remember the alamo-第34章

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whom　the　guns　missed　or　crippled；　were　dispatched　with　the
bayonet　or　lance。〃

〃You　escaped。　　How？〃

〃When　the　lips　of　the　officer　moved　to　give　the　order：　　Fire！　
I　fell　upon　my　face　as　if　dead。　　As　I　lay；　I　was　pierced　by　a
bayonet　through　the　shoulder；　but　I　made　no　sign　of　life。　
After　the　execution；　the　camp　followers　came　to　rob　the　dead。　
A　kind…hearted　Mexican　woman　helped　me　to　reach　the　river。　　I
found　a　horse　tied　there；　and　I　took　it。　　I　have　been　on　the
point　of　giving　up　life　several　times；　but　I　met　a　man　coming
here　with　the　news　to　Houston；　and　he　helped　me　to　hold　out。〃

The　doctor　was　trembling　with　grief　and　anger；　and　he　felt
Antonia's　hand　on　his　shoulder。


〃My　friend；〃　he　whispered；　〃did　you　know　JOHN　WORTH？〃

〃Who　did　not　know　him　in　Fannin's　camp？　　Any　of　us　would　have
been　glad　to　save　poor　Jack；　and　he　had　a　friend　who　refused
to　live　without　him。〃

〃Dare　Grant？〃

〃That　was　the　man；　young　lady。　　Grant　was　a　doctor；　and　the
Mexicans　wanted　doctors。　　They　offered　him　his　life　for　his
services；　but　he　would　not　have　it　unless　his　friend's　life
also　was　spared。　　They　were　shot　holding　each　other's　hands；
and　fell　together。　　I　was　watching　their　faces　at　the　moment。　
There　wasn't　a　bit　of　fear　in　them。〃

The　Senora　rose；　and　came　as　swiftly　as　a　spirit　to　them。　　She
looked　like　a　woman　walking　in　her　sleep。　　She　touched　the
stranger。　　〃I　heard　you。　　You　saw　Dare　Grant　die。　　But　my　boy！　
My　boy！　　Where　is　my　Juan？〃

〃Maria；　darling。〃

〃Don't　speak；　Roberto。　　Where　is　my　Juan？　　Juan　Worth？〃

〃Madam。　　I　am　sorry　enough；　God　knows。　　Juan　Worthwas　shot。〃

Then　the　wretched　mother　threw　up　her　hands；　and　with　an
awful　cry　fell　to　the　ground。　　It　was　hours　ere　she　recovered
consciousness；　and　consciousness　only　restored　her　to　misery。

The　distress　of　the　father；　the　brother　and　sisters　of　the
dead　youth　was　submerged　in　the　speechless　despair　of　the
mother。　　She　could　not　swallow　food；　she　turned　away　from　the
the｛sic｝　sympathy　of　all　who　loved　her。　　Even　Isabel's
caresses　were　received　with　an　apathy　which　was　terrifying。　
With　the　severed　curl　of　her　boy's　hair　in　her　fingers；　she
sat　in　tearless；　voiceless　anguish。

Poor　Antonia；　weighed　down　with　the　double　loss　that　had　come
to　her；　felt；　for　the　first　time；　as　if　their　condition　was
utterly　hopeless。　　The　mental　picture　of　her　brother　and　her
lover　meeting　their　tragic　death　hand　in　hand；　their　youth　and
beauty；　their　courage　and　fidelity；　was　constantly　before　her。　
With　all　the　purity　and　strength　of　her　true　heart；　she　loved
Dare；　but　she　did　not　for　a　moment　wish　that　he　had　taken　a
different　course。　　〃It　is　just　what　I　should　have　expected
from　him；〃　she　said　to　Isabel。　　〃If　he　had　let　poor　Jack　die
alone；　I　could　never　have　loved　him　in　the　same　way
again。　　But　oh；　Isabel；　how　miserable　I　am？〃

〃Sweet　Antonia；　I　can　only　weep　with　you。　　Think　of　this；　it
was　on　last　Sunday　morning。　　Do　you　remember　how　sad　you
were？〃

〃I　was　in　what　seemed　to　be　an　unreasonable　distress。　　I　went
away　to　weep。　　My　very　thoughts　were　tired　with　their
sorrowful　journeys　up　and　down　my　mind；　trying　to　find　out
hope　and　only　meeting　despair。　　Oh；　my　brave　Jack！　　Oh；　my
dear　Dare；　what　a　cruel　fate　was　your's！〃

〃And　mi　madre；　Antonia？　　I　fear；　indeed；　that　she　will　lose
her　senses。　　She　will　not　speak　to　Thomas；　nor　even　to　me。　
She　has　not　said　a　prayer　since　Jack's　death。　　She　cannot
sleep。　　I　am　afraid　of　her；　Antonia。〃

〃To…night　we　are　to　move　further　east；　perhaps　the　journey　may
waken　her　out　of　this　trance　of　grief。　　I　can　see　that　our
father　is　wretched　about　her；　and　Thomas　wanders　in　and　out　of
the　room　as　if　his　heart　was　broken。〃

〃Thomas　loved　Jack。　　Luis　told　me　that　he　sat　with　him　and
Lopez；　and　that　he　sobbed　like　a　woman。　　But；　also；　he　means
a　great　revenge。　　None　of　the　men　slept　last　night。　　They
stood　by　the　camp…fires　talking。　　Sometimes　I　went　to　the　door
and　looked　out。　　How　awful　they　were　in　the　blaze　and
darkness！　　I　think；　indeed；　they　could　have　conquered　Santa
Anna　very　easily。〃

Isabel　had　not　misjudged　the　spirit　of　the　camp。　　The　news　of
the　massacre　at　Goliad　was　answered　by　a　call　for　vengeance
that　nothing　but　vengeance　could　satisfy。　　On　the　following
day　Houston　addressed　his　little　army。　　He　reminded　them　that
they　were　the　children　of　the　heroes　who　fought　for　liberty　at
Yorktown；　and　Saratoga；　and　Bunker　Hill。　　He　made　a　soul…
stirring　review　of　the　events　that　had　passed；　he　explained　to
them　their　situation；　and　the　designs　of　the　enemy；　and　how　he
proposed　to　meet　them。

His　voice；　loud　as　a　trumpet　with　a　silver　sound；　inspired　all
who　heard　it　with　courage。　　His　large；　bright　visage；　serious
but　hopeful；　seemed　to　sun　the　camp。　　〃They　live　too　long；〃　he
cried；　〃who　outlive　freedom。　　And　I　promise　you　that　you　shall
have　a　full　cup　of　vengeance。　　For　every　man　that　fell
fighting　at　the　Alamo；　for　every　one　treacherously
slaughtered　at　Goliad；　you　shall　be　satisfied。　　If　I　seem
to　be　flying　before　the　enemy　now；　it　is　for　his　destruction。　
Three　Mexican　armies　united；　we　cannot　fight。　　We　can　fight
them　singly。　　And　every　mile　we　make　them　follow　us　weakens
them；　separates　them；　confuses　them。　　The　low　lands　of　the
Brazos；　the　unfordable　streams；　the　morasses；　the　pathless
woods；　are　in　league　with　us。　　And　we　must　place　our　women　and
children　in　safety。　　Even　if　we　have　to　carry　them　to　General
Gaines　and　the　United　States　troops；　we　must　protect　them；
first　of　all。　　I　believe　that　we　shall　win　our　freedom　with
our　own　hands；　but　if　the　worst　come；　and　we　have　to　fall　back
to　the　Sabine；　we　shall　find　friends　and　backers　there。　　I
know　President　Jackson；　my　old　general；　the　unconquered
Christian　Mars！　　Do　you　think　he　will　desert　his　countrymen？　
Never！　　If　we　should　need　help；　he　has　provided　it。　　And　the
freedom　of　Texas　is　sure　and　certain。　　It　is　at　hand。　　Prepare
to　achieve　it。　　We　shall　take　up　our　march　eastward　in　three
hours。〃

Ringing　shouts　answered　the　summons。　　The　camp　was　in　a　tumult
of　preparation　immediately；　Houston　was　lending　his　great
physical　strength　to　the　mechanical　difficulties　to　be
encountered。　　A　crowd　of　men　was　around。　　Suddenly　a　woman
touched　him　on　the　arm；　and　he　straightened　himself　and　looked
at　her。

〃You　will　kill　Santa　Anna；　General？　　You　will　kill　this　fiend
who　has　escaped　from　hell！　　By　the　mother　of　Christ；　I　ask
it。〃

〃My　dear　madam！〃

He　was　so　moved　with　pity　that　he　could　not　for　a　moment　or
two　give　her　any　stronger　assurance。　　For　this　suppliant；
pallid　and　frenzied　with　sorrow；　was　the　once　beautiful　Senora
Worth。　　He　looked　at　her　hollow　eyes；　and　shrunk　form；　and
worn　clothing；　and　remembered　with　a　pang；　the　lovely；
gracious　lady　clad　in　satin　and　lace；　with　a　jewelled　comb　in
her　fine　hair　and　a　jewelled　fan　in　her　beautiful　hands；　and
a　wave　of　pity　and　anger　passed　like　a　flame　over　his　face。

〃By　the　memory　of　my　own　dear　mother；　Senora；　I　will　make
Santa　Anna　pay　the　full　price　of　his　cruelties。〃

〃Thank　you；　Senor〃；　and　she　glided　away　with　her　tearless　eyes
fixed　upon　the　curl　of　black　hair　in　her　open　palm。




CHAPTER　XVI。

THE　LOADSTONE　IN　THE　BREAST。

　　　　　　　　　〃But　to　the　hero；　when　his　sword
　　　　　　　　　　Has　won　the　battle　for　the　free；
　　　　　　　　　　Thy　voice　sounds　like　a　prophet's　word；
　　　　　　　　　　And　in　its　hollow　tones　are　heard。
　　　　　　　　　　The　thanks　of　millions　yet　to　be；〃

　　　　　　　　　〃Who　battled　for　the　true　and　just；

　　　　　　　　　〃And　grasps　the　skirts　of　happy　chance；
　　　　　　　　　　And　breasts　the　blows　of　circumstance。

　　　　　　　　　〃And　lives　to　clutch　the　golden　keys；
　　　　　　　　　　To　mould　a　mighty　state's　decrees。〃

The　memorial　of　wrongs；　which　resulted　in　the　Declaration　of
Texan　Independence；　was　drawn　up　with　statesmanlike　ability　by
David　G。　Burnett；　a　native　of　New　Jersey；　a　man　of　great
learning；　dignity；　and　experience；　who；　as　early　as　1806；
sailed　from　New　York　to　join　Miranda　in　his　effort　to　give
Spanish　America　liberty。　　The　paper　need　not　be　quoted　here。　
It　gave　the　greatest　prominence　to　the　refusal　of
trial　by　jury；　the　failure　too　establish　a　system　of　public
education；　the　tyranny　of　military　law；　the　demand　that　the
colonists　should　give　up　arms　necessary　for　their　protection
or　their　sustenance；　the　inciting　of　the　Indians　to　massacre
the　American　settlers；　and　the　refusal　of　the　right　to　worship
the　Almighty　according　to　the　dictates　of　their　own
consciences。　　Burnett　was　elected　Governor；　and　Houston　felt
that　he　could　now　give　his　whole　attention　to　military
affairs。

The　seat　of　Government　was　removed　to　Harrisburg；　a　small
place　on　the　Buffalo　Bayou；　and　Houston　was　sure　that　this
change　would　cause　Santa　Anna　to　diverge　from　his　route　to
Nacogdoches。　　He　dispatched　orders　to　the　men　scattered　up　and
down　the　Brazos　from　Washington　to　Fort　Benda　distance　of
eighty　milesto　join　him　on　the　march　to　Harrisburg；　and　he
struck　his　own　camp　at　the　time　he　had　specified。

In　less　than　twenty…four　hours　they　reached　San　Felipe；　a
distance　of　twenty…eight　miles。　　The　suffering　of　the　women
and　children　on　that　march　can　never　be　told。　　Acts　of　heroism
on　the　part　of　the　men　and　of　fortitude　on　the　part　of
the　women　that　are　almost　incredible；　marked　every　step　of　the
way。　　The　Senora　sat　in　her　wagon；　speechless；　and　lost　in　a
maze　of　melancholy　anguish。　　She　did　not　seem　to　heed　want；　or
cold；　or　wet；　or　the　utter　misery　of　her　surroundings。　　Her
soul　had　concentrated　all　its　consciousness　upon　the　strand　of
hair　she　continually　smoothed　through　her　fingers。　　Dr。　Worth；
in　his　capacity　of　physician；　accompanied　the　flying　families；
and　he　was　thus　able　to　pay　some　attention　to　his　distraught
wife；　but　she　answered　nothing　he　said　to　her。　　If　she　looked
at　him；　her　eyes　either　flamed　with　anger；　or　expressed
something　of　the　terror　to　be　seen　in　the　eyes　of　a　hunted
animal。　　It　was　evident　that　her　childish　intelligence　had
seized　upon　him　as　the　most　obvious　cause　of　all　her　loss　and
misery。

The　condition　of　a　wife　so　beloved　almost　broke　his　heart。　
The　tragic　death　of　his　dear　son　was　not　so　hard　to　endure　as
this　living　woe　at　his　side。　　And　when　they　reached　San　Felipe
and　found　it　in　ashes；　a　bitter　cry　of　hopeless　suffering　came
from　every　woman's　lips。　　They　had　thought　to　find　there　a
little　food；　and　a　day's　sheltered　resting…place。　　Even
Antonia's　brave　soul　fainted；　at　the　want　and　suffering　around
her。　　She　had　gold；　but　it　could　not　buy　bread　for　the　little
ones；　weeping　with　hunger　and　terrified　by　the　fretfulness　of
mothers　suffering　the　pangs　of　want　and　in　the　last　stage　of
human　weariness。

It　was　on　this　night　Houston　wrote：　　〃I　will　do　the　best　I
can；　but　be　assured　the　fame　of　Jackson　could　never　compensate
me　for　my　anxiety　and　mental　pain。〃　　And　yet；　when　he　was　told
that　a　blind　woman　and　her　seven　children　had　been　passed　by；
and　did　not　know　the　enemy　were　approaching；　he　delayed　the
march　until　men　had　been　sent　back　to　bring　them　into　safety。

During　these　days　of　grief　and　privation　Isabel's　nature　grew
to　its　finest　proportions。　　Her　patient　efforts　to　arouse　her
mother；　and　her　cheerfulness　under　th