remember the alamo-第23章

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possible　to　them。　　The　royalty　of　their　carriage；　the
authority　in　their　faces；　gave　dignity　even　to　their　deerskin
clothing。　　Its　primitive　character　was　its　distinction；
and　the　wearers　looked　like　the　demi…gods　of　the　heroic　stage
of　history。

Lopez　Navarro　touched　the　doctor　and　directed　his　attention　to
them。　　〃Does　the　world；　Senor；　contain　the　stuff　to　make　their
counterparts？〃

〃They　are　Americans；　Navarro。　　And　though　there　are　a　variety
of　Americans；　they　have　only　one　opinion　about　submitting　to
tyrantsTHEY　WON'T　DO　IT！〃

This　was　the　conversation　interrupted　by　Ortiz　and　the　message
he　brought；　and　the　doctor　was　thoroughly　sobered　by　the
events　following。　　He　was　not　inclined　to　believe；　as　the
majority　of　the　troops　did；　that　Mexico　was　conquered。　　He
expected　that　the　Senora's　prediction　would　be　verified。　　And
the　personal　enmity　which　the　priesthood　felt　to　him　induced
a　depressing　sense　of　personal　disaster。

Nothing　in　the　house　or　the　city　seemed　inclined　to　settle。　
It　took　a　few　days　to　draw　up　the　articles　of　capitulation　and
clear　the　town　of　General　Cos　and　the　Mexican　troops。　　And　he
had　no　faith　in　their　agreement　to　〃retire　from　Texas；　and
never　again　carry　arms　against　the　Americans。〃　　He　knew　that
they　did　not　consider　it　any　sin　to　make　〃a　mental
reservation〃　against　a　heretic。　　He　was　quite　sure　that　if　Cos
met　reinforcements；　he　would　have　to　be　fought　over　again
immediately。

And　amid　these　public　cares　and　considerations；　he　had　serious
private　ones。　　The　Senora　was　still　under　the　control　of　Fray
Ignatius。　　It　required　all　the　influence　of　his　own　personal
presence　and　affection　to　break　the　spiritual　captivity　in
which　he　held　her。　　He　knew　that　the　priest　had　long　been　his
enemy。

He　saw　that　Antonia　was　hated　by　him。　　He　was　in　the　shadow　of
a　terror　worse　than　deaththat　of　a　long；　hopeless　captivity。　
A　dungeon　and　a　convent　might　become　to　them　a　living　grave；
in　which　cruelty　and　despair　would　slowly　gnaw　life　away。

And　yet；　for　a　day　or　two　he　resolved　not　to　speak　of　his
terror。　　The　Senora　was　so　happy　in　his　presence；　and　she　had
such　kind　confidences　to　give　him　about　her　plans　for　her
children's　future；　that　he　could　not　bear　to　alarm　her。　　And
the　children　also　were　so　full　of　youth's　enthusiasms　and
love's　sweet　dreams。　　Till　the　last　moment　why　should　he
awaken　them？　　And　as　the　strongest　mental　element　in　a
home　gives　the　tone　to　it；　so　Dare　and　Antonia；　with　the
doctor　behind　them；　gave　to　the　Mexican　household　almost　an
American　freedom　of　intercourse　and　community　of
pleasure。

The　Senora　came　to　the　parlor　far　more　frequently；　and　in　her
own　apartments　her　children　visited　her　with　but　slight
ceremony。　　They　discussed　all　together　their　future　plans。　
They　talked　over　a　wonderful　journey　which　they　were　to　take
in　company　to　New　Orleans；　and　Washington；　and　New　York；　and
perhaps　even　to　London　and　Paris〃who　could　tell；　if　the
Senora　would　be　so　good　as　to　enjoy　herself？〃　　They　ate　more
together。　　They　got　into　the　habit　of　congregating　about　the
same　hearthstone。　　It　was　the　Senora's　first　real　experience
of　domestic　life。

In　about　six　days　the　Mexican　forces　left　the　city。　　The　terms
of　surrender　granted　General　Cos　struck　the　Mexicans　with　a
kind　of　wonder。　　They　had　fought　with　the　express　declaration
that　they　would　take　no　American　prisoner。　　Yet　the　Americans
not　only　permitted　Cos　and　his　troops　to　leave　under　parole　of
honor；　but　gave　them　their　arms　and　sufficient　ammunition
to　protect　themselves　from　the　Indians　on　their　journey　home。　
They　allowed　them　also　all　their　private　property。　　They
furnished　them　with　the　provisions　necessary　to　reach　the　Rio
Grande。　　They　took　charge　of　their　sick　and　wounded。　　They　set
all　the　Mexican　prisoners　at　libertyin　short；　so　great　was
their　generosity　and　courtesy　that　the　Mexicans　were　unable　to
comprehend　their　motives。

Even　Lopez　was　troubled　at　it。　　〃I　assure　you；〃　he　said　to　Dr。
Worth；　〃they　will　despise　such　civility；　they　will　not　believe
in　its　sincerity。　　At　this　very　blessed　hour　of　God；　they　are
accusing　the　Americans　of　being　afraid　to　press　their
advantage。　　Simply；　you　will　have　the　fight　to　make　over
again。　　I　say　this；　because　I　know　Santa　Anna。〃

〃Santa　Anna　is　but　a　man；　Lopez。〃

〃Me　perdonas！　　He　is　however　a　man　who　knows　a　trick　more　than
the　devil。　　One　must　be　careful　of　a　bull　in　front；　of　a　mule
behind；　and　of　a　monk　and　Santa　Anna　on　all　sides。　　At　the
word　monk；　Lopez　glanced　significantly　at　a　passing　priest；
and　Doctor　Worth　saw　that　it　was　Fray　Ignatius。

〃He　sprinkled　the　Mexican　troops　with　holy　water；　and　blessed
them　as　they　left　the　city　this　morning。　　He　has　the　ear　of
General　Cos。　　He　is　not　a　man　to　offend；　I　assure　you；
Doctor。〃

The　doctor　walked　thoughtfully　away。　　San　Antonio　was　full　of
his　friends；　yet　never　had　he　felt　himself　and　his　family　to
be　in　so　much　danger。　　And　the　words　of　Lopez　had　struck　a
responding　chord　in　his　own　consciousness。　　The　careless
bravery；　the　splendid　generosity　of　his　countrymen　was　at
least　premature。　　He　went　through　the　city　with　observing
eyes；　and　saw　much　to　trouble　him。

The　gates　of　Alamo　were　open。　　Crockett　lounged　upon　his　rifle
in　the　Plaza。　　A　little　crowd　was　around　him；　and　the　big
Tennesseean　hunter　was　talking　to　them。　　Shouts　of　laughter；
bravas　of　enthusiasm；　answered　the　homely　wit　and　stirring
periods　that　had　over　and　over　〃made　room　for　Colonel
Crockett；〃　both　in　the　Tennessee　Legislature　and　the　United
States　Congress。　　His　rifle　seemed　a　part　of　hima　kind　of
third　arm。　　His　confident　manner；　his　manliness　and　bravery；
turned　his　wit　into　wisdom。　　The　young　fellows　around
found　in　him　their　typical　leader。

The　elegant　James　Bowie　was　sitting　on　the　verandah　of　the
Veramendi　House；　calmly　smoking。　　His　fair；　handsome　face；
clear　blue　eyes　and　mild　manners；　gave　no　indication　of　the
gigantic　physical　strength　and　tremendous　coolness　and　courage
of　the　man　who　never　tolerated　an　enemy　in　his　presence。　
Burleson　and　Travis　were　talking　under　the　shade　of　a　China
tree；　and　there　were　little　groups　of　American　soldiers　on
every　street；　this　was　what　he　saw；　and　yet　a　terrible　sense
of　insecurity　oppressed　him。

The　city；　moreover；　was　not　settling　to　its　usual　business；
though　there　were　many　preparations　for　public　and　private
entertainments。　　After　passing　Colonel　Bowie；　he　met　David
Burnett。　　The　shrewd　statesman　from　New　Jersey　had　a　shadow
upon　his　face。　　He　stopped　Doctor　Worth　and　spoke　frankly　to
him。　　〃We　are　in　greater　danger　now　than　when　we　were　under
fire；〃　he　said。　　〃Santa　Anna　will　come　on　us　like　a　lion　from
the　swellings　of　Jordan。　　I　wish　Houston　knew　our　position　as
it　really　is。　　We　must　either　have　more　men　to　defend
this　city　or　we　must　blow　up　the　Alamo　　and　be　ready　to
leave　it　at　a　moment's　notice。〃

〃Why　were　such　favorable　terms　given　to　General　Cos　and　his
troops？　　I　cannot　understand　it。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　an　amazing　fact。　　When　Cos　ran　up　that　white
flag　on　the　Alamo；　we　had　not　a　single　round　of　ammunition
left；　complaisance　was　necessary　until　Cos　made　over　to　us　the
Mexican　arms；　ammunition；　property　and　money。〃

Worth　turned　and　looked　at　the　fort。　　A　great　red　flag　on
which　was　the　word　T…E…X…A…S　floated　from　its　battlements；　and
there　were　two　men　standing　on　its　roof；　with　their　faces
westward。

〃They　are　the　lookouts；〃　said　Burnett；　〃and　we　have　scouts
through　the　surrounding　country；　but　Santa　Anna　will　come；
when　he　comes；　with　tens　of　thousands。〃

〃And　there　is　a　line　where　even　the　coolest　courage　and　the
most　brilliant　bravery　succumbs　to　mere　numbersEh！〃

〃That　is　what　I　mean；　Doctor。〃

〃Where　is　Houston？〃

〃On　the　Brazos；　at　the　small　town　of　Washington。　　The
council　have　established　headquarters　there。〃

Their　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　ringing　of　a　little
bell；　and　the　doleful　supplications　of　a　priest　followed　by　a
crowd　of　idle　men　and　women。　　He　was　begging；　〃for　the　sake　of
the　Holy　Virgin；〃　alms　to　say　masses　for　the　soul　of　an
unfortunate；　who　had　not　left　a　peso　for　his　burial。　　He
droned　on；　and　no　one　noticed　him　until　James　Bowie　stretched
his　tall　figure；　sauntered　up　to　the　monk　and　dropped　a　gold
piece　into　his　cap。　　He　did　not　stay　to　hear　the　exclamations
and　the　gracias；　but　with　steps　that　rang　like　metal　upon
metal　took　his　way　to　the　Alamo。

However；　dangers　postponed　make　the　most　timorous　indifferent
to　them；　and　when　General　Cos　did　not　return；　and　nothing　was
heard　of　Santa　Anna；　every　one　began　to　take　up　their　ordinary
life　again。　　The　temper　of　the　Americans　also　encouraged　this
disposition。　　They　were　discovered　neither　to　be　bloodthirsty
nor　cannibals。　　It　was　even　seen　that　they　enjoyed　the
fandango　and　the　monte　tables；　and　that　a　proposition　for　a
bullfight　at　Christmas　was　not　opposed　by　them。

And　in　spite　of　all　anxieties；　there　were　many　sweet　and
unusual　pleasures　in　the　Worth　home。　　The　discipline　of　the
troops　was　so　lenient　that　Dare　and　Luisone　or　bothwere
generally　there　in　the　evenings。　　Their　turns　as　scouts　or
watchman　at　the　Alamo　only　made　more　delightful　the　hours　when
they　were　exempted　from　these　duties。　　As　for　the　doctor；　he
had　been　released　from　all　obligations　but　those　pertaining　to
his　profession；　and　Antonia；　noticed　that　he　spent　every　hour
he　could　spare　with　the　Senora。　　For　some　reason；　he　appeared
determined　to　strengthen　his　influence　over　her。

On　Christmas　Eve　the　old　city　was　very　gay。　　The　churches　were
decorated；　and　splendidly　dressed　men　and　women　passed　in　and
out　with　smiles　and　congratulations。　　The　fandangoes　and　the
gambling　houses　were　all　open。　　From　the　huertas　around；　great
numbers　of　families　had　come　to　receive　absolution　and　keep
the　Nativity。　　Their　rich　clothing　and　air　of　idleness　gave　a
holiday　feeling　to　the　streets　noisy　with　the　buzzing　of　the
guitar；　the　metallic　throb　of　the　cithara；　the　murmurs　of
voices；　and　the　cries　of　the　hawkers。　　Priests；　Mexicans；
Indians　and　Americans　touched　each　other　on　the　narrow
thoroughfares；　but　that　indescribable　feeling　of　good　will
which　comes　with　Christmas　pervaded　the　atmosphere；　and　gave；
even　in　the　midst　of　war　and　danger；　a　sense　of　anticipated
pleasure。

At　the　Worth　residence　there　was　a　household　feast。　　The
Senora　and　her　daughters　were　in　full　dress。　　They　were
waiting　for　the　dear　ones　who　had　promised　to　join　them　at　the
Angelus。　　One　by　one　the　houses　around　were　illuminated。　
Parties　of　simple　musicians　began　to　pass　each　other
continuallythey　were　going　to　serenade　the　blessed　Mary　all
night　long。　　As　Antonia　closed　the　balcony　window；　half　a
dozen　of　these　young　boys　passed　the　garden　hedge　singing　to
the　clacking　of　their　castanets

　　　　　　　　〃This　is　the　eve　of　Christmas；
　　　　　　　　　No　sleep　from　night　to　morn；
　　　　　　　　　The　Virgin　is　in　travail；
　　　　　　　　　At　twelve　will　the　Child　be　born。〃

Luis　appeared　at　the　same　moment。　　He　caught　up　the　wild
melody　and　came　up　the　garden　path　singing　it。　　Dare　and　the
doctor　followed　him。　　It　struck　Antonia　that　they　were
talking　of　a　change；　or　of　something　important。　　But　there　was
no