remember the alamo-第46节

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Goliad　our　men　surrendered。　　They　were　promised　safe…conduct
out　of　Texas。　　The　massacre　at　Goliad　was　a　ferocious　crime。'

〃‘It　was　precisely　the　same　thing　as　the　wholesale　murder　of
Turkish　prisoners　at　Jaffa　by　the　great　Napoleon。　　Also　I　had
the　positive　orders　of　my　government　to　slay　all　Americans
found　with　arms。'

〃‘These　men　had　given　up　their　arms。'

〃‘All　Americansmy　government　said　so。'

〃‘Sir！　YOU　are　the　government　of　Mexico。　　You　obeyed　your
own　orders。'

〃‘You　will　at　least　allow　that；　in　the　eyes　of　recognized
nations；　your　army　was　but　a　band　of　desperadoes；　without
government；　and　fighting　under　no　flag。'

〃‘Sir；　you　show　a　convenient　ignorance。　　We　have　a　government；
and　as　soon　as　we　can　lay　down　our　rifles；　we　shall　probably
be　able　to　make　a　flag。　　I　say　to　you；　President　Santa　Anna；
that　the　butchery　at　Goliad　was　without　an　excuse　and　without
a　parallel　in　civilized　warfare。　　The　men　had　capitulated　to
General　Urrea。'

〃‘Urrea　had　no　right　to　receive　their　capitulation。'　　Then　his
mild；　handsome　face　became　in　a　moment　malicious　and　tigerish；
and　he　said　with　a　cruel　emphasis：　　‘If　I　ever　get　Urrea　into
my　hands；　I　will　execute　him！　　I　perceive；　however；　that　I
have　never　understood　the　American　character。　　For　the　few
thousands　in　the　country；　I　thought　my　army　an　overwhelming
one。　　I　underestimated　their　ability。'

〃‘I　tell　you；　sir；　an　army　of　millions　would　be　too　small　to
enslave　ten　thousand　free…born　anglo…Americans。　　Liberty　is
our　birthright。　　We　have　marched　four　days　on　an　ear　or　two　of
dry　corn；　and　then　fought　a　battle　after　it'；　and　Houston　drew
from　his　pocket　an　ear；　partially　consumed；　which　had
been　his　ration。　　‘We　have　had　no　tents；　no　music；　no
uniforms；　no　flag；　nothing　to　stimulate　us　but　the
determination　to　submit　to　no　wrong；　and　to　have　every　one　of
our　rights。'

〃Then　he　turned　to　Rusk　and　Sherman；　and　called　a　military
counsel　about　the　prisoner；　who　was　placed　in　an　adjoining
tent　under　a　sufficient　guard。　　But　the　excitement　is　intense；
and　the　wretch　is　suffering；　undoubtedly；　all　the　mortal
terrors　of　being　torn　to　pieces　by　an　infuriated　soldiery。　
Houston　will　have　to　speak　to　them。　　They　will　be　influenced
by　no　other　man。〃

The　discussion　upon　this　event　lasted　until　midnight。　　But　the
ladies　retired　to　their　own　tent　much　earlier。　　They　knelt
together　in　grateful　prayer；　and　then　kissed　each　other　upon
their　knees。　　It　was　so　sweet　to　lie　down　once　more　in　safety；
to　have　the　luxury　of　a　tent；　and　a　mattress；　and　pillow。

〃Blessed　be　the　hand　of　God！　my　children；〃　said　the　Senora；
〃and　may　the　angels　give　us　in　our　dreams　grateful　thoughts。〃

And　then；　in　the　dark；　Isabel　nestled　her　head　in　her　sister's
breast；　and　whispered：　　〃Forgive　me　for　being　happy；
sweet　Antonia。　　Indeed；　when　I　smiled　on　Luis；　I　was　often
thinking　of　you。　　In　my　joy　and　triumph　and　love；　I　do　not
forget　that　one　great　awful　grave　at　Goliad。　　But　a　woman　must
hide　so　many　things；　do　you　comprehend　me；　Antonia？〃

〃Querdita；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　comprehend　all。　　God　has　done
right。　　If　His　angel　had　said　to　me；　‘One　must　be　taken　and
the　other　left；'　I　should　have　prayed；　‘Spare　then　my　little
sister　all　sorrow。'　　Good…night；　my　darling〃；　but　as　their
lips　met；　Isabel　felt　upon　her　cheeks　the　bitter　rain　which　is
the　price　of　accepted　sacrifice；　the　rain；　which　afterwards
makes　the　heart　soft；　and　fresh；　and　responsive　to　all　the
airs　of　God。

At　the　same　moment；　the　white　curtains　of　the　marquee；　in
which　the　doctor　sat　talking　with　his　son　and　Luis　and　Lopez；
were　opened；　and　the　face　of　Ortiz　showed　brown　and　glowing
between　them。

〃Senors；〃　he　said；　as　he　advanced　to　them；　〃I　am　satisfied。　　I
have　been　appointed　on　the　guard　over　Santa　Anna。　　He　has
recognized　me。　　He　has　to　obey　my　orders。　　Will　you　think　of
that？〃　　Then　taking　the　doctor's　hand　he　raised　it　to　his　lips。　
〃Senor；　I　owe　this　satisfaction　to　you。　　You　have　made　me　my
triumph。　　How　shall　I　repay　you？〃

〃By　being　merciful　in　the　day　of　your　power；　Ortiz。〃

〃I　assure　you　that　I　am　not　so　presumptuous；　Senor。　　Mercy　is
the　right　of　the　Divinity。　　It　is　beyond　my　capacity。　　Besides
which；　it　is　not　likely　the　Divinity　will　trouble　himself
about　Santa　Anna。　　I　have；　therefore；　to　obey　the　orders　of
the　great；　the　illustrious　Houston；　which　are；　to　prevent　his
escape　at　all　risks。　　May　St。　James　give　me　the　opportunity；
Senors！　　In　this　happy　hour；　a　Dios！〃

Then　Lopez　bent　forward；　and　with　a　smile　touched　the　doctor's
hand。　　〃Will　you　now　remember　the　words　I　said　of　Houston？　
Did　I　not　tell　you；　that　success　was　with　him？　that　on　his
brow　was　the　line　of　fortune？　that　he　was　the　loadstone　in　the
breast　of　freedom？



CHAPTER　XVII。

HOME　AGAIN。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Where'er　we　roam；
　　　　　　　　　Our　first；　best　country　ever　is　at　home。〃

　　　　　　　　　〃What　constitutes　a　state？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Men　who　their　duties　know；
　　　　　　　　　　But　know　their　rights；　and　knowing；　dare　maintain。

　　　　　　　　　〃And　sovereign　law；　that　states　collected　will
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　O'er　thrones　and　globes　elate；
　　　　　　　　　　Sits　empress；　crowning　good；　repressing　ill。

　　　　　　　　　〃This　hand　to　tyrants　ever　sworn　a　foe；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　For　freedom　only　deals　the　deadly　blow；
　　　　　　　　　　Then　sheathes　in　calm　repose　the　vengeful　blade；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　For　gentle　peace；　in　freedom's　hallowed　shade。〃


The　vicinity　of　a　great　battle…field　is　a　dreadful　place　after
the　lapse　of　a　day　or　two。　　The　bayou　and　the　morass　had
provided　sepulture　for　hundreds　of　slain　Mexicans；　but
hundreds　still　lay　upon　the　open　prairie。　　Over　it；　birds　of
prey　hung　in　dark　clouds；　heavy…winged；　sad；　sombre；　and
silent。　　Nothing　disturbed　them。　　They　took　no　heed
of　the　living。　　Armed　with　invincible　talons　and　beaks　tipped
with　iron；　they　carried　on　ceaselessly　that　automatic
gluttony；　which　made　them　beneficent　crucibles　of　living　fire；
for　all　which　would　otherwise　have　corrupted　the　higher　life。　
And　yet；　though　innocent　as　the　elements；　they　were　odious　in
the　sight　of　all。

Before　daylight　in　the　morning　the　Senora　and　her　daughters
were　ready　to　begin　their　homeward　journey。　　The　doctor　could
not　accompany　them；　General　Houston　and　the　wounded　Americans
being　dependent　largely　upon　his　care　and　skill。　　But　Luis
Alveda　and　Lopez　Navarro　received　an　unlimited　furlough；　and
about　a　dozen　Mexican　prisoners　of　war　belonging　to　San
Antonio　were　released　on　Navarro's　assurance；　and　permitted　to
travel　with　the　party　as　camp　servants。　　It　was　likely；　also；
that　they　would　be　joined　by　a　great　many　of　the　families　who
had　accompanied　the　great　flight；　for；　on　the　preceding
evening；　Houston　had　addressed　the　army；　and　told　the
householders　and　farmers　to　go　home　and　plant　their　corn。

Full　of　happiness；　the　ladies　prepared　for　their　journey。　
A　good　army　wagon；　drawn　by　eight　mules；　and　another　wagon；
containing　two　tents　and　everything　necessary　for　a
comfortable　journey；　was　waiting　for　them。　　The　doctor　bid
them　good…by　with　smiles　and　cheerful　promises。　　They　were
going　home。　　The　war　was　over。　　Independence　was　won。　　They
had　the　hope　of　permanent　peace。　　The　weather　also　was　as　the
weather　may　be　among　the　fields　of　Eden。　　The　heavens　were
cloudless；　the　air　sweet　and　fresh；　and　the　wild　honeysuckles；
with　their　spread　hands　full　of　scent；　perfumed　the　prairies
mile　after　mile。　　The　mules　went　knee…deep　through　warm
grasses；　the　grasses　were　like　waving　rainbows；　with　the
myriads　of　brightly　tinted　flowers。

Even　Lopez　was　radiantly　happy。　　Most　unusual　smiles　lighted
up　his　handsome　face；　and　he　jingled　the　silver　ornaments　on
his　bridle　pleasantly　to　his　thoughts　as　he　cantered　sometimes
a　little　in　advance　of　the　wagon；　sometimes　in　the　rear；
occasionally　by　its　side；　then；　bending　forward　to　lift　his
hat　to　the　ladies　and　inquire　after　their　comfort。

Luis　kept　close　to　Isabel；　and　her　lovely　face　and　merry
chatter　beguiled　him　from　all　other　observations。　　A
little　before　noon　they　halted　in　a　beautiful　wood；　a　tent　was
spread　for　the　ladies；　the　animals　were　loosened　from　their
harness；　and　a　luxurious　meal　laid　upon　the　grass。　　Then　the
siesta　was　taken；　and　at　three　o'clock　travel　was　resumed
until　near　sunset；　when　the　camp　was　made　for　the　night。　　The
same　order　was　followed　every　day；　and　the　journey　was　in
every　sense　an　easy　and　delightful　one。　　The　rides；　cheered　by
pleasant　companionship；　were　not　fatiguing；　the　impromptu
meals　were　keenly　relished。　　And　there　were　many　sweet
opportunities　for　little　strolls　in　the　dim　green　woods；　and
for　delightful　conversations；　as　they　sat　under　the　stars；
while　the　camp…fire　blazed　among　the　picturesque　groups　of
Mexicans　playing　monte　around　it。

On　the　third　afternoon；　the　Senora　and　Isabel　were　taking　a
siesta；　but　Antonia　could　not　sleep。　　After　one　or　two　efforts
she　was　thoroughly　aroused　by　the　sound　of　voices　which　had
been　very　familiar　to　her　in　the　black　days　of　the　flight
those　of　a　woman　and　her　weary　family　of　seven　children。　　She
had　helped　her　in　many　ways；　and　she　still　felt　an
interest　in　her　welfare。　　It　appeared　now　to　be　assured。　
Antonia　found