remember the alamo-第32章

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Burleson　and　Travis　were　talking　under　the　shade　of　a　China
tree；　and　there　were　little　groups　of　American　soldiers　on
every　street；　this　was　what　he　saw；　and　yet　a　terrible　sense
of　insecurity　oppressed　him。

The　city；　moreover；　was　not　settling　to　its　usual　business；
though　there　were　many　preparations　for　public　and　private
entertainments。　　After　passing　Colonel　Bowie；　he　met　David
Burnett。　　The　shrewd　statesman　from　New　Jersey　had　a　shadow
upon　his　face。　　He　stopped　Doctor　Worth　and　spoke　frankly　to
him。　　〃We　are　in　greater　danger　now　than　when　we　were　under
fire；〃　he　said。　　〃Santa　Anna　will　come　on　us　like　a　lion　from
the　swellings　of　Jordan。　　I　wish　Houston　knew　our　position　as
it　really　is。　　We　must　either　have　more　men　to　defend
this　city　or　we　must　blow　up　the　Alamo　　and　be　ready　to
leave　it　at　a　moment's　notice。〃

〃Why　were　such　favorable　terms　given　to　General　Cos　and　his
troops？　　I　cannot　understand　it。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　an　amazing　fact。　　When　Cos　ran　up　that　white
flag　on　the　Alamo；　we　had　not　a　single　round　of　ammunition
left；　complaisance　was　necessary　until　Cos　made　over　to　us　the
Mexican　arms；　ammunition；　property　and　money。〃

Worth　turned　and　looked　at　the　fort。　　A　great　red　flag　on
which　was　the　word　T…E…X…A…S　floated　from　its　battlements；　and
there　were　two　men　standing　on　its　roof；　with　their　faces
westward。

〃They　are　the　lookouts；〃　said　Burnett；　〃and　we　have　scouts
through　the　surrounding　country；　but　Santa　Anna　will　come；
when　he　comes；　with　tens　of　thousands。〃

〃And　there　is　a　line　where　even　the　coolest　courage　and　the
most　brilliant　bravery　succumbs　to　mere　numbersEh！〃

〃That　is　what　I　mean；　Doctor。〃

〃Where　is　Houston？〃

〃On　the　Brazos；　at　the　small　town　of　Washington。　　The
council　have　established　headquarters　there。〃

Their　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　ringing　of　a　little
bell；　and　the　doleful　supplications　of　a　priest　followed　by　a
crowd　of　idle　men　and　women。　　He　was　begging；　〃for　the　sake　of
the　Holy　Virgin；〃　alms　to　say　masses　for　the　soul　of　an
unfortunate；　who　had　not　left　a　peso　for　his　burial。　　He
droned　on；　and　no　one　noticed　him　until　James　Bowie　stretched
his　tall　figure；　sauntered　up　to　the　monk　and　dropped　a　gold
piece　into　his　cap。　　He　did　not　stay　to　hear　the　exclamations
and　the　gracias；　but　with　steps　that　rang　like　metal　upon
metal　took　his　way　to　the　Alamo。

However；　dangers　postponed　make　the　most　timorous　indifferent
to　them；　and　when　General　Cos　did　not　return；　and　nothing　was
heard　of　Santa　Anna；　every　one　began　to　take　up　their　ordinary
life　again。　　The　temper　of　the　Americans　also　encouraged　this
disposition。　　They　were　discovered　neither　to　be　bloodthirsty
nor　cannibals。　　It　was　even　seen　that　they　enjoyed　the
fandango　and　the　monte　tables；　and　that　a　proposition　for　a
bullfight　at　Christmas　was　not　opposed　by　them。

And　in　spite　of　all　anxieties；　there　were　many　sweet　and
unusual　pleasures　in　the　Worth　home。　　The　discipline　of　the
troops　was　so　lenient　that　Dare　and　Luisone　or　bothwere
generally　there　in　the　evenings。　　Their　turns　as　scouts　or
watchman　at　the　Alamo　only　made　more　delightful　the　hours　when
they　were　exempted　from　these　duties。　　As　for　the　doctor；　he
had　been　released　from　all　obligations　but　those　pertaining　to
his　profession；　and　Antonia；　noticed　that　he　spent　every　hour
he　could　spare　with　the　Senora。　　For　some　reason；　he　appeared
determined　to　strengthen　his　influence　over　her。

On　Christmas　Eve　the　old　city　was　very　gay。　　The　churches　were
decorated；　and　splendidly　dressed　men　and　women　passed　in　and
out　with　smiles　and　congratulations。　　The　fandangoes　and　the
gambling　houses　were　all　open。　　From　the　huertas　around；　great
numbers　of　families　had　come　to　receive　absolution　and　keep
the　Nativity。　　Their　rich　clothing　and　air　of　idleness　gave　a
holiday　feeling　to　the　streets　noisy　with　the　buzzing　of　the
guitar；　the　metallic　throb　of　the　cithara；　the　murmurs　of
voices；　and　the　cries　of　the　hawkers。　　Priests；　Mexicans；
Indians　and　Americans　touched　each　other　on　the　narrow
thoroughfares；　but　that　indescribable　feeling　of　good　will
which　comes　with　Christmas　pervaded　the　atmosphere；　and　gave；
even　in　the　midst　of　war　and　danger；　a　sense　of　anticipated
pleasure。

At　the　Worth　residence　there　was　a　household　feast。　　The
Senora　and　her　daughters　were　in　full　dress。　　They　were
waiting　for　the　dear　ones　who　had　promised　to　join　them　at　the
Angelus。　　One　by　one　the　houses　around　were　illuminated。　
Parties　of　simple　musicians　began　to　pass　each　other
continuallythey　were　going　to　serenade　the　blessed　Mary　all
night　long。　　As　Antonia　closed　the　balcony　window；　half　a
dozen　of　these　young　boys　passed　the　garden　hedge　singing　to
the　clacking　of　their　castanets

　　　　　　　　〃This　is　the　eve　of　Christmas；
　　　　　　　　　No　sleep　from　night　to　morn；
　　　　　　　　　The　Virgin　is　in　travail；
　　　　　　　　　At　twelve　will　the　Child　be　born。〃

Luis　appeared　at　the　same　moment。　　He　caught　up　the　wild
melody　and　came　up　the　garden　path　singing　it。　　Dare　and　the
doctor　followed　him。　　It　struck　Antonia　that　they　were
talking　of　a　change；　or　of　something　important。　　But　there　was
no　time　for　observation。　　Isabel；　radiant　in　crimson　satin；
with　her　white　mantilla　over　her　head；　darted　forward　to　meet
Luis；　and　turned　his　song　to　the　Virgin　into　a　little
adulation　for　herself。　　Dare　and　the　doctor　took　Antonia's
hands；　and　there　was　something　in　the　silent　clasp　of　each
which　made　her　heart　tremble。

But　she　was　not　one　of　those　foolish　women　who　enquire　after
misfortune。　　She　could　wait　and　let　the　evil　news　find　her；
and　by　so　doing　she　won　many　a　bright　hour　from　the　advancing
shadows。　　The　Senora　was　in　unusual　spirits。　　She　had　obtained
a　new　confessor。　　〃A　man　of　the　most　seraphic　mind；　and；
moreover；　so　fortunate　as　to　be　connected　with　the　house　of
Flores。〃　　He　had　been　gentle　to　her　in　the　matter　of　penances；
and　not　set　her　religious　obligations　above　her　capacities。　
Consequently；　the　Senora　had　laid　aside　her　penitential
garments。　　She　was　in　full　Castilian　costume；　and　looked　very
handsome。　　But　Antonia；　who　had　been　in　New　York　during　those
years　when　she　would　otherwise　have　been　learning　how　to
wear　a　mantilla　and　use　a　fan；　did　not　attempt　such
difficulties　of　the　toilet。　　She　knew　that　she　would　look
unnatural　in　them；　and　she　adhered　to　the　American　fashions　of
her　day。　　But　in　a　plain　frock　of　dark　satin　trimmed　with
minever　bands；　she　looked　exceedingly　noble　and　lovely。

The　meal　was　a　very　merry　one；　and　after　it　Lopez　Navarro
joined　the　party　and　they　had　music　and　dancing；　and　finally
gathered　around　the　fire　to　hear　the　singing　of　Luis。　　He　knew
a　great　many　of　the　serenades；　and　as　he　sang　of　the　Virgin
and　the　Babe；　a　sweeter　peace；　a　more　solemn　joy；　came　to　each
heart。　　It　was　like　bringing　something　of　the　bliss　of　heaven
into　the　bliss　of　earth。　　The　Senora's　eyes　were　full　of
tears；　she　slipped　her　hand　into　her　husband's　and　looked　at
him　with　a　face　which　asked；　〃Do　you　not　also　feel　the
eternity　of　a　true　love？〃

〃How　sweet　and　wild　are　these　serenades；　Luis！　said　Antonia。　
〃I　wonder　who　wrote　them？〃

〃But；　then；　they　were　never　written；　my　sister。　　Out　of　the
hearts　of　lonely　shepherds　they　came；　or　of　women　spinning　in
their　quiet　houses；　yes；　even　of　soldiers　in　the　strong
places　keeping　their　watch。〃

〃That　is　the　truth；　Luis；〃　answered　Isabel。　　〃And　every
Christmas；　when　I　was　in　the　convent　the　Sisters　made　a
serenade　to　the　Virgin；　or　a　seguidilla　to　our　blessed　Lord。　
Very　still　are　the　Sisters；　but　when　it　comes　to　singing；　I
can　assure　you　the　angels　might　listen！〃

〃There　is　a　seguidilla　I　hear　everywhere；〃　said　the　doctor；
〃and　I　never　hear　it　without　feeling　the　better　for　listening。　
It　begins‘So　noble　a　Lord。'〃

〃That；　indeed！〃　cried　Luis。　　〃Who　knows　it　not？　　It　is　the
seguidilla　to　our　blessed　Lord；　written　by　the　daughter　of
Lope　de　Vegathe　holy　Marcela　Carpio。　　You　know　it；　Senora？〃

〃As　I　know　my　Credo；　Luis。〃

〃And　you；　Isabel？〃

〃Since　I　was　a　little　one；　as　high　as　my　father's　knee。　
Rachela　taught　it　to　me。〃

〃And　you；　Lopez。〃

〃That　is　sure；　Luis。〃

〃And　I；　too！〃　sai