The Americans may die in the Alamo； but they cannot hold it
against the thousands Santa Anna will bring with him。〃
〃They will die； then。 They have no thought of retreat； nor of
any deed that argues fear。 Every man relies on himself； as if
in his hand the moment of victory lay。〃
〃Every man will perish。〃
〃They will not perish in vain。 Defeat is only a spur to the
American soldier。 Every； one makes him a better fighter。 If
Santa Anna massacres the men in the Alamo； he seals the
freedom of Texas。〃
〃Houston should have come himself。〃
〃Houston is biding his time。 He is doing at present the
hardest duty a great man can do： setting an example of
obedience to a divided and incompetent government。 Lopez； you
said rightly that we had too many leaders。 When those
appointed for sacrifice have been offered upwhen we are in
the extremity of danger and ruin； then Houston will hear the
word he is waiting for。〃
〃And he will lead you on to victory。 Indeed； I know it。 I
have seen him。 He has the linethe fortunate line on the
forehead。 He is the loadstone in the breast of your cause；
the magnet who can draw good fortune to it。 If fate be
against you； he will force fate to change her mind。 If fate
weave you a common thread； he will change it into purple。
Victory； which she gives to others reluctantly； he will take
like a master from her hand HOUSTON！ What essence！ What
existence！ What honor！ What hope there is in those
seven letters。 Consider this： He will find a way or make a
way for freedom。〃
Subsequent events proved the opinion of Thomas Worth correct
with regard to the garrison in the Alamo。 David Crockett！
James Bowie！ Barret Travis！ The names were a host in
themselves； one and all refused to couple them with retreat。
〃Military defeats may be moral victories； young man；〃 said
Crockett to Thomas Worth； 〃and moral victories make national
greatness。 The Roman that filled the gulf with his own body
the men who died at Thermopylaethey live to…day； and they
have been talking with us。〃
〃But if you join Houston you will save many lives。〃
〃That isn't always the point； sir。 Jim Bowie was saying there
was once a lover who used to swim two miles every night to see
a young woman called Hero。 Now； he might have waited for a
boat and gone dry…shod to his sweetheart； but if he had； who
would have cared whether he lived or died？ The Alamo is
our Hero。 If we can't keep her； we can die for her。〃
The same spirit moved every soul at Goliad。 Fanning was there
with nearly nine hundred men； and he had named the place Fort
Defiance； and asserted his determination to hold it。 In the
mean time； Houston was using his great personal influence to
collect troops； to make treaties with the Indians； and to keep
together some semblance of a provisional government。
But it had become evident to all the leading spirits of the
revolution that no half…way measures would now do。 They only
produced half…way enthusiasm。 For this end； Houston spoke out
with his accustomed boldness：
〃Gentlemen； we must declare the independence of Texas； and
like our fore…elders； sink or swim by that declaration。
Nothing else； nothing less； can save us。 The planters of
Texas must feel that they are fighting for their own
constitution； and not for Mexican promises made to them twelve
years ago and never yet kept。〃
The simple proposition roused a new enthusiasm； for while
Urrea was hastening towards Goliad； and Santa Anna
towards San Antonio； and Filisola to Washington； the divided
people were becoming more and more embittered。 The American
soldiers； who had hitherto gone in and out among the citizens
of San Antonio during the day； and only slept in the Alamo；
were conscious of an ominous change in the temper of the city。
They gathered their recruits together and shut themselves in
the fortress。
Again Thomas Worth urged them to fall back either upon the
line of Houston at Gonzales； or Fanning at Goliad； but in the
indecision and uncertainty of all official orders； Crockett
thought it best to make the first stand at the Mexican city。
〃We can； at least；〃 he said； 〃keep Santa Anna busy long enough
to give the women and children of our own settlements time to
escape； and the men time to draw together with a certain
purpose。〃
〃The cry of Santa Anna has been like the cry of wolf！ wolf！〃
said Bowie。 〃I hear that great numbers that were under arms
have gone home to plant their corn and cotton。 Do you want
Santa Anna to murder them piecemealhouse by house；
family by family？ Great George！ Which of us would
accommodate him with a prolonged pleasure like that？ No！ he
shall have a square fight for every life lie gets〃； and the
calm； gentlemanly Bowie was suddenly transformed into a
flashing； vehement； furious avenger。 He laid his knife and
pistols on the table； his steel…blue eyes scintillated as if
they were lightning； his handsome mouth； his long； white
hands； his whole person radiated wrath and expressed the
utmost lengths of invincible courage and insatiable hatred。
〃Gentlemen；〃 answered Travis； 〃I go with Crockett and Bowie。
If we hold the Alamo； it is a deed well done。 If we fall with
it； it is still a deed well done。 We shall have given to
Houston and Fanning time to interpose themselves between Santa
Anna and the settlements。〃
〃We have none of us lived very well；〃 said Bowie； 〃but we can
die well。 I say as an American； that Texas is ours by right
of natural locality； and by right of treaty； and； as I live；
I will do my best to make it American by right of conquest！
Comrades； I do not want a prettier quarrel to die in〃and
looking with a brave； unflinching gaze around the grim
fortress〃I do not want a better monument than the Alamo！〃
The speech was not answered with any noisy hurrahing； but the
men around the bare； long table clasped hands across it； and
from that last interview with the doomed men Thomas Worth came
away with the knowledge that he had seen the battle begun。 He
felt now that there was no time to delay longer his plans for
the safety of his mother and sisters。 These were； indeed； of
the simplest and most uncertain character； for the condition
of the country and its few resources were such as to make
flight the only way that promised safety。 And yet flight was
environed with dangers of every kindhunger； thirst；
exhaustion； savage beasts； Indians； and the triple armies of
Mexico。
The day after his arrival he had begun to prepare； as far as
possible； for this last emergency； but the Senora's
unconquerable aversion to leave her native city had constantly
hampered him。 Until Santa Anna really appeared she would not
believe in the necessity of such a movement。 The proposal of
Fray Ignatius； even if it did end in a convent； did not
seem so terrible as to be a wanderer without a roof to cover
her。 She felt aggrieved and injured by Antonia's and Isabel's
positive refusal to accept sanctuary from the priest； and with
the underhand cunning of a weak woman she had contrived to let
Fray Ignatius know that SHE was not to blame for the
refusal。
All the same the priest hated her in conjunction with her
children。 On the morning after her interview with her uncle；
he went to receive her submission； for the marquis had
informed him of all that had passed； and he felt the three
women and the valuable Worth property already under his hard
hand。 He opened the gate with the air of a proprietor。 He
looked down the lovely alleys of the garden； and up at the
latticed stories of the handsome house； with that solid
satisfaction which is the reward of what is acquired by
personal effort or wisdom。
When he entered the door and was confronted by Thomas Worth；
he was for the moment nonplussed。 But he did not permit his
confusion and disappointment to appear。 He had not seen
Thomas for a long time。 He addressed him with suavity
and regrets； and yet； 〃was sure he would be glad to hear that；
in the present dangerous crisis； the Marquis de Gonzaga had
remembered the blood…tie and offered his protection to a
family so desolate。〃
Thomas Worth leaned upon the balusters； as if guarding the
approach to the Senora's apartments。 He answered： 〃The
protection of the marquis is unnecessary。 Three ladies are
too great a charge for one so aged。 We will not impose it。〃
The face of the young man was calm and stern； but he spoke
without visible temper； until the priest prepared to pass him。
Then he stretched out his arm as a barrier。
〃Fray Ignatius； you have already passed beyond the threshold；
permit me to remind you of Dr。 Worth's words on that subject。〃
〃I put my duty before any man's words。〃
〃Sir； for my mother's sake； I would not be disrespectful； but
I assure you； also； that I will not permit any man； while I
live； to disregard my father's orders regarding his own
household。〃
〃I must see the Senora。〃
〃That； I reply； is impossible。〃
〃Presume notdare not to interfere with a priest in the
duty of his office。 It is a mortal sin。 The curse of the
Church will rest upon you。
〃The curse of the Church will not trouble me。 But to treat my
father's known wishes with conte