the highway to Mexico。〃
〃Shall we be quite alone？〃
〃For two or three days you will be quite alone。 Ortiz will；
however； return with the wagon by a circuitous route； for；
sooner or later； you are sure to need it。 Fear not to trust
him。 Only in one respect will you need to supplement his
advice by your own intelligence： he is so eager to fight Santa
Anna； he may persuade himself and you that it is necessary to
fly eastward when it is not。 In all other points you may be
guided by him； and his disguise as a peon is so perfect that
it will be easy for him to gather in the pulquerias all the
information requisite for your direction。 I have been out to
the house； and I can assure you that Lopez has considered
everything for your comfort。〃
〃However； I would rather go with you； Thomas。〃
〃It must be as mother desires。〃
When the circumstances were explained to the Senora； she was
at first very determined to accept neither alternative。 〃She
would remain where she was。 She was a Flores and a Gonzaga。
Santa Anna knew better than to molest her。 She would rather
trust to him than to those dreadful Americans。〃 Reminded of
Fray Ignatius； she shed a few tears over the poor padrecito；
and assured her children they had made a mistake regarding
him； which neither oil nor ointment； nor wit nor wisdom； could
get over。
It was almost impossible to induce her to come to a decision
of any kind； and only when she saw Antonia and Isabel were
dressed for a journey； and that Thomas had locked up all the
rooms and was extinguishing the fires； could she bring herself
to believe that the trial so long anticipated had really come。
〃My dearest mother！ My own life and the lives of many others
may now hang upon a few moments。 I can remain here no longer。
Where shall I take you to？〃
〃I will not leave my home。〃
〃Santa Anna is almost here。 As soon as he arrives； Fray
Ignatius and twelve of the Bernardine monks are coming here。
I was told that yesterday。〃
〃Then I will go to the convent。 I and my daughters。〃
〃No； mother； if you go to the convent； Antonia and Isabel must
go with me。〃
She prayed； and exclaimed； and appealed to saints and angels；
and to the holy Virgin； until Isabel was hysterically weeping；
Antonia at a mental tension almost unendurable； and Thomas on
the verge of one of those terrifying passions that mark
the extremity of habitually gentle； patient men。
〃My God； mother！〃 he exclaimed with a stamp of his spurred
boot on the stone floor； 〃if you will go to the devilto the
priests； I meanyou must go alone。 Kiss your mother
farewell； girls。 I have not another moment to wait。〃
Then； in a passion of angry sobs and reproaches； she decided
to go with her daughters； and no saint ever suffered with a
more firm conviction of their martyrdom to duty than did this
poor foolish； affectionate slave to her emotions and her
superstitions。 But when Thomas had gone； and nothing was to
be gained by a display of her sufferings； she permitted
herself to be interested in their hiding…place； and after
Antonia had given her a cup of chocolate； and Isabel had
petted and soothed her； she began gradually to allow them to
explain their situation； and even to feel some interest in its
discussion。
They sat in the charmful； dusky glimmer of starlight； for
candles and fire were forbidden luxuries。 Fortunately； the
weather was warm and sunny； and for making chocolate and such
simple cookery； Lopez had provided a spirit lamp。 The
Senora was as pleased as a child with this arrangement。 She
had never seen anything like it before。 She even imagined the
food cooked upon it had some rare and unusual flavor。 She was
quite proud when she had learned its mysteries； and quite sure
that chocolate she made upon it was chocolate of a most
superior kind。
The house had been empty for two years； and the great point
was to preserve its air of desolation。 No outside arrangement
was touched； the torn remnants of some balcony hangings were
left fluttering in the wind； the closed windows and the closed
doors； the absence of smoke from the chimneys and of lights
from the windows； preserved the air of emptiness and
loneliness that the passers…by had been accustomed to see。
And； as it was on the highway into the city； there were great
numbers of passers： mule…trains going to Mexico and Sonora；
cavaliers and pedestrians； splendidly…dressed nobles and
officials； dusty peons bringing in wood； ranchmen； peddlers；
and the whole long list of a great city's purveyors and
servants。
But though some of the blinds were half…closed； much could be
seen； and Isabel also often took cushions upon the flat roof；
and lying down； watched； from between the pilasters of the
balustrade surrounding it； the moving panorama。
On the morning of the third day of what the Senora； called
their imprisonment； they went to the roof to sit in the clear
sunshine and the fresh wind。 They were weary and depressed
with the loneliness and uncertainty of their position； and
were almost longing for something to happen that would push
forward the lagging wheels of destiny。
A long fanfare of trumpets； a roll of drums； a stirring march
of warlike melody； startled them out of the lethargic tedium
of exhausted hopes and fears。 〃It is Santa Anna！〃 said
Antonia； and though they durst not stand up； they drew closer
to the balustrade and watched for the approaching army。 Is
there any woman who can resist that nameless emotion which
both fires and rends the heart in the presence of great
military movements？ Antonia was still and speechless； and
white as death。 Isabel watched with gleaming eyes and
set lips。 The Senora's excitement was unmistakably that of
exultant national pride。
Santa Anna and his staff…officers were in front。 They passed
too rapidly for individual notice； but it was a grand moving
picture of handsome men in scarlet and goldof graceful
mangas and waving plumes； and bright…colored velvet capes； of
high…mettled horses； and richly…adorned Mexican saddles；
aqueras of black fur； and silver stirrups； of thousands of
common soldiers； in a fine uniform of red and blue； with
antique brazen helmets gleaming in the sun； and long lances；
adorned with tri…colored streamers。 They went past like a
vivid； wonderful dreamlike the vision of an army of
mediaeval knights。
In a few minutes the tumult of the advancing army was
increased tenfold by the clamor of the city pouring out to
meet it。 The clashing bells from the steeples； the shouting
of the populace； the blare of trumpets and roll of drums； the
lines of churchmen and officials in their grandest dresses； of
citizens of every age；the indescribable human murmur
altogether it was a scene whose sensuous splendor
obliterated for a time the capacity of impressionable
natures to judge rightly。
But Antonia saw beyond all this brave show the ridges of red
war； and a noble perversity of soul made her turn her senses
inward。 Then her eyes grew dim； and her heart rose in pitying
prayer for that small band of heroes standing together for
life and liberty in the grim Alamo。 No pomp of war was
theirs。 They were isolated from all their fellows。 They were
surrounded by their enemies。 No word of sympathy could reach
them。 Yet she knew they would stand like lions at bay； that
they would give life to its last drop for liberty； and rather
than be less than freemen； they would prefer not to be at all。
CHAPTER XIV。
THE FALL OF THE ALAMO。
〃The combat deepens。 On； ye brave！
Who rush to glory or the grave。〃
〃To all the sensual world proclaim：
One crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name。〃
〃Gashed with honorable scars；
Low in Glory's lap they lie；
Though they fell； they fell like stars；
Streaming splendor through the sky。〃
The passing…by of Santa Anna and the Mexican army； though it
had been hourly expected for nearly three days； was an event
which threw the Senora and her daughters into various
conditions of mental excitement。 They descended from the roof
to the Senora's room； where they could move about and converse
with more freedom。 For the poor lady was quite unable to
control her speech and actions； and was also much irritated by
Antonia's more composed manner。 She thought it was want of
sympathy。
〃How can you take things with such a blessed calmness；〃 she
asked； angrily。 〃But it is the way of the Americans； no
doubt； who must have everything for prudence。 Sensible！
Sensible！ Sensible！ that is the tune they are forever
playing； and you dance to it like a miracle。〃
〃My dear mother； can we do any good by exclaiming and
weeping？〃
〃Holy Virgin！ Perhaps not； but to have a little human nature
is more agreeable to those who are yet on the earth side of
purgatory。〃
〃Mi madre；〃 said Isabel； 〃Antonia is our good angel。 She
thinks for us； and plans for us； and even now has everything
ready for us to move at a moment's notice。 Our good angels
have to be sensible and prudent； madre。〃
〃To move at a moment's notice！ Virgin of Guadalupe！ where
shall we go to？ Could my blessed father and mother see me in
this prison； this very vault； I assure you they would be
unhappy even among the angels。〃
〃Mother； there are hundreds of women today in Texas who would
think this house a palace of comfort and safety。〃
〃Saints and angels！ Is that my fault？ Does it make my
condition more endurable？ Ah； my children； I have seen great
armies come into San Antonio； and always before I have been
able to make a little pleasure to myself out of the event。
For the Mexicans are not blood…thirsty； though they are very
warlike。 When Bravo was here； what balls； what bull…fights；
what visiting among the ladies！ Indeed there was so much to
tell； the tertulia was as necessary as the dinner。 To be
sure； the Mexicans are not barbarians； they made a war that
had some refinement。 But the Americans！ They are savages。
With them it is fight； fight； fight； and if we try to be
agreeable； as we were to that outrageous Sam Houston； they say
thank you； madam； and go on thinking th