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