Then；　room　by　room　was　taken　with　slaughter　incredible。　　There
  were　fourteen　Americans　in　the　hospital。　　They　fired　their
  rifles　and　pistols　from　their　pallets　with　such　deadly　aim
  that　Milagros　turned　a　cannon　shotted　with　grape　and　canister
  upon　them。　　They　were　blown　to　pieces；　but　at　the　entrance　of
  the　door　they　left　forty　dead　Mexicans。〃
  〃Ah　Senor；　Senor！　tell　me　no　more。　　My　heart　can　not　endure
  it。〃
  〃Mi　madre；〃　answered　Isabel；　〃we　must　hear　it　all。　　Without
  it；　one　cannot　learn　to　hate　Santa　Anna　sufficiently〃；　and　her
  small；　white　teeth　snapped　savagely；　as　she　touched　the　hand
  of　Lopez　with　an　imperative　〃Proceed。〃
  〃Colonel　Bowie　was　helpless　in　bed。　　Two　Mexican　officers
  fired　at　him；　and　one　ran　forward　to　stab　him　ere　he　died。
  The　dying　man　caught　his　murderer　by　the　hair　of　his　head；　and
  plunged　his　knife　into　his　heart。　　They　went　to　judgment　at
  the　same　moment。〃
  〃I　am　glad　of　it！　　Glad　of　it！　　The　American　would　say　to　the
  Almighty：　　‘Thou　gavest　me　life；　and　thou　gavest　me　freedom；
  freedom；　that　is　the　nobler　gift　of　the　two。　　This　man　robbed
  me　of　both。'　　And　God　is　just。　　The　Judge　of　the　whole　earth
  will　do　right。〃
  〃At　noon；　only　six　of　the　one　hundred　and　eighty…three　were
  left　alive。　　They　were　surrounded　by　Castrillon　and　his
  soldiers。　　Xavier　says　his　general　was　penetrated　with
  admiration　for　these　heroes。　　He　spoke　sympathizingly　to
  Crockett；　who　stood　in　an　angle　of　the　fort；　with　his
  shattered　rifle　in　his　right　hand；　and　his　massive　knife；
  dripping　with　blood；　in　his　left。　　His　face　was　gashed；　his
  white　hair　crimson　with　blood；　but　a　score　of　Mexicans；　dead
  and　dying；　were　around　him。　　At　his　side　was　Travis；　but　so
  exhausted　that　he　was　scarcely　alive。
  〃Castrillon　could　not　kill　these　heroes。　　He　asked　their　lives
  of　Santa　Anna；　who　stood　with　a　scowling；　savage　face　in
  this　last　citadel　of　his　foes。　　For　answer；　he　turned　to　the
  men　around　him；　and　said；　with　a　malignant　emphasis：
  ‘Fire！'　　It　was　the　last　volley。　　Of　the　defenders　of　the
  Alamo；　not　one　is　left。〃
  A　solemn　silence　followed。　　For　a　few　minutes　it　was　painful
  in　its　intensity。　　Isabel　broke　it。　　She　spoke　in　a　whisper；
  but　her　voice　was　full　of　intense　feeling。　　〃I　wish　indeed　the
  whole　city　had　been　burnt　up。　　There　was　a　fire　this
  afternoon；　I　would　be　glad　if　it　were　burning　yet。〃
  〃May　God　pardon　us　all；　Senorita！　　That　was　a　fire　which　does
  not　go　out。　　It　will　burn　for　ages。　　I　will　explain　myself。
  Santa　Anna　had　the　dead　Americans　put　into　ox…wagons　and
  carried　to　an　open　field　outside　the　city。　　There　they　were
  burnt　to　ashes。　　The　glorious　pile　was　still　casting　lurid
  flashes　and　shadows　as　I　passed　it。〃
  〃I　will　hear　no　more！　　I　will　hear　no　more！〃　cried　the　Senora。
  〃And　I　will　go　away　from　here。　　Ah；　Senor；　why　do　you　not　make
  haste？　　In　a　few　hours　we　shall　have　daylight　again。　　I　am　in
  a　terror。　　Where　is　Ortiz？〃
  〃The　horses　are　not　caught　in　a　five　minutes；　Senora。
  But　listen；　there　is　the　roll　of　the　wagon　on　the　flagged
  court。　　All；　then；　is　ready。　　Senora；　show　now　that　you　are　of
  a　noble　house；　and　in　this　hour　of　adversity　be　brave；　as　the
  Flores　have　always　been。〃
  She　was　pleased　by　the　entreaty；　and　took　his　arm　with　a
  composure　which；　though　assumed；　was　a　sort　of　strength。　　She
  entered　the　wagon　with　her　daughters；　and　uttered　no　word　of
  complaint。　　Then　Navarro　locked　the　gate；　and　took　his　seat
  beside　Ortiz。　　The　prairie　turf　deadened　the　beat　of　their
  horses'　hoofs；　they　went　at　a　flying　pace；　and　when　the　first
  pallid　light　of　morning　touched　the　east；　they　had　left　San
  Antonio　far　behind　and　were　nearing　the　beautiful　banks　of　the
  Cibolo。
  CHAPTER　XV。
  GOLIAD。
  〃How　sleep　the　brave　who　sink　to　rest
  By　all　their　country's　wishes　bless'd？
  *　　　*　　　*　　　*　　　*
  By　fairy　hands　their　knell　is　rung；
  By　forms　unseen　their　dirge　is　sung。
  There　Honor　comes；　a　pilgrim　gray；
  To　bless　the　turf　that　wraps　their　clay；
  And　Freedom　shall　awhile　repair；
  To　dwell　a　weeping　hermit　there。〃
  〃How　shall　we　rank　thee　upon　glory's　page？
  Thou　more　than　soldier；　and　just　less　than　sage。〃
  〃Grief　fills　the　room　up　of　my　absent　child；
  Lies　in　his　bed；　walks　up　and　down　with　me；
  Remembers　me　of　all　his　gracious　parts。〃
  Near　midnight；　on　March　the　ninth；　the　weary　fugitives　arrived
  at　Gonzales。　　They　had　been　detained　by　the　deep　mud　in　the
  bottom　lands；　and　by　the　extreme　exhaustion　of　the　ladies；
  demanding　some　hours'　rest　each　day。　　　The　village　was　dark
  and　quiet。　　Here　and　there　the　glimmer　of　a　candle；
  now　and　then　the　call　of　a　sentry；　or　the　wail　of　a　child
  broke　the　mysterious　silence。
  Ortiz　appeared　to　know　the　ground　perfectly。　　He　drove　without
  hesitation　to　a　log　house　in　which　a　faint　thread　of　light　was
  observable；　and　as　he　approached　it　he　gave　a　long；　peculiar
  whistle。　　The　door　was　instantly　thrown　open；　and；　as　the
  wagon　stopped；　two　men　stepped　eagerly　to　it。　　In　another
  instant　the　Senora　was　weeping　in　her　husband's　arms；　and
  Isabel　laughing　and　crying　and　murmuring　her　sweet　surprises
  into　the　ear　of　the　delighted　Luis。　　When　their　wraps　had　been
  removed　from　the　wagon；　Ortiz　drove　away；　leaving　Navarro　and
  Antonia　standing　by　the　little　pile　of　ladies'　luggage。
  〃I　will　take　charge　of　all；　Senorita。　　Alas！　　How　weary　you
  are！〃
  〃It　is　nothing；　Senor。　　Let　me　thank　you　for　your　great
  kindness。〃
  〃Senorita；　to　be　of　service　to　you　is　my　good　fortune。　　If　it
  were　necessary；　my　life　for　your　life；　and　I　would　die　happy。〃
  She　had　given　him　her　hand　with　her　little　speech　of　thanks；
  and　he　raised　it　to　his　lips。　　It　was　an　act　of　homage
  that　he　might　have　offered　to　a　saint；　but　in　it　Lopez
  unconsciously　revealed　to　Antonia　the　secret　love　in　his
  heart。　　For　he　stood　in　the　glow　of　light　from　the　open　door；
  and　his　handsome　face　showed；　as　in　a　glass　darkly；　the
  tenderness　and　hopelessness　of　his　great　affection。　　She　was
  touched　by　the　discovery；　and　though　she　had　a　nature　faithful
  as　sunrising　she　could　not　help　a　feeling　of　kindly　interest
  in　a　lover　so　reticent；　so　watchful；　so　forgetful　of　himself。
  The　log　cabin　in　which　they　found　shelter　was　at　least　a
  resting…place。　　A　fire　of　cedar　logs　burned　upon　the　hearth；
  and　there　was　a　bed　in　the　room；　and　a　few　rude　chairs　covered
  with　raw　hide。　　But　the　Senora　had　a　happy　smile　on　her　weary
  face。　　She　ignored　the　poverty　of　her　surroundings。　　She　had
  her　Roberto；　and；　for　this　hour　at　least；　had　forgiven　fate。
  Presently　the　coffee…pot　was　boiling；　and　Doctor　Worth　and
  Luis　brought　out　their　small　store　of　corn…bread　and　their　tin
  camp…cups；　and　the　weary　women　ate　and　drank；　and　comforted
  themselves　in　the　love　and　protection　at　their　side。
  Doctor　Worth　sat　by　his　wife；　and　gave　Antonia　his　hand。
  Isabel　leaned　her　pretty　head　against　Luis；　and　listened　with
  happy　smiles　to　his　low　words：
  〃Charming　little　one；　your　lips　are　two　crimson　curtains。
  Between　curtain　and　curtain　my　kiss　is　waiting。　　Give　it　to
  me。〃
  〃Eyes　of　my　soul；　to…night　the　world　begins　again　for　me。〃
  〃At　this　blessed　hour　of　God；　I　am　the　happiest　man　he　has
  made。〃
  〃As　for　me；　here　in　this　dear；　white　hand　I　put　my　heart。〃
  Is　there　any　woman　who　cannot　imagine　Isabel's　shy　glances；
  and　the　low；　sweet　words　in　which　she　answered　such　delightful
  protestations？　　And　soon；　to　add　a　keener　zest　to　his
  happiness；　Luis　began　to　be　a　little　jealous。
  〃With　us　is　Dias　de　Bonilla。　　Do　you　remember；　my　beloved　one。
  that　you　danced　with　him　once？〃
  〃How　can　you　say　a　thing　so　offensive？〃
  〃Yes；　dear；　at　the　Senora　Valdez's。〃
  〃It　may　be。　　I　have　forgotten。〃
  〃Too　well　he　remembers。　　He　has　dared　to　sing　a　serenade
  to　your　memorywell；　truly；　he　did　not　finish　it；　and　but　for
  the　Senor　Doctor；　I　should　have　taught　him　that　Isabel　is　not
  a　name　for　his　lips　to　utter。　　Here；　he　may　presume　to　come
  into　your　presence。　　Will　you　receive　him　with　extreme
  haughtiness？　　It　would　be　a　great　satisfaction　to　me。〃
  〃The　poor　fellow！　　Why　should　I　make　him　miserable？　　You
  should　not　be　jealous；　Luis。〃
  〃If　you　smile　on　himthe　least　little　smilehe　will　think
  you　are　in　love　with　him。　　He　is　such　a　fool；　I　assure　you。
  I　am　very　distressed　about　this　matter；　my　angel。〃
  〃I　will　tell　you　Luiswhen　the　myrtle…tree　grows　figs；　and
  the　fig…tree　is　pink　with　myrtle　flowers；　then　I　may　fall　in
  love　with　Dias　de　Bonillaif　I　can　take　the　trouble。〃
  No　one　heeded　this　pretty；　extravagant　talk。　　It　was　a　thing
  apart　from　the　more　serious　interests　discussed　by　Doctor
  Worth　and　his　wife　and　eldest　daughter。　　And　when　Ortiz　and
  Navarro　joined　the　circle；　the　story　of　the　fall　of　the　Alamo
  was　told　again；　and　Luis　forgot　his　own　happiness；　and　wept
  tears　of　anger　and　pity　for　the　dead　heroes。
  〃This　brutal　massacre　was　on　the　morning　of　the　sixth；　you
  say；　Navarro？〃
  〃Last　Sabbath　morning；　Senor。　　Mass　was　being　offered　in　the
  churches；　and　Te　Deums　sung　while　it　went　on。〃
  〃A　mass　to　the　devil　it　was；〃　said　Ortiz。
  〃Now；　I　will　tell　you　something。　　On　the　morning　of　the
  second；　Thomas　w