remember the alamo-第36章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


‘TOMORROW　YOU　SHALL　HEAR　FROM　US。'　　Now　I　am　happy。　　There
are　words　in　my　heart；　but　I　cannot　explain　them　to　you。　　I
know　what　they　mean。　　I　will　weep　no　more。　　They　put　my　Juan's
body　in　the　grave；　but　they　have　not　buried　HIM。〃

All　day　she　was　silent　and　full　of　thought；　but　her　face　was
smiling　and　hopeful；　and　she　had　the　air　of　one　waiting　for
some　assured　happiness。　　About　three　o'clock　in　the
afternoon　she　stood　up　quickly　and　cried；　〃Hark！　the　battle
has　begun！〃　　Every　one　listened　intently；　and　after　a　short
pause　the　oldest　of　the　guides　nodded。　　〃I'd　give　the　rest　of
my　life　to　be　young　again；〃　he　said；　〃just　for　three　hours　to
be　young；　and　behind　Houston！〃

〃TO…MORROW　WE　SHALL　HEAR。〃

The　words　fell　from　the　Senora's　lips　with　a　singular
significance。　　Her　face　and　voice　were　the　face　and　voice　of
some　glad　diviner；　triumphantly　carrying　her　own　augury。　
Under　a　little　grove　of　trees　she　walked　until　sunset；　passing
the　beads　of　her　rosary　through　her　fingers；　and　mechanically
whispering　the　prayers　appointed。　　The　act　undoubtedly　quieted
her；　but　Antonia　knew　that　she　lay　awake　all　night；　praying
for　the　living　or　the　dead。

About　ten　o'clock　of　the　morning　of　the　22d；　a　horseman　was
seen　coming　toward　the　camp　at　full　speed。　　Women　and　children
stood　breathlessly　waiting　his　approach。　　No　one　could　speak。　
If　a　child　moved；　the　movement　was　angrily　reproved。　　The
tension　was　too　great　to　admit　of　a　touch　through　any
sense。　　Some；　unable　to　bear　the　extended　strain；　sank　upon
the　ground　and　covered　their　faces　with　their　hands。　　But　the
half…grown　children；　wan　with　privations　and　fever；　ragged　and
barefoot；　watched　steadily　the　horse　and　its　rider；　their
round；　gleaming　eyes　full　of　wonder　and　fear。

〃It　is　Thomas；〃　said　the　Senora。

As　he　came　near；　and　the　beat　of　the　horse's　hoofs　could　be
heard；　a　cry　almost　inarticulate；　not　to　be　described；　shrill
and　agonizing　in　its　intensity；　broke　simultaneously　from　the
anxious　women。　　It　was　one　cry　from　many　hearts；　all　at　the
last　point　of　endurance。　　Thomas　Worth　understood　it。　　He
flung　his　hat　up；　and　answered　with　a　joyful　〃Hurrah！〃

When　he　reached　the　camp；　every　face　was　wet　with　tears；　and
a　crowd　of　faces　was　instantly　round　him。　　All　the　agonies　of
war　were　on　them。　　He　raised　himself　in　his　stirrups　and
shouted　out：

〃You　may　all　go　back　to　your　homes！　　Santa　Anna　is　completely
overthrown！　　The　Mexican　army　is　destroyed！　　There　will　be　no
more　fighting；　no　more　fears。　　The　independence　of　Texas
is　won！　　No　matter　where　you　come　from；　YOU　ARE　ALL　TEXANS
NOW！　　Victory！　　Freedom！　　Peace！　　My　dear　friends；　go　back　to
your　homes。　　Your　husbands　will　join　you　at　the　San　Jacinto。〃

Then　he　dismounted　and　sought　his　mother　and　sisters。　　With
joyful　amazement　he　recognized　the　change　in　the　Senora。　　〃You
look　like　yourself；　dear　mother；〃　he　said。　　〃Father　sends　you
this　kiss。　　He　would　have　brought　it；　but　there　are　a　few
wounded　men　to　look　after；　and　also　I　can　ride　quicker。　
Antonia；　cheer　up　my　dear！and　Isabel；　little　darling；　you
will　not　need　to　cry　any　more　for　your　ribbons；　and　mantillas；
and　pretty　dresses。〃

〃Thomas！　　You　have　not　much　feeling；　I　think。　　What　I　want　to
know　about；　is　Luis。　　You　think　of　no　one；　and；　as　for　my
dresses；　and　mantillas；　I　dare　say　Fray　Ignatius　has　sold；　or
burned　them。〃

〃Queridita！　　Was　I　cruel？　　Luis　is　well。　　He　has　not　a
scratch。　　He　was　in　the　front　of　the　battle；　too。〃

〃THAT；　of　course。　　Would　you　imagine　that　Luis　would　be　at
the　rear？　　He　is　General　Houston's　friend；　and　one　lion
knows　another　lion。〃

〃Pretty　one；　do　not　be　angry　with　me。　　I　will　tell　you　some
good　news。　　Luis　is　coming　here；　unless　you　go　back　at　once
with　me。〃

〃We　will　go　back　with　you；　Thomas。　　I　am　full　of　impatience。　
I　remember　my　dear　home。　　I　will　go　to　it；　like　a　bird　to　its
nest。〃

In　half　an　hour　they　had　turned　the　heads　of　their　horses
westward　again。　　They　went　so　rapidly；　and　were　under　so　much
excitement；　that　sustained　conversation　was　impossible。　　And
the　Senora　also　fell　into　a　sound　sleep　as　soon　as　the　first
homeward　steps　had　been　taken。　　Whatever　had　been　made　known
to　her　by　Juan　had　received　its　fulfilment。　　She　was　assured
and　happy。　　She　slept　till　they　reached　the　victorious　camp；
and　her　husband　awakened　her　with　a　kiss。　　She　answered　him
with　her　old　childish　impulsiveness。　　And　among　the　first
words　she　said；　were〃　　〃Roberto；　my　beloved；　I　have　seen
Juan。〃

He　believed　her。　　To　his　reverent　soul　there　was　nothing
incredible　in　the　statement。　　The　tie　between　a　mother　and　her
child　is　not　broken　by　death。　　Was　it　unlikely；　then；
that　Juan　should　have　been　conscious　of；　and　touched　by；　the
mental　agony　which　his　untimely　death　had　caused　a　mother　so
beloved？

And　oh！　how　different　was　the　return　to　the　ground　west　of　the
Buffalo　Bayou。　　The　very　atmosphere　was　changed。　　A　day　or　two
of　spring　had　brought　out　the　flowers　and　unfolded　every　green
thing。　　Doctor　Worth　took　his　family　to　a　fine　Mexican
marquee；　and　among　other　comforts　the　Senora　found　there　the
chocolate　she　had　so　long　craved；　and　some　cigaritos　of　most
delicate　flavor。

In　a　short　time　a　luxurious　meal　was　prepared　by　Antonia；　and
just　as　they　were　sitting　down　to　it；　Luis　and　Lopez　entered
the　tent　together。　　Isabel　had　expected　the　visit　and　prepared
for　it　as　far　as　her　limited　wardrobe　permitted。　　And　her　fine
hair；　and　bright　eyes；　her　perfect　face　and　form；　and　the
charming　innocence　of　her　manners；　adorned　her　as　the　color
and　perfume　of　the　rose　make　the　beauty　of　the　flower。　　She
was　so　lovely　that　she　could　dare　to　banter　Luis　on　the
splendor　of　his　attire。

〃It　is　evident；　mi　madre；　that　Luis　has　found　at　least
the　baggage　of　a　major…general。　　Such　velvet　and　silver
embroidery！　Such　a　silk　sash！　　They　are　fit　at　the
very　least　for　a　sultan　of　the　Turks。〃

He　came　to　her　crowned　with　victory。　　Like　a　hero　he　came；　and
like　a　lover。　　They　had　a　thousand　pretty　things　to　say　to
each　other；　and　a　thousand　blissful　plans　in　prospect。　　Life
to　them　had　never　before　been　so　well　worth　living。

Indeed；　a　wonderful　exaltation　possessed　both　Luis　and　Lopez。　
The　sombre；　handsome　face　of　the　latter　was　transfigured　by
it。　　He　kissed　the　hand　of　the　Senora；　and　then　turned
to　Antonia。　　Her　pallor　and　emaciation　shocked　him。　　He　could
only　murmur；　〃Senorita！〃　　But　she　saw　the　surprise；　the
sorrow；　the　sympathy；　yes；　the　adoring　love　in　his　heart；　and
she　was　thankful　to　him　for　the　reticence　that　relieved　her
from　special　attention。

Doctor　Worth　made　room　for　Lopez　beside　him。　　Luis　sat　by
Isabel；　upon　a　pile　of　splendid　military　saddle…cloths。　　As
she　sipped　her　chocolate；　he　smoked　his　cigarito　in　a　lazy
fashion；　and　gave　himself　up　with　delight　to　that
foolishness　of　love…making　which　is　often　far　wiser　than　the
very　words　of　wisdom。

As　yet　the　ladies　had　not　spoken　of　the　battle。　　It　was　won。　
That　great　fact　had　been　as　much　as　they　could　bear　at　first。　
The　Senora　wanted　to　sleep。　　Isabel　wanted　to　see　Luis。　　Only

Antonia　was　anxious　for　the　details；　and　she　had　been　busy　in
preparing　the　respectable　meal　which　her　mother　had　so　long
craved。　　The　apparent　indifference　was　natural　enough。　　The
assurance　of　good　fortune　is　always　sufficient　for　the　first
stage　of　reaction　from　anxiety。　　When　the　most　urgent　personal
feelings　have　been　satisfied；　then　comes　the　demand　for　detail
and　discussion。　　So　now；　as　they　sat　together；　the　Senora
said：

〃No　one　has　told　me　anything　about　the　battle。　　Were　you
present；　Roberto？〃

〃I　had　that　great　honor；　Maria。　　Lopez　and　Luis　were　with　the
cavalry；　and　Ortiz　also　has　had　some　satisfaction　for　all　his
wrongs。〃

〃Very　good！　　But　I　am　impatient　for　the　story；　so　is　Antonia；
and　as　for　Isabelbah！　the　little　one　is　listening　to　another
story。　　One　must　excuse　her。　　We　expected　the　battle　on　the
twentieth；　but　no！〃

〃The　enemy　were　expecting　it　also；　and　were　in　high　spirits
and　perfect　preparation。　　Houston　thought　it　prudent　to　dash
their　enthusiasm　by　uncertainty　and　waiting。　　But　at　dawn；　on
the　twenty…first；　we　heard　the　three　taps　of　the　drum；　and
seven　hundred　soldiers　sprang　to　their　feet　as　one　man。　
Houston　had　been　watching　all　night。　　He　spoke　to　us　with　a
tongue　of　fire　and　then；　while　we　cooked　and　ate　our
breakfast；　he　lay　down　and　slept。　　The　sun　came　up　without　a
cloud；　and　shone　brightly　on　his　face。　　He　sprang　to　his　feet
and　said　to　Burleson；　as　he　saluted　him：　　‘The　sun　of
Austerlitz　has　risen　again。'

〃Some　one　brought　him　a　piece　of　cornbread　and　broiled　beef。　
He　sat　upon　the　grass　and　ate　itor　rather　upon　the　blue
hyacinths　that　covered　the　grass；　they　are　red　now。　　For　many
weeks　I　had　not　seen　his　countenance　so　bright；　all　traces　of
trouble　and　anxiety　were　gone。　　He　called　Deaf　Smiththe
scout　of　scoutsand　quickly　ordered　him　to　cut　down　the　only
bridge　across　the　bayou。

〃At　nine　o'clock；　General　Cos　joined　Santa　Anna　with　five
hundred　and　forty　men；　and　for　a　moment　I　thought　we　had
made　a　mistake　in　not　attacking　the　enemy　before　his
reinforcements　came　up。　　But　the　knowledge　that　Cos　was
present；　raised　enthusiasm　to　the　highest　pitch。　　Our　troops
remembered　his　parole　at　the　Alamo；　and　the　shameful　manner　in
which　he　had　broken　it；　and　there　was　not　a　man　who　did　not
long　to　kill　him　for　it。

〃About　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　Houston　ordered　the
attack。　　The　seven　hundred　Americans　were　divided　into　three
bodies。　　I　saw　Houston　in　the　very　centre　of　the　line；　and　I
have　a　confused　memory　of　Milard　and　Lamar；　Burleson　and
Sherman　and　Wharton；　in　front　of　their　divisions。〃

〃Were　the　Mexicans　expecting　the　attack；　father？〃

〃They　were　in　perfect　order；　Antonia；　and　when　Sherman　shouted
the　battle…cry：　　‘REMEMBER　THE　ALAMO！　　GOLIAD　AND　THE
ALAMO！'　it　was　taken　up　by　the　whole　seven　hundred；　and　such
a　shout　of　vengeance　mortal　ears　never　heard　before。　　The　air
was　full　of　it；　and　it　appeared　to　be　echoed　and　repeated　by
innumerable　voices。

〃With　this　shout　on　our　lips；　we　advanced　to　within　sixty
paces　of　the　Mexican　lines；　and　then　a　storm　of　bullets　went
flying　over　our　heads。　　One　ball；　however；　shattered　Houston's
ankle；　and　another　struck　his　horse　in　the　breast。　　But　both
man　and　horse　were　of　the　finest　metal；　and　they　pressed　on
regardless　of　their　wounds。　　We　did　not　answer　the　volley
until　we　poured　our　lead　into　their　very　bosoms。　　No　time　for
reloading　then。　　We　clubbed　our　rifles　till　they　broke；　flung
them　away　and　fired　our　pistols　in　the　eyes　of　the　enemy；
then；　nothing　else　remaining；　took　our　bowie…knives　from　our
belts　and　cut　our　way　through　the　walls　of　living　flesh。〃

Lopez　rose　at　the　words。　　It　was　impossible　for　him　to　express
himself　sufficiently　in　an　attitude　of　repose。　　His　eyes
glowed　like　fire；　his　dark　face　was　like　a　flame；　he　threw　up
his　hands　as　he　cried：

〃Nothing　comparable　to　that　charge　with　knives　was　ever　made
on　earth！　　If　I　had　seen　through　the　smoke　and　vapor　the
mighty　shade　of　Bowie　leading　it；　I　should　not　have　been
surprised。〃

〃Perhaps　indeed；　he　did　lead　it；〃　said　the　Senora；　in　a　solemn
voice。　　〃I　saw　yes；　by