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 all the saints of G