remember the alamo-第47章
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to be flying before the enemy now； it is for his destruction。
Three Mexican armies united； we cannot fight。 We can fight
them singly。 And every mile we make them follow us weakens
them； separates them； confuses them。 The low lands of the
Brazos； the unfordable streams； the morasses； the pathless
woods； are in league with us。 And we must place our women and
children in safety。 Even if we have to carry them to General
Gaines and the United States troops； we must protect them；
first of all。 I believe that we shall win our freedom with
our own hands； but if the worst come； and we have to fall back
to the Sabine； we shall find friends and backers there。 I
know President Jackson； my old general； the unconquered
Christian Mars！ Do you think he will desert his countrymen？
Never！ If we should need help； he has provided it。 And the
freedom of Texas is sure and certain。 It is at hand。 Prepare
to achieve it。 We shall take up our march eastward in three
hours。〃
Ringing shouts answered the summons。 The camp was in a tumult
of preparation immediately； Houston was lending his great
physical strength to the mechanical difficulties to be
encountered。 A crowd of men was around。 Suddenly a woman
touched him on the arm； and he straightened himself and looked
at her。
〃You will kill Santa Anna； General？ You will kill this fiend
who has escaped from hell！ By the mother of Christ； I ask
it。〃
〃My dear madam！〃
He was so moved with pity that he could not for a moment or
two give her any stronger assurance。 For this suppliant；
pallid and frenzied with sorrow； was the once beautiful Senora
Worth。 He looked at her hollow eyes； and shrunk form； and
worn clothing； and remembered with a pang； the lovely；
gracious lady clad in satin and lace； with a jewelled comb in
her fine hair and a jewelled fan in her beautiful hands； and
a wave of pity and anger passed like a flame over his face。
〃By the memory of my own dear mother； Senora； I will make
Santa Anna pay the full price of his cruelties。〃
〃Thank you； Senor〃； and she glided away with her tearless eyes
fixed upon the curl of black hair in her open palm。
CHAPTER XVI。
THE LOADSTONE IN THE BREAST。
〃But to the hero； when his sword
Has won the battle for the free；
Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word；
And in its hollow tones are heard。
The thanks of millions yet to be；〃
〃Who battled for the true and just；
〃And grasps the skirts of happy chance；
And breasts the blows of circumstance。
〃And lives to clutch the golden keys；
To mould a mighty state's decrees。〃
The memorial of wrongs； which resulted in the Declaration of
Texan Independence； was drawn up with statesmanlike ability by
David G。 Burnett； a native of New Jersey； a man of great
learning； dignity； and experience； who； as early as 1806；
sailed from New York to join Miranda in his effort to give
Spanish America liberty。 The paper need not be quoted here。
It gave the greatest prominence to the refusal of
trial by jury； the failure too establish a system of public
education； the tyranny of military law； the demand that the
colonists should give up arms necessary for their protection
or their sustenance； the inciting of the Indians to massacre
the American settlers； and the refusal of the right to worship
the Almighty according to the dictates of their own
consciences。 Burnett was elected Governor； and Houston felt
that he could now give his whole attention to military
affairs。
The seat of Government was removed to Harrisburg； a small
place on the Buffalo Bayou； and Houston was sure that this
change would cause Santa Anna to diverge from his route to
Nacogdoches。 He dispatched orders to the men scattered up and
down the Brazos from Washington to Fort Benda distance of
eighty milesto join him on the march to Harrisburg； and he
struck his own camp at the time he had specified。
In less than twenty…four hours they reached San Felipe； a
distance of twenty…eight miles。 The suffering of the women
and children on that march can never be told。 Acts of heroism
on the part of the men and of fortitude on the part of
the women that are almost incredible； marked every step of the
way。 The Senora sat in her wagon； speechless； and lost in a
maze of melancholy anguish。 She did not seem to heed want； or
cold； or wet； or the utter misery of her surroundings。 Her
soul had concentrated all its consciousness upon the strand of
hair she continually smoothed through her fingers。 Dr。 Worth；
in his capacity of physician； accompanied the flying families；
and he was thus able to pay some attention to his distraught
wife； but she answered nothing he said to her。 If she looked
at him； her eyes either flamed with anger； or expressed
something of the terror to be seen in the eyes of a hunted
animal。 It was evident that her childish intelligence had
seized upon him as the most obvious cause of all her loss and
misery。
The condition of a wife so beloved almost broke his heart。
The tragic death of his dear son was not so hard to endure as
this living woe at his side。 And when they reached San Felipe
and found it in ashes； a bitter cry of hopeless suffering came
from every woman's lips。 They had thought to find there a
little food； and a day's sheltered resting…place。 Even
Antonia's brave soul fainted； at the want and suffering around
her。 She had gold； but it could not buy bread for the little
ones； weeping with hunger and terrified by the fretfulness of
mothers suffering the pangs of want and in the last stage of
human weariness。
It was on this night Houston wrote： 〃I will do the best I
can； but be assured the fame of Jackson could never compensate
me for my anxiety and mental pain。〃 And yet； when he was told
that a blind woman and her seven children had been passed by；
and did not know the enemy were approaching； he delayed the
march until men had been sent back to bring them into safety。
During these days of grief and privation Isabel's nature grew
to its finest proportions。 Her patient efforts to arouse her
mother； and her cheerfulness under the loss of all comforts；
were delightful。 Besides which； she had an inexhaustible fund
of sympathy for the babies。 She was never without one in her
arms。 Three mothers； who had died on the road； left their
children to her care。 And it was wonderful and pitiful to see
the delicately nurtured girl； making all kinds of efforts
to secure little necessaries for the children she had elected
to care for。
〃The Holy Mother helps me；〃 she said to； Antonia。 〃She makes
the poor little ones good； and I am not very tired。〃
At San Felipe they were joined by nearly one hundred men； who
also brought word that a fine company were advancing to their
aid from Mississippi； under General Quitman； and that two
large cannon； sent by the people of Cincinnati； were within a
few miles。 And thus hoping and fearing； hungry and weary to
the death； they reached； on the 16th of April； after a march
of eighteen miles； a place called McArley's。 They had come
over a boggy prairie under a cold rain； and were depressed
beyond expression。 But there was a little shelter here for
the women and children to sleep under。 The men camped in the
open。 They had not a tent in their possession。
About ten o'clock that night； Doctor Worth was sitting with
his wife and children and Antonia in one corner of a room in
a deserted cabin。 He had the Senora's wasted hand in his own；
and was talking to her。 She sat in apathetic silence。
It was impossible to tell whether she heard or understood him。
〃I wonder where Isabel is；〃 said Antonia； and with the words
the girl entered the room。 She had in her arms a little lad
of four years old； suffering the tortures of croup。
〃Mi madre；〃 she cried； 〃you know how to save him！ He is
dying！ Save him！ Listen to me！ The Holy Mother says so〃；
and she laid the child on her knee。
A change like a flash of light passed over the Senora's face。
〃The poor little one！〃 Her motherly instincts crushed down
everything else。 In the child's agony s
