to Nacogdoches。 Mexicans are not blind moles； and they have
their intelligence； you know。 All the States who have helped
these outrageous ingrates are to be devastated； and you will
see that your famous Washington will be turned into a heap of
stories。 I have seen these words in print； Roberto。 I assure
you； that it is not just a little breathwhat one or another
saysit is the printed orders of the Mexican government。
That is something these Americans will have to pay attention
to。〃
The doctor sighed； and answered the sorrowful； credulous woman
with a kiss。 What was the use of reasoning with simplicity so
ignorant and so confident？ He turned the conversation to a
subject that always roused her best and kindest feelingsher
son Jack。
〃I have just seen young Dewees； Maria。 He and Jack left San
Felipe together。 Dewees brought instructions to General
Burleson； and Jack carried others to Fannin； at Goliad。〃
She took her husband's hands and kissed them。 〃That indeed！
Oh； Roberto！ If I could only see my Jack once more！ I have
had a constant accusation to bear about him。 Till I kiss my
boy again； the world will be all dark before my face。 If Our
Lady will grant me this miraculous favor； I will always
afterwards be exceedingly religious。 I will give all my
desires to the other world。〃
〃Dearest Maria； God did not put us in this world to be always
desiring another。 There is no need； mi queridita； to give up
this life as a bad affair。 We shall be very happy again；
soon。
〃As you say。 If I could only see Jack！ For that； I would
promise God Almighty and you Roberto to be happy。 I would
forgive the rebels and the hereticsfor they are well
acquainted with hell road； and will guide each other there
without my wish。〃
〃I am sure if Jack has one day he will come to you。 And when
he hears of the surrender of General Cos〃
〃Well now； it was God's will that General Cos should
surrender。 What more can be said？ It is sufficient。〃
〃Let me call Antonia。 She is miserable at your displeasure；
and it is not Antonia's fault。〃
〃Pardon me； Roberto。 I have seen Antonia。 She is not
agreeable and obedient to Fray Ignatius。〃
〃She has been very wickedly used by him； and I fear he intends
to do her evil。〃
〃It is not convenient to discuss the subject now。 I will see
Isabel； she is a good childmy only comfort。 Paciencia！
there is Luis Alveda singing； Isabel will now be deaf to all
else〃； and she rose with a sigh and walked towards the
casement looking into the garden。
Luis was coming up the oleander walk。 The pretty trees were
thinner now； and had only a pink blossom here and there。 But
the bright winter sun shone through them； and fell upon Luis
and Isabel。 For she had also seen him coming； and had gone to
meet him； with a little rainbow…tinted shawl over her head。
She looked so piquant and so happy。 She seemed such a proper
mate for the handsome youth at her side that a word of dissent
was not possible。 The doctor said only； 〃She is so like you；
Maria。 I remember when you were still more lovely； and
when from your balcony you made me with a smile the happiest
man in the world。〃
Such words were never lost ones； for the Senora had a true and
great love for her husband。 She gave him again a smile； she
put her hand in his； and then there were no further
conciliations required。 They stood in the sunshine of their
own hearts； and listened a moment to the gay youth； singing；
how at
The strong old Alamo
Two hundred men； with rifles true；
Shot down a thousand of the foe；
And broke the triple ramparts through；
And dropped the flag as black as night；
For Freedom's green and red and white。＇3＇
＇3＇ The flag of the Mexican Republic of 1824 was green； red
and white in color。
CHAPTER XI。
A HAPPY TRUCE。
〃Well； honor is the subject of my story；
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life； but for my single self；
I had as lief not be； as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself。〃
〃Two truths are told
As happy prologues to the swelling act；
Of the imperial theme。〃
〃This is the eve of Christmas；
No sleep from night to morn；
The Virgin is in travail；
At twelve will the Child be born。〃
Cities have not only a certain physiognomy； they have also a
decided mental and moral character； and a definite political
tendency。 There are good and bad cities； artistic and
commercial cities； scholarly and manufacturing cities；
aristocratic and radical cities。 San Antonio； in its
political and social character； was a thoroughly radical city。
Its population； composed in a large measure of
adventurous units from various nationalities； had
that fluid rather than fixed character； which is susceptible
to new ideas。 For they were generally men who had found the
restraints of the centuries behind them to be intolerablemen
to whom freedom was the grand ideal of life。
It maybe easily undertood｛sic｝ that this element in the
population of San Antonio was a powerful one； and that a
little of such leaven would stir into activity a people who；
beneath the crust of their formal piety； had still something
left of that pride and adventurous spirit which distinguished
the Spain of Ferdinand and Isabel。
In fact； no city on the American continent has such a bloody
record as San Antonio。 From its settlement by the warlike
monks of 1692； to its final capture by the Americans in 1836；
it was well named 〃the city of the sword。〃 The Comanche and
the white man fought around its walls their forty years'
battle for supremacy。 From 1810 to 1821 its streets were
constantly bloody with the fight between the royalists and
republicans； and the city and the citadel passed from； one
party to the other continually。 And when it came to the
question of freedom and American domination； San Antonio
was； as it had ever been； the great Texan battle…field。
Its citizens then were well used to the fortunes and changes
of war。 Men were living who had seen the horrors of the auto
da fe and the splendors of viceregal authority。 Insurgent
nobles； fighting priests； revolutionizing Americans； all sorts
and conditions of men； all chances and changes of religious
and military power； had ruled it with a temporary absolutism
during their generation。
In the main there was a favorable feeling regarding its
occupation by the Americans。 The most lawless of them were
law…abiding in comparison with any kind of victorious
Mexicans。 Americans protected private property； they honored
women； they observed the sanctity of every man's home； 〃and；
as for being heretics； that was an affair for the saints and
the priests； the comfortable benefits of the Holy Catholic
Church； had not been vouchsafed to all nations。〃
Political changes are favorable to religious tolerance； and
the priests themselves had been sensible of a great decrease
in their influence during the pending struggle。 Prominent
Mexicans had given aid and comfort to the Americans in
spite of their spiritual orders； and there were many men who；
like Lopez Navarro； did not dare to go to confession； because
they would have been compelled to acknowledge themselves
rebels。
When the doctor and Dare and Luis reached the Plaza； the
morning after the surrender； they found the city already
astir。 Thousands of women were in the churches saying masses
for the dead； the men stood at their store doors or sat
smoking on their balconies； chatting with the passers…by or
watching the movements of the victorious army and the
evacuation of the conquered one。
Nearly all of the brave two hundred occupied the Plaza。 They
were still greatly excited by the miraculous ecstacy of
victory。 But when soldiers in the death…pang rejoice under
its influence； what wonder that the living feel its
intoxicating rapture？ They talked and walked as if they
already walked the streets of Mexico。 All things seemed
possible to them。 The royalty of their carriage； the
authority in their faces； gave dignity even to their deerskin
clothing。 Its primitive character was its distinction；
and the wearers looked like the demi…gods of the heroic stage
of history。
Lopez Navarro touched the doctor and directed his attention to
them。 〃Does the world； Senor； contain the stuff to make their
counterparts？〃
〃They are Americans； Navarro。 And though there are a variety
of Americans； they have only one opinion about submitting to
tyrantsTHEY WON'T DO IT！〃
This was the conversation interrupted by Ortiz and the message
he brought； and the doctor was thoroughly sobered by the
events following。 He was not inclined to believe； as the
majority of the troops did； that Mexico was conquered。 He
expected that the Senora's prediction would be verified。 And
the personal enmity which the priesthood felt to him induced
a depressing sense of personal disaster。
Nothing in the house or the city seemed inclined to settle。
It took a few days to draw up the articles of capitulation and
clear the town of General Cos and the Mexican tro