remember the alamo-第38部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃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　she　forgot　her　own
grief。　　With　glad　hearts　the　doctor　and　Antonia　encouraged　her
in　her　good　work；　and　when　at　length　the　sufferer　had　been
relieved　and　was　sleeping　against　her　breast；　the　Senora　had
wept。　　The　stone　from　her　heart　had　been　rolled　away　by　a
little　child。　　Her　own　selfish　sorrow　had　been　buried　in　a
wave　of　holy；　unselfish　maternal　affection。　　The　key　to　her
nature　had　been　found；　and　henceforward　Isabel　brought　to　her
every　suffering　baby。

On　the　next　day　they　marched　ten　miles　through　a　heavy　rain；
and　arrived　at　Burnett's　settlement。　　The　women　had
shelter；　the　men　slept　on　the　wet　groundtook　the　prairie
without　coverwith　their　arms　in　their　hands。　　They　knew　they
were　in　the　vicinity　of　Santa　Anna；　and　all　were　ready　to
answer　in　an　instant　the　three　taps　of　the　drum；　which　was　the
only　instrument　of　martial　music　in　the　camp；　and　which　was
never　touched　but　by　Houston。

Another　day　of　eighteen　miles　brought　them　to　within　a　short
distance　of　Harrisburg。　　Santa　Anna　had　just　been　there；　and
the　place　was　in　ashes。　　It　was　evident　to　all；　now；　that　the
day　and　the　hour　was　at　hand。　　Houston　first　thought　of　the
two　hundred　families　he　had　in　charge；　and　they　were　quickly
taken　over　the　bayou。　　When　he　had　seen　the　last　one　in　this
comparative　safety；　he　uttered　so　fervent　a　〃Thank　God！〃　that
the　men　around　unconsciously　repeated　it。　　The　bayou　though
narrow　was　twenty　feet　deep；　and　the　very　home　of　alligators。　
There　was　only　one　small　bridge　in　the　vicinity。　　He　intended
its　destruction；　and　thus　to　make　his　little　band　and　the
deep；　dangerous　stream　a　double　barrier　between　the　Mexicans
and　the　women　and　children　beyond　them。　　It　was　after
this　duty　he　wrote：

〃This　morning　we　are　in　preparation　to　meet　Santa　Anna。　　We
will　only　be　about　seven　hundred　to　march；　besides　the　camp
guard。　　But　we　go　to　conquest。　　The　troops　are　in　fine
spirits；　and　now　is　the　time　for　action。　　I　leave　the　result
in　the　hands　of　an　all…wise　God；　and　I　rely　confidently　in　his
Providence。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃SAM　HOUSTON。〃＇5＇



＇5＇　Copy　from　Department　of　War　of　the　Republic　of　Texas。



The　women　and　children；　under　a　competent　guide；　continued
their　march　eastward。　　But　they　were　worn　out。　　Many　were
unable　to　put　their　feet　to　the　ground。　　The　wagons　were
crowded　with　these　helpless　ones。　　The　Senora　had　so　far
recovered　as　to　understand　that　within　a　few　hours　Santa　Anna
and　the　Americans　must　meet。　　And；　mentally　led　by　Isabel's
passionate　hatred；　she　now　showed　a　vindictiveness　beyond　that
of　any　other　woman。

She　spent　hours　upon　her　knees；　imploring　the　saints；　and　the
stars；　and　the　angel　Michael；　to　fight　against　Santa
Anna。　　To　Isabel　she　whispered；　〃I　have　even　informed　the　evil
one　where　he　may　be　found。　　The　wretch　who　ordered　such
infamies！　　He　poisons　the　air　of　the　whole　world　as　he　goes
through　it。　　I　shall　never　be　happy　till　I　know　that　he　is　in
purgatory。　　He　will　be　hated　even　thereand　in　a　worse　place；
too。　　Yes；　it　is　pleasant　to　think　of　that！　　There　will　be
many　accusers　of　him　there。　　I　shall　comfort　myself　with
imagining　his　punishment。　　Isabel；　do　you　believe　with　your
heart　that　Senor　Houston　and　the　Americans　will　be　strong
enough　to　kill　him？〃

〃Mi　madre；　I　know　it。〃

〃Then　do　be　a　little　delighted。　　How　can　you　bear　things　with
such　a　provoking　indifference？　　But　as　Luis　is　safe〃

〃Chito！　　Chito！　　Do　not　be　cruel；　mi　madre。　　I　would　stab
Santa　Anna　with　my　own　handsvery　slowly；　I　would　stab　him。　
It　would　be　so　sweet。　　The　Sisters　told　me　of　a　woman　in　the
Holy　Book；　who　smiled　upon　the　one　she　hated；　and　gave　him
milk　and　butter；　and　when　he　slept；　drove　a　great　nail　through
his　temples。　　I　know　how　she　felt。　　What　a　feast　it　would　be；
to　strike；　and　strike；　and　strike！　　I　could　drive　ten；
twenty；　fifty　nails；　into　Santa　Anna；　when　I　think　of　Juan。〃

No　one　had　before　dared　to　breathe　her　boy's　name　in　her
hearing。　　She　herself　had　never　spoken　it。　　It　fell　upon　the
ears　of　both　women　like　a　strain