with his accustomed boldness：
〃Gentlemen； we must declare the independence of Texas； and
like our fore…elders； sink or swim by that declaration。
Nothing else； nothing less； can save us。 The planters of
Texas must feel that they are fighting for their own
constitution； and not for Mexican promises made to them twelve
years ago and never yet kept。〃
The simple proposition roused a new enthusiasm； for while
Urrea was hastening towards Goliad； and Santa Anna
towards San Antonio； and Filisola to Washington； the divided
people were becoming more and more embittered。 The American
soldiers； who had hitherto gone in and out among the citizens
of San Antonio during the day； and only slept in the Alamo；
were conscious of an ominous change in the temper of the city。
They gathered their recruits together and shut themselves in
the fortress。
Again Thomas Worth urged them to fall back either upon the
line of Houston at Gonzales； or Fanning at Goliad； but in the
indecision and uncertainty of all official orders； Crockett
thought it best to make the first stand at the Mexican city。
〃We can； at least；〃 he said； 〃keep Santa Anna busy long enough
to give the women and children of our own settlements time to
escape； and the men time to draw together with a certain
purpose。〃
〃The cry of Santa Anna has been like the cry of wolf！ wolf！〃
said Bowie。 〃I hear that great numbers that were under arms
have gone home to plant their corn and cotton。 Do you want
Santa Anna to murder them piecemealhouse by house；
family by family？ Great George！ Which of us would
accommodate him with a prolonged pleasure like that？ No！ he
shall have a square fight for every life lie gets〃； and the
calm； gentlemanly Bowie was suddenly transformed into a
flashing； vehement； furious avenger。 He laid his knife and
pistols on the table； his steel…blue eyes scintillated as if
they were lightning； his handsome mouth； his long； white
hands； his whole person radiated wrath and expressed the
utmost lengths of invincible courage and insatiable hatred。
〃Gentlemen；〃 answered Travis； 〃I go with Crockett and Bowie。
If we hold the Alamo； it is a deed well done。 If we fall with
it； it is still a deed well done。 We shall have given to
Houston and Fanning time to interpose themselves between Santa
Anna and the settlements。〃
〃We have none of us lived very well；〃 said Bowie； 〃but we can
die well。 I say as an American； that Texas is ours by right
of natural locality； and by right of treaty； and； as I live；
I will do my best to make it American by right of conquest！
Comrades； I do not want a prettier quarrel to die in〃and
looking with a brave； unflinching gaze around the grim
fortress〃I do not want a better monument than the Alamo！〃
The speech was not answered with any noisy hurrahing； but the
men around the bare； long table clasped hands across it； and
from that last interview with the doomed men Thomas Worth came
away with the knowledge that he had seen the battle begun。 He
felt now that there was no time to delay longer his plans for
the safety of his mother and sisters。 These were； indeed； of
the simplest and most uncertain character； for the condition
of the country and its few resources were such as to make
flight the only way that promised safety。 And yet flight was
environed with dangers of every kindhunger； thirst；
exhaustion； savage beasts； Indians； and the triple armies of
Mexico。
The day after his arrival he had begun to prepare； as far as
possible； for this last emergency； but the Senora's
unconquerable aversion to leave her native city had constantly
hampered him。 Until Santa Anna really appeared she would not
believe in the necessity of such a movement。 The proposal of
Fray Ignatius； even if it did end in a convent； did not
seem so terrible as to be a wanderer without a roof to cover
her。 She felt aggrieved and injured by Antonia's and Isabel's
positive refusal to accept sanctuary from the priest； and with
the underhand cunning of a weak woman she had contrived to let
Fray Ignatius know that SHE was not to blame for the
refusal。
All the same the priest hated her in conjunction with her
children。 On the morning after her interview with her uncle；
he went to receive her submission； for the marquis had
informed him of all that had passed； and he felt the three
women and the valuable Worth property already under his hard
hand。 He opened the gate with the air of a proprietor。 He
looked down the lovely alleys of the garden； and up at the
latticed stories of the handsome house； with that solid
satisfaction which is the reward of what is acquired by
personal effort or wisdom。
When he entered the door and was confronted by Thomas Worth；
he was for the moment nonplussed。 But he did not permit his
confusion and disappointment to appear。 He had not seen
Thomas for a long time。 He addressed him with suavity
and regrets； and yet； 〃was sure he would be glad to hear that；
in the present dangerous crisis； the Marquis de Gonzaga had
remembered the blood…tie and offered his protection to a
family so desolate。〃
Thomas Worth leaned upon the balusters； as if guarding the
approach to the Senora's apartments。 He answered： 〃The
protection of the marquis is unnecessary。 Three ladies are
too great a charge for one so aged。 We will not impose it。〃
The face of the young man was calm and stern； but he spoke
without visible temper； until the priest prepared to pass him。
Then he stretched out his arm as a barrier。
〃Fray Ignatius； you have already passed beyond the threshold；
permit me to remind you of Dr。 Worth's words on that subject。〃
〃I put my duty before any man's words。〃
〃Sir； for my mother's sake； I would not be disrespectful； but
I assure you； also； that I will not permit any man； while I
live； to disregard my father's orders regarding his own
household。〃
〃I must see the Senora。〃
〃That； I reply； is impossible。〃
〃Presume notdare not to interfere with a priest in the
duty of his office。 It is a mortal sin。 The curse of the
Church will rest upon you。
〃The curse of the Church will not trouble me。 But to treat my
father's known wishes with contemptthat is an act of
dishonor and disobedience which I will not be guilty of。〃
〃Santa Maria！ Suffer not my spirit to be moved by this wicked
one。 Out of my path； Satanas！〃
The last word was not one which Thomas Worth had expected。 He
flushed crimson at its application； and with a few muttered
sentences； intelligible only to the priest； he took him firmly
by the shoulder； led him outside the door； and closed and
barred it。
The expulsion was not accomplished without noisy opposition on
the part of Fray Ignatius； and it pained Thomas deeply to
hear； in the midst of the priest's anathemas； the shrill cries
of his mother's distress and disapproval。
The next domestic movement of Thomas Worth was to rid the
house of Molly and Manuel； and the inferior servants。 It was
not as easy a task as may be supposed。 They had been ordered
by Fray Ignatius to remain； and the order had not been
countermanded。 Even if the Senora and her daughters were
going east； and their services were not needed； they had no
objections to remain in the Worth house。 They understood that
the Church would take possession； and the housekeeping of the
Church was notoriously easy and luxurious。
However； after exorbitant compensation had been made； and
Molly had given in return 〃a bit of her mind；〃 she left for
the Irish colony of San Patricio； and Manuel immediately
sought his favorite monte table。 When he had doubled his
money； he intended to obey Molly's emphatic orders； and go and
tell the priest all about it。
〃I would rather； face a battery of cannon than Fray Ignatius
and the servants again； Antonia。〃 Antonia looked at her
brother； he was worried and weary； and his first action； when
he had finally cleared the house； was to walk around it； and
bolt every door and window。 Antonia followed him silently。
She perceived that the crisis had come； and she was doing as
good women in extremity dotrying to find in the darkness the
hand always stretched out to guide and strengthen。 As
yet she had not been able to grasp it。 She followed her
brother like one in a troubled dream； whispering faintly； with
white lips； 〃O God； where art Thou？ Help and pity us！〃
Thomas led her finally to his father's office。 He went to a
closet filled with drugs； removed them； and then a certain
pressure of his hand caused the back of the closet to
disappear in a groove； and a receptacle full of coin and
papers was disclosed。
〃We must take with us all the coin we can carry。 What you are
not likely to require； is to go to the men in the field。
Then； hide in its place the old silver； and the laces； and the
jewels； which came with the Flores from Castile； and any other
papers and valuables； which you received from our father。 I
think even Fray Ignatius will not discover them here。〃
〃Is there any special need to hurry to…day？
〃Santa Anna is within forty…eight hours of San Antonio。 He
may force a march； and be here earlier。 Travis told me last
night that their advance scouts had come in with this
intelligence。 To…day they will gather every man they can； and
prepare to defend themselves in the Alamo。 As soon as
Santa Anna arrives； we are in danger。 I must leave here to…
night。 I must either take you with me or remove you to a
place of more safety。〃
〃Let us go with you。〃
〃If my mother is willing。〃
〃If she is not； what then？〃
〃Lopez has prepared for that emergency。 He has an empty house
three miles west of San Antonio。 He has had it completely
victualled。 I will take you there after dark in the large
green chariot。 Ortiz will drive the light Jersey wagon on the
Gonzales road。 When inquiry is made； the Jersey wagon will
have attracted the attention of every Mexican； and Fray
Ignatius will receive positive assurances that you were in it
and are beyond his power。 And certainly； without definite
intelligence； he would never suspect you of being anywhere on
the highway to Mexico。〃
〃Shall we be quite alone？〃
〃For two or three days you will be quite alone。 Ortiz