surprised。〃
〃Perhaps indeed； he did lead it；〃 said the Senora； in a solemn
voice。 〃I saw yes； by all the saints of God！ I saw a
great host with my Juan。 They stretched out vast； shadowy
armsthey made me FEEL what I can never tell。 But I shall
honor Senor Houston。 I shall say to him some day。 ‘Senor；
the unseen battalionsthe mighty dead as well as the mighty
livingwon the battle。' Roberto； believe me； there are
things women understand better than wise men。〃
A little awe； a solemn silence； answered the earnest woman。
Luis and Isabel came close to her； and Isabel took her hand。
Lopez resumed the conversation。 〃I know Colonel Bowie；〃 he
said。 〃In the last days at San Antonio I was often with him。
Brave as a lion； true to his friends； relentless to his foes；
was he。 The knife he made was the expression of his character
in steel。 It is a knife of extreme unctionthe oil and
wafer are all that remains for the men who feels its edge。
For my part； I honor the Senora's thought。 It is a great
satisfaction to me to hope that Bowie； and Crockett； and
Travis； and Fannin； and all their company were present at San
Jacinto。 If the just God permitted it； 'twas a favor of
supreme justice。〃
〃But then you are not alone in the thought； Lopez。 I heard
General Sherman say； ‘Poor Fannin！ He has been blamed for not
obeying Houston's orders。 I THINK HE OBEYED THEM TO…DAY。'
At the moment I did not comprehend； but now it is plain to me。
He thought Fannin had been present； and perhaps it was this
belief made him so impetuous and invincible。 He fought like
a spirit； one forgot that he was flesh and blood。〃
〃Sherman is of a grand stock；〃 said the doctor； descended from
the wise Roger Sherman； bred in Massachusetts and trained in
all the hardy virtues of her sons。 It was from his lips the
battle…cry of ‘REMEMBER THE ALAMO！' sprang。〃
〃But then； Roberto； nothing shall persuade me that my
countrymen are cowards。〃
〃On the contrary； Maria； they kept their ground with great
courage。 They were slain by hundreds just where they stood
when the battle began。 Twenty…six officers and nearly seven
hundred men were left dead upon the field。 But the flight was
still more terrible。 Into the bayou horses and men rolled
down together。 The deep black stream became red； it was
choked up with their dead bodies； while the mire and water of
the morass was literally bridged with the smothered mules and
horses and soldiers。〃
〃The battle began at three o'clock； but we heard the firing
only for a very short time；〃 said Antonia。
〃After we reached their breastworks it lasted just eighteen
minutes。 At four； the whole Mexican army was dead； or flying
in every direction； and the pursuit and slaughter continued
until twilight。 Truly an unseen power made all our moves for
us。 It was a military miracle； for our loss was only eight
killed and seventeen wounded。〃
〃I am sorry Houston is among the wounded。〃
〃His ankle…bone is shattered。 He is suffering much。 I was
with him when he left the field and I was delighted with his
patience and dignity。 The men crowded around him。 They
seized his bridle； they clasped his hands。 ‘Have we done well
to…day； General？ Are you satisfied with us？' they cried。
〃‘You have covered yourselves with glory；' he answered。 ‘You
have written a grand page in American history this day；
boys。 For it was not for fame nor for empire you fought； but
for your rights as freemen； for your homes and your faith。'
〃The next moment he fell from his horse and we laid him down
at the foot of an oak tree。 He had fainted from loss of blood
and the agony of his wound； combined with the superhuman
exertions and anxieties of the past week。〃
〃But he is better now？〃
〃Yes； I dressed the wound as well as my appliances permitted；
but he will not be able to use his foot for some time。 No one
slept that night。 Weary as the men were； their excitement and
happiness were too great for the bonds of sleep。 In the
morning the rich spoils of the enemy's camp were divided among
them。 Houston refused any part in them。 ‘My share of the
honor is sufficient；' he said。 Yet the spoils were very
valuable ones to men who but a few hours before had nothing
but the clothing they wore and the arms they carried。 Among
them were nearly one thousand stand of English muskets； three
hundred valuable mules； one hundred fine horses； provisions；
clothing； tents； and at least twelve thousand dollars in
silver。〃
〃Were you on the field all the time； father？〃
〃I was near Houston from first to last。 When he saw the
battle was won； he did his best to prevent needless slaughter。
But men on a battle…field like San Jacinto cannot be reasoned
with； after a certain point； they could not even be commanded。
The majority had some private revenge to satisfy after the
public welfare had been served。 We met one old man in a
frenzy； covered with blood from his white beard to his boots；
his arms bare to his shoulders； his knife dripping from haft
to point。〃
〃Houston looked at him； and said something about mercy and
valor。 ‘General；' he said； ‘they killed two of my boys at
Goliad； and my brother at the Alamo。 I'll not spare a Mexican
while I've the strength to kill one。 I'm on the scent for
Santa Anna； and； by G； if I find him； I will spare Texas and
you any more trouble with the brute。'〃
At this moment Thomas Worth entered the marquee； and； in an
excited manner； said：
〃Santa Anna is taken！ Santa Anna is taken！ 〃
〃Taken！〃 cried the Senora in a passion。
〃Taken！ Is it possible the wretch is yet in this world？ I
was assuring myself that he was in one not so comfortable。
Why is he not killed？ It is an inconceivable insult to
humanity to let him live。 Have you thought of your brother
Juan？ Give me the knife in your belt； Thomas； if you cannot
use it。〃
〃My dear mother〃
〃Maria； my life！ Thomas could not wisely kill so important a
prisoner。 Texas wants him to secure her peace and
independence。 The lives of all the Americans in Mexico may
depend upon his。 Mere personal vengeance on him would be too
dear a satisfaction。 On the battle…field he might have been
lawfully slainand he was well looked for； but now； No。〃
〃Holy Mary！ might have been slain！ He ought to have been
slain； a thousand times over。〃
〃Luis； I wish that you had been a hero； and killed him。 Then
all our life long； if you had said； ‘Isabel； I slew Santa
Anna；' I should have given you honor for it。 I should be
obedient to your wishes for that deed。〃
〃But my charming one； I prefer to be obedient to your wish。
Let us not think of the creature； he is but a dead dog。〃
The doctor turned to his son。 〃Thomas； tell us about the
capture。〃
〃I was riding with a young lieutenant； called Sylvester； from
Cincinnati； and he saw a man hiding in the grass。 He was in
coarsest clothing； but Sylvester noticed under it linen of
fine cambric。 He said： ‘You are an officer； I perceive；
sir。' The man denied it； but when he could not escape； he
asked to be taken to General Houston。 Sylvester tied him to
his bridle…rein； and we soon learned the truth； for as we
passed the Mexican prisoners they lifted their hats and said；
with a murmur of amazement； ‘El Presidente！'
〃The news spread like wildfire。 As we took him through the
camp he trembled at the looks and words that assailed him； and
prayed us continually； ‘for the love of God and the saints；'
not to let him be slain。 We took him to Houston in safety。
Houston was resting on the ground； having had； as my father
knows； a night of great suffering。 Santa Anna approached
him； and； laying his hand on his heart； said： ‘I am General
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna； President of the Mexican
Republic； and I claim to be your prisoner of war。' Houston
pointed to a seat； and then sent for Santa Anna's secretary；
Almonte； who is also a prisoner； and who speaks English
perfectly。'
〃When Almonte came； he embraced Santa Anna； and addressing
Houston； said： ‘General； you are born to a great destiny。
You have conquered the Napoleon of the West。 Generosity
becomes the brave and the fortunate。'
〃Houston answered； sternly： ‘You should have remembered that
sentiment at the Alamo and at Goliad。'
〃Then the following conversation occurred。 Santa Anna said：
〃‘The Alamo was taken by storm。 The usages of war permitted
the slaughter。'
〃‘We live in the nineteenth century； President。 We profess to
be Christians。'
〃‘I have to remind you； General Houston； of the storming of
San Sebastian； Ciudad； Riego and Badajos； by the Duke of
Wellington。'
〃‘That was in Spain。 There may have been circumstances
demanding such cruelty。'
〃‘Permit me also to bring to your intelligence the battles at
Fort Meigs and at the river Raisin。 American prisoners were
there given by English officers to their Indian allies for
torture and death。 The English war cry at Sandusky was； 〃Give
the d Yankees no quarter。〃'
〃‘Sir； permit me to say； that you read history to a devilish
purpose； if you read it to search after brutal precedents。 At
Goliad our men surrendered。 They were promised safe…conduct
out of Texas。 The