fine +heap. Working long with flint and steel, he managed to set fire to the +shavings, and then he fed the flames with larger pieces of wood until +he had a great bed of glowing coals. A cautious wilderness rover, +learning always from his tried friends, Ned never rode the plains +without his traveling equipment, and now he drew from his pack a small +tin coffee pot and tiny cup of the same material. Then with quick and +skillful hands he made coffee over the coals and warmed strips of deer +and buffalo meat. + +He ate and drank hungrily, while the horse nibbled the grass that grew +within the covert. Glorious warmth came again and the worn feeling +departed. Life, youthful, fresh and abounding, swelled in every vein. + +He now put out all the coals carefully, throwing wet leaves upon them, +in order that not a single spark might shine through the trees to be +seen by an enemy upon the plain. He relied upon the horse to give +warning of a possible approach by man, and to keep away wolves. + +Then he made his bed upon the rock, doing everything as he had arranged +it in his mind an hour before, and, wrapped in his blankets, fell into +the soundest of sleeps. The south wind still blew steadily, playing a +low musical song among the trees. The beads of water on the twigs and +the few leaves that remained dried fast. The grass dried, too, and +beyond the covert the snow, so quick to come, was equally quick to go. + +The horse ceased to nibble the grass, looked at the sleeping boy, +touched his blankets lightly with his nose, and walked to the other side +of the opening, where he lay down and went to his own horse heaven of +sleep. + +It was not many hours until day and Old Jack was a light sleeper. When +he opened his eyes again he saw a clear and beautiful winter day of the +far south. The only clouds in the sky were little drifting bits of fine +white wool, and the warm wind still blew. Old Jack, who was in reality +Young Jack, as his years were not yet four, did not think so much of the +covert now, as he had already eaten away all the grass within the little +opening but his sense of duty was strong. He saw that his human master +and comrade still slept, apparently with no intention of awakening at +any very early date, and he set himself to gleaning stray blades of +grass that might have escaped his notice the night before. + +Ned awoke a little after the noon hour, and sprang to his feet in +dismay. The sun was almost directly over his head, showing him how late +it was. He looked at his horse as if to reproach his good comrade for +not waking him sooner, but Old Jack's large mild eyes gave him such a +gaze of benignant unconcern that the boy was ashamed of himself. + +"It certainly was not your fault," he said to his horse, "and, after +all, it probably doesn't matter. We've had a long sound sleep and rest, +and I've no doubt that both of us will profit by it. Nothing seems to be +left in here for you to eat, but I'll take a little breakfast myself." + +He did not relight the fire, but contented himself with cold food. Then +resaddling, he left the grove and rode northward again until he came to +a hill, or, rather, a swell, that was higher than the rest. Here he +stopped his horse and took a glance at the sun, which was shining with +uncommon brilliancy. Then he produced a small mirror from the pocket of +his hunting shirt and held it in such a position that it made a focus of +the sun's rays, throwing them in a perfect blazing lance of light. + +He turned the flaming lance around the horizon, until it completed the +circle and then he started around with it again. Meantime he was keeping +a close watch upon every high point. A hill rose in the north, and he +looked at it longest, but nothing came from it. There was another, but +lower, hill in the west, and before he had completed the second round +with his glass a light flashed from it. It was a brilliant light, almost +like a sheaf of white incandescent rays. He lowered his own mirror and +the light played directly upon his hill. When it ceased he sent back +answering rays, to which, when he stopped, a rejoinder came in like +fashion. Then he put the little mirror back in the safe pocket of his +hunting shirt and rode with perfect confidence toward that western hill. + +The crest that Ned sought was several miles away, although it looked +much nearer in the thin clear air of the plains, but he rode now at +increased speed, because there was much to draw him on. Old Jack seemed +to share in his lightness of spirit, raising his head once and neighing, +as if he were sending forth a welcome. + +The boy soon saw two figures upon the hill, the shapes of horse and man, +outlined in black against the sun, which was now declining in the west. +They were motionless and they were exaggerated into gigantic stature +against the red background. Ned knew them, although the distance was far +too great to disclose any feature. But signal had spoken truly to +signal, and that was enough. Old Jack made a fresh burst of speed and +presently neighed once more. An answering neigh came back from the hill. + +Ned rode up the slope and greeted Obed White and the Ring Tailed Panther +with outstretched hands. + +"And it's you, my boy," said Obed, his eyes glistening. "Until we saw +your signal we were afraid that you might have frozen to death in the +Norther, but it's a long lane that has no happy ending, and here we are, +all three of us, alive, and as well as ever." + +"That's so," said the Panther, "but even when the storm was at its worst +I didn't give up, Ned. Somehow, when things are at the blackest I'm +always hopin'. I don't take any credit fur it. I was just born with that +kind of a streak in me." + +Ned regarded him with admiration. The Ring Tailed Panther was certainly +a gorgeous object. He rode a great black horse with a flowing mane. He +was clad completely in a suit of buckskin which was probably without a +match on the border. It and his moccasins were adorned with thick rows +of beads of many colors, that glittered and flashed as the sunlight +played upon them. Heavy silver spurs were fastened to his heels, and his +hat of broad brim and high cone in the Mexican fashion was heavy with +silver braid. His saddle also was of the high, peaked style, studded +with silver. The Panther noticed Ned's smile of appraisement and smiled +back. + +"Ain't it fine?" he said. "I guess this is about the beautifullest +outfit to be found in either Texas or Mexico. I bought it all in honor +of our victory just after we took San Antonio, and it soothes my eyes +and makes my heart strong every time I look at it." + +"And it helps out the prairies," said Obed White, his eyes twinkling. +"Now that winter has made 'em brown, they need a dash of color and the +Panther gives it to 'em. Fine feathers don't keep a man from being a man +for a' that. What did you do in the storm, Ned?" + +"I found shelter in a thick grove, managed to light a fire, and slept +there in my blankets." + +"We did about the same." + +"But I saw something before I reached my shelter." + +"What was that?" exclaimed the two, noting the significance in Ned's +tone. + +"While I was waiting in a dip I saw ten Mexican horsemen ride by. They +were heavily armed, and I've no doubt they were scouts belonging to some +strong force." + +"And so they are back on this side of the Rio Grande," said Obed White +thoughtfully. "I'm not surprised. Our Texans have rejoiced too early. +The full storm has not burst yet." + +The Panther began to bristle. A giant in size, he seemed to grow larger, +and his gorgeous hunting suit strained at the seams. + +"Let 'em come on," he said menacingly. "Let Santa Anna himself lead 'em. +We Texans can take care of 'em all." + +But Obed White shook his head sadly. + +"We could if we were united," he said, "but our leaders have taken to +squabbling. You're a Cheerful Talker, Panther, and you deserve both your +names, but to tell you the honest truth I'm afraid of the Mexican +advance." + +"I think the Mexicans probably belonged to Urrea's band," said Ned. + +"Very likely," said Obed. "He's about the most energetic of their +partisan leaders, and it may be that we'll run against him pretty soon." + +They had heard in their scouting along the Rio Grande that young +Francisco Urrea, after the discovery that he was a spy and his +withdrawal from San Antonio with the captured army of Cos, had organized +a strong force of horsemen and was foremost among those who were urging +a new Mexican advance into Texas. + +"It's pretty far west for the Mexicans," said the Panther. "We're on the +edge of the Indian country here." + +But Obed considered it all the more likely that Urrea, if he meditated a +raid, would come from the west, since his approach at that point would +be suspected the least. The three held a brief discussion and soon came +to an agreement. They would continue their own ride west and look for +Urrea. Having decided so, they went into the task heart and soul, +despite its dangers. + +The three rode side by side and three pairs of skilled eyes examined the +plain. The snow was left only in sheltered places or among the trees. +But the further they went the scarcer became the trees, and before night +they disappeared entirely. + +"We are comin' upon the buffalo range," said the Panther. "A hundred +miles further west we'd be likely to strike big herds. When we're +through fightin' the Mexicans I'm goin' out there again. It's the life +fur me." + +The night came, dark and cold, but fortunately without wind. They camped +in a dip and did not light any fire, lying as Ned had done the night +before on their horse blankets and wrapping themselves in their own. The +three horses seemed to be contented with one another and made no noise. + +They deemed it wise now to keep a watch, as they might be near Urrea's +band or Lipans might pass, and the Panther, who said he was not sleepy +at all, became sentinel. Ned, although he had not risen until noon, was +sleepy again from the long ride, and his eyes closed soon. The last +object that he saw was the Panther standing on the crest of the swell +just beyond them, rifle on shoulder, watching the moonlit plains. Obed +White was asleep already. + +The Panther walked back and forth a few times and then looked down at +his comrades in the dip. His trained eyes saw their chests rising and +falling, and he knew that they were far away in the land of Nowhere. +Then he extended his walk back and forth a little further, scanning +carefully the dusky plain. + +A light wind sprang up after a while, and it brought a low but heavy and +measured tread to his ears. The Panther's first impulse was to awaken +his friends, because this might be the band of Urrea, but he hesitated a +moment, and then lay down with his ear to the earth. When he rose his +uneasiness had departed and he resumed his walk back and forth. He had +heard that tread before many times and, now that it was coming nearer, +he could not mistake it, but, as the measured beat indicated that it +would pass to one side, it bore no threat for his comrades or himself. + +The Panther did not stop his walk as from a distance of a few hundred +yards he watched the great buffalo herd go by. The sound was so steady +and regular that Ned and Obed were not awakened nor were the horses +disturbed. The buffaloes showed a great black mass across the plain, +extending for fully a mile, and they were moving north at an even gait. +The Panther watched until the last had passed, and he judged that there +were fully a hundred thousand animals in the herd. He saw also the big +timber wolves hanging on the rear and flanks, ready to cut out stray +calves or those weak from old age. So busy were the wolves seeking a +chance that they did not notice the gigantic figure of the man, rifle on +shoulder, who stood on the crest of the swell looking at them as they +passed. + +The Panther's eyes followed the black line of the herd until it +disappeared under the northern rim of darkness. He was wondering why the +buffaloes were traveling so steadily after daylight and he came to the +conclusion that the impelling motive was not a search for new pastures. +He listened a long time until the last rumble of the hundred thousand +died away in a faint echo, and then he awakened his comrades. + +"I'm thinkin'," he said, "that the presence of Urrea's band made the +buffaloes move. Now I'm not a Ring Tailed Panther an' a Cheerful Talker +for nothin', an' we want to hunt that band. Like as not they've been +doin' some mischief, which we may be able partly to undo. I'm in favor +of ridin' south, back on the herd track an' lookin' for 'em." + +"So am I," said Obed White. "My watch says it's one o'clock in the +morning, and my watch is always right, because I made it myself. We've +had a pretty good rest, enough to go on, and what we find may be worth +finding. A needle in a haystack may be well hid, but you'll find it if +you look long enough." + +They rode almost due south in the great path made by the buffalo herd, +not stopping for a full two hours when a halt was made at a signal from +the Panther. They were in a wide plain, where buffalo grass yet grew +despite the winter, and the Panther said with authority that the herd +had been grazing here before it was started on its night journey into +the north. + +"An' if we ride about this place long enough," he said, "we'll find the +reason why the buffaloes left it." + +He turned his horse in a circuit of the plain and Ned and Obed followed +the matchless tracker, who was able, even in the moonlight, to note any +disturbance of the soil. Presently he uttered a little cry and pointed +ahead. Both saw the skeleton of a buffalo which evidently had been +killed not long and stripped of its meat. A little further on they saw +another and then two more. + +"That tells it," said the Panther succinctly. "These buffaloes were +killed for food an' most likely by Mexicans. It was the shots that set +the herd to runnin'. The men who killed 'em are not far away, an' I'm +not a Ring Tailed Panther an' a Cheerful Talker if they don't belong to +Urrea's band." + +"Isn't that a light?" said Ned, pointing to the west, "or is it a +firefly or something of the kind?" + +A glowing spark was just visible over the plain, but as it neither moved +nor went out the three concluded that it was made by a distant fire. + +"I think it's in chaparral or among trees," said Obed, "or we would see +it more plainly. It's a poor camp fire that hides its light under a +bushel." + +"I think you're right an' it must be chaparral," said the Panther. "But +we'll ride toward it an' soon answer our own questions." + +The light was more than a mile away and, as they advanced slowly, they +saw it grow in size and intensity. It was surely a campfire, but no +sound that they could yet hear came from it. They did not expect to hear +any. If it was indeed Urrea and his men they would probably be sleeping +soundly, not expecting any foe to be near. The Panther now dismounted, +and the other two did likewise. + +"No need to show too high above the plain," he said, "an' if we have to +run it won't take a second to jump back on our horses." + +Ned did not take the bridle of his horse as the others did. He knew that +Old Jack would follow as faithful as any dog to his master, and he was +right. As they advanced slowly the velvet nose more than once pressed +trustfully against his elbow. + +They saw now that an extensive growth of chaparral rose before them, +from the center of which the light seemed to be shining. The Panther lay +down on the prairie, put his ear to the ground, and listened a long +time. + +"I think I hear the feet of horses movin' now an' then," he said, "an' +if so, one of us had better stay behin' with ours. A horse of theirs +might neigh an' a horse of ours might answer. Yon can't tell. Obed, I +guess it'll be for you to stay. You've got a most soothin' disposition +with animals." + +"All right," said Obed philosophically, "I'd rather go on, but, if it's +better for me to stay, I'll stay. They also serve who stand and hold the +reins. If you find you've got to leave in a hurry I'll be here waiting." + +He gathered up the reins of the three horses and remained quietly on the +plain, while Ned and the Panther went forward, making straight for the +light. + +When they came to the edge of the chaparral they knelt among the bushes +and listened. Now both distinctly heard the occasional movement of +horses, and they saw the dusky outlines of several figures before the +fire, which was about three hundred yards away. + +"They are bound to be Mexicans," whispered the Panther, "'cause there +are no Texans in this part of the country, an' you an' me, Ned, must +find out just who they are." + +"You lead the way, Panther," said Ned. "I'll follow wherever you go." + +"Then be mighty careful. Look out for the thorns an' don't knock your +rifle against any bush." + +The Panther lay almost flat. His huge figure seemed to blend with the +earth, and he crept forward among the thorny bushes with amazing skill. +He was like some large animal, trained for countless generations to slip +through thickets. Ned, just behind him, could hear only the faintest +noise, and the bushes moved so little that one, not knowing, might have +credited it to the wind. + +The boy had the advantage of following in the path made by the man's +larger figure, and he, too, was successful in making no sound. But he +could hear the stamp of horses' feet clearly now, and both to left and +right he caught glimpses of them tethered in the thickets. His comrade +stopped at last. They were not more than a hundred yards from the fire +now, and the space in front of them was mostly open. The Panther, +crouching among the bushes, raised his finger slowly and pointed toward +the fire. + +Ned, who had moved to one side, followed the pointing finger and saw +Urrea. He was the dominant figure in a group of six or seven gathered +about the flames. He was no longer in any disguise, but wore an +officer's gorgeous uniform of white and silver. A splendid cocked hat +was on his head, and a small gold hilted rapier swung by his side. + +It may have been partly the effect of the night and the red flame, but +the face of Urrea had upon Ned an effect much like that of Santa Anna. +It was dark and handsome, but full of evil. And evil Ned knew Urrea to +be. No man with righteous blood in his veins would play the spy and +traitor as he had done. + +"I could shoot him from here," whispered the Panther, who evidently was +influenced in a similar way, "then reach our horses an' get away. It +might be a good deed, an' it might save our lives, Ned, but I'm not able +to force myself to do it." + +"Nor I," said Ned. "I can't shoot an enemy from ambush." + +Urrea and the other men at the fire, all of whom were in the dress of +officers, were in a deep talk. Ned inferred that the subject must be of +much importance, since they sat awake, discussing it between midnight +and morning. + +"Look beyond the fire at the figures leanin' against the trees," +whispered the Panther. + +Ned looked and hot anger rose in his veins. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE CAPTIVES + + +Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to +the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen +men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees. They +were prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans. His +blood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins. They had been captured by +Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were +rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless +rescue came. + +"What shall we do?" he whispered. + +"Nothing now," replied the Panther, in the same soft tone, "but if you +an' Obed are with me we'll follow this crowd, an' maybe we can get the +Texans away from 'em. It's likely that Urrea will cross the Rio Grande +an' go down into Mexico to meet Cos or Santa Anna. Are you game enough +to go, Ned? I'm a Ring Tailed Panther an' a roarin' grizzly bear, but I +don't like to follow all by myself." + +"I'm with you," said Ned, "if I have to go all the way back to the City +of Mexico, an' I know that I can speak for Obed, too." + +"I jest asked as a matter of form," said the Panther. "I knowed before +askin' that you an' Obed would stick to me." + +There was a sudden gust of wind at that moment and the light of the fire +sprang higher. The flames threw a glow across the faces of the +prisoners. Most of them were asleep, but Ned saw them very distinctly +now. One was a boy but little older than himself, his face pale and +worn. Near him was an old man, with a face very uncommon on the border. +His features were those of a scholar and ascetic. His cheeks were thin, +and thick white hair crowned a broad white brow. Ned felt instinctively +that he was a man of importance. + +Both the boy and the man slept the sleep of utter exhaustion. + +Urrea rose presently and looked at his prisoners. The moonlight was +shining on his face, and it seemed to Ned to be that of some master +demon. The boy was far from denying many good qualities to the Mexicans, +but the countenance of Urrea certainly did not express any of them that +night. It showed only savage exultation as he looked at the bound men, +and Ned knew that this was a formidable enemy of the Texans, one who +would bring infinite resources of cunning and enterprise to crush them. + +Urrea said a few words to his officers and then withdrew into a small +tent which Ned had not noticed hitherto. The officers lay down in their +blankets, but a dozen sentinels watched about the open space. Ned and +the Panther crept slowly back toward the plain. + +"What is our best plan, Panther?" whispered the hoy. + +"We can't do anything yet but haul off, watch an' then follow. The +chaparral runs along for a mile or two an' we can hide in the north end +of it until they march south an' are out of sight. Then we'll hang on." + +They found Obed standing exactly where they had left him, the reins of +the three horses in his hands. + +"Back at last," he said. "All things come to him who waits long enough, +if he doesn't die first. Did you see anything besides a lot of Mexican +vaqueros, fuddled with liquor and sound asleep?" + +"We did not see any vaqueros," replied the Panther, "but we saw Urrea +an' his band, an' they had among them a dozen good Texans bound fast, +men who will be shot if we three don't stand in the way. You have to +follow with us, Obed, because Ned has already promised for you." + +The Maine man looked at them and smiled. + +"A terribly good mind reader, that boy, Ned," he said. "He knew exactly +what I wanted. There's a lot of things in the world that I'd like to do, +but the one that I want to do most just now is to follow Urrea and that +crowd of his and take away those Texans. You two couldn't keep me from +going." + +The Panther smiled back. + +"You are shorely the right stuff, Obed White," he said. "We're only +three in this bunch, but two of 'em besides me are ring-tailed panthers. +Now we'll just draw off, before it's day, an' hide in the chaparral up +there." + +They rode a mile to the north and remained among dense bushes until +daylight. At dawn they saw a column of smoke rise from Urrea's camp. + +"They are cookin' breakfast now," said the Panther. "It's my guess that +in an hour they'll be ridin' south with their prisoners." + +The column of smoke sank after a while, and a couple of hours later the +three left the chaparral. From one of the summits they dimly saw a mass +of horsemen riding toward Mexico. + +"There's our men," said the Panther, "an' now we'll follow all day at +this good, safe distance. At night we can draw up closer if we want to +do it." + +The Mexicans maintained a steady pace, and the three pursuers followed +at a distance of perhaps two miles. Now and then the swells completely +shut Urrea's band from sight, but Ned, Obed and the Panther followed the +broad trail without the slightest difficulty. + +"They'll reach the river before noon," said the Panther. "There ain't +any doubt now that they're bound for Mexico. It's jest as well for what +we want to do, 'cause they're likely to be less watchful there than they +are in Texas." + +The band of Urrea, as nearly as they could judge, numbered about fifty, +all mounted and armed well. The Mexicans were fine horsemen, and with +good training and leadership they were dangerous foes. The three knew +them well, and they kept so far behind that they were not likely to be +observed. + +It was only a half hour past noon when Urrea's men reached the Rio +Grande, and without stopping made the crossing. They avoided the +quicksands with experienced eyes, and swam their horses through the deep +water, the prisoners always kept in the center of the troop. Ned, Obed +and the Panther watched them until they passed out of sight. Then they, +too, rode forward, although slowly, toward the stream. + +"We can't lose 'em," said the Panther, "so I think we'd better stay out +of sight now that they're on real Mexican soil. Maybe our chance will +come to-night, an' ag'in maybe it won't." + +"Patience will have its perfect rescue, if we only do the right things," +said Obed. + +"An' if we think hard enough an' long enough we're bound to do 'em, or +I'm a Ring Tailed Panther an' a Cheerful Talker fur nothin'," said the +Panther. + +Waiting until they were certain that the Mexicans were five or six miles +ahead, the three forded the Rio Grande, and stood once more on Mexican +soil. It gave Ned a curious thrill. He had passed through so much in +Mexico that he had not believed he would ever again enter that country. +The land on the Mexican side was about the same as that on the Texan, +but it seemed different to him. He beheld again that aspect of infinite +age, of the long weariness of time, and of physical decay. + +They rode more briskly through the afternoon and at darkness saw the +camp fires of Urrea glimmering ahead of them. But the night was not +favorable to their plans. The sky was the usual cloudless blue of the +Mexican plateau, the moon was at the full and all the stars were out. +What they wanted was bad weather, hoping meanwhile the execution of the +prisoners would not be begun until the Mexicans reached higher authority +than Urrea, perhaps Santa Anna himself. + +They made their own camp a full two miles from Urrea's, and Obed and the +Panther divided the watch. + +Urrea started early the next morning, and so did the pursuing three. The +dawn was gray, and the breeze was chill. As they rode on, the wind rose +and its edge became so sharp that there was a prospect of another +Norther. The Panther unrolled from his pack the most gorgeous serape +that Ned had ever seen. It was of the finest material, colored a deep +scarlet and it had a gold fringe. + +"Fine feathers are seen afar," said Obed. + +"That's so," said the Panther, "but we're not coming near enough to the +Mexicans for them to catch a glimpse of this, an' such bein' the case +I'm goin' to put it between me an' the cold. I'm proud of it, an' when I +wrap it aroun' me I feel bigger an' stronger. Its red color helps me. I +think I draw strength from red, just as I do from a fine, tender buffalo +steak." + +He spoke with much earnestness, and the other two did not contradict +him. Meanwhile he gracefully folded the great serape about his +shoulders, letting it fall to the saddle. No Mexican could have worn it +more rakishly. + +"That's my shield and protector," he said. "Now blow wind, blow snow, +I'll keep warm." + +It blew wind, but it did not blow snow. The day remained cold, but the +air undoubtedly had a touch of damp. + +"It may rain, and I'm sure the night will be dark," said Obed. "We may +have our chance. Fortune favors those who help themselves." + +The country became more broken, and the patches of scrub forest +increased in number. Often the three rode quite near to Urrea's men and +observed them closely. The Mexicans were moving slowly, and, as the +Americans had foreseen, discipline was relaxed greatly. + +Near night drops of rain began to fall in their faces, and the sun set +among clouds. The three rejoiced. A night, dark and wet, had come sooner +than they had hoped. Obed and Ned also took out serapes, and wrapped +them around their shoulders. They served now not only to protect their +bodies, but to keep their firearms dry as well. Then they tethered their +horses among thorn bushes about a mile from Urrea's camp, and advanced +on foot. + +They saw the camp fire glimmering feebly through the night, and they +advanced boldly. It was so dark now that a human figure fifty feet away +blended with the dusk, and the ground, softened by the rain, gave back +no sound of footsteps. Nevertheless they saw on their right a field +which showed a few signs of cultivation, and they surmised that Urrea +had made his camp at the lone hut of some peon. + +They reckoned right. They came to clumps of trees, and in an opening +inclosed by them was a low adobe hut, from the open door of which a +light shone. They knew that Urrea and his officers had taken refuge +there from the rain and cold and, under the boughs of the trees or +beside the fire, they saw the rest of the band sheltering themselves as +best they could. The prisoners, their hands bound, were in a group in +the open, where the slow, cold rain fell steadily upon them. Ned's heart +swelled with rage at the sight. + +Order and discipline seemed to be lacking. Men came and went as they +pleased. Fully twenty of them were making a shelter of canvas and thatch +beside the hut. Others began to build the fire higher in order to fend +off the wet and cold. Ned did not see that the chance of a rescue was +improved, but the Panther felt a sudden glow when his eyes alighted upon +something dark at the edge of the woods. A tiny shed stood there and his +keen eyes marked what was beneath it. + +"What do you think we'd better do, Panther?" asked Obed. + +"No roarin' jest now. We mustn't raise our voices above whispers, but +we'll go back in the brush and wait. In an hour or two all these +Mexicans will be asleep. Like as not the sentinels, if they post any, +will be asleep first." + +They withdrew deeper into the thickets, where they remained close +together. They saw the fire die in the Mexican camp. After a while all +sounds there ceased, and again they crept near. The Panther was a +genuine prophet, known and recognized by his comrades. Urrea's men, +having finished their shelters, were now asleep, including all the +sentinels except two. There was some excuse for them. They were in their +own country, far from any Texan force of importance, and the night could +scarcely have been worse. It was very dark, and the cold rain fell with +a steadiness and insistence that sought and finally found every opening +in one's clothing. Even the stalking three drew their serapes closer, +and shivered a little. + +The two sentinels who did not sleep were together on the south side of +the glade. Evidently they wished the company of each other. They were +now some distance from the dark little shed toward which the Panther was +leading his comrades, and their whole energies were absorbed in an +attempt to light two cigarritos, which would soothe and strengthen them +as they kept their rainy and useless watch. + +The three completed the segment of the circle and reached the little +shed which had become such an object of importance to the Panther. + +"Don't you see?" said the Panther, his grim joy showing in his tone. + +They saw, and they shared his satisfaction. The Mexicans had stacked +their rifles and muskets under the shed, where they would be protected +from the rain. + +"It's queer what foolish things men do in war," said Obed. "Whom the +gods would destroy they first deprive of the sense of danger. They do +not dream that Richard, meaning the Panther, is in the chaparral." + +"If we approach this shed from the rear the sentinels, even if they +look, will not be able to see us," said the Panther. "By the great horn +spoon, what an opportunity! I can hardly keep from roarin' an' ravin' +about it. Now, boys, we'll take away their guns, swift an' quiet." + +A few trips apiece and all the rifles and muskets with their ammunition +were carried deep into the chaparral, where Obed, gladly sacrificing his +own comfort, covered them against the rain with his serape. Not a sign +had come meanwhile from the two sentinels on the far side of the camp. +Ned once or twice saw the lighted ends of their cigarritos glowing like +sparks in the darkness, but the outlines of the men's figures were very +dusky. + +"An' now for the riskiest part of our job, the one that counts the +most," said the Panther, "the one that will make everything else a +failure if it falls through. We've got to secure the prisoners." + +The captives were lying under the boughs of some trees about twenty +yards from the spot where the fire had been built. The pitiless rain had +beaten upon them, but as far as Ned could judge they had gone to sleep, +doubtless through sheer exhaustion. The Panther's plan of action was +swift and comprehensive. + +"Boys," he said, "I'm the best shot of us three. I don't say it in any +spirit of boastin', 'cause I've pulled trigger about every day for +thirty years, an' more'n once a hundred times in one day. Now you two +give me your rifles and I'll set here in the edge of the bushes, then +you go ahead as silent as you can an' cut the prisoners loose. If +there's an alarm I'll open fire with the three rifles and cover the +escape." + +Handing the rifles to the Panther, the two slipped forward. It was a +grateful task to Ned. Again his heart swelled with wrath as he saw the +dark figures of the bound men lying on the ground in the rain. He +remembered the one who was youthful of face like himself and he sought +him. As he approached he made out a figure lying in a strained +position, and he was sure that it was the captive lad. A yard or two +more and he knew absolutely. He touched the boy on the shoulder, +whispered in his ear that it was a friend, and, with one sweep of his +knife, released his arms. + +"Crawl to the chaparral there," said Ned, in swift sharp tones, pointing +the way. "Another friend is waiting at that point." + +The boy, without a word, began to creep forward in a stiff and awkward +fashion. Ned turned to the next prisoner. It was the elderly man whom he +had seen from the chaparral, and he was wide awake, staring intently at +Ned. + +"Is it rescue?" he whispered. "Is it possible?" + +"It is rescue. It is possible," replied Ned, in a similar whisper. "Turn +a little to one side and I will cut the cords that bind you." + +The man turned, but when Ned freed him he whispered: + +"You will have to help me. I cannot yet walk alone. Urrea has already +given me a taste of what I was to expect." + +Ned shuddered. There was a terrible significance in the prisoner's tone. +He assisted him to rise partly, but the man staggered. It was evident +that he could not walk. He must help this man, but the others were +waiting to be released also. Then the good thought came. + +"Wait a moment," he said, and he cut the bonds of another man. + +"Now you help your friend there," he said. + +He saw the two going away together, and he turned to the others. He and +Obed worked fast, and within five minutes the last man was released. But +as they crept back toward the chaparral the slack sentinels caught +sight of the dusky figures retreating. Two musket shots were fired and +there were rapid shouts in Mexican jargon. Ned and Obed rose to their +feet and, keeping the escaped prisoners before them, ran for the +thickets. + +A terrific reply to the Mexican alarm came from the forest. A volley of +rifle and pistol shots was fired among the soldiers as they sprang to +their feet and a tremendous voice roared: + +"At 'em, boys! At 'em! Charge 'em! Now is your time! Rip an' t'ar an' +roar an' chaw! Don't let a single one escape! Sweep the scum off the +face of the earth!" + +The Ring Tailed Panther had a mighty voice, issuing from a mighty +throat. Never had he used it in greater volume or to better purpose than +on that night. The forest fairly thundered with the echoes of the battle +cry, and as the dazed Mexicans rushed for their guns only to find them +gone, they thought that the whole Texan army was upon them. In another +instant a new terror struck at their hearts. Their horses and mules, +driven in a frightful stampede, suddenly rushed into the glade and they +were now busy keeping themselves from being trampled to death. + +Truly the Panther had spent well the few minutes allotted to him. He +fired new shots, some into the frightened herd. His tremendous voice +never ceased for an instant to encourage his charging troops, and to +roar out threats against the enemy. Urrea, to his credit, made an +attempt to organize his men, to stop the panic, and to see the nature of +the enemy, but he was borne away in the frantic mob of men and horses +which was now rushing for the open plain. + +Ned and Obed led the fugitives to the place where the rifles and muskets +were stacked. Here they rapidly distributed the weapons and then broke +across the tree trunks all they could not use or carry. Another minute +and they reached their horses, where the Panther, panting from his huge +exertions, joined them. Ned helped the lame man upon one of the horses, +the weakest two who remained, including the boy, were put upon the +others, and led by the Panther they started northward, leaving the +chaparral. + +It was a singular march, but for a long time nothing was said. The sound +of the Mexican stampede could yet be heard, moving to the south, but +they, rescuers and rescued, walked in silence save for the sound of +their feet in the mud of the wind-swept plain. Ned looked curiously at +the faces of those whom they had saved, but the night had not lightened, +and he could discern nothing. They went thus a full quarter of an hour. +The noise of the stampede sank away in the south, and then the Panther +laughed. + +It was a deep, hearty, unctuous laugh that came from the very depths of +the man's chest. It was a laugh with no trace of merely superficial joy. +He who uttered it laughed because his heart and soul were in it. It was +a laugh of mirth, relief and triumph, all carried to the highest degree. +It was a long laugh, rising and falling, but when it ceased and the +Panther had drawn a deep breath he opened his mouth again and spoke the +words that were in his mind. + +"I shorely did some rippin' an' roarin' then," he said. "It was the best +chance I ever had, an' I guess I used it. How things did work for us! +Them sleepy sentinels, an' then the stampede of the animals, carryin' +Urrea an' the rest right away with it." + +"Fortune certainly worked for us," said Ned. + +"And we can find no words in which to describe to you our gratitude," +said the crippled man on the horse. "We were informed very clearly by +Urrea that we were rebels and, under the decree of Santa Anna, would be +executed. Even our young friend here, this boy, William Allen, would not +have been spared." + +"We ain't all the way out of the woods yet," said the Panther, not +wishing to have their hopes rise too high and then fall. "Of course +Urrea an' his men have some arms left. They wouldn't stack 'em all under +the shed, an' they can get more from other Mexicans in these parts. When +they learn from their trailers how few we are they'll follow." + +The rescued were silent, save one, evidently a veteran frontiersman, who +said: + +"Let 'em come. I was took by surprise, not thinkin' any Mexicans was +north of the Rio Grande. But now that I've got a rifle on one shoulder +an' a musket on the other I think I could thrash an acre-lot full of +'em." + +"That's the talk," said Obed White. "We'll say to 'em: 'Come one, come +all, this rock from its firm base may fly, but we're the boys who'll +never say die.'" + +They relapsed once more into silence. The rain had lightened a little, +but the night was as dark as ever. The boy whom the man had called +William Allen drew up by the side of Ned. They were of about the same +height, and each was as tall and strong as a man. + +"Have you any friends here with you?" asked Ned. + +"All of them are my friends, but I made them in captivity. I came to +Texas to find my fortune, and I found this." + +The boy laughed, half in pity of himself, and half with genuine humor. + +"But I ought not to complain," he added, "when we've been saved in the +most wonderful way. How did you ever happen to do it?" + +"We've been following you all the way from the other side of the Rio +Grande, waiting a good chance. It came to-night with the darkness, the +rain, and the carelessness of the Mexicans. I heard the man call you +William Allen. My name is Fulton, Edward Fulton, Ned to my friends." + +"And mine's Will to my friends." + +"And you and I are going to be friends, that's sure." + +"Nothing can be surer." + +The hands of the two boys met in a strong grasp, signifying a friendship +that was destined to endure. + +The Panther and Obed now began to seek a place for a camp. They knew +that too much haste would mean a breakdown, and they meant that the +people whom they had rescued should have a rest. But it took a long time +to find the trees which would furnish wood and partial shelter. It was +Obed who made the happy discovery some time after midnight. Turning to +their left, they entered a grove of dwarf oaks, covering a half acre or +so, and with much labor and striving built a fire. They made it a big +fire, too, and fed it until the flames roared and danced. Ned noticed +that all the rescued prisoners crouched close to it, as if it were a +giver of strength and courage as well as warmth, and now the light +revealed their faces. He looked first at the crippled man, and the +surprise that he had felt at his first glimpse of him increased. + +The stranger was of a type uncommon on the border. His large features +showed cultivation and the signs of habitual and deep thought. His thick +white hair surmounted a broad brow. His clothing, although torn by +thorns and briars, was of fine quality. Ned knew instinctively that it +was a powerful face, one that seldom showed the emotions behind it. The +rest, except the boy, were of the border, lean, sun-browned men, +dressed in tanned deerskin. + +The Panther and Obed also gazed at the crippled man with great +curiosity. They knew the difference, and they were surprised to find +such a man in such a situation. He did not seem to notice them at first, +but from his seat on a log leaned over the fire warming his hands, which +Ned saw were large, white and smooth. His legs lay loosely against the +log, as if he were suffering from a species of paralysis. The others, +soaked by the rain, which, however, now ceased, were also hovering over +the fire which was giving new life to the blood in their veins. The man +with the white hands turned presently and, speaking to Ned, Obed and the +Panther, said: + +"My name is Roylston, John Roylston." + +Ned started. + +"I see that you have heard of it," continued the stranger, but without +vanity. "Yes, I am the merchant of New Orleans. I have lands and other +property in this region for which I have paid fairly. I hold the deeds +and they are also guaranteed to me by Santa Anna and the Mexican +Congress. I was seized by this guerilla leader, Urrea. He knew who I +was, and he sought to extract from me an order for a large sum of money +lying in a European bank in the City of Mexico. There are various ways +of procuring such orders, and he tried one of the most primitive +methods. That is why I cannot walk without help. No, I will not tell +what was done. It is not pleasant to hear. Let it pass. I shall walk +again as well as ever in a month." + +"Did he get the order?" asked Obed curiously. + +Roylston laughed deep in his throat. + +"He did not," he said. "It was not because I valued it so much, but my +pride would not permit me to give way to such crude methods. I must +say, however, that you three came just in time, and you have done a most +marvelous piece of work." + +Ned shuddered and walked a little space out on the plain to steady his +nerves. He had never deceived himself about the dangers that the Texans +were facing, but it seemed that they would have to fight every kind of +ferocity. When he returned, Obed and the Panther were building the fire +higher. + +"We must get everybody good and dry," said the Panther. "Pursuit will +come, but not to-night, an' we needn't worry about the blaze. We've food +enough for all of you for a day, but we haven't the horses, an' for that +I'm sorry. If we had them we could git away without a doubt to the Texan +army." + +"But not having them," said Obed, "we'll even do the best we can, if the +Mexicans, having run away, come back to fight another day." + +"So we will," said a stalwart Texan named Fields. "That Urrea don't get +me again, and if I ain't mistook your friend here is Mr. Palmer, better +known in our parts as the Ring Tailed Panther, ain't he?" + +Ned saw the Panther's huge form swell. He still wore the great serape, +which shone in the firelight with a deep blood-red tinge. + +"I am the Ring Tailed Panther," he said proudly. + +"Then lemme shake your hand. You an' your pards have done a job to-night +that ain't had its like often, and me bein' one of them that's profited +by it makes it look all the bigger to me." + +The Panther graciously extended an enormous palm, and the great palm of +Fields met it in a giant clasp. A smile lighted up the somber face of +Mr. Roylston as he looked at them. + +"Often we find powerful friends when we least expect them," he said. + +"As you are the worst hurt of the lot," said the Panther, "we're going +to make you a bed right here by the fire. No, it ain't any use sayin' +you won't lay down on it. If you won't we'll jest have to put you down." + +They spread a blanket, upon which the exhausted merchant lay, and they +covered him with a serape. Soon he fell asleep, and then Fields said to +Ned and his comrades: + +"You fellows have done all the work, an' you've piled up such a mountain +of debt against us that we can never wipe it out. Now you go to sleep +and four of us will watch. And, knowin' what would happen to us if we +were caught, we'll watch well. But nothing is to be expected to-night." + +"Suits us," said Obed. "Some must watch while others sleep, so runs the +world away. Bet you a dollar, Ned, that I'm off to Slumberland before +you are." + +"I don't take the bet," said Ned, "but I'll run you an even race." + +In exactly five minutes the two, rolled in their own blankets, slept +soundly. All the others soon followed, except four, who, unlike the +Mexicans, kept a watch that missed nothing. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE FIGHT WITH URREA + + +Morning came. Up rose the sun, pouring a brilliant light over the +desolate plains. Beads of water from the rain the night before sparkled +a little while and then dried up. But the day was cold, nevertheless, +and a sharp wind now began to search for the weakest point of every one. +Ned, Obed and the Panther were up betimes, but some of the rescued still +slept. + +Ned, at the suggestion of the Panther, mounted one of the horses and +rode out on the plain a half mile to the south. Those keen eyes of his +were becoming all the keener from life upon the vast rolling plains. But +no matter how he searched the horizon he saw only a lonesome cactus or +two shivering in the wind. When he returned with his report the +redoubtable Panther said: + +"Then we'll just take our time. The pursuit's goin' to come, but since +it ain't in sight we'll brace up these new friends of ours with hot +coffee an' vittles. I guess we've got coffee enough left for all." + +They lighted the fire anew and soon pleasant odors arose. The rescued +prisoners ate and drank hungrily, and Mr. Roylston was able to limp a +little. Now that Ned saw him in the full daylight he understood more +clearly than ever that this was indeed a most uncommon man. The brow and +eyes belonged to one who thought, planned and organized. He spoke little +and made no complaint, but when he looked at Ned he said: + +"You are young, my boy, to live among such dangers. Why do you not go +north into the states where life is safe?" + +"There are others as young as I, or younger, who have fought or will +fight for Texas," said Ned. "I belong here and I've got powerful +friends. Two of them have saved my life more than once and are likely to +do so again." + +He nodded toward Obed and the Panther, who were too far away to hear. +Roylston smiled. The two men were in singular contrast, but each was +striking in his way. Obed, of great height and very thin, but +exceedingly strong, was like a steel lath. The Panther, huge in every +aspect, reminded one, in his size and strength, of a buffalo bull. + +"They are uncommon men, no doubt," said Roylston. "And you expect to +remain with them?" + +"I'd never leave them while this war lasts! Not under any +circumstances!" + +Ned spoke with great energy, and again Roylston smiled, but he said no +more. + +"It's time to start," said the Panther. + +Roylston again mounted one of the horses. Ned saw that it hurt his pride +to have to ride, but he saw also that he would not complain when +complaints availed nothing. He felt an increasing interest in a man who +seemed to have perfect command over himself. + +The boy, Will Allen, was fresh and strong again. His youthful frame had +recovered completely from all hardships, and now that he was free, +armed, and in the company of true friends his face glowed with pleasure +and enthusiasm. He was tall and strong, and now he carried a good rifle +with a pistol also in his belt. He and Ned walked side by side, and each +rejoiced in the companionship of one of his own age. + +"How long have you been with them?" asked Will, looking at Obed and the +Panther. + +"I was first with Obed away down in Mexico. We were prisoners together +in the submarine dungeon of San Juan de Ulua. I'd never have escaped +without him. And I'd never have escaped a lot more things without him, +either. Then we met the Panther. He's the greatest frontiersman in all +the southwest, and we three somehow have become hooked together." + +Will looked at Ned a little enviously. + +"What comrades you three must be!" he said. "I have nobody." + +"Are you going to fight for Texas?" + +"I count on doing so." + +"Then why don't you join us, and we three will turn into four?" + +Will looked at Ned, and his eyes glistened. + +"Do you mean that?" he asked. + +"Do I mean it? I think I do. Ho, there, Panther! You and Obed, just a +minute or two!" + +The two turned back. Ned and Will were walking at the rear of the little +company. + +"I've asked Will to be one of us," said Ned, "to join our band and to +share our fortunes, good or bad." + +"Can he make all the signs, an' has he rid the goat?" asked the Panther +solemnly. + +"Does he hereby swear never to tell any secret of ours to Mexican or +Indian?" asked Obed. "Does he swear to obey all our laws and by-laws +wherever he may be, and whenever he is put to the test?" + +"He swears to everything," replied Ned, "and I know that he is the kind +to make a trusty comrade to the death." + +"Then you are declared this minute a member of our company in good +standin'," said the Panther to Will, "an' with this grip I give you +welcome." + +He crushed the boy's hand in a mighty grasp that made him wince, and +Obed followed with one that was almost equally severe. But the boy did +not mind the physical pain. Instead, his soul was uplifted. He was now +the chosen comrade of these three paladins, and he was no longer alone +in the world. But he merely said: + +"I'll try to show myself worthy." + +They were compelled to stop at noon for rather a long rest, as walking +was tiresome. Fields, who was a good scout, went back and looked for +pursuers, but announced that he saw none, and, after an hour, they +started again. + +"I'm thinkin'," said the Panther, "that Urrea has already organized the +pursuit. Mebbe he has pow'ful glasses an' kin see us when we can't see +him. He may mean to attack to-night. It's a lucky thing for us that we +can find timber now an' then." + +"It's likely that you're right about to-night," said Obed, "but there's +no night so dark that it doesn't have its silver lining. I guess +everybody in this little crowd is a good shot, unless maybe it's Mr. +Roylston, and as we have about three guns apiece we can make it mighty +hot for any force that Urrea may bring against us." + +They began now to search for timber, looking especially for some clump +of trees that also inclosed water. They did not anticipate any great +difficulty in regard to the water, as the winter season and the heavy +rains had filled the dry creek beds, and had sent torrents down the +arroyos. Before dark they found a stream about a foot deep running over +sand between banks seven or eight feet high toward the Rio Grande. A +mile further on a small grove of myrtle oaks and pecans grew on its left +bank, and there they made their camp. + +Feeling that they must rely upon their valor and watchfulness, and not +upon secrecy, they built a fire, and ate a good supper. Then they put +out the fire and half of them remained on guard, the other half going to +sleep, except Roylston, who sat with his back to a tree, his injured +legs resting upon a bed of leaves which the boys had raked up for him. +He had been riding Old Jack and the horse had seemed to take to him, but +after the stop Ned himself had looked after his mount. + +The boy allowed Old Jack to graze a while, and then he tethered him in +the thickest of the woods just behind the sleeping man. He wished the +horse to be as safe as possible in case bullets should be flying, and he +could find no better place for him. But before going he stroked his nose +and whispered in his ear. + +"Good Old Jack! Brave fellow!" he said. "We are going to have troublous +times, you and I, along with the others, but I think we are going to +ride through them safely." + +The horse whinnied ever so softly, and nuzzled Ned's arm. The +understanding between them was complete. Then Ned left him, intending to +take a position by the bank of the creek as he was on the early watch. +On the way he passed Roylston, who regarded him attentively. + +"I judge that your leader, Mr. Palmer, whom you generally call the +Panther, is expecting an attack," said the merchant. + +"He's the kind of man who tries to provide for everything," replied Ned. + +"Of course, then," said Roylston, "he provides for the creek bed. The +Mexican skirmishers can come up it and yet be protected by its banks." + +"That is so," said the Panther, who had approached as he was speaking. +"It's the one place that we've got to watch most, an' Ned an' me are +goin' to sit there on the banks, always lookin'. I see that you've got +the eye of a general, Mr. Roylston." + +The merchant smiled. + +"I'm afraid I don't count for much in battle," he said, "and least of +all hampered as I am now. But if the worst comes to the worst I can sit +here with my back to this tree and shoot. If you will kindly give me a +rifle and ammunition I shall be ready for the emergency." + +"But it is your time to sleep, Mr. Roylston," said the Panther. + +"I don't think I can sleep, and as I cannot I might as well be of use." + +The Panther brought him the rifle, powder and bullets, and Roylston, +leaning against the tree, rifle across his knees, watched with bright +eyes. Sentinels were placed at the edge of the grove, but the Panther +and Ned, as arranged, were on the high bank overlooking the bed of the +creek. Now and then they walked back and forth, meeting at intervals, +but most of the time each kept to his own particular part of the ground. + +Ned found an oak, blown down on the bank by some hurricane, and as there +was a comfortable seat on a bough with the trunk as a rest for his back +he remained there a long time. But his ease did not cause him to relax +his vigilance. He was looking toward the north, and he could see two +hundred yards or more up the creek bed to a point where it curved. The +bed itself was about thirty feet wide, although the water did not have a +width of more than ten feet. + +Everything was now quite dry, as the wind had been blowing all day. But +the breeze had died with the night, and the camp was so still that Ned +could hear the faint trickle of the water over the sand. It was a fair +night, with a cold moon and cold stars looking down. The air was full +of chill, and Ned began to walk up and down again in order to keep warm. +He noticed Roylston still sitting with eyes wide open and the rifle +across his lap. + +As Ned came near in his walk the merchant turned his bright eyes upon +him. + +"I hear," he said, "that you have seen Santa Anna." + +"More than once. Several times when I was a prisoner in Mexico, and +again when I was recaptured." + +"What do you think of him?" + +The gaze of the bright eyes fixed upon Ned became intense and +concentrated. + +"A great man! A wickedly great man!" + +Roylston turned his look away, and interlaced his fingers thoughtfully. + +"A good description, I think," he said. "You have chosen your words +well. A singular compound is this Mexican, a mixture of greatness, +vanity and evil. I may talk to you more of him some day. But I tell you +now that I am particularly desirous of not being carried a prisoner to +him." + +He lifted the rifle, put its stock to his shoulder, and drew a bead. + +"I think I could hit at forty or fifty yards in this good moonlight," he +said. + +He replaced the rifle across his knees and sighed. Ned was curious, but +he would not ask questions, and he walked back to his old position by +the bank. Here he made himself easy, and kept his eyes on the deep +trench that had been cut by the stream. The shadows were dark against +the bank, but it seemed to him that they were darker than they had been +before. + +Ned's blood turned a little colder, and his scalp tingled. He was +startled but not afraid. He looked intently, and saw moving figures in +the river bed, keeping close against the bank. He could not see faces, +he could not even discern a clear outline of the figures, but he had no +doubt that these were Urrea's Mexicans. He waited only a moment longer +to assure himself that the dark moving line was fact and not fancy. +Then, aiming his rifle at the foremost shape, he fired. While the echo +of the sharp crack was yet speeding across the plain he cried: + +"Up, men! up! Urrea is here!" + +A volley came from the creek bed, but in an instant the Panther, Obed, +Will and Fields were by Ned's side. + +"Down on your faces," cried the Panther, "an' pot 'em as they run! So +they thought to go aroun' the grove, come down from the north an' +surprise us this way! Give it to 'em, boys!" + +The rifles flashed and the dark line in the bed of the creek now broke +into a huddle of flying forms. Three fell, but the rest ran, splashing +through the sand and water, until they turned the curve and were +protected from the deadly bullets. Then the Panther, calling to the +others, rushed to the other side of the grove, where a second attack, +led by Urrea in person, had been begun. Here men on horseback charged +directly at the wood, but they were met by a fire which emptied more +than one saddle. + +Much of the charge was a blur to Ned, a medley of fire and smoke, of +beating hoofs and of cries. 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. One +of the Mexicans fell there, but the other escaped in the darkness. + +When the second charge was driven back and the horses were quieted the +Panther and Obed threshed up the woods, lest some Mexican musketeer +should lie hidden there. + +Nobody slept any more that night. Ned, Will and the Panther kept a sharp +watch upon the bed of the creek, the moon and stars fortunately aiding +them. But the Mexicans did not venture again by that perilous road, +although toward morning they opened a scattering fire from the plain, +many of their bullets whistling at random among the trees and thickets. +Some of the Texans, crawling to the edge of the wood, replied, but they +seemed to have little chance for a good shot, as the Mexicans lay behind +a swell. The besiegers grew tired after a while and silence came again. + +Three of the Texans had suffered slight wounds, but the Panther and +Fields bound them up skillfully. It was still light enough for these +tasks. Fields was particularly jubilant over their success, as he had a +right to be. The day before he could look forward only to his own +execution. Now he was free and victorious. Exultantly he hummed: + + You've heard, I s'pose, of New Orleans, + It's famed for youth and beauty; + There are girls of every hue, it seems, + From snowy white to sooty. + Now Packenham has made his brags, + If he that day was lucky, + He'd have the girls and cotton bags + In spite of Old Kentucky. + + But Jackson, he was wide awake, + And was not scared at trifles, + For well he knew Kentucky's boys, + With their death-dealing rifles. + He led them down to cypress swamp, + The ground was low and mucky; + There stood John Bull in martial pomp, + And here stood old Kentucky. + +"Pretty good song, that of yours," said the Panther approvingly. "Where +did you get it?" + +"From my father," replied Fields. "He's a Kentuckian, an' he fit at New +Orleans. He was always hummin' that song, an' it come back to me after +we drove off the Mexicans. Struck me that it was right timely." + +Ned and Will, on their own initiative, had been drawing all the fallen +logs that they could find and move to the edge of the wood, and having +finished the task they came back to the bed of the creek. Roylston, the +rifle across his knees, was sitting with his eyes closed, but he opened +them as they approached. They were uncommonly large and bright eyes, and +they expressed pleasure. + +"It gratifies me to see that neither of you is hurt," he said. "This has +been a strange night for two who are as young as you are. And it is a +strange night for me, too. I never before thought that I should be +firing at any one with intent to kill. But events are often too powerful +for us." + +He closed his eyes again. + +"I am going to sleep a little, if I can," he said. + +But Ned and Will could not sleep. They went to Ned's old position at the +edge of the creek bed, and together watched the opening dawn. They saw +the bright sun rise over the great plains, and the dew sparkle for a +little while on the brown grass. The day was cold, but apparently it had +come with peace. They saw nothing on the plain, although they had no +doubt that the Mexicans were waiting just beyond the first swell. But +Ned and Will discerned three dark objects lying on the sand up the bed +of the creek, and they knew that they were the men who had fallen in the +first rush. Ned was glad that he could not see their faces. + +At the suggestion of the Panther they lighted fires and had warm food +and coffee again, thus putting heart into all the defenders. Then the +Panther chose Ned for a little scouting work on horseback. Ned found Old +Jack seeking blades of grass within the limits allowed by his lariat. +But when the horse saw his master he stretched out his head and neighed. + +"I think I understand you," said Ned. "Not enough food and no water. +Well, I'll see that you get both later, but just now we're going on a +little excursion." + +The Panther and Ned rode boldly out of the trees, and advanced a short +distance upon the plain. Two or three shots were fired from a point +behind the first swell, but the bullets fell far short. + +"I counted on that," said the Panther. "If a Mexican has a gun it's +mighty hard for him to keep from firing it. All we wanted to do was to +uncover their position an' we've done it. We'll go back now, an' wait +fur them to make the first move." + +But they did not go just yet. A man on horseback waving a large white +handkerchief appeared on the crest of the swell and rode toward them. It +was Urrea. + +"He knows that he can trust us, while we don't know that we can trust +him," said the Panther, "so we'll just wait here an' see what he has to +say." + +Urrea, looking fresh and spirited, came on with confidence and saluted +in a light easy fashion. The two Americans did not return the salute, +but waited gravely. + +"We can be polite, even if we are enemies," said Urrea, "so I say good +morning to you both, former friends of mine." + +"I have no friendship with spies and traitors," growled the Panther. + +"I serve my country in the way I think best," said Urrea, "and you must +remember that in our view you two are rebels and traitors." + +"We don't stab in the back," said the Panther. + +Urrea flushed through his swarthy skin. + +"We will not argue the point any further," he said, "but come at once to +the business before us. First, I will admit several things. Your rescue +of the prisoners was very clever. Also you beat us off last night, but I +now have a hundred men with me and we have plenty of arms. We are bound +to take you sooner or later." + +"Then why talk to us about it?" said the Panther. + +"Because I wish to save bloodshed." + +"Wa'al, then, what do you have to say?" + +"Give us the man, Roylston, and the rest of you can go free." + +"Why are you so anxious to have Roylston?" + +Ned eagerly awaited the answer. It was obvious that Roylston had rather +minimized his own importance. Urrea flicked the mane of his mustang with +a small whip and replied: + +"Our President and General, the illustrious Santa Anna, is extremely +anxious to see him. Secrets of state are not for me. I merely seek to do +my work." + +"Then you take this from me," said the Panther, a blunt frontiersman, +"my comrades an' me ain't buyin' our lives at the price of nobody +else's." + +"You feel that way about it, do you?" + +"That's just the way we feel, and I want to say, too, that I wouldn't +take the word of either you or your Santa Anna. If we was to give up Mr. +Roylston--which we don't dream of doin'--you'd be after us as hot an' +strong as ever." + +Urrea's swarthy cheeks flushed again. + +"I shall not notice your insults," he said. "They are beneath me. I am a +Mexican officer and gentleman, and you are mere riders of the plains." + +"All the same," said the Panther grimly, "if you are goin' to talk you +have to talk with us." + +"That is true," said Urrea lightly, having regained complete control of +his temper. "In war one cannot choose his enemies. I make you the +proposition once more. Give us Roylston and go. If you do not accept we +shall nevertheless take him and all of you who do not fall first. +Remember that you are rebels and traitors and that you will surely be +shot or hanged." + +"I don't remember any of them things," said the Panther grimly. "What I +do remember is that we are Texans fightin' fur our rights. To hang a man +you've first got to catch him, an' to shoot him you've first got to hit +him. An' since things are to be remembered, remember that what you are +tryin' to do to us we may first do to you. An' with that I reckon we'll +bid you good day, Mr. Urrea." + +Urrea bowed, but said nothing. He rode back toward his men, and Ned and +the Panther returned to the grove. Roylston was much better that morning +and he was able to stand, leaning against a tree. + +"May I ask the result of your conference," he said. + +"There ain't no secret about it," replied the Panther, "but them +Mexicans seem to be almighty fond of you, Mr. Roylston." + +"In what way did they show it?" + +"Urrea said that all of us could go if we would give up you." + +"And your answer?" + +The Panther leaned forward a little on his horse. + +"You know something about the Texans, don't you, Mr. Roylston?" + +"I have had much opportunity to observe and study them." + +"Well, they've got plenty of faults, but you haven't heard of them +buyin' their lives at the price of a comrade's, have you?" + +"I have not, but I wish to say, Mr. Palmer, that I'm sorry you returned +this answer. I should gladly take my chances if the rest of you could +go." + +"We'd never think of it," said the Panther. "Besides, them Mexicans +wouldn't keep their word. They're goin' to besiege us here, hopin' maybe +that starvation or thirst will make us give you up. Now the first thing +for us to do is to get water for the horses." + +This presented a problem, as the horses could not go down to the creek, +owing to the steep high banks, but the Texans soon solved it. The cliff +was soft and they quickly cut a smooth sloping path with their knives +and hatchets. Old Jack was the first to walk down it and Ned led him. +The horse hung back a little, but Ned patted his head and talked to him +as a friend and equal. Under such persuasion Old Jack finally made the +venture, and when he landed safely at the bottom he drank eagerly. Then +the other two horses followed. Meanwhile two riflemen kept a keen watch +up and down the creek bed for lurking Mexican sharpshooters. + +But the watering of the horses was finished without incident, and they +were tethered once more in the thicket. Fields and another man kept a +watch upon the plain, and the rest conferred under the trees. The +Panther announced that by a great reduction of rations the food could be +made to last two days longer. It was not a cheerful statement, as the +Mexicans must know the scanty nature of their supplies, and would wait +with all the patience of Indians. + +"All things, including starvation, come to him who waits long enough," +said Obed White soberly. + +"We'll jest set the day through," said the Panther, "an' see what turns +up." + +But the day was quite peaceful. It was warmer than usual and bright with +sunshine. The Mexicans appeared on some of the knolls, seemingly near in +the thin clear air, but far enough away to be out of rifle shot, and +began to play cards or loll on their serapes. Several went to sleep. + +"They mean to show us that they have all the time in the world," said +Ned to Will, "and that they are willing to wait until we fall like ripe +apples into their hands." + +"Do you think they will get us again?" asked Will anxiously. + +"I don't. We've got food for two days and I believe that something will +happen in our favor within that time. Do you notice, Will, that it's +beginning to cloud up again? In winter you can't depend upon bright +sunshine to last always. I think we're going to have a dark night and +it's given me an idea." + +"What is it?" + +"I won't tell you, because it may amount to nothing. It all depends upon +what kind of night we have." + +The sun did not return. The clouds banked up more heavily, and in the +afternoon Ned went to the Panther. They talked together earnestly, +looking frequently at the skies, and the faces of both expressed +satisfaction. Then they entered the bed of the creek and examined it +critically. Will was watching them. When the two separated and Ned came +toward him, he said: + +"I can guess your idea now. We mean to escape to-night up the bed of the +creek." + +Ned nodded. + +"Your first guess is good," he said. "If the promise of a dark night +keeps up we're going to try." + +The promise was fulfilled. The Mexicans made no hostile movement +throughout the afternoon, but they maintained a rigid watch. + +When the sun had set and the thick night had come down the Panther told +of the daring enterprise they were about to undertake, and all approved. +By nine o'clock the darkness was complete, and the little band gathered +at the point where the path was cut down into the bed of the creek. It +was likely that Mexicans were on all sides of the grove, but the Panther +did not believe that any of them, owing to bitter experience, would +enter the cut made by the stream. But, as leader, he insisted upon the +least possible noise. The greatest difficulty would be with the horses. +Ned, at the head of Old Jack, led the way. + +Old Jack made the descent without slipping and in a few minutes the +entire force stood upon the sand. They had made no sound that any one +could have heard thirty yards away. + +"Now Mr. Roylston," whispered the Panther to the merchant, "you get on +Ned's horse an' we'll be off." + +Roylston sighed. It hurt his pride that he should be a burden, but he +was a man of few words, and he mounted in silence. Then they moved +slowly over the soft sand. They had loaded the extra rifles and muskets +on the other two horses, but every man remained thoroughly armed and +ready on the instant for any emergency. + +The Panther and Obed led. Just behind them came Ned and Will. They went +very slowly in order to keep the horses' feet from making any sound that +listening Mexican sentinels might hear. They were fortunate in the sand, +which was fine and soundless like a carpet. Ned thought that the +Mexicans would not make any attempt upon the grove until late at night, +and then only with skirmishers and snipers. Or they might not make any +attempt at all, content with their cordon. + +But it was thrilling work as they crept along on the soft sand in the +darkness and between the high banks. 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. Their leader had certainly been wise in +deciding to starve them out. Meanwhile the little procession in the bed +of the creek increased its speed slightly. + +The Texans were now a full four hundred yards from the grove, and their +confidence was rising. + +"If they don't discover our absence until morning," whispered Ned to +Will, "we'll surely get away." + +"Then I hope they won't discover it until then," said Will fervently. "I +don't want to die in battle just now, nor do I want to be executed in +Mexico for a rebel or for anything else." + +They were now a full mile from the grove and the banks of the creek were +decreasing in height. They did not rise anywhere more than three or four +feet. But the water increased in depth and the margin of sand was +narrower. The Panther called a halt and they listened. They heard no +sound but the faint moaning of the wind among the dips and swells, and +the long lone howl of a lonesome coyote. + +"We've slipped through 'em! By the great horn spoon, we've slipped +through 'em!" said the Panther exultantly. "Now, boys, we'll take to the +water here to throw 'em off our track, when they try to follow it in the +mornin'." + +The creek was now about three feet in depth and flowing slowly like most +streams in that region, but over a bed of hard sand, where the trace of +a footstep would quickly vanish. + +"The water is likely to be cold," said the Panther, "an' if any fellow +is afraid of it he can stay behind and consort with the Mexicans who +don't care much for water." + +"Lead on, Macduff," said Obed, "and there's nobody who will cry 'hold, +enough.'" + +The Panther waded directly into the middle of the stream, and all the +others followed. The horses, splashing the water, made some noise, but +they were not so careful in that particular now since they had put a +mile between themselves and the grove. In fact, the Panther urged them +to greater speed, careless of the sounds, and they kept in the water for +a full two miles further. Then they quit the stream at a point where the +soil seemed least likely to leave traces of their footsteps, and stood +for a little while upon the prairie, resting and shivering. Then they +started at a rapid pace across the country, pushing for the Rio Grande +until noon. Then Fields stalked and shot an antelope, with which they +renewed their supply of food. In the afternoon it rained heavily, but by +dark they reached the Rio Grande, across which they made a dangerous +passage, as the waters had risen, and stood once more on the soil of +Texas. + +"Thank God!" said Will. + +"Thank God!" repeated Ned. + +Then they looked for shelter, which all felt they must have. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE CABIN IN THE WOODS + + +It proved a difficult matter to find shelter. All the members of the +little group were wet and cold, and a bitter wind with snow began to +whistle once more across the plain. But every one strove to be cheerful +and the relief that their escape had brought was still a tonic to their +spirits. Yet they were not without comment upon their condition. + +"I've seen hard winters in Maine," said Obed White, "but there you were +ready for them. Here it tricks you with warm sunshine and then with +snow. You suffer from surprise." + +"We've got to find a cabin," said the Panther. + +"Why not make it a whole city with a fine big hotel right in the center +of it?" said Obed. "Seems to me there's about as much chance of one as +the other." + +"No, there ain't," said the Panther. "There ain't no town, but there are +huts. I've rid over this country for twenty year an' I know somethin' +about it. There are four or five settlers' cabins in the valleys of the +creeks runnin' down to the Rio Grande. I had a mighty good dinner at one +of 'em once. They're more'n likely to be abandoned now owin' to the war +an' their exposed situation, but if the roofs haven't fell in any of 'em +is good enough for us." + +"Then you lead on," said Obed. "The quicker we get there the happier all +of us will be." + +"I may not lead straight, but I'll get you there," replied the Panther +confidently. + +Roylston, at his own urgent insistence, dismounted and walked a little +while. When he betook himself again to the back of Old Jack he spoke +with quiet confidence. + +"I'm regaining my strength rapidly," he said. "In a week or two I shall +be as good as I ever was. Meanwhile my debt to you, already great, is +accumulating." + +The Panther laughed. + +"You don't owe us nothin'," he said. "Why, on this frontier it's one +man's business to help another out of a scrape. If we didn't do that we +couldn't live." + +"Nevertheless, I shall try to pay it," said Roylston, in significant +tones. + +"For the moment we'll think of that hut we're lookin' for," said the +Panther. + +"It will be more than a hut," said Will, who was of a singularly +cheerful nature. "I can see it now. It will be a gorgeous palace. Its +name will be the Inn of the Panther. Menials in gorgeous livery will +show us to our chambers, one for every man, where we will sleep between +white sheets of the finest linen." + +"I wonder if they will let us take our rifles to bed with us," said Ned, +"because in this country I don't feel that I can part with mine, even +for a moment." + +"That is a mere detail which we will discuss with our host," said Obed. +"Perhaps, after you have eaten of the chicken and drunk of the wine at +this glorious Inn of the Panther, you will not be so particular about +the company of your rifle, Mr. Fulton." + +The Panther uttered a cry of joy. + +"I've got my b'arin's exactly now," he said. "It ain't more'n four miles +to a cabin that I know of, an' if raiders haven't smashed it it'll give +us all the shelter we want." + +"Then lead us swiftly," said Obed. "There's no sunset or anything to +give me mystical lore, but the coming of that cabin casts its shadow +before, or at least I want it to do it." + +The Panther's announcement brought new courage to every one and they +quickened their lagging footsteps. He led toward a dark line of timber +which now began to show through the driving snow, and when they passed +among the trees he announced once more and with exultation: + +"Only a mile farther, boys, an' we'll be where the cabin stands, or +stood. Don't git your feelin's too high, 'cause it may have been wiped +off the face of the earth." + +A little later he uttered another cry, and this was the most exultant of +all. + +"There she is," he said, pointing ahead. "She ain't been wiped away by +nobody or nothin'. Don't you see her, that big, stout cabin ahead?" + +"I do," said young Allen joyously, "and it's the Inn of the Panther as +sure as you live." + +"But I don't see any smoke coming out of the chimney," said Ned, "and +there are no gorgeous menials standing on the doorstep waiting for us." + +"It's been abandoned a long time," said the Panther. "I can tell that by +its looks, but I'm thinkin' that it's good enough fur us an' mighty +welcome. An' there's a shed behind the house that'll do for the horses. +Boys, we're travelin' in tall luck." + +The cabin, a large one, built of logs and adobe, was certainly a +consoling sight. They had almost reached the limit of physical +endurance, but they broke into a run to reach it. The Panther and Ned +were the first to push open a heavy swinging door, and they entered side +by side. It was dry within. The solid board roof did not seem to be +damaged at all, and the floor of hard, packed earth was as dry as a bone +also. At one end were a wide stone fireplace, cold long since, and a +good chimney of mud and sticks. There were two windows, closed with +heavy clapboard shutters. + +There was no furniture in the cabin except two rough wooden benches. +Evidently the original owners had prepared well for their flight, but it +was likely that no one had come since. The lonely place among the trees +had passed unobserved by raiders. The shed behind the cabin was also in +good condition, and they tethered there the horses, which were glad +enough to escape from the bitter wind and driving snow. + +The whole party gathered in the cabin, and as they no longer feared +pursuit it was agreed unanimously that they must have luxury. In this +case a fire meant the greatest of all luxuries. + +They gathered an abundance of fallen wood, knocked the snow from it and +heaped it on either side of the fireplace. They cut with infinite +difficulty dry shavings from the inside of the logs in the wall of the +house, and after a full hour of hard work lighted a blaze with flint and +steel. The rest was easy, and soon they had a roaring fire. They +fastened the door with the wooden bar which stood in its place and let +the windows remain shut. Although there was a lack of air, they did not +yet feel it, and gave themselves up to the luxury of the glowing heat. + +They took off their clothes and held them before the fire. When they +were dry and warm they put them on again and felt like new beings. +Strips of the antelope were fried on the ends of ramrods, and they ate +plentifully. All the chill was driven from their bodies, and in its +place came a deep pervading sense of comfort. The bitter wind yet howled +without and they heard the snow driven against the door and windows. +The sound heightened their feeling of luxury. They were like a troop of +boys now, all of them--except Roylston. He sat on one of the piles of +wood and his eyes gleamed as the others talked. + +"I vote that we enlarge the name of our inn," said Allen. "Since our +leader has black hair and black eyes, let's call it the Inn of the Black +Panther. All in favor of that motion say 'Aye.'" + +"Aye!" they roared. + +"All against it say 'no.'" + +Silence. + +"The Inn of the Black Panther it is," said Will, "an' it is the most +welcome inn that ever housed me." + +The Panther smiled benevolently. + +"I don't blame you boys for havin' a little fun," he said. "It does feel +good to be here after all that we've been through." + +The joy of the Texans was irrepressible. Fields began to pat and three +or four of them danced up and down the earthen floor of the cabin. Will +watched with dancing eyes. Ned, more sober, sat by his side. + +However, the highest spirits must grow calm at last, and gradually the +singing and dancing ceased. It had grown quite close in the cabin now, +and one of the window shutters was thrown open, permitting a rush of +cool, fresh air that was very welcome. Ned looked out. The wind was +still whistling and moaning, and the snow, like a white veil, hid the +trees. + +The men one by one went to sleep on the floor. Obed and Fields kept +watch at the window during the first half of the night, and the Panther +and Ned relieved them for the second half. They heard nothing but the +wind, and saw nothing but the snow. Day came with a hidden sun, and the +fine snow still driven by the wind, but the Panther, a good judge of +weather, predicted a cessation of the snow within an hour. + +The men awoke and rose slowly from the floor. They were somewhat stiff, +but no one had been overcome, and after a little stretching of the +muscles all the soreness disappeared. The horses were within the shed, +unharmed and warm, but hungry. They relighted the fire and broiled more +strips of the antelope, but they saw that little would be left. The +Panther turned to Roylston, who inspired respect in them all. + +"Now, Mr. Roylston," he said, "we've got to agree upon some course of +action an' we've got to put it to ourselves squar'ly. I take it that all +of us want to serve Texas in one way or another, but we've got only +three horses, we're about out of food, an' we're a long distance from +the main Texas settlements. It ain't any use fur us to start to rippin' +an' t'arin' unless we've got somethin' to rip an' t'ar with." + +"Good words," said Obed White. "A speech in time saves errors nine." + +"I am glad you have put the question, Mr. Palmer," said Roylston. "Our +affairs have come to a crisis, and we must consider. I, too, wish to +help Texas, but I can help it more by other ways than battle." + +It did not occur to any of them to doubt him. He had already established +over them the mental ascendency that comes from a great mind used to +dealing with great affairs. + +"But we are practically dismounted," he continued. "It is winter and we +do not know what would happen to us if we undertook to roam over the +prairies as we are. On the other hand, we have an abundance of arms and +ammunition and a large and well-built cabin. I suggest that we supply +ourselves with food, and stay here until we can acquire suitable mounts. +We may also contrive to keep a watch upon any Mexican armies that may be +marching north. I perhaps have more reason than any of you for hastening +away, but I can spend the time profitably in regaining the use of my +limbs." + +"Your little talk sounds mighty good to me," said the Panther. "In fact, +I don't see anything else to do. This cabin must have been built an' +left here 'speshully fur us. We know, too, that the Texans have all gone +home, thinkin' that the war is over, while we know different an' mebbe +we can do more good here than anywhere else. What do you say, boys? Do +we stay?" + +"We stay," replied all together. + +They went to work at once fitting up their house. More firewood was +brought in. Fortunately the men had been provided with hatchets, in the +frontier style, which their rescuers had not neglected to bring away, +and they fixed wooden hooks in the walls for their extra arms and +clothing. A half dozen scraped away a large area of the thin snow and +enabled the horses to find grass. A fine spring two hundred yards away +furnished a supply of water. + +After the horses had eaten Obed, the Panther and Ned rode away in search +of game, leaving Mr. Roylston in command at the cabin. + +The snow was no longer falling, and that which lay on the ground was +melting rapidly. + +"I know this country," said the Panther, "an' we've got four chances for +game. It may be buffalo, it may be deer, it may be antelope, and it may +be wild turkeys. I think it most likely that we'll find buffalo. We're +so fur west of the main settlements that they're apt to hang 'roun' +here in the winter in the creek bottoms, an' if it snows they'll take to +the timber fur shelter." + +"And it has snowed," said Ned. + +"Jest so, an' that bein' the case we'll search the timber. Of course big +herds couldn't crowd in thar, but in this part of the country we +gen'rally find the buffalo scattered in little bands." + +They found patches of forest, generally dwarfed in character, and looked +diligently for the great game. Once a deer sprang out of a thicket, but +sped away so fast they did not get a chance for a shot. At length Obed +saw large footprints in the thinning snow, and called the Panther's +attention to them. The big man examined the traces critically. + +"Not many hours old," he said. "I'm thinkin' that we'll have buffalo +steak fur supper. We'll scout all along this timber. What we want is a +young cow. Their meat is not tough." + +They rode through the timber for about two hours, when Ned caught sight +of moving figures on the far side of a thicket. He could just see the +backs of large animals, and he knew that there were their buffalo. He +pointed them out to the Panther, who nodded. + +"We'll ride 'roun' the thicket as gently as possible," he said, "an' +then open fire. Remember, we want a tender young cow, two of 'em if we +can get 'em, an' don't fool with the bulls." + +Ned's heart throbbed as Old Jack bore him around the thicket. He had +fought with men, but he was not yet a buffalo hunter. Just as they +turned the flank of the bushes a huge buffalo bull, catching their odor, +raised his head and uttered a snort. The Panther promptly fired at a +young cow just beyond him. The big bull, either frightened or angry, +leaped head down at Old Jack. The horse was without experience with +buffaloes, but he knew that those sharp horns meant no good to him, and +he sprang aside with so much agility that Ned was almost unseated. + +The big bull rushed on, and Ned, who had retained his hold upon his +rifle, was tempted to take a shot at him for revenge, but, remembering +the Panther's injunction, he controlled the impulse and fired at a young +cow. + +When the noise and confusion were over and the surviving buffaloes had +lumbered away, they found that they had slain two of the young cows and +that they had an ample supply of meat. + +"Ned," said the Panther, "you know how to go back to the cabin, don't +you?" + +"I can go straight as an arrow." + +"Then ride your own horse, lead the other two an' bring two men. We'll +need 'em with the work here." + +The Panther and Obed were already at work skinning the cows. Ned sprang +upon Old Jack, and rode away at a trot, leading the other two horses by +their lariats. The snow was gone now and the breeze was almost balmy. +Ned felt that great rebound of the spirits of which the young are so +capable. They had outwitted Urrea, they had taken his prisoners from +him, and then had escaped across the Rio Grande. They had found shelter +and now they had obtained a food supply. They were all good comrades +together, and what more was to be asked? + +He whistled as he rode along, but when he was half way back to the cabin +he noticed something in a large tree that caused him to stop. He saw the +outlines of great bronze birds, and he knew that they were wild turkeys. +Wild turkeys would make a fine addition to their larder, and, halting +Old Jack, he shot from his back, taking careful aim at the largest of +the turkeys. The huge bird fell, and as the others flew away Ned was +lucky enough to bring down a second with a pistol shot. + +His trophies were indeed worth taking, and tying their legs together +with a withe he hung them across his saddle bow. He calculated that the +two together weighed nearly sixty pounds, and he rode triumphantly when +he came in sight of the cabin. + +Will saw him first and gave a shout that drew the other men. + +"What luck?" hailed young Allen. + +"Not much," replied Ned, "but I did get these sparrows." + +He lifted the two great turkeys from his saddle and tossed them to Will. +The boy caught them, but he was borne to his knees by their weight. The +men looked at them and uttered approving words. + +"What did you do with the Panther and Obed?" asked Fields. + +"The last I saw of them they had been dismounted and were being chased +over the plain by two big bull buffaloes. The horns of the buffaloes +were then not more than a foot from the seats of their trousers. So I +caught their horses, and I have brought them back to camp." + +"I take it," said Fields, "that you've had good luck." + +"We have had the finest of luck," replied Ned. "We ran into a group of +fifteen or twenty buffaloes, and we brought down two fine, young cows. I +came back for two more men to help with them, and on my way I shot these +turkeys." + +Fields and another man named Carter returned with Ned. Young Allen was +extremely anxious to go, but the others were chosen on account of their +experience with the work. They found that Obed and the Panther had +already done the most of it, and when it was all finished Fields and +Carter started back with the three horses, heavily laden. As the night +promised to be mild, and the snow was gone, Ned, Obed and the Panther +remained in the grove with the rest of their food supply. + +They also wished to preserve the two buffalo robes, and they staked them +out upon the ground, scraping them clean of flesh with their knives. +Then they lighted a fire and cooked as much of the tender meat as they +wished. By this time it was dark and they were quite ready to rest. They +put out the fire and raked up the beds of leaves on which they would +spread their blankets. But first they enjoyed the relaxation of the +nerves and the easy talk that come after a day's work well done. + +"It certainly has been a fine day for us," said Obed. "Sometimes I like +to go through the bad days, because it makes the good days that follow +all the better. Yesterday we were wandering around in the snow, and we +had nothing, to-day we have a magnificent city home, that is to say, the +cabin, and a beautiful country place, that is to say, this grove. I can +add, too, that our nights in our country place are spent to the +accompaniment of music. Listen to that beautiful song, won't you?" + +A long, whining howl rose, sank and died. After an interval they heard +its exact duplicate and the Panther remarked tersely: + +"Wolves. Mighty hungry, too. They've smelled our buffalo meat and they +want it. Guess from their big voices that they're timber wolves and not +coyotes." + +Ned knew that the timber wolf was a much larger and fiercer animal than +his prairie brother, and he did not altogether like this whining sound +which now rose and died for the third time. + +"Must be a dozen or so," said the Panther, noticing the increasing +volume of sound. "We'll light the fire again. Nothing is smarter than a +wolf, an' I don't want one of those hulkin' brutes to slip up, seize a +fine piece of buffalo and dash away with it. But fire will hold 'em. How +a wolf does dread it! The little red flame is like a knife in his +heart." + +They lighted four small fires, making a rude ring which inclosed their +leafy beds and the buffalo skins and meat. Before they finished the task +they saw slim dusky figures among the trees and red eyes glaring at +them. The Panther picked up a stick blazing like a torch, and made a +sudden rush for one of the figures. There was a howl of terror and a +sound of something rushing madly through the bushes. + +The Panther flung his torch as far as he could in the direction of the +sounds and returned, laughing deep in his throat. + +"I think I came pretty near hittin' the master wolf with that," he said, +"an' I guess he's good an' scared. But they'll come back after a while, +an' don't you forget it. For that reason, I think we'd better keep a +watch. We'll divide it into three hours apiece, an' we'll give you the +first, Ned." + +Ned was glad to have the opening watch, as it would soon be over and +done with, and then he could sleep free from care about any watch to +come. The Panther and Obed rolled in their blankets, found sleep almost +instantly, and the boy, resolved not to be a careless sentinel, walked +in a circle just outside the fires. + +Sure enough, and just as the Panther had predicted, he saw the red eyes +and dusky forms again. Now and then he heard a faint pad among the +bushes, and he knew that a wolf had made it. He merely changed from the +outside to the inside of the fire ring, and continued his walk. With the +fire about him and his friends so near he was not afraid of wolves, no +matter how big and numerous they might be. + +Yet their presence in the bushes, the light shuffle of their feet and +their fiery eyes had an uncanny effect. It was unpleasant to know that +such fierce beasts were so near, and he gave himself a reassuring glance +at the sleeping forms of his partners. By and by the red eyes melted +away, and he heard another soft tread, but heavier than that of the +wolves. With his rifle lying in the hollow of his arm and his finger on +the trigger he looked cautiously about the circle of the forest. + +Ned's gaze at last met that of a pair of red eyes, a little further +apart than those of the wolves. He knew then that they belonged to a +larger animal, and presently he caught a glimpse of the figure. He was +sure that it was a puma or cougar, and so far as he could judge it was a +big brute. It, too, must be very hungry, or it would not dare the fire +and the human odor. + +Ned felt tentatively of his rifle, but changed his mind. He remembered +the Panther's exploit with the firebrand, and he decided to imitate it, +but on a much larger scale. He laid down his rifle, but kept his left +hand on the butt of the pistol in his belt. Then selecting the largest +torch from the fire he made a rush straight for the blazing eyes, +thrusting the flaming stick before him. There was a frightened roar, and +then the sound of a heavy body crashing away through the undergrowth. +Ned returned, satisfied that he had done as well as the Panther and +better. + +Both the Panther and Obed were awake and sitting up. They looked +curiously at Ned, who still carried the flaming brand in his hand. + +"A noise like the sound of thunder away off wakened me up," said the +Panther. "Now, what have you been up to, young 'un?" + +"Me?" said Ned lightly. "Oh, nothing important. I wanted to make some +investigations in natural history out there in the bushes, and as I +needed a light for the purpose I took it." + +"An' if I'm not pressin' too much," said the Panther, in mock humility, +"may I make so bold as to ask our young Solomon what is natural +history?" + +"Natural history is the study of animals. I saw a panther in the bushes +and I went out there to examine him. I saw that he was a big fellow, but +he ran away so fast I could tell no more about him." + +"You scared him away with the torch instead of shooting," said Obed. "It +was well done, but it took a stout heart. If he comes again tell him I +won't wake up until it's time for my watch." + +He was asleep again inside of a minute, and the Panther followed him +quickly. Both men trusted Ned fully, treating him now as an experienced +and skilled frontiersman. He knew it, and he felt proud and encouraged. + +The panther did not come back, but the wolves did, although Ned now paid +no attention to them. He was growing used to their company and the +uncanny feeling departed. He merely replenished the fires and sat +patiently until it was time for Obed to succeed him. Then he, too, +wrapped himself in his blankets and slept a dreamless sleep until day. + +The remainder of the buffalo meat was taken away the next day, but +anticipating a long stay at the cabin they continued to hunt, both on +horseback and on foot. Two more buffalo cows fell to their rifles. They +also secured a deer, three antelope and a dozen wild turkeys. + +Their hunting spread over two days, but when they were all assembled on +the third night at the cabin general satisfaction prevailed. They had +ranged over considerable country, and as game was plentiful and not +afraid the Panther drew the logical conclusion that man had been scarce +in that region. + +"I take it," he said, "that the Mexicans are a good distance east, and +that the Lipans and Comanches are another good distance west. Just the +same, boys, we've got to keep a close watch, an' I think we've got more +to fear from raidin' parties of the Indians than from the Mexicans. All +the Mexicans are likely to be ridin' to some point on the Rio Grande to +meet the forces of Santa Anna." + +"I wish we had more horses," said Obed. "We'd go that way ourselves and +see what's up." + +"Well, maybe we'll get 'em," said the Panther. "Thar's a lot of horses +on these plains, some of which ought to belong to us an' we may find a +way of claimin' our rights." + +They passed a number of pleasant days at the cabin and in hunting and +foraging in the vicinity. They killed more big game and the dressed +skins of buffalo, bear and deer were spread on the floor or were hung on +the walls. Wild turkeys were numerous, and they had them for food every +day. But they discovered no signs of man, white or red, and they would +have been content to wait there had they not been so anxious to +investigate the reported advance of Santa Anna on the Rio Grande. + +Roylston was the most patient of them all, or at least he said the +least. + +"I think," he said about the fourth or fifth day, "that it does not hurt +to linger here. The Mexican power has not yet gathered in full. As for +me, personally, it suits me admirably. I can walk a full two hundred +yards now, and next week I shall be able to walk a mile." + +"When we are all ready to depart, which way do you intend to go Mr. +Roylston?" asked Ned. + +"I wish to go around the settlements and then to New Orleans," replied +Roylston. "That city is my headquarters, but I also have establishments +elsewhere, even as far north as New York. Are you sure, Ned, that you +cannot go with me and bring your friend Allen, too? I could make men of +you both in a vast commercial world. There have been great +opportunities, and greater are coming. The development of this mighty +southwest will call for large and bold schemes of organization. It is +not money alone that I offer, but the risk, the hopes and rewards of a +great game, in fact, the opening of a new world to civilization, for +such this southwest is. It appeals to some deeper feeling than that +which can be aroused by the mere making of money." + +Ned, deeply interested, watched him intently as he spoke. He saw +Roylston show emotion for the first time, and the mind of the boy +responded to that of the man. He could understand this dream. The image +of a great Texan republic was already in the minds of men. It possessed +that of Ned. He did not believe that the Texans and Mexicans could ever +get along together, and he was quite sure that Texas could never return +to its original position as part of a Mexican state. + +"You can do much for Texas there with me in New Orleans," said Roylston, +as if he were making a final appeal to one whom he looked upon almost as +a son. "Perhaps you could do more than you can here in Texas." + +Ned shook his head a little sadly. He did not like to disappoint this +man, but he could not leave the field. Young Allen also said that he +would remain. + +"Be it so," said Roylston. "It is young blood. Never was there a truer +saying than 'Young men for war, old men for counsel.' But the time may +come when you will need me. When it does come send the word." + +Ned judged from Roylston's manner that dark days were ahead, but the +merchant did not mention the subject again. At the end of a week, when +they were amply supplied with everything except horses, the Panther +decided to take Ned and Obed and go on a scout toward the Rio Grande. +They started early in the morning and the horses, which had obtained +plenty of grass, were full of life and vigor. + +They soon left the narrow belt of forest far behind them, maintaining an +almost direct course toward the southeast. The point on the river that +they intended to reach was seventy or eighty miles away, and they did +not expect to cover the distance in less than two days. + +They rode all that day and did not see a trace of a human being, but +they did see both buffalo and antelope in the distance. + +"It shows what the war has done," said the Panther. "I rode over these +same prairies about a year ago an' game was scarce, but there were some +men. Now the men are all gone an' the game has come back. Cur'us how +quick buffalo an' deer an' antelope learn about these things." + +They slept the night through on the open prairie, keeping watch by +turns. The weather was cold, but they had their good blankets with them +and they took no discomfort. They rode forward again early in the +morning, and about noon struck an old but broad trail. It was evident +that many men and many wagons had passed here. There were deep ruts in +the earth, cut by wheels, and the traces of footsteps showed over a +belt a quarter of a mile wide. + +"Well, Ned, I s'pose you can make a purty good guess what this means?" +said the Panther. + +"This was made weeks and weeks ago," replied Ned confidently, "and the +men who made it were Mexicans. They were soldiers, the army of Cos, that +we took at San Antonio, and which we allowed to retire on parole into +Mexico." + +"There's no doubt you're right," said the Panther. "There's no other +force in this part of the world big enough to make such a wide an' +lastin' trail. An' I think it's our business to follow these tracks. +What do you say, Obed?" + +"It's just the one thing in the world that we're here to do," said the +Maine man. "Broad is the path and straight is the way that leads before +us, and we follow on." + +"Do we follow them down into Mexico?" said Ned. + +"I don't think it likely that we'll have to do it," replied the Panther, +glancing at Obed. + +Ned caught the look and he understood. + +"Do you mean," he asked, "that Cos, after taking his parole and pledging +his word that he and his troops would not fight against us, would stop +at the Rio Grande?" + +"I mean that an' nothin' else," replied the Panther. "I ain't talkin' +ag'in Mexicans in general. I've knowed some good men among them, but I +wouldn't take the word of any of that crowd of generals, Santa Anna, +Cos, Sesma, Urrea, Gaona, Castrillon, the Italian Filisola, or any of +them." + +"There's one I'd trust," said Ned, with grateful memory, "and that's +Almonte." + +"I've heard that he's of different stuff," said the Panther, "but it's +best to keep out of their hands." + +They were now riding swiftly almost due southward, having changed their +course to follow the trail, and they kept a sharp watch ahead for +Mexican scouts or skirmishers. But the bare country in its winter brown +was lone and desolate. The trail led straight ahead, and it would have +been obvious now to the most inexperienced eye that an army had passed +that way. They saw remains of camp fires, now and then the skeleton of a +horse or mule picked clean by buzzards, fragments of worn-out clothing +that had been thrown aside, and once a broken-down wagon. Two or three +times they saw little mounds of earth with rude wooden crosses stuck +upon them, to mark where some of the wounded had died and had been +buried. + +They came at last to a bit of woodland growing about a spring that +seemed to gush straight up from the earth. It was really an open grove +with no underbrush, a splendid place for a camp. It was evident that +Cos's force had put it to full use, as the earth nearly everywhere had +been trodden by hundreds of feet, and the charred pieces of wood were +innumerable. The Panther made a long and critical examination of +everything. + +"I'm thinkin'," he said, "that Cos stayed here three or four days. All +the signs p'int that way. He was bound by the terms we gave him at San +Antonio to go an' not fight ag'in, but he's shorely takin' his time +about it. Look at these bones, will you? Now, Ned, you promisin' scout +an' skirmisher, tell me what they are." + +"Buffalo bones," replied Ned promptly. + +"Right you are," replied the Panther, "an' when Cos left San Antonio he +wasn't taking any buffaloes along with him to kill fur meat. They staid +here so long that the hunters had time to go out an' shoot game." + +"A long lane's the thief of time," said Obed, "and having a big march +before him, Cos has concluded to walk instead of run." + +"'Cause he was expectin' somethin' that would stop him," said the +Panther angrily. "I hate liars an' traitors. Well, we'll soon see." + +Their curiosity became so great that they rode at a swift trot on the +great south trail, and not ten miles further they came upon the +unmistakable evidences of another big camp that had lasted long. + +"Slower an' slower," muttered the Panther. "They must have met a +messenger. Wa'al, it's fur us to go slow now, too." + +But he said aloud: + +"Boys, it ain't more'n twenty miles now to the Rio Grande, an' we can +hit it by dark. But I'm thinkin' that we'd better be mighty keerful now +as we go on." + +"I suppose it's because Mexican scouts and skirmishers may be watching," +said Ned. + +"Yes, an' 'specially that fellow Urrea. His uncle bein' one of Santa +Anna's leadin' gen'rals, he's likely to have freer rein, an', as we +know, he's clever an' active. I'd hate to fall into his hands again." + +They rode more slowly, and three pairs of eyes continually searched the +plain for an enemy. Ned's sight was uncommonly acute, and Obed and the +Panther frequently appealed to him as a last resort. It flattered his +pride and he strove to justify it. + +Their pace became slower and slower, and presently the early twilight of +winter was coming. A cold wind moaned, but the desolate plain was broken +here and there by clumps of trees. At the suggestion of the Panther +they rode to one of these and halted under cover of the timber. + +"The river can't be much more than a mile ahead," said the Panther, "an' +we might run into the Mexicans any minute. We're sheltered here, an' +we'd better wait a while. Then I think we can do more stalkin'." + +Obed and Ned were not at all averse, and dismounting they stretched +themselves, easing their muscles. Old Jack hunted grass and, finding +none, rubbed Ned's elbow with his nose suggestively. + +"Never mind, old boy," said Ned, patting the glossy muzzle of his +faithful comrade. "This is no time for feasting and banqueting. We are +hunting Mexicans, you and I, and after that business is over we may +consider our pleasures." + +They remained several hours among the trees. They saw the last red glow +that the sun leaves in the west die away. They saw the full darkness +descend over the earth, and then the stars come trooping out. After that +they saw a scarlet flush under the horizon which was not a part of the +night and its progress. The Panther noted it, and his great face +darkened. He turned to Ned. + +"You see it, don't you? Now tell me what it is." + +"That light, I should say, comes from the fires of an army. And it can +be no other army than that of Cos." + +"Right again, ain't he, Obed?" + +"He surely is. Cos and his men are there. He who breaks his faith when +he steals away will have to fight another day. How far off would you say +that light is, Panther?" + +"'Bout two miles, an' in an hour or so we'll ride fur it. The night will +darken up more then, an' it will give us a better chance for lookin' an +listenin'. I'll be mightily fooled if we don't find out a lot that's +worth knowin'." + +True to Obed's prediction, the night deepened somewhat within the hour. +Many of the stars were hidden by floating wisps of cloud, and objects +could not be seen far on the dusky surface of the plain. But the +increased darkness only made the scarlet glow in the south deepen. It +seemed, too, to spread far to right and left. + +"That's a big force," said the Panther. "It'll take a lot of fires to +make a blaze like that." + +"I'm agreeing with you," said Obed. "I'm thinking that those are the +camp fires of more men than Cos took from San Antonio with him." + +"Which would mean," said Ned, "that another Mexican army had come north +to join him." + +"Anyhow, we'll soon see," said the Panther. + +They mounted their horses and rode cautiously toward the light. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SANTA ANNA'S ADVANCE + + +The three rode abreast, Ned in the center. The boy was on terms of +perfect equality with Obed and the Panther. They treated him as a man +among men, and respected his character, rather grave for one so young, +and always keen to learn. + +The land rolled away in swells as usual throughout a great part of +Texas, but they were not of much elevation and the red glow in the south +was always in sight, deepening fast as they advanced. They stopped at +last on a little elevation within the shadow of some myrtle oaks, and +saw the fires spread before them only four or five hundred yards away, +and along a line of at least two miles. They heard the confused murmur +of many men. The dark outlines of cannon were seen against the +firelight, and now and then the musical note of a mandolin or guitar +came to them. + +"We was right in our guess," said the Panther. "It's a lot bigger force +than the one that Cos led away from San Antonio, an' it will take a heap +of rippin' an' t'arin' an' roarin' to turn it back. Our people don't +know how much is comin' ag'in 'em." + +The Panther spoke in a solemn tone. Ned saw that he was deeply impressed +and that he feared for the future. Good cause had he. Squabbles among +the Texan leaders had reduced their army to five or six hundred men. + +"Don't you think," said Ned, "that we ought to find out just exactly +what is here, and what this army intends?" + +"Not a doubt of it," said Obed. "Those who have eyes to see should not +go away without seeing." + +The Panther nodded violently in assent. + +"We must scout about the camp," he said. "Mebbe we'd better divide an' +then we can all gather before day-break at the clump of trees back +there." + +He pointed to a little cluster of trees several hundred yards back of +them, and Ned and Obed agreed. The Panther turned away to the right, +Obed to the left and Ned took the center. Their plan of dividing their +force had a great advantage. One man was much less likely than three to +attract undue attention. + +Ned went straight ahead a hundred yards or more, when he was stopped by +an arroyo five or six feet wide and with very deep banks. He looked +about, uncertain at first what to do. Obed and the Panther had already +disappeared in the dusk. Before him glowed the red light, and he heard +the distant sound of many voices. + +Ned quickly decided. He remembered how they had escaped up the bed of +the creek when they were besieged by Urrea, and if one could leave by an +arroyo, one could also approach by it. He rode to the group of trees +that had been designated as the place of meeting, and left his horse +there. He noticed considerable grass within the ring of trunks, and he +was quite confident that Old Jack would remain there until his return. +But he addressed to him words of admonition: + +"Be sure that you stay among these trees, old friend," he said, "because +it's likely that when I want you I'll want you bad. Remain and attend to +this grass." + +Old Jack whinnied softly and, after his fashion, rubbed his nose gently +against his master's arm. It was sufficient for Ned. He was sure that +the horse understood, and leaving him he went back to the arroyo, which +he entered without hesitation. + +Ned was well armed, as every one then had full need to be. He wore a +sombrero in the Mexican fashion, and flung over his shoulders was a +great serape which he had found most useful in the winter. With his +perfect knowledge of Spanish and its Mexican variants he believed that +if surprised he could pass as a Mexican, particularly in the night and +among so many. + +The arroyo led straight down toward the plain upon which the Mexicans +were encamped, and when he emerged from it he saw that the fires which +at a distance looked like one continuous blaze were scores in number. +Many of them were built of buffalo chips and others of light wood that +burned fast. Sentinels were posted here and there, but they kept little +watch. Why should they? Here was a great Mexican army, and there was +certainly no foe amounting to more than a few men within a hundred +miles. + +Ned's heart sank as he beheld the evident extent of the Mexican array. +The little Texan force left in the field could be no match for such an +army as this. + +Nevertheless, his resolution to go through the Mexican camp hardened. If +he came back with a true and detailed tale of their numbers the Texans +must believe and prepare. He drew the brim of his sombrero down a little +further, and pulled his serape up to meet it. The habit the Mexicans had +of wrapping their serapes so high that they were covered to the nose was +fortunate at this time. He was now completely disguised, without the +appearance of having taken any unusual precaution. + +He walked forward boldly and sat down with a group beside a fire. He +judged by the fact that they were awake so late that they had but little +to do, and he saw at once also that they were Mexicans from the far +south. They were small, dark men, rather amiable in appearance. Two +began to play guitars and they sang a plaintive song to the music. The +others, smoking cigarritos, listened attentively and luxuriously. Ned +imitated them perfectly. He, too, lying upon his elbow before the +pleasant fire, felt the influence of the music, so sweet, so murmurous, +speaking so little of war. One of the men handed him a cigarrito, and, +lighting it, he made pretense of smoking--he would not have seemed a +Mexican had he not smoked the cigarrito. + +Lying there, Ned saw many tents, evidence of a camp that was not for the +day only, and he beheld officers in bright uniforms passing among them. +His heart gave a great jump when he noticed among them a heavy-set, dark +man. It was Cos, Cos the breaker of oaths. With him was another officer +whose uniform indicated the general. Ned learned later that this was +Sesma, who had been dispatched with a brigade by Santa Anna to meet Cos +on the Rio Grande, where they were to remain until the dictator himself +came with more troops. + +The music ceased presently and one of the men said to Ned: + +"What company?" + +Ned had prepared himself for such questions, and he moved his hand +vaguely toward the left. + +"Over there," he said. + +They were fully satisfied, and continued to puff their cigarritos, +resting their heads with great content upon pillows made of their +saddles and blankets. For a while they said nothing more, happily +watching the rings of smoke from their cigarritos rise and melt into the +air. Although small and short, they looked hardy and strong. Ned +noticed the signs of bustle and expectancy about the camp. Usually +Mexicans were asleep at this hour, and he wondered why they lingered. +But he did not approach the subject directly. + +"A hard march," he said, knowing that these men about him had come a +vast distance. + +"Aye, it was," said the man next on his right. "Santiago, but was it +not, José?" + +José, the second man on the right, replied in the affirmative and with +emphasis: + +"You speak the great truth, Carlos. Such another march I never wish to +make. Think of the hundreds and hundreds of miles we have tramped from +our warm lands far in the south across mountains, across bare and windy +deserts, with the ice and the snow beating in our faces. How I shivered, +Carlos, and how long I shivered! I thought I should continue shivering +all my life even if I lived to be a hundred, no matter how warmly the +sun might shine." + +The others laughed, and seemed to Ned to snuggle a little closer to the +fire, driven by the memory of the icy plains. + +"But it was the will of the great Santa Anna, surely the mightiest man +of our age," said Carlos. "They say that his wrath was terrible when he +heard how the Texan bandits had taken San Antonio de Bexar. Truly, I am +glad that I was not one of his officers, and that I was not in his +presence at the time. After all, it is sometimes better to be a common +soldier than to have command." + +"Aye, truly," said Ned, and the others nodded in affirmation. + +"But the great Santa Anna will finish it," continued Carlos, who seemed +to have the sin of garrulity. "He has defeated all his enemies in +Mexico, he has consolidated his power and now he advances with a mighty +force to crush these insolent and miserable Texans. As I have said, he +will finish it. The rope and the bullet will be busy. In six months +there will be no Texans." + +Ned shivered, and when he looked at the camp fires of the great army he +saw that this peon was not talking foolishness. Nevertheless his mind +returned to its original point of interest. Why did the Mexican army +remain awake so late? + +"Have you seen the President?" he asked of Carlos. + +"Often," replied Carlos, with pride. "I fought under him in the great +battle on the plain of Guadalupe less than two years ago, when we +defeated Don Francisco Garcia, the governor of Zacatecas. Ah, it was a +terrible battle, my friends! Thousands and thousands were killed and all +Mexicans. Mexicans killing Mexicans. But who can prevail against the +great Santa Anna? He routed the forces of Garcia, and the City of +Zacatecas was given up to us to pillage. Many fine things I took that +day from the houses of those who presumed to help the enemy of our +leader. But now we care not to kill Mexicans, our own people. It is only +the miserable Texans who are really Gringos." + +Carlos, who had been the most amiable of men, basking in the firelight, +now rose up a little and his eyes flashed. He had excited himself by his +own tale of the battle and loot of Zacatecas and the coming slaughter of +the Texans. That strain of cruelty, which in Ned's opinion always lay +embedded in the Spanish character, was coming to the surface. + +Ned made no comment. His serape, drawn up to his nose, almost met the +brim of his sombrero and nobody suspected that the comrade who sat and +chatted with them was a Gringo, but he shivered again, nevertheless. + +"We shall have a great force when it is all gathered," he said at +length. + +"Seven thousand men or more," said José proudly, "and nearly all of them +are veterans of the wars. We shall have ten times the numbers of the +Texans, who are only hunters and rancheros." + +"Have you heard when we march?" asked Ned, in a careless tone. + +"As soon as the great Santa Anna arrives it will be decided, I doubt +not," said José. "The general and his escort should be here by +midnight." + +Ned's heart gave a leap. So it was that for which they were waiting. +Santa Anna himself would come in an hour or two. He was very glad that +he had entered the Mexican camp. Bidding a courteous good night to the +men about the fire, he rose and sauntered on. It was easy enough for him +to do so without attracting attention, as many others were doing the +same thing. Discipline seldom amounted to much in a Mexican army, and so +confident were both officers and soldiers of an overwhelming victory +that they preserved scarcely any at all. Yet the expectant feeling +pervaded the whole camp, and now that he knew that Santa Anna was coming +he understood. + +Santa Anna was the greatest man in the world to these soldiers. He had +triumphed over everything in their own country. He had exhibited +qualities of daring and energy that seemed to them supreme, and his +impression upon them was overwhelming. Ned felt once more that little +shiver. They might be right in their view of the Texan war. + +He strolled on from fire to fire, until his attention was arrested +suddenly by one at which only officers sat. It was not so much the group +as it was one among them who drew his notice so strongly. Urrea was +sitting on the far side of the fire, every feature thrown into clear +relief by the bright flames. The other officers were young men of about +his own age and they were playing dice. They were evidently in high good +humor, as they laughed frequently. + +Ned lay down just within the shadow of a tent wall, drew his serape +higher about his face, and rested his head upon his arm. He would have +seemed sound asleep to an ordinary observer, but he was never more wide +awake in his life. He was near enough to hear what Urrea and his friends +were saying, and he intended to hear it. It was for such that he had +come. + +"You lose, Francisco," said one of the men as he made a throw of the +dice and looked eagerly at the result. "What was it that you were saying +about the general?" + +"That I expect an early advance, Ramon," replied Urrea, "a brief +campaign, and a complete victory. I hate these Texans. I shall be glad +to see them annihilated." + +The young officer whom he called Ramon laughed. + +"If what I hear be true, Francisco," he said, "you have cause to hate +them. There was a boy, Fulton, that wild buffalo of a man, whom they +call the Panther, and another who defeated some of your finest plans." + +Urrea flushed, but controlled his temper. + +"It is true, Ramon," he replied. "The third man I can tell you is called +Obed White, and they are a clever three. I hate them, but it hurts my +pride less to be defeated by them than by any others whom I know." + +"Well spoken, Urrea," said a third man, "but since these three are +fighters and will stay to meet us, it is a certainty that our general +will scoop them into his net. Then you can have all the revenge you +wish." + +"I count upon it, Ambrosio," said Urrea, smiling. "I also hope that we +shall recapture the man Roylston. He has great sums of money in the +foreign banks in our country, and we need them, but our illustrious +president cannot get them without an order from Roylston. The general +would rather have Roylston than a thousand Texan prisoners." + +All of them laughed, and the laugh made Ned, lying in the shadow, shiver +once more. Urrea glanced his way presently, but the recumbent figure did +not claim his notice. The attention of his comrades and himself became +absorbed in the dice again. They were throwing the little ivory cubes +upon a blanket, and Ned could hear them click as they struck together. +The sharp little sound began to flick his nerves. Not one to cherish +resentment, he nevertheless began to hate Urrea, and he included in that +hatred the young men with him. The Texans were so few and poor. The +Mexicans were so many, and they had the resources of a nation more than +two centuries old. + +Ned rose by and by and walked on. He could imitate the Mexican gait +perfectly, and no one paid any attention to him. They were absorbed, +moreover, in something else, because now the light of torches could be +seen dimly in the south. Officers threw down cards and dice. Men +straightened their uniforms and Cos and Sesma began to form companies in +line. More fuel was thrown on the fires, which sprang up, suffusing all +the night with color and brightness. Ned with his rifle at salute fell +into place at the end of one of the companies, and no one knew that he +did not belong there. In the excitement of the moment he forgot all +about the Panther and Obed. + +A thrill seemed to run through the whole Mexican force. It was the most +impressive scene that Ned had ever beheld. A leader, omnipotent in +their eyes, was coming to these men, and he came at midnight out of the +dark into the light. + +The torches grew brighter. A trumpet pealed and a trumpet in the camp +replied. The Mexican lines became silent save for a deep murmur. In the +south they heard the rapid beat of hoofs, and then Santa Anna came, +galloping at the head of fifty horsemen. Many of the younger officers +ran forward, holding up torches, and the dictator rode in a blaze of +light. + +Ned looked once more upon that dark and singular face, a face daring and +cruel, that might have belonged to one of the old conquistadores. In the +saddle his lack of height was concealed, but on the great white horse +that he rode Ned felt that he was an imposing, even a terrible, figure. +His eyes were blazing with triumph as his army united with torches to do +him honor. It was like Napoleon on the night before Austerlitz, and what +was he but the Napoleon of the New World? His figure swelled and the +gold braid on his cocked hat and gorgeous uniform reflected the beams of +the firelight. + +A mighty cheer from thousands of throats ran along the Mexican line, and +the torches were waved until they looked like vast circles of fire. +Santa Anna lifted his hat and bowed three times in salute. Again the +Mexican cheer rolled to right and to left. Santa Anna, still sitting on +his horse, spread out his hands. There was instant silence save for the +deep breathing of the men. + +"My children," he said, "I have come to sweep away these miserable +Texans who have dared to raise the rebel flag against us. We will punish +them all. Houston, Austin, Bowie and the rest of their leaders shall +feel our justice. When we finish our march over their prairies it shall +be as if a great fire had passed. I have said it. I am Santa Anna." + +The thunderous cheer broke forth again. Ned had never before heard words +so full of conceit and vainglory, yet the strength and menace were +there. He felt it instinctively. Santa Anna believed himself to be the +greatest man in the world, and he was certainly the greatest in Mexico. +His belief in himself was based upon a deep well of energy and daring. +Once more Ned felt a great and terrible fear for Texas, and the thin +line of skin-clad hunters and ranchmen who were its sole defence. But +the feeling passed as he watched Santa Anna. A young officer rushed +forward and held his stirrup as the dictator dismounted. Then the +generals, including those who had come with him, crowded around him. It +was a brilliant company, including Sesma, Cos, Duque, Castrillon, Tolsa, +Gaona and others, among whom Ned noted a man of decidedly Italian +appearance. This was General Vincente Filisola, an Italian officer who +had received a huge grant of land in Texas, and who was now second in +command to Santa Anna. + +Ned watched them as they talked together and occasionally the crowd +parted enough for him to see Santa Anna, who spoke and gesticulated with +great energy. The soldiers had been drawn away by the minor officers, +and were now dispersing to their places by the fires where they would +seek sleep. + +Ned noticed a trim, slender figure on the outer edge of the group around +Santa Anna. It seemed familiar, and when the man turned he recognized +the face of Almonte, the gallant young Mexican colonel who had been kind +to him. He was sorry to see him there. He was sorry that he should have +to fight against him. + +Santa Anna went presently to a great marquée that had been prepared for +him, and the other generals retired also to the tents that had been set +about it. The dictator was tired from his long ride and must not be +disturbed. Strict orders were given that there should be no noise in the +camp, and it quickly sank into silence. + +Ned lay down before one of the fires at the western end of the camp +wrapped as before in his serape. He counterfeited sleep, but nothing was +further from his mind. It seemed to him that he had done all he could do +in the Mexican camp. He had seen the arrival of Santa Anna, but there +was no way to learn when the general would order an advance. But he +could infer from Santa Anna's well-known energy and ability that it +would come quickly. + +Between the slit left by the brim of his sombrero and his serape he +watched the great fires die slowly. Most of the Mexicans were asleep +now, and their figures were growing indistinct in the shadows. But Ned, +rising, slouched forward, imitating the gait of the laziest of the +Mexicans. Yet his eyes were always watching shrewdly through the slit. +Very little escaped his notice. He went along the entire Mexican line +and then back again. He had a good mathematical mind, and he saw that +the estimate of 7,000 for the Mexican army was not too few. He also saw +many cannon and the horses for a great cavalry force. He knew, too, that +Santa Anna had with him the best regiments in the Mexican service. + +On his last trip along the line Ned began to look for the Panther and +Obed, but he saw no figures resembling theirs, although he was quite +sure that he would know the Panther in any disguise owing to his great +size. This circumstance would make it more dangerous for the Panther +than for either Obed or himself, as Urrea, if he should see so large a +man, would suspect that it was none other than the redoubtable +frontiersman. + +Ned was thinking of this danger to the Panther when he came face to face +with Urrea himself. The young Mexican captain was not lacking in +vigilance and energy, and even at that late hour he was seeing that all +was well in the camp of Santa Anna. Ned was truly thankful now that +Mexican custom and the coldness of the night permitted him to cover his +face with his serape and the brim of his sombrero. + +"Why are you walking here?" demanded Urrea. + +"I've just taken a message to General Castrillon," replied Ned. + +He had learned already that Castrillon commanded the artillery, and as +he was at least a mile away he thought this the safest reply. + +"From whom?" asked Urrea shortly. + +"Pardon, sir," replied Ned, in his best Spanish, disguising his voice as +much as possible, "but I am not allowed to tell." + +Ned's tone was courteous and apologetic, and in ninety-nine cases out of +a hundred Urrea would have contented himself with an impatient word or +two. But he was in a most vicious temper. Perhaps he had been rebuked by +Santa Anna for allowing the rescue of Roylston. + +"Why don't you speak up?" he exclaimed. "Why do you mumble your words, +and why do you stand in such a slouching manner. Remember that a soldier +should stand up straight." + +"Yes, my captain," said Ned, but he did not change his attitude. The +tone and manner of Urrea angered him. He forgot where he was and his +danger. + +Urrea's swarthy face flushed. He carried in his hand a small riding +whip, which he switched occasionally across the tops of his tall, +military boots. + +"Lout!" he cried. "You hear me! Why do you not obey!" + +Ned stood impassive. Certainly Urrea had had a bad half hour somewhere. +His temper leaped beyond control. + +"Idiot!" he exclaimed. + +Then he suddenly lashed Ned across the face with the little riding whip. +The blow fell on serape and sombrero and the flesh was not touched, but +for a few moments Ned went mad. He dropped his rifle, leaped upon the +astonished officer, wrenched the whip from his hands, slashed him across +the cheeks with it until the blood ran in streams, then broke it in two +and threw the pieces in his face. Ned's serape fell away. Urrea had +clasped his hands to his cheeks that stung like fire, but now he +recognized the boy. + +"Fulton!" he cried. + +The sharp exclamation brought Ned to a realization of his danger. He +seized his rifle, pulled up the serape and sprang back. Already Mexican +soldiers were gathering. It was truly fortunate for Ned that he was +quick of thought, and that his thoughts came quickest when the danger +was greatest. He knew that the cry of "Fulton!" was unintelligible to +them, and he exclaimed: + +"Save me, comrades! He tried to beat me without cause, and now he would +kill me, as you see!" + +Urrea had drawn a pistol and was shouting fiery Mexican oaths. The +soldiers, some of them just awakened from sleep, and all of them dazed, +had gathered in a huddle, but they opened to let Ned pass. Excessive and +cruel punishment was common among them. A man might be flogged half to +death at the whim of an officer, and instinctively they protected their +comrade. + +As the Mexican group closed up behind him, and between him and Urrea, +Ned ran at top speed toward the west where the arroyo cut across the +plain. More Mexicans were gathering, and there was great confusion. +Everybody was asking what was the matter. The boy's quick wit did not +desert him. There was safety in ignorance and the multitude. + +He quickly dropped to a walk and he, too, began to ask of others what +had caused the trouble. All the while he worked steadily toward the +arroyo, and soon he left behind him the lights and the shouting. He now +came into the dark, passed beyond the Mexican lines, and entered the cut +in the earth down which he had come. + +He was compelled to sit down on the sand and relax. He was exhausted by +the great effort of both mind and body which had carried him through so +much danger. His heart was beating heavily and he felt dizzy. But his +eyes cleared presently and his strength came back. He considered himself +safe. In the darkness it was not likely that any of the Mexicans would +stumble upon him. + +He thought of the Panther and Obed, but he could do nothing for them. He +must trust to meeting them again at the place appointed. He looked at +the Mexican camp. The fires had burned up again there for a minute or +two, but as he looked they sank once more. The noise also decreased. +Evidently they were giving up the pursuit. + +Ned rose and walked slowly up the arroyo. He became aware that the night +was very cold and it told on his relaxed frame. He pulled up the serape +again, and now it was for warmth and not for disguise. He stopped at +intervals to search the darkness with his eyes and to listen for noises. +He might meet with an enemy or he might meet with one of his friends. He +was prepared for either. He had regained control of himself both body +and mind, and his ready rifle rested in the hollow of his arm. + +He met neither. He heard nothing but the usual sighing of the prairie +wind that ceased rarely, and he saw nothing but the faint glow on the +southern horizon that marked the Mexican camp where he had met his +enemy. + +He left the arroyo, and saw a dark shadow on the plain, the figure of a +man, rifle in hand, Ned instantly sprang back into the arroyo and the +stranger did the same. A curve in the line of this cut in the earth now +hid them from each other, and Ned, his body pressed against the bank, +waited with beating heart. He had no doubt that it was a Mexican +sentinel or scout more vigilant than the others, and he felt his danger. + +Ned in this crisis used the utmost caution. He did not believe that any +other would come, and it must be a test of patience between him and his +enemy. Whoever showed his head first would be likely to lose in the duel +for life. He pressed himself closer and closer against the bank, and +sought to detect some movement of the stranger. He saw nothing and he +did not hear a sound. It seemed that the man had absolutely vanished +into space. It occurred to Ned that it might have been a mere figment of +the dusk and his excited brain, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He +had seen the man and he had seen him leap into the arroyo. There could +be no doubt of it. + +There was another long wait, and the suspense became acute. The man was +surely on the other side of that curve waiting for him. He was held +fast. He was almost as much a prisoner as if he lay bound in the Mexican +camp. It seemed to him, too, that the darkness was thinning a little. It +would soon be day and then he could not escape the notice of horsemen +from Santa Anna's army. He decided that he must risk an advance and he +began creeping forward cautiously. He remembered now what he had +forgotten in the first moments of the meeting. He might yet, even +before this sentinel or scout, pass as a Mexican. + +He stopped suddenly when he heard a low whistle in front of him. While +it could be heard but a short distance, it was singularly sweet. It +formed the first bars of an old tune, "The World Turned Upside Down," +and Ned promptly recognized it. The whistle stopped in a moment or two, +but Ned took up the air and continued it for a few bars more. Then, all +apprehension gone, he sprang out of the arroyo and stood upon the bank. +Another figure was projected from the arroyo and stood upon the bank +facing him, not more than twenty feet away. + +Simultaneously Obed White and Edward Fulton advanced, shook hands and +laughed. + +"You kept me here waiting in this gully at least half an hour," said +Obed. "Time and I waited long on you." + +"But no longer than I waited on you," said Ned. "Why didn't you think of +whistling the tune sooner?" + +"Why didn't you?" + +They laughed and shook hands again. + +"At any rate, we're here together again, safe and unharmed," said Ned. +"And now to see what has become of the Panther." + +"You'd better be lookin' out for yourselves instead of the Panther," +growled a voice, as a gigantic figure upheaved itself from the arroyo +eight or ten yards behind them. "I could have picked you both off while +you were standin' there shakin' hands, an' neither of you would never +have knowed what struck him." + +"The Panther!" they exclaimed joyously, and they shook hands with him +also. + +"An' now," said the Panther, "it will soon be day. We'd better make fur +our horses an' then clear out. We kin tell 'bout what we've seen an' +done when we're two or three miles away." + +They found the horses safe in the brushwood, Old Jack welcoming Ned with +a soft whinny. They were in the saddle at once, rode swiftly northward, +and none of them spoke for a half hour. When a faint tinge of gray +appeared on the eastern rim of the world the Panther said: + +"My tale's short. I couldn't get into the camp, 'cause I'm too big. The +very first fellow I saw looked at me with s'picion painted all over him. +So I had to keep back in the darkness. But I saw it was a mighty big +army. It can do a lot of rippin', an' t'arin', an' chawin'." + +"I got into the camp," said Obed, after a minute of silence, "but as I'm +not built much like a Mexican, being eight or ten inches too tall, men +were looking at me as if I were a strange specimen. One touch of +difference and all the world's staring at you. So I concluded that I'd +better stay on the outside of the lines. I hung around, and I saw just +what Panther saw, no more and no less. Then I started back and I struck +the arroyo, which seemed to me a good way for leaving. But before I had +gone far I concluded I was followed. So I watched the fellow who was +following, and the fellow who was following watched me for about a year. +The watch was just over when you came up, Panther. It was long, but it's +a long watch that has no ending." + +"And I," said Ned, after another wait of a minute, "being neither so +tall as Obed nor so big around as the Panther, was able to go about in +the Mexican camp without any notice being taken of me. I saw Santa Anna +arrive to take the chief command." + +"Santa Anna himself?" exclaimed the Panther. + +"Yes, Santa Anna himself. They gave him a great reception. After a while +I started to come away. I met Urrea. He took me for a peon, gave me an +order, and when I didn't obey it tried to strike me across the face with +a whip." + +"And what did you do?" exclaimed the two men together. + +"I took the whip away from him and lashed his cheeks with it. I was +recognized, but in the turmoil and confusion I escaped. Then I had the +encounter with Obed White, of which he has told already." + +"Since Santa Anna has come," said the Panther, "they're likely to move +at any moment. We'll ride straight for the cabin an' the boys." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +FOR FREEDOM'S SAKE + + +Evidently the horses had found considerable grass through the night, as +they were fresh and strong, and the miles fell fast behind them. At the +gait at which they were going they would reach the cabin that night. +Meanwhile they made plans. The little force would divide and messengers +would go to San Antonio, Harrisburg and other points, with the news that +Santa Anna was advancing with an immense force. + +And every one of the three knew that the need was great. They knew how +divided counsels had scattered the little Texan army. At San Antonio, +the most important point of all, the town that they had triumphantly +taken from a much greater force of Mexicans, there were practically no +men, and that undoubtedly was Santa Anna's destination. Unconsciously +they began to urge their horses to great and yet greater speed, until +the Panther recalled them to prudence. + +"Slower, boys! slower!" he said. "We mustn't run our horses out at the +start." + +"And there's a second reason for pulling down," said Ned, "since there's +somebody else on the plain." + +His uncommon eyesight had already detected before the others the strange +presence. He pointed toward the East. + +"Do you see that black speck there, where the sky touches the ground?" +he said. "If you'll watch it you'll see that it's moving. And look! +There's another! and another! and another!" + +The Panther and Obed now saw the black specks also. The three stopped on +the crest of a swell and watched them attentively. + +"One! two! three! four! five! six! seven! eight! nine! ten! eleven! +twelve! thirteen!" counted the far-sighted boy. + +"An' them thirteen specks are thirteen men on horseback," continued the +Panther, "an' now I wonder who in the name of the great horn spoon they +are!" + +"Suppose we see," said Obed. "All things are revealed to him who +looks--at least most of the time. It is true that they are more than +four to our one, but our horses are swift, and we can get away." + +"That's right," said the Panther. "Still, we oughtn't to take the risk +unless everybody is willin'. What do you say, Ned?" + +"I reply 'yes,' of course," said the boy, "especially as I've an idea +that those are not Mexicans. They look too big and tall, and they sit +too straight up in their saddles for Mexicans." + +"Them ideas of yours are ketchin'," said the Panther. "Them fellers may +be Mexicans, but they don't look like Mexicans, they don't act like +Mexicans, an' they ain't Mexicans." + +"Take out what isn't, and you have left what is," said Obed. + +"We'll soon see," said Ned. + +A few minutes more and there could be no further doubt that the thirteen +were Texans or Americans. One rode a little ahead of the others, who +came on in an even line. They were mounted on large horses, but the man +in front held Ned's attention. + +The leader was tall and thin, but evidently muscular and powerful. His +hair was straight and black like an Indian's. His features were angular +and tanned by the winds of many years. His body was clothed completely +in buckskin, and a raccoon skin cap was on his head. Across his shoulder +lay a rifle with a barrel of unusual length. + +"Never saw any of them before," said the Panther. "By the great horn +spoon, who can that feller in front be? He looks like somebody." + +The little band rode closer, and its leader held up his hand as a sign +of amity. + +"Good friends," he said, in a deep clear voice, "we don't have very +close neighbors out here, and that makes a meeting all the pleasanter. +You are Texans, I guess." + +"You guess right," said the Panther, in the same friendly tone. "An' are +you Texans, too?" + +"That point might be debated," replied the man, in a whimsical tone, +"and after a long dispute neither I nor my partners here could say which +was right and which was wrong. But while we may not be Texans, yet we +will be right away." + +His eyes twinkled as he spoke, and Ned suddenly felt a strong liking for +him. He was not young and, despite his buckskin dress and careless +grammar, there was something of the man of the world about him. But he +seemed to have a certain boyishness of spirit that appealed strongly to +Ned. + +"I s'pose," he continued, "that a baptism will make us genuine Texans, +an' it 'pears likely to me that we'll get that most lastin' of all +baptisms, a baptism of fire. But me an' Betsy here stand ready for it." + +He patted lovingly the stock of his long rifle as he spoke the word +"Betsy." It was the same word "Betsy" that gave Ned his sudden +knowledge. + +"I'm thinking that you are Davy Crockett," he said. + +The man's face was illumined with an inimitable smile. + +"Correct," he said. "No more and no less. Andy Jackson kept me from +going back to Washington, an' so me an' these twelve good friends of +mine, Tennesseans like myself, have come here to help free Texas." + +He reached out his hand and Ned grasped it. The boy felt a thrill. The +name of Davy Crockett was a great one in the southwest, and here he was, +face to face, hands gripped with the great borderer. + +"This is Mr. Palmer, known all over Texas as the Panther, and Mr. Obed +White, once of Maine, but now a Texan," said Ned, introducing his +friends. + +Crockett and the Panther shook hands, and looked each other squarely in +the eye. + +"Seems to me," said Crockett, "that you're a man." + +"I was jest thinkin' the same of you," said the Panther. + +"An' you," said Crockett to Obed White, "are a man, too. But they +certainly do grow tall where you come from." + +"I'm not as wide as a barn door, but I may be long enough to reach the +bottom of a well," said Obed modestly. "Anyway, I thank you for the +compliment. Praise from Sir Davy is sweet music in my ear, indeed. And +since we Texans have to stand together, and since to stand together we +must know about one another, may I ask you, Mr. Crockett, which way you +are going?" + +"We had an idea that we would go to San Antonio," said Crockett, "but +I'm never above changin' my opinion. If you think it better to go +somewhere else, an' can prove it, why me an' Betsy an' the whole crowd +are ready to go there instead." + +"What would you say?" asked the Panther, "if we told you that Santa Anna +an' 7,000 men were on the Rio Grande ready to march on San Antonio?" + +"If you said it, I'd say it was true. I'd also say that it was a thing +the Texans had better consider. If I was usin' adjectives I'd call it +alarmin'." + +"An' what would you say if I told you there wasn't a hundred Texan +soldiers in San Antonio to meet them seven thousand Mexicans comin' +under Santa Anna?" + +"If you told me that I'd say it was true. I'd say also, if I was usin' +adjectives, that it was powerful alarmin'. For Heaven's sake, Mr. +Panther, the state of affairs ain't so bad as that, is it?" + +"It certainly is," replied the Panther. "Ned Fulton here was all through +their camp last night. He can talk Mexican an' Spanish like lightnin' +an' he makes up wonderful--an' he saw their whole army. He saw old Santa +Anna, too, an' fifty or a hundred generals, all covered with gold lace. +If we don't get a lot of fightin' men together an' get 'em quick, Texas +will be swept clean by that Mexican army same as if a field had been +crossed by millions of locusts." + +It was obvious that Crockett was impressed deeply by these blunt +statements. + +"What do you wish us to do?" he asked the Panther. + +"You an' your friends come with us. We've got some good men at a cabin +in the woods that we can reach to-night. We'll join with them, raise as +many more as we can, spread the alarm everywhere, an' do everything +possible for the defence of San Antonio." + +"A good plan, Mr. Panther," said Crocket. "You lead the way to this +cabin of yours, an' remember that we're servin' under you for the time +bein'." + +The Panther rode on without another word and the party, now raised from +three to sixteen, followed. Crockett fell in by the side of Ned, and +soon showed that he was not averse to talking. + +"A good country," he said, nodding at the landscape, "but it ain't like +Tennessee. It would take me a long time to git used to the lack of hills +an' runnin' water an' trees which just cover the state of Tennessee." + +"We have them here, too," replied Ned, "though I'll admit they're +scattered. But it's a grand country to fight for." + +"An' as I see it we'll have a grand lot of fightin' to do," said Davy +Crockett. + +They continued at good speed until twilight, when they rested their +horses and ate of the food that they carried. The night promised to be +cold but clear, and the crisp air quickened their blood. + +"How much further is it?" asked Crockett of Ned. + +"Fifteen or eighteen miles, but at the rate we're going we should be +there in three hours. We've got a roof. It isn't a big one, and we don't +know who built it, but it will shelter us all." + +"I ain't complainin' of that," rejoined Davy Crockett. "I'm a lover of +fresh air an' outdoors, but I don't object to a roof in cold weather. +Always take your comfort, boy, when it's offered to you. It saves wear +an' tear." + +A friendship like that between him and Bowie was established already +between Ned and Crockett. Ned's grave and serious manner, the result of +the sufferings through which he had gone, invariably attracted the +attention and liking of those far older than himself. + +"I'll remember your advice, Mr. Crockett," he said. + +A rest of a half hour for the horses and they started riding rapidly. +After a while they struck the belt of forest and soon the cabin was not +more than a mile away. But the Panther, who was still in the lead, +pulled up his horse suddenly. + +"Boys," he exclaimed, "did you hear that?" + +Every man stopped his horse also and with involuntary motion bent +forward a little to listen. Then the sound that the Panther had heard +came again. It was the faint ping of a rifle shot, muffled by the +distance. In a moment they heard another and then two more. The sounds +came from the direction of their cabin. + +"The boys are attacked," said the Panther calmly, "an' it's just as well +that we've come fast. But I can't think who is after 'em. There was +certainly no Mexicans in these parts yesterday, an' Urrea could not +possibly have got ahead of us with a raidin' band. But at any rate we'll +ride on an' soon see." + +They proceeded with the utmost caution, and they heard the faint ping of +the rifles a half dozen times as they advanced. The nostrils of the +Panther began to distend, and streaks of red appeared on his eyeballs. +He was smelling the battle afar, and his soul rejoiced. He had spent his +whole life amid scenes of danger, and this was nature to him. Crockett +rode up by his side, and he, too, listened eagerly. He no longer carried +Betsy over his shoulder but held the long rifle across the pommel of his +saddle, his hand upon hammer and trigger. + +"What do you think it is, Panther?" he asked. Already he had fallen into +the easy familiarity of the frontier. + +"I can't make it out yet," replied the Panther, "but them shots shorely +came from the cabin an' places about it. Our fellows are besieged, but +I've got to guess at the besiegers, an' then I'm likely to guess wrong." + +They were riding very slowly, and presently they heard a dozen shots, +coming very clearly now. + +"I think we'd better stop here," said the Panther, "an' do a little +scoutin'. If you like it, Mr. Crockett, you an' me an' Ned, here, will +dismount, slip forward an' see what's the trouble. Obed will take +Command of the others, an' wait in the bushes till we come back with the +news, whatever it is." + +"I'll go with you gladly," said Davy Crockett. "I'm not lookin' for +trouble with a microscope, but if trouble gets right in my path I'm not +dodgin' it. So I say once more, lead on, noble Mr. Panther, an' if Betsy +here must talk she'll talk." + +The Panther grinned in the dusk. He and Davy Crockett had instantly +recognized congenial souls, each in the other. + +"I can't promise you that thar'll be rippin' an' t'arin' an' roarin' an' +chawin' all the time," he said, "but between you an' me, Davy Crockett, +I've an' idee that we're not goin' to any sort of prayer meetin' this +time of night." + +"No, I'm thinkin' not," said Crockett, "but if there is a scene of +turbulence before us lead on. I'm prepared for my share in it. The +debate may be lively, but I've no doubt that I'll get my chance to +speak. There are many ways to attract the attention of the Speaker. +Pardon me, Mr. Panther, but I fall naturally into the phrases of +legislative halls." + +"I remember that you served two terms in Congress at Washington," said +the Panther. + +"An' I'd be there yet if it wasn't for Andy Jackson. I wanted my way in +Tennessee politics an' he wanted his. He was so stubborn an' headstrong +that here I am ready to become a statesman in this new Texas which is +fightin' for its independence. An' what a change! From marble halls in +Washington to a night in the brush on the frontier, an' with an unknown +enemy before you." + +They stopped talking now and, kneeling down in a thicket, began to creep +forward. The cabin was not more than four or five hundred yards away, +but a long silence had succeeded the latest shots, and after an advance +of thirty or forty yards they lay still for a while. Then they heard two +shots ahead of them, and saw little pink dots of flame from the +exploding gunpowder. + +"It cannot be Mexicans who are besieging the cabin," said Ned. "They +would shout or make some kind of a noise. We have not heard a thing but +the rifle shots." + +"Your argyment is good," whispered the Panther. "Look! Did you see that +figure passin' between us an' the cabin?" + +"I saw it," said Davy Crockett, "an' although it was but a glimpse an' +this is night it did not seem to me to be clad in full Christian +raiment. I am quite sure it is not the kind of costume that would be +admitted to the galleries of Congress." + +"You're right, doubly right," said the Panther. "That was an Injun you +saw, but whether a Comanche or a Lipan I couldn't tell. The boys are +besieged not by Mexicans, but by Injuns. Hark to that!" + +There was a flash from the cabin, a dusky figure in the woods leaped +into the air, uttered a death cry, fell and lay still. + +"An', as you see," continued the Panther, in his whisper, "the boys in +the house are not asleep, dreamin' beautiful dreams. Looks to me as if +they was watchin' mighty sharp for them fellers who have broke up their +rest." + +Crack! went a second shot from the house, but there was no answering +cry, and they could not tell whether it hit anything. But they soon saw +more dark figures flitting through the bushes, and their own position +grew very precarious. If a band of the Indians stumbled upon them they +might be annihilated before they gave their besieged comrades any help. + +"I make the motion, Mr. Panther," said Crockett, "that you form a speedy +plan of action for us, an' I trust that our young friend Ned here will +second it." + +"I second the motion," said Ned. + +"It is carried unanimously. Now, Mr. Panther, we await your will." + +"It's my will that we git back to the rest of the men as soon as we can. +I reckon, Mr. Crockett, that them Tennesseans of yours wouldn't head in +the other direction if a fight grew hot." + +"I reckon that wild horses couldn't drag 'em away," said Crockett dryly. + +"Then we'll go back an' j'in 'em." + +"To hold a caucus, so to speak." + +"I don't know what a cow-cuss is." + +"It's Congressional for a conference. Don't mind these parliamentary +expressions of mine, Mr. Panther. They give me pleasure an' they hurt +nobody." + +They reached the Tennesseans without interruption, and the Panther +quickly laid his plan before them. They would advance within a quarter +of a mile of the cabin, tie their horses in the thickest of the brush, +leave four men to guard them, then the rest would go forward to help the +besieged. + +Crockett's eyes twinkled when the Panther announced the campaign in a +few words. + +"Very good; very good," he said. "A steering committee could not have +done better. That also is parliamentary, but I think you understand it." + +They heard detached shots again and then a long yell. + +"They're Comanches," said the Panther. "I know their cry, an' I guess +there's a lot of them." + +Ned hoped that the shout did not mean the achieving of some triumph. +They reached presently a dense growth of brush, and there the horses +were tied. Four reluctant Tennesseans remained with them and the rest +crept forward. They did not hear any shot after they left the horses +until they were within three hundred yards of the house. Then an +apparition caused all to stop simultaneously. + +A streak of flame shot above the trees, curved and fell. It was followed +by another and another. Ned was puzzled, but the Panther laughed low. + +"This can't be fireworks on election night," said Davy Crockett. "It +seems hardly the place for such a display." + +"They're fireworks, all right," said the Panther, "but it's not election +night. You're correct about that part of it. Look, there goes the fourth +an' the fifth." + +Two more streaks of flame curved and fell, and Ned and Crockett were +still puzzled. + +"Them's burnin' arrers," said the Panther. "It's an old trick of the +Injuns. If they had time enough they'd be sure to set the cabin on fire, +and then from ambush they'd shoot the people as they ran out. But what +we're here for is to stop that little game of theirs. The flight of the +arrers enables us to locate the spot from which they come an' there +we'll find the Comanches." + +They crept toward the point from which the lighted arrows were flying, +and peering; from the thicket saw a score or more of Comanches gathered +in the bushes and under the trees. One of the Tennesseans, seeking a +better position, caused a loud rustling, and the alert Comanches, +instantly taking alarm, turned their attention to the point from which +the sound had come. + +"Fire, boys! Fire at once!" cried the Panther. + +A deadly volley was poured into the Comanche band. The Indians replied, +but were soon compelled to give way. The Panther, raising his voice, +shouted in tremendous tones: + +"Rescue! Rescue! We're here, boys!" + +The defenders of the cabin, hearing the volleys and the shouts of their +friends, opened the door and rushed out of the cabin, rifle in hand. +Caught between two forces, the Comanches gave up and rushed to the +plain, where they had left their ponies. Jumping upon the backs of +these, they fled like the wind. + +The two victorious parties met and shook hands. + +"We're mighty glad to see you, Panther," said Fields, grinning. "You +don't look like an angel, but you act like one, an' I see you've brought +a lot of new angels with you." + +"Yes," replied the Panther, with some pride in his voice, "an' the first +of the angels is Davy Crockett. Mr. Crockett, Mr. Fields." + +The men crowded around to shake hands with the renowned Davy. Meanwhile +a small party brought the four Tennesseans and the horses. Fortunately +the Comanches had fled in the other direction. But it was not all joy in +the Texan camp. Two silent figures covered with serapes were stretched +on the floor in the cabin, and several others had wounds, although they +had borne their part in the fighting. + +"Tell us how it happened," said the Panther, after they had set +sentinels in the forest. + +"They attacked us about an hour after dark," replied Fields. "We knew +that no Mexicans were near, but we never thought of Indians raiding +this far to the eastward. Some of the men were outside looking after +jerked meat when they suddenly opened fire from the brush. Two of the +boys, Campbell and Hudson, were hurt so badly that they died after they +were helped into the house by the others. The Comanches tried to rush in +with our own men, but we drove them off and we could have held the cabin +against 'em forever, if they hadn't begun to shoot the burning arrows. +Then you came." + +Campbell and Hudson were buried. Ned had been welcomed warmly by Allen, +and the two boys compared notes. Will's face glowed when he heard of +Ned's adventures within the Mexican lines. + +"I could never have done it," he said. "I couldn't have kept steady +enough when one crisis after another came along. I suppose this means, +of course, that we must try to meet Santa Anna in some way. What do you +think we can do, Ned?" + +"I don't know, but just at present I'm going to sleep. The Panther, Davy +Crockett and Obed will debate the plans." + +Ned, who was becoming inured to war and danger, was soon asleep, but +Will could not close his eyes. He had borne a gallant part in the +defense, and the sounds of rifle shots and Indian yells still resounded +in his excited ear. He remained awake long after he heard the heavy +breathing of the men about him, but exhausted nerves gave way at last +and he, too, slept. + +The next morning their news was debated gravely by all. There was not +one among them who did not understand its significance, but it was hard +to agree upon a policy. Davy Crockett, who had just come, and who was +practically a stranger to Texas, gave his opinions with hesitation. + +"It's better for you, Mr. Panther, an' you, Mr. White, to make the +motions," he said, "an' I an' my Tennesseans will endorse them. But it +seems, boys, that if we came for a fight it is offered to us the moment +we get here." + +"Yes," said the twelve Tennesseans all together. + +"I shall be compelled to leave you," said Roylston. "Pray, don't think +it's because I'm afraid to fight the Mexicans. But, as I told you +before, I can do far greater good for the Texan cause elsewhere. As I am +now as well as ever, and I am able to take care of myself, I think I +shall leave at once." + +"I've known you only a few hours, Mr. Roylston," said Crockett, "but +I've knocked around a hard world long enough to know a man when I see +him. If you say you ought, you ought to go." + +"That's so," said the Panther. "We've seen Mr. Roylston tried more than +once, and nobody doubts his courage." + +A good horse, saddled and bridled, and arms and ammunition, were given +to Roylston. Then he bade them farewell. When he was about twenty yards +away he beckoned to Ned. When the boy stood at his saddle bow he said +very earnestly: + +"If you fall again into the hands of Santa Anna, and are in danger of +your life, use my name with him. It is perhaps a more potent weapon than +you think. Do not forget." + +"I will not," said Ned, "and I thank you very much, Mr. Roylston. But I +hope that no such occasion will arise." + +"So do I," said Roylston with emphasis. Then he rode away, a square, +strong figure, and never looked back. + +"What was he saying, Ned?" asked Will, when the boy returned. + +"Merely promising help if we should need it, hereafter." + +"He looks like a man who would give it." + +After some further talk it was decided that Ned, Will, Obed and the +Panther should ride south to watch the advance of Santa Anna, while +Crockett, Fields and the remainder should go to San Antonio and raise +such troops as they could. + +"An' if you don't mind my sayin' it to you, Mr. Crockett," said the +Panther, "keep tellin' 'em over an' over again that they have need to +beware. Tell 'em that Santa Anna, with all the power of Mexico at his +back, is comin'." + +"Fear not, my good friend," said Davy Crockett. "I shall tell them every +hour of the day. I shall never cease to bring the information before the +full quorum of the House. Again I am parliamentary, but I think you +understand, Mr. Panther." + +"We all understan'," said the Panther, and then Crockett rode away at +the head of the little troop which tacitly made him commander. Ned's +eyes followed his figure as long as he was in sight. Little did he dream +of what was to pass when they should meet again, scenes that one could +never forget, though he lived a thousand years. + +"A staunch man and true," said Obed. "He will be a great help to Texas." + +Then they turned back to the cabin, the four of them, because they did +not intend to go forth until night. They missed their comrades, but the +cabin was a pleasant place, well stored now with meat of buffalo, deer +and wild turkey. Floor and walls alike were covered with dressed skins. + +"Why not fasten it up just as tightly as we can before we go away," +said Allen. "The Comanches are not likely to come back, the war is +swinging another way, and maybe we'll find it here handy for us again +some day." + +"You're talkin' sense, Will Allen," said the Panther. "It's been a +shelter to us once, and it might be a shelter to us twice. The smell of +the meat will, of course, draw wolves an' panthers, but we can fix it so +they can't get in." + +Taking sufficient provisions for themselves, they put the rest high up +on the rafters. Then they secured the windows, and heaped logs before +the door in such a manner that the smartest wolves and panthers in the +world could not force an entrance. As they sat on their horses in the +twilight preparatory to riding away, they regarded their work with great +content. + +"There it is, waiting for us when we come again," said Obed White. "It's +a pleasant thing to have a castle for refuge when your enemies are +making it too hot for you out in the open." + +"So it is," said the Panther, "and a man finds that out more than once +in his life." + +Then they turned their horses and rode southward in the dusk. But before +long they made an angle and turned almost due west. It was their +intention to intersect the settlements that lay between the Rio Grande +and San Antonio and give warning of the approach of Santa Anna. + +They went on steadily over a rolling country, mostly bare, but with +occasional clumps of trees. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE HERALD OF ATTACK + + +About midnight they rode into the thickest part of the woods that they +could find, and slept there until day. Then they continued their course +toward the west, and before night they saw afar small bands of horsemen. + +"What do you say they are?" asked the Panther of Ned when they beheld +the first group. "Seems to me they are Mexican." + +Ned looked long before returning an answer. Then he replied with +confidence: + +"Yes, they are Mexicans. The two men in the rear have lances, and no +Texan ever carried such a weapon." + +"Then," said Obed White, "it behooves us to have a care. We're scouts +now and we're not looking for a battle. He who dodges the fight and runs +away may live to scout another day." + +The Mexican horsemen were on their right, and the four continued their +steady course to the west. They were reassured by the fact that the +Mexicans were likely to take them in the distance for other Mexicans. It +became evident now that Santa Anna was taking every precaution. He was +sending forward scouts and skirmishers in force, and the task of the +four was likely to become one of great danger. + +Toward night an uncommonly raw and cold wind began to blow. That winter +was one of great severity in Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, noted +also for its frequent Northers. Although the time for the Texan spring +was near at hand, there was little sign of it. Not knowing what else to +do they sought the shelter of timber again and remained there a while. +By and by they saw for the second time a red glow in the south, and they +knew that it came from the camp fires of Santa Anna. But it was now many +miles north of the Rio Grande. Santa Anna was advancing. + +"He's pressin' forward fast," said the Panther, "an' his skirmishers are +scourin' the plain ahead of him. We've got to keep a sharp lookout, +because we may run into 'em at any time. I think we'd better agree that +if by any luck we get separated an' can't reunite, every fellow should +ride hard for San Antonio with the news." + +The plan seemed good to all, and, after a long wait, they rode to +another clump of trees four or five hundred yards further south. Here +they saw the red glow more plainly. It could not be more than two miles +away, and they believed that to approach any nearer was to imperil their +task. Before the first light appeared the next day they would turn back +on San Antonio as the heralds of Santa Anna's advance. + +The four sat on their horses among the trees, darker shadows in the +shadow. Beyond the little grove they saw the plain rolling away on every +side bare to the horizon, except in the south, where the red glow always +threatened. Ned rode to the western edge of the grove in order to get a +better view. He searched the plain carefully with his keen vision, but +he could find no sign of life there in the west. + +He turned Old Jack in order to rejoin his comrades, when he suddenly +heard a low sound from the east. He listened a moment, and then, hearing +it distinctly, he knew it. It was the thud of hoofs, and the horsemen +were coming straight toward the grove, which was two or three hundred +yards in width. + +Owing to the darkness and the foliage Ned could not see his comrades, +but he started toward them at once. Then came a sudden cry, the rapid +beat of hoofs, the crack of shots, and a Mexican body of cavalry dashed +into the wood directly between the boy and his comrades. He heard once +the tremendous shout of the Panther and the wild Mexican yells. Two +horsemen fired at him and a third rode at him with extended lance. + +It was Old Jack that saved Ned's life. The boy was so startled that his +brain was in a paralysis for a moment. But the horse shied suddenly away +from the head of the lance, which was flashing in the moonlight. Ned +retained both his seat and his rifle. He fired at the nearest of the +Mexicans, who fell from his saddle, and then, seeing that but one +alternative was left him he gave Old Jack the rein and galloped from the +grove into the west. + +Amid all the rush and terrific excitement of the moment, Ned thought of +his comrades. It was not possible for him to join them now, but they +were three together and they might escape. The Panther was a wonderful +borderer, and Obed White was not far behind him. He turned his attention +to his own escape. Two more shots were fired at him, but in both cases +the bullets went wide. Then he heard only the thud of hoofs, but the +pursuing horsemen were very near. + +Something whizzed through the air and instinctively he bent forward +almost flat on the neck of Old Jack. A coiling shape struck him on the +head, slipped along his back, then along the quarters of his horse and +fell to the ground. He felt as if a deadly snake had struck at him, and +then had drawn its cold body across him. But he knew that it was a +lasso. The Mexicans would wish to take him alive, as they might secure +valuable information from him. Now he heard them shouting to one +another, every one boasting that his would be the successful throw. As +Ned's rifle was empty, and he could not reload it at such speed, they +seemed to fear nothing for themselves. + +He looked back. They numbered seven or eight, and they were certainly +very near. They had spread out a little and whenever Old Jack veered a +yard or two from the pursuers some one gained. He saw a coil of rope fly +through the air and he bent forward again. It struck Old Jack on the +saddle and fell to the ground. Ned wondered why they did not fire now, +but he remembered that their rifles or muskets, too, might be empty, and +suddenly he felt a strange exultation. He was still lying forward on his +horse's neck, and now he began to talk to him. + +"On! On! Old Jack," he said, "show 'em the cleanest heels that were ever +seen in Texas! On! On! my beauty of a horse, my jewel of a horse! Would +you let miserable Mexican ponies overtake you? You who were never +beaten! Ah, now we gain! But faster! faster!" + +It seemed that Old Jack understood. He stretched out his long neck and +became a streak in the darkness. A third Mexican threw his lasso, but +the noose only touched his flying tail. A fourth threw, and the noose +did not reach him at all. + +They were far out on the plain now, where the moonlight revealed +everything, and the horse's sure instinct would guide. Ned felt Old Jack +beneath him, running strong and true without a jar like the most perfect +piece of machinery. He stole a glance over his shoulder. All the +Mexicans were there, too far away now for a throw of the lasso, but +several of them were trying to reload their weapons. Ned knew that if +they succeeded he would be in great danger. No matter how badly they +shot a chance bullet might hit him or his horse. And he could afford for +neither himself nor Old Jack to be wounded. + +Once more the boy leaned far over on his horse's neck and cried in his +ear: + +"On, Old Jack, on! Look, we gain now, but we must gain more. Show to +them what a horse you are!" + +And again the great horse responded. Fast as he was going it seemed to +Ned that he now lengthened his stride. His long head was thrust out +almost straight, and his great body fairly skimmed the earth. But the +Mexicans hung on with grim tenacity. Their ponies were tough and +enduring, and, spread out like the arc of a bow, they continually +profited by some divergence that Old Jack made from the straight line. +Aware of this danger Ned himself, nevertheless, was unable to tell +whether the horse was going in a direct course, and he let him have his +head. + +"Crack!" went a musket, and a bullet sang past Ned's face. It grazed Old +Jack's ear, drawing blood. The horse uttered an angry snort and fairly +leaped forward. Ned looked back again. Another man had succeeded in +loading his musket and was about to fire. Then the boy remembered the +pistol at his belt. Snatching it out he fired at the fellow with the +loaded musket. + +The Mexican reeled forward on his horse's neck and his weapon dropped to +the ground. Whether the man himself fell also Ned never knew, because he +quickly thrust the pistol back in his belt and once more was looking +straight ahead. Now confidence swelled again in his heart. He had +escaped all their bullets so far, and he was still gaining. He would +escape all the others and he would continue to gain. + +He saw just ahead of him one of the clumps of trees that dotted the +plain, but, although it might give momentary protection from the bullets +he was afraid to gallop into it, lest he be swept from his horse's back +by the boughs or bushes. But his direct course would run close to the +left side of it, and once more he sought to urge Old Jack to greater +speed. + +The horse was still running without a jar. Ned could not feel a single +rough movement in the perfect machinery beneath him. Unless wounded Old +Jack would not fail him. He stole another of those fleeting glances +backward. + +Several of the Mexicans, their ponies spent, were dropping out of the +race, but enough were left to make the odds far too great. Ned now +skimmed along the edge of the grove, and when he passed it he turned his +horse a little, so the trees were between him and his nearest pursuers. +Then he urged Old Jack to his last ounce of speed. The plain raced +behind him, and fortunate clouds, too, now came, veiling the moon and +turning the dusk into deeper darkness. Ned heard one disappointed cry +behind him, and then no sound but the flying beat of his own horse's +hoofs. + +When he pulled rein and brought Old Jack to a walk he could see or hear +nothing of the Mexicans. The great horse was a lather of foam, his sides +heaving and panting, and Ned sprang to the ground. He reloaded his rifle +and pistol and then walked toward the west, leading Old Jack by the +bridle. He reckoned that the Mexicans would go toward the north, +thinking that he would naturally ride for San Antonio, and hence he +chose the opposite direction. + +He walked a long time and presently he felt the horse rubbing his nose +gently against his arm. Ned stroked the soft muzzle. + +"You've saved my life. Old Jack," he said, "and not for the first time. +You responded to every call." + +The horse whinnied ever so softly, and Ned felt that he was not alone. +Now he threw the bridle reins back over the horse's head, and then the +two walked on, side by side, man and beast. + +They stopped at times, and it may be that the horse as well as the boy +then looked and listened for a foe. But the Mexicans had melted away +completely in the night. It was likely now that they were going in the +opposite direction, and assured that he was safe from them for the time +Ned collapsed, both physically and mentally. Such tremendous exertions +and such terrible excitement were bound to bring reaction. He began to +tremble violently, and he became so weak that he could scarcely stand. +The horse seemed to be affected in much the same way and walked slowly +and painfully. + +Ned saw another little grove, and he and the horse walked straight +toward it. It was fairly dense, and when he was in the center of it he +wrapped his rifle and himself in his serape and lay down. The horse sank +on his side near him. He did not care for anything now except to secure +rest. Mexicans or Comanches or Lipans might be on the plain only a few +hundred yards away. It did not matter to him. He responded to no emotion +save the desire for rest, and in five minutes he was in a deep sleep. + +Ned slept until long after daylight. He was so much exhausted that he +scarcely moved during all that time. Nor did the horse. Old Jack had run +his good race and won the victory, and he, too, cared for nothing but to +rest. + +Before morning some Lipan buffalo hunters passed, but they took no +notice of the grove and soon disappeared in the west. After the dawn a +detachment of Mexican lancers riding to the east to join the force of +Santa Anna also passed the clump of trees, but the horse and man lay in +the densest part of it, and no pair of Mexican eyes was keen enough to +see them there. They were answering the call of Santa Anna, and they +rode on at a trot, the grove soon sinking out of sight behind them. + +Ned was awakened at last by the sun shining in his face. He stirred, +recalled in a vague sort of way where he was and why he was there, and +then rose slowly to his feet. His joints were stiff like those of an old +man, and he rubbed them to acquire ease. A great bay horse, saddle on +his back, was searching here and there for the young stems of grass. Ned +rubbed his eyes. It seemed to him that he knew that horse. And a fine +big horse he was, too, worth knowing and owning. Yes, it was Old Jack, +the horse that had carried him to safety. + +His little store of provisions was still tied to the saddle and he ate +hungrily. At the end of the grove was a small pool formed by the +winter's rains, and though the water was far from clear he drank his +fill. He flexed and tensed his muscles again until all the stiffness and +soreness were gone. Then he made ready for his departure. + +He could direct his course by the sun, and he intended to go straight to +San Antonio. He only hoped that he might get there before the arrival of +Santa Anna and his army. He could not spare the time to seek his +comrades, and he felt much apprehension for them, but he yet had the +utmost confidence in the skill of the Panther and Obed White. + +It was about two hours before noon when Ned set out across the plain. +Usually in this region antelope were to be seen on the horizon, but +they were all gone now. The boy considered it a sure sign that Mexican +detachments had passed that way. It was altogether likely, too, so he +calculated, that the Mexican army was now nearer than he to San Antonio. +His flight had taken him to the west while Santa Anna was moving +straight toward the Texan outworks. But he believed that by steady +riding he could reach San Antonio within twenty-four hours. + +The afternoon passed without event. Ned saw neither human beings nor +game on the vast prairie. He had hoped that by some chance he might meet +with his comrades, but there was no sign of them, and he fell back on +his belief that their skill and great courage had saved them. Seeking to +dismiss them from his thoughts for the time in order that he might +concentrate all his energies on San Antonio, he rode on. The horse had +recovered completely from his great efforts of the preceding night, and +once more that magnificent piece of machinery worked without a jar. Old +Jack moved over the prairie with long, easy strides. It seemed to Ned +that he could never grow weary. He patted the sinewy and powerful neck. + +"Gallant comrade," he said, "you have done your duty and more. You, at +least, will never fail." + +Twilight came down, but Ned kept on. By and by he saw in the east, and +for the third time, that fatal red glow extending far along the dusky +horizon. All that he had feared of Santa Anna was true. The dictator was +marching fast, whipping his army forward with the fierce energy that was +a part of his nature. It was likely, too, that squadrons of his cavalry +were much further on. A daring leader like Urrea would certainly be +miles ahead of the main army, and it was more than probable that bands +of Mexican horsemen were now directly between him and San Antonio. + +Ned knew that he would need all his strength and courage to finish his +task. So he gave Old Jack a little rest, although he did not seem to +need it, and drew once more upon his rations. + +When he remounted he was conscious that the air had grown much colder. A +chill wind began to cut him across the cheek. Snow, rain and wind have +played a great part in the fate of armies, and they had much to do with +the struggle between Texas and Mexico in that fateful February. Ned's +experience told him that another Norther was about to begin, and he was +glad of it. One horseman could make much greater progress through it +than an army. + +The wind rose fast and then came hail and snow on its edge. The red glow +in the east disappeared. But Ned knew that it was still there. The +Norther had merely drawn an icy veil between. He shivered, and the horse +under him shivered, too. Once more he wrapped around his body the +grateful folds of the serape and he drew on a pair of buckskin gloves, a +part of his winter equipment. + +Then he rode on straight toward San Antonio as nearly as he could +calculate. The Norther increased in ferocity. It brought rain, hail and +snow, and the night darkened greatly. Ned began to fear that he would +get lost. It was almost impossible to keep the true direction in such a +driving storm. He had no moon and stars to guide him, and he was +compelled to rely wholly upon instinct. Sometimes he was in woods, +sometimes upon the plain, and once or twice he crossed creeks, the +waters of which were swollen and muddy. + +The Norther was not such a blessing after all. He might be going +directly away from San Antonio, while Santa Anna, with innumerable +guides, would easily reach there the next day. He longed for those +faithful comrades of his. The four of them together could surely find a +way out of this. + +He prayed now that the Norther would cease, but his prayer was of no +avail. It whistled and moaned about him, and snow and hail were +continually driven in his face. Fortunately the brim of the sombrero +protected his eyes. He floundered on until midnight. The Norther was +blowing as fiercely as ever, and he and Old Jack were brought up by a +thicket too dense for them to penetrate. + +Ned understood now that he was lost. Instinct had failed absolutely. +Brave and resourceful as he was he uttered a groan of despair. It was +torture to be so near the end of his task and then to fail. But the +despair lasted only a moment. The courage of a nature containing genuine +greatness brought back hope. + +He dismounted and led his horse around the thicket. Then they came to a +part of the woods which seemed thinner, and not knowing anything else to +do he went straight ahead. But he stopped abruptly when his feet sank in +soft mud. He saw directly before him a stream yellow, swollen and +flowing faster than usual. + +Ned knew that it was the San Antonio River, and now he had a clue. By +following its banks he would reach the town. The way might be long, but +it must inevitably lead him to San Antonio, and he would take it. + +He remounted and rode forward as fast as he could. The river curved and +twisted, but he was far more cheerful now. The San Antonio was like a +great coiling rope, but if he followed it long enough he would certainly +come to the end that he wished. The Norther continued to blow. He and +his horse were a huge moving shape of white. Now and then the snow, +coating too thickly upon his serape, fell in lumps to the ground, but it +was soon coated anew and as thick as ever. But whatever happened he +never let the San Antonio get out of his sight. + +He was compelled to stop at last under a thick cluster of oaks, where he +was somewhat sheltered from the wind and snow. Here he dismounted again, +stamped his feet vigorously for warmth and also brushed the snow from +his faithful horse. Old Jack, as usual, rubbed his nose against the +boy's arm. + +The horse was a source of great comfort and strength to Ned. He always +believed that he would have collapsed without him. As nearly as he could +guess the time it was about halfway between midnight and morning, and in +order to preserve his strength he forced himself to eat a little more. + +A half hour's rest, and remounting he resumed his slow progress by the +river. The rest had been good for both his horse and himself, and the +blood felt warmer in his veins. He moved for some time among trees and +thickets that lined the banks, and after a while he recognized familiar +ground. He had been in some of these places in the course of the siege +of San Antonio, and the town could not be far away. + +It was probably two hours before daylight when he heard a sound which +was not that of the Norther, a sound which he knew instantly. It was the +dull clank of bronze against bronze. It could be made only by one cannon +striking against another. Then Santa Anna, or one of his generals, +despite the storm and the night, was advancing with his army, or a part +of it. Ned shivered, and now not from the cold. + +The Texans did not understand the fiery energy of this man. They would +learn of it too late, unless he told them, and it might be too late even +then. He pressed on with as much increase of speed as the nature of the +ground would allow. In another hour the snow and hail ceased, but the +wind still blew fiercely, and it remained very cold. + +The dawn began to show dimly through drifting clouds. Ned did not recall +until long afterward that it was the birthday of the great Washington. +By a singular coincidence Santa Anna appeared before Taylor with a +vastly superior force on the same birthday eleven years later. + +It was a hidden sun, and the day was bleak with clouds and driving +winds. Nevertheless the snow that had fallen began to disappear. Ned and +Old Jack still made their way forward, somewhat slowly now, as they were +stiff and sore from the long night's fight with darkness and cold. On +his right, only a few feet away, was the swollen current of the San +Antonio. The stream looked deep to Ned, and it bore fragments of timber +upon its muddy bosom. It seemed to him that the waters rippled angrily +against the bank. His excited imagination--and full cause there +was--gave a sinister meaning to everything. + +A heavy fog began to rise from the river and wet earth. He could not see +far in front of him, but he believed that the town was now only a mile +or two away. Soon a low, heavy sound, a measured stroke, came out of the +fog. It was the tolling of the church bell in San Antonio, and for some +reason its impact upon Ned's ear was like the stroke of death. A strange +chilly sensation ran down his spine. + +He rode to the very edge of the stream and began to examine it for a +possible ford. San Antonio was on the other side, and he must cross. +But everywhere the dark, swollen waters threatened, and he continued his +course along the bank. + +A thick growth of bushes and a high portion of the bank caused him +presently to turn away from the river until he could make a curve about +the obstacles. The tolling of the bell had now ceased, and the fog was +lifting a little. Out of it came only the low, angry murmur of the +river's current. + +As Ned turned the curve the wind grew much stronger. The bank of fog was +split asunder and then floated swiftly away in patches and streamers. On +his left beyond the river Ned saw the roofs of the town, now glistening +in the clear morning air, and on his right, only four or five hundred +yards away, he saw a numerous troop of Mexican cavalry. In the figure at +the head of the horsemen he was sure that he recognized Urrea. + +Ned's first emotion was a terrible sinking of the heart. After all that +he had done, after all his great journeys, hardships and dangers, he was +to fail with the towers and roofs of San Antonio in sight. It was the +triumphant cry of the Mexicans that startled him into life again. They +had seen the lone horseman by the river and they galloped at once toward +him. Ned had made no mistake. It was Urrea, pressing forward ahead of +the army, who led the troop, and it may be that he recognized the boy +also. + +With the cry of the Mexicans ringing in his ears, the boy shouted to Old +Jack. The good horse, as always, made instant response, and began to +race along the side of the river. But even his mighty frame had been +weakened by so much strain. Ned noticed at once that the machinery +jarred. The great horse was laboring hard and the Mexican cavalry, +comparatively fresh, was coming on fast. It was evident that he would +soon be overtaken, and so sure were the Mexicans of it that they did not +fire. + +There were deep reserves of courage and fortitude in this boy, deeper +than even he himself suspected. When he saw that he could not escape by +speed, the way out flashed upon him. To think was to do. He turned his +horse without hesitation and urged him forward with a mighty cry. + +Never had Old Jack made a more magnificent response. Ned felt the mighty +mass of bone and muscle gather in a bunch beneath him. Then, ready to +expand again with violent energy, it was released as if by the touch of +a spring. The horse sprang from the high bank far out into the deep +river. + +Ned felt his serape fly from him and his rifle dropped from his hand. +Then the yellow waters closed over both him and Old Jack. They came up +again, Ned still on the horse's back, but with an icy chill through all +his veins. He could not see for a moment or two, as the water was in his +eyes, but he heard dimly the shouts of the Mexicans and several shots. +Two or three bullets splashed the water around him and another struck +his sombrero, which was floating away on the surface of the stream. + +The horse, turning somewhat, swam powerfully in a diagonal course across +the stream. Ned, dazed for the moment by the shock of the plunge from a +height into the water, clung tightly to his back. He sat erect at first, +and then remembering that he must evade the bullets leaned forward with +the horse's neck between him and the Mexicans. + +More shots were fired, but again he was untouched, and then the horse +was feeling with his forefeet in the muddy bank for a hold. The next +instant, with a powerful effort, he pulled himself upon the shore. The +violent shock nearly threw Ned from his back, but the boy seized his +mane and hung on. + +The Mexicans shouted and fired anew, but Ned, now sitting erect, raced +for San Antonio, only a mile away. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +IN THE ALAMO + + +Most of the people in San Antonio were asleep when the dripping figure +of a half unconscious boy on a great horse galloped toward them in that +momentous dawn. He was without hat or serape. He was bareheaded and his +rifle was gone. He was shouting "Up! Up! Santa Anna and the Mexican army +are at hand!" But his voice was so choked and hoarse that he could not +be heard a hundred feet away. + +Davy Crockett, James Bowie and a third man were standing in the Main +Plaza. The third man, like the other two, was of commanding proportions. +He was a full six feet in height, very erect and muscular, and with full +face and red hair. He was younger than the others, not more than +twenty-eight, but he was Colonel William Barrett Travis, a North +Carolina lawyer, who was now in command of the few Texans in San +Antonio. + +The three men were talking very anxiously. Crockett had brought word +that the army of Santa Anna was on the Texan side of the Rio Grande, but +it had seemed impossible to rouse the Texans to a full sense of the +impending danger. Many remained at their homes following their usu +vocations. Mr. Austin was away in the states trying to raise money. +Dissensions were numerous in the councils of the new government, and the +leaders could agree upon nothing. + +Travis, Bowie and Crockett were aware of the great danger, but even +they did not believe it was so near. Nevertheless they were full of +anxiety. Crockett, just come to Texas, took no command and sought to +keep in the background, but he was too famous and experienced a man not +to be taken at once by Travis and Bowie into their councils. They were +discussing now the possibility of getting help. + +"We might send messengers to the towns further east," said Travis, "and +at least get a few men here in time." + +"We need a good many," said Bowie. "According to Mr. Crockett the +Mexican army is large, and the population here is unfriendly." + +"That is so," said Travis, "and we have women and children of our own to +protect." + +It was when he spoke the last words that they heard the clatter of hoofs +and saw Ned dashing down the narrow street toward the Main Plaza. They +heard him trying to shout, but his voice was now so hoarse that he could +not be understood. + +But Ned, though growing weaker fast, knew two of the men. He could never +forget the fair-haired Bowie nor the swarthy Crockett, and he galloped +straight toward them. Then he pulled up his horse and half fell, half +leaped to the ground. Holding by Old Jack's mane he pulled himself into +an erect position. He was a singular sight The water still fell from his +wet hair and dripped from his clothing. His face was plastered with mud. + +"Santa Anna's army, five thousand strong, is not two miles away!" he +said. "I tell you because I have seen it!" + +"Good God!" cried Bowie. "It's the boy, Ned Fulton. I know him well. +What he says must be truth." + +"It is every word truth!" croaked Ned. "I was pursued by their vanguard! +My horse swam the river with me! Up! Up! for Texas!" + +Then he fainted dead away. Bowie seized him in his powerful arms and +carried him into one of the houses occupied by the Texans, where men +stripped him of his wet clothing and gave him restoratives. But Bowie +himself hurried out into the Main Plaza. He had the most unlimited +confidence in Ned's word and so had Crockett. They and Travis at once +began to arrange the little garrison for defence. + +Many of the Texans even yet would not believe. So great had been their +confidence that they had sent out no scouting parties. Only a day or two +before they had been enjoying themselves at a great dance. The boy who +had come with the news that Santa Anna was at hand must be distraught. +Certainly he had looked like a maniac. + +A loud cry suddenly came from the roof of the church of San Fernando. +Two sentinels posted there had seen the edge of a great army appear upon +the plain and then spread rapidly over it. Santa Anna's army had come. +The mad boy was right. Two horsemen sent out to reconnoiter had to race +back for their lives. The flooded stream was now subsiding and only the +depth of the water in the night had kept the Mexicans from taking cannon +across and attacking. + +Ned's faint was short. He remembered putting on clothing, securing a +rifle and ammunition, and then he ran out into the square. From many +windows he saw the triumphant faces of Mexicans looking out, but he paid +no attention to them. He thought alone of the Texans, who were now +displaying the greatest energy. In the face of the imminent and deadly +peril Travis, Crockett, Bowie and the others were cool and were acting +with rapidity. The order was swiftly given to cross to the Alamo, the +old mission built like a fortress, and the Texans were gathering in a +body. Ned saw a young lieutenant named Dickinson catch up his wife and +child on a horse, and join the group of men. All the Texans had their +long rifles, and there were also cannon. + +As Ned took his place with the others a kindly hand fell upon his +shoulder and a voice spoke in his ear. + +"I was going to send for you, Ned," said Bowie, "but you've come. +Perhaps it would have been better for you, though, if you had been left +in San Antonio." + +"Oh, no, Mr. Bowie!" cried Ned. "Don't say that. We can beat off any +number of Mexicans!" + +Bowie said nothing more. Much of Ned's courage and spirit returned, but +he saw how pitifully small their numbers were. The little band that +defiled across the plain toward the Alamo numbered less than one hundred +and fifty men, and many of them were without experience. + +They were not far upon the plain when Ned saw a great figure coming +toward him. It was Old Jack, who had been forgotten in the haste and +excitement. The saddle was still on his back and his bridle trailed on +the ground. Ned met him and patted his faithful head. Already he had +taken his resolution. There would be no place for Old Jack in the Alamo, +but this good friend of his should not fall into the hands of the +Mexicans. + +He slipped off saddle and bridle, struck him smartly on the shoulder and +exclaimed: + +"Good-by, Old Jack, good-by! Keep away from our enemies and wait for +me." + +The horse looked a moment at his master, and, to Ned's excited eyes, it +seemed for a moment that he wished to speak. Old Jack had never before +been dismissed in this manner. Ned struck him again and yet more +sharply. + +"Go, old friend!" he cried. + +The good horse trotted away across the plain. Once he looked back as if +in reproach, but as Ned did not call him he kept on and disappeared over +a swell. It was to Ned like the passing of a friend, but he knew that +Old Jack would not allow the Mexicans to take him. He would fight with +both teeth and hoofs against any such ignominious capture. + +Then Ned turned his attention to the retreat. It was a little band that +went toward the Alamo, and there were three women and three children in +it, but since they knew definitely that Santa Anna and his great army +had come there was not a Texan who shrank from his duty. They had been +lax in their watch and careless of the future, faults frequent in +irregular troops, but in the presence of overwhelming danger they showed +not the least fear of death. + +They reached the Alamo side of the river. Before them they saw the hewn +stone walls of the mission rising up in the form of a cross and facing +the river and the town. It certainly seemed welcome to a little band of +desperate men who were going to fight against overwhelming odds. Ned +also saw not far away the Mexican cavalry advancing in masses. The +foremost groups were lancers, and the sun glittered on the blades of +their long weapons. + +Ned believed that Urrea was somewhere in one of these leading groups. +Urrea he knew was full of skill and enterprise, but his heart filled +with bitterness against him. He had tasted the Texan salt, he had broken +bread with those faithful friends of his, the Panther and Obed White, +and now he was at Santa Anna's right hand, seeking to destroy the Texans +utterly. + +"Looks as if I'd have a lot of use for Old Betsy," said a whimsical +voice beside him. "Somebody said when I started away from Tennessee that +I'd have nothing to do with it, might as well leave my rifle at home. +But I 'low that Old Betsy is the most useful friend I could have just +now." + +It was, of course, Davy Crockett who spoke. He was as cool as a cake of +ice. Old Betsy rested in the hollow of his arm, the long barrel +projecting several feet. His raccoon skin cap was on the back of his +head. His whole manner was that of one who was in the first stage of a +most interesting event. But as Ned was looking at him a light suddenly +leaped in the calm eye. + +"Look there! look there!" said Davy Crockett, pointing a long finger. +"We'll need food in that Alamo place, an' behold it on the hoof!" + +About forty cattle had been grazing on the plain. They had suddenly +gathered in a bunch, startled by the appearance of so many people, and +of galloping horsemen. + +"We'll take 'em with us! We'll need 'em! Say we can do it, Colonel!" +shouted Crockett to Travis. + +Travis nodded. + +"Come on, Ned," cried Crockett, "an' come on the rest of you +fleet-footed fellows! Every mother's son of you has driv' the cows home +before in his time, an' now you kin do it again!" + +A dozen swift Texans ran forward with shouts, Ned and Davy Crockett at +their head. Crockett was right. This was work that every one of them +knew how to do. In a flash they were driving the whole frightened herd +in a run toward the gate that led into the great plaza of the Alamo. The +swift motion, the sense of success in a sudden maneuver, thrilled Ned. +He shouted at the cattle as he would have done when he was a small boy. + +They were near the gate when he heard an ominous sound by his side. It +was the cocking of Davy Crockett's rifle, and when he looked around he +saw that Old Betsy was leveled, and that the sure eye of the Tennessean +was looking down the sights. + +Some of the Mexican skirmishers seeing the capture of the herd by the +daring Texans were galloping forward to check it. Crockett's finger +pressed the trigger. Old Betsy flashed and the foremost rider fell to +the ground. + +"I told that Mexican to come down off his horse, and he came down," +chuckled Crockett. + +The Mexicans drew back, because other Texan rifles, weapons that they +had learned to dread, were raised. A second body of horsemen charged +from a different angle, and Ned distinctly saw Urrea at their head. He +fired, but the bullet missed the partisan leader and brought down +another man behind him. + +"There are good pickings here," said Davy Crockett, "but they'll soon be +too many for us. Come on, Ned, boy! Our place is behind them walls!" + +"Yes," repeated Bowie, who was near. "It's the Alamo or nothing. No +matter how fast we fired our rifles we'd soon be trod under foot by the +Mexicans." + +They passed in, Bowie, Crockett and Ned forming the rear guard. The +great gates of the Alamo were closed behind them and barred. For the +moment they were safe, because these doors were made of very heavy oak, +and it would require immense force to batter them in. It was evident +that the Mexican horsemen on the plain did not intend to make any such +attempt, as they drew off hastily, knowing that the deadly Texan rifles +would man the walls at once. + +"Well, here we are, Ned," said the cheerful voice of Davy Crockett, "an' +if we want to win glory in fightin' it seems that we've got the biggest +chance that was ever offered to anybody. I guess when old Santa Anna +comes up he'll say: 'By nations right wheel; forward march the world.' +Still these walls will help a little to make up the difference between +fifty to one." + +As he spoke he tapped the outer wall. + +"No Mexican on earth," he said, "has got a tough enough head to butt +through that. At least I think so. Now what do you think, Ned?" + +His tone was so whimsical that Ned was compelled to laugh despite their +terrible situation. + +"It's a pity, though," continued Crockett, "that we've got such a big +place here to defend. Sometimes you're the stronger the less ground you +spread over." + +Ned glanced around. He had paid the Alamo one hasty visit just after the +capture of San Antonio by the Texans, but he took only a vague look +then. Now it was to make upon his brain a photograph which nothing could +remove as long as he lived. + +He saw in a few minutes all the details of the Alamo. He knew already +its history. This mission of deathless fame was even then more than a +century old. Its name, the Alamo, signified "the Cottonwood tree," but +that has long since been lost in another of imperishable grandeur. + +The buildings of the mission were numerous, the whole arranged, +according to custom, in the form of a cross. The church, which was now +without a roof, faced town and river, but it contained arched rooms, and +the sacristy had a solid roof of masonry. The windows, cut for the needs +of an earlier time, were high and narrow, in order that attacking +Indians might not pour in flights of arrows upon those who should be +worshipping there. Over the heavy oaken doors were images and carvings +in stone worn by time. + +To the left of the church, beside the wing of the cross, was the plaza +of the convent, about thirty yards square, with its separate walls more +than fifteen feet high and nearly four feet thick. + +Ned noted all these things rapidly and ineffaceably, as he and Crockett +took a swift but complete survey of their fortress. He saw that the +convent and hospital, each two stories in height, were made of adobe +bricks, and he also noticed a sallyport, protected by a little redoubt, +at the southeastern corner of the yard. + +They saw beyond the convent yard the great plaza into which they had +driven the cattle, a parallelogram covering nearly three acres, inclosed +by a wall eight feet in height and three feet thick. Prisons, barracks +and other buildings were scattered about. Beyond the walls was a small +group of wretched jacals or huts in which some Mexicans lived. Water +from the San Antonio flowed in ditches through the mission. + +It was almost a town that they were called upon to defend, and Ned and +Crockett, after their hasty look, came back to the church, the strongest +of all the buildings, with walls of hewn stone five feet thick and +nearly twenty-five feet high. They opened the heavy oaken doors, entered +the building and looked up through the open roof at the sky. Then +Crockett's eyes came back to the arched rooms and the covered sacristy. + +"This is the real fort," he said, "an' we'll put our gunpowder in that +sacristy. It looks like sacrilege to use a church for such a purpose, +but, Ned, times are goin' to be very hot here, the hottest we ever saw, +an' we must protect our powder." + +He carried his suggestion to Travis, who adopted it at once, and the +powder was quickly taken into the rooms. They also had fourteen pieces +of cannon which they mounted on the walls of the church, at the stockade +at the entrance to the plaza and at the redoubt. But the Texans, +frontiersmen and not regular soldiers, did not place much reliance upon +the cannon. Their favorite weapon was the rifle, with which they rarely +missed even at long range. + +It took the Texans but little time to arrange the defence, and then came +a pause. Ned did not have any particular duty assigned to him, and went +back to the church, which now bore so little resemblance to a house of +worship. He gazed curiously at the battered carvings and images over the +door. They looked almost grotesque to him now, and some of them +threatened. + +He went inside the church and looked around once more. It was old, very +old. The grayness of age showed everywhere, and the silence of the +defenders on the walls deepened its ancient aspect. But the Norther had +ceased to blow, and the sun came down, bright and unclouded, through the +open roof. + +Ned climbed upon the wall. Bowie, who was behind one of the cannon, +beckoned to him. Ned joined him and leaned upon the gun as Bowie pointed +toward San Antonio. + +"See the Mexican masses," he said. "Ned, you were a most timely herald. +If it had not been for you our surprise would have been total. Look how +they defile upon the plain." + +The army of Santa Anna was entering San Antonio and it was spread out +far and wide. The sun glittered on lances and rifles, and brightened the +bronze barrels of cannon. The triumphant notes of a bugle came across +the intervening space, and when the bugle ceased a Mexican band began +to play. + +It was fine music. The Mexicans had the Latin ear, the gift for melody, +and the air they played was martial and inspiring. One could march +readily to its beat. Bowie frowned. + +"They think it nothing more than a parade," he said. "But when Santa +Anna has taken us he will need a new census of his army." + +He looked around at the strong stone walls, and then at the resolute +faces of the men near him. But the garrison was small, pitifully small. + +Ned left the walls and ate a little food that was cooked over a fire +lighted in the convent plaza. Then he wandered about the place looking +at the buildings and inclosures. The Alamo was so extensive that he knew +Travis would be compelled to concentrate his defense about the church, +but he wanted to examine all these places anyhow. + +He wandered into one building that looked like a storehouse. The +interior was dry and dusty. Cobwebs hung from the walls, and it was +empty save for many old barrels that stood in the corner. Ned looked +casually into the barrels and then he uttered a shout of joy. A score of +so of them were full of shelled Indian corn in perfect condition, a +hundred bushels at least. This was truly treasure trove, more valuable +than if the barrels had been filled with coined gold. + +He ran out of the house and the first man he met was Davy Crockett. + +"Now what has disturbed you?" asked Crockett, in his drawling tone. +"Haven't you seen Mexicans enough for one day? This ain't the time to +see double." + +"I wish I could see double in this case, Mr. Crockett," replied Ned, +"because then the twenty barrels of corn that I've found would be +forty." + +He took Crockett triumphantly into the building and showed him the +treasure, which was soon transferred to one of the arched rooms beside +the entrance of the church. It was in truth one of the luckiest finds +ever made. The cattle in the plaza would furnish meat for a long time, +but they would need bread also. Again Ned felt that pleasant glow of +triumph. It seemed that fortune was aiding them. + +He went outside and stood by the ditch which led a shallow stream of +water along the eastern side of the church. It was greenish in tint, but +it was water, water which would keep the life in their bodies while they +fought off the hosts of Santa Anna. + +The sun was now past the zenith, and since the Norther had ceased to +blow there was a spring warmth in the air. Ned, conscious now that he +was stained with the dirt and dust of flight and haste, bathed his face +and hands in the water of the ditch and combed his thick brown hair as +well as he could with his fingers. + +"Good work, my lad," said a hearty voice beside him. "It shows that you +have a cool brain and an orderly mind." + +Davy Crockett, who was always neat, also bathed his own face and hands +in the ditch. + +"Now I feel a lot better," he said, "and I want to tell you, Ned, that +it's lucky the Spanish built so massively. Look at this church. It's got +walls of hewn stone, five feet through, an' back in Tennessee we build +'em of planks a quarter of an inch thick. Why, these walls would turn +the biggest cannon balls." + +"It surely is mighty lucky," said Ned. "What are you going to do next, +Mr. Crockett?" + +"I don't know. I guess we'll wait on the Mexicans to open the battle. +Thar, do you hear that trumpet blowin' ag'in? I reckon it means that +they're up to somethin'." + +"I think so, too," said Ned. "Let's go back upon the church walls, Mr. +Crockett, and see for ourselves just what it means." + +The two climbed upon the great stone wall, which was in reality a +parapet. Travis and Bowie, who was second in command, were there +already. Ned looked toward San Antonio, and he saw Mexicans everywhere. +Mexican flags hoisted by the people were floating from the flat roofs of +the houses, signs of their exultation at the coming of Santa Anna and +the expulsion of the Texans. + +The trumpet sounded again and they saw three officers detach themselves +from the Mexican lines and ride forward under a white flag. Ned knew +that one of them was the young Urrea. + +"Now what in thunder can they want?" growled Davy Crockett. "There can +be no talk or truce between us an' Santa Anna. If all that I've heard of +him is true I'd never believe a word he says." + +Travis called two of his officers, Major Morris and Captain Martin, and +directed them to go out and see what the Mexicans wanted. Then, meeting +Ned's eye, he recalled something. + +"Ah, you speak Spanish and Mexican Spanish perfectly," he said. "Will +you go along, too?" + +"Gladly," said Ned. + +"An', Ned," said Davy Crockett, in his whimsical tone, "if you don't +tell me every word they said when you come back I'll keep you on bread +an' water for a week. There are to be no secrets here from me." + +"I promise, Mr. Crockett," said Ned. + +The heavy oaken doors were thrown open and the three went out on foot +to meet the Mexican officers who were riding slowly forward. The +afternoon air was now soft and pleasant, and a light, soothing wind was +blowing from the south. The sky was a vast dome of brilliant blue and +gold. It was a picture that remained indelibly on Ned's mind like many +others that were to come. They were etched in so deeply that neither the +colors nor the order of their occurrence ever changed. An odor, a touch, +or anything suggestive would make them return to his mind, unfaded and +in proper sequence like the passing of moving pictures. + +The Mexicans halted in the middle of the plain and the three Texans met +them. The Mexicans did not dismount. Urrea was slightly in advance of +the other two, who were older men in brilliant uniforms, generals at +least. Ned saw at once that they meant to be haughty and arrogant to the +last degree. They showed it in the first instance by not dismounting. It +was evident that Urrea would be the chief spokesman, and his manner +indicated that it was a part he liked. He, too, was in a fine uniform, +irreproachably neat, and his handsome olive face was flushed. + +"And so," he said, in an undertone and in Spanish to Ned, "we are here +face to face again. You have chosen your own trap, the Alamo, and it is +not in human power for you to escape it now." + +His taunt stung, but Ned merely replied: + +"We shall see." + +Then Urrea said aloud, speaking in English, and addressing himself to +the two officers: + +"We have come by order of General Santa Anna, President of Mexico and +Commander-in-Chief of her officers, to make a demand of you." + +"A conference must proceed on the assumption that the two parties to it +are on equal terms," said Major Morris, in civil tones. + +"Under ordinary circumstances, yes," said Urrea, without abating his +haughty manner one whit, "but this is a demand by a paramount authority +upon rebels and traitors." + +He paused that his words might sink home. All three of the Texans felt +anger leap in their hearts, but they put restraint upon their words. + +"What is it that you wish to say to us?" continued Major Morris. "If it +is anything we should hear we are listening." + +Urrea could not subdue his love of the grandiose and theatrical. + +"As you may see for yourselves," he said, "General Santa Anna has +returned to Texas with an overpowering force of brave Mexican troops. +San Antonio has fallen into his hands without a struggle. He can take +the Alamo in a day. In a month not a man will be left in Texas able to +dispute his authority." + +"These are statements most of which can be disputed," said Major Morris. +"What does General Santa Anna demand of us?" + +His quiet manner had its effect upon Urrea. + +"He demands your unconditional surrender," he said. + +"And does he say nothing about our lives and good treatment?" continued +the Major, in the same quiet tones. + +"He does not," replied Urrea emphatically. "If you receive mercy it will +be due solely to the clemency of General Santa Anna toward rebels." + +Hot anger again made Ned's heart leap. The tone of Urrea was almost +insufferable, but Major Morris, not he, was spokesman. + +"I am not empowered to accept or reject anything," continued Major +Morris. "Colonel Travis is the commander of our force, but I am quite +positive in my belief that he will not surrender." + +"We must carry back our answer in either the affirmative or the +negative," said Urrea. + +"You can do neither," said Major Morris, "but I promise you that if the +answer is a refusal to surrender--and I know it will be such--a single +cannon shot will be fired from the wall of the church." + +"Very well," said Urrea, "and since that is your arrangement I see +nothing more to be said." + +"Nor do I," said Major Morris. + +The Mexicans saluted in a perfunctory manner and rode toward San +Antonio. The three Texans went slowly back to the Alamo. Ned walked +behind the two men. He hoped that the confidence of Major Morris was +justified. He knew Santa Anna too well. He believed that the Texans had +more to fear from surrender than from defence. + +They entered the Alamo and once more the great door was shut and barred +heavily. They climbed upon the wall, and Major Morris and Captain Martin +went toward Travis, Bowie and Crockett, who stood together waiting. Ned +paused a little distance away. He saw them talking together earnestly, +but he could not hear what they said. Far away he saw the three Mexicans +riding slowly toward San Antonio. + +Ned's eyes came back to the wall. He saw Bowie detach himself from the +other two and advance toward the cannon. A moment later a flash came +from its muzzle, a heavy report rolled over the plain, and then came +back in faint echoes. + +The Alamo had sent its answer. A deep cheer came from the Texans. Ned's +heart thrilled. He had his wish. + +The boy looked back toward San Antonio and his eyes were caught by +something red on the tower of the Church of San Fernando. It rose, +expanded swiftly, and then burst out in great folds. It was a blood-red +flag, flying now in the wind, the flag of no quarter. No Texan would be +spared, and Ned knew it. Nevertheless his heart thrilled again. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FLAG OF NO QUARTER + + +Ned gazed long at the great red flag as its folds waved in the wind. A +chill ran down his spine, a strange, throbbing sensation, but not of +fear. They were a tiny islet there amid a Mexican sea which threatened +to roll over them. But the signal of the flag, he realized, merely told +him that which he had expected all the time. He knew Santa Anna. He +would show no quarter to those who had humbled Cos and his forces at San +Antonio. + +The boy was not assigned to the watch that night, but he could not sleep +for a long time. Among these borderers there was discipline, but it was +discipline of their own kind, not that of the military martinet. Ned was +free to go about as he chose, and he went to the great plaza into which +they had driven the cattle. Some supplies of hay had been gathered for +them, and having eaten they were now all at rest in a herd, packed close +against the western side of the wall. + +Ned passed near them, but they paid no attention to him, and going on he +climbed upon the portion of the wall which ran close to the river. Some +distance to his right and an equal distance to his left were sentinels. +But there was nothing to keep him from leaping down from the wall or the +outside and disappearing. The Mexican investment was not yet complete. +Yet no such thought ever entered Ned's head. His best friends, Will +Allen, the Panther and Obed White, were out there somewhere, if they +were still alive, but his heart was now here in the Alamo with the +Texans. + +He listened intently, but he heard no sound of any Mexican advance. It +occurred to him that a formidable attack might be made here, +particularly under the cover of darkness. A dashing leader like the +younger Urrea might attempt a surprise. + +He dropped back inside and went to one of the sentinels who was standing +on an abutment with his head just showing above the wall. He was a young +man, not more than two or three years older than Ned, and he was glad to +have company. + +"Have you heard or seen anything?" asked Ned. + +"No," replied the sentinel, "but I've been looking for 'em down this +way." + +They waited a little longer and then Ned was quite sure that he saw a +dim form in the darkness. He pointed toward it, but the sentinel could +not see it at all, as Ned's eyes were much the keener: But the shape +grew clearer and Ned's heart throbbed. + +The figure was that of a great horse, and Ned recognized Old Jack. +Nothing could have persuaded him that the faithful beast was not seeking +his master, and he emitted a low soft whistle. The horse raised his +head, listened and then trotted forward. + +"He is mine," said Ned, "and he knows me." + +"He won't be yours much longer," said the sentinel. "Look, there's a +Mexican creeping along the ground after him." + +Ned followed the pointing finger, and he now noticed the Mexican, a +vaquero, who had been crouching so low that his figure blurred with the +earth. Ned saw the coiled lariat hanging over his arm, and he knew that +the man intended to capture Old Jack, a prize worth any effort. + +"Do you think I ought to shoot him?" asked the sentinel. + +"Not yet, at least," replied Ned. "I brought my horse into this danger, +but I think that he'll take himself out of it." + +Old Jack had paused, as if uncertain which way to go. But Ned felt sure +that he was watching the Mexican out of the tail of his eye. The +vaquero, emboldened by the prospect of such a splendid prize, crept +closer and closer, and then suddenly threw the lasso. The horse's head +ducked down swiftly, the coil of rope slipped back over his head, and he +dashed at the Mexican. + +The vaquero was barely in time to escape those terrible hoofs. But +howling with terror he sprang clear and raced away in the darkness. The +horse whinnied once or twice gently, waited, and, when no answer came to +his calls, trotted off in the dusk. + +"No Mexican will take your horse," said the sentinel. + +"You're right when you say that," said Ned. "I don't think another will +ever get so near him, but if he should you see that my horse knows how +to take care of himself." + +Ned wandered back toward the convent yard. It was now late, but a clear +moon was shining. He saw the figures of the sentinels clearly on the +walls, but he was confident that no attack would be made by the Mexicans +that night. His great tension and excitement began to relax and he felt +that he could sleep. + +He decided that the old hospital would be a good place, and, taking his +blankets, he entered the long room of that building. Only the moonlight +shone there, but a friendly voice hailed him at once. + +"It's time you were hunting rest, Ned," said Davy Crockett. "I saw you +wanderin' 'roun' as if you was carryin' the world on your shoulders, but +I didn't say anything. I knew that you would come to if left to +yourself. There's a place over there by the wall where the floor seems +to be a little softer than it is most everywhere else. Take it an' enjoy +it." + +Ned laughed and took the place to which Crockett was pointing. The +hardness of a floor was nothing to him, and with one blanket under him +and another over him he went to sleep quickly, sleeping the night +through without a dream. He awoke early, took a breakfast of fresh beef +with the men in the convent yard, and then, rifle in hand, he mounted +the church wall. + +All his intensity of feeling returned with the morning. He was eager to +see what was passing beyond the Alamo, and the first object that caught +his eye was the blood-red flag of no quarter hanging from the tower of +the Church of San Fernando. No wind was blowing and it drooped in heavy +scarlet folds like a pall. + +Looking from the flag to the earth, he saw great activity in the Mexican +lines. Three or four batteries were being placed in position, and +Mexican officers, evidently messengers, were galloping about. The flat +roofs of the houses in San Antonio were covered with people. Ned knew +that they were there to see Santa Anna win a quick victory and take +immediate vengeance upon the Texans. He recognized Santa Anna himself +riding in his crouched attitude upon a great white horse, passing from +battery to battery and hurrying the work. There was proof that his +presence was effective, as the men always worked faster when he came. + +Ned saw all the Texan leaders, Travis, Bowie, Crockett and Bonham, +watching the batteries. The whole Texan force was now manning the walls +and the heavy cedar palisade at many points, but Ned saw that for the +present all their dealings would be with the cannon. + +Earthworks had been thrown up to protect the Mexican batteries, and the +Texan cannon were posted for reply, but Ned noticed that his comrades +seemed to think little of the artillery. In this desperate crisis they +fondled their rifles lovingly. + +He was still watching the batteries, when a gush of smoke and flame came +from one of the cannon. There was a great shout in the Mexican lines, +but the round shot spent itself against the massive stone walls of the +mission. + +"They'll have to send out a stronger call than that," said Davy Crockett +contemptuously, "before this 'coon comes down." + +Travis went along the walls, saw that the Texans were sheltering +themselves, and waited. There was another heavy report and a second +round shot struck harmlessly upon the stone. Then the full bombardment +began. A half dozen batteries rained shot and shell upon the Alamo. The +roar was continuous like the steady roll of thunder, and it beat upon +the drums of Ned's ears until he thought he would become deaf. + +He was crouched behind the stone parapet, but he looked up often enough +to see what was going on. He saw a vast cloud of smoke gathering over +river and town, rent continually by flashes of fire from the muzzles of +the cannon. The air was full of hissing metal, shot and shell poured in +a storm upon the Alamo. Now and then the Texan cannon replied, but not +often. + +The cannon fire was so great that for a time it shook Ned's nerves. It +seemed as if nothing could live under such a rain of missiles, but when +he looked along the parapet and saw all the Texans unharmed his courage +came back. + +Many of the balls were falling inside the church, in the convent yard +and in the plazas, but the Texans there were protected also, and as far +as Ned could see not a single man had been wounded. + +The cannonade continued for a full hour and then ceased abruptly. The +great cloud of smoke began to lift, and the Alamo, river and town came +again into the brilliant sunlight. The word passed swiftly among the +defenders that their fortress was uninjured and not a man hurt. + +As the smoke rose higher Ned saw Mexican officers with glasses examining +the Alamo to see what damage their cannon had done. He hoped they would +feel mortification when they found it was so little. Davy Crockett knelt +near him on the parapet, and ran his hand lovingly along the barrel of +Betsy, as one strokes the head of a child. + +"Do you want some more rifles, Davy?" asked Bowie. + +"Jest about a half dozen," replied Crockett. "I think I can use that +many before they clear out." + +Six of the long-barreled Texan rifles were laid at Crockett's feet. Ned +watched with absorbed interest. Crockett's eye was on the nearest +battery and he was slowly raising Betsy. + +"Which is to be first, Davy?" asked Bowie. + +"The one with the rammer in his hand." + +Crockett took a single brief look down the sights and pulled the +trigger. The man with the rammer dropped to the earth and the rammer +fell beside him. He lay quite still. Crockett seized a second rifle and +fired. A loader fell and he also lay still. A third rifle shot, almost +as quick as a flash, and a gunner went down, a fourth and a man at a +wheel fell, a fifth and the unerring bullet claimed a sponger, a sixth +and a Mexican just springing to cover was wounded in the shoulder. Then +Crockett remained with the seventh rifle still loaded in his hands, as +there was nothing to shoot at, all the Mexicans now being hidden. + +But Crockett, kneeling on the parapet, the rifle cocked and his finger +on the trigger, watched in case any of the Mexicans should expose +himself again. He presented to Ned the simile of some powerful animal +about to spring. The lean, muscular figure was poised for instant +action, and all the whimsicality and humor were gone from the eyes of +the sharpshooter. + +A mighty shout of triumph burst from the Texans. Many a good marksman +was there, but never before had they seen such shooting. The great +reputation of Davy Crockett, universal in the southwest, was justified +fully. The crew of the gun had been annihilated in less than a minute. + +For a while there was silence. Then the Mexicans, protected by the +earthwork that they had thrown up, drew the battery back a hundred +yards. Even in the farther batteries the men were very careful about +exposing themselves. The Texans, seeing no sure target, held their fire. +The Mexicans opened a new cannonade and for another half hour the roar +of the great guns drowned all other sounds. But when it ceased and the +smoke drifted away the Texans were still unharmed. + +Ned was now by the side of Bowie, who showed great satisfaction. + +"What will they do next?" asked Ned. + +"I don't know, but you see now that it's not the biggest noise that +hurts the most. They'll never get us with cannon fire. The only way they +can do it is to attack the lowest part of our wall and make a bridge of +their own bodies." + +"They are doing something now," said Ned, whose far-sighted vision +always served him well. "They are pulling down houses in the town next +to the river." + +"That's so," said Bowie, "but we won't have to wait long to see what +they're about." + +Hundreds of Mexicans with wrecking hooks had assailed three or four of +the houses, which they quickly pulled to pieces. Others ran forward with +the materials and began to build a bridge across the narrow San Antonio. + +"They want to cross over on that bridge and get into a position at once +closer and more sheltered," said Bowie, "but unless I make a big mistake +those men at work there are already within range of our rifles. Shall we +open fire, Colonel?" + +He asked the question of Travis, who nodded. A picked band of Mexicans +under General Castrillon were gathered in a mass and were rapidly +fitting together the timbers of the houses to make the narrow bridge. +But the reach of the Texan rifles was great, and Davy Crockett was +merely the king among so many sharpshooters. + +The rifles began to flash and crack. No man fired until he was sure of +his aim, and no two picked the same target. The Mexicans fell fast. In +five minutes thirty or forty were killed, some of them falling into the +river, and the rest, dropping the timbers, fled with shouts of horror +from the fatal spot. General Castrillon, a brave man, sought to drive +them back, but neither blows nor oaths availed. Santa Anna himself came +and made many threats, but the men would not stir. They preferred +punishment to the sure death that awaited them from the muzzles of the +Texan rifles. + +The light puffs of rifle smoke were quickly gone, and once more the town +with the people watching on the flat roofs came into full view. A wind +burst out the folds of the red flag of no quarter on the tower of the +church of San Fernando, but Ned paid no attention to it now. He was +watching for Santa Anna's next move. + +"That's a bridge that will never be built," said Davy Crockett. "'Live +an' learn' is a good sayin', I suppose, but a lot of them Mexicans +neither lived nor learned. It's been a great day for 'Betsy' here." + +Travis, the commander, showed elation. + +"I think Santa Anna will realize now," he said, "that he has neither a +promenade nor a picnic before him. Oh, if we only had six or seven +hundred men, instead of less than a hundred and fifty!" + +"We must send for help," said Bowie. "The numbers of Santa Anna +continually increase, but we are not yet entirely surrounded. If the +Texans know that we are beleaguered here they will come to our help." + +"I will send messengers to-morrow night," said Travis. "The Texans are +much scattered, but it is likely that some will come." + +It was strange, but it was characteristic of them, nevertheless, that no +one made any mention of escape. Many could have stolen away in the night +over the lower walls. Perhaps all could have done so, but not a single +Texan ever spoke of such a thing, and not one ever attempted it. + +Santa Anna moved some of his batteries and also erected two new ones. +When the work on the latter was finished all opened in another +tremendous cannonade, lasting for fully an hour. The bank of smoke was +heavier than ever, and the roaring in Ned's ears was incessant, but he +felt no awe now. He was growing used to the cannon fire, and as it did +so little harm he felt no apprehension. + +While the fire was at its height he went down in the church and cleaned +his rifle, although he took the precaution to remain in one of the +covered rooms by the doorway. Davy Crockett was also there busy with the +same task. Before they finished a cannon ball dropped on the floor, +bounded against the wall and rebounded several times until it finally +lay at rest. + +"Somethin' laid a big egg then," said Crockett. "It's jest as well to +keep a stone roof over your head when you're under fire of a few dozen +cannon. Never take foolish risks, Ned, for the sake of showin' off. +That's the advice of an old man." + +Crockett spoke very earnestly, and Ned remembered his words. Bonham +called to them a few minutes later that the Mexicans seemed to be +meditating some movement on the lower wall around the grand plaza. + +"Like as not you're right," said Crockett. "It would be the time to try +it while our attention was attracted by the big cannonade." + +Crockett himself was detailed to meet the new movement, and he led fifty +sharpshooters. Ned was with him, his brain throbbing with the certainty +that he was going into action once more. Great quantities of smoke hung +over the Alamo and had penetrated every part of it. It crept into Ned's +throat, and it also stung his eyes. It inflamed his brain and increased +his desire for combat. They reached the low wall on a run, and found +that Bonham was right. A large force of Mexicans was approaching from +that side, evidently expecting to make an opening under cover of the +smoke. + +The assailants were already within range, and the deadly Texan rifles +began to crack at once from the wall. The whole front line of the +Mexican column was quickly burned away. The return fire of the Mexicans +was hasty and irregular and they soon broke and ran. + +"An' that's over," said Crockett, as he sent a parting shot. "It was +easy, an' bein' sheltered not a man of ours was hurt. But, Ned, don't +let the idea that we have a picnic here run away with you. We've got to +watch an' watch an' fight an' fight all the time, an' every day more +Mexicans will come." + +"I understand, Mr. Crockett," said Ned. "You know that we may never get +out of here alive, and I know it, too." + +"You speak truth, lad," said Crockett, very soberly. "But remember that +it's a chance we take every day here in the southwest. An' it's pleasant +to know that they're all brave men here together. You haven't seen any +flinchin' on the part of anybody an' I don't think you ever will." + +"What are you going to do now?" asked Ned. + +"I'm goin' to eat dinner, an' after that I'll take a nap. My advice to +you is to do the same, 'cause you'll be on watch to-night." + +"I know I can eat," said Ned, "and I'll try to sleep." + +He found that his appetite was all right, and after dinner he lay down +in the long room of the hospital. Here he heard the cannon of Santa Anna +still thundering, but the walls softened the sound somewhat and made it +seem much more distant. In a way it was soothing and Ned, although sure +that he could not sleep, slept. All that afternoon he was rocked into +deeper slumber by the continuous roar of the Mexican guns. Smoke floated +over the convent yard and through all the buildings, but it did not +disturb him. Now and then a flash of rifle fire came from the Texans on +the walls, but that did not disturb him, either. + +Nature was paying its debt. The boy lying on his blankets breathed +deeply and regularly as he slept. The hours of the afternoon passed one +by one, and it was dark when he awoke. The fire of the cannon had now +ceased and two or three lights were burning in the hospital. Crockett +was already up, and with some of the other men was eating beefsteak at a +table. + +"You said you'd try to sleep, Ned," he exclaimed, "an' you must have +made a big try, 'cause you snored so loud we couldn't hear Santa Anna's +cannon." + +"Why, I'm sure I don't snore, Mr. Crockett," said Ned, red in the face. + +"No, you don't snore, I'll take that back," said Davy Crockett, when the +laugh subsided, "but I never saw a young man sleep more beautifully an' +skillfully. Why, the risin' an' fallin' of your chest was as reg'lar as +the tickin' of a clock." + +Ned joined them at the table. He did not mind the jests of those men, as +they did not mind the jests of one another. They were now like close +blood-kin. They were a band of brethren, bound together by the +unbreakable tie of mortal danger. + +Ned spent two-thirds of the night on the church wall. The Mexicans let +the cannon rest in the darkness, and only a few rifle shots were fired. +But there were many lights in San Antonio, and on the outskirts two +great bonfires burned. Santa Anna and his generals, feeling that their +prey could not escape from the trap, and caring little for the peons who +had been slain, were making a festival. It is even said that Santa Anna +on this campaign, although he left a wife in the city of Mexico, +exercised the privileges of an Oriental ruler and married another amid +great rejoicings. + +Ned slept soundly when his watch was finished, and he awoke again the +next day to the thunder of the cannonade, which continued almost without +cessation throughout the day, but in the afternoon Travis wrote a +letter, a noble appeal to the people of Texas for help. He stated that +they had been under a continual bombardment for more than twenty-four +hours, but not a man had yet been hurt. "I shall never surrender or +retreat," he said. "Then I call on you in the name of liberty, of +patriotism, and of everything dear to the American character, to come to +our aid with all dispatch." He closed with the three words, "Victory or +death," not written in any vainglory or with any melodramatic appeal, +but with the full consciousness of the desperate crisis, and a quiet +resolution to do as he said. + +The heroic letter is now in the possession of the State of Texas. Most +of the men in the Alamo knew its contents, and they approved of it. When +it was fully dark Travis gave it to Albert Martin. Then he looked around +for another messenger. + +"Two should go together in case of mishap," he said. + +His eye fell upon Ned. + +"If you wish to go I will send you," he said, "but I leave it to your +choice. If you prefer to stay, you stay." + +Ned's first impulse was to go. He might find Obed White, Will Allen and +the Panther out there and bring them back with him, but his second +impulse told him that it was only a chance, and he would abide with +Crockett and Bowie. + +"I thank you for the offer, but I think, sir, that I'll stay," he said. + +He saw Crockett give him a swift approving glance. Another was quickly +chosen in his stead, and Ned was in the grand plaza when they dropped +over the low wall and disappeared in the darkness. His comrades and he +listened attentively a long time, but as they heard no sound of shots +they were sure that they were now safe beyond the Mexican lines. + +"I don't want to discourage anybody," said Bowie, "but I'm not hoping +much from the messengers. The Texans are scattered too widely." + +"No, they can't bring many," said Crockett, "but every man counts. +Sometimes it takes mighty little to turn the tale, and they may turn +it." + +"I hope so," said Bowie. + +The Mexican cannon were silent that night and Ned slept deeply, awaking +only when the dawn of a clear day came. He was astonished at the +quickness with which he grew used to a state of siege and imminent +danger. All the habits of life now went on as usual. He ate breakfast +with as good an appetite as if he had been out on the prairie with his +friends, and he talked with his new comrades as if Santa Anna and his +army were a thousand miles away. + +But when he did go upon the church wall he saw that Santa Anna had begun +work again and at a new place. The Mexican general, having seen that his +artillery was doing no damage, was making a great effort to get within +much closer range where the balls would count. Men protected by heavy +planking or advancing along trenches were seeking to erect a battery +within less than three hundred yards of the entrance to the main plaza. +They had already thrown up a part of a breastwork. Meanwhile the Texan +sharpshooters were waiting for a chance. + +Ned took no part in it except that of a spectator. But Crockett, Bowie +and a dozen others were crouched on the wall with their rifles. +Presently an incautious Mexican showed above the earthwork. It was +Crockett who slew him, but Bowie took the next. Then the other rifles +flashed fast, eight or ten Mexicans were slain, and the rest fled. Once +more the deadly Texan rifles had triumphed. + +Ned wondered why Santa Anna had endeavored to place the battery there in +the daytime. It could be done at night, when it was impossible for the +Texans to aim their rifles so well. He did not know that the pride of +Santa Anna, unable to brook delay in the face of so small a force, had +pushed him forward. + +Knowing now what might be done at night, Ned passed the day in anxiety, +and with the coming of the twilight his anxiety increased. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +CROCKETT AND BOWIE + + +Unluckily for the Texans, the night was the darkest of the month. No +bonfires burned in San Antonio, and there were no sounds of music. It +seemed to Ned that the silence and darkness were sure indications of +action on the part of the foe. + +He felt more lonely and depressed than at any other time hitherto in the +siege, and he was glad when Crockett and a young Tennesseean whom he +called the Bee-Hunter joined him. Crockett had not lost any of his +whimsical good humor, and when Ned suggested that Santa Anna was likely +to profit by the dark he replied: + +"If he is the general I take him to be he will, or at least try, but +meanwhile we'll just wait, an' look, an' listen. That's the way to find +out if things are goin' to happen. Don't turn little troubles into big +ones. You don't need a cowskin for a calf. We'll jest rest easy. I'm +mighty nigh old enough to be your grandfather, Ned, an' I've learned to +take things as they come. I guess men of my age were talkin' this same +way five thousand years ago." + +"You've seen a lot in your life, Mr. Crockett," said Ned, to whom the +Tennesseean was a great hero. + +Crockett laughed low, but deep in his throat, and with much pleasure. + +"So I have! So I have!" he replied, "an', by the blue blazes, I can say +it without braggin'. I've seen a lot of water go by since I was runnin' +'roun' a bare-footed boy in Tennessee. I've ranged pretty far from east +to west, an' all the way from Boston in the north to this old mission, +an' that must be some thousands of miles. An' I've had some big times in +New York, too." + +"You've been in New York," said Ned, with quick interest. "It must be a +great town." + +"It is. It's certainly a bulger of a place. There are thousands an' +thousands of houses, an' you can't count the sails in the bay. I saw the +City Hall an' it's a mighty fine buildin', too. It's all marble on the +side looking south, an' plain stone on the side lookin' north. I asked +why, an' they said all the poor people lived to the north of it. That's +the way things often happen, Ned. An' I saw the great, big hotel John +Jacob Astor was beginnin' to build on Broadway just below the City Hall. +They said it would cost seven hundred thousand dollars, which is an +all-fired lot of money, that it would cover mighty nigh a whole block, +an' that there would be nothin' else in America comin' up to it." + +"I'd like to see that town," said Ned. + +"Maybe you will some day," said Crockett, "'cause you're young. You +don't know how young you look to me. I heard a lot there, Ned, about +that rich man, Mr. Astor. He got his start as a fur trader. I guess he +was about the biggest fur trader that ever was. He was so active that +all them animals that wore furs on their backs concluded they might as +well give up. I heard one story there about an otter an' a beaver +talkin'. Says the otter to the beaver, when he was tellin' the beaver +good-by after a visit: 'Farewell, I never expect to see you again, my +dear old friend.' 'Don't be too much distressed,' replies the beaver, +'you an' I, old comrade, will soon meet at the hat store.'" + +Ned and the Bee-Hunter laughed, and Crockett delved again into his past +life and his experiences in the great city, relatively as great then to +the whole country as it is now. + +"I saw a heap of New York," he continued, "an' one of the things I liked +best in it was the theaters. Lad, I saw the great Fanny Kemble play +there, an' she shorely was one of the finest women that ever walked this +troubled earth. I saw her first as Portia in that play of Shakespeare's +called, called, called----" + +"'The Merchant of Venice,'" suggested Ned. + +"Yes, that's it, 'The Merchant of Venice,' where she was the woman +lawyer. She was fine to see, an' the way she could change her voice an' +looks was clean mirac'lous. If ever I need a lawyer I want her to act +for me. She had me mad, an' then she had me laughin', an' then she had +the water startin' in my eyes. Whatever she wanted me to see I saw, an' +whatever she wanted me to think I thought. An' then, too, she was many +kinds of a woman, different in turn. In fact, Ned, she was just like a +handsome piece of changeable silk--first one color an' then another, but +always clean." + +He paused and the others did not interrupt him. + +"I don't like cities," he resumed presently. "They crowd me up too much, +but I do like the theater. It makes you see so many things an' so many +kinds of people that you wouldn't have time to see if you had to travel +for 'em. We don't have much chance to travel right now, do we, +Bee-Hunter?" + +"A few hundred yards only for our bodies," replied the young +Tennesseean, "but our spirits soar far; + + "'Up with your banner, Freedom, + Thy champions cling to thee, + They'll follow where'er you lead them + To death or victory. + Up with your banner, Freedom.'" + +He merely hummed the words, but Ned caught his spirit and he repeated to +himself: "Up with your banner, Freedom." + +"I guess you've heard enough tales from an old fellow like me," said +Crockett. "At least you won't have time to hear any more 'cause the +Mexicans must be moving out there. Do you hear anything, Ned?" + +"Nothing but a little wind." + +"Then my ears must be deceivin' me. I've used 'em such a long time that +I guess they feel they've got a right to trick me once in a while." + +But Ned was thinking just then of the great city which he wanted to see +some day as Crockett had seen it. But it seemed to him at that moment as +far away as the moon. Would his comrades and he ever escape from those +walls? + +His mind came back with a jerk. He did hear something on the plain. +Crockett was right. He heard the tread of horses and the sound of wheels +moving. He called the attention of Crockett to the noises. + +"I think I know what causes them," said Crockett. "Santa Anna is +planting his battery under the cover of the night an' I don't see, boys, +how we're goin' to keep him from doin' it." + +The best of the Texan sharpshooters lined the walls, and they fired +occasionally at indistinct and flitting figures, but they were quite +certain that they did no execution. The darkness was too great. Travis, +Bowie and Crockett considered the possibility of a sortie, but they +decided that it had no chance of success. The few score Texans would be +overwhelmed in the open plain by the thousands of Mexicans. + +But all the leaders were uneasy. If the Mexican batteries were brought +much closer, and were protected by earthworks and other fortifications, +the Alamo would be much less defensible. It was decided to send another +messenger for help, and Ned saw Bonham drop over the rear wall and slip +away in the darkness. He was to go to Goliad, where Fannin had 300 men +and four guns, and bring them in haste. + +When Bonham was gone Ned returned to his place on the wall. For hours he +heard the noises without, the distant sound of voices, the heavy clank +of metal against metal, and he knew full well that Santa Anna was +planting his batteries. At last he went to his place in the long room of +the hospital and slept. + +When dawn came he sprang up and rushed to the wall. There was the +battery of Santa Anna only three hundred yards from the entrance to the +main plaza and to the southeast, but little further away, was another. +The Mexicans had worked well during the night. + +"They're creepin' closer, Ned. They're creepin' closer," said Crockett, +who had come to the wall before him, "but even at that range I don't +think their cannon will do us much harm. Duck, boy, duck! They're goin' +to fire!" + +The two batteries opened at the same time, and the Mexican masses in the +rear, out of range, began a tremendous cheering. Many of the balls and +shells now fell inside the mission, but the Texans stayed well under +cover and they still escaped without harm. The Mexican gunners, in their +turn, kept so well protected that the Texan riflemen had little chance. + +The great bombardment lasted an hour, but when it ceased, and the smoke +lifted, Ned saw a heavy mass of Mexican cavalry on the eastern road. + +Both Ned and Crockett took a long look at the cavalry, a fine body of +men, some carrying lances and others muskets. Ned believed that he +recognized Urrea in the figure of their leader, but the distance was too +great for certainty. But when he spoke of it to Crockett the Tenesseean +borrowed Travis' field glasses. + +"Take these," he said, "an' if it's that beloved enemy of yours you can +soon tell." + +The boy, with the aid of the glasses, recognized Urrea at once. The +young leader in the uniform of a Mexican captain and with a cocked and +plumed hat upon his head sat his horse haughtily. Ned knew that he was +swelling with pride and that he, like Santa Anna, expected the trap to +shut down on the little band of Texans in a day or two. He felt some +bitterness that fate should have done so much for Urrea. + +"I judge by your face," said Crockett whimsically, "that it is Urrea. +But remember, Ned, that you can still be hated and live long." + +"It is indeed Urrea," said Ned. "Now what are they gathering cavalry out +there for? They can't expect to gallop over our walls." + +"Guess they've an idea that we're goin' to try to slip out an' they're +shuttin' up that road of escape. Seems to me, Ned, they're comin' so +close that it's an insult to us." + +"They're almost within rifle shot." + +"Then these bad little Mexican boys must have their faces scorched as a +lesson. Just you wait here, Ned, till I have a talk with Travis an' +Bowie." + +It was obvious to Ned that Crockett's talk with the commander and his +second was satisfactory, because when he returned his face was in a +broad grin. Bowie, moreover, came with him, and his blue eyes were +lighted up with the fire of battle. + +"We're goin' to teach 'em the lesson, Ned, beginnin' with a b c," said +Crockett, "an' Jim here, who has had a lot of experience in Texas, will +lead us. Come along, I'll watch over you." + +A force of seventy or eighty was formed quickly, and hidden from the +view of the Mexicans, they rushed down the plaza, climbed the low walls +and dropped down upon the plain. The Mexican cavalry outnumbered them +four or five to one, but the Texans cared little for such odds. + +"Now, boys, up with your rifles!" cried Bowie. "Pump it into 'em!" + +Bowie was a product of the border, hard and desperate, a man of many +fierce encounters, but throughout the siege he had been singularly +gentle and considerate in his dealings with his brother Texans. Now he +was all warrior again, his eyes blazing with blue fire while he shouted +vehement words of command to his men. + +The sudden appearance of the Texan riflemen outside the Alamo look Urrea +by surprise, but he was quick of perception and action, and his +cavalrymen were the best in the Mexican army. He wheeled them into line +with a few words of command and shouted to them to charge. Bowie's men +instantly stopped, forming a rough line, and up went their rifles. +Urrea's soldiers who carried rifles or muskets opened a hasty and +excited fire at some distance. + +Ned heard the bullets singing over his head or saw them kicking up dust +in front of the Texans, but only one of the Texans fell and but few were +wounded. The Mexican rifles or muskets were now empty, but the Mexican +lancers came on in good order and in an almost solid group, the yellow +sunlight flashing across the long blades of their lances. + +It takes a great will to face sharp steel in the hands of horsemen +thundering down upon you, and Ned was quite willing to own afterward +that every nerve in him was jumping, but he stood. All stood, and at the +command of Bowie their rifles flashed together in one tremendous +explosion. + +The rifles discharged, the Texans instantly snatched out their pistols, +ready for anything that might come galloping through the smoke. But +nothing came. When the smoke lifted they saw that the entire front of +the Mexican column was gone. Fallen men and horses were thick on the +plain and long lances lay across them. Other horses, riderless, were +galloping away to right and left, and unhorsed men were running to the +rear. But Urrea had escaped unharmed. Ned saw him trying to reform his +shattered force. + +"Reload your rifles, men!" shouted Bowie. "You can be ready for them +before they come again!" + +These were skilled sharpshooters, and they rammed the loads home with +startling rapidity. Every rifle was loaded and a finger was on every +trigger when the second charge of Urrea swept down upon them. No need of +a command from Bowie now. The Texans picked their targets and fired +straight into the dense group. Once more the front of the Mexican column +was shot away, and the lances fell clattering on the plain. + +"At 'em, boys, with your pistols!" shouted Bowie. "Don't give 'em a +second chance!" + +The Texans rushed forward, firing their pistols. Ned in the smoke became +separated from his comrades, and when he could see more clearly he +beheld but a single horseman. The man was Urrea. + +The two recognized each other instantly. The Mexican had the advantage. +He was on horseback and the smoke was in Ned's eyes, not his own. With a +shout of triumph, he rode straight at the boy and made a fierce sweep +with his cavalry saber. It was fortunate for Ned that he was agile of +both body and mind. He ducked and leaped to one side. He felt the swish +of the heavy steel over his head, but as he came up again he fired. + +Urrea was protected largely by his horse's neck, and Ned fired at the +horse instead, although he would have greatly preferred Urrea as a +target. The bullet struck true and the horse fell, but the rider leaped +clear and, still holding the saber, sprang at his adversary. Ned +snatched up his rifle, which lay on the ground at his feet, and received +the slash of the sword upon its barrel. The blade broke in two, and +then, clubbing his rifle, Ned struck. + +It was fortunate for Urrea, too, that he was agile of mind and body. He +sprang back quickly, but the butt of the rifle grazed his head and drew +blood. The next moment other combatants came between, and Urrea dashed +away in search of a fresh horse. Ned, his blood on fire, was rushing +after him, when Bowie seized his arm and pulled him back. + +"No further, Ned!" he cried. "We've scattered their cavalry and we must +get back into the Alamo or the whole Mexican army will be upon us!" + +Ned heard far away the beat of flying hoofs. It was made by the horses +of the Mexican cavalry fleeing for their lives. Bowie quickly gathered +together his men, and carrying with them two who had been slain in the +fight they retreated rapidly to the Alamo, the Texan cannon firing over +their heads at the advancing Mexican infantry. In three or four minutes +they were inside the walls again and with their comrades. + +The Mexican cavalry did not reappear upon the eastern road, and the +Texans were exultant, yet they had lost two good men and their joy soon +gave way to more solemn feelings. It was decided to bury the slain at +once in the plaza, and a common grave was made for them. They were the +first of the Texans to fall in the defence, and their fate made a deep +impression upon everybody. + +It took only a few minutes to dig the grave, and the men, laid side by +side, were covered with their cloaks. While the spades were yet at work +the Mexican cannon opened anew upon the Alamo. A ball and a bomb fell in +the plaza. The shell burst, but fortunately too far away to hurt +anybody. Neither the bursting of the shell nor any other part of the +cannonade interrupted the burial. + +Crockett, a public man and an orator, said a few words. They were +sympathetic and well chosen. He spoke of the two men as dying for Texas. +Others, too, would fall in the defence of the Alamo, but their blood +would water the tree of freedom. Then they threw in the dirt. While +Crockett was speaking the cannon still thundered without, but every word +could be heard distinctly. + +When Ned walked away he felt to the full the deep solemnity of the +moment. Hitherto they had fought without loss to themselves. The death +of the two men now cast an ominous light over the situation. The Mexican +lines were being drawn closer and closer about the Alamo, and he was +compelled to realize the slenderness of their chances. + +The boy resumed his place on the wall, remaining throughout the +afternoon, and watched the coming of the night. Crockett joined him, and +together they saw troops of Mexicans marching away from the main body, +some to right and some to left. + +"Stretchin' their lines," said Crockett. "Santa Anna means to close us +in entirely after a while. Now, by the blue blazes, that was a close +shave!" + +A bullet sang by his head and flattened against the wall. He and Ned +dropped down just in time. Other bullets thudded against the stone. +Nevertheless, Ned lifted his head above the edge of the parapet and took +a look. His eyes swept a circle and he saw little puffs of smoke coming +from the roofs and windows of the jacals or Mexican huts on their side +of the river. He knew at once that the best of the Mexican sharpshooters +had hidden themselves there, and had opened fire not with muskets, but +with improved rifles. He called Crockett's attention to this point of +danger and the frontiersman grew very serious. + +"We've got to get 'em out some way or other," he said. "As I said +before, the cannon balls make a big fuss, but they don't come so often +an' they come at random. It's the little bullets that have the sting of +the wasp, an' when a man looks down the sights, draws a bead on you, an' +sends one of them lead pellets at you, he gen'rally gets you. Ned, we've +got to drive them fellers out of there some way or other." + +The bullets from the jacals now swept the walls and the truth of +Crockett's words became painfully evident. The Texan cannon fired upon +the huts, but the balls went through the soft adobe and seemed to do no +harm. It was like firing into a great sponge. Triumphant shouts came +from the Mexicans. Their own batteries resumed the cannonade, while +their sheltered riflemen sent in the bullets faster and faster. + +Crockett tapped the barrel of Betsy significantly. + +"The work has got to be done with this old lady an' others like her," he +said. "We must get rid of them jacals." + +"How?" asked Ned. + +"You come along with me an' I'll show you," said Crockett. "I'm goin' to +have a talk with Travis, an' if he agrees with me we'll soon wipe out +that wasps' nest." + +Crockett briefly announced his plan, which was bold in the extreme. +Sixty picked riflemen, twenty of whom bore torches also, would rush out +at one of the side gates, storm the jacals, set fire to them, and then +rush back to the Alamo. + +Travis hesitated. The plan seemed impossible of execution in face of the +great Mexican force. But Bowie warmly seconded Crockett, and at last the +commander gave his consent. Ned at once asked to go with the daring +troop, and secured permission. The band gathered in a close body by one +of the gates. The torches were long sticks lighted at the end and +burning strongly. The men had already cocked their rifles, but knowing +the immense risk they were about to take they were very quiet. Ned was +pale, and his heart beat painfully, but his hand did not shake. + +The Texan cannon, to cover the movement, opened fire from the walls, and +the riflemen, posted at various points, helped also. The Mexican +cannonade increased. When the thunder and crash were at their height the +gate was suddenly thrown open and the sixty dashed out. Fortunately the +drifting smoke hid them partially, and they were almost upon the jacals +before they were discovered. + +A great shout came from the Mexicans when they saw the daring Texans +outside, and bullets from the jacals began to knock up grass and dust +about them. But Crockett himself, waving a torch, led them on, shouting: + +"It's only a step, boys! It's only a step! Now, let 'em have it!" + +The Texans fired as they rushed, but they took care to secure good aim. +The Mexicans were driven from the roofs and the windows and then the +Texans carrying the torches dashed inside. Every house contained +something inflammable, which was quickly set on fire, and two or three +huts made of wood were lighted in a dozen places. + +The dry materials blazed up fast. A light wind fanned the flames, which +joined together and leaped up, a roaring pyramid. The Mexicans, who had +lately occupied them, were scuttling like rabbits toward their main +force, and the Texan bullets made them jump higher and faster. + +Crockett, with a shout of triumph, flung down his torch. + +"Now, boys," he cried. "Here's the end of them jacals. Nothin' on earth +can put out that fire, but if we don't make a foot race back to the +Alamo the end of us will be here, too, in a minute." + +The little band wheeled for its homeward rush. Ned heard a great shout +of rage from the Mexicans, and then the hissing and singing of shells +and cannon balls over his head. He saw Mexicans running across the plain +to cut them off, but his comrades and he had reloaded their rifles, and +as they ran they sent a shower of bullets that drove back their foe. + +Ned's heart was pumping frightfully, and myriads of black specks danced +before his eyes, but he remembered afterward that he calculated how far +they were from the Alamo, and how far the Mexicans were from them. A +number of his comrades had been wounded, but nobody had fallen and they +still raced in a close group for the gate, which seemed to recede as +they rushed on. + +"A few more steps, Ned," cried Crockett, "an' we're in! Ah, there go our +friends!" + +The Texan cannon over their heads now fired into the pursuing Mexican +masses, and the sharpshooters on the walls also poured in a deadly hail. +The Mexicans recoiled once more and then Crockett's party made good the +gate. + +"All here!" cried Crockett, as those inside held up torches. He ran over +the list rapidly himself and counted them all, but his face fell when he +saw his young friend the Bee-Hunter stagger. Crockett caught him in his +arms and bore him into the hospital. He and Ned watched by his side +until he died, which was very soon. Before he became unconscious he +murmured some lines from an old Scotch poem: + + "But hame came the saddle, all bluidy to see. + And hame came the steed, but never hame came he." + +They buried him that night beside the other two, and Ned was more solemn +than ever when he sought his usual place in the hospital by the wall. It +had been a day of victory for the Texans, but the omens, nevertheless, +seemed to him to be bad. + +The next day he saw the Mexicans spreading further and further about the +Alamo, and they were in such strong force that the Texans could not now +afford to go out and attack any of these bands. A light cold rain fell, +and as he was not on duty he went back to the hospital, where he sat in +silence. + +He was deeply depressed and the thunder of the Mexican cannon beat upon +his ears like the voice of doom. He felt a strange annoyance at the +reports of the guns. His nerves jumped, and he became angry with himself +at what he considered a childish weakness. + +Now, and for the first time, he felt despair. He borrowed a pencil and a +sheet of paper torn from an old memorandum book and made his will. His +possessions were singularly few, and the most valuable at hand was his +fine long-barreled rifle, which he left to his faithful friend, Obed +White. He bequeathed his pistol and knife to the Panther, and his +clothes to Will Allen. He was compelled to smile at himself when he had +finished his page of writing. Was it likely that his friends would ever +find this paper, or, if finding it, was it likely that any one of them +could ever obtain his inheritance? But it was a relief to his feelings +and, folding the paper, he put it in the inside pocket of his hunting +shirt. + +The bombardment was renewed in the afternoon, but Ned stayed in his +place in the hospital. After a while Davy Crockett and several others +joined him there. Crockett as usual was jocular, and told more stories +of his trips to the large eastern cities. He had just finished an +anecdote of Philadelphia, when he turned suddenly to Ned. + +"Boy," he said, "you and I have fought together more than once now, an' +I like you. You are brave an' you've a head full of sense. When you grow +older you'll be worth a lot to Texas. They'll need you in the council. +No, don't protest. This is the time when we can say what is in us. The +Mexican circle around the Alamo is almost complete. Isn't that so, +boys?" + +"It is." + +"Then I'll say what we all know. Three or four days from now the chances +will be a hundred to one against any of us ever gettin' out of here. An' +you're the youngest of the defence, Ned, so I want you to slip out +to-night while there's yet time. Mebbe you can get up a big lot of men +to come to our help." + +Ned looked straight at Crockett, and the veteran's eyes wavered. + +"It's a little scheme you have," said Ned, "to get me out of the way. +You think because I'm the youngest I ought to go off alone at night and +save my own life. Well, I'm not going. I intend to stay here and fight +it out with the rest of you." + +"I meant for the best, boy, I meant for the best," said Crockett. "I'm +an old fellow an' I've had a terrible lot of fun in my time. About as +much, I guess, as one man is entitled to, but you've got all your life +before you." + +"Couldn't think of it," said Ned lightly; "besides, I've got a password +in case I'm taken by Santa Anna." + +"What's that?" asked Crockett curiously. + +"It's the single word 'Roylston.' Mr. Roylston told me if I were taken +by Santa Anna to mention his name to him." + +"That's queer, an' then maybe it ain't," said Crockett musingly. "I've +heard a lot of John Roylston. He's about the biggest trader in the +southwest. I guess he must have some sort of a financial hold on Santa +Anna, who is always wantin' money. Ned, if the time should ever come, +don't you forget to use that password." + +The next night was dark and chilly with gusts of rain. In the afternoon +the Mexican cannonade waned, and at night it ceased entirely. The Alamo +itself, except for a few small lights within the buildings, was kept +entirely dark in order that skulking sharpshooters without might not +find a target. + +Ned was on watch near one of the lower walls about the plaza. He wrapped +his useful serape closely about his body and the lower part of his face +in order to protect himself from the cold and wet, and the broad brim of +his sombrero was drawn down to meet it. The other Texans on guard were +protected in similar fashion, and in the flitting glimpses that Ned +caught of them they looked to him like men in disguise. + +The time went on very slowly. In the look backward every hour in the +Alamo seemed to him as ten. He walked back and forth a long time, +occasionally meeting other sentinels, and exchanging a few words with +them. Once he glanced at their cattle, which were packed closely under a +rough shed, where they lay, groaning with content. Then he went back to +the wall and noticed the dim figure of one of the sentinels going toward +the convent yard and the church. + +Ned took only a single glance at the man, but he rather envied him. The +man was going off duty early, and he would soon be asleep in a warm +place under a roof. He did not think of him again until a full hour +later, when he, too, going off duty, saw a figure hidden in serape and +sombrero passing along the inner edge of the plaza. The walk and figure +reminded him of the man whom he had seen an hour before, and he wondered +why any one who could have been asleep under shelter should have +returned to the cold and rain. + +He decided to follow, but the figure flitted away before him down the +plaza and toward the lowest part of the wall. This was doubly curious. +Moreover, it was ground for great suspicion. Ned followed swiftly. He +saw the figure mounting the wall, as if to take position there as a +sentinel, and then the truth came to him in a flash. It was Urrea +playing the congenial role of spy. + +Ned rushed forward, shouting. Urrea turned, snatched a pistol and fired. +The bullet whistled past Ned's head. The next moment Urrea dropped over +the wall and fled away in the darkness. The other sentinels were not +able to obtain a shot at him. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE DESPERATE DEFENCE + + +Ned's report created some alarm among the defenders of the Alamo, but it +passed quickly. + +"I don't see just how it can help 'em," said Crockett. "He's found out +that we're few in number. They already knew that. He's learned that the +Alamo is made up of a church an' other buildings with walls 'roun' them. +They already knew that, too, an' so here we all are, Texans an' +Mexicans, just where we stood before." + +Nevertheless, the bombardment rose to a fiercer pitch of intensity the +next day. The Mexicans seemed to have an unlimited supply of ammunition, +and they rained balls and shells on the Alamo. Many of the shells did +not burst, and the damage done was small. The Texans did not reply from +the shelter of their walls for a long time. At last the Mexicans came +closer, emboldened perhaps by the thought that resistance was crushed, +and then the Texan sharpshooters opened fire with their long-barreled +rifles. + +The Texans had two or three rifles apiece, and they poured in a fast and +deadly fire. So many of the Mexicans fell that the remainder retreated +with speed, leaving the fallen behind them. But when the smoke lifted +others came forward under a white flag, and the Texans allowed them to +take away their dead. + +The cannonade now became spasmodic. All the Mexican cannon would fire +continuously for a half hour or so, and then would ensue a silence of +perhaps an hour. + +In the afternoon Bowie was taken very ill, owing to his great exertions, +and a bed was made for him in the hospital. Ned sat there with him a +while. The gentle mood that had distinguished the Georgian throughout +the siege was even more marked now. + +"Ned," he said, "you ought to have gone out the other night when we +wanted you to go. Fannin may come to our help or he may not, but even if +he should come I don't think his force is sufficient. It would merely +increase the number of Texans in the trap." + +"I've quite made up my mind that I won't go," said Ned. + +"I'm sorry," said Bowie. "As for me, it's different. I'm a man of +violence, Ned. I don't deny it. There's human blood on my hands, and +some of it is that of my own countrymen. I've done things that I'd like +to call back, and so I'm glad to be here, one of a forlorn hope, +fighting for Texas. It's a sort of atonement, and if I fall I think it +will be remembered in my favor." + +Ned was singularly impressed. Crockett had talked in much the same way. +Could these men, heroes of a thousand dangers, have really given up? Not +to give up in the sense of surrender, but to expect death fighting? But +for himself he could not believe such a thing possible. Youth was too +strong in him. + +He was on the watch again for part of the next night, and he and +Crockett were together. They heard sounds made by the besiegers on every +side of them. Mexicans were calling to Mexicans. Bridle bits rattled, +and metal clanked against metal. + +"I suppose the circle is complete," said Ned. + +"Looks like it," said Crockett, "but we've got our cattle to eat an' +water to drink an' only a direct attack in force can take us. They can +bang away with their cannon till next Christmas an' they won't shake our +grip on the Alamo." + +The night was fairly dark, and an hour later Ned heard a whistle. +Crockett heard it, too, and stiffened instantly into attention. + +"Did that sound to you like a Mexican whistling?" he asked. + +"No, I'd say it came from American lips, and I'd take it also for a +signal." + +"An' so it is. It's just such a whistle as hunters use when they want to +talk to one another without words. I've whistled to my pardners that way +in the woods hundreds of times. I think, Ned, that some Texans are at +hand waitin' a chance to slip in." + +Crockett emitted a whistle, low but clear and penetrating, almost like +the song of a night bird, and in a half minute came the rejoinder. He +replied to it briefly, and then they waited. Others had gathered at the +low plaza wall with them. Hidden to the eyes, they peered over the +parapet. + +They heard soft footsteps in the darkness, and then dim forms emerged. +Despite the darkness they knew them to be Texans, and Crockett spoke +low: + +"Here we are, boys, waitin' for you! This way an' in a half minute +you're in the Alamo!" + +The men ran forward, scaled the wall and were quickly inside. They were +only thirty-two. Ned had thought that the Panther, Obed, and Will Allen +might be among them, but they were not there. The new men were shaking +hands with the others and were explaining that they had come from +Gonzales with Captain Smith at their head. They were all well armed, +carried much ammunition, and were sure that other parties would arrive +from different points. + +The thirty-two were full of rejoicings over their successful entry, but +they were worn, nevertheless, and they were taken into one of the +buildings, where food and water were set before them. Ned stood by, an +eager auditor, as they told of their adventures. + +"We had a hard time to get in here to you," said Captain Smith, "and +from the looks of things I reckon we'll have as hard a time to get out. +There must be a million Mexicans around the Alamo. We tried to get up a +bigger force, but we couldn't gather any more without waiting, and we +thought if you needed us at all you needed us in a hurry." + +"Reckon you're right about the need of bein' in a hurry," said Crockett. +"When you want help you want it right then an' there." + +"So you do," said Smith, as he took a fresh piece or steak, "and we had +it in mind all the time. The wind was blowing our way, and in the +afternoon we heard the roaring of cannon a long distance off. Then as we +came closer we heard Mexicans buzzing all around the main swarm, scouts +and skirmishers everywhere. + +"We hid in an arroyo and waited until dark. Then we rode closer and +found that there would never be any chance to get into the Alamo on +horseback. We took the saddles and bridles off our horses, and turned +them loose on the prairie. Then we undertook to get in here, but it was +touch and go. I tell you it was touch and go. We wheeled and twisted and +curved and doubled, until our heads got dizzy. Wherever we went we found +Mexicans, thousands of 'em." + +"We've noticed a few ourselves," said Crockett. + +"It was pretty late when we struck an opening, and then not being sure +we whistled. When we heard you whistle back we made straight for the +wall, and here we are." + +"We're mighty glad to see you," said Crockett, "but we ain't welcomin' +you to no picnic, I reckon you understand that, don't you, Jim Smith?" + +"We understand it, every one of us," replied Smith gravely. "We heard +before we started, and now we've seen. We know that Santa Anna himself +is out there, and that the Mexicans have got a big army. That's the +reason we came, Davy Crockett, because the odds are so heavy against +you." + +"You're a true man," said Crockett, "and so is every one of these with +you." + +The new force was small--merely a few more for the trap--but they +brought with them encouragement. Ned shared in the general mental +uplift. These new faces were very welcome, indeed. They gave fresh vigor +to the little garrison, and they brought news of that outside world from +which he seemed to have been shut off so long. They told of numerous +parties sure to come to their relief, but he soon noticed that they did +not particularize. He felt with certainty that the Alamo now had all the +defenders that it would ever have. + +Repeated examinations from the walls of the church confirmed Ned in his +belief. The Mexican circle was complete, and their sheltered batteries +were so near that they dropped balls and shells whenever they pleased +inside the Alamo. Duels between the cannon and the Texan sharpshooters +were frequent. The gunners as they worked their guns were forced to show +themselves at times, and every exposure was instantly the signal for a +Texan bullet which rarely missed. But the Mexicans kept on. It seemed +that they intended to wear out the defenders by the sheer persistency +of their cannon fire. + +Ned became so hardened to the bombardment that he paid little attention +to it. Even when a ball fell inside the Alamo the chances were several +hundred to one that it would not hit him. He had amused himself with a +mathematical calculation of the amount of space he occupied compared +with the amount of space in the Alamo. Thus he arrived at the result, +which indicated comparatively little risk for himself. + +The shrewdest calculations are often wrong. As he passed through the +convent yard he met Crockett, and the two walked on together. But before +they had gone half a dozen steps a bomb hissed through the air, fell and +rolled to their feet. It was still hissing and smoking, but Ned, driven +by some unknown impulse, seized it and with a mighty effort hurled it +over the wall, where it burst. Then he stood licking his burned fingers +and looking rather confusedly at Crockett. He felt a certain shyness +over what he had done. + +The veteran frontiersman had already formed a great affection for the +boy. He knew that Ned's impulse had come from a brave heart and a quick +mind, and that he had probably saved both their lives. He took a great +resolution that this boy, the youngest of all the defenders, should be +saved. + +"That was done well, Ned," he said quietly. "I'm glad, boy, that I've +known you. I'd be proud if you were a son of mine. We can talk plainly +here with death all around us. You've got a lot in that head of yours. +You ought to make a great man, a great man for Texas. Won't you do what +I say and slip out of the Alamo while there's still a chance?" + +Ned was much moved, but he kept his resolution as he had kept it before. +He shook his head. + +"You are all very good to me here," he said. "Mr. Bowie, too, has asked +me to go, but if I should do so and the rest of you were to fall I'd be +ashamed of myself all the rest of my life. I'm a Texan now, and I'm +going to see it through with the rest of you." + +"All right," said Crockett lightly. "I've heard that you can lead a +horse to the water, but you can't make him drink, an' if a boy don't +want to go you can't make him go. So we'll just go into this little +improvised armory of ours, an' you an' I will put in our time moldin' +bullets." + +They entered one of the adobe buildings. A fire had been built on the +hearth, and a half dozen Texans were already busy there. But they +quickly made room for Crockett and Ned. Crockett did not tell Ned that +their supplies of powder and lead were running low, and that they must +reduce their fire from the walls in order that they might have +sufficient to meet an attack in force. + +But it was a cheerful little party that occupied itself with molding +bullets. Ned put a bar of lead into a ladle, and held it over the fire +until the bar became molten. Then he poured it into the mold until it +was full, closed it, and when he opened it again a shining bullet +dropped out. He worked hour after hour. His face became flushed with the +heat, but with pride he watched his heap of bullets grow. + +Crockett at last said they had done enough for one day, and Ned was glad +when they went outside and breathed the fresh air again. There was no +firing at that time, and they climbed once more upon the church wall. +Ned looked out upon the scene, every detail of which was so familiar to +him now. But conspicuous, and seeming to dominate all, was the blood-red +flag of no quarter floating from the tower of the church of San +Fernando. Wind and rain had not dimmed its bright color. The menace in +its most vivid hue was always there. + +Travis, who was further along the wall with a pair of strong field +glasses, came back and joined Ned and Crockett. + +"If you would like to see Santa Anna you can," he said to Ned. "He is on +the church of San Fernando now with his generals looking at us. Take +these glasses and your gaze may meet his." + +Ned took the glasses, and there was Santa Anna standing directly under +the folds of the banner with his own glasses to his eyes, studying the +Alamo and its defenders. About him stood a half dozen generals. Ned's +heart swelled with anger. The charm and genius of Santa Anna made him +all the more repellent now. Ned knew that he would break any promise if +it suited him, and that cunning and treachery were his most potent +tools. + +Santa Anna, at that very moment, was discussing with Sesma, Cos, Gaona +and others the question of an immediate assault with his whole army upon +the Alamo. They had heard rumors of an advance by Fannin with help for +the Texans, but, while some of the younger spirits wished prompt attack, +Santa Anna decided on delay. + +The dictator doubted whether Fannin would come up, and if he did he +would merely put so many more rats in the trap. Santa Anna felt secure +in his vast preponderance of numbers. He would take the Texans in his +own good time, that is, whenever he felt like it. He did not care to +hurry, because he was enjoying himself greatly in San Antonio. Capable +of tremendous energy at times, he gave himself up at other times to +Babylonian revels. + +Ned handed the glasses to Crockett, who also took a long look. + +"I've heard a lot of Santa Anna," he said, "an' maybe I'll yet meet him +eye to eye." + +"It's possible," said Travis, "but, Davy, we've got to wait on the +Mexicans. It's always for them to make the move, and then we'll meet it +if we can. I wish we could hear from Bonham. I'm afraid he's been +taken." + +"Not likely," said Crockett. "One man, all alone, an' as quick of eye +an' foot as Bonham, would be pretty sure to make his way safely." + +"I certainly hope so," said Travis. "At any rate, I intend to send out +another letter soon. If the Texans are made to realize our situation +they will surely come, no matter how far away they may be." + +"I hope they will," said Crockett. But Ned noticed that he did not seem +to speak with any great amount of confidence. Balancing everything as +well as he could, he did not see how much help could be expected. The +Texan towns were tiny. The whole fringe of Texan settlements was small. +The Texans were but fifty or sixty thousands against the seven or eight +millions of Mexico, and now that they knew a great Mexican army was in +Texas the scattered borderers would be hard put to it to defend +themselves. He did not believe that in any event they could gather a +force great enough to cut its way through the coil of Santa Anna's +multitude. + +But Travis' faith in Bonham, at least, was justified. The next night, +about halfway between midnight and morning, in the darkest hour, a man +scaled the wall and dropped inside the plaza. It proved to be Bonham +himself, pale, worn, covered with mud and dust, but bringing glad +tidings. Ned was present when he came into the church and was met by +Travis. Bowie, Crockett and Smith. Only a single torch lighted up the +grim little group. + +"Fannin has left Goliad with 300 men and four cannon to join us," Bonham +said. "He started five days ago, and he should be here soon. With his +rifles and big guns he'll be able to cut his way through the Mexicans +and enter the Alamo." + +"I think so, too," said Travis, with enthusiasm. + +But Ned steadily watched Bowie and Crockett. They were the men of +experience, and in matters such as these they had minds of uncommon +penetration. He noticed that neither of them said anything, and that +they showed no elation. + +Everybody in the Alamo knew the next day that Bonham had come from +Fannin, and the whole place was filled with new hope. As Ned reckoned, +it was about one hundred and fifty miles from San Antonio de Bexar to +Goliad; but, according to Bonham, Fannin had already been five days on +the way, and they should hear soon the welcome thunder of his guns. He +eagerly scanned the southeast, in which direction lay Goliad, but the +only human beings he saw were Mexicans. No sound came to his ears but +the note of a Mexican trumpet or the crack of a vaquero's whip. + +He was not the only one who looked and listened. They watched that day +and the next through all the bombardment and the more dangerous rifle +fire. But they never saw on the horizon the welcome flash from any of +Fannin's guns. No sound that was made by a friend reached their ears. +The only flashes of fire they saw outside were those that came from the +mouths of Mexican cannon, and the only sounds they heard beyond the +Alamo were made by the foe. The sun, huge, red and vivid, sank in the +prairie and, as the shadows thickened over the Alamo, Ned was sure in +his heart that Fannin would never come. + + * * * * * + +A few days before the defenders of the Alamo had begun to scan the +southeast for help a body of 300 men were marching toward San Antonio de +Bexar. They were clad in buckskin and they were on horseback. Their +faces were tanned and bore all the signs of hardship. Near the middle of +the column four cannon drawn by oxen rumbled along, and behind them came +a heavy wagon loaded with ammunition. + +It was raining, and the rain was the raw cold rain of early spring in +the southwest. The men, protecting themselves as well as they could with +cloaks and serapes, rarely spoke. The wheels of the cannon cut great +ruts in the prairie, and the feet of the horses sank deep in the mud. + +Two men and a boy rode near the head of the column. One of these would +have attracted attention anywhere by his gigantic size. He was dressed +completely in buckskin, save for the raccoon skin cap that crowned his +thick black hair. The rider on his right hand was long and thin with the +calm countenance of a philosopher, and the one on his left was an eager +and impatient boy. + +"I wish this rain would stop," said the Panther, his ensanguined eye +expressing impatience and anger. "I don't mind gettin' cold an' I don't +mind gettin' wet, but there is nothin' stickier or harder to plough +through than the Texas mud. An' every minute counts. Them boys in that +Alamo can't fight off thousands of Mexicans forever. Look at them +steers! Did you ever see anything go as slow as they do?" + +"I'd like to see Ned again," said Will Allen. "I'd be willing to take my +chance with him there." + +"That boy of ours is surely with Crockett and Bowie and Travis and the +others, helping to fight off Santa Anna and his horde," said Obed White. +"Bonham couldn't have made any mistake about him. If we had seen Bonham +himself we could have gone with him to the Alamo." + +"But he gave Ned's name to Colonel Fannin," said Will, "and so it's sure +to be he." + +"Our comrade is certainly there," said Obed White, "and we've got to +help rescue him as well as help rescue the others. It's hard not to +hurry on by ourselves, but we can be of most help by trying to push on +this force, although it seems as if everything had conspired against +us." + +"It shorely looks as if things was tryin' to keep us back," exclaimed +the Panther angrily. "We've had such a hard time gettin' these men +together, an' look at this rain an' this mud! We ought to be at Bexar +right now, a-roarin', an' a-t'arin', an' a-rippin', an' a-chawin' among +them Mexicans!" + +"Patience! Patience!" said Obed White soothingly. "Sometimes the more +haste the oftener you trip." + +"Patience on our part ain't much good to men sixty or eighty miles away, +who need us yelling' an' shootin' for them this very minute." + +"I'm bound to own that what you say is so," said Obed White. + +They relapsed into silence. The pace of the column grew slower. The men +were compelled to adapt themselves to the cannon and ammunition wagon, +which were now almost mired. The face of the Panther grew black as +thunder with impatience and anger, but he forced himself into silence. + +They stopped a little while at noon and scanty rations were doled out. +They had started in such haste that they had only a little rice and +dried beef, and there was no time to hunt game. + +They started again in a half hour, creeping along through the mud, and +the Panther was not the only man who uttered hot words of impatience +under his breath. They were nearing the San Antonio River now, and +Fannin began to show anxiety about the fort. But the Panther was +watching the ammunition wagon, which was sinking deeper and deeper into +the mire. It seemed to him that it was groaning and creaking too much +even for the deep mud through which it was passing. + +The driver of the ammunition wagon cracked his long whip over the oxen +and they tugged at the yoke. The wheels were now down to the hub, and +the wagon ceased to move. The driver cracked his whip again and again, +and the oxen threw their full weight into the effort. The wheels slowly +rose from their sticky bed, but then something cracked with a report +like a pistol shot. The Panther groaned aloud, because he knew what had +happened. + +The axle of the wagon had broken, and it was useless. They distributed +the ammunition, including the cannon balls, which they put in sacks, as +well as they could, among the horsemen, and went on. They did not +complain, but every one knew that it was a heavy blow. In two more hours +they came to the banks of the muddy San Antonio, and stared in dismay at +the swollen current. It was evident at once to everybody that the +passage would be most difficult for the cannon, which, like the +ammunition wagon, were drawn by oxen. + +The river was running deep, with muddy banks, and a muddy bottom, and, +taking the lightest of the guns, they tried first to get it across. Many +of the men waded neck deep into the water and strove at the wheels. But +the stream went completely over the cannon, which also sank deeper and +deeper in the oozy bottom. It then became an effort to save the gun. The +Panther put all his strength at the wheel, and, a dozen others helping, +they at last got it back to the bank from which they had started. + +Fannin, not a man of great decision, looked deeply discouraged, but the +Panther and others urged him on to new attempts. The Panther, himself, +as he talked, bore the aspect of a huge river god. Yellow water streamed +from his hair, beard, and clothing, and formed a little pool about him. +But he noticed it not at all, urging the men on with all the fiery +energy which a dauntless mind had stored in a frame so great and +capable. + +"If it can be done the Panther will get the guns across," said Will to +Obed. + +"That's so," said Obed, "but who'd have thought of this? When we started +out we expected to have our big fight with an army and not with a +river." + +They took the cannon into the water a second time, but the result was +the same. They could not get it across, and with infinite exertion they +dragged it back to the bank. Then they looked at one another in despair. +They could ford the river, but it seemed madness to go on without the +cannon. While they debated there, a messenger came with news that the +investment of the Alamo by Santa Anna was now complete. He gave what +rumor said, and rumor told that the Mexican army numbered ten or twelve +thousand men with fifty or sixty guns. Santa Anna's force was so great +that already he was sending off large bodies to the eastward to attack +Texan detachments wherever they could be found. + +Fannin held an anxious council with his officers. It was an open talk on +the open prairie, and anybody who chose could listen. Will Allen and +Obed White said nothing, but the Panther was vehement. + +"We've got to get there!" he exclaimed. "We can't leave our people to +die in the Alamo! We've got to cut our way through, an', if the worst +comes to the worst, die with them!" + +"That would benefit nobody," said Fannin. "We've made every human effort +to get our cannon across the river, and we have failed. It would not +profit Texas for us to ride on with our rifles merely to be slaughtered. +There will be other battles and other sieges, and we shall be needed." + +"Does that mean we're not goin' on?" asked the Panther. + +"We can't go on." + +Fannin waved his hand at the yellow and swollen river. + +"We must return to Goliad," he said, "I have decided. Besides, there is +nothing else for us to do. About face, men, and take up the march." + +The men turned slowly and reluctantly, and the cannon began to plough +the mud on the road to Goliad, from which they had come. + +The Panther had remounted, and he drew to one side with Will and Obed, +who were also on their horses. His face was glowing with anger. Never +had he looked more tremendous as he sat on his horse, with the water +still flowing from him. + +"Colonel Fannin," he called out, "you can go back to Goliad, but as for +me an' my pardners, Obed White an' Will Allen, we're goin' to Bexar, an' +the Alamo." + +"I have no control over you," said Fannin, "but it would be much better +for you three to keep with us." + +"No," said the Panther firmly. "We hear the Alamo callin'. Into the +river, boys, but keep your weapons an' ammunition dry." + +Their horses, urged into the water, swam to the other bank, and, without +looking back the three rode for San Antonio de Bexar. + + * * * * * + +While the Panther, Obed White and Will Allen were riding over the +prairie, Ned Fulton sat once more with his friend. Davy Crockett, in one +of the adobe buildings. Night had come, and they heard outside the +fitful crackle of rifle fire, but they paid no attention to it. Travis, +at a table with a small tallow candle at his elbow, was writing his last +message. + +Ned was watching the commander as he wrote. But he saw no expression of +despair or even discouragement on Travis' fine face. The letter, which a +messenger succeeded in carrying through the lines that night, breathed a +noble and lofty courage. He was telling again how few were his men, and +how the balls and bombs had rained almost continuously for days upon the +Alamo. Even as his pen was poised they heard the heavy thud of a cannon, +but the pen descended steadily and he wrote: + +"I shall continue to hold it until I get relief from my countrymen, or +perish in its defence." + +He wrote on a little longer and once more came the heavy thud of a great +gun. Then the pen wrote: + +"Again I feel confident that the determined spirit and desperate courage +heretofore exhibited by my men will not fail them in the last struggle, +and, although they may be sacrificed to the vengeance of a Gothic enemy, +the victory will cost that enemy so dear that it will be worse than a +defeat." + +"Worse than a defeat!" Travis never knew how significant were the words +that he penned then. A minute or two later the sharp crack of a half +dozen rifles came to them, and Travis wrote: + +"A blood-red flag waves from the church of Bexar and in the camp above +us, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels." + +They heard the third heavy thud of a cannon, and a shell, falling in the +court outside, burst with a great crash. Ned went out and returned with +a report of no damage. Travis had continued his letter, and now he +wrote: + +"These threats have no influence upon my men, but to make all fight with +desperation, and with that high-souled courage which characterizes the +patriot who is willing to die in defence of his country, liberty and his +own honor, God and Texas. + +"Victory or death." + +He closed the letter and addressed it. An hour later the messenger was +beyond the Mexican lines with it, but Travis sat for a long time at the +table, unmoving and silent. Perhaps he was blaming himself for not +having been more watchful, for not having discovered the advance of +Santa Anna. But he was neither a soldier nor a frontiersman, and since +the retreat into the Alamo he had done all that man could do. + +He rose at last and went out. Then Crockett said to Ned, knowing that it +was now time to speak the full truth: + +"He has given up all hope of help." + +"So have I," said Ned. + +"But we can still fight," said Crockett. + +The day that followed was always like a dream to Ned, vivid in some +ways, and vague in others. He felt that the coil around the Alamo had +tightened. Neither he nor any one else expected aid now, and they spoke +of it freely one to another. Several who could obtain paper wrote, as +Ned had done, brief wills, which they put in the inside pockets of their +coats. Always they spoke very gently to one another, these wild spirits +of the border. The strange and softening shadow which Ned had noticed +before was deepening over them all. + +Bowie was again in the hospital, having been bruised severely in a fall +from one of the walls, but his spirit was as dauntless as ever. + +"The assault by the Mexicans in full force cannot be delayed much +longer," he said to Ned. "Santa Anna is impatient and energetic, and he +surely has brought up all his forces by this time." + +"Do you think we can beat them off?" asked Ned. + +Bowie hesitated a little, and then he replied frankly: + +"I do not. We have only one hundred and seventy or eighty men to guard +the great space that we have here. But in falling we will light such a +flame that it will never go out until Texas is free." + +Ned talked with him a little longer, and always Bowie spoke as if the +time were at hand when he should die for Texas. The man of wild and +desperate life seemed at this moment to be clothed about with the mantle +of the seer. + +The Mexican batteries fired very little that day, and Santa Anna's +soldiers kept well out of range. They had learned a deep and lasting +respect for the Texan rifles. Hundreds had fallen already before them, +and now they kept under cover. + +The silence seemed ominous and brooding to Ned. The day was bright, and +the flag of no quarter burned a spot of blood-red against the blue sky. +Ned saw Mexican officers occasionally on the roofs of the higher +buildings, but he took little notice of them. He felt instinctively +that the supreme crisis had not yet come. They were all waiting, +waiting. + +The afternoon drew its slow length away in almost dead silence, and the +night came on rather blacker than usual. Then the word was passed for +all to assemble in the courtyard. They gathered there, Bowie dragging +his sick body with the rest. Every defender of the Alamo was present. +The cannon and the walls were for a moment deserted, but the Mexicans +without did not know it. + +There are ineffaceable scenes in the life of every one, scenes which, +after the lapse of many years, are as vivid as of yesterday. Such, the +last meeting of the Texans, always remained in the mind of Ned. They +stood in a group, strong, wiry men, but worn now by the eternal +vigilance and danger of the siege. One man held a small torch, which +cast but a dim light over the brown faces. + +Travis stood before them and spoke to them. + +"Men," he said, "all of you know what I know, that we stand alone. No +help is coming for us. The Texans cannot send it or it would have come. +For ten days we have beaten off every attack of a large army. But +another assault in much greater force is at hand. It is not likely that +we can repel it. You have seen the red flag of no quarter flying day +after day over the church, and you know what it means. Santa Anna never +gives mercy. It is likely that we shall all fall, but, if any man wishes +to go, I, your leader, do not order him to stay. You have all done your +duty ten times over. There is just a chance to escape over the walls and +in the darkness. Now go and save your lives if you can." + +"We stay," came the deep rumble of many voices together. One man slipped +quietly away a little later, but he was the only one. Save for him, +there was no thought of flight in the minds of that heroic band. + +Ned's heart thrilled and the blood pounded in his ears. Life was +precious, doubly so, because he was so young, but he felt a strange +exaltation in the face of death, an exaltation that left no room for +fear. + +The eyes of Travis glistened when he heard the reply. + +"It is what I expected," he said. "I knew that every one of you was +willing to die for Texas. Now, lads, we will go back to the walls and +wait for Santa Anna." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +BEFORE THE DICTATOR + + +Ned's feeling of exaltation lasted. The long siege, the incessant danger +and excitement, and the wonderful way in which the little band of Texans +had kept a whole army at bay had keyed him up to a pitch in which he was +not himself, in which he was something a little more than human. Such +extraordinary moments come to few people, and his vivid, imaginative +mind was thrilled to the utmost. + +He was on the early watch, and he mounted the wall of the church. The +deep silence which marked the beginning of the night still prevailed. +They had not heard any shots, and for that reason they all felt that the +messenger had got through with Travis' last letter. + +It was very dark that night and Ned could not see the red flag on the +tower of the church of San Fernando. But he knew it was there, waving a +little in the soft wind which blew out of the southwest, herald of +spring. Nothing broke the silence. After so much noise, it was ominous, +oppressive, surcharged with threats. Fewer lights than usual burned in +the town and in the Mexican camp. All this stillness portended to Ned +the coming storm, and he was right. + +His was a short watch, and at 11 o'clock he went off duty. It was silent +and dark in the convent yard, and he sought his usual place for sleep in +the hospital, where many of the Texans had been compelled to go, not +merely to sleep, but because they were really ill, worn out by so many +alarms, so much fighting and so much watching. But they were all now +asleep, overpowered by exhaustion. Ned crept into his own dark little +corner, and he, too, was soon asleep. + +But he was awakened about four hours later by some one pulling hard at +his shoulder. He opened his eyes, and stared sleepily. It was Crockett +bending over him, and, Bowie lying on his sick bed ten feet away, had +raised himself on his elbow. The light was so faint that Ned could +scarcely see Crockett's face, but it looked very tense and eager. + +"Get up, Ned! Get up!" said Crockett, shaking him again. "There's great +work for you to do!" + +"Why, what is it?" exclaimed the boy, springing to his feet. + +"It's your friends, Roylston, an' that man, the Panther, you've been +tellin' me about," replied Crockett in quick tones. "While you were +asleep a Mexican, friendly to us, sneaked a message over the wall, +sayin' that Roylston, the Panther, an' others were layin' to the east +with a big force not more'n twenty miles away--not Fannin's crowd, but +another one that's come down from the north. They don't know whether +we're holdin' out yet or not, an' o' course they don't want to risk +destruction by tryin' to cut through the Mexican army to reach us when +we ain't here. The Mexican dassent go out of San Antonio. He won't try +it, 'cause, as he says, it's sure death for him, an' so somebody must go +to Roylston with the news that we're still alive, fightin' an' kickin'. +Colonel Travis has chose you, an' you've got to go. No, there's no +letter. You're just to tell Roylston by word of mouth to come on with +his men." + +The words came forth popping like pistol shots. Ned was swept off his +feet. He did not have time to argue or ask questions. Bowie also added a +fresh impetus. "Go, Ned, go at once!" he said. "You are chosen for a +great service. It's an honor to anybody!" + +"A service of great danger, requirin' great skill," said Crockett, "but +you can do it, Ned, you can do it." + +Ned flushed. This was, in truth, a great trust. He might, indeed, bring +the help they needed so sorely. + +"Here's your rifle an' other weapons an' ammunition," said Crockett. +"The night's at its darkest an' you ain't got any time to waste. Come +on!" + +So swift was Crockett that Ned was ready almost before he knew it. The +Tennesseean never ceased hurrying him. But as he started, Bowie called +to him: + +"Good-by, Ned!" + +The boy turned back and offered his hand. The Georgian shook it with +unusual warmth, and then lay back calmly on his blankets. + +"Good-by, Ned," he repeated, "and if we don't meet again I hope you'll +forget the dark things in my life, and remember me as one who was doing +his best for Texas." + +"But we will meet again," said Ned. "The relieving force will be here in +two or three days and I'll come with it." + +"Out with you!" said Crockett. "That's talk enough. What you want to do +now is to put on your invisible cap an' your seven league boots an' go +like lightnin' through the Mexican camp. Remember that you can talk +their lingo like a native, an' don't forget, neither, to keep always +about you a great big piece of presence of mind that you can use on a +moment's notice." + +Ned wore his serape and he carried a pair of small, light but very warm +blankets, strapped in a pack on his back. His haversack contained bread +and dried beef, and, with his smaller weapons in his belt, and his +rifle over his shoulder, he was equipped fully for a long and dangerous +journey. + +Crockett and the boy passed into the convent yard. + +The soft wind from the southwest blew upon their faces, and from the +high wall of the church a sentinel called: "All's well!" Ned felt an +extraordinary shiver, a premonition, but it passed, unexplained. He and +Crockett went into the main plaza and reached the lowest part of the +wall. + +"Ought I to see Colonel Travis?" asked Ned, as they were on the way. + +"No, he asked me to see to it, 'cause there ain't no time to waste. It's +about three o'clock in the mornin' now, an' you've got to slip through +in two or three hours, 'cause the light will be showin' then. Now, Ned, +up with you an' over." + +Ned climbed to the summit of the wall. Beyond lay heavy darkness, and he +neither saw nor heard any human being. He looked back, and extended his +hand to Crockett as he had to Bowie. + +"Good-by, Mr. Crockett," he said, "you've been very good to me." + +The great brown hand of the frontiersman clasped his almost +convulsively. + +"Aye, Ned," he said, "we've cottoned to each other from the first. I +haven't knowed you long, but you've been like a son to me. Now go, an' +God speed you!" + +Ned recalled afterward that he did not say anything about Roylston's +relieving force. What he thought of then was the deep feeling in +Crockett's words. + +"I'm coming back," he said, "and I hope to hunt buffalo with you over +the plains of a free Texas." + +"Go! go! Hurry, Ned!" said Crockett. + +"Good-by," said Ned, and he dropped lightly to the ground. + +He was outside the Alamo after eleven days inside, that seemed in the +retrospect almost as many months. He flattened himself against the wall, +and stood there for a minute or two, looking and listening. He thought +he might hear Crockett again inside, but evidently the Tennesseean had +gone back at once. In front of him was only the darkness, pierced by a +single light off toward the west. + +Ned hesitated. It was hard for him to leave the Alamo and the friends +who had been knitted to him by so many common dangers, yet his errand +was one of high importance--it might save them all--and he must do it. +Strengthening his resolution he started across an open space, walking +lightly. As Crockett had truly said, with his perfect knowledge of the +language he might pass for a Mexican. He had done so before, and he did +not doubt his ability to do so again. + +He resolved to assume the character of a Mexican scout, looking into the +secrets of the Alamo, and going back to report to Santa Anna. As he +advanced he heard voices and saw earthworks from which the muzzles of +four cannon protruded. Behind the earthwork was a small fire, and he +knew that men would be sitting about it. He turned aside, not wishing to +come too much into the light, but a soldier near the earthwork hailed +him, and Ned, according to his plan, replied briefly that he was on his +way to General Santa Anna in San Antonio. + +But the man was talkative. + +"What is your name?" he asked. + +"Pedro Miguel Alvarado," replied Ned on the spur of the moment. + +"Well, friend, it is a noble name, that of Alvarado." + +"But it is not a noble who bears it. Though a descendant of the great +Alvarado, who fought by the side of the glorious and mighty +conquistador, Hernando Cortez, I am but a poor peasant offering my life +daily for bread in the army of General Santa Anna." + +The man laughed. + +"You are as well off as I am," he said. "But what of the wicked Texans? +Are they yet ready to surrender their throats to our knives? The dogs +hold us over long. It is said that they number scarce two hundred within +the mission. Truly they fight hard, and well they may, knowing that +death only is at the end." + +Ned shuddered. The man seemed to take it all so lightly. But he replied +in a firm voice: + +"I learned little of them save that they still fight. I took care not to +put myself before the muzzle of any of their rifles." + +The Mexican laughed again. + +"A lad of wisdom, you," he said. "They are demons with their rifles. +When the great assault is made, many a good man will speed to his long +home before the Alamo is taken." + +So, they had already decided upon the assault. The premonition within +the Alamo was not wrong. It occurred to Ned that he might learn more, +and he paused. + +"Has it been finally settled?" he asked. "We attack about three days +from now, do we not?" + +"Earlier than that," replied the Mexican. "I know that the time has been +chosen, and I think it is to-morrow morning." + +Ned's heart beat heavily. To-morrow morning! Even if he got through, how +could he ever bring Roylston and the relief force in time? + +"I thank you," he said, "but I must hurry with my report." + +"Adios, Señor," said the man politely, and Ned repeated his "Adios" in +the same tone. Then he hurried forward, continually turning in toward +the east, hoping to find a passage where the Mexican line was thinnest. +But the circle of the invaders was complete, and he saw that he must +rely upon his impersonation of a Mexican to take him through. + +He was in a fever of haste, knowing now that the great assault was to +come so soon, and he made for a point between two smoldering camp fires +fifty or sixty yards apart. Boldness only would now avail, and with the +brim of his sombrero pulled well down over his face he walked +confidently forward, coming fully within the light of the fire on his +left. + +A number of Mexican soldiers were asleep around the fire, but at least a +half dozen men were awake. They called to Ned as he passed and he +responded readily, but Fortune, which had been so kind to him for a long +time, all at once turned her back upon him. When he spoke, a man in +officer's uniform who had been sitting by the fire rose quickly. + +"Your name?" he cried. + +"Pedro Miguel Alvarado," replied Ned instantly. At the same moment he +recognized Urrea. + +"It is not so!" cried Urrea. "You are one of the Texans, young Fulton. I +know your voice. Upon him, men! Seize him!" + +His action and the leap of the Mexicans were so sudden that Ned did not +have time to aim his rifle. But he struck one a short-arm blow with the +butt of it that sent him down with a broken head, and he snatched at his +pistol as three or four others threw themselves upon him. Ned was +uncommonly strong and agile, and he threw off two of the men, but the +others pressed him to the ground, until, at Urrea's command, his arms +were bound and he was allowed to rise. + +Ned was in despair, not so much for himself but because there was no +longer a chance that he could get through to Roylston. It was a deep +mortification, moreover, to be taken by Urrea. But he faced the Mexican +with an appearance of calmness. + +"Well," he said, "I am your prisoner." + +"You are," said Urrea, "and you might have passed, if I had not known +your voice. But I remind you that you come from the Alamo. You see our +flag, and you know its meaning." + +The black eyes of the Mexican regarded Ned malignantly. The boy knew +that the soul of Urrea was full of wicked triumph. The officer could +shoot him down at that moment, and be entirely within orders. But Ned +recalled the words of Roylston. The merchant had told him to use his +name if he should ever fall again into the hands of Santa Anna. + +"I am your prisoner," he repeated, "and I demand to be taken before +General Santa Anna. Whatever your red flag may mean, there are reasons +why he will spare me. Go with me and you will see." + +He spoke with such boldness and directness that Urrea was impressed. + +"I shall take you to the general," he said, "not because you demand it, +but because I think it well to do so. It is likely that he will want to +examine you, and I believe that in his presence you will tell all you +know. But it is not yet 4 o'clock in the morning, and I cannot awaken +him now. You will stay here until after daylight." + +"Very well," said Ned, trying to be calm as possible. "As you have +bound me I cannot walk, but if you'll put me on a blanket there by the +fire I'll sleep until you want me." + +"We won't deny you that comfort," replied Urrea grimly. + +When Ned was stretched on his blanket he was fairly easy so far as the +body was concerned. They had bound him securely, but not painfully. His +agony of mind, though, was great. Nevertheless he fell asleep, and slept +in a restless way for three or four hours, until Urrea awoke him, and +told him they were going to Santa Anna. + +It was a clear, crisp dawn and Ned saw the town, the river, and the +Alamo. There, only a short distance away, stood the dark fortress, from +which he had slipped but a few hours before with such high hopes. He +even saw the figures of the sentinels, moving slowly on the church +walls, and his heart grew heavy within him. He wished now that he was +back with the defenders. Even if he should escape it would be too late. +At Urrea's orders he was unbound. + +"There is no danger of your escaping now," said the young Mexican. +"Several of my men are excellent marksmen, and they will fire at the +first step you take in flight. And even should they miss, what chance do +you think you have here?" + +He swept his right hand in a circle, and, in the clear morning air, Ned +saw batteries and troops everywhere. He knew that the circle of steel +about the Alamo was complete. Perhaps he would have failed in his errand +even had he got by. It would require an unusually strong force to cut +through an army as large as that of Santa Anna, and he did not know +where Roylston could have found it. He started, as a sudden suspicion +smote him. He remembered Crockett's hurried manner, and his lack of +explanation. But he put it aside. It could not be true. + +"I see that you look at the Alamo," said Urrea ironically. "Well, the +rebel flag is still there, but it will not remain much longer. The trap +is about ready to shut down." + +Ned's color rose. + +"It may be so," he said, "but for every Texan who falls the price will +be five Mexicans." + +"But they will fall, nevertheless," said Urrea. "Here is food for you. +Eat, and I will take you to the general." + +They offered him Mexican food, but he had no appetite, and he ate +little. He stretched and tensed his limbs in order to restore the full +flood of circulation, and announced that he was ready. Urrea led the +way, and Ned followed with a guard of four men about him. + +The boy had eyes and ears for everything around him, but he looked most +toward the Alamo. He could not, at the distance, recognize the figures +on the wall, but all those men were his friends, and his eyes filled +with tears at their desperate case. Out here with the Mexicans, where he +could see all their overwhelming force and their extensive preparations, +the chances of the Texans looked worse than they did inside the Alamo. + +They entered the town and passed through the same streets, along which +Ned had advanced with the conquering army of the Texans a few months +before. Many evidences of the siege remained. There were tunnels, +wrecked houses and masses of stone and adobe. The appearance of the +young prisoner aroused the greatest curiosity among both soldiers and +people. He heard often the word "Texano." Women frequently looked down +at him from the flat roofs, and some spoke in pity. + +Ned was silent. He was resolved not to ask Urrea any questions or to +give him a chance to show triumph. He noticed that they were advancing +toward the plaza, and then they turned into the Veramendi house, which +he had cause to remember so well. + +"This was the home of the Vice-Governor," said Urrea, "and General Santa +Anna is here." + +"I know the place," said Ned. "I am proud to have been one of the Texans +who took it on a former occasion." + +"We lost it then, but we have it now and we'll keep it," said Urrea. "My +men will wait with you here in the courtyard, and I'll see if our +illustrious general is ready to receive you." + +Ned waited patiently. Urrea was gone a full half hour, and, when he +returned, he said: + +"The general was at breakfast with his staff. He had not quite finished, +but he is ready to receive you now." + +Then Urrea led the way into the Veramendi house. Luxurious fittings had +been put in, but many of the rents and scars from the old combat were +yet visible. They entered the great dining room, and, once more, Ned +stood face to face with the most glorious general, the most illustrious +dictator, Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. But Ned alone stood. The +dictator sat at the head of the table, about which were Castrillon, +Sesma, Cos, Gaona, the Italian, Filisola and others. It seemed to Ned +that he had come not only upon a breakfast but upon a conference as +well. + +The soldiers who had guarded Ned stepped back, Urrea stood by the wall, +and the boy was left to meet the fixed gaze of Santa Anna. The dictator +wore a splendid uniform, as usual. His face seemed to Ned fuller and +more flushed than when they had last met in Mexico. The marks of +dissipation were there. Ned saw him slip a little silver box from the +pocket of his waistcoat and take from it a pinch of a dark drug, which +he ate. It was opium, but the Mexican generals seemed to take no note of +it. + +Santa Anna's gaze was fixed and piercing, as if he would shoot terror +into the soul of his enemy--a favorite device of his--but Ned withstood +it. Then Santa Anna, removing his stare from his face, looked him slowly +up and down. The generals said nothing, waiting upon their leader, who +could give life or death as he chose. Ned was sure that Santa Anna +remembered him, and, in a moment, he knew that he was right. + +"It is young Fulton, who made the daring and ingenious escape from our +hospitality in the capital," he said, "and who also departed in an +unexpected manner from one of the submarine dungeons of our castle of +San Juan de Ulua. Fate does not seem to reward your courage and +enterprise as they deserve, since you are in our hands again." + +The dictator laughed and his generals laughed obediently also. Ned said +nothing. + +"I am informed by that most meritorious young officer, Captain Urrea," +continued Santa Anna, "that you were captured about three o'clock this +morning trying to escape from the Alamo." + +"That is correct," said Ned. + +"Why were you running away in the dark?" + +Ned flushed, but, knowing that it was an unworthy and untruthful taunt, +he remained silent. + +"You do not choose to answer," said Santa Anna, "but I tell you that you +are the rat fleeing from the sinking ship. Our cannon have wrecked the +interior of the Alamo. Half of your men are dead, and the rest would +gladly surrender if I should give them the promise of life." + +"It is not true!" exclaimed Ned with heat. "Despite all your fire the +defenders of the Alamo have lost but a few men. You offer no quarter and +they ask none. They are ready to fight to the last." + +There was a murmur among the generals, but Santa Anna raised his hand +and they were silent again. + +"I cannot believe all that you say," he continued. "It is a boast. The +Texans are braggarts. To-morrow they die, every one of them. But tell us +the exact condition of everything inside the Alamo, and perhaps I may +spare your life." + +Ned shut his teeth so hard that they hurt. A deep flush surged into the +dark face of Santa Anna. + +"You are stubborn. All the Texans are stubborn. But I do not need any +information from you. I shall crush the Alamo, as my fingers would smash +an eggshell." + +"But your fingers will be pierced deep," Ned could not keep from +replying. "They will run blood." + +"Be that as it may," said Santa Anna, who, great in some things, was +little enough to taunt an enemy in his power, "you will not live to see +it. I am about to give orders to have you shot within an hour." + +His lips wrinkled away from his white teeth like those of a great cat +about to spring, and his cruel eyes contracted. Holding all the power of +Mexico in his hands he was indeed something to be dreaded. The generals +about the table never spoke. But Ned remembered the words of Roylston. + +"A great merchant named John Roylston has been a good friend to me," he +said. "He told me that if I should ever fall into your hands I was to +mention his name to you, and to say that he considered my life of +value." + +The expression of the dictator changed. He frowned, and then regarded +Ned intently, as if he would read some secret that the boy was trying to +hide. + +"And so you know John Roylston," he said at length, "and he wishes you +to say to me that your life is of value." + +Ned saw the truth at once. He had a talisman and that talisman was the +name of Roylston. He did not know why it was so, but it was a wonderful +talisman nevertheless, because it was going to save his life for the +time being, at least. He glanced at the generals, and he saw a look of +curiosity on the face of every one of them. + +"I know Roylston," said Santa Anna slowly, "and there are some matters +between us. It may be to my advantage to spare you for a while." + +Ned's heart sprang up. Life was sweet. Since he was to be spared for a +while it must mean ultimately exchange or escape. Santa Anna, a reader +of the human face, saw what was in his mind. + +"Be not too sanguine," he said, "because I have changed my mind once it +does not mean that you are to be free now or ever. I shall keep you +here, and you shall see your comrades fall." + +A sudden smile, offspring of a quick thought and satanic in its nature, +passed over his face. + +"I will make you a spectator of the defeat of the Texans," he said. "A +great event needs a witness, and since you cannot be a combatant you can +serve in that capacity. We attack at dawn to-morrow, and you shall miss +nothing of it." + +The wicked smile passed over his face again. It had occurred to Ned, a +student of history, that the gladiatorial cruelty of the ancient Romans +had descended to the Spaniards instead of the Italians. Now he was +convinced that it was so. + +"You shall be kept a prisoner in one of our strongest houses," said +Santa Anna, "and Captain Urrea, whose vigilance prevented your escape, +will keep guard over you. I fancy it is a task that he does not hate." + +Santa Anna had also read the mind of the young Mexican. Urrea smiled. He +liked this duty. He hated Ned and he, too, was not above taunting a +prisoner. He advanced, and put a hand upon Ned's shoulder, but the boy +shook it off. + +"Don't touch me," said Ned. "I'll follow without resistance." + +Santa Anna laughed. + +"Let him have his way for the present, Captain Urrea," he said. "But +remember that it is due to your gentleness and mercy. Adios, Señor +Fulton, we meet again to-morrow morning, and if you survive I shall +report to Mr. Roylston the manner in which you may bear yourself." + +"Good-day," said Ned, resolved not to be outdone, even in ironical +courtesy. "And now, Captain Urrea, if you will lead the way, I'll +follow." + +Urrea and his soldiers took Ned from the Veramendi house and across the +street to a large and strong stone building. + +"You are fortunate," said Urrea, "to have escaped immediate death. I do +not know why the name of Roylston was so powerful with our general, but +I saw that it was." + +"It seemed to have its effect," said Ned. + +Urrea led the way to the flat roof of the house, a space reached by a +single narrow stairway. + +"I shall leave you here with two guards," he said. "I shall give them +instructions to fire upon you at the slightest attempt on your part to +escape, but I fancy that you will have sense enough not to make any such +attempt." + +Urrea departed, but the two sentinels sat by the entrance to the +stairway, musket in hand. He had not the faintest chance to get by them, +and knowing it he sat down on the low stone coping of the roof. He +wondered why Urrea had brought him there instead of locking him up in a +room. Perhaps it was to mock him with the sight of freedom so near and +yet unattainable. + +His gaze turned instinctively to the Alamo like the magnet to the pole. +There was the fortress, gray and grim in the sunshine, with the dim +figures of the watchers on the walls. What were they doing inside now? +How were Crockett and Bowie? His heart filled with grief that he had +failed them. But had he failed them? Neither Urrea nor any other Mexican +had spoken of the approach of a relieving force under Roylston. There +was no sign that the Mexicans were sending any part of their army to +meet it. + +The heavy thud of a great gun drew his attention, and he saw the black +smoke from the discharge rising over the plain. A second, a third and a +fourth cannon shot were fired, but no answer came from the walls of the +Alamo. At length he saw one of the men in the nearest battery to the +Alamo expose himself above the earthwork. There was a flash from the +wall of the church, a little puff of smoke, and Ned saw the man fall as +only dead men fall. Perhaps it was Davy Crockett, the great marksman, +who had fired that shot. He liked to think that it was so, and he +rejoiced also at this certain evidence that the little garrison was as +dauntless as ever. He watched the Alamo for nearly an hour, and he saw +that the firing was desultory. Not more than a dozen cannon shots were +fired during that time, and only three or four rifles replied from the +Alamo. Toward noon the firing ceased entirely, and Ned knew that this +was in very fact and truth the lull before the storm. + +His attention wandered to his guards. They were mere peons, but, +although watchful, they were taking their ease. Evidently they liked +their task. They were resting with the complete relaxation of the body +that only the Southern races know. Both had lighted cigarritos, and were +puffing at them contentedly. It had been a long time since Ned had seen +such a picture of lazy ease. + +"You like it here?" he said to the nearest. + +The man took the cigarrito from his mouth, emitted smoke from his nose +and replied politely: + +"It is better to be here lying in the sun than out there on the grass +with a Texan bullet through one's body. Is it not so, Fernando?" + +"Aye, it is so," replied his comrade. "I like not the Texan bullets. I +am glad to be here where they cannot reach me. It is said that Satan +sights their rifles for them, because they do not miss. They will die +hard to-morrow. They will die like the bear in its den, fighting the +hunters, when our army is poured upon them. That will be an end to all +the Texans, and we will go back to the warm south." + +"But are you sure," asked Ned, "that it will be an end of the Texans? +Not all the Texans are shut up in the Alamo." + +"What matters it?" replied Fernando, lightly. "It may be delayed, but +the end will be the same. Nothing can resist the great, the powerful, +the most illustrious Santa Anna. He is always able to dig graves for his +enemies." + +The men talked further. Ned gathered from them that the whole force of +Santa Anna was now present. Some of his officers wanted him to wait for +siege artillery of the heaviest caliber that would batter down the walls +of the Alamo, but the dictator himself was impatient for the assault. It +would certainly take place the next morning. + +"And why is the young señor here?" asked Fernando. "The order has been +issued that no Texan shall be spared, and do you not see the red flag +waving there close by us?" + +Ned looked up. The red flag now flaunted its folds very near to him. He +could not repress a shiver. + +"I am here," he replied, "because some one who has power has told +General Santa Anna that I am not to be put to death." + +"It is well for you, then," said Fernando, "that you have a friend of +such weight. It is a pity to die when one is so young and so straight +and strong as you. Ah, my young señor, the world is beautiful. Look how +green is the grass there by the river, and how the sun lies like gold +across it!" + +Ned had noticed before the love of beauty that the humblest peon +sometimes had, and there was a certain touch of brotherly feeling +between him and this man, his jailer. + +"The world is beautiful," said the boy, "and I am willing to tell you +that I have no wish to leave it." + +"Nor I," said Fernando. "Why are the Texans so foolish as to oppose the +great Santa Anna, the most illustrious and powerful of all generals and +rulers? Did they not know that he would come and crush them, every one?" + +Ned did not reply. The peon, in repose at least, had a gentle heart, and +the boy knew that Santa Anna was to him omnipotent and omniscient. He +turned his attention anew to the Alamo, that magnet of his thoughts. It +was standing quiet in the sun now. The defiant flag of the defenders, +upon which they had embroidered the word "Texas," hung lazily from the +staff. + +The guards in the afternoon gave him some food and a jug of water, and +they also ate and drank upon the roof. They were yet amply content with +their task and their position there. No bullets could reach them. The +sunshine was golden and pleasant. They had established friendly +relations with the prisoner. He had not given them the slightest +trouble, and, before and about them, was spread the theater upon which a +mighty drama was passing, all for them to see. What more could be asked +by two simple peasants of small wants? + +Ned was glad that they let him remain upon the roof. The Alamo drew his +gaze with a power that he could not break if he would. Since he was no +longer among the defenders he was eager to see every detail in the vast +drama that was now unfolding. + +But the afternoon passed in inaction. The sun was brilliant and toward +evening turned to a deep, glowing red. It lighted up for the last time +the dim figures that stood on the walls of the Alamo. Ned choked as he +saw them there. He felt the premonition. + +Urrea came upon the roof shortly before twilight. He was not sneering or +ironical, and Ned, who had no wish to quarrel at such a time, was glad +of it. + +"As General Santa Anna told you," said Urrea, "the assault is to be made +in overwhelming force early in the morning. It will succeed, of course. +Nothing can prevent it. Through the man Roylston, you have some claim +upon the general, but it may not be strong enough to save you long. A +service now might make his pardon permanent." + +"What do you mean by a service now?" + +"A few words as to the weaker points of the Alamo, the best places for +our troops to attack. You cannot do anything for the defenders. You +cannot alter their fate in any particular, but you might do something +for yourself." + +Ned did not wish to appear dramatic. He merely turned his back upon the +young Mexican. + +"Very well," said Urrea, "I made you the offer. It was for you to accept +it or not as you wish." + +He left him upon the roof, and Ned saw the last rim of the red sun sink +in the plain. He saw the twilight come, and the Alamo fade into a dim +black bulk in the darkness. He thought once that he heard a cry of a +sentinel from its walls, "All's well," but he knew that it was only +fancy. The distance was far too great. Besides, all was not well. + +When the darkness had fully come, he descended with his two benevolent +jailers to a lower part of the house, where he was assigned to a small +room, with a single barred window and without the possibility of escape. +His guards, after bringing him food and water, gave him a polite good +night and went outside. He knew that they would remain on watch in the +hall. + +Ned could eat and drink but little. Nor could he yet sleep. The night +was far too heavy upon him for slumber. Besides, it had brought many +noises, significant noises that he knew. He heard the rumble of cannon +wheels over the rough pavements, and the shouts of men to the horses or +mules. He heard troops passing, now infantry, and then cavalry, the +hoofs of their horses grinding upon the stones. + +He pressed his face against the barred window. He was eager to hear and +yet more eager to see. He caught glimpses only of horse and foot as they +passed, but he knew what all those sights and sounds portended. In the +night the steel coil of the Mexicans was being drawn closer and closer +about the Alamo. + +Brave and resolute, he was only a boy after all. He felt deserted of all +men. He wanted to be back there with Crockett and Bowie and Travis and +the others. The water came into his eyes, and unconsciously he pulled +hard at the iron bars. + +He remained there a long time, listening to the sounds. Once he heard a +trumpet, and its note in the night was singularly piercing. He knew that +it was a signal, probably for the moving of a regiment still closer to +the Alamo. But there were no shots from either the Mexicans or the +mission. The night was clear with many stars. + +After two or three hours at the window Ned tried to sleep. There was a +narrow bed against the wall, and he lay upon it, full length, but he did +not even close his eyes. He became so restless that at last he rose and +went to the window again. It must have been then past midnight. The +noises had ceased. Evidently the Mexicans had everything ready. The wind +blew cold upon his face, but it brought him no news of what was passing +without. + +He went back to the bed, and by and by he sank into a heavy slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TO THE LAST MAN + + +Ned awoke after a feverish night, when there was yet but a strip of gray +in the east. It was Sunday morning, but he had lost count of time, and +did not know it. He had not undressed at all when he lay down, and now +he stood by the window, seeking to see and hear. But the light was yet +dim and the sounds were few. Nevertheless the great pulse in his throat +began to leap. The attack was at hand. + +The door of the room was unlocked and the two peons who had guarded him +upon the roof came for him. Ned saw in the half gloom that they were +very grave of countenance. + +"We are to take you to the noble Captain Urrea, who is waiting for you," +said Fernando. + +"Very well," said Ned. "I am ready. You have been kind to me, and I hope +that we shall meet again after to-day." + +Both men shook their heads. + +"We fear that is not to be," said Fernando. + +They found Urrea and another young officer waiting at the door of the +house. Urrea was in his best uniform and his eyes were very bright. He +was no coward, and Ned knew that the gleam was in anticipation of the +coming attack. + +"The time is at hand," he said, "and it will be your wonderful fortune +to see how Mexico strikes down her foe." + +His voice, pitched high, showed excitement, and a sense of the dramatic. +Ned said nothing, and his own pulses began to leap again. The strip of +gray in the east was broadening, and he now saw that the whole town was +awake, although it was not yet full daylight. Santa Anna had been at +work in the night, while he lay in that feverish sleep. He heard +everywhere now the sound of voices, the clank of arms and the beat of +horses' hoofs. The flat roofs were crowded with the Mexican people. Ned +saw Mexican women there in their dresses of bright colors, like Roman +women in the Colosseum, awaiting the battle of the gladiators. The +atmosphere was surcharged with excitement, and the sense of coming +triumph. + +Ned's breath seemed to choke in his throat and his heart beat painfully. +Once more he wished with all his soul that he was with his friends, that +he was in the Alamo. He belonged with them there, and he would rather +face death with those familiar faces around him than be here, safe +perhaps, but only a looker-on. It was with him now a matter of the +emotions, and not of reasoned intellect. Once more he looked toward the +old mission, and saw the dim outline of the buildings, with the +dominating walls of the church. He could not see whether anyone watched +on the walls, but he knew that the sentinels were there. Perhaps +Crockett, himself, stood among them now, looking at the great Mexican +coil of steel that was wrapping itself tighter and tighter around the +Alamo. Despite himself, Ned uttered a sigh. + +"What is the matter with you?" asked Urrea, sharply. "Are you already +weeping for the conquered?" + +"You know that I am not," replied Ned. "You need not believe me, but I +regret that I am not in the Alamo with my friends." + +"It's an idle wish," said Urrea, "but I am taking you now to General +Santa Anna. Then I leave, and I go there! Look, the horsemen!" + +He extended his hand, and Ned saw his eyes kindling. The Mexican cavalry +were filing out in the dim dawn, troop after troop, the early light +falling across the blades of the lances, spurs and bridles jingling. All +rode well, and they made a thrilling picture, as they rode steadily on, +curving about the old fortress. + +"I shall soon be with them," said Urrea in a tone of pride. "We shall +see that not a single one of your Texans escapes from the Alamo." + +Ned felt that choking in his throat again, but he deemed it wiser to +keep silent. They were going toward the main plaza now, and he saw +masses of troops gathered in the streets. These men were generally +silent, and he noticed that their faces expressed no elation. He divined +at once that they were intended for the assault, and they had no cause +for joy. They knew that they must face the deadly Texan rifles. + +Urrea led the way to a fortified battery standing in front of the main +plaza. A brilliant group stood behind an earthen wall, and Ned saw Santa +Anna among them. + +"I have brought the prisoner," said Urrea, saluting. + +"Very good," replied the dictator, "and now, Captain Urrea, you can join +your command. You have served me well, and you shall have your share in +the glory of this day." + +Urrea flushed with pride at the compliment, and bowed low. Then he +hurried away to join the horse. Santa Anna turned his attention. + +"I have brought you here at this moment," he said, "to give you a last +chance. It is not due to any mercy for you, a rebel, but it is because +you have been so long in the Alamo that you must know it well. Point +out to us its weakest places, and you shall be free. You shall go north +in safety. I promise it here, in the presence of my generals." + +"I have nothing to tell," replied Ned. + +"Are you sure?" + +"Absolutely sure." + +"Then it merely means a little more effusion of blood. You may stay with +us and see the result." + +All the ancient, inherited cruelty now shone in Santa Anna's eyes. It +was the strange satanic streak in him that made him keep his captive +there in order that he might see the fall of his own comrades. A half +dozen guards stood near the person of the dictator, and he said to them: + +"If the prisoner seeks to leave us, shoot him at once." + +The manner of Santa Anna was arrogant to the last degree, but Ned was +glad to stay. He was eager to see the great panorama which was about to +be unrolled before him. He was completely absorbed in the Alamo, and he +utterly forgot himself. Black specks were dancing before his eyes, and +the blood was pounding in his ears, but he took no notice of such +things. + +The gray bar in the east broadened. A thin streak of shining silver cut +through it, and touched for a moment the town, the river, the army and +the Alamo. Ned leaned against an edge of the earthwork, and breathed +heavily and painfully. He had not known that his heart could beat so +hard. + +The same portentous silence prevailed everywhere. The men and women on +the roofs of the houses were absolutely still. The cavalry, their line +now drawn completely about the mission, were motionless. Ned, straining +his eyes toward the Alamo, could see nothing there. Suddenly he put up +his hand and wiped his forehead. His fingers came away wet. His blood +prickled in his veins like salt. He became impatient, angry. If the mine +was ready, why did they not set the match? Such waiting was the pitch of +cruelty. + +"Cos, my brother," said Santa Anna to the swart general, "take your +command. It was here that the Texan rebels humiliated you, and it is +here that you shall have full vengeance." + +Cos saluted, and strode away. He was to lead one of the attacking +columns. + +"Colonel Duque," said Santa Anna to another officer, "you are one of the +bravest of the brave. You are to direct the attack on the northern wall, +and may quick success go with you." + +Duque glowed at the compliment, and he, too, strode away to the head of +his column. + +"Colonel Romero," said Santa Anna, "the third column is yours, and the +fourth is yours, Colonel Morales. Take your places and, at the signal +agreed, the four columns will charge with all their strength. Let us see +which will be the first in the Alamo." + +The two colonels saluted as the others had done, and joined their +columns. + +The bar of gray in the east was still broadening, but the sun itself did +not yet show. The walls of the Alamo were still dim, and Ned could not +see whether any figures were there. Santa Anna had put a pair of +powerful glasses to his eyes, but when he took them down he said nothing +of what he had seen. + +"Are all the columns provided?" he said to General Sesma, who stood +beside him. + +"They have everything," replied Sesma, "crowbars, axes, scaling ladders. +Sir, they cannot fail!" + +"No, they cannot," said Santa Anna exultantly. "These Texan rebels fight +like demons, but we have now a net through which they cannot break. +General Gaona, see that the bands are ready and direct them to play the +Deguelo when the signal for the charge is given." + +Ned shivered again. The "Deguelo" meant the "cutting-of-throats," and +it, too, was to be the signal of no quarter. He remembered the red flag, +and he looked up. It hung, as ever, on the tower of the church of San +Fernando, and its scarlet folds moved slowly in the light morning +breeze. General Gaona returned. + +"The bands are ready, general," he said, "and when the signal is given +they will play the air that you have chosen." + +A Mexican, trumpet in hand, was standing near. Santa Anna turned and +said to him the single word: + +"Blow!" + +The man lifted the trumpet to his lips, and blew a long note that +swelled to its fullest pitch, then died away in a soft echo. + +It was the signal. A tremendous cry burst from the vast ring of the +thousands, and it was taken up by the shrill voices of the women on the +flat roofs of the houses. The great circle of cavalrymen shook their +lances and sabers until they glittered. + +When the last echo of the trumpet's dying note was gone the bands began +to play with their utmost vigor the murderous tune that Santa Anna had +chosen. Then four columns of picked Mexican troops, three thousand +strong, rushed toward the Alamo. Santa Anna and the generals around him +were tremendously excited. Their manner made no impression upon Ned +then, but he recalled the fact afterward. + +The boy became quickly unconscious of everything except the charge of +the Mexicans and the Alamo. He no longer remembered that he was a +prisoner. He no longer remembered anything about himself. The cruel +throb of that murderous tune, the Deguelo, beat upon the drums of his +ears, and mingled with it came the sound of the charging Mexicans, the +beat of their feet, the clank of their arms, and the shouts of their +officers. + +Whatever may be said of the herded masses of the Mexican troops, the +Mexican officers were full of courage. They were always in advance, +waving their swords and shouting to their men to come on. 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. But he never turned to look at them. His eyes were +always on the charging host which converged so fast upon the Alamo. + +The trumpet blew another signal, and there was a crash so loud that it +made Ned jump. All the Mexican batteries had fired at once over the +heads of their own troops at the Alamo. While the gunners reloaded the +smoke of the discharge drifted away and the Alamo still stood silent. +But over it yet hung a banner on which was written in great letters the +word, "Texas." + +The Mexican troops were coming close now. The bands playing the Deguelo +swelled to greater volume and the ground shook again as the Mexican +artillery fired its second volley. When the smoke drifted away again the +Alamo itself suddenly burst into flame. The Texan cannon at close range +poured their shot and shell into the dense ranks of the Mexicans. But +piercing through the heavy thud of the cannon came the shriller and more +deadly crackle of the rifles. The Texans were there, every one of them, +on the walls. He might have known it. Nothing on earth could catch them +asleep, nor could anything on earth or under it frighten them into +laying down their arms. + +Ned began to shout, but only hoarse cries came from a dry throat through +dry lips. The great pulses in his throat were leaping again, and he was +saying: "The Texans! The Texans! Oh, the brave Texans!" + +But nobody heard him. Santa Anna, Filisola, Castrillon, Tolsa, Gaona and +the other generals were leaning against the earthwork, absorbed in the +tremendous spectacle that was passing before them. The soldiers who were +to guard the prisoner forgot him and they, too, were engrossed in the +terrible and thrilling panorama of war. Ned might have walked away, no +one noticing, but he, too, had but one thought, and that was the Alamo. + +He saw the Mexican columns shiver when the first volley was poured upon +them from the walls. In a single glance aside he beheld the exultant +look on the faces of Santa Anna and his generals die away, and he +suddenly became conscious that the shrill shouting on the flat roofs of +the houses had ceased. But the Mexican cannon still poured a cloud of +shot and shell over the heads of their men at the Alamo, and the troops +went on. + +Ned, keen of ear and so intent that he missed nothing, could now +separate the two fires. The crackle of the rifles which came from the +Alamo dominated. Rapid, steady, incessant, it beat heavily upon the +hearing and nerves. Pyramids and spires of smoke arose, drifted and +arose again. In the intervals he saw the walls of the church a sheet of +flame, and he saw the Mexicans falling by dozens and scores upon the +plain. He knew that at the short range the Texan rifles never missed, +and that the hail of their bullets was cutting through the Mexican ranks +like a fire through dry grass. + +"God, how they fight!" he heard one of the generals--he never knew +which--exclaim. + +Then he saw the officers rushing about, shouting to the men, striking +them with the flats of their swords and urging them on. The Mexican army +responded to the appeal, lifted itself up and continued its rush. The +fire from the Alamo seemed to Ned to increase. The fortress was a living +flame. He had not thought that men could fire so fast, but they had +three or four rifles apiece. + +The silence which had replaced the shrill shouting in the town +continued. All the crash was now in front of them, and where they stood +the sound of the human voice would carry. In a dim far-away manner Ned +heard the guards talking to one another. Their words showed uneasiness. +It was not the swift triumphal rush into the Alamo that they had +expected. Great swaths had been cut through the Mexican army. Santa Anna +paled more than once when he saw his men falling so fast. + +"They cannot recoil! They cannot!" he cried. + +But they did. The column led by Colonel Duque, a brave man, was now at +the northern wall, and the men were rushing forward with the crowbars, +axes and scaling ladders. The Texan rifles, never more deadly, sent down +a storm of bullets upon them. A score of men fell all at once. Among +them was Duque, wounded terribly. The whole column broke and reeled +away, carrying Duque with them. + +Ned saw the face of Santa Anna turn purple with rage. He struck the +earthwork furiously with the flat of his sword. + +"Go! Go!" he cried to Gaona and Tolsa. "Rally them! See that they do not +run!" + +The two generals sprang from the battery and rushed to their task. The +Mexican cannon had ceased firing, for fear of shooting down their own +men, and the smoke was drifting away from the field. The morning was +also growing much lighter. The gray dawn had turned to silver, and the +sun's red rim was just showing above the eastern horizon. + +The Texan cannon were silent, too. The rifles were now doing all the +work. The volume of their fire never diminished. Ned saw the field +covered with slain, and many wounded were drifting back to the shelter +of the earthworks and the town. + +Duque's column was rallied, but the column on the east and the column on +the west were also driven back, and Santa Anna rushed messenger after +messenger, hurrying up fresh men, still driving the whole Mexican army +against the Alamo. He shouted orders incessantly, although he remained +safe within the shelter of the battery. + +Ned felt an immense joy. He had seen the attack beaten off at three +points. A force of twenty to one had been compelled to recoil. His heart +swelled with pride in those friends of his. But they were so few in +number! Even now the Mexican masses were reforming. The officers were +among them, driving them forward with threats and blows. The great ring +of Mexican cavalry, intended to keep any of the Texans from escaping, +also closed in, driving their own infantry forward to the assault. + +Ned's heart sank as the whole Mexican army, gathering now at the +northern or lower wall, rushed straight at the barrier. But the deadly +fire of the rifles flashed from it, and their front line went down. +Again they recoiled, and again the cavalry closed in, holding them to +the task. + +There was a pause of a few moments. The town had been silent for a long +time, and the Mexican soldiers themselves ceased to shout. Clouds of +smoke eddied and drifted about the buildings. The light of the morning, +first gray, then silver, turned to gold. The sun, now high above the +earth's rim, poured down a flood of rays. + +Everything stood out sharp and clear. Ned saw the buildings of the Alamo +dark against the sun, and he saw men on the walls. He saw the Mexican +columns pressed together in one great force, and he even saw the still +faces of many who lay silent on the plain. + +He knew that the Mexicans were about to charge again, and his feeling of +exultation passed. He no longer had hope that the defenders of the Alamo +could beat back so many. He thought again how few, how very few, were +the Texans. + +The silence endured but a moment or two. Then the Mexicans rushed +forward in a mighty mass at the low northern wall, the front lines +firing as they went. Flame burst from the wall, and Ned heard once more +the deadly crackle of the Texan rifles. The ground was littered by the +trail of the Mexican fallen, but, driven by their officers, they went +on. + +Ned saw them reach the wall and plant the scaling ladders, many of them. +Scores of men swarmed up the ladders and over the wall. A heavy division +forced its way into the redoubt through the sallyport, and as Ned saw he +uttered a deep gasp. He knew that the Alamo was doomed. And the Mexicans +knew it, too. The shrill screaming of the women began again from the +flat roofs of the houses, and shouts burst from the army also. + +"We have them! We have them!" cried Santa Anna, exultant and excited. + +Sheets of flame still burst from the Alamo, and the rifles still poured +bullets on the swarming Mexican forces, but the breach had been made. +The Mexicans went over the low wall in an unbroken stream, and they +crowded through the sallyport by hundreds. They were inside now, rushing +with the overwhelming weight of twenty to one upon the little garrison. +They seized the Texan guns, cutting down the gunners with lances and +sabers, and they turned the captured cannon upon the defenders. + +Some of the buildings inside the walls were of adobe, and they were soon +shattered by the cannon balls. The Texans, covered with smoke and dust +and the sweat of battle, were forced back by the press of numbers into +the convent yard, and then into the church and hospital. Here the cannon +and rifles in hundreds were turned upon them, but they still fought. +Often, with no time to reload their rifles, they clubbed them, and drove +back the Mexican rush. + +The Alamo was a huge volcano of fire and smoke, of shouting and death. +Those who looked on became silent again, appalled at the sights and +sounds. The smoke rose far above the mission, and caught by a light +wind drifted away to the east. The Mexican generals brought up fresh +forces and drove them at the fortress. A heavy column, attacking on the +south side, where no defenders were now left, poured over a stockade and +crowded into the mission. The circle of cavalry about the Alamo again +drew closer, lest any Texan should escape. But it was a useless +precaution. None sought flight. + +In very truth, the last hope of the Alamo was gone, and perhaps there +was none among the defenders who did not know it. There were a few wild +and desperate characters of the border, whom nothing in life became so +much as their manner of leaving it. In the culminating moment of the +great tragedy they bore themselves as well as the best. + +Travis, the commander, and Bonham stood in the long room of the hospital +with a little group around them, most of them wounded, the faces of all +black with powder smoke. But they fought on. Whenever a Mexican appeared +at the door an unerring rifle bullet struck him down. Fifty fell at that +single spot before the rifles, yet they succeeded in dragging up a +cannon, thrust its muzzle in at the door and fired it twice loaded with +grape shot into the room. + +The Texans were cut down by the shower of missiles, and the whole place +was filled with smoke. Then the Mexicans rushed in and the few Texans +who had survived the grape shot fell fighting to the last with their +clubbed rifles. Here lay Travis of the white soul and beside him fell +the brave Bonham, who had gone out for help, and who had returned to die +with his comrades. The Texans who had defended the room against so many +were only fifteen in number, and they were all silent now. Now the whole +attack converged on the church, the strongest part of the Alamo, where +the Texans were making their last stand. The place was seething with +fire and smoke, but above it still floated the banner upon which was +written in great letters the word, "Texas." + +The Mexicans, pressing forward in dense masses, poured in cannon balls +and musket balls at every opening. Half the Texans were gone, but the +others never ceased to fire with their rifles. Within that raging +inferno they could hardly see one another for the smoke, but they were +all animated by the same purpose, to fight to the death and to carry as +many of their foes with them as they could. + +Evans, who had commanded the cannon, rushed for the magazine to blow up +the building. They had agreed that if all hope were lost he should do +so, but he was killed on his way by a bullet, and the others went on +with the combat. + +Near the entrance to the church stood a great figure swinging a clubbed +rifle. His raccoon skin cap was lost, and his eyes burned like coals of +fire in his swarthy face. It was Crockett, gone mad with battle, and the +Mexicans who pressed in recoiled before the deadly sweep of the clubbed +rifle. Some were awed by the terrific figure, dripping blood, and wholly +unconscious of danger. + +"Forward!" cried a Mexican officer, and one of his men went down with a +shattered skull. The others shrank back again, but a new figure pressed +into the ring. It was that of the younger Urrea. At the last moment he +had left the cavalry and joined in the assault. + +"Don't come within reach of his blows!" he cried. "Shoot him! Shoot +him!" + +He snatched a double-barreled pistol from his own belt and fired twice +straight at Crockett's breast. The great Tennesseean staggered, dropped +his rifle and the flame died from his eyes. With a howl of triumph his +foes rushed upon him, plunged their swords and bayonets into his body, +and he fell dead with a heap of the Mexican slain about him. + +A bullet whistled past Urrea's face and killed a man beyond him. He +sprang back. Bowie, still suffering severe injuries from a fall from a +platform, was lying on a cot in the arched room to the left of the +entrance. Unable to walk, he had received at his request two pistols, +and now he was firing them as fast as he could pull the triggers and +reload. + +"Shoot him! Shoot him at once!" cried Urrea. + +His own pistol was empty now, but a dozen musket balls were fired into +the room. Bowie, hit twice, nevertheless raised himself upon his elbow, +aimed a pistol with a clear eye and a steady hand, and pulled the +trigger. A Mexican fell, shot through the heart, but another volley of +musket balls was discharged at the Georgian. Struck in both head and +heart he suddenly straightened out and lay still upon the cot. Thus died +the famous Bowie. + +Mrs. Dickinson and her baby had been hidden in the arched room on the +other side for protection. The Mexicans killed a Texan named Walters at +the entrance, and, wild with ferocity, raised his body upon a half dozen +bayonets while the blood ran down in a dreadful stream upon those who +held it aloft. + +Urrea rushed into the room and found the cowering woman and her baby. +The Mexicans followed, and were about to slay them, too, when a gallant +figure rushed between. It was the brave and humane Almonte. Sword in +hand, he faced the savage horde. He uttered words that made Urrea turn +dark with shame and leave the room. The soldiers were glad to follow. + +At the far end of the church a few Texans were left, still fighting +with clubbed rifles. The Mexicans drew back a little, raised their +muskets and fired an immense shattering volley. When the smoke cleared +away not a single Texan was standing, and then the troops rushed in with +sword and bayonet. + +It was nine o'clock in the morning, and the Alamo had fallen. The +defenders were less than nine score, and they had died to the last man. +A messenger rushed away at once to Santa Anna with the news of the +triumph, and he came from the shelter, glorying, exulting and crying +that he had destroyed the Texans. + +Ned followed the dictator. He never knew exactly why, because many of +those moments were dim, like the scenes of a dream, and there was so +much noise, excitement and confusion that no one paid any attention to +him. But an overwhelming power drew him on to the Alamo, and he rushed +in with the Mexican spectators. + +Ned passed through the sallyport and he reeled back aghast for a moment. +The Mexican dead, not yet picked up, were strewn everywhere. They had +fallen in scores. The lighter buildings were smashed by cannon balls and +shells. The earth was gulleyed and torn. The smoke from so much firing +drifted about in banks and clouds, and it gave forth the pungent odor of +burned gunpowder. + +The boy knew not only that the Alamo had fallen, but that all of its +defenders had fallen with it. The knowledge was instinctive. He had been +with those men almost to the last day of the siege, and he had +understood their spirit. + +He was not noticed in the crush. Santa Anna and the generals were +running into the church, and he followed them. Here he saw the Texan +dead, and he saw also a curious crowd standing around a fallen form. He +pressed into the ring and his heart gave a great throb of grief. + +It was Crockett, lying upon his back, his body pierced by many wounds. +Ned had known that he would find him thus, but the shock, nevertheless, +was terrible. Yet Crockett's countenance was calm. He bore no wounds in +the face, and he lay almost as if he had died in his bed. It seemed to +Ned even in his grief that no more fitting death could have come to the +old hero. + +Then, following another crowd, he saw Bowie, also lying peacefully in +death upon his cot. He felt the same grief for him that he had felt for +Crockett, but it soon passed in both cases. A strange mood of exaltation +took its place. They had died as one might wish to die, since death must +come to all. It was glorious that these defenders of the Alamo, comrades +of his, should have fallen to the last man. The full splendor of their +achievement suddenly burst in a dazzling vision before him. Texans who +furnished such valor could not be conquered. Santa Anna might have +twenty to one or fifty to one or a hundred to one, in the end it would +not matter. + +The mood endured. He looked upon the dead faces of Travis and Bonham +also, and he was not shaken. He saw others, dozens and dozens whom he +knew, and the faces of all of them seemed peaceful to him. The shouting +and cheering and vast chatter of the Mexicans did not disturb him. His +mood was so high that all these things passed as nothing. + +Ned made no attempt to escape. He knew that while he might go about +almost as he chose in this crowd of soldiers, now disorganized, the ring +of cavalry beyond would hold him. The thought of escape, however, was +but little in his mind just then. He was absorbed in the great tomb of +the Alamo. Here, despite the recent work of the cannon, all things +looked familiar. He could mark the very spots where he had stood and +talked with Crockett or Bowie. He knew how the story of the immortal +defence would spread like fire throughout Texas and beyond. When he +should tell how he had seen the faces of the heroes, every heart must +leap. + +He wandered back to the church, where the curious still crowded. Many +people from the town, influential Mexicans, wished to see the terrible +Texans, who yet lay as they had fallen. Some spoke scornful words, but +most regarded them with awe. Ned looked at Crockett for the second time, +and a hand touched him on the shoulder. It was Urrea. + +"Where are your Texans now?" he asked. + +"They are gone," replied Ned, "but they will never be forgotten." And +then he added in a flash of anger. "Five or six times as many Mexicans +have gone with them." + +"It is true," said the young Mexican thoughtfully. "They fought like +cornered mountain wolves. We admit it. And this one, Crockett you call +him, was perhaps the most terrible of them all. He swung his clubbed +rifle so fiercely that none dared come within its reach. I slew him." + +"You?" exclaimed Ned. + +"Yes, I! Why should I not? I fired two pistol bullets into him and he +fell." + +He spoke with a certain pride. Ned said nothing, but he pressed his +teeth together savagely and his heart swelled with hate of the sleek and +triumphant Urrea. + +"General Santa Anna, engrossed in much more important matters, has +doubtless forgotten you," continued the Mexican, "but I will see that +you do not escape. Why he spares you I know not, but it is his wish." + +He called to two soldiers, whom he detailed to follow Ned and see that +he made no attempt to escape. The boy was yet so deeply absorbed in the +Alamo that no room was left in his mind for anything else. Nor did he +care to talk further with Urrea, who he knew was not above aiming a +shaft or two at an enemy in his power. He remained in the crowd until +Santa Anna ordered that all but the troops be cleared from the Alamo. + +Then, at the order of the dictator, the bodies of the Texans were taken +without. A number of them were spread upon the ground, and were covered +with a thick layer of dry wood and brush. Then more bodies of men and +heaps of dry wood were spread in alternate layers until the funeral pile +was complete. + +Young Urrea set the torch, while the Mexican army and population looked +on. The dry wood flamed up rapidly and the whole was soon a pyramid of +fire and smoke. Ned was not shocked at this end, even of the bodies of +brave men. He recalled the stories of ancient heroes, the bodies of whom +had been consumed on just such pyres as this, and he was willing that +his comrades should go to join Hercules, Hector, Achilles and the rest. + +The flames roared and devoured the great pyramid, which sank lower, and +at last Ned turned away. His mood of exaltation was passing. No one +could remain keyed to that pitch many hours. Overwhelming grief and +despair came in its place. His mind raged against everything, against +the cruelty of Santa Anna, who had hoisted the red flag of no quarter, +against fate, that had allowed so many brave men to perish, and against +the overwhelming numbers that the Mexicans could always bring against +the Texans. + +He walked gloomily toward the town, the two soldiers who had been +detailed as guards following close behind him. He looked back, saw the +sinking blaze of the funeral pyre, shuddered and walked on. + +San Antonio de Bexar was rejoicing. Most of its people, Mexican to the +core, shared in the triumph of Santa Anna. The terrible Texans were +gone, annihilated, and Santa Anna was irresistible. The conquest of +Texas was easy now. No, it was achieved already. They had the dictator's +own word for it that the rest was a mere matter of gathering up the +fragments. + +Some of the graver and more kindly Mexican officers thought of their own +losses. The brave and humane Almonte walked through the courts and +buildings of the Alamo, and his face blanched when he reckoned their +losses. A thousand men killed or wounded was a great price to pay for +the nine score Texans who were sped. But no such thoughts troubled Santa +Anna. All the vainglory of his nature was aflame. They were decorating +the town with all the flags and banners and streamers they could find, +and he knew that it was for him. At night they would illuminate in his +honor. He stretched out his arm toward the north and west, and murmured +that it was all his. He would be the ruler of an empire half the size of +Europe. The scattered and miserable Texans could set no bounds to his +ambition. He had proved it. + +He would waste no more time in that empty land of prairies and plains. +He sent glowing dispatches about his victory to the City of Mexico and +announced that he would soon come. His subordinates would destroy the +wandering bands of Texans. Then he did another thing that appealed to +his vanity. He wrote a proclamation to the Texans announcing the fall of +the Alamo, and directing them to submit at once, on pain of death, to +his authority. He called for Mrs. Dickinson, the young wife, now widow, +whom the gallantry of Almonte had saved from massacre in the Alamo. He +directed her to take his threat to the Texans at Gonzales, and she +willingly accepted. Mounting a horse and alone save for the baby in her +arms, she rode away from San Antonio, shuddering at the sight of the +Mexicans, and passed out upon the desolate and dangerous prairies. + +The dictator was so absorbed in his triumph and his plans for his +greater glory that for the time he forgot all about Ned Fulton, his +youthful prisoner, who had crossed the stream and who was now in the +town, attended by the two peons whom Urrea had detailed as his guards. +But Ned had come out of his daze, and his mind was as keen and alert as +ever. The effects of the great shock of horror remained. His was not a +bitter nature, but he could not help feeling an intense hatred of the +Mexicans. He was on the battle line, and he saw what they were doing. He +resolved that now was his time to escape, and in the great turmoil +caused by the excitement and rejoicing in San Antonio he did not believe +that it would be difficult. + +He carefully cultivated the good graces of the two soldiers who were +guarding him. He bought for them mescal and other fiery drinks which +were now being sold in view of the coming festival. Their good nature +increased and also their desire to get rid of a task that had been +imposed upon them. Why should they guard a boy when everybody else was +getting ready to be merry? + +They went toward the Main Plaza, and came to the Zambrano Row, where the +Texans had fought their way when they took San Antonio months before. +Ned looked up at the buildings. They were still dismantled. Great holes +were in the walls and the empty windows were like blind eyes. He saw at +once that their former inhabitants had not yet returned to them, and +here he believed was his chance. + +When they stood beside the first house he called the attention of his +guards to some Mexican women who were decorating a doorway across the +street. When they looked he darted into the first of the houses in the +Zambrano Row. He entered a large room and at the corner saw a stairway. +He knew this place. He had been here in the siege of San Antonio by the +Texans, and now he had the advantage over his guards, who were probably +strangers. + +He rushed for the staircase and, just as he reached the top, one of the +guards, who had followed as soon as they noticed the flight of the +prisoner, fired his musket. The discharge roared in the room, but the +bullet struck the wall fully a foot away from the target. Ned was on the +second floor, and out of range the next moment. He knew that the +soldiers would follow him, and he passed through the great hole, broken +by the Texans, into the next house. + +Here he paused to listen, and he heard the two soldiers muttering and +breathing heavily. The distaste which they already felt for their task +had become a deep disgust. Why should they be deprived of their part in +the festival to follow up a prisoner? What did a single captive amount +to, anyhow? Even if he escaped now the great, the illustrious Santa +Anna, whose eyes saw all things, would capture him later on when he +swept all the scattered Texans into his basket. + +Ned went from house to house through the holes broken in the party +walls, and occasionally he heard his pursuers slouching along and +grumbling. At the fourth house he slipped out upon the roof, and lay +flat near the stone coping. + +He knew that if the soldiers came upon the roof they would find him, but +he relied upon the mescal and their lack of zeal. He heard them once +tramping about in the room below him, and then he heard them no more. + +Ned remained all the rest of the afternoon upon the roof, not daring to +leave his cramped position against the coping. He felt absolutely safe +there from observation, Mexicans would not be prowling through +dismantled and abandoned houses at such a time. Now and then gay shouts +came from the streets below. The Mexicans of Bexar were disturbed little +by the great numbers of their people who had fallen at the Alamo. The +dead were from the far valleys of Mexico, and were strangers. + +Ned afterward thought that he must have slept a little toward twilight, +but he was never sure of it. He saw the sun set, and the gray and silent +Alamo sink away into the darkness. Then he slipped from the roof, +anxious to be away before the town was illuminated. He had no difficulty +at all in passing unnoticed through the streets, and he made his way +straight for the Alamo. + +He was reckoning very shrewdly now. He knew that the superstitious +Mexicans would avoid the mission at night as a place thronged with +ghosts, and that Santa Anna would not need to post any guard within +those walls. He would pass through the inclosures, then over the lower +barriers by which the Mexicans had entered, and thence into the darkness +beyond. + +It seemed to him the best road to escape, and he had another object also +in entering the Alamo. The defenders had had three or four rifles +apiece, and he was convinced that somewhere in the rooms he would find a +good one, with sufficient ammunition. + +It was with shudders that he entered the Alamo, and the shudders came +again when he looked about the bloodstained courts and rooms, lately the +scene of such terrible strife, but now so silent. In a recess of the +church which had been used as a little storage place by himself and +Crockett he found an excellent rifle of the long-barreled Western +pattern, a large horn of powder and a pouch full of bullets. There was +also a supply of dried beef, which he took, too. + +Now he felt himself a man again. He would find the Texans and then they +would seek vengeance for the Alamo. He crossed the Main Plaza, dropped +over the low wall and quickly disappeared in the dusk. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE NEWS OF THE FALL + + +Five days before the fall of the Alamo a little group of men began to +gather at the village of Washington, on the Brazos river in Texas. The +name of the little town indicated well whence its people had come. All +the houses were new, mostly of unpainted wood, and they contained some +of the furniture of necessity, none of luxury. The first and most +important article was the rifle which the Texans never needed more than +they did now. + +But this new and little Washington was seething with excitement and +suspense, and its population was now more than triple the normal. News +had come that the Alamo was beleaguered by a force many times as +numerous as its defenders, and that Crockett, Bowie, Travis and other +famous men were inside. They had heard also that Santa Anna had hoisted +the red flag of no quarter, and that Texans everywhere, if taken, would +be slaughtered as traitors. The people of Washington had full cause for +their excitement and suspense. + +The little town also had the unique distinction of being a capital for a +day or two. The Texans felt, with the news that Santa Anna had enveloped +the Alamo, that they must take decisive action. They believed that the +Mexicans had broken every promise to the Texans. They knew that not only +their liberty and property, but their lives, also, were in peril. +Despite the great disparity of numbers it must be a fight to the death +between Texas and Mexico. The Texans were now gathering at Washington. + +One man who inspired courage wherever he went had come already. Sam +Houston had ridden into town, calm, confident and talking only of +victory. He was dressed with a neatness and care unusual on the border, +wearing a fine black suit, while his face was shaded by the wide brim of +a white sombrero. The famous scouts, "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes, and +young Zavala, whom Ned had known in Mexico, were there also. + +Fifty-eight delegates representing Texas gathered in the largest room of +a frame building. "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes came in and sat with +their rifles across their knees. While some of the delegates were +talking Houston signaled to the two, and they went outside. + +"What do you hear from the Alamo, Smith?" asked Houston. + +"Travis has fought off all the attacks of the Mexicans," replied the +great borderer, "but when Santa Anna brings up his whole force an' makes +a resolute assault it's bound to go under. The mission is too big an' +scattered to be held by Travis an' his men against forty or fifty times +their number." + +"I fear so. I fear so," said Houston sadly, "and we can't get together +enough men for its relief. All this quarreling and temporizing are our +ruin. Heavens, what a time for disagreements!" + +"There couldn't be a worse time, general," said Henry Karnes. "Me an' +'Deaf' would like mighty well to march to the Alamo. A lot of our +friends are in there an' I reckon we've seen them for the last time." + +The fine face of Houston grew dark with melancholy. + +"Have you been anywhere near San Antonio?" he asked Smith. + +"Not nearer than thirty miles," replied Smith, "but over at Goliad I saw +a force under Colonel Fannin that was gettin' ready to start to the +relief of Travis. With it were some friends of mine. There was Palmer, +him they call the Panther, the biggest and strongest man in Texas; Obed +White, a New Englander, an' a boy, Will Allen. I've knowed 'em well for +some time, and there was another that belonged to their little band. But +he's in the Alamo now, an' they was wild to rescue him." + +"Do you think Fannin will get through?" asked Houston. + +"I don't," replied Smith decidedly, "an' if he did it would just mean +the loss of more good men for us. What do you think about it, Hank?" + +"The same that you do," replied Karnes. + +Houston pondered over their words a long time. He knew that they were +thoroughly acquainted with Texas and the temper of its people, and he +relied greatly on their judgment. When he went back in the room which +was used as a convention hall Smith and Karnes remained outside. + +Smith sat down on the grass, lighted a pipe and began to smoke +deliberately. Karnes also sat down on the grass, lighted his own pipe +and smoked with equal deliberation. Each man rested his rifle across his +knees. + +"Looks bad," said Smith. + +"Powerful bad." + +"Almighty bad." + +"Talkin's no good when the enemy's shootin'." + +"Reckon there's nothin' left for us but this," tapping the barrel of his +rifle significantly. + +"Only tool that's left for us to use." + +"Reckon we'll soon have as many chances as we want to use it, an' more." + +"Reckon you're Almighty right." + +"An' we'll be there every time." + +The two men reached over and shook hands deliberately. Houston by and by +came out again, and saw them sitting there smoking, two images of +patience and quiet. + +"Boys," he said, "you're not taking much part in the proceedings." + +"Not much, just yet, Colonel Sam," replied Smith, "but we're waitin'. I +reckon that to-morrow you'll declare Texas free an' independent, a great +an' good republic. An' as there ain't sixty of you to declare it, mebbe +you'll need the help of some fellows like Hank an' me to make them +resolutions come true." + +"We will," said Houston, "and we know that we can rely upon you." + +He was about to pass on, but he changed his mind and sat down with the +men. Houston was a singular character. He had been governor of an +important state, and he had lived as a savage among savages. He could +adapt himself to any company. + +"Boys," he said, "you know a merchant, John Roylston, who has +headquarters in New Orleans, and also offices in St. Louis and +Cincinnati?" + +"We do," said Smith, "an' we've seen him, too, more than once. He's been +in these parts not so long ago." + +"He's in New Orleans now," said Houston. "He's the biggest trader along +the coast. Has dealings with Santa Anna himself, but he's a friend of +Texas, a powerful one. Boys, I've in my pocket now an order from him +good for a hundred thousand dollars. It's to be spent buying arms and +ammunition for us. And when the time comes there's more coming from the +same place. We've got friends, but keep this to yourselves." + +He walked on and the two took a long and meditative pull at their pipes. + +"I reckon Roylston may not shoot as straight as we can," said Smith, +"but mebbe at as long range as New Orleans he can do more harm to the +Mexicans than we can." + +"Looks like it. I ain't much of a hand at money, but I like the looks of +that man Roylston, an' I reckon the more rifles and the more ammunition +we have the fewer Mexicans will be left." + +The two scouts, having smoked as long as they wished, went to their +quarters and slept soundly through the night. But Houston and the +leading Texans with him hardly slept at all. There was but one course to +choose, and they were fully aware of its gravity, Houston perhaps more +so than the rest, as he had seen more of the world. They worked nearly +all night in the bare room, and when Houston sought his room he was +exhausted. + +Houston's room was a bare little place, lighted by a tallow candle, and +although it was not long until day he sat there a while before lying +down. A man of wide experience, he alone, with the exception of +Roylston, knew how desperate was the situation of the Texans. In truth, +it was the money of Roylston sent from New Orleans that had caused him +to hazard the chance. He knew, too, that, in time, more help would +arrive from the same source, and he believed there would be a chance +against the Mexicans, a fighting chance, it is true, but men who were +willing to die for a cause seldom failed to win. He blew out the candle, +got in bed and slept soundly. + +"Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes were up early--they seldom slept late--and +saw the sun rise out of the prairie. They were in a house which had a +small porch, looking toward the Brazos. After breakfast they lighted +their cob pipes again, smoked and meditated. + +"Reckon somethin' was done by our leadin' statesmen last night," said +Smith. + +"Reckon there was," said Karnes. + +"Reckon I can guess what it was." + +"Reckon I can, too." + +"Reckon I'll wait to hear it offish-ul-ly before I speak." + +"Reckon I will, too. Lots of time wasted talkin'." + +"Reckon you're right." + +They sat in silence for a full two hours. They smoked the first hour, +and they passed the second in their chairs without moving. They had +mastered the borderer's art of doing nothing thoroughly, when nothing +was to be done. Then a man came upon the porch and spoke to them. His +name was Burnet, David G. Burnet. + +"Good mornin'. How is the new republic?" said "Deaf" Smith. + +"So you know," said Burnet. + +"We don't know, but we've guessed, Hank an' me. We saw things as they +was comin'." + +"I reckon, too," said Karnes, "that we ain't a part of Mexico any more." + +"No, we're a free an' independent republic. It was so decided last +night, and we've got nothing more to do now but to whip a nation of +eight millions, the fifty thousand of us." + +"Well," said Smith philosophically, "it's a tough job, but it might be +did. I've heard tell that them old Greeks whipped the Persians when the +odds were powerful high against them." + +"That is true," said Burnet, "and we can at least try. We give the +reason for declaring our independence. We assert to the world that the +Mexican republic has become a military despotism, that our agents +carrying petitions have been thrown in dungeons in the City of Mexico, +that we have been ordered to give up the arms necessary for our defence +against the savages, and that we have been deprived of every right +guaranteed to us when we settled here." + +"We're glad it's done, although we knew it would be done," said Smith. +"We ain't much on talkin', Mr. President, Hank an' me, but we can shoot +pretty straight, an' we're at your call." + +"I know that, God bless you both," said Burnet. "The talking is over. +It's rifles that we need and plenty of them. Now I've to see Houston. +We're to talk over ways and means." + +He hurried away, and the two, settling back into their chairs on the +porch, relighted their pipes and smoked calmly. + +"Reckon there'll be nothin' doin' for a day or two, Hank," said Smith. + +"Reckon not, but we'll have to be doin' a powerful lot later, or be +hoofin' it for the tall timber a thousand miles north." + +"You always was full of sense, Hank. Now there goes Sam Houston. Queer +stories about his leavin' Tennessee and his life in the Indian +Territory." + +"That's so, but he's an honest man, looks far ahead, an' 'tween you an' +me, 'Deaf,' it's a thousand to one that he's to lead us in the war." + +"Reckon you're guessin' good." + +Houston, who had just awakened and dressed, was walking across the grass +and weeds to meet Burnet. Not even he, when he looked at the tiny +village and the wilderness spreading about it, foresaw how mighty a +state was to rise from beginnings so humble and so small. He and Burnet +went back into the convention hall, and he wrote a fiery appeal to the +people. He said that the Alamo was beleaguered and "the citizens of +Texas must rally to the aid of our army or it will perish." + +Smith and Karnes remained while the convention continued its work. They +did little ostensibly but smoke their cob pipes, but they observed +everything and thought deeply. On Sunday morning, five days after the +men had gathered at Washington, as they stood at the edge of the little +town they saw a man galloping over the prairie. Neither spoke, but +watched him for a while, as the unknown came on, lashing a tired horse. + +"'Pears to be in a hurry," said Smith. + +"An' to be in a hurry generally means somethin' in these parts," said +Karnes. + +"I'm makin' 'a guess." + +"So am I, an' yours is the same as mine. He comes from the Alamo." + +Others now saw the man, and there was a rush toward him. His horse fell +at the edge of the town, but the rider sprang to his feet and came +toward the group, which included both Houston and Burnet. He was a wild +figure, face and clothing covered with dust. But he recognized Houston +and turned to him at once. + +"You're General Houston, and I'm from the Alamo," he said. "I bring a +message from Colonel Travis." + +There was a sudden and heavy intake of breath in the whole group. + +"Then the Alamo has not fallen?" said Houston. + +"Not when I left, but that was three days ago. Here is the letter." + +It was the last letter of Travis, concluding with the words: "God and +Texas; victory or death." But when the messenger put the letter into +the hands of Houston the Alamo had fallen two hours before. + +The letter was laid before the convention, and the excitement was great +and irrepressible. The feelings of these stern men were moved deeply. +Many wished to adjourn at once and march to the relief of the Alamo, but +the eloquence of Houston, who had been reelected Commander-in-chief, +prevailed against the suggestion. Then, with two or three men, he +departed for Gonzales to raise a force, while the others elected Burnet +President of the new Texas, and departed for Harrisburg on Buffalo +Bayou. + +"Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes did not go just then with Houston. They +were scouts, hunters and rough riders, and they could do as they +pleased. They notified General Sam Houston, commander-in-chief of the +Texan armies, that they would come on later, and he was content. + +When the Texan government and the Texan army, numbering combined about a +hundred men, followed by most of the population, numbering fifty or +sixty more, filed off for Gonzales, the two sat once more on the same +porch, smoking their cob pipes. They were not ordinary men. They were +not ordinary scouts and borderers. One from the north and one from the +south, they were much alike in their mental processes, their faculties +of keen observation and deep reasoning. Both were now stirred to the +core, but neither showed a trace of it on his face. They watched the +little file pass away over the prairie until it was lost to sight behind +the swells, and then Smith spoke: + +"I reckon you an' me, Hank, will ride toward the Alamo." + +"I reckon we will, Deaf, and that right away." + +Inside of five minutes they were on the road, armed and provisioned, the +best two borderers, with the single exception of the Panther, in all the +southwest. They were mounted on powerful mustangs, which, with proper +handling and judicious rests, could go on forever. But they pushed them +a little that afternoon, stopped for two hours after sundown, and then +went on again. They crossed the Colorado River in the night, swimming +their horses, and about a mile further on stopped in dense chaparral. +They tethered the mustangs near them, and spread out their blankets. + +"If anything comes the horses will wake us," said Smith. + +"I reckon they will," said Karnes. + +Both were fast asleep in a few minutes, but they awoke shortly after +sunrise. They made a frugal breakfast, while the mustangs had cropped +short grass in the night. Both horses and men, as tough and wiry as they +ever become, were again as fresh as the dawn, and, with not more than a +dozen words spoken, the two mounted and rode anew on their quest. Always +chary of speech, they became almost silence itself as they drew nearer +to San Antonio de Bexar. In the heart of each was a knowledge of the +great tragedy, not surmise, but the certainty that acute intelligence +deduces from facts. + +They rode on until, by a simultaneous impulse, the two reined their +horses back into a cypress thicket and waited. They had seen three +horsemen on the sky line, coming, in the main, in their direction. Their +trained eyes noticed at once that the strangers were of varying figure. +The foremost, even at the distance, seemed to be gigantic, the second +was very long and thin, and the third was normal. Smith and Karnes +watched them a little while, and then Karnes spoke in words of true +conviction. + +"It would be hard, Deaf, for even a bad eye to mistake the foremost." + +"Right you are, Hank. You might comb Texas with a fine-tooth comb an' +you'd never rake out such another." + +"If that ain't Mart Palmer, the Ring Tailed Panther, I'll go straight to +Santa Anna an' ask him to shoot me as a fool." + +"You won't have to go to Santa Anna." + +Smith rode from the covert, put his curved hand to his mouth, and +uttered a long piercing cry. The three horsemen stopped at once, and the +giant in the lead gave back the signal in the same fashion. Then the two +little parties rode rapidly toward each other. While they were yet fifty +yards apart they uttered words of hail and good fellowship, and when +they met they shook hands with the friendship that has been sealed by +common hardships and dangers. + +"You're goin' toward the Alamo?" said Smith. + +"Yes," replied the Panther. "We started that way several days ago, but +we've been delayed. We had a brush with one little party of Mexicans, +and we had to dodge another that was too big for us. I take it that you +ride for the same place." + +"We do. Were you with Fannin?" + +The dark face of the Panther grew darker. + +"We were," he replied. "He started to the relief of the Alamo, but the +ammunition wagon broke down, an' they couldn't get the cannon across the +San Antonio River. So me an' Obed White an' Will Allen here have come on +alone." + +"News for news," said Smith dryly. "Texas has just been made a free an' +independent republic, an' Sam Houston has been made commander-in-chief +of all its mighty armies, horse, foot an' cannon. We saw all them things +done back there at Washington settlement, an' we, bein' a part of the +army, are ridin' to the relief of the Alamo." + +"We j'in you, then," said the Panther, "an' Texas raises two armies of +the strength of three an' two to one of five. Oh, if only all the Texans +had come what a roarin' an' rippin' an' t'arin' and chawin' there would +have been when we struck Santa Anna's army, no matter how big it might +be." + +"But they didn't come," said Smith grimly, "an' as far as I know we five +are all the Texans that are ridin' toward San Antonio de Bexar an' the +Alamo." + +"But bein' only five won't keep us from ridin' on," said the Panther. + +"And things are not always as bad as they look," said Obed White, after +he had heard of the messenger who had come to Houston and Unmet. "It's +never too late to hope." + +The five rode fast the remainder of the day. They passed through a +silent and desolate land. They saw a few cabins, but every one was +abandoned. The deep sense of tragedy was over them all, even over young +Will Allen. They rarely spoke, and they rode along in silence, save for +the beat of their horses' hoofs. Shortly before night they met a lone +buffalo hunter whom the Panther knew. + +"Have you been close to San Antonio, Simpson?" asked the Panther, after +the greeting. + +"I've been three or four days hangin' 'roun' the neighborhood," replied +the hunter. "I came down from the northwest when I heard that Santa Anna +was advancing an' once I thought I'd make a break an' try to get into +the Alamo, but the Mexican lines was drawed too thick an' close." + +"Have you heard anything about the men inside?" asked the Panther +eagerly. + +"Not a thing. But I've noticed this. A mornin' an' evenin' gun was fired +from the fortress every day until yesterday, Sunday, an' since +then--nothin'." + +The silence in the little band was as ominous as the silence of the +morning and evening gun. Simpson shook his head sadly. + +"Boys," he said, "I'm goin' to ride for Gonzales an' join Houston. I +don't think it's any use for me to be hangin' aroun' San Antonio de +Bexar any longer. I wish you luck in whatever you're tryin' to do." + +He rode away, but the five friends continued their course toward the +Alamo, without hope now, but resolved to see for themselves. Deep in the +night, which fortunately for their purpose was dark, heavy clouds +shutting out the moon and stars, they approached San Antonio from the +east. They saw lights, which they knew were those of the town, but there +was darkness only where they knew the Alamo stood. + +They tethered their horses in some bushes and crept closer, until they +could see the dim bulk of the Alamo. No light shone there. They listened +long and intently, but not a single sound came from the great hecatomb. +Again they crept nearer. There were no Mexican guards anywhere. A little +further and they stood by the low northern wall. + +"Boys," said the Panther, "I can't stand it any longer. Queer feelin's +are runnin' all over me. No, I'm goin' to take the risk, if there is +any, all alone. You wait for me here, an' if I don't come back in an +hour then you can hunt for me." + +The Panther climbed over the wall and disappeared. The others remained +in the deepest shadow waiting and silent. They were oppressed by the +heavy gloom that hung over the Alamo. It was terrifying to young Will +Allen, not the terror that is caused by the fear of men, but the terror +that comes from some tragic mystery that is more than half guessed. + +Nearly an hour passed, when a great figure leaped lightly from the wall +and joined them. The swarthy face of the Panther was as white as chalk, +and he was shivering. + +"Boys," he whispered, "I've seen what I never want to see ag'in. I've +seen red, red everywhere. I've been through the rooms of the Alamo, an' +they're red, splashed with the red blood of men. The water in the ditch +was stained with red, an' the earth all about was soaked with it. +Somethin' awful must have happened in the Alamo. There must have been a +terrible fight, an' I'm thinkin' that most of our fellows must have died +before it was took. But it's give me the creeps, boys, an' I think we'd +better get away." + +"We can't leave any too quick to please me," said Will Alien. "I'm +seeing ghosts all the time." + +"Now that we know for sure the Alamo has fallen," said Smith, "nothin' +is to be gained by stayin' here. It's for Sam Houston to lead us to +revenge, and the more men he has the better. I vote we ride for +Gonzales." + +"Seein' what we can see as we go," said Karnes. "The more information we +can pick up on the way about the march of the Mexicans the better it +will be for Houston." + +"No doubt of that," said the Panther. "When we go to roarin' an' rippin' +an' t'arin' we must know what we're about. But come on, boys, all that +red in the Alamo gives me conniption fits." + +They rode toward the east for a long time until they thought they were +beyond the reach of Mexican skirmishing parties, and then they slept in +a cypress thicket, Smith and Karnes standing guard by turns. As +everybody needed rest they did not resume their journey the next day +until nearly noon, and they spent most of the afternoon watching for +Mexican scouts, although they saw none. They had a full rest that night +and the next day they rode slowly toward Gonzales. + +About the middle of the afternoon, as they reached the crest of a swell, +Will Allen uttered an exclamation, and pointed toward the eastern +horizon. There they saw a single figure on horseback, and another +walking beside it. The afternoon sun was very bright, casting a glow +over the distant figures, and, shading their eyes with their hands, they +gazed at them a long time. + +"It's a woman that's ridin'," said Smith at last, "an' she's carryin' +some sort of a bundle before her." + +"You're shorely right, Deaf," said Karnes, "an' I think the one walkin' +is a black fellow. Looks like it from here." + +"I'm your way of thinkin'," said the Panther, "an' the woman on the +horse is American, or I'm mightily fooled in my guess. S'pose we ride +ahead faster an' see for shore." + +They increased the speed of their mustangs to a gallop and rapidly +overhauled the little party. They saw the woman trying to urge her horse +to greater speed. But the poor beast, evidently exhausted, made no +response. The woman, turning in the saddle, looked back at her pursuers. + +"By all that's wonderful!" exclaimed Obed White, "the bundle that she's +carrying is a baby!" + +"It's so," said Smith, "an' you can see well enough now that she's one +of our own people. We must show her that she's got nothin' to fear from +us." + +He shouted through his arched hands in tremendous tones that they were +Texans and friends. The woman stopped, and as they galloped up she would +have fallen from her horse had not Obed White promptly seized her and, +dismounting, lifted her and the baby tenderly to the ground. The colored +boy who had been walking stood by and did not say anything aloud, but +muttered rapidly: "Thank the Lord! Thank the Lord!" + +Three of the five were veteran hunters, but they had never before found +such a singular party on the prairie. The woman sat down on the ground, +still holding the baby tightly in her arms, and shivered all over. The +Texans regarded her in pitying silence for a few minutes, and then Obed +White said in gentle tones: + +"We are friends, ready to take you to safety. Tell us who you are." + +"I am Mrs. Dickinson," she replied. + +"Deaf" Smith looked startled. + +"There was a Lieutenant Dickinson in the Alamo," he said. + +"I am his wife," she replied, "and this is our child." + +"And where is----" Smith stopped suddenly, knowing what the answer must +be. + +"He is dead," she replied. "He fell in the defence of the Alamo." + +"Might he not be among the prisoners?" suggested Obed White gently. + +"Prisoners!" she replied. "There were no prisoners. They fought to the +last. Every man who was in the Alamo died in its defence." + +The five stared at her in amazement, and for a little while none spoke. + +"Do you mean to say," asked Obed White, "that none of the Texans +survived the fall of the Alamo?" + +"None," she replied. + +"How do you know?" + +Her pale face filled with color. It seemed that she, too, at that moment +felt some of the glow that the fall of the Alamo was to suffuse through +Texas. + +"Because I saw," she replied. "I was in one of the arched rooms of the +church, where they made the last stand. I saw Crockett fall and I saw +the death of Bowie, too. I saw Santa Anna exult, but many, many Mexicans +fell also. It was a terrible struggle. I shall see it again every day of +my life, even if I live to be a hundred." + +She covered her face with her hands, as if she would cut out the sight +of that last inferno in the church. The others were silent, stunned for +the time. + +"All gone," said Obed White, at last. "When the news is spread that +every man stood firm to the last I think it will light such a fire in +Texas that Santa Anna and all his armies cannot put it out." + +"Did you see a boy called Ned Fulton in the Alamo, a tall, handsome +fellow with brown hair and gray eyes?" asked Obed White. + +"Often," replied Mrs. Dickinson. "He was with Crockett and Bowie a great +deal." + +"And none escaped?" said Will Allen. + +"Not one," she repeated, "I did not see him in the church in the final +assault. He doubtless fell in the hospital or in the convent yard. Ah, +he was a friend of yours! I am sorry." + +"Yes, he was a friend of ours," said the Panther. "He was more than that +to me. I loved that boy like a son, an' me an' my comrades here mean to +see that the Mexicans pay a high price for his death. An' may I ask, +ma'am, how you come to be here?" + +She told him how Santa Anna had provided her with the horse, and had +sent her alone with the proclamation to the Texans. At the Salado Creek +she had come upon the negro servant of Travis, who had escaped from San +Antonio, and he was helping her on the way. + +"An' now, ma'am," said "Deaf" Smith, "we'll guard you the rest of the +way to Gonzales." + +The two little groups, now fused into one, resumed their journey over +the prairie. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +IN ANOTHER TRAP + + +When Ned Fulton scaled the lowest wall of the Alamo and dropped into the +darkness he ran for a long time. He scarcely knew in what direction he +was going, but he was anxious to get away from that terrible town of San +Antonio de Bexar. He was filled with grief for his friends and anger +against Santa Anna and his people. He had passed through an event so +tremendous in its nature, so intense and fiery in its results, that his +whole character underwent a sudden change. But a boy in years, the man +nevertheless replaced the boy in his mind. He had looked upon the face +of awful things, so awful that few men could bear to behold them. + +There was a certain hardening of his nature now. As he ran, and while +the feeling of horror was still upon him, the thought of vengeance +swelled into a passion. The Texans must strike back for what had been +done in the Alamo. Surely all would come when they heard the news that +he was bringing. + +He believed that the Texans, and they must be assembled in force +somewhere, would be toward the east or the southeast, at Harrisburg or +Goliad or some other place. He would join them as soon as he could, and +he slackened his pace to a walk. He was too good a borderer now to +exhaust himself in the beginning. + +He was overpowered after a while by an immense lethargy. A great +collapse, both physical and mental, came after so much exhaustion. He +felt that he must rest or die. The night was mild, as the spring was now +well advanced in Texas, and he sought a dense thicket in which he might +lie for a while. But there was no scrub or chaparral within easy reach, +and his feeling of lassitude became so great that he stopped when he +came to a huge oak and lay down under the branches, which spread far and +low. + +He judged that he was about six miles from San Antonio, a reasonably +safe distance for the night, and, relaxing completely, he fell asleep. +Then nature began her great work. The pulses which were beating so fast +and hard in the hoy's body grew slower and more regular, and at last +became normal. The blood flowed in a fresh and strong current through +his veins. The great physician, minute by minute, was building up his +system again. + +Ned's collapse had been so complete that he did not stir for hours. The +day came and the sun rose brilliant in red and gold. The boy did not +stir, but not far away a large animal moved. Ned's tree was at the edge +of a little grassy plain, and upon this the animal stood, with a head +held high and upturned nose sniffing the breeze that came from the +direction of the sleeper. + +It was in truth a great animal, one with tremendous teeth, and after +hesitating a while it walked toward the tree under which the boy lay. +Here it paused and again sniffed the air, which was now strong with the +human odor. It remained there a while, staring with great eyes at the +sleeping form, and then went back to the grassy little meadow. It +revisited the boy at intervals, but never disturbed him, and Ned slept +peacefully on. + +It was nearly noon when Ned awoke, and he might not have awakened then +had not the sun from its new position sent a shaft of light directly +into his eyes. He saw that his precious rifle was still lying by his +side, and then he sprang to his feet, startled to find by the sun that +it was so late. He heard a loud joyous neigh, and a great bay horse +trotted toward him. + +It was Old Jack, the faithful dumb brute, of which he had thought so +rarely during all those tense days in the Alamo. The Mexicans had not +taken him. He was here, and happy chance had brought him and his master +together again. It was so keen a joy to see a friend again, even an +animal, that Ned put his arm around Old Jack's neck, and for the first +time tears came to his eyes. + +"Good Old Jack!" he said, patting his horse's nose. "You must have been +waiting here all the time for me. And you must have fared well, too. I +never before saw you looking so fat and saucy." + +The finding of the horse simplified Ned's problem somewhat. He had +neither saddle nor bridle, but Old Jack always obeyed him beautifully. +He believed that if it came to the pinch, and it became necessary for +him to ride for his life, he could guide him in the Indian fashion with +the pressure of the knees. + +He made a sort of halter of withes which he fastened on Old Jack's head, +and then he sprang upon his bare back, feeling equal to almost anything. +He rode west by south now, his course taking him toward Goliad, and he +went on at a good gait until twilight. A little later he made out the +shapes of wild turkeys, then very numerous in Texas among the boughs of +the trees, and he brought a fine fat one down at the first shot. After +some difficulty he lighted a fire with the flint and steel, which the +Mexicans fortunately had not taken from him, toasted great strips over +the coals, and ate hungrily of juicy and tender wild turkey. + +He was all the time aware that his fire might bring danger down upon +him, but he was willing to chance it. After he had eaten enough he took +the remainder of his turkey and rode on. It was a clear, starry night +and, as he had been awake only since noon, he continued until about ten +o'clock, when he again took the turf under a tree for a couch. He +slipped the rude halter from Old Jack, patted him on the head and said: + +"Old Jack, after the lofty way in which you have behaved I wouldn't +disgrace you by tying you up for the night. Moreover, I know that you're +the best guard I could possibly have, and so, trusting you implicitly, I +shall go to sleep." + +His confidence was justified, and the next morning they were away again +over the prairie. Ned was sure that he would meet roving Texans or +Mexicans before noon, but he saw neither. He surmised that the news of +Santa Anna's great force had sent all the Texans eastward, but the +loneliness and desolation nevertheless weighed upon him. + +He crossed several streams, all of them swollen and deep from spring +rains, and every time he came to one he returned thanks again because he +had found Old Jack. The great horse always took the flood without +hesitation, and would come promptly to the other bank. + +He saw many deer, and started up several flights of wild turkeys, but he +did not disturb them. He was a soldier now, not a hunter, and he sought +men, not animals. Another night came and found him still alone on the +prairie. As before, he slept undisturbed under the boughs of a tree, and +he awoke the next morning thoroughly sound in body and much refreshed in +mind. But the feeling of hardness, the desire for revenge, remained. He +was continually seeing the merciless face of Santa Anna and the +sanguinary interior of the Alamo. The imaginative quality of his mind +and his sensitiveness to cruelty had heightened the effect produced upon +him. + +He continued to ride through desolate country for several days, living +on the game that his rifle brought. He slept one night in an abandoned +cabin, with Old Jack resting in the grass that was now growing rankly at +the door. He came the next day to a great trail, so great in truth that +he believed it to have been made by Mexicans. He did not believe that +there was anywhere a Texan force sufficient to tread out so broad a +road. + +He noticed, too, that the hoofs of the horses were turned in the general +direction of Goliad or Victoria, nearer the sea, and he concluded that +this was another strong Mexican army intended to complete the ruin of +infant Texas. He decided to follow, and near nightfall he saw the camp +fires of a numerous force. He rode as near as he dared and reckoned that +there were twelve or fifteen hundred men in the camp. He was sure that +it was no part of the army with which Santa Anna had taken the Alamo. + +Ned rode a wide circuit around the camp and continued his ride in the +night. He was forced to rest and sleep a while toward morning, but +shortly after daylight he went forward again to warn he knew not whom. +Two or three hours later he saw two horsemen on the horizon, and he rode +toward them. He knew that if they should prove to be Mexicans Old Jack +was swift enough to carry him out of reach. But he soon saw that they +were Texans, and he hailed them. + +The two men stopped and watched him as he approached. The fact that he +rode a horse without saddle or bridle was sufficient to attract their +attention, and they saw, too, that he was wild in appearance, with long, +uncombed hair and torn clothing. They were hunters who had come out from +the little town of Refugio. + +Ned hailed them again when he came closer. + +"You are Texans and friends?" he said. + +"Yes, we are Texans and friends," replied the older of the two men. "Who +are you?" + +"My name is Fulton, Edward Fulton, and I come from the Alamo." + +"The Alamo? How could that be? How could you get out?" + +"I was sent out on an errand by Colonel Crockett, a fictitious errand +for the purpose of saving me, I now believe. But I fell at once into the +hands of Santa Anna. The next morning the Alamo was taken by storm, but +every Texan in it died in its defence. I saw it done." + +Then he told to them the same tale that Mrs. Dickinson had told to the +Panther and his little party, adding also that a large Mexican force was +undoubtedly very near. + +"Then you've come just in time," said the older man. "We've heard that a +big force under General Urrea was heading for the settlements near the +coast, and Captain King and twenty-five or thirty men are now at Refugio +to take the people away. We'll hurry there with your news and we'll try +to get you a saddle and bridle, too." + +"For which I'll be thankful," said Ned. + +But he was really more thankful for human companionship than anything +else. He tingled with joy to be with the Texans again, and during the +hours that they were riding to Refugio he willingly answered the +ceaseless questions of the two men, Oldham and Jackson, who wanted to +know everything that had happened at the Alamo. When they reached +Refugio they found there Captain King with less than thirty men who had +been sent by Fannin, as Jackson had said, to bring away the people. + +Ned was taken at once to King, who had gathered his men in the little +plaza. He saw that the soldiers were not Texans, that is, men who had +long lived in Texas, but fresh recruits from the United States, wholly +unfamiliar with border ways and border methods of fighting. The town +itself was an old Mexican settlement with an ancient stone church or +mission, after the fashion of the Alamo, only smaller. + +"You say that you were in the Alamo, and that all the defenders have +fallen except you?" said the Captain, looking curiously at Ned. + +"Yes," replied the boy. + +"And that the Mexican force dispatched against the Eastern settlements +is much nearer than was supposed?" + +"Yes," replied Ned, "and as proof of my words there it is now." + +He had suddenly caught the gleam of lances in a wood a little distance +to the west of the town, and he knew that the Mexican cavalry, riding +ahead of the main army, was at hand. It was a large force, too, one with +which the little band of recruits could not possibly cope in the open. +Captain King seemed dazed, but Ned, glancing at the church, remembered +the Alamo. Every Spanish church or mission was more or less of a +fortress, and he exclaimed: + +"The church, Captain, the church! We can hold it against the cavalry!" + +"Good!" cried the Captain. "An excellent idea!" + +They rushed for the church and Ned followed. Old Jack did not get the +saddle and bridle that had been promised to him. When the boy leaped +from his back he snatched off the halter of withes and shouted loudly +to him: "Go!" + +It pained him to abandon his horse a second time under compulsion, but +there was no choice. Old Jack galloped away as if he knew what he ought +to do, and then Ned, running into the church with the others, helped +them to bar the doors. + +The church was a solid building of stone with a flat roof, and with many +loopholes made long ago as a defence against the Indians. Ned heard the +cavalry thundering into the village as they barred the doors, and then +he and half a dozen men ran to the roof. Lying down there, they took aim +at the charging horsemen. + +These were raw recruits, but they knew how to shoot. Their rifles +flashed and four or five saddles were emptied. The men below were also +firing from the loopholes, and the front rank of the Mexican cavalry was +cut down by the bullets. The whole force turned at a shout from an +officer, and galloped to the shelter of some buildings. Ned estimated +that they were two hundred in number, and he surmised that young Urrea +led them. + +He descended from the roof and talked with King. The men understood +their situation, but they were exultant. They had beaten off the enemy's +cavalry, and they felt that the final victory must be theirs. But Ned +had been in the Alamo, and he knew that the horsemen had merely hoped to +surprise and overtake them with a dash. Stone fortresses are not taken +by cavalry. He was sure that the present force would remain under cover +until the main army came up with cannon. He suggested to Captain King +that he send a messenger to Fannin for help. + +King thought wisely of the suggestion and chose Jackson, who slipped out +of the church, escaped through an oak forest and disappeared. Ned then +made a careful examination of the church, which was quite a strong +building with a supply of water inside and some dried corn. The men had +brought rations also with them, and they were amply supplied for a siege +of several days. But Ned, already become an expert in this kind of war, +judged that it would not last so long. He believed that the Mexicans, +flushed by the taking of the Alamo, would push matters. + +King, lacking experience, leaned greatly on young Fulton. The men, who +believed implicitly every word that he had said, regarded him almost +with superstition. He alone of the defenders had come alive out of that +terrible charnel house, the Alamo. + +"I suspect," said King, "that the division you saw is under General +Urrea." + +"Very probably," said Ned. "Of course, Santa Anna, no longer having any +use for his army in San Antonio, can send large numbers of troops +eastward." + +"Which means that we'll have a hard time defending this place," said +King gloomily. + +"Unless Fannin sends a big force to our help." + +"I'm not so sure that he'll send enough," said King. "His men are nearly +all fresh from the States, and they know nothing of the country. It's +hard for him to tell what to do. We started once to the relief of the +Alamo, but our ammunition wagon broke down and we could not get our +cannon across the San Antonio River. Things don't seem to be going right +with us." + +Ned was silent. His thoughts turned back to the Alamo. And so Fannin and +his men had started but had never come! Truly "things were going wrong!" +But perhaps it was just as well. The victims would have only been more +numerous, and Fannin's men were saved to fight elsewhere for Texas. + +He heard a rattle of musketry, and through one of the loopholes he saw +that the Mexican cavalry in the wood had opened a distant fire. Only a +few of the bullets reached the church, and they fell spent against the +stones. Ned saw that very little harm was likely to come from such a +fire, but he believed it would be wise to show the Mexicans that the +defenders were fully awake. + +"Have you any specially good riflemen?" he asked King. + +"Several." + +"Suppose you put them at the loopholes and see if they can't pick off +some of those Mexican horsemen. It would have a most healthy effect." + +Six young men came forward, took aim with their long barreled rifles, +and at King's command fired. Three of the saddles were emptied, and +there was a rapid movement of the Mexicans, who withdrew further into +the wood. The defenders reloaded and waited. + +Ned knew better than Captain King or any of his men the extremely +dangerous nature of their position. Since the vanguard was already here +the Mexican army must be coming on rapidly, and this was no Alamo. Nor +were these raw recruits defenders of an Alamo. + +He saw presently a man, holding a white handkerchief on the end of a +lance, ride out from the wood. Ned recognized him at once. It was young +Urrea. As Ned had suspected, he was the leader of the cavalry for his +uncle, the general. + +"What do you think he wants?" asked King. + +"He will demand our surrender, but even if we were to yield it is likely +that we should be put to death afterward." + +"I have no idea of surrendering under any circumstances. Do you speak +Spanish?" + +"Oh, yes," said Ned, seizing the opportunity. + +"Then, as I can't, you do the talking for us, and tell it to him +straight and hard that we're going to fight." + +Ned climbed upon the roof, and sat with only his head showing above the +parapet, while Urrea rode slowly forward, carrying the lance and the +white flag jauntily. Ned could not keep from admiring his courage, as +the white flag, even, in such a war as this might prove no protection. +He stopped at a distance of about thirty yards and called loudly in +Spanish: + +"Within the church there! I wish to speak to you!" + +Ned stood up, his entire figure now being revealed, and replied: + +"I have been appointed spokesman for our company. What do you want?" + +Urrea started slightly in his saddle, and then regarded Ned with a look +of mingled irony and hatred. + +"And so," he said, "our paths cross again. You escaped us at the Alamo. +Why General Santa Anna spared you then I do not know, but he is not here +to give new orders concerning you!" + +"What do you want?" repeated Ned. + +"We want the church, yourself and all the other bandits who are within +it." + +Ned's face flushed at Urrea's contemptuous words and manner, and his +heart hardened into a yet deeper hatred of the Mexicans. But he +controlled his voice and replied evenly. + +"And if we should surrender, what then?" + +"The mercy of the illustrious General Santa Anna, whatever it may be." + +"I saw his mercy at the Alamo," replied Ned, "and we want none of it. +Nor would we surrender, even if we could trust your most illustrious +General Santa Anna." + +"Then take your fate," said Urrea. "Since you were at the Alamo you know +what befell the defenders there, and this place, mostly in ruins, is not +nearly so strong. Adios!" + +"Adios!" said Ned, speaking in a firm tone. But he felt that there was +truth in Urrea's words. Little was left of the mission but its strong +walls. Nevertheless, they might hold them. + +"What did he say?" asked King. + +"He demanded our surrender." + +"On what terms?" + +"Whatever Santa Anna might decree, and if you had seen the red flag of +no quarter waving in sight of the Alamo you would know his decree." + +"And your reply?" + +"I told him that we meant to hold the place." + +"Good enough," said King. "Now we will go back to business. I wish that +we had more ammunition." + +"Fannin's men may bring plenty," said Ned. "And now, if you don't mind, +Captain King, I'm going to sleep down there at the foot of the wall, and +to-night I'll join the guard." + +"Do as you wish," said King, "you know more about Texas and these +Mexicans than any of us." + +"I'd suggest a very thorough watch when night comes. Wake me up about +midnight, won't you?" + +Ned lay down in the place that he had chosen. It was only the middle of +the afternoon, but he had become so inured to hardship that he slept +quickly. Several shots were fired before twilight came, but they did not +awaken him. At midnight King, according to his request, took him by the +shoulder and he stood up. + +"Nothing of importance has happened," said King. + +"You can see the camp fires of the Mexicans in the wood, but as far as +we can tell they are not making any movement." + +"Probably they are content to wait for the main force," said Ned. + +"Looks like it," said King. + +"If you have no objection, Captain," said Ned, "I think I'll go outside +and scout about a little." + +"Good idea, I think," said King. + +They opened the door a moment and Ned slipped forth. The night was quite +dark and, with the experience of border work that he was rapidly +acquiring, he had little fear of being caught by the Mexicans. He kept +his eye on the light burning in the wood and curved in a half circle to +the right. The few houses that made up the village were all dark, but +his business was with none of them. He intended to see, if he could, +whether the main Mexican force was approaching. If it should prove to be +at hand with the heavy cannon there would be no possible chance of +holding the mission, and they must get away. + +He continued in his wide curve, knowing that in this case the longest +way around was the best and safest, and he gradually passed into a +stretch of chaparral beyond the town. Crossing it, he came into a +meadow, and then he suddenly heard the soft pad of feet. He sought to +spring back into the chaparral, but a huge dim figure bore down upon +him, and then his heart recovered its normal beat when he saw that it +was only Old Jack. + +Ned stroked the great muzzle affectionately, but he was compelled to put +away his friend. + +"No, faithful comrade," he said. "I can't take you with me. I'd like to +do it, but there's no room in a church for a horse as big as you are. +Go now! Go at once, or the Mexicans will get you!" + +He struck the horse smartly on the jaw. Old Jack looked at him +reproachfully, but turned and trotted away from the town. Ned continued +his scout. This proof of affection from a dumb brute cheered him. + +An hour's cautious work brought him to the far side of the wood. As well +as he could judge, nearly all the Mexican troopers were asleep around +two fires, but they had posted sentinels who walked back and forth, +calling at intervals "Sentinela alerte" to one another. Obviously there +had been no increase in their force. They were sufficient to maintain a +blockade of the church, but too few to surround it completely. + +He went two or three miles to the west and, seeing no evidence that the +main force was approaching, he decided to return to the church. His +original curve had taken him by the south side of the wood, and he would +return by the north side in order that his examination might be +complete. + +He walked rapidly, as the night was far advanced, and the sky was very +clear, with bright stars twinkling in myriads. He did not wish day to +catch him outside the mission. It was a prairie country, with patches of +forest here and there, and as he crossed from one wood to another he was +wholly without cover. + +He was within a mile of the mission when he heard the faint tread of +horses' hoofs, and he concluded that Old Jack, contrary to orders, was +coming forward to meet him again. He paused, but the faint tread +suddenly became rapid and heavy. A half dozen horsemen who had ridden +into the prairie had caught sight of him and now they were galloping +toward him. The brightness of the night showed Ned at once that they +were Mexican cavalrymen, and as he was on foot he was at a great +disadvantage. + +He ran at full speed for the nearest grove. The Mexicans fired several +musket shots at him, but the bullets all went wild. He did not undertake +a reply, as he was straining every effort to reach the trees. Several +pistols also were emptied at him, but he yet remained unhurt. + +Nevertheless, the horsemen were coming alarmingly near. + +He heard the thunder of hoofs in his ears, and he heard also a quick +hiss like that of a snake. + +Ned knew that the hissing sound was made by a lasso, and as he dodged he +felt the coil, thrown in vain, slipping from his shoulders. He whirled +about and fired at the man who had thrown the lasso. The rider uttered a +cry, fell backward on his horse, and then to the ground. + +As Ned turned for the shot he saw that Urrea was the leader of the +horsemen. Whether Urrea had recognized him or not he did not know, but +the fact that he was there increased his apprehension. He made a mighty +effort and leaped the next instant into the protection of the trees and +thickets. Fortune favored him now. A wood alone would not have protected +him, but here were vines and bushes also. + +He turned off at a sharp angle and ran as swiftly and with as little +noise as he could. He heard the horses floundering in the forest, and +the curses of their riders. He ran a hundred yards further and, coming +to a little gully, lay down in it and reloaded his rifle. Then he stayed +there until he could regain his breath and strength. While he lay he +heard the Mexicans beating up the thickets, and Urrea giving sharp +orders. + +Ned knew that his hiding place must soon be discovered, and he began to +consider what would be the best movement to make next. His heart had now +returned to its normal beat, and he felt that he was good for another +fine burst of speed. + +He heard the trampling of the horses approaching, and then the voice of +Urrea telling the others that he was going straight ahead and to follow +him. Evidently they had beaten up the rest of the forest, and now they +were bound to come upon him. Ned sprang from the gully, ran from the +wood and darted across the prairie toward the next little grove. + +He was halfway toward the coveted shelter when Urrea caught sight of +him, gave a shout, and fired his pistol. Ned, filled with hatred of +Urrea, fired in return. But the bullet, instead of striking the +horseman, struck the horse squarely in the head. The horse fell +instantly, and Urrea, hurled violently over his head, lay still. + +Ned caught it all in a fleeting glance, and in a few more steps he +gained the second wood. He did not know how much Urrea was hurt, nor did +he care. He had paid back a little, too. He was sure, also, that the +pursuit would be less vigorous, now that its leader was disabled. + +The second grove did not contain so many vines and bushes, but, hiding +behind a tree there, Ned saw the horsemen hold off. Without Urrea to +urge them on they were afraid of the rifle that the fugitive used so +well. Two, also, had stopped to tend Urrea, and Ned decided that the +others would not now enter the grove. + +He was right in his surmise. The horsemen rode about at a safe distance +from the trees. Ned, taking his time, reloaded his rifle again and +departed for the mission. There was now fairly good cover all the way, +but he heard other troops of Mexicans riding about, and blowing trumpets +as signals. No doubt the shots had been heard at the main camp, and many +men were seeking their cause. + +But Ned, fortunately for himself, was now like the needle in the +haystack. While the trumpets signaled and the groups of Mexican horsemen +rode into one another he stole back to the old mission and knocked upon +the door with the butt of his rifle. Answering King's questions through +the loophole, he was admitted quickly. + +"The main army hasn't come up yet," he said, in reply to the eager +inquiries of the defenders. "Fannin's men may get here in time, and if +they are in sufficient force to beat off the cavalry detachment I +suggest that we abandon the mission before we are caught in a trap, and +retreat toward Fannin. If we linger the whole Mexican army will be +around us." + +"Sounds right," said King, "but we've got to hear from Fannin first. Now +you look pretty tired, Fulton. Suppose you roll up in some blankets +there by the wall and take a nap." + +"I don't want to sleep now," said Ned. "You remember that I slept until +nearly midnight. But I would like to stretch out a while. It's not very +restful to be hunted through woods by Mexicans, even if you do get +away." + +Ned lay by the wall upon the blankets and watched the sun go slowly up +the arch of the heavens. It seemed a hard fate to him that he should +again be trapped thus in an old mission. Nor did he have here the +strength and support of the great borderers like Bowie and Crockett. He +missed them most of all now. + +The day passed slowly and with an occasional exchange of shots that did +little harm. Toward the twilight one of the sentinels on the wall +uttered a great and joyous shout. + +"The reinforcements!" he cried. "See, our friends are coming!" + +Ned climbed upon the wall and saw a force of more than a hundred men, +obviously Texans, approaching. They answered the hail of the sentinel +and came on more swiftly. His eyes turned to the wood, in which the +Mexican camp yet lay. Their cavalry would still outnumber the Texan +force two or three to one, but the Mexicans invariably demanded greater +odds than that before they would attack the Texans. Ned saw no stir in +the wood. Not a shot was fired as the new men came forward and were +joyously admitted to the church. + +The men were one hundred and twenty in number, led by Colonel Ward, who +by virtue of his rank now commanded all the defenders. As soon as they +had eaten and rested a council, at which Ned was present, was held. King +had already told the story of young Fulton to Ward, and that officer +looked very curiously at Ned as he came forward. He asked him briefly +about the Alamo, and Ned gave him the usual replies. Then he told of +what he had seen before he joined King. + +"How large do you think this force was?" asked Ward. + +"About fifteen hundred men." + +"And we've a hundred and fifty here. You were not much more than a +hundred and fifty in the Alamo, and you held it two weeks against +thousands. Why should we retreat?" + +"But the Alamo fell at last," said Ned, "and this Refugio mission is not +so defensible as the Alamo was." + +"You think, then, we should retreat?" + +"I do. I'm sure the place cannot be held against a large army." + +There was much discussion. Ned saw that all the men of the new force +were raw recruits from the States like King's. Many of them were mere +boys, drawn to Texas by the love of adventure. They showed more +curiosity than alarm, and it was evident to Ned that they felt able to +defeat any number of Mexicans. + +Ned, called upon again for his opinion, urged that they withdraw from +the church and the town at once, but neither Ward nor King was willing +to make a retreat in the night. They did not seem especially anxious to +withdraw at all, but finally agreed to do so in the morning. + +Ned left the council, depressed and uneasy. He felt that his countrymen +held the Mexicans too lightly. Were other tragedies to be added to that +of the Alamo? He was no egotist, but he was conscious of his superiority +to all those present in the grave affairs with which they were now +dealing. + +He took his rifle and went upon the wall, where he resolved to watch all +through the night. He saw the lights in the wood where the Mexicans were +camped, but darkness and silence prevailed everywhere else. He had no +doubt that young Urrea had sent messengers back to hurry up the main +force. He smiled to himself at the thought of Urrea. He was sure that +the young Mexican had sustained no fatal injury, but he must have +painful wounds. And Ned, with the Alamo as vivid as ever in his mind, +was glad that he had inflicted them. + +Midnight came, and Ward told Ned that he need not watch any longer when +the second relay of sentinels appeared. But the boy desired to remain +and Ward had no objection. + +"But you'll be sleepy," he said, in a good-humored tone, "when we start +at the break of day, and you won't have much chance to rest on a long +march." + +"I'll have to take the risk," said Ned. "I feel that I ought to be +watching." + +Toward morning the men in the mission were awakened and began to prepare +for the march. They made considerable noise as they talked and adjusted +their packs, but Ned paid no attention to them. He was listening instead +to a faint sound approaching the town from the south. No one in the +church or on the walls heard it but himself, but he knew that it was +steadily growing louder. + +Ned, moreover, could tell the nature of that sound, and as it swelled +his heart sank within him. The first spear of light, herald of dawn, +appeared in the east and Ward called out cheerfully: + +"Well, we are all ready to go now." + +"It is too late," said Ned. "The whole Mexican army is here." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +FANNIN'S CAMP + + +When Ned made his startling announcement he leaped down lightly from the +wall. + +"If you will look through the loophole there," he said to Colonel Ward, +"you will see a great force only a few hundred yards away. The man on +the large horse in front is General Urrea, who commands them. He is one +of Santa Anna's most trusted generals. His nephew, Captain Urrea, led +the cavalry who besieged us yesterday and last night." + +Captain Ward looked, but the Mexicans turned into the wood and were +hidden from sight. Then the belief became strong among the recruits that +Ned was mistaken. This was only a little force that had come, and Ward +and King shared their faith. Ward, against Ned's protest, sent King and +thirteen men out to scout. + +Ned sadly watched them go. He was one of the youngest present, but he +was first in experience, and he knew that he had seen aright. General +Urrea and the main army were certainly at hand. But he deemed it wiser +to say nothing more. Instead, he resumed his place on the wall, and kept +sharp watch on the point where he thought the Mexican force lay. King +and his scouts were already out of sight. + +Ned suddenly heard the sound of shots, and he saw puffs of smoke from +the wood. Then a great shout arose and Mexican cavalry dashed from the +edge of the forest. Some of the other watchers thought the mission was +about to be attacked, but the horsemen bore down upon another point to +the northward. Ned divined instantly that they had discovered King and +his men and were surrounding them. + +He leaped once more from the wall and shouted the alarm to Ward. + +"The men out there are surrounded," he cried. "They will have no chance +without help!" + +Ward was brave enough, and his men, though lacking skill, were brave +enough, too. At his command they threw open the gate of the mission and +rushed out to the relief of their comrades. Ned was by the side of Ward, +near the front. As they appeared in the opening they heard a great +shouting, and a powerful detachment of cavalry galloped toward their +right, while an equally strong force of infantry moved on their left. +The recruits were outnumbered at least five to one, but in such a +desperate situation they did not blench. + +"Take good aim with your rifles," shouted Ward. And they did. A shower +of bullets cut gaps in the Mexican line, both horse and foot. Many +riderless horses galloped through the ranks of the foe, adding to the +confusion. But the Mexican numbers were so great that they continued to +press the Texans. Young Urrea, his head in thick bandages, was again +with the cavalry, and animated by more than one furious impulse he drove +them on. + +It became evident now even to the rawest that the whole Mexican army was +present. It spread out to a great distance, and enfolded the Texans on +three sides, firing hundreds of muskets and keeping up a great shouting, +Ned's keen ear also detected other firing off to the right, and he knew +that it was King and his men making a hopeless defence against +overpowering numbers. + +"We cannot reach King," groaned Ward. + +"We have no earthly chance of doing so," said Ned, "and I think, +Colonel, that your own force will have a hard fight to get back inside +the mission." + +The truth of Ned's words was soon evident to everyone. It was only the +deadly Texan rifles that kept the Mexican cavalry from galloping over +them and crushing them at once. The Mexican fire itself, coming from +muskets of shorter range, did little damage. Yet the Texans were +compelled to load and pull trigger very fast, as they retreated slowly +upon the mission. + +At last they reached the great door and began to pass rapidly inside. +Now the Mexicans pressed closer, firing heavy volleys. + +A score of the best Texan marksmen whirled and sent their bullets at the +pursuing Mexicans with such good aim that a dozen saddles were emptied, +and the whole force reeled back. Then all the Texans darted inside, and +the great door was closed and barricaded. Many of the men sank down, +breathless from their exertions, regardless of the Mexican bullets that +were pattering upon the church. Ward leaned against the wall, and wiped +the perspiration from his face. + +"My God!" he exclaimed. "What has become of King?" + +There was no answer. The Mexicans ceased to fire and shout, and +retreated toward the wood. Ward was destined never to know what had +become of King and his men, but Ned soon learned the terrible facts, and +they only hardened him still further. The thirteen had been compelled to +surrender to overwhelming numbers. Then they were immediately tied to +trees and killed, where their skeletons remained upright until the +Texans found them. + +"You were right, Fulton," said Ward, after a long silence. "The Mexican +army was there, as we have plenty of evidence to show." + +He smiled sadly, as he wiped the smoke and perspiration from his face. +Ned did not reply, but watched through a loophole. He had seen a glint +of bronze in the wood, and presently he saw the Mexicans pushing a +cannon from cover. + +"They have artillery," he said to Ward. "See the gun. But I don't think +it can damage our walls greatly. They never did much with the cannon at +the Alamo. When they came too close there, we shot down all their +cannoneers, and we can do the same here." + +Ward chose the best sharpshooters, posting them at the loopholes and on +the walls. They quickly slew the Mexicans who tried to man the gun, and +General Urrea was forced to withdraw it to such a distance that its +balls and shells had no effect whatever upon the strong walls of the +church. + +There was another period of silence, but the watchers in the old mission +saw that much movement was going on in the wood and presently they +beheld the result. The Mexican army charged directly upon the church, +carrying in its center men with heavy bars of wood to be used in +smashing in the door. But they yielded once more to the rapid fire of +the Texan rifles, and did not succeed in reaching the building. Those +who bore the logs and bars dropped them, and fled out of range. + +A great cheer burst from the young recruits. They thought victory +complete already, but Ned knew that the Mexicans would not abandon the +enterprise. General Urrea, after another futile charge, repulsed in the +same deadly manner, withdrew some distance, but posted a strong line of +sentinels about the church. + +Having much food and water the recruits rejoiced again and thought +themselves secure, but Ned noticed a look of consternation on the face +of Ward, and he divined the cause. + +"It must be the ammunition, Colonel," he said in a whisper. + +"It is," replied Ward. "We have only three or four rounds left. We could +not possibly repel another attack." + +"Then," said young Fulton, "there is nothing to do but for us to slip +out at night, and try to cut our way through." + +"That is so," said Ward. "The Mexican general doubtless will not expect +any such move on our part, and we may get away." + +He said nothing of his plan to the recruits until the darkness came, and +then the state of the powder horns and the bullet pouches was announced. +Most of the men had supposed that they alone were suffering from the +shortage, and something like despair came over them when they found that +they were practically without weapons. They were more than willing to +leave the church, as soon as the night deepened, and seek refuge over +the prairie. + +"You think that we can break through?" said Ward to Ned. + +"I have no doubt of it," replied Ned, "but in any event it seems to me, +Colonel, that we ought to try it. All the valor and devotion of the men +in the Alamo did not suffice to save them. We cannot hold the place +against a determined assault." + +"That is undoubtedly true," said Ward, "and flushed by the success that +they have had elsewhere it seems likely to me that the Mexicans will +make such an attack very soon." + +"In any event," said Ned, "we are isolated here, cut off from Fannin, +and exposed to imminent destruction." + +"We start at midnight," said Ward. + +Ned climbed upon the walls, and examined all the surrounding country. He +saw lights in the wood, and now and then he discerned the figures of +Mexican horsemen, riding in a circle about the church, members of the +patrol that had been left by General Urrea. He did not think it a +difficult thing to cut through this patrol, but the Texans, in their +flight, must become disorganized to a certain extent. Nevertheless it +was the only alternative. + +The men were drawn up at the appointed time, and Ward told them briefly +what they were to do. They must keep as well together as possible, and +the plan was to make their way to Victoria, where they expected to +rejoin Fannin. They gave calabashes of water and provisions to several +men too badly wounded to move, and left them to the mercy of the +Mexicans, a mercy that did not exist, as Urrea's troops massacred them +the moment they entered the church. + +Luckily it was a dark night, and Ned believed that they had more than +half a chance of getting away. The great door was thrown silently open, +and, with a moving farewell to their wounded and disabled comrades, they +filed silently out, leaving the door open behind them. + +Then the column of nearly one hundred and fifty men slipped away, every +man treading softly. They had chosen a course that lay directly away +from the Mexican army, but they did not expect to escape without an +alarm, and it came in five minutes. A Mexican horseman, one of the +patrol, saw the dark file, fired a shot and gave an alarm. In an +instant all the sentinels were firing and shouting, and Urrea's army in +the wood was awakening. + +But the Texans now pressed forward rapidly. Their rifles cracked, +quickly cutting a path through the patrol, and before Urrea could get up +his main force they were gone through the forest and over the prairie. + +Knowing that the whole country was swarming with the Mexican forces, +they chose a circuitous course through forests and swamps and pressed on +until daylight. Some of the Mexicans on horseback followed them for a +while, but a dozen of the best Texan shots were told off to halt them. +When three or four saddles were emptied the remainder of the Mexicans +disappeared and they pursued their flight in peace. + +Morning found them in woods and thickets by the banks of a little creek +of clear water. They drank from the stream, ate of their cold food, and +rested. Ned and some others left the wood and scouted upon the prairie. +They saw no human being and returned to their own people, feeling sure +that they were safe from pursuit for the present. + +Yet the Texans felt no exultation. They had been compelled to retreat +before the Mexicans, and they could not forget King and his men, and +those whom they had left behind in the church. Ned, in his heart, +knowing the Mexicans so well, did not believe that a single one of them +had been saved. + +They walked the whole day, making for the town of Victoria, where they +expected to meet Fannin, and shortly before night they stopped in a +wood, footsore and exhausted. Again their camp was pitched on the banks +of a little creek and some of the hunters shot two fine fat deer further +up the stream. + +Seeking as much cheer as they could they built fires, and roasted the +deer. The spirits of the young recruits rose. They would meet Fannin +to-morrow or the next day and they would avenge the insult that the +Mexicans had put upon them. They were eager for a new action in which +the odds should not be so great against them, and they felt sure of +victory. Then, posting their sentinels, they slept soundly. + +But Ned did not feel so confident. Toward morning he rose from his +blankets. Yet he saw nothing. The prairie was bare. There was not a +single sign of pursuit. He was surprised. He believed that at least the +younger Urrea with the cavalry would follow. + +Ned now surmised the plan that the enemy had carried out. Instead of +following the Texans through the forests and swamps they had gone +straight to Victoria, knowing that the fugitives would make for that +point. Where Fannin was he could not even guess, but it was certain that +Ward and his men were left practically without ammunition to defend +themselves as best they could against a horde of foes. + +The hunted Texans sought the swamps of the Guadalupe, where Mexican +cavalry could not follow them, but where they were soon overtaken by +skirmishers. Hope was now oozing from the raw recruits. There seemed to +be no place in the world for them. Hunted here and there they never +found rest. But the most terrible fact of all was the lack of +ammunition. Only a single round for every man was left, and they replied +sparingly to the Mexican skirmishers. + +They lay now in miry woods, and on the other side of them flowed the +wide and yellow river. The men sought, often in vain, for firm spots on +which they might rest. The food, like the ammunition, was all gone, and +they were famished and weak. The scouts reported that the Mexicans were +increasing every hour. + +It was obvious to Ned that Ward must surrender. What could men without +ammunition do against many times their number, well armed? He resolved +that he would not be taken with them, and shortly before day he pulled +through the mud to the edge of the Guadalupe. He undressed and made his +clothes and rifle into a bundle. He had been very careful of his own +ammunition, and he had a half dozen rounds left, which he also tied into +the bundle. + +Then shoving a fallen log into the water he bestrode it, holding his +precious pack high and dry. Paddling with one hand he was able to direct +the log in a diagonal course across the stream. He toiled through +another swamp on that shore, and, coming out upon a little prairie, +dressed again. + +He looked back toward the swamp in which the Texans lay, but he saw no +lights and he heard no sounds there. He knew that within a short time +they would be prisoners of the Mexicans. Everything seemed to be working +for the benefit of Santa Anna. The indecision of the Texans and the +scattering of their forces enabled the Mexicans to present overwhelming +forces at all points. It seemed to Ned that fortune, which had worked in +their favor until the capture of San Antonio, was now working against +them steadily and with overwhelming power. + +He gathered himself together as best he could, and began his journey +southward. He believed that Fannin would be at Goliad or near it. Once +more that feeling of vengeance hardened within him. The tremendous +impression of the Alamo had not faded a particle, and now the incident +of Ward, Refugio and the swamps of the Guadalupe was cumulative. +Remembering what he had seen he did not believe that a single one of +Ward's men would be spared when they were taken as they surely would be. +There were humane men among the Mexicans, like Almonte, but the ruthless +policy of Santa Anna was to spare no one, and Santa Anna held all the +power. + +He held on toward Goliad, passing through alternate regions of forest +and prairie, and he maintained a fair pace until night. He had not eaten +since morning, and all his venison was gone, but strangely enough he was +not hungry. When the darkness was coming he sat down in one of the +little groves so frequent in that region, and he was conscious of a +great weariness. His bones ached. But it was not the ache that comes +from exertion. It seemed to go to the very marrow. It became a pain +rather than exhaustion. + +He noticed that everything about him appeared unreal. The trees and the +earth itself wavered. His head began to ache and his stomach was weak. +Had the finest of food been presented to him he could not have eaten it. +He had an extraordinary feeling of depression and despair. + +Ned knew what was the matter with him. He was suffering either from +overwhelming nervous and physical exhaustion, or he had contracted +malaria in the swamps of the Guadalupe. Despite every effort of the +will, he began to shake with cold, and he knew that a chill was coming. +He had retained his blankets, his frontiersman's foresight not deserting +him, and now, knowing that he could not continue his flight for the +present, he sought the deepest part of the thicket. He crept into a +place so dense that it would have been suited for an animal's den, and +lying down there he wrapped the blankets tightly about himself, his +rifle and his ammunition. + +In spite of his clothing and the warm blankets he grew colder and +colder. His teeth chattered and he shivered all over. He would not have +minded that so much, but his head ached with great violence, and the +least light hurt his eyes. It seemed to him the culmination. Never had +he been more miserable, more lost of both body and soul. The pain in his +head was so violent that life was scarcely worth the price. + +He sank by and by into a stupor. He was remotely conscious that he was +lying in a thicket, somewhere in boundless Texas, but it did not really +matter. Cougars or bears might come there to find him, but he was too +sick to raise a hand against them. Besides, he did not care. A million +Mexicans might be beating up those thickets for him, and they would be +sure to find him. Well, what of it? They would shoot him, and he would +merely go at once to some other planet, where he would be better off +than he was now. + +It seems that fate reserves her severest ordeals for the strong and the +daring, as if she would respond to the challenges they give. It seems +also that often she brings them through the test, as if she likes the +courage and enterprise that dare her, the all-powerful, to combat. Ned's +intense chill abated. He ceased to shake so violently, and after a while +he did not shake at all. Then fever came. Intolerable heat flowed +through every vein, and his head was ready to burst. After a while +violent perspiration broke out all over him, and then he became +unconscious. + +Ned lay all night in the thicket, wrapped in the blankets, and breathing +heavily. Once or twice he half awoke, and remembered things dimly, but +these periods were very brief and he sank back into stupor. When he +awoke to stay awake the day was far advanced, and he felt an +overwhelming lassitude. He slowly unwound himself from his blankets and +looked at his hand. It was uncommonly white, and it seemed to him to be +as weak as that of a child. + +He crept out of the thicket and rose to his feet. He was attacked by +dizziness and clutched a bush for support. His head still ached, though +not with the violence of the night before, but he was conscious that he +had become a very weak and poor specimen of the human being. Everything +seemed very far away, impossible to be reached. + +He gathered strength enough to roll up his blankets and shoulder his +rifle. Then he looked about a little. There was the same alternation of +woods and prairie, devoid of any human being. He did not expect to see +any Texans, unless, by chance, Fannin came marching that way, but a +detachment of Mexican lancers might stumble upon him at any moment. The +thought, however, caused him no alarm. He felt so much weakness and +depression that the possibility of capture or death could not add to it. + +Young Fulton was not hungry,--the chill and following fever had taken +his appetite away so thoroughly,--but he felt that he must eat. He found +some early berries in the thickets and they restored his strength a +little, but the fare was so thin and unsubstantial that he decided to +look for game. He could never reach Fannin or anybody else in his +present reduced condition. + +He saw a line of oaks, which he knew indicated the presence of a +water-course, probably one of the shallow creeks, so numerous in Eastern +Texas, and he walked toward it, still dizzy and his footsteps dragging. +His head was yet aching, and the sun, which was now out in full +brightness, made it worse, but he persisted, and, after an interminable +time, he reached the shade of the oaks, which, as he surmised, lined +both sides of a creek. + +He drank of the water, rested a while, and then began a search of the +oaks. He was looking for squirrels, which he knew abounded in these +trees, and, after much slow and painful walking, he shot a fine fat one +among the boughs. Then followed the yet more mighty task of kindling a +fire with sticks and tinder, but just when he was completely exhausted, +and felt that he must fail, the spark leaped up, set fire to the white +ash that he had scraped with his knife, and in a minute later a good +fire was blazing. + +He cooked the tenderest parts of the squirrel and ate, still forcing his +appetite. Then he carefully put out the fire and went a mile further up +the creek. He felt stronger, but he knew that he was not yet in any +condition for a long journey. He was most intent now upon guarding +against a return of the chill. It was not the right time for one to be +ill. Again he sought a place in a thicket, like an animal going to its +den, and, wrapping himself tightly in the blankets, lay down. + +He watched with anxiety for the first shiver of the dreaded chill. Once +or twice imagination made him feel sure that it had come, but it always +passed quickly. His body remained warm, and, while he was still watching +for the chill, he fell asleep, and slept soundly all through the night. + +The break of day aroused him. He felt strong and well, and he was in a +pleasant glow, because he knew now that the chill would not come. It had +been due to overtaxed nerves, and there was no malaria in his system. + +He hunted again among the big trees until he found a squirrel on one of +the high boughs. He fired at it and missed. He found another soon and +killed it at the first shot. But the miss had been a grave matter. He +had only four bullets left. He took them out and looked at them, little +shining pellets of lead. His life depended upon these four, and he must +not miss again. + +It took him an hour to start his fire, and he ate only half of the +squirrel, putting the remainder into his bullet pouch for future needs. +Then, much invigorated, he resumed his vague journey. But he was +compelled very soon to go slowly and with the utmost caution. There were +even times when he had to stop and hide. Mexican cavalry appeared upon +the prairies, first in small groups and then in a detachment of about +three hundred. Their course and Ned's was the same, and he knew then +that he was going in the right direction. Fannin was surely somewhere +ahead. + +But it was most troublesome traveling for Ned. If they saw him they +could easily ride him down, and what chance would he have with only four +bullets in his pouch? Or rather, what chance would he have if the pouch +contained a hundred? + +The only thing that favored him was the creek which ran in the way that +he wanted to go. He kept in the timber that lined its banks, and, so +long as he had this refuge, he felt comparatively safe, since the +Mexicans, obviously, were not looking for him. Yet they often came +perilously near. Once, a large band rode down to the creek to water +their horses, when Ned was not fifty feet distant. He instantly lay flat +among some bushes, and did not move. He could hear the horses blowing +the water back with their noses, as they drank. + +When the horses were satisfied, the cavalrymen turned and rode away, +passing so near that it seemed to him they had only to look down and see +him lying among the bushes. But they went on, and, when they were out +of sight, he rose and continued his flight through the timber. + +But this alternate fleeing and dodging was most exhausting work, and +before the day was very old he decided that he would lie down in a +thicket, and postpone further flight until night. Just when he had found +such a place he heard the faint sound of distant firing. He put his ear +to the earth, and then the crackle of rifles came more distinctly. His +ear, experienced now, told him that many men must be engaged, and he was +sure that Fannin and the Mexican army had come into contact. + +Young Fulton's heart began to throb. The dark vision of the Alamo came +before him again. All the hate that he felt for the Mexicans flamed up. +He must be there with Fannin, fighting against the hordes of Santa Anna. +He rose and ran toward the firing. He saw from the crest of a hillock a +wide plain with timber on one side and a creek on the other. The center +of the plain was a shallow valley, and there the firing was heavy. + +Ned saw many flashes and puffs of smoke, and presently he heard the thud +of cannon. Then he saw near him Mexican cavalry galloping through the +timber. He could not doubt any longer that a battle was in progress. His +excitement increased, and he ran at full speed through the bushes and +grass into the plain, which he now saw took the shape of a shallow +saucer. The firing indicated that the defensive force stood in the +center of the saucer, that is, in the lowest and worst place. + +A terrible fear assailed young Fulton, as he ran. Could it be possible +that Fannin also was caught in a trap, here on the open prairie, with +the Mexicans in vastly superior numbers on the high ground around him? +He remembered, too, that Fannin's men were raw recruits like those with +Ward, and his fear, which was not for himself, increased as he ran. + +He noticed that there was no firing from one segment of the ring in the +saucer, and he directed his course toward it. As soon as he saw horses +and men moving he threw up his hands and cried loudly over and over +again: "I'm a friend! Do not shoot!" He saw a rifle raised and aimed at +him, but a hand struck it down. A few minutes later he sprang breathless +into the camp, and friendly hands held him up as he was about to pitch +forward with exhaustion. + +His breath and poise came back in a few moments, and he looked about +him. He had made no mistake. He was with Fannin's force, and it was +already pressed hard by Urrea's army. Even as he drew fresh, deep +breaths he saw a heavy mass of Mexican cavalry gallop from the wood, +wheel and form a line between Fannin and the creek, the only place where +the besieged force could obtain water. + +"Who are you?" asked an officer, advancing toward Ned. + +Young Fulton instantly recognized Fannin. + +"My name is Edward Fulton, you will recall me, Colonel," he replied. "I +was in the Alamo, but went out the day before it fell. I was taken by +the Mexicans, but escaped, fled across the prairie, and was in the +mission at Refugio when some of your men under Colonel Ward came to the +help of King." + +"I have heard that the church was abandoned, but where is Ward, and +where are his men?" + +Ned hesitated and Fannin read the answer in his eyes. + +"You cannot tell me so!" he exclaimed. + +"I'm afraid that they will all be taken," said Ned. "They had no +ammunition when I slipped away, and the Mexicans were following them. +There was no possibility of escape." + +Fannin paled. But he pressed his lips firmly together for a moment and +then said to Ned: + +"Keep this to yourself, will you? Our troops are young and without +experience. It would discourage them too much." + +"Of course," said Ned. "But meanwhile I wish to fight with you." + +"There will be plenty of chance," said Fannin. "Hark to it!" + +The sound of firing swelled on all sides of them, and above it rose the +triumphant shouts of the Mexicans. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE SAD SURRENDER + + +Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not +encourage him. The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression +seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie. Near +by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle. The men themselves, three +ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and +the supply wagons in the center. Every face looked worn and anxious, but +they did not seem to have lost heart. + +Yet, as Ned had foreseen, this was quite a different force from that +which had held the Alamo so long, and against so many. Most of the young +faces were not yet browned by the burning sun of Texas. Drawn by the +reports of great adventure they had come from far places, and each +little company had its own name. There were the "Grays" from New +Orleans, the "Mustangs" from Kentucky, the "Red Rovers" from Alabama and +others with fancy names, but altogether they numbered, with the small +reinforcements that had been received, only three hundred and fifty men. + +Ned could have shed tears, when he looked upon the force. He felt +himself a veteran beside them. Yet there was no lack of courage among +them. They did not flinch, as the fire grew heavier, and the cannon +balls whistled over their heads. Ned was sure now that General Urrea +was around them with his whole army. The presence of the cannon +indicated it, and he saw enough to know that the Mexican force +outnumbered the Texan four or five to one. + +He heard the Mexican trumpets pealing presently, and then he saw their +infantry advancing in dark masses with heavy squadrons of cavalry on +either flank. But as soon as they came within range, they were swept by +the deadly fire of the Texan rifles and were driven back in confusion. +Ned noticed that this always happened. The Mexicans could never carry a +Texan position by a frontal attack. The Texans, or those who were called +the Texans, shot straight and together so fast that no Mexican column +could withstand their hail of bullets. + +A second time the Mexicans charged, and a second time they were driven +back in the same manner. Exultation spread among the recruits standing +in the hollow, but they were still surrounded. The Mexicans merely drew +out of range and waited. Then they attacked a third time, and, from all +sides, charging very close, infantry and cavalry. The men in the hollow +were well supplied with rifles, and their square fairly blazed. Yet the +Mexicans pressed home the charge with a courage and tenacity that Ned +had never seen among them before. These were Mexico's best troops, and, +even when the men faltered, the officers drove them on again with the +point of the sword. General Urrea himself led the cavalry, and the +Mexicans pressed so close that the recruits saw both lance and bayonet +points shining in their faces. + +The hollow in which the Texans stood was a huge cloud of flame and +smoke. Ned was loading and firing so fast that the barrel of his rifle +grew hot to the touch. He stood with two youths but little older than +himself, and the comradeship of battle had already made them friends. +But they scarcely saw the faces of one another. The little valley was +filled with the smoke of their firing. They breathed it and tasted it, +and it inflamed their brains. + +Ned's experience had made him a veteran, and when he heard the thunder +of the horse's hoofs and saw the lance points so near he knew that the +crisis had come. + +"One more volley. One for your lives!" he cried to those around him. + +The volley was forthcoming. The rifles were discharged at the range of +only a few yards into the mass of Mexican cavalry. Horses and men fell +headlong, some pitching to the very feet of the Texans and then one of +the cannon poured a shower of grape shot into the midst of the wavering +square. It broke and ran, bearing its general away with it, and leaving +the ground cumbered with fallen men and horses. + +The Mexican infantry was also driven back at every point, and retreated +rapidly until they were out of range. Under the cloud of smoke wounded +men crept away. But when the cloud was wholly gone, it disclosed those +who would move no more, lying on every side. The defenders had suffered +also. Fannin lay upon the ground, while two of his men bound up a severe +wound in the thigh that he had sustained from a Mexican bullet. Many +others had been wounded and some had been killed. Most alarming of all +was the announcement that the cannon could be fired only a few times +more, as there was no water for the sponges when they became heated and +clogged. But this discouraged only the leaders, not the recruits +themselves, who had ultimate faith in their rifles. + +Ned felt an extreme dizziness. All his old strength had not yet +returned, and after such furious action and so much excitement there was +a temporary collapse. He lay back on the grass, closed his eyes, and +waited for the weakness to pass. He heard around him the talk and murmur +of the men, and the sounds of new preparations. He heard the recruits +telling one another that they had repulsed four Mexican attacks, and +that they could repulse four more. Yet the amount of talking was not +great. The fighting had been too severe and continuous to encourage +volubility. Most of them reloaded in silence and waited. + +Ned felt that his weakness had passed, opened his eyes, and sat up +again. He saw that the Mexicans had drawn a circle of horsemen about +them, but well beyond range. Behind the horsemen their army waited. +Fannin's men were rimmed in by steel, and Ned believed that Urrea, after +his great losses in the charges, would now wait. + +Ned stretched himself and felt his muscles. He was strong once more and +his head was clear. He did not believe that the weakness and dizziness +would come again. But his tongue and throat were dry, and one of the +youths who had stood with him gave him a drink from his canteen. Ned +would gladly have made the drink a deep one, but he denied himself, and, +when he returned the canteen, its supply was diminished but little. He +knew better than the giver how precious the water would become. + +Ned was standing at the edge of the hollow, and his head was just about +on a level with the surrounding prairie. After his look at the Mexican +circle, something whistled by his ear. It was an unpleasant sound that +he knew well, one marking the passage of a bullet, and he dropped down +instantly. Then he cautiously raised himself up again, and, a half dozen +others who had heard the shot did the same. One rose a little higher +than the rest and he fell back with a cry, a bullet in his shoulder. + +Ned was surprised and puzzled. Whence had come these shots? There was +the line of Mexican cavalry, well out of range, and, beyond the +horsemen, were the infantry. He could see nothing, but the wounded +shoulder was positive proof that some enemy was near. + +There was a third crack, and a man fell to the bottom of the hollow, +where he lay still. The bullet had gone through his head. Ned saw a +wreath of smoke rising from a tiny hillock, a hundred yards away, and +then he saw lifted for only a moment a coppery face with high cheek +bones and coarse black hair. An Indian! No one could ever mistake that +face for a white man's. Many more shots were fired and he caught +glimpses of other faces, Indian in type like the first. + +Every hillock or other inequality of the earth seemed to spout bullets, +which were now striking among the Texans, cooped up in the hollow, +killing and wounding. But the circle of Mexican horsemen did not stir. + +"What are they?" called Fannin, who was lying upon a pallet, suffering +greatly from his wound. + +"Indians," replied Ned. + +"Indians!" exclaimed Fannin in surprise. "I did not know that there were +any in this part of the country." + +"Nor did I," replied Ned, "but they are surely here, Colonel, and if I +may make a suggestion, suppose we pick sharp-shooters to meet them." + +"It is the only thing to do," said Fannin, and immediately the best men +with the rifle were placed along the edge of the hollow. It was full +time, as the fire of the red sharpshooters was creeping closer, and was +doing much harm. They were Campeachy Indians, whom the Mexicans had +brought with them from their far country and, splendid stalkers and +skirmishers, they were now proving their worth. Better marksmen than the +Mexicans, naked to the waist, their dark faces inflamed with the rage to +kill, they wormed themselves forward like snakes, flattened against the +ground, taking advantage of every hillock or ridge, and finding many a +victim in the hollow. Far back, the Mexican officers sitting on their +horses watched their work with delighted approval. + +Ned was not a sharpshooter like the Panther or Davy Crockett, but he was +a sharpshooter nevertheless, and, driven by the sternest of all needs, +he was growing better all the time. He saw another black head raised for +a moment above a hillock, and a muzzle thrust forward, but he fired +first. The head dropped back, but the rifle fell from the arms and lay +across the hillock. Ned knew that his bullet had sped true, and he felt +a savage joy. + +The other sharpshooters around him were also finding targets. The Indian +bullets still crashed into the crowded ranks in the hollow, but the +white marksmen picked off one after another in the grass. The moment a +red face showed itself a bullet that rarely missed was sent toward it. +Here was no indiscriminate shooting. No man pulled the trigger until he +saw his target. Ned had now fired four times, and he knew that he had +not missed once. The consuming rage still possessed him, but it was for +the Mexicans rather than the Indians against whom he was sending his +bullets. Surely they were numerous enough to fight the Texans. They +ought to be satisfied with ten to one in their favor, without bringing +Indians also against the tiny settlements! The fire mounted to his +brain, and he looked eagerly for a fifth head. + +It was a singular duel between invisible antagonists. Never was an +entire body seen, but the crackling fire and the spurts of flame and +smoke were incessant. After a while the line of fire and smoke on the +prairie began to retreat slowly. The fire of the white sharpshooters had +grown too hot and the Indians were creeping away, leaving their dead in +the grass. Presently their fire ceased entirely and then that of the +white marksmen ceased also. + +No sounds came from the Mexicans, who were all out of range. In the +hollow the wounded, who now numbered one-fifth of the whole, suppressed +their groans, and their comrades, who bound up their hurts or gave them +water, said but little. Ned's own throat had become parched again, but +he would not ask for another drop of water. + +The Texans had used oxen to drag their cannon and wagons, and most of +them now lay dead about the rim of the shallow crater, slain by the +Mexican and Indian bullets. The others had been tied to the wagons to +keep them, when maddened by the firing, from trampling down the Texans +themselves. Now they still shivered with fear, and pulled at their +ropes. Ned felt sorry for the poor brutes. Full cause had they for +fright. + +The afternoon was waning, and he ate a little supper, followed by a +single drink of water. Every man received a similar drink and no more +from the canteens. The coming twilight brought a coolness that was +refreshing, but the Indians, taking advantage of the dusk, crept +forward, and began to fire again at the Texans cooped up in the crater. +These red sharpshooters had the advantage of always knowing the position +of their enemy, while they could shift their own as they saw fit. + +The Texan marksmen, worn and weary though they were, returned to their +task. They could not see the Indians, but they used an old device, often +successful in border warfare. Whenever an Indian fired a spurt of smoke +shot up from his rifle's muzzle. A Texan instantly pulled trigger at +the base of the smoke, and oftener than not the bullet hit his dusky +foe. + +This new duel in the dark went on for two hours. The Indians could fire +at the mass in the hollow, while the Texans steadily picked out their +more difficult targets. The frightened oxen uttered terrified lowings +and the Indians, now and then aiming at the sounds, killed or wounded +more of the animals. The Texans themselves slew those that were wounded, +unwilling to see them suffer so much. + +The skill of the Texans with the rifle was so great that gradually they +prevailed over the Indians a second time in the trial of sharpshooting. +The warriors were driven back on the Mexican cavalry, and abandoned the +combat. The night was much darker than usual, and a heavy fog, rising +from the plain, added to its density and dampness. The skies were +invisible, hidden by heavy masses of floating clouds and fog. + +Ned saw a circle of lights spring up around them. They were the camp +fires of the Mexican army, and he knew that the troops were comfortable +there before the blaze. His heart filled with bitterness. He had +expected so much of Fannin's men, and Crockett and Bowie before him had +expected so much! Yet here they were, beleaguered as the Texans had been +beleaguered in the Alamo, and there were no walls behind which they +could fight. It seemed to Ned that the hand of fate itself had resolved +to strike down the Texans. He knew that Urrea, one of Santa Anna's +ablest and most tenacious generals, would never relax the watch for an +instant. In the darkness he could hear the Mexican sentinels calling to +one another: "Sentinela Alerte!" + +The cold damp allayed the thirst of the young recruits, but the crater +was the scene of gloom. They did not dare to light a fire, knowing it +would draw the Indian bullets at once, or perhaps cannon shots. The +wounded in their blankets lay on the ground. A few of the unhurt slept, +but most of them sat in silence looking somberly at one another. + +Fannin lay against the breech of one of the cannon, blankets having been +folded between to make his position easy. His wound was severe and he +was suffering greatly, but he uttered no complaint. He had not shown +great skill or judgment as a leader, but he was cool and undaunted in +action. Now he was calling a council to see what they could do to +release themselves from their desperate case. Officers and men alike +attended it freely. + +"Boys," said Fannin, speaking in a firm voice despite his weakness and +pain, "we are trapped here in this hole in the prairie, but if you are +trapped it does not follow that you have to stay trapped. I don't seek +to conceal anything from you. Our position could not well be worse. We +have cannon, but we cannot use them any longer because they are choked +and clogged from former firing, and we have no water to wash them out. +Shortly we will not have a drop to drink. But you are brave, and you can +still shoot. I know that we can break through the Mexican lines to-night +and reach the Coleto, the water and the timber. Shall we do it?" + +Many replied yes, but then a voice spoke out of the darkness: + +"What of the wounded, Colonel? We have sixty men who can't move." + +There was an instant's silence, and then a hundred voices said in the +darkness: + +"We'll never leave them. We'll stay here and fight again!" + +Ned was standing with those nearest Fannin, and although the darkness +was great his eyes had become so used to it that he could see the pale +face of the leader. Fannin's eyes lighted up at the words of his men, +and a little color came into his cheeks. + +"You speak like brave men rather than wise men," he said, "but I cannot +blame you. It is a hard thing to leave wounded comrades to a foe such as +the one who faces us. If you wish to stay here, then I say stay. Do you +wish it?" + +"We do!" thundered scores of voices, and Fannin, moving a little to make +himself easier, said simply: + +"Then fortify as best you can." + +They brought spades and shovels from the wagons, and began to throw up +an earthwork, toiling in the almost pitchy darkness. They reinforced it +with the bodies of the slain oxen, and, while they toiled, they saw the +fires where the Mexican officers rested, sure that their prey could not +break from the trap. The Texans worked on. At midnight they were still +working, and when they rested a while there was neither food nor drink +for them. Every drop of water was gone long since, and they had eaten +their last food at supper. They could have neither food nor drink nor +sleep. + +Ned had escaped from many dangers, but it is truth that this time he +felt despair. His feeling about the hand of fate striking them down +became an obsession. What chance had men without an ounce of food or a +drop of water to withstand a siege? + +But he communicated his fears to no one. Two or three hours before day, +he became so sore and weary from work with the spade that he crawled +into one of the half-wrecked wagons, and tried to go to sleep. But his +nerves were drawn to too high a pitch. After a quarter of an hour's vain +effort he got out of the wagon and stood by the wheel. The sky was +still black, and the heavy clouds of fog and vapor rolled steadily past +him. It seemed to him that everything was closing on them, even the +skies, and the air was so heavy that he found it hard to breathe. + +He would have returned to work, but he knew that he would overtask his +worn frame, and he wanted to be in condition for the battle that he +believed was coming with the morrow. They had not tried to cut out at +night, then they must do it by day, or die where they stood of thirst. + +He sat down at last on the ground, and leaned against a wagon wheel, +drawing a blanket over his shoulders for warmth. He found that he could +rest better here than inside the wagon, and, in an hour or two, he dozed +a little, but when he awoke the night was still very dark. + +The men finished their toil at the breastwork just before day and then, +laying aside their shovels and picks and taking up their rifles, they +watched for the first shoot of dawn in the east. It came presently, +disclosing the long lines of Mexican sentinels and behind them the army. +The enemy was on watch and soon a terrible rumor, that was true, spread +among the Texans. They were caught like the men of Refugio. Only three +or four rounds of ammunition were left. It was bad enough to be without +food and water, but without powder and bullets either they were no army. +Now Ned knew that his presages were true. They were doomed. + +The sun rose higher, pouring a golden light upon the plain. The distance +to the Mexican lines was in appearance reduced half by the vivid light. +Then Ned of the keen eye saw a dark line far off to their right on the +prairie. He watched them a little, and saw that they were Mexican +cavalry, coming to swell still further Urrea's swollen force. He also +saw two cannon drawn by mules. + +Ned pointed out the column to Wallace, a Major among the Texans, and +then Wallace used a pair of glasses. + +"You are right," he said. "They are Mexicans and they have two pieces of +artillery. Oh, if we could only use our own guns!" + +But the Texan cannon stood as worthless as if they had been spiked, and +the Texans were compelled to remain silent and helpless, while the +Mexicans put their new guns in position, and took aim with deliberation, +as if all the time in the world was theirs. Ned tried to console himself +with the reflection that Mexican gunners were not often accurate, but +the first thud and puff of smoke showed that these were better than +usual. + +A shower of grape shot coming from a superior height swept their camp, +killing two or three of the remaining oxen, smashing the wagons to +pieces, and wounding more men. Another shower from the second gun struck +among them with like result, and the case of the Texans grew more +desperate. + +They tried to reach the gunners with their rifles, but the range was too +great, and, after having thrown away nearly all the ammunition that was +left, they were forced to stand idly and receive the Mexican fire. The +Mexicans must have divined the Texan situation, as a great cheer rose +from their lines. It became evident to Ned that the shallow crater would +soon be raked through and through by the Mexican artillery. + +Fannin, lying upon his pallet, was already calling a council of his +officers, to which anyone who chose might listen. The wounded leader was +still resolute for battle, saying that they might yet cut their way +through the Mexicans. But the others had no hope. They pointed to the +increased numbers of the foe, and the exhausted condition of their own +men, who had not now tasted food or water for many hours. If Urrea +offered them good terms they must surrender. + +Ned stood on one side, saying nothing, although his experience was +perhaps greater than that of anybody else present. But he had seen the +inevitable. Either they must yield to the Mexicans or rush boldly on the +foe and die to the last man, as the defenders of the Alamo had done. Yet +Fannin still opposed. + +"We whipped them off yesterday, and we can do it again to-day," he said. + +But he was willing to leave it to the others, and, as they agreed that +there was no chance to hold out any longer, they decided to parley with +the Mexicans. A white cloth was hoisted on the muzzle of a rifle. The +Mexican fire ceased, and they saw officers coming forward. The sight was +almost more than Ned could stand. Here was a new defeat, a new tragedy. + +"I shall meet them myself," said Fannin, as he rose painfully. "You come +with me. Major Wallace, but we do not speak Spanish, either of us." + +His eye roved over the recruits, and caught Ned's glance. + +"I have been much in Mexico," said Ned. "I speak Spanish and also +several Mexican variations of it." + +"Good," said Fannin, "then you come with us, and you, too, Durangue. We +may need you both." + +The two officers and the two interpreters walked out of the hollow, +passing the barricade of earth and dead oxen that had been of no avail, +and saw four Mexican officers coming toward them. A silk handkerchief +about the head of one was hidden partly by a cocked hat, and Ned at +once saw that it was Urrea, the younger. His heart swelled with rage and +mortification. It was another grievous pang that Urrea should be there +to exult. + +They met about midway between the camps, and Urrea stepped forward. He +gave Ned only a single glance, but it made the boy writhe inwardly. The +young Mexican was now all smoothness and courtesy, although Ned was sure +that the cruel Spanish strain was there, hidden under his smiling air, +but ready to flame up at provocation. + +"I salute you as gallant foes," said Urrea in good English, taking off +his hat. "My comrades and associates here are Colonel Salas, Lieutenant +Colonel Holzinger and Lieutenant Gonzales, who are sent with myself by +my uncle, General Urrea, to inquire into the meaning of the white flag +that you have hoisted." + +Each of the Mexican officers, as his name was called, took off his hat +and bowed. + +"I am Colonel Fannin," began the Texan leader. + +All four Mexicans instantly bowed again. + +"And you are wounded," said Urrea. "It shows the valor of the Texans, +when their commander himself shares their utmost dangers." + +Fannin smiled rather grimly. + +"There was no way to escape the dangers," he said. "Your fire was +heavy." + +Urrea smiled in a gratified way, and then waited politely for Fannin to +continue. The leader at once began to treat with the Mexican officers. +Ned, Durangue and Urrea translated, and the boy did not miss a word that +was said. It was agreed that the Texans should surrender, and that they +should be treated as prisoners of war in the manner of civilized +nations. Prompt and special attention would be given to the wounded. + +Then the Mexican officers saluted courteously and went back toward their +own ranks. It had all seemed very easy, very simple, but Ned did not +like this velvet smoothness, this willingness of the Mexicans to agree +to the most generous terms. Fannin, however, was elated. He had won no +victories, but he had saved the lives of his men. + +Their own return was slow, as Fannin's wound oppressed him, but when +they reached their camp, and told what had been done, the recruits began +silently to stack their arms, half in gladness and half in sorrow. More +Mexican officers came presently and still treated them with that same +smooth and silky courtesy. Colonel Holzinger received the surrendered +arms, and, as he did so, he said to Ned, who stood by: + +"Well, it's liberty and home in ten days for all you gentlemen." + +"I hope so," said Ned gravely, although he had no home. + +The Mexican courtesy went so far that the arms of the officers were +nailed up in a box, with the statement that they would be given back to +them as soon as they were released. + +"I am sorry that we cannot consider you an officer, Señor Fulton," said +young Urrea to Ned, "then you would get back your rifle and pistols." + +"You need not bother about it," said Ned. "I am willing to let them go. +I dare say that when I need them I can get others." + +"Then you still mean to fight against us?" said Urrea. + +"If I can get an exchange, and I suppose I can." + +"You are not content even yet! You saw what happened at the Alamo. You +survived that by a miracle, but where are all your companions in that +siege? Dead. You escaped and joined the Texans at Refugio. Where are +the defenders of Refugio? In the swamps of the Guadalupe, and we have +only to put forth our hands and take them. You escaped from Refugio to +find Fannin and his men. Where are Fannin and his men now? Prisoners in +our hands. How many of the Texans are left? There is no place in all +Texas so far that the arm of the great Santa Anna cannot reach it." + +Ned was stung by his taunts and replied: + +"You forget Houston." + +Urrea laughed. + +"Houston! Houston!" he said. "He does nothing. And your so-called +government does nothing, but talk. They, too, will soon feel the might +and wrath of Santa Anna. Nothing can save them but a swift flight to the +States." + +"We shall see," said Ned, although at that moment he was far from +confident. "Remember how our men died at the Alamo. The Texans cannot be +conquered." + +Urrea said nothing further, as if he would not exult over a fallen +enemy, although Ned knew that he was swelling with triumph, and went +back to his uncle's camp. The Texan arms were taken ahead on some +wagons, and then the dreary procession of the Texans themselves marched +out of the hollow. They were all on foot and without arms. Those hurt +worst were sustained by their comrades, and, thus, they marched into the +Mexican camp, where they expected food and water, but General Urrea +directed them to walk on to Goliad. + +Fainting from hunger and thirst, they took up their march again. The +Mexican cavalry rode on either side of them, and many of the horsemen +were not above uttering taunts which, fortunately, few of the prisoners +could understand. Young Urrea was in command of this guard and he rode +near the head of the column where Ned could see him. Now and then a +Mexican vaquero cracked his long whip, and every report made Ned start +and redden with anger. + +Some of the recruits were cheerful, talked of being exchanged and of +fighting again in the war, but the great majority marched in silence and +gloom. They felt that they had wasted themselves. They had marched into +a trap, which the Mexicans were able to close upon them before they +could strike a single blow for Texas. Now they were herded like cattle +being driven to a stable. + +They reached the town of Goliad, and the Mexican women and children, +rejoicing in the triumph of their men, came out to meet them, uttering +many shrill cries as they chattered to one another. Ned understood them, +but he was glad that the others did not. Young Urrea rode up by the side +of him and said: + +"Well, you and your comrades have now arrived at our good town of +Goliad. You should be glad that your lives have been spared, because you +are rebels and you deserve death. But great is the magnanimity of our +most illustrious president and general, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna." + +Ned looked up quickly. He thought he had caught a note of cruelty in +that soft, measured voice. He never trusted Urrea, nor did he ever trust +Santa Anna. + +"I believe it is customary in civilized warfare to spare the lives of +prisoners," he said. + +"But rebels are rebels, and freebooters are freebooters," said Urrea. + +It seemed to Ned that the young Mexican wanted to draw him into some +sort of controversy, and he refused to continue. He felt that there was +something sinister about Urrea, or that he represented something +sinister, and he resolved to watch rather than talk. So, gazing +straight ahead, he walked on in silence. Urrea, waiting for an answer, +and seeing that he would get none, smiled ironically, and, turning his +horse, galloped away. + +The prisoners were marched through the town, and to the church. All the +old Spanish or Mexican towns of Texas contained great stone churches, +which were also fortresses, and Goliad was no exception. This was of +limestone, vaulted and somber, and it was choked to overflowing with the +prisoners, who could not get half enough air through the narrow windows. +The surgeons, for lack of bandages and medicines, could not attend the +wounded, who lay upon the floor. + +Where were the fair Mexican promises, in accordance with which they had +yielded? Many of the unwounded became so weak from hunger and thirst +that they, too, were forced to lie upon the floor. Ned had reserves of +strength that came to his aid. He leaned against the wall and breathed +the foul air of the old church, which was breathed over and over again +by nearly four hundred men. + +The heavy doors were unbarred an hour later, and food and water were +brought to them, but how little! There was a single drink and a quarter +of a pound of meat for each man. It was but a taste after their long +fast, and soon they were as hungry and thirsty as ever. It was a hideous +night. There was not room for them all to sleep on the floor, and Ned +dozed for a while leaning against the wall. + +Food and water were brought to them in the same small quantities in the +morning, but there was no word from the Mexicans concerning the promises +of good treatment and parole that had been made when they surrendered. + +Ned was surprised at nothing. He knew that Santa Anna dominated all +Mexico, and he knew Santa Anna. Promises were nothing to him, if it +served him better to break them. Fannin demanded writing materials and +wrote a note to General Urrea protesting strongly against the violation +of faith. But General Urrea was gone after Ward's men, who were +surrounded in the marshes of the Guadalupe, leaving Colonel Portilla in +command. Portilla, meanwhile, was dominated by the younger Urrea, a man +of force and audacity, whom he knew to be high in the favor of Santa +Anna. + +Captain Urrea did not believe in showing any kindness to the men +imprisoned in the church. They were rebels or filibusters. They had +killed many good Mexicans, and they should be made to suffer for it. No +answer was returned to Fannin's letter, and the men in the somber old +limestone building became depressed and gloomy. + +Ned, who was surprised at nothing, also hoped for nothing, but he sought +to preserve his strength, believing that he would soon have full need of +it. He stretched and tensed his muscles in order to keep the stiffness +from coming into them, and he slept whenever he could. + +Two or three days passed and the Mexican officer, Holzinger, came for +Fannin, who was now recovered largely from his wound. The two went away +to Copano on the coast to look for a vessel that would carry the +prisoners to New Orleans. They returned soon, and Fannin and all his men +were in high hopes. + +Meanwhile a new group of prisoners were thrust into the church. They +were the survivors of Ward's men, whom General Urrea had taken in the +swamps of the Guadalupe. Then came another squad, eighty-two young +Tennesseeans, who, reaching Texas by water, had been surrounded and +captured by an overwhelming force the moment they landed. A piece of +white cloth had been tied around the arms of every one of these men to +distinguish them from the others. + +But they were very cheerful over the news that Fannin had brought. There +was much bustle among the Mexicans, and it seemed to be the bustle of +preparation. The prisoners expected confidently that within another day +they would be on the march to the coast and to freedom. + +There was a singular scene in the old church. A boy from Kentucky had +brought a flute with him which the Mexicans had permitted him to retain. +Now sitting in Turkish fashion in the center of the floor he was +playing: "Home, Sweet Home." Either he played well or their situation +deepened to an extraordinary pitch the haunting quality of the air. + +Despite every effort tears rose to Ned's eyes. Others made no attempt to +hide theirs. Why should they? They were but inexperienced boys in +prison, many hundreds of miles from the places where they were born. + +They sang to the air of the flute, and all through the evening they sang +that and other songs. They were happier than they had been in many days. +Ned alone was gloomy and silent. Knowing that Santa Anna was now the +fountain head of all things Mexican he could not yet trust. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE BLACK TRAGEDY + + +While the raw recruits crowded one another for breath in the dark +vaulted church of Goliad, a little swarthy man in a gorgeous uniform sat +dining luxuriously in the best house in San Antonio, far to the +northwest. Some of his favorite generals were around him, Castrillon, +Gaona, Almonte, and the Italian Filisola. + +The "Napoleon of the West" was happy. His stay in San Antonio, after the +fall of the Alamo, had been a continuous triumph, with much feasting and +drinking and music. He had received messages from the City of Mexico, +his capital, and all things there went well. Everybody obeyed his +orders, although they were sent from the distant and barbarous land of +Texas. + +While they dined, a herald, a Mexican cavalrymen who had ridden far, +stopped at the door and handed a letter to the officer on guard: + +"For the most illustrious president, General Santa Anna," he said. + +The officer went within and, waiting an opportune moment, handed the +letter to Santa Anna. + +"The messenger came from General Urrea," he said. + +Santa Anna, with a word of apology, because he loved the surface forms +of politeness, opened and read the letter. Then he uttered a cry of joy. + +"We have all the Texans now!" he exclaimed. "General Urrea has taken +Fannin and his men. There is nothing left in Texas to oppose us." + +The generals uttered joyful shouts and drank again to their illustrious +leader. The banquet lasted long, but after it was over Santa Anna +withdrew to his own room and dictated a letter to his secretary. It was +sealed carefully and given to a chosen messenger, a heavy-browed and +powerful Mexican. + +"Ride fast to Goliad with that letter," said Santa Anna. + +The messenger departed at once. He rode a strong horse, and he would +find fresh mounts on the way. He obeyed the orders of the general +literally. He soon left San Antonio far behind, and went on hour after +hour, straight toward Goliad. Now and then he felt the inside of his +tunic where the letter lay, but it was always safe. Three or four times +he met parties of Mexicans, and he replied briefly to their questions +that he rode on the business of the most illustrious president, General +Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Once, on the second day, he saw two +horsemen, whom his trained eyes told him to be Texan hunters. + +The messenger sheered off into a patch of timber, and waited until the +hunters passed out of sight. Had they seen him much might have changed, +a terrible story might have been different, but, at that period, the +stars in their courses were working against the Texans. Every accident, +every chance, turned to the advantage of their enemies. + +The messenger emerged from the timber, and went on at the same steady +gait toward Goliad. He was riding his fourth horse now, having changed +every time he met a Mexican detachment, and the animal was fresh and +strong. The rider himself, powerful by nature and trained to a life in +the saddle, felt no weariness. + +The scattered houses of Goliad came into view, by and by, and the +messenger, giving the magic name of Santa Anna, rode through the lines. +He inquired for General Urrea, the commander, but the general having +gone to Victoria he was directed to Colonel Portilla, who commanded in +his absence. He found Portilla sitting in a patio with Colonel Garay, +the younger Urrea and several other Mexican officers. The messenger +saluted, drew the letter from his pocket and presented it to Colonel +Portilla. + +"From the most illustrious president and commander-in-chief, General +Santa Anna," he said. + +Portilla broke the seal and read. As his eyes went down the lines, a +deep flush crept through the tan of his face, and the paper trembled in +his hands. + +"I cannot do it! I cannot do it! Read, gentlemen, read!" he cried. + +Urrea took the extended letter from his hand and read it aloud. Neither +his voice nor his hand quivered as he read, and when he finished he said +in a firm voice: + +"The orders of the president must be obeyed, and you, Colonel Portilla, +must carry them out at once. All of us know that General Santa Anna does +not wish to repeat his commands, and that his wrath is terrible." + +"It is so! It is so!" said Portilla hopelessly, and Garay also spoke +words of grief. But Urrea, although younger and lower in rank, was firm, +even exultant. His aggressive will dominated the others, and his +assertion that the wrath of Santa Anna was terrible was no vain warning. +The others began to look upon him as Santa Anna's messenger, the +guardian of his thunderbolts, and they did not dare to meet his eye. + +"We will go outside and talk about it," said Portilla, still much +agitated. + +When they left the patio their steps inevitably took them toward the +church. The high note of a flute playing a wailing air came to them +through the narrow windows. It was "Home, Sweet Home," played by a boy +in prison. The Mexicans did not know the song, but its solemn note was +not without an appeal to Portilla and Garay. Portilla wiped the +perspiration from his face. + +"Come away," he said. "We can talk better elsewhere." + +They turned in the opposite direction, but Urrea did not remain with +them long. Making some excuse for leaving them he went rapidly to the +church. He knew that his rank and authority would secure him prompt +admission from the guards, but he stopped, a moment, at the door. The +prisoners were now singing. Three or four hundred voices were joined in +some hymn of the north that he did not know, some song of the +English-speaking people. The great volume of sound floated out, and was +heard everywhere in the little town. + +Urrea was not moved at all. "Rebels and filibusters!" he said in +Spanish, under his breath, but fiercely. Then he ordered the door +unbarred, and went in. Two soldiers went with him and held torches +aloft. + +The singing ceased when Urrea entered. Ned was standing against the +wall, and the young Mexican instinctively turned toward him, because he +knew Ned best. There was much of the tiger cat in Urrea. He had the same +feline grace and power, the same smoothness and quiet before going into +action. + +"You sing, you are happy," he said to Ned, although he meant them all. +"It is well. You of the north bear misfortune well." + +"We do the best we can wherever we are," replied young Fulton, dryly. + +"The saints themselves could do no more," said the Mexican. + +Urrea was speaking in English, and his manner was so friendly and gentle +that the recruits crowded around him. + +"When are we to be released? When do we get our parole?" they asked. + +Urrea smiled and held up his hands. He was all sympathy and generosity. + +"All your troubles will be over to-morrow," he said, "and it is fitting +that they should end on such a day, because it is Palm Sunday." + +The recruits gave a cheer. + +"Do we go down to the coast?" one of them asked. + +Urrea smiled with his whole face, and with the gesture of his hands, +too. But he shook his head. + +"I can say no more," he replied. "I am not the general, and perhaps I +have said too much already, but be assured, brave foes, that to-morrow +will end your troubles. You fought us gallantly. You fought against +great odds, and you have my sympathy." + +Ned had said no more. He was looking at Urrea intently. He was trying, +with all the power of his own mind and soul, to read this man's mind and +soul. He was trying to pierce through that Spanish armor of smiles and +gestures and silky tones and see what lay beneath. He sought to read the +real meaning of all these polite phrases. His long and powerful gaze +finally drew Urrea's own. + +A little look of fear crept into Urrea's eyes, as the two antagonists +stared at each other. But it was only for a few minutes. Then he looked +away with a shrug and a laugh. + +"Now I leave you," he said to the men, "and may the saints bring you +much happiness. Do not forget that to-morrow is Palm Sunday, and that it +is a good omen." + +He went out, taking the torchbearers with him, and although it was dark +again in the vaulted church, the recruits sang a long time. Ned sat down +with his back against the wall, and he did not share in the general joy. +He remembered the look that had come into Urrea's eyes, when they met +the accusing gaze of his own. + +After a while the singing ceased, and one by one the recruits fell +asleep in the close, stifling air of the place. Ned dozed an hour or +two, but awoke before dawn. He was oppressed by a deep and unaccountable +gloom, and it was not lifted when, in the dusk, he looked at the rows of +sleeping figures, crowded so close together that no part of the floor +was visible. + +He saw the first light appear in the east, and then spread like the slow +opening of a fan. The recruits began to awaken by and by, and their good +spirits had carried over from the night before. Soon the old church was +filled with talk and laughter. + +The day came fully, and then the guards brought food and water, not +enough to satisfy hunger and thirst, but enough to keep them alive. They +did not complain, as they would soon be free men, able to obtain all +that they wanted. Presently the doors of the church were thrown open, +and the officers and many soldiers appeared. Young Urrea was foremost +among the officers, and, in a loud voice, he ordered all the prisoners +to come out, an order that they obeyed with alacrity and pleasure. + +Ned marched forth with the rest, although he did not speak to any of +those about him. He looked first at Urrea, whose manner was polite and +smiling, as it had been the night before, and then his glance shifted to +the other officers, older men, and evidently higher in rank. He saw +that two, Colonels by their uniforms, were quite pale, and that one of +them was biting savagely at his mustache. It all seemed sinister to Ned. +Why was Urrea doing everything, and why were his superiors standing by, +evidently a prey to some great nervous strain? + +The recruits, under Urrea's orders, were formed into three columns. One +was to take the road toward San Antonio, the second would march toward +San Patricio, and the third to Copano. The three columns shouted +good-by, but the recruits assured one another that they would soon meet +again. Urrea told one column that it was going to be sent home +immediately, another that it was going outside the town, where it was to +help in killing cattle for beef which they would eat, and the third that +it was leaving the church in a hurry to make room for Santa Anna's own +troops, who would reach the town in an hour. + +Ned was in the largest column, near the head of it, and he watched +everything with a wary eye. He noticed that the Mexican colonels still +left all the arrangements to Urrea, and that they remained extremely +nervous. Their hands were never quiet for a moment. + +The column filed down through the town, and Ned saw the Mexican women +looking at them. He heard two or three of them say "pobrecitos" (poor +fellows), and their use of the word struck upon his ear with an ominous +sound. He glanced back. Close behind the mass of prisoners rode a strong +squadron of cavalry with young Urrea at their head. Ned could not see +Urrea's face, which was hidden partly by a cocked and plumed hat, but he +noticed that the young Mexican sat very upright, as if he felt the pride +of authority. One hand held the reins, and the other rested on the +silver hilt of a small sword at his side. + +A column of Mexican infantry marched on either side of the prisoners, +and only a few yards away. It seemed to Ned that they were holding the +Texans very close for men whom they were to release in a few hours. +Trusting the Mexicans in nothing, he was suspicious of everything, and +he watched with a gaze that missed no detail. But he seemed to be alone +in such thoughts. The recruits, enjoying the fresh air and the prospect +of speedy freedom, were talking much, and exchanging many jests. + +They passed out of the little town, and the last Ned saw of it was the +Mexican women standing in the doorways and watching. They continued +along the road in double file, with the Mexican infantry still on either +side, and the Mexican cavalry in the rear. A half mile from the town, +and Urrea gave an order. The whole procession stopped, and the column of +Mexican infantry on the left passed around, joining their comrades on +the right. The recruits paid no attention to the movement, but Ned +looked instantly at Urrea. He saw the man rise now in his saddle, his +whole face aflame. In a flash he divined everything. His heart leaped +and he shouted: + +"Boys, they are going to kill us!" + +The startled recruits did not have time to think, because the next +instant Urrea, rising to his full height in his stirrups, cried: + +"Fire!" + +The double line of Mexicans, at a range of a few yards, fired in an +instant into the column of unarmed prisoners. There was a great blaze, a +spurt of smoke and a tremendous crash. It seemed to Ned that he could +fairly hear the thudding of bullets upon bodies, and the breaking of +bones beneath the sudden fierce impact of the leaden hail. An awful +strangled cry broke from the poor recruits, half of whom were already +down. The Mexicans, reloading swiftly, poured in another volley, and +the prisoners fell in heaps. Then Urrea and the cavalry, with swords and +lances, charged directly upon them, the hoofs of their horses treading +upon wounded and unwounded alike. + +Ned could never remember clearly the next few moments in that red and +awful scene. It seemed to him afterward that he went mad for the time. +He was conscious of groans and cries, of the fierce shouting of the +Mexicans, wild with the taste of blood, of the incessant crackling of +the rifles and muskets, and of falling bodies. He saw gathering over +himself and his slaughtered comrades a great column of smoke, pierced by +innumerable jets of fire, and he caught glimpses of the swart faces of +the Mexicans as they pulled triggers. From right and left came the crash +of heavy but distant volleys, showing that the other two columns were +being massacred in the same way. + +He felt the thunder of hoofs and a horse was almost upon him, while the +rider, leaning from the saddle, cut at him with a saber. Ned, driven by +instinct rather than reason, sprang to one side the next instant, and +then the horseman was lost in the smoke. He dashed against a figure, and +was about to strike with his fist, the only weapon that he now had, when +he saw that he had collided with a Texan, unwounded like himself. Then +he, too, was lost in the smoke. + +A consuming rage and horror seized Ned. Why he was not killed he never +knew. The cloud over the place where the slaughtered recruits lay +thickened, but the Mexicans never ceased to fire into it with their +rifles and muskets. The crackling of the weapons beat incessantly upon +the drums of his ears. Mingled with it were the cries and groans of the +victims, now fast growing fewer. But it was all a blurred and red +vision to Ned. While he was in that deadly volcano he moved by instinct +and impulse and not by reason. + +A few of the unwounded had already dashed from the smoke and had +undertaken flight across the plain, away from the Mexican infantry, +where they were slain by the lances or muskets of the cavalry under +Urrea. Ned followed them. A lancer thrust so savagely at him that when +the boy sprang aside the lance was hurled from his hand. Ned's foot +struck against the weapon, and instantly he picked it up. A horseman on +his right was aiming a musket at him, and, using the lance as a long +club, he struck furiously at the Mexican. The heavy butt landed squarely +upon the man's head, and shattered it like an eggshell. Youthful and +humane, Ned nevertheless felt a savage joy when the man's skull crashed +beneath his blow. + +It is true that he was quite mad for the moment. His rage and horror +caused every nerve and muscle within him to swell. His brain was a mass +of fire. His strength was superhuman. Whirling the great lance in club +fashion about his head he struck another Mexican across the shoulders, +and sent him with a howl of pain from the saddle. He next struck a horse +across the forehead, and so great was the impact that the animal went +down. A cavalryman at a range of ten yards fired at him and missed. He +never fired again, as the heavy butt of the lance caught him the next +instant on the side of the head, and he went to join his comrade. + +All the while Ned was running for the timber. A certain reason was +appearing in his actions, and he was beginning to think clearly. He +curved about as he ran, knowing that it would disturb the aim of the +Mexicans, who were not good shots, and instinctively he held on to the +lance, whirling it about his head, and from time to time uttering fierce +shouts like an Indian warrior wild with battle. More than one Mexican +horseman sheered away from the formidable figure with the formidable +weapon. + +Ned saw other figures, unarmed, running for the wood. A few reached it, +but most were cut down before they had gone half way. Behind him the +firing and shouting of the Mexicans did not seem to decrease, but no +more groans or cries reached him from the bank of smoke that hung over +the place where the murdered recruits lay. But the crash of the fire, +directed on the other columns to right and left, still came to him. + +Ned saw the wood not far away now. Twenty or thirty shots had been fired +at him, but all missed except two, which merely grazed him. He was not +hurt and the superhuman strength, born of events so extraordinary, still +bore him up. The trees looked very green. They seemed to hold out +sheltering arms, and there was dense underbrush through which the +cavalry could not dash. + +He came yet nearer, and then a horseman, rifle raised to his shoulder, +dashed in between. Sparks danced before Ned's eyes. Throat and mouth, +lips and his whole face burned with smoke and fever, but all the heat +seemed to drive him into fiercer action. He struck at horse and horseman +so savagely that the two went down together, and the lance broke in his +hands. Then with a cry of triumph that his parched throat could scarcely +utter, he leaped into the timber. + +Having reached the shelter of the trees, Ned ran on for a long time, and +finally came into the belt of forest along the San Antonio River. +Twenty-six others escaped in the same way on that day, which witnessed +the most dreadful deed ever done on the soil of North America, but +nearly four hundred were murdered in obedience to the letter sent by +Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Fannin and Ward, themselves, were shot +through the head, and their bodies were thrown into the common heap of +the slain. + +Ned did not see any of the other fugitives among the trees. He may have +passed them, but his brain was still on fire, and he beheld nothing but +that terrible scene behind him, the falling recruits, the fire and the +smoke and the charging horsemen. He could scarcely believe that it was +real. The supreme power would not permit such things. Already the Alamo +had lighted a fire in his soul, and Goliad now turned it into a roaring +flame. He hated Urrea, who had rejoiced in it, and he hated Santa Anna +who, he dimly felt, had been responsible for this massacre. Every +element in his being was turned for the time into passion and hatred. As +he wandered on, he murmured unintelligible but angry words through his +burning lips. + +He knew nothing about the passage of time, but after many hours he +realized that it was night, and that he had come to the banks of a +river. It was the San Antonio, and he swam it, wishing to put the stream +between himself and the Mexicans. Then he sat down in the thick timber, +and the collapse from such intense emotions and such great exertions +came quickly. He seemed to go to pieces all in a breath. His head fell +forward and he became unconscious. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE RACE FOR THE BOAT + + +Five men, or rather four men and a boy, rode down the banks of the San +Antonio, always taking care to keep well in the shelter of the timber. +All the men were remarkable in figure, and at least three of them were +of a fame that had spread to every corner of Texas. + +The one who rode slightly in advance was of gigantic build, enormously +thick through the shoulders and chest. He was dressed in brightly dyed +deerskin, and there were many fanciful touches about his border costume. +The others also wore deerskin, but theirs was of soberer hue. The man +was Martin Palmer, far better known as the Panther, or, as he loved to +call himself, the Ring Tailed Panther. His comrades were "Deaf" Smith, +Henry Karnes, Obed White and Will Allen. + +They were not a very cheerful five. Riding as free lances, because there +was now practically no organized authority among the Texans, they had +been scouting the day before toward Goliad. They had learned that Fannin +and his men had been taken, and they had sought also to discover what +the Mexican generals meant to do with the troops. But the Mexican +patrols had been so numerous and strong that they could not get close +enough to Goliad. Early in the morning while in the timber by the river +they had heard the sound of heavy firing near Goliad, which continued +for some time, but they had not been able to fathom its meaning. They +concluded finally that a portion of Fannin's men must have been still +holding out in some old building of Goliad, and that this was the last +stand. + +They made another effort to get closer to the town, but they were soon +compelled to turn back, and, again they sought the thickest timber along +the river. Now they were riding back, in the hope of finding some Texan +detachment with which they could coöperate. + +"If we keep huntin' we ought to find somebody who can tell us +somethin'," said the Panther. + +"It's a long lane that has no news at the end," said Obed White, with an +attempt at buoyancy. + +"That's so," said "Deaf" Smith. "We're bound to hit a trail somehow an' +somewhere. We heard that Fannin's men had surrendered an' then we heard +that firin'. But I guess that they wouldn't give up, without makin' good +terms for themselves, else they would have held out as the boys did in +the Alamo." + +"Ah, the Alamo!" said Obed White. His face clouded at the words. He was +thinking then of the gallant youth who had escaped with him from the +dungeon under the sea in the castle of San Juan de Ulua, and who had +been his comrade in the long and perilous flight through Mexico into +Texas. The heart of the Maine man, alone in the world, had turned +strongly to Ned Fulton, and mourning him as one dead he also mourned him +as a son. But as he rarely talked of the things that affected him most, +he seldom mentioned Ned. The Panther was less restrained. + +"We've got a big score to settle for the Alamo," he said. "Some good +friends of mine went down forever in that old mission an' there was that +boy, Ned Fulton. I s'pose it ain't so bad to be cut off when you're old, +an' you've had most of your life, but it does look bad for a strong, +fine boy just turnin' into a man to come straight up ag'inst the dead +wall." + +Will Allen said nothing, but unbidden water forced itself to his eyes. +He and Ned had become the strongest of friends and comrades. + +"After all that's been done to our people," said the Panther, "I feel +like rippin' an' r'arin' an' chawin' the rest of my life." + +"We'll have the chance to do all of it we want, judgin' from the way +things are goin'," said "Deaf" Smith. + +Then they relapsed into silence, and rode on through the timber, going +slowly as they were compelled to pick their way in the underbrush. It +was now nearly noon, and a brilliant sun shone overhead, but the foliage +of young spring was heavy on trees and bushes, and it gave them at the +same time shade and shelter. + +As they rode they watched everywhere for a trail. If either Texans or +Mexicans had passed they wanted to know why, and when. They came at last +to hoofprints in the soft bank of the river, indicating that +horses--undoubtedly with men on their backs--had crossed here. The +skilled trailers calculated the number at more than fifteen, perhaps +more than twenty, and they followed their path across the timber and out +upon the prairie. + +When the hoofprints were more clearly discernible in the grass they saw +that they had been made by unshod feet, and they were mystified, but +they followed cautiously or, for two or three miles, when "Deaf" Smith +saw something gleaming by the track. He alighted and picked up a painted +feather. + +"It's simple now," he said. "We've been followin' the trail of Indians. +They wouldn't be in this part of the country, 'less they were helpin' +the Mexicans, an' I guess they were at Goliad, leavin' after the +business there was finished." + +"You're right, Deaf," said Karnes. "That 'counts for the unshod hoofs. +It ain't worth while for us to follow them any longer, so I guess we'd +better turn back to the timber." + +Safety obviously demanded this course, and soon they were again in the +forest, riding near the San Antonio and down its stream. They struck the +trail of a bear, then they roused up a deer in the thickets, but big +game had no attraction for them now, and they went on, leaving bear and +deer in peace. Then the sharp eyes of the Panther saw the print of a +human foot on the river bank. He soon saw three or four more such traces +leading into the forest, where the trail was lost. + +The five gathered around the imprints in the earth, and debated their +meaning. It was evident even to Will Allen that some one without a horse +had swum the river at that point and had climbed up the bank. They could +see the traces lower down, where he had emerged from the water. + +"I figger it this way," said the Panther. "People don't go travelin' +through this country except on horses, an' this fellow, whoever he is, +didn't have any horse, as we all can see as plain as day." + +"An' in such times as these," said "Deaf" Smith, "fellers don't go +swimmin' rivers just for fun. The one that made these tracks was in a +hurry. Ain't that so, Hank?" + +"'Course he was," replied Karnes. "He was gettin' away from somewhere +an' from somebody. That's why he swam the river; he wanted the San +Antonio to separate him from them somebodies." + +"And putting two and two and then two more together," said Obed White, +"we draw the conclusion that it is a fugitive, probably one of our own +Texans, who has escaped in some manner from his prison at Goliad." + +"It's what we all think," said the Panther, "an' now we'll beat up these +thickets till we find him. He's sure to keep movin' away from Goliad, +an' he's got sense to stay in the cover of the timber." + +The forest here ran back from the river three or four hundred yards, and +the five, separating and moving up the stream, searched thoroughly. The +hunt presently brought the Panther and Obed White together again, and +they expressed their disappointment at finding nothing. Then they heard +a cry from Will Allen, who came galloping through the thickets, his face +white and his eyes starting. + +"I've found Ned Fulton!" he cried. "He's lying here dead in the bushes!" + +The Panther and Obed stared in amazement. + +"Will," exclaimed the Panther, "have you gone plum' crazy? Ned was +killed at the Alamo!" + +"I tell you he is here!" cried the boy, who was shaking with excitement. +"I have just seen him! He was lying on his back in the bushes, and he +did not move!" + +"Lead on! Let's see what you have seen!" said Obed, who began to share +in the boy's excitement. + +The Panther whistled, and Smith and Karnes joined them. Then, led by +Will Allen, they rode swiftly through the bushes, coming, forty or fifty +yards away, into a tiny grassy glade. It was either Ned Fulton or his +ghost, and the Panther, remembering the Alamo, took it for the latter. +He uttered a cry of astonishment and reined in his horse. But Obed White +leaped to the ground, and ran to the prostrate figure. + +"A miracle!" he exclaimed. "It's Ned Fulton! And he's alive!" + +The others also sprang from their horses, and crowded around their +youthful comrade, whom they had considered among the fallen of the +Alamo. Ned was unconscious, his face was hot with fever, and his +breathing was hard and irregular. + +"How he escaped from the Alamo and how he came here we don't know," said +Obed White solemnly, "but there are lots of strange things in heaven and +earth, as old Shakespeare said, and this is one of the strangest of them +all." + +"However, it's happened we're glad to get him back," said the Panther. +"And now we must go to work. You can tell by lookin' at him that he's +been through all kinds of trouble, an' a powerful lot of it." + +These skilled borderers knew that Ned was suffering from exhaustion. +They forced open his mouth, poured a drink down his throat from a flask +that Karnes carried, and rubbed his hands vigorously. Ned, after a +while, opened his eyes and looked at them dimly. He knew in a vague way +that these were familiar faces, but he remembered nothing, and he felt +no surprise. + +"Ned! Ned! Don't; you know us?" said Will Allen. "We're your friends, +and we found you lying here in the bush!" + +The clouds slowly cleared away from Ned's mind and it all came back, the +terrible and treacherous slaughter of his unarmed comrades, his own +flight through the timber his swimming of the river, and then the blank. +But these were his best friends. It was no fantasy. How and when they +had come he did not know, but here they were in the flesh, the Panther, +Obed White, Will Allen, "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes. + +"Boys," he asked weakly, "how did you find me?" + +"Now don't you try to talk yet a while, Ned," said Obed White, veiling +his feeling under a whimsical tone. "When people come back from the +dead they don't always stay, and we want to keep you, as you're an +enrolled member of this party. The news of your trip into the beyond and +back again will keep, until we fix up something for you that will make +you feel a lot stronger." + +These frontiersmen never rode without an outfit, and Smith produced a +small skillet from his kit. The Panther lighted a fire, Karnes chipped +off some dried beef, and in a few minutes they had a fine soup, which +Ned ate with relish. He sat with his back against a tree and his +strength returned rapidly. + +"I guess you can talk now, Ned," said Obed White. "You can tell us how +you got away from the Alamo, and where you've been all the time." + +Young Fulton's face clouded and Obed White saw his hands tremble. + +"It isn't the Alamo," he said. "They died fighting there. It was +Goliad." + +"Goliad?" exclaimed "Deaf" Smith. "What do you mean?" + +"I mean the slaughter, the massacre. All our men were led out. They were +told that they were to go on parole. Then the whole Mexican army opened +fire upon us at a range of only a few yards and the cavalry trod us +down. We had no arms. We could not fight back. It was awful. I did not +dream that such things could be. None of you will ever see what I've +seen, and none of you will ever go through what I've gone through." + +"Ned, you've had fever. It's a dream," said Obed White, incredulous. + +"It is no dream. I broke through somehow, and got to the timber. Maybe a +few others escaped in the same way, but all the rest were murdered in +cold blood. I know that Santa Anna ordered it." + +They knew perfectly well that Ned was telling the full truth, and the +faces of all of them darkened. The same thought was in the heart of +every one, vengeance for the deed, but however intense was the thought +it did not approach the feeling of Ned, who had seen it all, and who had +been through it all. + +"I guess that was the firing we heard," said Smith, "when we thought it +was the boys making a last stand at Goliad. I tell you, comrades, this +means the freedom of Texas. No matter how the quarrel came about no +people can stand such things." + +"It's so," said the others together. + +They did not declaim. They were of a tribe that was not given much to +words, but they felt sure that their own resolve to fight until no +Mexicans were left in Texas would now be shared by every Texan. + +After Ned rested a while longer and ate more of the good soup, he told +the full story of the great and tragic scenes through which he had +passed since he became separated from them. Seasoned as they were, these +men hung with breathless interest on every detail. He told them +everything that had passed in the Alamo during the long days of the +siege. He told of Crockett and Bowie and Travis and of the final +assault. + +The Panther drew a deep breath, when he finished that part of the story. + +"They were certainly great men in the Alamo, them fellers," he said, +"and when my time comes to die I believe I'd rather die that way than +any other." + +Ned did not linger long over the tale of Goliad. He could not yet bear +the detailed repetition. + +"I think we'd better make for the coast," said "Deaf" Smith, when he +had finished. "Our forces in the field are about wiped out, an' we've +got to raise a new army of some kind. We can look for our government, +too. It's wanderin' aroun', tryin' to keep out of the hands of Santa +Anna. We haven't any horse for you now, Ned, but you can ride behind +Will Allen. Maybe we can get you a mount before long." + +They remained in the timber the rest of the day, in order that Ned might +recover sufficiently for the journey. About the middle of the afternoon +they saw a dozen Mexican cavalrymen on the plain, and they hoped that +they would invade the timber. They were keyed to such a pitch of anger +and hate that they would have welcomed a fight, and they were more than +confident of victory, but the Mexicans disappeared beyond the swells, +and every one of the men was disappointed. + +At night they began their march toward the north, and continued almost +until morning. Ned, riding behind Will Allen, scarcely spoke. Obed +White, then and afterward, observed a great change in him. He seemed to +have matured suddenly far beyond his years, and Obed always felt that he +had some unchanging purpose that had little to do with gentleness or +mercy. + +They slept in the timber until about 10 o'clock, and then resumed their +ride northward, still holding to the opinion that the peripatetic Texan +government would be found at Harrisburg, or somewhere in its vicinity. +In the afternoon they encountered a Mexican force of eight mounted men, +and attacked with such vigor that Ned and Will, riding double, were +never able to get into the fight. Two of the Mexicans fell, and the rest +got away. The Texans were unharmed. + +The Panther, after a chase, captured one of the horses, and brought him +back for Ned. They also secured the arms of the fallen Mexicans, one of +these weapons being an American rifle, which Ned was quite sure had +belonged to a slaughtered recruit at Goliad. They also found a letter in +one of the Mexican haversacks. It was from General Urrea to General +Santa Anna, and the Panther and his comrades inferred from the direction +in which its bearer had been riding that the dictator himself had left +San Antonio, and was marching eastward with the main Mexican army. + +"I have to inform you," ran a part of the letter, "that your orders in +regard to the rebels at Goliad were carried out, in my absence, by the +brave and most excellent Colonel Portilla. They were all executed, +except a few who escaped under cover of the smoke to the timber, but our +cavalrymen are sure to find in time every one of these, and inflict upon +them the justice that you have ordered. + +"I shall march north, expecting to meet your excellency, and I trust +that I shall have further good news to report to you. There are now no +rebel forces worthy of the name. We shall sweep the country clean. I +shall send detachments to take any Americans who may land at the ports, +and, coöperating with you, I feel assured, also, that we shall capture +every member of the rebel government. In another month there will not be +a single Texan in arms against us." + +Ned read the letter aloud, translating into English as he went, and when +he finished the Panther burst into a scornful laugh. + +"So, the rebels are all killed, or about to be killed!" he said. "An' +there won't be one Texan in arms a month from now! I'm willin' to give +my word that here are six of us who will be in arms then, roarin' an' +rippin' an' t'arin'! They'll sweep the country clean, will they? They'll +need a bigger broom for that job than any that was ever made in +Mexico!" + +The others made comment in like fashion, but young Fulton was silent. +His resolution was immutable, and it required no words to assert it. + +"I guess we'd better take this letter with us an' give it to Sam +Houston," said "Deaf" Smith. "Houston has been criticized a lot for not +gatherin' his forces together an' attackin' the Mexicans, but he ain't +had any forces to gather, an' talk has never been much good against +cannon balls an' bullets. Still, he's the only man we've got to fall +back on." + +"You keep the letter, 'Deaf'," said the Panther, "an' now that we've got +a horse for Ned I guess we can go a little faster. How you feelin' now, +Ned?" + +"Fine," replied Ned. "Don't you bother about me any more. I started on +the upgrade the moment you fellows found me." + +"A good horse and a good rifle ought to be enough to bring back the +strength to any Texan," said Obed White. + +They resumed their journey at a faster pace, but before nightfall they +met another Texan who informed them that large forces of Mexicans were +now between them and Harrisburg. Hence they concluded that it was wiser +to turn toward the coast, and make a great circuit around the forces of +Santa Anna. + +But they told the Texan scout of what had been done at Goliad, and bade +him wave the torch of fire wherever he went. He rode away with a face +aghast at the news, and they knew that he would soon spread it through +the north. As for themselves they rode rapidly toward the east. + +They spent the night in a cluster of timber, and the Panther was +fortunate enough to shoot a wild turkey. They made Ned eat the +tenderest parts, and then seek sleep between blankets. His fever was now +gone, but he was relaxed and weak. It was a pleasant weakness, however, +and, secure in the comradeship of his friends, he soon fell into a deep +slumber which lasted all the night. The others had planned an early +start, but, as Ned was sleeping with such calm and peace, they decided +not to disturb him, knowing how much he needed the rest. It was three +hours after sunrise when he awoke, and he made many apologies, but the +rest only laughed. + +"What's the use of our hurryin'?" said "Deaf" Smith. "It'll take some +time for Sam Houston to get any army together, an' we might keep in good +shape until he gets it. Here's more beef soup for you, Ned. You'll find +it mighty fine for buildin' up." + +Two or three hours after they started that day they came to a large +trail, and, when they followed it a little while, they found that it was +made by Mexicans marching south, but whether they belonged to the main +force under Santa Anna or that under Urrea they could not tell. + +It was evident that the northern road was full of dangers and they rode +for the coast. Several small Texan vessels were flitting around the +gulf, now and then entering obscure bays and landing arms, ammunition +and recruits for he cause. Both Smith and Karnes were of the opinion +that they might find a schooner or sloop, and they resolved to try for +it. + +They reached, the next day, country that had not been ravaged by the +troops of Santa Anna, and passed one or two tiny settlements, where they +told the news of Goliad. The Panther, Smith and Karnes were well known +to all the Texans, and they learned in the last of these villages that a +schooner was expected in a cove about forty miles up the coast. It would +undoubtedly put in at night, and it would certainly arrive in two or +three days. They thought it was coming from New Orleans. + +The little party decided to ride for the cove, and meet the schooner if +possible. They could reach it in another day and night, and they would +await the landing. + +"We've got good friends in New Orleans," said Smith, as they rode over +the prairie. "You'll remember the merchant, John Roylston. He's for us +heart and soul, an' I've no doubt that he's sendin' us help." + +"All the Texans owe him a debt," said Ned, "and I owe him most of all. +His name saved my life, when I was taken at San Antonio. It had weight +with Santa Anna, and it might have had weight with him, too, at Goliad, +had he been there." + +They rode steadily all the next day. Their horses were tough mustangs of +the best quality, and showed no signs of weariness. They passed through +a beautiful country of light rolling prairie, interspersed with fine +forest. The soil was deep and rich, and the foliage was already in its +tenderest spring green. Soft, warm airs swept up from the gulf. Five of +the riders felt elation, and talked cheerfully. But Ned maintained a +somber silence. The scenes of Goliad were still too vivid for him to +rejoice over anything. The others understood, and respected his silence. + +They camped that night as usual in the thickest forest they could find, +and, feeling that they were now too far east to be in any serious danger +from the Mexicans, they lighted a fire, warmed their food, and made +coffee, having replenished their supplies at the last settlement. Obed +White was the coffee maker, heating it in a tin pot with a metal bottom. +They had only one cup, which they used in turn, but the warm food and +drink were very grateful to them after their hard riding. + +"Keeping in good condition is about three-fourths of war," said Obed in +an oracular tone. "He who eats and runs away will live to eat another +day. Besides, Napoleon said that an army marched better on a full +stomach, or something like it." + +"That applied to infantry," said Will Allen. "We march on our horses." + +"Some day," said Ned, "when we've beaten Santa Anna and driven all the +Mexicans out of Texas, I'm going back and hunt for Old Jack. He and I +are too good friends to part forever. I found him, after abandoning him +the first time, and I believe I can do it again, after leaving him the +second time." + +"Of course you can," said the Panther cheerily. "Old Jack is a horse +that will never stay lost. Now, I think we'd better put out our fire and +go to sleep. The horses will let us know if any enemy comes." + +All were soon slumbering peacefully in their blankets, but Ned, who had +slept so much the night before, awakened in two or three hours. He +believed, at first, that a distant sound had broken his sleep, but when +he sat up he heard nothing. Five dusky figures lay in a row near him. +They were those of his comrades, and he heard their steady breathing. +Certainly they slept well. He lay down again, but he remained wide +awake, and, when his ear touched the ground, he seemed to hear the faint +and distant sound again. + +He rose and looked at the horses. They had not moved, and it was quite +evident that they had detected no hostile presence. But Ned was not +satisfied. Putting his rifle on his shoulder he slipped through the +forest to the edge of the prairie. Long before he was there he knew that +he had not been deceived by fancy. + +He saw, two or three hundred yards in front of him, a long file of +cavalry marching over the prairie, going swiftly and straight ahead, as +if bent upon some purpose well defined. A good moon and abundant stars +furnished plenty of light, and Ned saw that the force was Mexican. There +were no lancers, all the men carrying rifles or muskets, and Ned +believed that he recognized the younger Urrea in the figure at their +head. He had seen the young Mexican so often and in such vivid moments +that there was no phase of pose or gesture that he could forget. + +Ned watched the column until it was hidden by the swells. It had never +veered to either right or left, and its course was the same as that of +his comrades and himself. He wondered a little while, and then he felt a +suspicion which quickly grew into a certainty. Urrea, a daring partisan +leader, who rode over great distances, had heard of the schooner and its +arms, and was on his way to the cove to seize them. It was for Ned and +his friends to prevent it. + +He returned, and, awakening the others, stated what he had seen. Then he +added his surmise. + +"It's likely that you're guessin' right," said "Deaf" Smith. "The +Mexicans have spies, of course, an' they get word, too, from Europeans +in these parts, who are not friendly to us. What do you say, boys, all +of you?" + +"That Urrea is bound for the same place we are," said Obed White. + +"That we've got to ride hard, an' fast," said the Panther. + +"It's our business to get there first," said Karnes. + +"Let's take to the saddle now," said Will Allen. + +Ned said nothing. He had given his opinion already. They saddled their +horses, and were on the plain in five minutes, riding directly in the +trail of the Mexican cavalry. They meant to follow until nearly dawn, +and then, passing around, hurry to the cove, where the schooner, without +their warning, might be unloading supplies before nightfall into the +very arms of the Mexicans. + +Before dawn they faintly saw the troop ahead, and then, turning to the +left, they put their mustangs into the long easy lope of the frontier, +not slowing down, until they were sure that they were at least three or +four miles beyond the Mexicans. But they continued at a fast walk, and +ate their breakfasts in the saddle. They rode through the same beautiful +country, but without people, and they knew that if nothing unusual +occurred they would see the sea by noon. + +Ned went over their directions once more. The cove ran back from the sea +about a mile, and its entrance was a strait not more than thirty yards +wide, but deep. In fact, the entire cove was deep, being surrounded by +high forested banks except at the west, into which a narrow but deep +creek emptied. The only convenient landing was the creek's mouth, and +they believed that they would find the schooner there. + +Ned, in common with the others, felt the great importance of the mission +on which they rode. Most of the Texan cannon and a great part of their +rifles had been taken at the Alamo and Goliad. But greater even than the +need of arms was that of ammunition. If Urrea were able to seize the +schooner, or to take the supplies, the moment after they landed, he +would strike the Texans a heavy blow. Hence the six now pushed their +horses. + +At ten o'clock, they caught a glimpse of the sea upon their right. Five +minutes later they saw a cloud of dust on their left, less than a mile +away. It was moving rapidly, and it was evident at once that it was made +by a large body of horse. When the dust lifted a little, they saw that +it was Urrea and his men. + +"It's likely that they have more information than we have," said the +Panther, "an' they are ridin' hard to make a surprise. Boys, we've got +to beat 'em, an', to do it, we've got to keep ahead of our dust all the +time!" + +"The greater the haste, the greater the speed just now," said Obed +White. + +They urged their horses into a gallop. They kept close to the sea, while +Urrea was more than half a mile inland. Luckily, a thin skirt of timber +soon intervened between Mexicans and Texans, and the six believed that +Urrea and his men were unaware of their presence. Their own cloud of +dust was much smaller than that of the Mexicans, and also it might +readily be mistaken for sea sand whipped up by the wind. + +Ned and the Panther rode in front, side by side, Smith and Karnes +followed, side by side, too, and behind came Obed White and Will Allen, +riding knee to knee. They ascended a rise and Ned, whose eyes were the +keenest of them all, uttered a little cry. + +"The schooner is there!" he exclaimed. "See, isn't that the top of a +mast sticking up above those scrub trees?" + +"It's nothing else," said Obed White, who was familiar with the sea and +ships. "And it's bound, too, to be the schooner for which we are +looking. Forward, boys! The swift will win the race, and the battle will +go to the strong!" + +They pressed their horses now to their greatest speed. The cove and the +ship were not more than a half mile away. A quarter of a mile, and the +skirt of timber failed. The Mexicans on their left saw them, and +increased their speed. + +"The schooner's anchored!" exclaimed Obed, "and they are unloading! +Look, part of the cargo is on the bank already!" + +With foot and rein they took the last ounce of speed from their horses, +and galloped up to a group of astonished men, who were transferring arms +and ammunition by small boats from a schooner to the land Already more +than a hundred rifles, and a dozen barrels of powder lay upon the shore. + +"Back to the ship! Back to the ship!" cried Ned, who involuntarily took +the lead. "We are Texans, and a powerful force of Mexicans will be here +inside of fifteen minutes!" + +The men looked at him astonished and unbelieving. Ned saw among them a +figure, clad in sober brown, a man with a large head and a broad, +intellectual face, with deep lines of thought. He knew him at once, and +cried: + +"Mr. Roylston, it is I! Edward Fulton! You know me! And here are Captain +Palmer, 'Deaf' Smith, Henry Karnes, Obed White and Will Allen! I tell +you that you have no time to lose! Put the supplies back on the +schooner, and be as quick as you can! Captain Urrea and two hundred men +are galloping fast to capture them!" + +Roylston started in astonishment at the appearance of Ned, whom he, too, +had believed to be dead, but he wasted no time in questions. He gave +quick orders to have the arms and ammunition reloaded, and directed the +task himself. The Panther sprang from his horse and walked back to the +edge of the wood. + +"Here they come at a gallop," he said, "and we need time. Boys, hand me +your rifles, as I call for them, an' I'll show you how to shoot." + +The Panther did not mean to boast, nor did the others take it as such. +He merely knew his own skill, and he meant to use it. + +"Do as he says," said "Deaf" Smith to the others. "I reckon that, as +Davy Crockett is dead, the Panther is the best shot in all Texas." + +The Mexican cavalry were coming at a gallop, several hundred yards away. +The Panther raised his long, slender-barreled rifle, pulled the trigger, +and the first horseman fell from the saddle. Without turning, he held +out his hands and Smith thrust the second rifle into them. Up went the +weapon, and a second Mexican saddle was empty. A third rifle and a third +Mexican went down, a fourth, and the result was the same. The whole +Mexican troop, appalled at such deadly shooting, stopped suddenly. + +"Keep it up, Panther! Keep it up!" cried Smith. "We need every minute of +time that we can get." + +While the Mexicans hesitated the Panther sent another fatal bullet among +them. Then they spread out swiftly in a thin half circle, and advanced +again. All the six Texans now opened fire, and they were also helped by +some of the men from the boat. But a part of the attacking force had +gained cover and the fire was not now so effective. + +Nevertheless the rush of the Mexicans was checked, and under the +directions of Roylston the reloading of the schooner was proceeding +rapidly. They hoisted the last of the powder and rifles over the side, +and two of the boats were putting back for the defenders. The schooner, +meanwhile, had taken in her anchor and was unfurling her sails. Roylston +was in one of the boats and, springing upon the bank, he shouted to the +defenders: + +"Come, lads! The supplies are all back on board! It's for your lives +now!" + +All the men instantly abandoned the defence and rushed for the bank, the +Panther uttering a groan of anger. + +"I hate to leave six good horses to Urrea, an' that gang," he said, "but +I s'pose it has to be done." + +"Don't grieve, Panther," cried Smith. "We'll take three for one later +on!" + +"Hurry up! Hurry up!" said Roylston. "There is no time to waste. Into +the boats, all of you!" + +They scrambled into the boats, reached the schooner, and pulled the +boats to the deck after them. There was not a minute to lose. The +schooner, her sails full of wind, was beginning to move, and the +Mexicans were already firing at her, although their bullets missed. + +Ned and Will Allen threw themselves flat on the deck, and heard the +Mexican bullets humming over their heads. Ned knew that they were still +in great danger, as it was a mile to the open sea, and the Mexicans +galloping along by the side of the cove had begun a heavy fire upon the +schooner. But the Panther uttered a tremendous and joyous shout of +defiance. + +"They can't hurt the ship as long as they ain't got cannon," he said, +"an' since it's rifles, only, we'll give it back to 'em!" + +He and the other sharpshooters, sheltering themselves, began to rake the +woods with rifle fire. The Mexicans replied, and the bullets peppered +the wooden sides of the schooner or cut holes through her sails. But the +Texans now had the superiority. They could shelter themselves on the +ship, and they were also so much better marksmen that they did much +damage, while suffering but little themselves. + +The schooner presently passed between the headlands, and then into the +open sea. She did not change her course until she was eight or ten miles +from land, when she turned northward. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE CRY FOR VENGEANCE + + +As soon as the schooner was out of range Ned and his comrades stood up +on the deck, and looked back at the long low coastline, which had +offered to them so much danger. At first they saw Mexican horsemen on +the beach, but as they went further and further out to sea they +disappeared. + +A strong wind hummed through the sails and the schooner, heeling over a +little, went swiftly northward, leaving a long white wake. Ned and his +comrades sat on the benches that ran around the sides of the deck. Some +of the rich brown color faded from the Panther's face, and his eyes +looked a little bit uneasy. + +"I'm glad to be here," he said, "glad to be out of reach of the +Mexicans, but I wish I was on somethin' a lot steadier than this." + +Obed White, familiar with the waters of the Maine coast, laughed. + +"This is just a spanking good breeze," he said. "Look how the waves +dance!" + +"Let 'em dance," said the Panther, "an' they can do my share of dancin', +too. I never felt less like roarin' an' t'arin' an' rippin' in my life." + +"Any way, we're getting a fine rest," said Will Allen. "It's pleasant to +be out here, where nobody can drop suddenly on you from ambush." + +The schooner made another curve to the eastward, the water became +smoother and the Panther's qualms disappeared. Food and water were +brought to them on deck, and they ate and drank with good appetites. +Then John Roylston, who had gone below, as soon as they were out of +range, reappeared. He went directly to Ned, shook hands with him with +great energy, and said in a tone of deep gratitude: + +"I had given you up for lost. But you reappeared with your friends, just +in time to save the most valuable of all cargoes for the Texans. I +should like to hear now how you rose from the dead, because I had direct +information that you were in the Alamo, and I know that everybody there +perished." + +"I come, nevertheless, as the bearer of bad news," said Ned, with Goliad +fresh in his mind. + +"How is that?" + +Then Ned told for the second time the dreadful deed done by order of +Santa Anna, and it seemed to him as he told it that all the details were +as vivid and terrible as ever. His desire for revenge upon the dictator +and the Mexicans had not diminished a particle. Roylston's face, usually +a mask, showed horror. + +"It was an awful thing to do," he said, "but it means now that Santa +Anna will never conquer Texas. No man can do such a deed and yet +triumph. Now, tell me how it is that you are not among the slain in the +Alamo." Ned related the story anew, and he dwelt upon the fact that +Santa Anna had spared him at the mention of Roylston's name. But when +the story was finished, the merchant was silent for quite a while. Ned +knew by the contraction of the lines upon the great brow that he was +thinking. At last, he broke the silence. + +"No doubt you have wondered that my name had so much influence with +Santa Anna," he said. "I have hinted at it before, but I will explain +more fully now. I am, as you know, a merchant. I trade throughout the +whole southwest, and I have ships in the Gulf and the Caribbean. One of +them, the 'Star of the South,' on which we now are, can show her heels +to anything in these seas. + +"Earlier in my life I came in contact with Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. +Like many others I fell for a while under his spell. I believed that he +was a great and liberal man, that he would even be able to pull Mexico +out of her slough of misrule and ignorance. I helped him in some of his +young efforts. The splendid hacienda that he has near Vera Cruz was +bought partly with money that I furnished. + +"But our friendship could not last. Vain, ruthless, cruel, but with +genius, Santa Anna can have no friends except those whom he may use. +Unless you submit, unless you do everything that he wishes, you are, in +his opinion, a traitor to him, a malefactor and an enemy, to be crushed +by trickery or force, by fair means or foul. How could I have continued +dealings with such a man? + +"I soon saw that instead of being Mexico's best friend he was her worst +enemy. I drew away in time, but barely. I was in Mexico when the break +came, and he would have seized and imprisoned me or had me shot, but I +escaped in disguise. + +"I retained, too, a hold upon Santa Anna that he has sought in vain to +break. Such a man as he always needs money, not a few thousands, but +great sums. He has been thrifty. The treasury of Mexico has been +practically at his mercy, but he does not trust the banks of his own +land. He has money not only in the foreign banks of Mexico, but also +large amounts of it in two of the great banks of London. The English +deposits stand as security for the heavy sums that he owes me. His arm +is long, but it does not reach to London. + +"He cannot pay at present without putting himself in great difficulties, +and, for the time being, I wish the debt to stand. It gives me a certain +power over him, although we are on opposite sides in a fierce war. When +you gave him my name in San Antonio, he did not put you to death because +he feared that I would seize his English money when I heard of it. + +"The younger Urrea has heard something of these debts. He is devoted to +Santa Anna, and he knew that he would have rendered his chief an immense +service if he could have secured his release from them. That was what he +tried to force from me when I was in his hands, but you and your friends +saved me. You little thought, Edward Fulton, that you were then saving +your own life also. Otherwise, Santa Anna would have had you slain +instantly when you were brought before him at San Antonio. Ah, how +thoroughly I know that man! That he can be a terrible and cruel enemy he +has already proved to Texas!" + +The others listened with deep interest to every word spoken by Roylston. +When he was through, the Panther rose, stretched his arms, and expanded +his mighty chest. All the natural brown had returned to his cheeks, and +his eyes sparkled with the fire of confidence. + +"Mr. Roylston," he said, "the hosts of our foe have come an' they have +devoured our people as the locusts ate up Egypt in the Bible, but I +think our worst days have passed. We'll come back, an' we'll win." + +"Yes," said Ned. "I know as truly as if a prophet had told me that we'll +square accounts with Santa Anna." + +He spoke with such sudden emphasis that the others were startled. His +face seemed cut in stone. At that moment he saw only the Alamo and +Goliad. + +The "Star of the South" sped northward, and Edward Fulton sat long on +her deck, dreaming of the day when the Texans, himself in the first +rank, should come once more face to face with Antonio Lopez de Santa +Anna. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEXAN SCOUTS*** + + +******* This file should be named 15767-8.txt or 15767-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/6/15767 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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