remember the alamo-第31章

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‘Si！　si！　juramos！'　（yes；　we　swear。）　　Again　he　kissed　the
flag；　and　laid　his　sword　across　it；　and；　to　be　sure；　then
another　shout。　　It　was　a　very　clever　thing；　I　assure　you；
Senora；　and　it　sent　every　soldier　to　the　battery　with　a　great
heart。〃

The　Senora's　easily　touched　feelings　were　all　on　fire　at　the
description。　　〃I　wish　I　could　have　seen　the　blessing　of　the
banner；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　a　ceremony　to　fill　the　soul。　　I　have
always　wept　at　it。　　Mark；　Antonia！　　This　confirms　what　I
assured　you　ofthe　Mexicans　make　war　with　a　religious　feeling
and　a　true　refinement。　　And　pray；　Captain　Ortiz；　how　will　the
Americans　oppose　these　magnificent　soldiers；　full　of　piety　and
patriotism？〃

〃They　have　the　Alamo；　and　one　hundred　and　eighty…three　men　in
it。〃

〃And　four　thousand　men　against　them？〃

〃Si。　　May　the　Virgin　de　los　Remedios＇4＇　be　their　help！　　An
urgent　appeal　for　assistance　was　sent　to　Fanning　at　Goliad。　
Senor　Navarre；　took　it　on　a　horse　fleet　as　the　wind。　　You　will
see　that　on　the　third　day　he　will　be　smoking　in　his　balcony；
in　the　way　which　is　usual　to　him。〃


＇4＇　The　Virgin　appealed　to　in　military　straits。


〃Will　Fanning　answer　the　appeal？〃

〃If　the　answer　be　permitted　him。　　But　Urrea　may　prevent。　　Also
other　things。〃

Santa　Anna　entered　San　Antonio　on　Tuesday　the　twenty…third　of
February；　1836；　and　by　the　twenty…seventh　the　siege　had　become
a　very　close　one。　　Entrenched　encampments　encircled　the　doomed
men　in　the　Alamo；　and　from　dawn　to　sunset　the　bombardment　went
on。　　The　tumult　of　the　fightthe　hurrying　in　and　out　of　the
citythe　clashing　of　church　bells　between　the　booming　of
cannonthese　things　the　Senora　and　her　daughters　could　hear
and　see；　but　all　else　was　for　twelve　days　mere　surmise。　　But
only　one　surmise　was　possible；　when　it　was　known　that　the
little　band　of　defiant　heroes　were　fighting　twenty；　times
their　own　numberthat　no　help　could　come　to　themthat　the
Mexicans　were　cutting　off　their　water；　and　that　their
provisions　were　getting　very　low。　　The　face　of　Ortiz　grew
constantly　more　gloomy；　and　yet　there　was　something　of　triumph
in　his　tone　as　he　told　the　miserably　anxious　women　with　what
desperate　valor　the　Americans　were　fighting；　and　how　fatally
every　one　of　their　shots　told。

On　Saturday　night；　the　fifth　of　March；　he　called　Antonia
aside；　and　said；　〃My　Senorita；　you　have　a　great　heart；　and　so
I　speak　to　you。　　The　end　is　close。　　To…day　the　Mexicans
succeeded　in　getting　a　large　cannon　within　gunshot　of　the
Alamo；　just　where　it　is　weakest。　　Senor　Captain　Crockett　has
stood　on　the　roof　all　day；　and　as　the　gunners　have　advanced　to
fire　it　he　has　shot　them　down。　　A　group　of　Americans　were
around　him；　they　loaded　rifles　and　passed　them　to　him　quickly
as　he　could　fire　them。　　Santa　Anna　was　in　a　fury　past
believing。　　He　swore　then　‘by　every　saint　in　heaven　or　hell'
to　enter　the　Alamo　to…morrow。　　Senor　Navarro　says　he　is　raging
like　a　tiger；　and　that　none　of　his　officers　dare　approach　him。　
The　Senor　bade　me　tell　you　that　to…morrow　night　he　will　be
here　to　escort　you　to　Gonzales；　for　no　American　will　his　fury
spare；　he　knows　neither　sex　nor　age　in　his　passions。　　And　when
the　Alamo　falls；　the　soldiers　will　spread　themselves　around
for　plunder；　or　shelter；　and　this　empty　house　is　sure　to
attract　them。　　The　Senorita　sees　with　her　own　intelligence　how
things　must　take　place。〃

〃I　understand；　Captain。　　Will　you　go　with　us？〃

〃I　will　have　the　Jersey　wagon　ready　at　midnight。　　I　know　the
horses。　　Before　sun…up　we　shall　have　made　many　miles。〃

That　night　as　Antonia　and　her　sister　sat　in　the　dark　together；
Antonia　said：　　〃Isabel；　tomorrow　the　Alamo　will　fall。　　There
is　no　hope　for　the　poor；　brave　souls　there。　　Then　Santa　Anna
will　kill　every　American。〃

〃Oh；　dear　Antonia；　what　is　to　become　of　us？　　We　shall　have　no
home；　nothing　to　eat；　nowhere　to　sleep。　　I　think　we　shall　die。　
Also；　there　is　mi　madre。　　How　I　do　pity　her！〃

〃She　is　to　be　your　care；　Isabel。　　I　shall　rely　on　you　to
comfort　and　manage　her。　　I　will　attend　to　all　else。　　We　are
going　to　our　father；　and　Thomasand　Luis。〃

Yes；　and　after　all　I　am　very　tired　of　this　dreadful　life。　　It
is　a　kind　of　convent。　　One　is　buried　alive　here；　and　still　not
safe。　　Do　you　really　imagine　that　Luis　is　with　my　father　and
Thomas？〃

〃I　feel　sure　of　it。〃

〃What　a　great　enjoyment　it　will　be　for　me　to　see　him　again！〃

〃And　how　delighted　he　will　be！　　And　as　it　is　necessary　that　we
go；　Isabel；　we　must　make　the　best　of　the　necessity。　　Try　and
get　mi　madre　to　feel　this。〃

〃I　can　do　that　with　a　few　words；　and　tears；　and　kisses。　　Mi
madre　is　like　one's　good　angelvery　easy　to　persuade。〃

〃And　now　we　must　try　and　sleep；　queridita。〃

〃Are　you　sure　there　is　no　danger　to…night；　Antonia？〃

〃Not　to…night。　　Say　your　prayer；　and　sleep　in　God's　presence。　
There　is　yet　nothing　to　fear。　　Ortiz　and　Lopez　Navarro　are
watching　every　movement。〃

But　at　three　o'clock　in　the　morning；　the　quiet　of　their　rest
was　broken　by　sharp　bugle　calls。　　The　stars　were　yet　in　the
sky；　and　all　was　so　still　that　they　thrilled　the　air　like
something　unearthly。　　Antonia　started　up；　and　ran　to　the　roof。　
Bugle　was　answering　bugle；　and　their　tones　were　imperative　and
cruel；　as　if　they　were　blown　by　evil　spirits。　　It　was
impossible　to　avoid　the　feeling　that　the　call　was　a
PREDESTINED　summons；　full　of　the　notes　of　calamity。　　She
was　weighed　down　by　this　sorrowful　presentiment；　because；　as
yet；　neither　experience　nor　years　had　taught　her　that
PREDESTINED　ILLS　ARE　NEVER　LOST。

The　unseen　moving　multitudes　troubled　the　atmosphere　between
them。　　In　wild；　savage　gusts；　she　heard　the　military　bands
playing　the　infamous　Dequelo；　whose　notes　of　blood　and　fire
commingled；　shrieked　in　every　ear〃NO　QUARTER！　　NO
QUARTER！〃　　A　prolonged　shout；　the　booming　of　cannon；　an　awful
murmurous　tumult；　a　sense　of　horror；　of　crash　and　conflict；
answered　the　merciless；　frenzied　notes；　and　drowned　them　in
the　shrieks　and　curses　they　called　for。

It　was　yet　scarcely　dawn。　　Her　soul；　moved　by　influences　so
various　and　so　awful；　became　almost　rebellious。　　Why　did　God
permit　such　cruelties？　　Did　He　know？　　Would　He　allow　a　handful
of　men　to　be　overpowered　by　numbers？　　Being　omnipotent；　would
He　not　in　some　way；　at　least；　make　the　fight　equal？　　The
instinct　of　her　anglo…American　nature　revolted　at　the
unfairness　of　the　struggle。　　Even　her　ejaculations　to　heaven
were　in　this　spirit。　　〃It　is　so　unjust；〃　she　murmured；　〃surely　
the　Lord　of　Hosts　will　prevent　a　fight　which　must　be　a
massacre。〃

As　she　went　about　the　simple　preparations　for　their　breakfast；
she　wept　continuouslytears　of　indignation　and　sorrowtears
coming　from　the　strength　of　feeling；　rather　than　its　weakness。　
The　Senora　could　eat　nothing。　　Isabel　was　white　with　terror。　
They　wandered　from　window　to　window　in　the　last　extremity　of
anxiety。

About　seven　o'clock　they　saw　Ortiz　pass　the　house。　　There　were
so　many　people　on　the　road　he　could　not　find　an　opportunity　to
enter　for　some　time。　　He　had　been　in　the　city　all　night。　　He
had　watched　the　movement　of　the　troops　in　the　starlight。　　As
he　drank　a　cup　of　chocolate；　he　said：

〃It　was　just　three　o'clock；　Senorita；　when　the　Matamoras
battalion　was　moved　forward。　　General　Cos　supported　it　with
two　thousand　men。

〃But　General　Cos　was　paroled　by　these　same　Americans　who　are
now　in　the　Alamo；　and　his　life　was　spared　on　condition　that　he
would　not　bear　arms　against　them　again。〃

〃It　is　but　one　lie；　one　infamy　more。　　When　I　left　the　city；
about　four　thousand　men　were　attacking　the　Alamo。　　The
infantry；　in　columns；　were　driven　up　to　the　walls　by　the
cavalry　which　surrounded　them。〃

〃The　Americans！　　Is　there　any　hope　for　them？〃

〃The　mercy　of　God　remains；　Senorita。　　That　is　all。　　The　Alamo
is　not　as　the　everlasting　hills。　　What　men　have　made；　men　can
also　destroy。　　Senor　Navarro　is　in　the　church；　praying　for　the
souls　that　are　passing　every　moment。〃

〃He　ought　to　have　been　fighting。　　To　help　the　living　is　better
than　to　pray　for　the　dead。〃

Permit　me　to　assure　you；　Senorita　Antonia；　that　no　man　has
done　more　for　the　living。　　In　time　of　war；　there　must　be　many
kinds　of　soldiers。　　Senor　Navarro　has　given　nearly　all；　that
he　possesses　for　the　hope　of　freedom。　　He　has　done　secret
service　of　incalculable　value。〃

〃Secret　service！　　I　prefer　those　who　have　the　courage　of　their
convictions；　and　who；　stand　by　them　publicly。〃

〃This　is　to　be　considered；　Senorita；　the　man　who　can　be　silent
can　also　speak　when　the　day　for　speaking　arrives。〃　　No　one
opposed　this　statement。　　It　did　not　seem　worth　while　to
discuss　opinions；　while　the　terrible　facts　of　the
position　were　appealing　to　every　sense。

As　the　day　went　on；　the　conflict　evidently　became　closer　and
fiercer。　　Ortiz　went　back　to　the　city；　and　the　three　lonely
women　knelt　upon　the　house…top；　listening　in　terror　to　the
tumult　of　the　battle。　　About　noon　the　firing　ceased；　and　an
awful　silencea　silence　that　made　the　ears　ache　to　be
relieved　of　itfollowed。

〃All　is　over！〃　moaned　Antonia；　and　she　covered　her　face　with
her　hands　and　sobbed　bitterly。　　Isabel　had　already　exhausted
tears。　　The　Senora；　with　her　crucifix　in　her　hand；　was　praying
for　the　poor　unfortunates　dying　without　prayer。

During　the　afternoon；　smoke　and　flame；　and　strange　and
sickening　odors　were　blown　northward　of　the　city；　and　for　some
time　it　seemed　probable　that　a　great　conflagration　would
follow　the　battle。　　How　they　longed　for　some　one　to　come！　　The
utmost　of　their　calamity　would　be　better　than　the　intolerable
suspense。　　But　hour　after　hour　went　past；　and　not　even　Ortiz
arrived。　　They　began　to　fear　that　both　he　and　Navarro　had　been
discovered　in　some　disloyalty　and　slain；　and　Antonia　was
heartsick　when　she　considered　the　helplessness　of　their
situation。

Still；　in　accordance　with　Navarro's　instructions；　they　dressed
for　the　contemplated　journey；　and　sat　in　the　dark；　anxiously
listening　for　footsteps。　　About　eleven　o'clock　Navarro　and
Ortiz　came　together。　　Ortiz　went　for　the　horses；　and　Navarro
sat　down　beside；　the　Senora。　　She　asked　him；　in　a　low　voice；
what　had　taken　place；　and　he　answered：

〃Everything　dreadful；　everything　cruel；　and　monstrous；　and
inhuman！　　Among　the　angels　in　heaven　there　is　sorrow　and　anger
this　night。〃　　His　voice　had　in　it　all　the　pathos　of　tears；　but
tears　mingled　with　a　burning　indignation。

〃The　Alamo　has　fallen！〃

〃Senorita　Antonia；　I　would　give　my　soul　to　undo　this　day's
work。　　It　is　a　disgrace　to　Mexico　which　centuries　cannot　wipe
out。〃

〃The　Americans？〃

〃Are　all　with　the　Merciful　One。〃

〃Not　one　saved？〃

〃Not　one。〃

〃Impossible！〃

〃I　will　tell　you。　　It　is　right　to　tell　the　whole　world　such　an
infamy。　　If　I　had　little　children　I　would　take　them　on　my　knee
and　teach　them　the　story。　　I　heard　it　from　the　lips　of　one
wet…shod　with　their　blood；　dripping　crimson　from　the　battle
my　own　cousin；　Xavier。　　He　was　with　General　Castrillon's
division。　　They　began　their　attack　at　four　in　the　morning；　and
after　two　hours'　desperate　fighting　succeeded　in　reaching　a
courtyard　of　the　Alamo。

〃They　found　the　windows　and　doors　barricaded　with　bags　of
earth。　　Behind　these　the　Americans　fought　hand　to　hand　with
despairing　valor。　　Ram