what　moral　torture　could　be　inflicted；　what　spiritual
  servitude　exacted。　　In　a　moment　of　time　she　had　comprehended
  her　danger；　and　her　heart　sank　and　sickened　with　a　genuine
  physical　terror。
  The　cold　was　still　severe；　and　no　one　answered　her　call　for
  wood。　　Isabel　crouched；　white　and　shivering；　over　the　dying
  embers；　and　it　was　she　who　first　uttered　the　fear　Antonia　had
  refused　to　admit　to　herself〃Suppose　the　servants　are
  forbidden　to　wait　upon　us！〃
  〃I　will　bring　wood　myself；　dearest。〃　　She　was　greatly
  comforted　by　the　word　〃us。〃　　She　could　almost　have　wept　for
  joy　of　the　sympathy　it　included。　　For　thought　is　rapid　in　such
  crucial　moments；　and　she　had　decided　that　even　flight　with　her
  would　be　a　kinder　fate　for　Isabel；　than　the　cruel　tender
  mercies　of　the　Sisters　and　the　convent。
  They　could　not　talk　much。　　The　thought　of　their　mother's
  anguish；　and　of　the　separation　put　between　them　and　their
  household；　shocked　and　terrified　them。　　Vainly　they　called　for
  fuel。　　At　dinner　time　no　table　was　laid；　and　no　preparations
  made　for　the　meal。　　Then　Antonia　went　into　the　kitchen。　　She
  took　with　her　food；　and　cooked　it。　　She　brought　wood　into　the
  parlor；　and　made　up　the　fire。　　Fortunately；　her　northern
  education　had　given　her　plenty　of　resources　for　such
  emergencies。　　Two　or　three　savory　dishes　were　soon　ready；　and
  the　small　table　set　upon　a　warm；　bright　hearth。
  The　Senora　had　evidently　not　been　included　in　the　ban；　for
  Rachela　attended　with　ostentatious　care　to　her　comfort；　but
  Isabel　had　rolled　herself　up　in　a　wadded　silk　coverlet　and
  gone　to　sleep。　　Antonia　awakened　her　with　a　kiss。　　〃Come；
  queridita；　and　get　your　dinner。〃
  〃But　is　it　possible？　　I　thought　Fray　Ignatius　had　forbidden
  it。〃
  〃He　cannot　forbid　me　to　wait　upon　you；　my　darling　one。　　And　he
  cannot　turn　the　flour　into　dust；　and　the　meat　into　stone。
  There　is　a　good　dinner　ready；　and　you　are　hungry；　no　doubt。〃
  〃For　three　hours　I　have　been　faint。　　Ah！　you　have　made　me　a
  custard　also！　　You　are　a　very　comforter。〃
  But　the　girl　was　still　and　sad；　and　Antonia　was　hard　pressed
  to　find　any　real　comfort　for　her。　　For　she　knew　that　their
  only　hope　lay　in　the　immediate　attack　of　the　American　force；
  and　its　success；　and　she　did　not　think　it　wise　to　hide　from
  her　sister　the　alternatives　that　lay　before　them　if　the
  Americans　failed。
  〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Isabel；　〃and　so　unhappy。　　A　very　sad
  business　is　life。　　I　cannot　think　how　any　one　can　care　to
  live。〃
  〃Remember　Luis；　and　our　father；　and　Jack；　and　Thomas；　and　our
  dear　mother；　who　this　morning　stood　between　us　and　Fray
  Ignatius。　　Will　you　let　this　priest　turn　the　sky　black　above
  you？〃
  〃And　also；　men　will　fight。　　What　for？　　Who　can　tell？　　The
  Americans　want　so　much　of　everything。　　Naturally　they　do　not
  get　all　they　want。　　What　do　they　do？　　Fight；　and　get　killed。
  Then　they　go　into　the　next　world；　and　complain　of　people。　　As
  for　Luis；　I　do　not　expect　to　see　him　again。〃
  Fortunately；　the　norther　moderated　at　sunset。　　Life　then
  seemed　so　much　more　possible。　　Adverse　elements　intensify
  adverse　fortune；　and　the　physical　suffering　from　the　cold　had
  also　benumbed　Antonia's　spirits；　and　made　her　less　hopeful　and
  less　clear…visioned。　　But　when　she　awoke　at　the　gray　dawn　of
  the　next　day；　she　awoke　with　a　different　spirit。　　She　had
  regained　herself。　　She　rose　quietly；　and　looked　out　towards
  the　city。　　The　black　flag　from　the　Alamo　and　the　Missions　hung
  above　it。　　She　looked　at　the　ominous　standards；　and　then　the
  tears　sprang　to　her　eyes；　she　lifted　her　face　and　her　hands　to
  heaven；　and　a　few　words；　swifter　than　light；　sprang　from　her
  soul　into　the　ear　of　the　Eternal　Father　of　Spirits。
  The　answer　came　with　the　petitioncame　with　the　crack　of
  rifle　shots；　precise；　regular；　unceasing。
  〃Oh　God！　I　thank　Thee！　　Lord　of　Hosts；　Thou　art　a　great
  multitude！　　Isabel！　　Isabel！　　The　Americans　are　attacking　the
  city！　　Our　father　will　fight　his　way　back　to　his　home！　　Fray
  Ignatius　can　not　come　to…day。　　Oh；　I　am　so　happy！　　So　happy！
  Listen！　　How　the　Mexicans　are　shouting！　　They　are　cheering　on
  the　men！　　What　a　turmoil！〃
  〃Jesu；　Maria；　have　mercy！〃　cried　Isabel；　clasping　her　crucifix
  and　falling　upon　her　knees。
  〃Oh；　Isabel；　pray　for　our　father；　that　his　angel　may
  overshadow　him　with　strong　wings。〃
  〃And　Luis？〃
  〃And　Luis；　and　Thomas；　and　Jack；　and　Dare。　　There　are　prayers
  for　them　all；　and　love　enough　to　make　them。　　Hark！　there　are
  the　drums；　and　the　trumpets；　and　the　gallop　of　the　cavalry。
  Come；　dearest；　let　us　go　to　our　mother。　　To　day；　no　one　will
  remember　Fray　Ignatius。〃
  CHAPTER　IX。
  THE　STORMING　OF　THE　ALAMO。
  〃Now；　hearts；
  Be　ribbed　with　iron　for　this　one　attempt：
  Set　ope'　your　sluices；　send　the　vigorous　blood
  Through　every　active　limb　for　our　relief。〃
  〃Now　they　begin　the　tragic　play；
  And　with　their　smoky　cannon　banish　day。〃
  〃Endure　and　conquer。　　God　will　soon　dispose
  To　future　good　our　past　and　present　woes：
  Resume　your　courage；　and　dismiss　your　care；
  An　hour　will　come　with　pleasure　to　relate
  Your　sorrows　past；　as　benefits　of　Fate。〃
  The　Senora　was　already　dressed。　　She　turned　with　a　face　full
  of　fear　and　anger　to　her　daughters　as　they　entered　her　room
  〃These　American　diablos！　　They　are　attacking　the　city。　　They
  will　take　itthat　is　to　be　expectedwho　can　fight　diablos？
  And　what　is　to　become　of　us？　　Oh；　Antonia！　　Why　did　you
  prevent　Fray　Ignatius？　　We　might　now　have　been　safe　in　the
  convent〃；　and　Rachela　nodded　her　head　in　assent；
  with　an　insufferable　air　of　reproof　and　toleration。
  Antonia　saw　that　the　time　had　not　yet　come　for　pleading　her
  own　cause。　　She　left　Isabel　with　her　mother。　　The　Senora's
  breakfast　was　waiting；　and　she　offered　to　share　it　with　her
  youngest　daughter。　　Antonia　went　downstairs　to　prepare　for
  herself　some　coffee。　　She　was　surprised　and　pleased　to　find　it
  made。　　For　a　certain　thought　had　come　to　Molly　in　the　night
  and　she　had　acted　upon　it
  〃The　praist　is　a　strange　praist；　and　almost　as　black　as　a
  nagur；　and　I'd　be　a　poor　body；　I　think；　to　let　him　be　meddling
  wid　my　work。　　Shure；　I　never　heard　of　the　like　of　such
  interfering　in　Ireland；　nor　in　the　States　at　all！〃　　Then
  turning　to　the　Mexican　cook；　Manuel〃You　may　lave　the　fire
  alone　till　I　bees　done　wid　it。〃
  〃Fray　Ignatius　will　not　give　you　absolution　if　you　disobey
  him。〃
  〃He　can　be　kaping　the　same　then。　　There　is　an　Irish　praist　at
  San　Patricio；　and　I'll　be　going　there　for　my　absolution；　and
  I'll　be　getting　none　any　nearer　that　an　Irish　soul　will　be　a
  pin　the　better　for。　　I'll　say　that；　standing　in　the
  church；　to　the　saints　themselves；　and　so　be　aff　wid　you　and
  let　the　fire　alone　till　I　bees　done　wid　it。〃
  But　it　was　not　Molly's　place　to　serve　the　food　she　cooked；　and
  she　did　not　trouble　herself　about　the　serving。　　When　she　had
  asserted　her　right　to　control　her　own　work；　and　do　it　or
  neglect　it　as　it　seemed　good　to　herself　alone；　she　was
  satisfied。　　Over　Antoniawho　was　at　least　half　a　Mexicanshe
  acknowledged　a　Mexican　priest　to　have　authority；　and　she　had
  no　intention　of　interfering　between　Fray　Ignatius　and　his
  lawful　flock。　　She　was　smoking　her　pipe　by　the　fire　when
  Antonia　entered　the　kitchen；　and　she　neither　lifted　her　eyes
  nor　spoke　to　her。
  Against　such　unreasonable　isolation　Antonia　could　not　help　a
  feeling　of　anger；　and　she　heard　with　satisfaction　the　regular
  crack　of　the　rifles。　　Her　thought　was〃They　will　make　these
  people　find　their　tongues　also；　very　soon。〃　　She　was
  exceedingly　anxious　for　information；　and；　as　she　ate　her　roll
  and　drank　her　coffees　she　was　considering　how　they　could　gain
  it。　　For　even　if　Fray　Ignatius　were　able　to　visit　them；　his
  report　would　be　colored　by　his　prejudices　and　his
  desires；　and　could　not　be　relied　on。
  Her　heart　fluttered　and　sank；　she　was　hot　and　cold；　sanguine
  and　fearful。　　She　could　not　endure　the　idea　of　a　suspense
  unrelieved　by　any　reliable　word。　　For　the　siege　might　be　a
  long　one。　　San　Antonio　was　strongly　walled　and　defended。　　The
  Alamo　fortress　stood　in　its　centre。　　It　had　forty…eight
  cannon；　and　a　garrison　of　a　thousand　men。　　Before　it　could　be
  reached；　the　city　had　to　be　taken；　and　the　inhabitants　would
  in　the　main　fight　desperately　for　their　homes。
  As　soon　as　she　was　alone　with　her　mother；　she　pointed　out
  these　facts　to　her。　　〃Let　me　write　to　Lopez　Navarro；　mi　madre。
  He　is　a　friend。〃
  〃Of　the　Americans！　　Si。〃
  〃Of　freedom。　　He　will　send　us　word。〃
  〃Are　you　forgetful　of　what　is　moral　and　respectable；　Antonia？
  That　a　young　lady　should　write　to　Lopez　Navarroa　man　that　is
  unmarriedis　such　a　thing　as　never　before　happened！　　He　would
  think　the　world　had　come　to　an　end；　or　worse。〃
  〃Dear　mother！　　In　a　time　of　trouble　like　this；　who　would
  think　wrong　of　us？　　Surely　you　might　write。〃
  〃As　you　say；　Antonia。　　Tell　me；　then；　who　will　take　the
  letter。〃
  〃The　peon　Ortiz　will　take　it。　　This　morning　he　brought　in　wood
  and　kindled　the　fire；　and　I　saw　in　his　face　the　kindness　of
  his　heart。〃
  After　some　further　persuasion；　the　Senora　agreed　to　write；　and
  Ortiz　undertook　the　commission；　with　a　nod　of　understanding。
  Then　t