remember the alamo-第30部分

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Saint　Jago；　who　followed　Sandoval；　was　a　little　devil。　　He　was
light　and　quick；　and　had　intelligence。　　You　could　see　by　the
gleam　in　his　eyes　that　he　took　in　the　whole　scene；　and
considered　not　only　the　people　in　the　ring；　but　the　people　in
the　amphitheatre　also；　to　be　his　tormentors。　　Perhaps　in　that
reflection　he　was　not　mistaken。　　He　meant　mischief　from　the
beginning；　and　he　pressed　Jarocho　so　close　that　he　leaped　the
barrier　for　safety。　　As　he　leaped；　Saint　Jago　leaped　also。　
Imagine　now　the　terror　of　the　spectators！　　The　screams！　　The
rush！　　The　lowered　horns　within　an　inch　of　Jarocho；　and　Fray
Joseph　Maria　running　with　the　consecrated　wafer　to　the　doomed
man！　　At　that　precise　moment　there　was　a　rifle…shot；　and
the　bellowing　brute　rolled　backward　into　the　arenadead。〃

〃Oh；　Maria　Purissima！　　How　grand！　　In　such　moments　one　really
lives；　Senor。　　And　but　for　this　absurd　rebellion　I　and　my
daughters　could　have　had　the　emotion。　　It　is　indeed　cruel。〃

〃You　said　the　shot　was　fired　　by　an　American？〃

〃Senorita　Antonia；　it　was；　indeed。　　I　saw　him。　　He　was　in　the
last　row。　　He　had　stood　up　when　Saint　Jago　came　in；　and　he　was
watching　the　man　and　the　animal　with　his　soul　in　his　eyes。　　He
had　a　face；　fine　and　thin　as　a　woman'sa　very　gentle　face；
also。　But　at　one　instant　it　became　stern　and　fierce；
the　lips　hard　set；　the　eyes　half　shut；　then　the　rifle　at　the
shoulder　like　a　flash　of　light；　and　the　bull　was　dead　between
the　beginning　and　the　end　of　the　leap！　　The　sight　was
wonderful；　and　the　ladies　turned　to　him　with　smiles　and　cries
of　thankfulness；　and　the　better　part　of　the　men　bowed　to　him；
for　the　Mexican　gentleman　is　always　just　to　a　great　deed。　　But
he　went　away　as　if　he　had　done　something　that　displeased
himself；　and　when　I　overtook　him　at　the　gates　of　the
Alamo；　he　did　not　look　as　if　he　wished　to　talk　about　it。

〃However；　I　could　not　refrain　myself；　and　I　said：　　〃Permit　me；
Colonel　Crockett；　to　honor　you。　　The　great　feat　of　to…day's
fight　was　yours。　　San　Antonio　owes　you　for　her　favorite
Jarocho。〃

〃‘I　saved　a　life；　young　man；'　he　answered　and　I　took　a　life；
and　I'll　be　blamed　if　I　know　whether　I　did　right　or　wrong。'　
‘Jarocho　would　have　been　killed　but　for　your　shot。'　　‘That's
so；　and　I　killed　the　bull；　but　you　can　take　my　hat　if　I　don't
think　I　killed　the　tallest　brute　of　the　two。　　Adjourn　the
subject；　sir'；　and　with　that　he　walked　off　into　the　fort；　and
I　did　myself　the　pleasure　of　coming　to　see　you；　Senora。〃

He　rose　and　bowed　to　the　ladies；　and；　as　the　Senora　was　making
some　polite　answer；　the　door　of　the　room　opened　quickly；　and
a　man　entered　and　advanced　towards　her。　　Every　eye　was　turned
on　him；　but　ere　a　word　could　be　uttered　he　was　kneeling　at　the
Senora's　side；　and　had　taken　her　face　in　his　hands；　and　was
kissing　it。　　In　the　dim　light　she　knew　him　at　once；　and　　she
cried　out：　　〃My　Thomas！　　My　Thomas！　　My　dear　son！　　For
three　years　I　have　not　seen　you。〃

He　brought　into　the　room　with　him　an　atmosphere　of　comfort　and
strength。　　Suddenly　all　fear　and　anxiety　was　lifted；　and　in
Antonia's　heart　the　reaction　was　so　great　that　she　sank　into
a　chair　and　began　to　cry　like　a　child。　　Her　brother　held　her
in　his　arms　and　soothed　her　with　the　promise　of　his　presence
and　help。　　Then　he　said；　cheerfully：

〃Let　me　have　some　supper；　Antonia。　　I　am　as　hungry　as　a　lobos
wolf；　and　run　away；　Isabel；　and　help　your　sister；　for　I
declare　to　you　girls　I　shall　eat　everything　in　the　house。〃

The　homely　duty　was　precisely　what　was　needed　to　bring　every
one's　feelings　to　their　normal　condition；　and　Thomas　Worth　sat
chatting　with　his　mother　and　Lopez　of　his　father；　and　Jack；
and　Dare；　and　Luis；　and　the　superficial　events　of　the　time；
with　that　pleasant；　matter…of…course　manner　which　is　by　far
the　most　effectual　soother　of　troubled　and　unusual　conditions。

In　less　than　half　an　hour　Antonia　called　her　brother；　and　he
and　Lopez　entered　the　dining…room　together。　　They　came　in
as　brothers　might　come；　face　answering　face　with　sympathetic
change　and　swiftness；　but　Antonia　could　not　but　notice　the
difference　in　the　two　men。　　Lopez　was　dressed　in　a　suit　of
black　velvet；　trimmed　with　many　small　silver　buttons。　　His
sash　was　of　crimson　silk。　　His　linen　was　richly　embroidered；
and　his　wide　hat　was　almost　covered　with　black　velvet；　and
adorned　with　silver　tags。　　It　was　a　dress　that　set　off
admirably　his　dark　intelligent　face。

Thomas　Worth　wore　the　usual　frontier　costume；　a　dark　flannel
shirt；　a　wide　leather　belt；　buck…skin　breeches；　and　leather
boots　covering　his　knees。　　He　was　very　like　his　father　in
figure　and　facedarker；　perhaps；　and　less　handsome。　　But　the
gentleness　and　strength　of　his　personal　appearance　attracted
every　one　first；　and　invested　all　traits　with　their　own
distinctive　charm。

And；　oh！　　What　a　change　was　there　in　the　the｛sic｝　Senora's
room。　　The　poor　lady　cried　a　little　for　joy；　and　then　went　to
sleep　like　a　wearied　child。　　Isabel　and　Antonia　were　too　happy
to　sleep。　　They　sat　half　through　the　night；　talking　softly　of
the　danger　they　had　been　in。　　Now　that　Thomas　had　come；
they　could　say　HAD。　　For　he　was　a　very　Great…heart　to　them；
and　they　could　even　contemplate　the　expected　visit　of　Fray
Ignatius　without　fear；　yes；　indeed；　with　something　very　like
satisfaction。



CHAPTER　　XIII。

THE　ARRIVAL　OF　SANTA　ANNA。

　　　　　　　　〃What　thing　thou　doest；　bravely　do；
　　　　　　　　　　　　When　Heaven's　clear　call　hath　found　thee；
　　　　　　　　　Followwith　fervid　wheels　pursue；
　　　　　　　　　　　　Though　thousands　bray　around　thee。〃

　　　　　　　　〃Mounted　upon　a　hot　and　fiery　steed；
　　　　　　　　　Which　his　aspiring　rider　seemed　to　know；
　　　　　　　　　With　slow　but　stately　pace　kept　on　his　course；
　　　　　　　　　You　would　have　thought　the　very　windows　spoke；
　　　　　　　　　So　many　greedy　looks　of　young　and　old；
　　　　　　　　　Through　casements　darted　their　desiring　eyes
　　　　　　　　　Upon　his　visage。〃

Left　to　themselves；　the　two　men　threw　off　like　a　mask　the
aspect　of　cheerfulness　they　had　worn　in　the　presence　of　the
Senora。　　Thomas　Worth　ate　heartily；　for　he　had　been　without
food　since　morning；　but　Navarro　did　not　attempt　to　join　his
meal。　　He　sat　patiently　waiting　his　sombre　eyes　fixed　upon　the
mental　visions　which　circled　in　the　enchanted　incense　of　his
cigarette。

Presently　Thomas　Worth　turned　toward　the　hearth；　pushed　the
cedar　logs　on　it　to　a　focus；　and　at　their　leaping
blaze　lighted　the　pipe　which　he　took　from　his　pocket。　
〃Lopez；〃　he　said；　〃it　strikes　me　that　I　am　just　in　time　to
prevent　some　infamous　plan　of　Fray　Ignatius　and　my　uncle
Gonzaga。〃

〃I　should　not　have　lost　sight　of　the　Senora　and　your　sisters。　
I　have　watched　them　faithfully；　though　for　many　good　reasons
it　has　been　best　to　appear　indifferent。　　Will　you　now　remain
in　San　Antonio？〃

〃I　have　come　with　orders　to　Travis　to　blow　up　the　Alamo；　and
fall　back　upon　Houston；　who　is　at　Gonzales。　　But　I　do　not
think　the　men　will　permit　him　to　do　so。〃

〃You　have　too　many　leaders。　　Also；　they　undervalue　the　Mexican
soldiers。　　I　assure　you　they　do。　　They　fought　Spain　for　ten
years；　they　do　not　want；　then；　the　persistence　of　true　valor。　
The　Americans　may　die　in　the　Alamo；　but　they　cannot　hold　it
against　the　thousands　Santa　Anna　will　bring　with　him。〃

〃They　will　die；　then。　　They　have　no　thought　of　retreat；　nor　of
any　deed　that　argues　fear。　　Every　man　relies　on　himself；　as　if
in　his　hand　the　moment　of　victory　lay。〃

〃Every　man　will　perish。〃

〃They　will　not　perish　in　vain。　　Defeat　is　only　a　spur　to　the
American　soldier。　　Every；　one　makes　him　a　better　fighter。　　If
Santa　Anna　massacres　the　men　in　the　Alamo；　he　seals　the
freedom　of　Texas。〃

〃Houston　should　have　come　himself。〃

〃Houston　is　biding　his　time。　　He　is　doing　at　present　the
hardest　duty　a　great　man　can　do：　setting　an　example　of
obedience　to　a　divided　and　incompetent　government。　　Lopez；　you
said　rightly　that　we　had　too　many　leaders。　　When　those
appointed　for　sacrifice　have　been　offered　upwhen　we　are　in
the　extremity　of　danger　and　ruin；　then　Houston　will　hear　the
word　he　is　waiting　for。〃

〃And　he　will　lead　you　on　to　victory。　　Indeed；　I　know　it。　　I
have　seen　him。　　He　has　the　linethe　fortunate　line　on　the
forehead。　　He　is　the　loadstone　in　the　breast　of　your　cause；
the　magnet　who　can　draw　good　fortune　to　it。　　If　fate　be
against　you；　he　will　force　fate　to　change　her　mind。　　If　fate
weave　you　a　common　thread；　he　will　change　it　into　purple。　
Victory；　which　she　gives　to　others　reluctantly；　he　will　take
like　a　master　from　her　hand　HOUSTON！　　What　essence！　　What
existence！　　What　honor！　　What　hope　there　is　in　those
seven　letters。　　Consider　this：　　He　will　find　a　way　or　make　a
way　for　freedom。〃

Subsequent　events　proved　the　opinion　of　Thomas　Worth　correct
with　regard　to　the　garrison　in　the　Alamo。　　David　Crockett！　
James　Bowie！　　Barret　Travis！　　The　names　were　a　host　in
themselves；　one　　　and　all　refused　to　couple　them　with　retreat。

〃Military　defeats　may　be　moral　victories；　young　man；〃　said
Crockett　to　Thomas　Worth；　〃and　moral　victories　make　national
greatness。　　The　Roman　that　filled　the　gulf　with　his　own　body
the　men　who　died　at　Thermopylaethey　live　to…day；　and　they
have　been　talking　with　us。〃

〃But　if　you　join　Houston　you　will　save　many　lives。〃

〃That　isn't　always　the　point；　sir。　　Jim　Bowie　was　saying　there
was　once　a　lover　who　used　to　swim　two　miles　every　night　to　see
a　young　woman　called　Hero。　　Now；　he　might　have　waited　for　a
boat　and　gone　dry…shod　to　his　sweetheart；　but　if　he　had；　who
would　have　cared　whether　he　lived　or　died？　　The　Alamo　is
our　Hero。　　If　we　can't　keep　her；　we　can　die　for　her。〃

The　same　spirit　moved　every　soul　at　Goliad。　　Fanning　was　there
with　nearly　nine　hundred　men；　and　he　had　named　the　place　Fort
Defiance；　and　asserted　his　determination　to　hold　it。　　In　the
mean　time；　Houston　was　using　his　great　personal　influence　to
collect　troops；　to　make　treaties　with　the　Indians；　and　to　keep
together　some　semblance　of　a　provisional　government。

But　it　had　become　evident　to　all　the　leading　spirits　of　the
revolution　that　no　half…way　measures　would　now　do。　　They　only
produced　half…way　enthusiasm。　　For　this　end；　Houston　spoke　out
with　his　accustomed　boldness：

〃Gentlemen；　we　must　declare　the　independence　of　Texas；　and