The Texan Scouts: A Story of the Alamo and Goliad

by Joseph A. Altsheler

  CHAPTER XII

  BEFORE THE DICTATOR

  Ned's feeling of exaltation lasted. The long siege, the incessant dangerand excitement, and the wonderful way in which the little band of Texanshad kept a whole army at bay had keyed him up to a pitch in which he wasnot himself, in which he was something a little more than human. Suchextraordinary moments come to few people, and his vivid, imaginativemind was thrilled to the utmost.

  He was on the early watch, and he mounted the wall of the church. Thedeep silence which marked the beginning of the night still prevailed.They had not heard any shots, and for that reason they all felt that themessenger had got through with Travis' last letter.

  It was very dark that night and Ned could not see the red flag on thetower of the church of San Fernando. But he knew it was there, waving alittle in the soft wind which blew out of the southwest, herald ofspring. Nothing broke the silence. After so much noise, it was ominous,oppressive, surcharged with threats. Fewer lights than usual burned inthe town and in the Mexican camp. All this stillness portended to Nedthe coming storm, and he was right.

  His was a short watch, and at 11 o'clock he went off duty. It was silentand dark in the convent yard, and he sought his usual place for sleep inthe hospital, where many of the Texans had been compelled to go, notmerely to sleep, but because they were really ill, worn out by so manyalarms, so much fighting and so much watching. But they were all nowasleep, overpowered by exhaustion. Ned crept into his own dark littlecorner, and he, too, was soon asleep.

  But he was awakened about four hours later by some one pulling hard athis shoulder. He opened his eyes, and stared sleepily. It was Crockettbending over him, and, Bowie lying on his sick bed ten feet away, hadraised himself on his elbow. The light was so faint that Ned couldscarcely see Crockett's face, but it looked very tense and eager.

  "Get up, Ned! Get up!" said Crockett, shaking him again. "There's greatwork for you to do!"

  "Why, what is it?" exclaimed the boy, springing to his feet.

  "It's your friends, Roylston, an' that man, the Panther, you've beentellin' me about," replied Crockett in quick tones. "While you wereasleep a Mexican, friendly to us, sneaked a message over the wall,sayin' that Roylston, the Panther, an' others were layin' to the eastwith a big force not more'n twenty miles away--not Fannin's crowd, butanother one that's come down from the north. They don't know whetherwe're holdin' out yet or not, an' o' course they don't want to riskdestruction by tryin' to cut through the Mexican army to reach us whenwe ain't here. The Mexican dassent go out of San Antonio. He won't tryit, 'cause, as he says, it's sure death for him, an' so somebody must goto Roylston with the news that we're still alive, fightin' an' kickin'.Colonel Travis has chose you, an' you've got to go. No, there's noletter. You're just to tell Roylston by word of mouth to come on withhis men."

  The words came forth popping like pistol shots. Ned was swept off hisfeet. He did not have time to argue or ask questions. Bowie also added afresh impetus. "Go, Ned, go at once!" he said. "You are chosen for agreat service. It's an honor to anybody!"

  "A service of great danger, requirin' great skill," said Crockett, "butyou can do it, Ned, you can do it."

  Ned flushed. This was, in truth, a great trust. He might, indeed, bringthe help they needed so sorely.

  "Here's your rifle an' other weapons an' ammunition," said Crockett."The night's at its darkest an' you ain't got any time to waste. Comeon!"

  So swift was Crockett that Ned was ready almost before he knew it. TheTennesseean never ceased hurrying him. But as he started, Bowie calledto him:

  "Good-by, Ned!"

  The boy turned back and offered his hand. The Georgian shook it withunusual warmth, and then lay back calmly on his blankets.

  "Good-by, Ned," he repeated, "and if we don't meet again I hope you'llforget the dark things in my life, and remember me as one who was doinghis best for Texas."

  "But we will meet again," said Ned. "The relieving force will be here intwo or three days and I'll come with it."

  "Out with you!" said Crockett. "That's talk enough. What you want to donow is to put on your invisible cap an' your seven league boots an' golike lightnin' through the Mexican camp. Remember that you can talktheir lingo like a native, an' don't forget, neither, to keep alwaysabout you a great big piece of presence of mind that you can use on amoment's notice."

  Ned wore his serape and he carried a pair of small, light but very warmblankets, strapped in a pack on his back. His haversack contained breadand dried beef, and, with his smaller weapons in his belt, and hisrifle over his shoulder, he was equipped fully for a long and dangerousjourney.

  Crockett and the boy passed into the convent yard.

  The soft wind from the southwest blew upon their faces, and from thehigh wall of the church a sentinel called: "All's well!" Ned felt anextraordinary shiver, a premonition, but it passed, unexplained. He andCrockett went into the main plaza and reached the lowest part of thewall.

  "Ought I to see Colonel Travis?" asked Ned, as they were on the way.

  "No, he asked me to see to it, 'cause there ain't no time to waste. It'sabout three o'clock in the mornin' now, an' you've got to slip throughin two or three hours, 'cause the light will be showin' then. Now, Ned,up with you an' over."

  Ned climbed to the summit of the wall. Beyond lay heavy darkness, and heneither saw nor heard any human being. He looked back, and extended hishand to Crockett as he had to Bowie.

  "Good-by, Mr. Crockett," he said, "you've been very good to me."

  The great brown hand of the frontiersman clasped his almostconvulsively.

  "Aye, Ned," he said, "we've cottoned to each other from the first. Ihaven't knowed you long, but you've been like a son to me. Now go, an'God speed you!"

  Ned recalled afterward that he did not say anything about Roylston'srelieving force. What he thought of then was the deep feeling inCrockett's words.

  "I'm coming back," he said, "and I hope to hunt buffalo with you overthe plains of a free Texas."

  "Go! go! Hurry, Ned!" said Crockett.

  "Good-by," said Ned, and he dropped lightly to the ground.

  He was outside the Alamo after eleven days inside, that seemed in theretrospect almost as many months. He flattened himself against the wall,and stood there for a minute or two, looking and listening. He thoughthe might hear Crockett again inside, but evidently the Tennesseean hadgone back at once. In front of him was only the darkness, pierced by asingle light off toward the west.

  Ned hesitated. It was hard for him to leave the Alamo and the friendswho had been knitted to him by so many common dangers, yet his errandwas one of high importance--it might save them all--and he must do it.Strengthening his resolution he started across an open space, walkinglightly. As Crockett had truly said, with his perfect knowledge of thelanguage he might pass for a Mexican. He had done so before, and he didnot doubt his ability to do so again.

  He resolved to assume the character of a Mexican scout, looking into thesecrets of the Alamo, and going back to report to Santa Anna. As headvanced he heard voices and saw earthworks from which the muzzles offour cannon protruded. Behind the earthwork was a small fire, and heknew that men would be sitting about it. He turned aside, not wishing tocome too much into the light, but a soldier near the earthwork hailedhim, and Ned, according to his plan, replied briefly that he was on hisway to General Santa Anna in San Antonio.

  But the man was talkative.

  "What is your name?" he asked.

  "Pedro Miguel Alvarado," replied Ned on the spur of the moment.

  "Well, friend, it is a noble name, that of Alvarado."

  "But it is not a noble who bears it. Though a descendant of the greatAlvarado, who fought by the side of the glorious and mightyconquistador, Hernando Cortez, I am but a poor peasant offering my lifedaily for bread in the army of General Santa Anna."

  The man laughed.

  "You are as well off as I am," he said. "But what of the wicked Texans?Are they yet ready to surrender their
throats to our knives? The dogshold us over long. It is said that they number scarce two hundred withinthe mission. Truly they fight hard, and well they may, knowing thatdeath only is at the end."

  Ned shuddered. The man seemed to take it all so lightly. But he repliedin a firm voice:

  "I learned little of them save that they still fight. I took care not toput myself before the muzzle of any of their rifles."

  The Mexican laughed again.

  "A lad of wisdom, you," he said. "They are demons with their rifles.When the great assault is made, many a good man will speed to his longhome before the Alamo is taken."

  So, they had already decided upon the assault. The premonition withinthe Alamo was not wrong. It occurred to Ned that he might learn more,and he paused.

  "Has it been finally settled?" he asked. "We attack about three daysfrom now, do we not?"

  "Earlier than that," replied the Mexican. "I know that the time has beenchosen, and I think it is to-morrow morning."

  Ned's heart beat heavily. To-morrow morning! Even if he got through, howcould he ever bring Roylston and the relief force in time?

  "I thank you," he said, "but I must hurry with my report."

  "Adios, Senor," said the man politely, and Ned repeated his "Adios" inthe same tone. Then he hurried forward, continually turning in towardthe east, hoping to find a passage where the Mexican line was thinnest.But the circle of the invaders was complete, and he saw that he mustrely upon his impersonation of a Mexican to take him through.

  He was in a fever of haste, knowing now that the great assault was tocome so soon, and he made for a point between two smoldering camp firesfifty or sixty yards apart. Boldness only would now avail, and with thebrim of his sombrero pulled well down over his face he walkedconfidently forward, coming fully within the light of the fire on hisleft.

  A number of Mexican soldiers were asleep around the fire, but at least ahalf dozen men were awake. They called to Ned as he passed and heresponded readily, but Fortune, which had been so kind to him for a longtime, all at once turned her back upon him. When he spoke, a man inofficer's uniform who had been sitting by the fire rose quickly.

  "Your name?" he cried.

  "Pedro Miguel Alvarado," replied Ned instantly. At the same moment herecognized Urrea.

  "It is not so!" cried Urrea. "You are one of the Texans, young Fulton. Iknow your voice. Upon him, men! Seize him!"

  His action and the leap of the Mexicans were so sudden that Ned did nothave time to aim his rifle. But he struck one a short-arm blow with thebutt of it that sent him down with a broken head, and he snatched at hispistol as three or four others threw themselves upon him. Ned wasuncommonly strong and agile, and he threw off two of the men, but theothers pressed him to the ground, until, at Urrea's command, his armswere bound and he was allowed to rise.

  Ned was in despair, not so much for himself but because there was nolonger a chance that he could get through to Roylston. It was a deepmortification, moreover, to be taken by Urrea. But he faced the Mexicanwith an appearance of calmness.

  "Well," he said, "I am your prisoner."

  "You are," said Urrea, "and you might have passed, if I had not knownyour voice. But I remind you that you come from the Alamo. You see ourflag, and you know its meaning."

  The black eyes of the Mexican regarded Ned malignantly. The boy knewthat the soul of Urrea was full of wicked triumph. The officer couldshoot him down at that moment, and be entirely within orders. But Nedrecalled the words of Roylston. The merchant had told him to use hisname if he should ever fall again into the hands of Santa Anna.

  "I am your prisoner," he repeated, "and I demand to be taken beforeGeneral Santa Anna. Whatever your red flag may mean, there are reasonswhy he will spare me. Go with me and you will see."

  He spoke with such boldness and directness that Urrea was impressed.

  "I shall take you to the general," he said, "not because you demand it,but because I think it well to do so. It is likely that he will want toexamine you, and I believe that in his presence you will tell all youknow. But it is not yet 4 o'clock in the morning, and I cannot awakenhim now. You will stay here until after daylight."

  "Very well," said Ned, trying to be calm as possible. "As you havebound me I cannot walk, but if you'll put me on a blanket there by thefire I'll sleep until you want me."

  "We won't deny you that comfort," replied Urrea grimly.

  When Ned was stretched on his blanket he was fairly easy so far as thebody was concerned. They had bound him securely, but not painfully. Hisagony of mind, though, was great. Nevertheless he fell asleep, and sleptin a restless way for three or four hours, until Urrea awoke him, andtold him they were going to Santa Anna.

  It was a clear, crisp dawn and Ned saw the town, the river, and theAlamo. There, only a short distance away, stood the dark fortress, fromwhich he had slipped but a few hours before with such high hopes. Heeven saw the figures of the sentinels, moving slowly on the churchwalls, and his heart grew heavy within him. He wished now that he wasback with the defenders. Even if he should escape it would be too late.At Urrea's orders he was unbound.

  "There is no danger of your escaping now," said the young Mexican."Several of my men are excellent marksmen, and they will fire at thefirst step you take in flight. And even should they miss, what chance doyou think you have here?"

  He swept his right hand in a circle, and, in the clear morning air, Nedsaw batteries and troops everywhere. He knew that the circle of steelabout the Alamo was complete. Perhaps he would have failed in his errandeven had he got by. It would require an unusually strong force to cutthrough an army as large as that of Santa Anna, and he did not knowwhere Roylston could have found it. He started, as a sudden suspicionsmote him. He remembered Crockett's hurried manner, and his lack ofexplanation. But he put it aside. It could not be true.

  "I see that you look at the Alamo," said Urrea ironically. "Well, therebel flag is still there, but it will not remain much longer. The trapis about ready to shut down."

  Ned's color rose.

  "It may be so," he said, "but for every Texan who falls the price willbe five Mexicans."

  "But they will fall, nevertheless," said Urrea. "Here is food for you.Eat, and I will take you to the general."

  They offered him Mexican food, but he had no appetite, and he atelittle. He stretched and tensed his limbs in order to restore the fullflood of circulation, and announced that he was ready. Urrea led theway, and Ned followed with a guard of four men about him.

  The boy had eyes and ears for everything around him, but he looked mosttoward the Alamo. He could not, at the distance, recognize the figureson the wall, but all those men were his friends, and his eyes filledwith tears at their desperate case. Out here with the Mexicans, where hecould see all their overwhelming force and their extensive preparations,the chances of the Texans looked worse than they did inside the Alamo.

  They entered the town and passed through the same streets, along whichNed had advanced with the conquering army of the Texans a few monthsbefore. Many evidences of the siege remained. There were tunnels,wrecked houses and masses of stone and adobe. The appearance of theyoung prisoner aroused the greatest curiosity among both soldiers andpeople. He heard often the word "Texano." Women frequently looked downat him from the flat roofs, and some spoke in pity.

  Ned was silent. He was resolved not to ask Urrea any questions or togive him a chance to show triumph. He noticed that they were advancingtoward the plaza, and then they turned into the Veramendi house, whichhe had cause to remember so well.

  "This was the home of the Vice-Governor," said Urrea, "and General SantaAnna is here."

  "I know the place," said Ned. "I am proud to have been one of the Texanswho took it on a former occasion."

  "We lost it then, but we have it now and we'll keep it," said Urrea. "Mymen will wait with you here in the courtyard, and I'll see if ourillustrious general is ready to receive you."

  Ned waited patiently. Urrea was gone a full half hou
r, and, when hereturned, he said:

  "The general was at breakfast with his staff. He had not quite finished,but he is ready to receive you now."

  Then Urrea led the way into the Veramendi house. Luxurious fittings hadbeen put in, but many of the rents and scars from the old combat wereyet visible. They entered the great dining room, and, once more, Nedstood face to face with the most glorious general, the most illustriousdictator, Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. But Ned alone stood. Thedictator sat at the head of the table, about which were Castrillon,Sesma, Cos, Gaona, the Italian, Filisola and others. It seemed to Nedthat he had come not only upon a breakfast but upon a conference aswell.

  The soldiers who had guarded Ned stepped back, Urrea stood by the wall,and the boy was left to meet the fixed gaze of Santa Anna. The dictatorwore a splendid uniform, as usual. His face seemed to Ned fuller andmore flushed than when they had last met in Mexico. The marks ofdissipation were there. Ned saw him slip a little silver box from thepocket of his waistcoat and take from it a pinch of a dark drug, whichhe ate. It was opium, but the Mexican generals seemed to take no note ofit.

  Santa Anna's gaze was fixed and piercing, as if he would shoot terrorinto the soul of his enemy--a favorite device of his--but Ned withstoodit. Then Santa Anna, removing his stare from his face, looked him slowlyup and down. The generals said nothing, waiting upon their leader, whocould give life or death as he chose. Ned was sure that Santa Annaremembered him, and, in a moment, he knew that he was right.

  "It is young Fulton, who made the daring and ingenious escape from ourhospitality in the capital," he said, "and who also departed in anunexpected manner from one of the submarine dungeons of our castle ofSan Juan de Ulua. Fate does not seem to reward your courage andenterprise as they deserve, since you are in our hands again."

  The dictator laughed and his generals laughed obediently also. Ned saidnothing.

  "I am informed by that most meritorious young officer, Captain Urrea,"continued Santa Anna, "that you were captured about three o'clock thismorning trying to escape from the Alamo."

  "That is correct," said Ned.

  "Why were you running away in the dark?"

  Ned flushed, but, knowing that it was an unworthy and untruthful taunt,he remained silent.

  "You do not choose to answer," said Santa Anna, "but I tell you that youare the rat fleeing from the sinking ship. Our cannon have wrecked theinterior of the Alamo. Half of your men are dead, and the rest wouldgladly surrender if I should give them the promise of life."

  "It is not true!" exclaimed Ned with heat. "Despite all your fire thedefenders of the Alamo have lost but a few men. You offer no quarter andthey ask none. They are ready to fight to the last."

  There was a murmur among the generals, but Santa Anna raised his handand they were silent again.

  "I cannot believe all that you say," he continued. "It is a boast. TheTexans are braggarts. To-morrow they die, every one of them. But tell usthe exact condition of everything inside the Alamo, and perhaps I mayspare your life."

  Ned shut his teeth so hard that they hurt. A deep flush surged into thedark face of Santa Anna.

  "You are stubborn. All the Texans are stubborn. But I do not need anyinformation from you. I shall crush the Alamo, as my fingers would smashan eggshell."

  "But your fingers will be pierced deep," Ned could not keep fromreplying. "They will run blood."

  "Be that as it may," said Santa Anna, who, great in some things, waslittle enough to taunt an enemy in his power, "you will not live to seeit. I am about to give orders to have you shot within an hour."

  His lips wrinkled away from his white teeth like those of a great catabout to spring, and his cruel eyes contracted. Holding all the power ofMexico in his hands he was indeed something to be dreaded. The generalsabout the table never spoke. But Ned remembered the words of Roylston.

  "A great merchant named John Roylston has been a good friend to me," hesaid. "He told me that if I should ever fall into your hands I was tomention his name to you, and to say that he considered my life ofvalue."

  The expression of the dictator changed. He frowned, and then regardedNed intently, as if he would read some secret that the boy was trying tohide.

  "And so you know John Roylston," he said at length, "and he wishes youto say to me that your life is of value."

  Ned saw the truth at once. He had a talisman and that talisman was thename of Roylston. He did not know why it was so, but it was a wonderfultalisman nevertheless, because it was going to save his life for thetime being, at least. He glanced at the generals, and he saw a look ofcuriosity on the face of every one of them.

  "I know Roylston," said Santa Anna slowly, "and there are some mattersbetween us. It may be to my advantage to spare you for a while."

  Ned's heart sprang up. Life was sweet. Since he was to be spared for awhile it must mean ultimately exchange or escape. Santa Anna, a readerof the human face, saw what was in his mind.

  "Be not too sanguine," he said, "because I have changed my mind once itdoes not mean that you are to be free now or ever. I shall keep youhere, and you shall see your comrades fall."

  A sudden smile, offspring of a quick thought and satanic in its nature,passed over his face.

  "I will make you a spectator of the defeat of the Texans," he said. "Agreat event needs a witness, and since you cannot be a combatant you canserve in that capacity. We attack at dawn to-morrow, and you shall missnothing of it."

  The wicked smile passed over his face again. It had occurred to Ned, astudent of history, that the gladiatorial cruelty of the ancient Romanshad descended to the Spaniards instead of the Italians. Now he wasconvinced that it was so.

  "You shall be kept a prisoner in one of our strongest houses," saidSanta Anna, "and Captain Urrea, whose vigilance prevented your escape,will keep guard over you. I fancy it is a task that he does not hate."

  Santa Anna had also read the mind of the young Mexican. Urrea smiled. Heliked this duty. He hated Ned and he, too, was not above taunting aprisoner. He advanced, and put a hand upon Ned's shoulder, but the boyshook it off.

  "Don't touch me," said Ned. "I'll follow without resistance."

  Santa Anna laughed.

  "Let him have his way for the present, Captain Urrea," he said. "Butremember that it is due to your gentleness and mercy. Adios, SenorFulton, we meet again to-morrow morning, and if you survive I shallreport to Mr. Roylston the manner in which you may bear yourself."

  "Good-day," said Ned, resolved not to be outdone, even in ironicalcourtesy. "And now, Captain Urrea, if you will lead the way, I'llfollow."

  Urrea and his soldiers took Ned from the Veramendi house and across thestreet to a large and strong stone building.

  "You are fortunate," said Urrea, "to have escaped immediate death. I donot know why the name of Roylston was so powerful with our general, butI saw that it was."

  "It seemed to have its effect," said Ned.

  Urrea led the way to the flat roof of the house, a space reached by asingle narrow stairway.

  "I shall leave you here with two guards," he said. "I shall give theminstructions to fire upon you at the slightest attempt on your part toescape, but I fancy that you will have sense enough not to make any suchattempt."

  Urrea departed, but the two sentinels sat by the entrance to thestairway, musket in hand. He had not the faintest chance to get by them,and knowing it he sat down on the low stone coping of the roof. Hewondered why Urrea had brought him there instead of locking him up in aroom. Perhaps it was to mock him with the sight of freedom so near andyet unattainable.

  His gaze turned instinctively to the Alamo like the magnet to the pole.There was the fortress, gray and grim in the sunshine, with the dimfigures of the watchers on the walls. What were they doing inside now?How were Crockett and Bowie? His heart filled with grief that he hadfailed them. But had he failed them? Neither Urrea nor any other Mexicanhad spoken of the approach of a relieving force under Roylston. Therewas no sign that the Mexicans were sendin
g any part of their army tomeet it.

  The heavy thud of a great gun drew his attention, and he saw the blacksmoke from the discharge rising over the plain. A second, a third and afourth cannon shot were fired, but no answer came from the walls of theAlamo. At length he saw one of the men in the nearest battery to theAlamo expose himself above the earthwork. There was a flash from thewall of the church, a little puff of smoke, and Ned saw the man fall asonly dead men fall. Perhaps it was Davy Crockett, the great marksman,who had fired that shot. He liked to think that it was so, and herejoiced also at this certain evidence that the little garrison was asdauntless as ever. He watched the Alamo for nearly an hour, and he sawthat the firing was desultory. Not more than a dozen cannon shots werefired during that time, and only three or four rifles replied from theAlamo. Toward noon the firing ceased entirely, and Ned knew that thiswas in very fact and truth the lull before the storm.

  His attention wandered to his guards. They were mere peons, but,although watchful, they were taking their ease. Evidently they likedtheir task. They were resting with the complete relaxation of the bodythat only the Southern races know. Both had lighted cigarritos, and werepuffing at them contentedly. It had been a long time since Ned had seensuch a picture of lazy ease.

  "You like it here?" he said to the nearest.

  The man took the cigarrito from his mouth, emitted smoke from his noseand replied politely:

  "It is better to be here lying in the sun than out there on the grasswith a Texan bullet through one's body. Is it not so, Fernando?"

  "Aye, it is so," replied his comrade. "I like not the Texan bullets. Iam glad to be here where they cannot reach me. It is said that Satansights their rifles for them, because they do not miss. They will diehard to-morrow. They will die like the bear in its den, fighting thehunters, when our army is poured upon them. That will be an end to allthe Texans, and we will go back to the warm south."

  "But are you sure," asked Ned, "that it will be an end of the Texans?Not all the Texans are shut up in the Alamo."

  "What matters it?" replied Fernando, lightly. "It may be delayed, butthe end will be the same. Nothing can resist the great, the powerful,the most illustrious Santa Anna. He is always able to dig graves for hisenemies."

  The men talked further. Ned gathered from them that the whole force ofSanta Anna was now present. Some of his officers wanted him to wait forsiege artillery of the heaviest caliber that would batter down the wallsof the Alamo, but the dictator himself was impatient for the assault. Itwould certainly take place the next morning.

  "And why is the young senor here?" asked Fernando. "The order has beenissued that no Texan shall be spared, and do you not see the red flagwaving there close by us?"

  Ned looked up. The red flag now flaunted its folds very near to him. Hecould not repress a shiver.

  "I am here," he replied, "because some one who has power has toldGeneral Santa Anna that I am not to be put to death."

  "It is well for you, then," said Fernando, "that you have a friend ofsuch weight. It is a pity to die when one is so young and so straightand strong as you. Ah, my young senor, the world is beautiful. Look howgreen is the grass there by the river, and how the sun lies like goldacross it!"

  Ned had noticed before the love of beauty that the humblest peonsometimes had, and there was a certain touch of brotherly feelingbetween him and this man, his jailer.

  "The world is beautiful," said the boy, "and I am willing to tell youthat I have no wish to leave it."

  "Nor I," said Fernando. "Why are the Texans so foolish as to oppose thegreat Santa Anna, the most illustrious and powerful of all generals andrulers? Did they not know that he would come and crush them, every one?"

  Ned did not reply. The peon, in repose at least, had a gentle heart, andthe boy knew that Santa Anna was to him omnipotent and omniscient. Heturned his attention anew to the Alamo, that magnet of his thoughts. Itwas standing quiet in the sun now. The defiant flag of the defenders,upon which they had embroidered the word "Texas," hung lazily from thestaff.

  The guards in the afternoon gave him some food and a jug of water, andthey also ate and drank upon the roof. They were yet amply content withtheir task and their position there. No bullets could reach them. Thesunshine was golden and pleasant. They had established friendlyrelations with the prisoner. He had not given them the slightesttrouble, and, before and about them, was spread the theater upon which amighty drama was passing, all for them to see. What more could be askedby two simple peasants of small wants?

  Ned was glad that they let him remain upon the roof. The Alamo drew hisgaze with a power that he could not break if he would. Since he was nolonger among the defenders he was eager to see every detail in the vastdrama that was now unfolding.

  But the afternoon passed in inaction. The sun was brilliant and towardevening turned to a deep, glowing red. It lighted up for the last timethe dim figures that stood on the walls of the Alamo. Ned choked as hesaw them there. He felt the premonition.

  Urrea came upon the roof shortly before twilight. He was not sneering orironical, and Ned, who had no wish to quarrel at such a time, was gladof it.

  "As General Santa Anna told you," said Urrea, "the assault is to be madein overwhelming force early in the morning. It will succeed, of course.Nothing can prevent it. Through the man Roylston, you have some claimupon the general, but it may not be strong enough to save you long. Aservice now might make his pardon permanent."

  "What do you mean by a service now?"

  "A few words as to the weaker points of the Alamo, the best places forour troops to attack. You cannot do anything for the defenders. Youcannot alter their fate in any particular, but you might do somethingfor yourself."

  Ned did not wish to appear dramatic. He merely turned his back upon theyoung Mexican.

  "Very well," said Urrea, "I made you the offer. It was for you to acceptit or not as you wish."

  He left him upon the roof, and Ned saw the last rim of the red sun sinkin the plain. He saw the twilight come, and the Alamo fade into a dimblack bulk in the darkness. He thought once that he heard a cry of asentinel from its walls, "All's well," but he knew that it was onlyfancy. The distance was far too great. Besides, all was not well.

  When the darkness had fully come, he descended with his two benevolentjailers to a lower part of the house, where he was assigned to a smallroom, with a single barred window and without the possibility of escape.His guards, after bringing him food and water, gave him a polite goodnight and went outside. He knew that they would remain on watch in thehall.

  Ned could eat and drink but little. Nor could he yet sleep. The nightwas far too heavy upon him for slumber. Besides, it had brought manynoises, significant noises that he knew. He heard the rumble of cannonwheels over the rough pavements, and the shouts of men to the horses ormules. He heard troops passing, now infantry, and then cavalry, thehoofs of their horses grinding upon the stones.

  He pressed his face against the barred window. He was eager to hear andyet more eager to see. He caught glimpses only of horse and foot as theypassed, but he knew what all those sights and sounds portended. In thenight the steel coil of the Mexicans was being drawn closer and closerabout the Alamo.

  Brave and resolute, he was only a boy after all. He felt deserted of allmen. He wanted to be back there with Crockett and Bowie and Travis andthe others. The water came into his eyes, and unconsciously he pulledhard at the iron bars.

  He remained there a long time, listening to the sounds. Once he heard atrumpet, and its note in the night was singularly piercing. He knew thatit was a signal, probably for the moving of a regiment still closer tothe Alamo. But there were no shots from either the Mexicans or themission. The night was clear with many stars.

  After two or three hours at the window Ned tried to sleep. There was anarrow bed against the wall, and he lay upon it, full length, but he didnot even close his eyes. He became so restless that at last he rose andwent to the window again. It must have been then past midnight. The
noises had ceased. Evidently the Mexicans had everything ready. The windblew cold upon his face, but it brought him no news of what was passingwithout.

  He went back to the bed, and by and by he sank into a heavy slumber.