remember the alamo-第45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！

surprised。〃

〃Perhaps　indeed；　he　did　lead　it；〃　said　the　Senora；　in　a　solemn
voice。　　〃I　saw　yes；　by　all　the　saints　of　God！　　I　saw　a
great　host　with　my　Juan。　　They　stretched　out　vast；　shadowy
armsthey　made　me　FEEL　what　I　can　never　tell。　　But　I　shall
honor　Senor　Houston。　　I　shall　say　to　him　some　day。　　‘Senor；
the　unseen　battalionsthe　mighty　dead　as　well　as　the　mighty
livingwon　the　battle。'　　Roberto；　believe　me；　there　are
things　women　understand　better　than　wise　men。〃

A　little　awe；　a　solemn　silence；　answered　the　earnest　woman。　
Luis　and　Isabel　came　close　to　her；　and　Isabel　took　her　hand。　
Lopez　resumed　the　conversation。　　〃I　know　Colonel　Bowie；〃　he
said。　　〃In　the　last　days　at　San　Antonio　I　was　often　with　him。　
Brave　as　a　lion；　true　to　his　friends；　relentless　to　his　foes；
was　he。　　The　knife　he　made　was　the　expression　of　his　character
in　steel。　　It　is　a　knife　of　extreme　unctionthe　oil　and
wafer　are　all　that　remains　for　the　men　who　feels　its　edge。　
For　my　part；　I　honor　the　Senora's　thought。　　It　is　a　great
satisfaction　to　me　to　hope　that　Bowie；　and　Crockett；　and
Travis；　and　Fannin；　and　all　their　company　were　present　at　San
Jacinto。　　If　the　just　God　permitted　it；　'twas　a　favor　of
supreme　justice。〃

〃But　then　you　are　not　alone　in　the　thought；　Lopez。　　I　heard
General　Sherman　say；　‘Poor　Fannin！　　He　has　been　blamed　for　not
obeying　Houston's　orders。　　I　THINK　HE　OBEYED　THEM　TO…DAY。'　
At　the　moment　I　did　not　comprehend；　but　now　it　is　plain　to　me。　
He　thought　Fannin　had　been　present；　and　perhaps　it　was　this
belief　made　him　so　impetuous　and　invincible。　　He　fought　like
a　spirit；　one　forgot　that　he　was　flesh　and　blood。〃

〃Sherman　is　of　a　grand　stock；〃　said　the　doctor；　descended　from
the　wise　Roger　Sherman；　bred　in　Massachusetts　and　trained　in
all　the　hardy　virtues　of　her　sons。　　It　was　from　his　lips　the
battle…cry　of　‘REMEMBER　THE　ALAMO！'　sprang。〃

〃But　then；　Roberto；　nothing　shall　persuade　me　that　my
countrymen　are　cowards。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　Maria；　they　kept　their　ground　with　great
courage。　　They　were　slain　by　hundreds　just　where　they　stood
when　the　battle　began。　　Twenty…six　officers　and　nearly　seven
hundred　men　were　left　dead　upon　the　field。　　But　the　flight　was
still　more　terrible。　　Into　the　bayou　horses　and　men　rolled
down　together。　　The　deep　black　stream　became　red；　it　was
choked　up　with　their　dead　bodies；　while　the　mire　and　water　of
the　morass　was　literally　bridged　with　the　smothered　mules　and
horses　and　soldiers。〃

〃The　battle　began　at　three　o'clock；　but　we　heard　the　firing
only　for　a　very　short　time；〃　said　Antonia。

〃After　we　reached　their　breastworks　it　lasted　just　eighteen
minutes。　　At　four；　the　whole　Mexican　army　was　dead；　or　flying
in　every　direction；　and　the　pursuit　and　slaughter　continued
until　twilight。　　Truly　an　unseen　power　made　all　our　moves　for
us。　　It　was　a　military　miracle；　for　our　loss　was　only　eight
killed　and　seventeen　wounded。〃

〃I　am　sorry　Houston　is　among　the　wounded。〃

〃His　ankle…bone　is　shattered。　　He　is　suffering　much。　　I　was
with　him　when　he　left　the　field　and　I　was　delighted　with　his
patience　and　dignity。　　The　men　crowded　around　him。　　They
seized　his　bridle；　they　clasped　his　hands。　　‘Have　we　done　well
to…day；　General？　　Are　you　satisfied　with　us？'　they　cried。

〃‘You　have　covered　yourselves　with　glory；'　he　answered。　　‘You
have　written　a　grand　page　in　American　history　this　day；
boys。　　For　it　was　not　for　fame　nor　for　empire　you　fought；　but
for　your　rights　as　freemen；　for　your　homes　and　your　faith。'

〃The　next　moment　he　fell　from　his　horse　and　we　laid　him　down
at　the　foot　of　an　oak　tree。　　He　had　fainted　from　loss　of　blood
and　the　agony　of　his　wound；　combined　with　the　superhuman
exertions　and　anxieties　of　the　past　week。〃

〃But　he　is　better　now？〃

〃Yes；　I　dressed　the　wound　as　well　as　my　appliances　permitted；
but　he　will　not　be　able　to　use　his　foot　for　some　time。　　No　one
slept　that　night。　　Weary　as　the　men　were；　their　excitement　and
happiness　were　too　great　for　the　bonds　of　sleep。　　In　the
morning　the　rich　spoils　of　the　enemy's　camp　were　divided　among
them。　　Houston　refused　any　part　in　them。　　‘My　share　of　the
honor　is　sufficient；'　he　said。　　Yet　the　spoils　were　very
valuable　ones　to　men　who　but　a　few　hours　before　had　nothing
but　the　clothing　they　wore　and　the　arms　they　carried。　　Among
them　were　nearly　one　thousand　stand　of　English　muskets；　three
hundred　valuable　mules；　one　hundred　fine　horses；　provisions；
clothing；　tents；　and　at　least　twelve　thousand　dollars　in
silver。〃

〃Were　you　on　the　field　all　the　time；　father？〃

〃I　was　near　Houston　from　first　to　last。　　When　he　saw　the
battle　was　won；　he　did　his　best　to　prevent　needless　slaughter。　
But　men　on　a　battle…field　like　San　Jacinto　cannot　be　reasoned
with；　after　a　certain　point；　they　could　not　even　be　commanded。　
The　majority　had　some　private　revenge　to　satisfy　after　the
public　welfare　had　been　served。　　We　met　one　old　man　in　a
frenzy；　covered　with　blood　from　his　white　beard　to　his　boots；
his　arms　bare　to　his　shoulders；　his　knife　dripping　from　haft
to　point。〃

〃Houston　looked　at　him；　and　said　something　about　mercy　and
valor。　　‘General；'　he　said；　‘they　killed　two　of　my　boys　at
Goliad；　and　my　brother　at　the　Alamo。　　I'll　not　spare　a　Mexican
while　I've　the　strength　to　kill　one。　　I'm　on　the　scent　for
Santa　Anna；　and；　by　G；　if　I　find　him；　I　will　spare　Texas　and
you　any　more　trouble　with　the　brute。'〃

At　this　moment　Thomas　Worth　entered　the　marquee；　and；　in　an
excited　manner；　said：

〃Santa　Anna　is　taken！　　Santa　Anna　is　taken！　〃

〃Taken！〃　cried　the　Senora　in　a　passion。

〃Taken！　　Is　it　possible　the　wretch　is　yet　in　this　world？　　I
was　assuring　myself　that　he　was　in　one　not　so　comfortable。　
Why　is　he　not　killed？　　It　is　an　inconceivable　insult　to
humanity　to　let　him　live。　　Have　you　thought　of　your　brother
Juan？　　Give　me　the　knife　in　your　belt；　Thomas；　if　you　cannot
use　it。〃

〃My　dear　mother〃

〃Maria；　my　life！　　Thomas　could　not　wisely　kill　so　important　a
prisoner。　　Texas　wants　him　to　secure　her　peace　and
independence。　　The　lives　of　all　the　Americans　in　Mexico　may
depend　upon　his。　　Mere　personal　vengeance　on　him　would　be　too
dear　a　satisfaction。　　On　the　battle…field　he　might　have　been
lawfully　slainand　he　was　well　looked　for；　but　now；　No。〃

〃Holy　Mary！　might　have　been　slain！　　He　ought　to　have　been
slain；　a　thousand　times　over。〃

〃Luis；　I　wish　that　you　had　been　a　hero；　and　killed　him。　　Then
all　our　life　long；　if　you　had　said；　‘Isabel；　I　slew　Santa
Anna；'　I　should　have　given　you　honor　for　it。　　I　should　be
obedient　to　your　wishes　for　that　deed。〃

〃But　my　charming　one；　I　prefer　to　be　obedient　to　your　wish。　
Let　us　not　think　of　the　creature；　he　is　but　a　dead　dog。〃

The　doctor　turned　to　his　son。　　〃Thomas；　tell　us　about　the
capture。〃

〃I　was　riding　with　a　young　lieutenant；　called　Sylvester；　from
Cincinnati；　and　he　saw　a　man　hiding　in　the　grass。　　He　was　in
coarsest　clothing；　but　Sylvester　noticed　under　it　linen　of
fine　cambric。　　He　said：　　‘You　are　an　officer；　I　perceive；
sir。'　　The　man　denied　it；　but　when　he　could　not　escape；　he
asked　to　be　taken　to　General　Houston。　　Sylvester　tied　him　to
his　bridle…rein；　and　we　soon　learned　the　truth；　for　as　we
passed　the　Mexican　prisoners　they　lifted　their　hats　and　said；
with　a　murmur　of　amazement；　‘El　Presidente！'

〃The　news　spread　like　wildfire。　　As　we　took　him　through　the
camp　he　trembled　at　the　looks　and　words　that　assailed　him；　and
prayed　us　continually；　‘for　the　love　of　God　and　the　saints；'
not　to　let　him　be　slain。　　We　took　him　to　Houston　in　safety。　
Houston　was　resting　on　the　ground；　having　had；　as　my　father
knows；　a　night　of　great　suffering。　　Santa　Anna　approached
him；　and；　laying　his　hand　on　his　heart；　said：　　‘I　am　General
Antonio　Lopez　de　Santa　Anna；　President　of　the　Mexican
Republic；　and　I　claim　to　be　your　prisoner　of　war。'　　Houston
pointed　to　a　seat；　and　then　sent　for　Santa　Anna's　secretary；
Almonte；　who　is　also　a　prisoner；　and　who　speaks　English
perfectly。'

〃When　Almonte　came；　he　embraced　Santa　Anna；　and　addressing
Houston；　said：　　‘General；　you　are　born　to　a　great　destiny。　
You　have　conquered　the　Napoleon　of　the　West。　　Generosity
becomes　the　brave　and　the　fortunate。'

〃Houston　answered；　sternly：　　‘You　should　have　remembered　that
sentiment　at　the　Alamo　and　at　Goliad。'

〃Then　the　following　conversation　occurred。　　Santa　Anna　said：

〃‘The　Alamo　was　taken　by　storm。　　The　usages　of　war　permitted
the　slaughter。'

〃‘We　live　in　the　nineteenth　century；　President。　　We　profess　to
be　Christians。'

〃‘I　have　to　remind　you；　General　Houston；　of　the　storming　of
San　Sebastian；　Ciudad；　Riego　and　Badajos；　by　the　Duke　of
Wellington。'

〃‘That　was　in　Spain。　　There　may　have　been　circumstances
demanding　such　cruelty。'

〃‘Permit　me　also　to　bring　to　your　intelligence　the　battles　at
Fort　Meigs　and　at　the　river　Raisin。　　American　prisoners　were
there　given　by　English　officers　to　their　Indian　allies　for
torture　and　death。　　The　English　war　cry　at　Sandusky　was；　〃Give
the　d　Yankees　no　quarter。〃'

〃‘Sir；　permit　me　to　say；　that　you　read　history　to　a　devilish
purpose；　if　you　read　it　to　search　after　brutal　precedents。　　At
Goliad　our　men　surrendered。　　They　were　promised　safe…conduct
out　of　Texas。　　The