remember the alamo-第43章

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permit　such　cruelties？　　Did　He　know？　　Would　He　allow　a　handful
of　men　to　be　overpowered　by　numbers？　　Being　omnipotent；　would
He　not　in　some　way；　at　least；　make　the　fight　equal？　　The
instinct　of　her　anglo…American　nature　revolted　at　the
unfairness　of　the　struggle。　　Even　her　ejaculations　to　heaven
were　in　this　spirit。　　〃It　is　so　unjust；〃　she　murmured；　〃surely　
the　Lord　of　Hosts　will　prevent　a　fight　which　must　be　a
massacre。〃

As　she　went　about　the　simple　preparations　for　their　breakfast；
she　wept　continuouslytears　of　indignation　and　sorrowtears
coming　from　the　strength　of　feeling；　rather　than　its　weakness。　
The　Senora　could　eat　nothing。　　Isabel　was　white　with　terror。　
They　wandered　from　window　to　window　in　the　last　extremity　of
anxiety。

About　seven　o'clock　they　saw　Ortiz　pass　the　house。　　There　were
so　many　people　on　the　road　he　could　not　find　an　opportunity　to
enter　for　some　time。　　He　had　been　in　the　city　all　night。　　He
had　watched　the　movement　of　the　troops　in　the　starlight。　　As
he　drank　a　cup　of　chocolate；　he　said：

〃It　was　just　three　o'clock；　Senorita；　when　the　Matamoras
battalion　was　moved　forward。　　General　Cos　supported　it　with
two　thousand　men。

〃But　General　Cos　was　paroled　by　these　same　Americans　who　are
now　in　the　Alamo；　and　his　life　was　spared　on　condition　that　he
would　not　bear　arms　against　them　again。〃

〃It　is　but　one　lie；　one　infamy　more。　　When　I　left　the　city；
about　four　thousand　men　were　attacking　the　Alamo。　　The
infantry；　in　columns；　were　driven　up　to　the　walls　by　the
cavalry　which　surrounded　them。〃

〃The　Americans！　　Is　there　any　hope　for　them？〃

〃The　mercy　of　God　remains；　Senorita。　　That　is　all。　　The　Alamo
is　not　as　the　everlasting　hills。　　What　men　have　made；　men　can
also　destroy。　　Senor　Navarro　is　in　the　church；　praying　for　the
souls　that　are　passing　every　moment。〃

〃He　ought　to　have　been　fighting。　　To　help　the　living　is　better
than　to　pray　for　the　dead。〃

Permit　me　to　assure　you；　Senorita　Antonia；　that　no　man　has
done　more　for　the　living。　　In　time　of　war；　there　must　be　many
kinds　of　soldiers。　　Senor　Navarro　has　given　nearly　all；　that
he　possesses　for　the　hope　of　freedom。　　He　has　done　secret
service　of　incalculable　value。〃

〃Secret　service！　　I　prefer　those　who　have　the　courage　of　their
convictions；　and　who；　stand　by　them　publicly。〃

〃This　is　to　be　considered；　Senorita；　the　man　who　can　be　silent
can　also　speak　when　the　day　for　speaking　arrives。〃　　No　one
opposed　this　statement。　　It　did　not　seem　worth　while　to
discuss　opinions；　while　the　terrible　facts　of　the
position　were　appealing　to　every　sense。

As　the　day　went　on；　the　conflict　evidently　became　closer　and
fiercer。　　Ortiz　went　back　to　the　city；　and　the　three　lonely
women　knelt　upon　the　house…top；　listening　in　terror　to　the
tumult　of　the　battle。　　About　noon　the　firing　ceased；　and　an
awful　silencea　silence　that　made　the　ears　ache　to　be
relieved　of　itfollowed。

〃All　is　over！〃　moaned　Antonia；　and　she　covered　her　face　with
her　hands　and　sobbed　bitterly。　　Isabel　had　already　exhausted
tears。　　The　Senora；　with　her　crucifix　in　her　hand；　was　praying
for　the　poor　unfortunates　dying　without　prayer。

During　the　afternoon；　smoke　and　flame；　and　strange　and
sickening　odors　were　blown　northward　of　the　city；　and　for　some
time　it　seemed　probable　that　a　great　conflagration　would
follow　the　battle。　　How　they　longed　for　some　one　to　come！　　The
utmost　of　their　calamity　would　be　better　than　the　intolerable
suspense。　　But　hour　after　hour　went　past；　and　not　even　Ortiz
arrived。　　They　began　to　fear　that　both　he　and　Navarro　had　been
discovered　in　some　disloyalty　and　slain；　and　Antonia　was
heartsick　when　she　considered　the　helplessness　of　their
situation。

Still；　in　accordance　with　Navarro's　instructions；　they　dressed
for　the　contemplated　journey；　and　sat　in　the　dark；　anxiously
listening　for　footsteps。　　About　eleven　o'clock　Navarro　and
Ortiz　came　together。　　Ortiz　went　for　the　horses；　and　Navarro
sat　down　beside；　the　Senora。　　She　asked　him；　in　a　low　voice；
what　had　taken　place；　and　he　answered：

〃Everything　dreadful；　everything　cruel；　and　monstrous；　and
inhuman！　　Among　the　angels　in　heaven　there　is　sorrow　and　anger
this　night。〃　　His　voice　had　in　it　all　the　pathos　of　tears；　but
tears　mingled　with　a　burning　indignation。

〃The　Alamo　has　fallen！〃

〃Senorita　Antonia；　I　would　give　my　soul　to　undo　this　day's
work。　　It　is　a　disgrace　to　Mexico　which　centuries　cannot　wipe
out。〃

〃The　Americans？〃

〃Are　all　with　the　Merciful　One。〃

〃Not　one　saved？〃

〃Not　one。〃

〃Impossible！〃

〃I　will　tell　you。　　It　is　right　to　tell　the　whole　world　such　an
infamy。　　If　I　had　little　children　I　would　take　them　on　my　knee
and　teach　them　the　story。　　I　heard　it　from　the　lips　of　one
wet…shod　with　their　blood；　dripping　crimson　from　the　battle
my　own　cousin；　Xavier。　　He　was　with　General　Castrillon's
division。　　They　began　their　attack　at　four　in　the　morning；　and
after　two　hours'　desperate　fighting　succeeded　in　reaching　a
courtyard　of　the　Alamo。

〃They　found　the　windows　and　doors　barricaded　with　bags　of
earth。　　Behind　these　the　Americans　fought　hand　to　hand　with
despairing　valor。　　Ramires；　Siesma　and　Batres　led　the　columns；
and　Santa　Anna　gave　the　signal　of　battle　from　a　battery　near
the　bridge。　　When　the　second　charge　was　driven　back；　he　became
furious。　　He　put　himself　in　front　of　the　men；　and　with　shouts
and　oaths　led　them　to　the　third　charge。　　Xavier　said　that　he
inspired　them　with　his　own　frenzy。　　They　reached　the　foot　of
the　wall；　and　the　ladders　were　placed　in　position。　　The
officers　fell　to　the　rear　and　forced　the　men　to　ascend　them。　
As　they　reached　the　top　they　were　stabbed；　and　the　ladders
overturned。　　Over　and　over；　and　over　again　these　attempts
were　made；　until　the　garrison　in　the　Alamo　were　exhausted　with
the　struggle。〃

Navarro　paused　a　few　minutes；　overpowered　by　his　emotions。　　No
one　spoke。　　He　could　see　Antonia's　face；　white　as　a　spirit's；
in　the　dim　light；　and　he　knew　that　Isabel　was　weeping　and　that
the　Senora　had　taken　his　hand。

〃At　last；　at　the　hour　of　ten；　the　outer　wall　was　gained。　
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　p