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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
what moral torture could be inflicted； what spiritual
servitude exacted。 In a moment of time she had comprehended
her danger； and her heart sank and sickened with a genuine
physical terror。
The cold was still severe； and no one answered her call for
wood。 Isabel crouched； white and shivering； over the dying
embers； and it was she who first uttered the fear Antonia had
refused to admit to herself〃Suppose the servants are
forbidden to wait upon us！〃
〃I will bring wood myself； dearest。〃 She was greatly
comforted by the word 〃us。〃 She could almost have wept for
joy of the sympathy it included。 For thought is rapid in such
crucial moments； and she had decided that even flight with her
would be a kinder fate for Isabel； than the cruel tender
mercies of the Sisters and the convent。
They could not talk much。 The thought of their mother's
anguish； and of the separation put between them and their
household； shocked and terrified them。 Vainly they called for
fuel。 At dinner time no table was laid； and no preparations
made for the meal。 Then Antonia went into the kitchen。 She
took with her food； and cooked it。 She brought wood into the
parlor； and made up the fire。 Fortunately； her northern
education had given her plenty of resources for such
emergencies。 Two or three savory dishes were soon ready； and
the small table set upon a warm； bright hearth。
The Senora had evidently not been included in the ban； for
Rachela attended with ostentatious care to her comfort； but
Isabel had rolled herself up in a wadded silk coverlet and
gone to sleep。 Antonia awakened her with a kiss。 〃Come；
queridita； and get your dinner。〃
〃But is it possible？ I thought Fray Ignatius had forbidden
it。〃
〃He cannot forbid me to wait upon you； my darling one。 And he
cannot turn the flour into dust； and the meat into stone。
There is a good dinner ready； and you are hungry； no doubt。〃
〃For three hours I have been faint。 Ah！ you have made me a
custard also！ You are a very comforter。〃
But the girl was still and sad； and Antonia was hard pressed
to find any real comfort for her。 For she knew that their
only hope lay in the immediate attack of the American force；
and its success； and she did not think it wise to hide from
her sister the alternatives that lay before them if the
Americans failed。
〃I am afraid；〃 said Isabel； 〃and so unhappy。 A very sad
business is life。 I cannot think how any one can care to
live。〃
〃Remember Luis； and our father； and Jack； and Thomas； and our
dear mother； who this morning stood between us and Fray
Ignatius。 Will you let this priest turn the sky black above
you？〃
〃And also； men will fight。 What for？ Who can tell？ The
Americans want so much of everything。 Naturally they do not
get all they want。 What do they do？ Fight； and get killed。
Then they go into the next world； and complain of people。 As
for Luis； I do not expect to see him again。〃
Fortunately； the norther moderated at sunset。 Life then
seemed so much more possible。 Adverse elements intensify
adverse fortune； and the physical suffering from the cold had
also benumbed Antonia's spirits； and made her less hopeful and
less clear…visioned。 But when she awoke at the gray dawn of
the next day； she awoke with a different spirit。 She had
regained herself。 She rose quietly； and looked out towards
the city。 The black flag from the Alamo and the Missions hung
above it。 She looked at the ominous standards； and then the
tears sprang to her eyes； she lifted her face and her hands to
heaven； and a few words； swifter than light； sprang from her
soul into the ear of the Eternal Father of Spirits。
The answer came with the petitioncame with the crack of
rifle shots； precise； regular； unceasing。
〃Oh God！ I thank Thee！ Lord of Hosts； Thou art a great
multitude！ Isabel！ Isabel！ The Americans are attacking the
city！ Our father will fight his way back to his home！ Fray
Ignatius can not come to…day。 Oh； I am so happy！ So happy！
Listen！ How the Mexicans are shouting！ They are cheering on
the men！ What a turmoil！〃
〃Jesu； Maria； have mercy！〃 cried Isabel； clasping her crucifix
and falling upon her knees。
〃Oh； Isabel； pray for our father； that his angel may
overshadow him with strong wings。〃
〃And Luis？〃
〃And Luis； and Thomas； and Jack； and Dare。 There are prayers
for them all； and love enough to make them。 Hark！ there are
the drums； and the trumpets； and the gallop of the cavalry。
Come； dearest； let us go to our mother。 To day； no one will
remember Fray Ignatius。〃
CHAPTER IX。
THE STORMING OF THE ALAMO。
〃Now； hearts；
Be ribbed with iron for this one attempt：
Set ope' your sluices； send the vigorous blood
Through every active limb for our relief。〃
〃Now they begin the tragic play；
And with their smoky cannon banish day。〃
〃Endure and conquer。 God will soon dispose
To future good our past and present woes：
Resume your courage； and dismiss your care；
An hour will come with pleasure to relate
Your sorrows past； as benefits of Fate。〃
The Senora was already dressed。 She turned with a face full
of fear and anger to her daughters as they entered her room
〃These American diablos！ They are attacking the city。 They
will take itthat is to be expectedwho can fight diablos？
And what is to become of us？ Oh； Antonia！ Why did you
prevent Fray Ignatius？ We might now have been safe in the
convent〃； and Rachela nodded her head in assent；
with an insufferable air of reproof and toleration。
Antonia saw that the time had not yet come for pleading her
own cause。 She left Isabel with her mother。 The Senora's
breakfast was waiting； and she offered to share it with her
youngest daughter。 Antonia went downstairs to prepare for
herself some coffee。 She was surprised and pleased to find it
made。 For a certain thought had come to Molly in the night
and she had acted upon it
〃The praist is a strange praist； and almost as black as a
nagur； and I'd be a poor body； I think； to let him be meddling
wid my work。 Shure； I never heard of the like of such
interfering in Ireland； nor in the States at all！〃 Then
turning to the Mexican cook； Manuel〃You may lave the fire
alone till I bees done wid it。〃
〃Fray Ignatius will not give you absolution if you disobey
him。〃
〃He can be kaping the same then。 There is an Irish praist at
San Patricio； and I'll be going there for my absolution； and
I'll be getting none any nearer that an Irish soul will be a
pin the better for。 I'll say that； standing in the
church； to the saints themselves； and so be aff wid you and
let the fire alone till I bees done wid it。〃
But it was not Molly's place to serve the food she cooked； and
she did not trouble herself about the serving。 When she had
asserted her right to control her own work； and do it or
neglect it as it seemed good to herself alone； she was
satisfied。 Over Antoniawho was at least half a Mexicanshe
acknowledged a Mexican priest to have authority； and she had
no intention of interfering between Fray Ignatius and his
lawful flock。 She was smoking her pipe by the fire when
Antonia entered the kitchen； and she neither lifted her eyes
nor spoke to her。
Against such unreasonable isolation Antonia could not help a
feeling of anger； and she heard with satisfaction the regular
crack of the rifles。 Her thought was〃They will make these
people find their tongues also； very soon。〃 She was
exceedingly anxious for information； and； as she ate her roll
and drank her coffees she was considering how they could gain
it。 For even if Fray Ignatius were able to visit them； his
report would be colored by his prejudices and his
desires； and could not be relied on。
Her heart fluttered and sank； she was hot and cold； sanguine
and fearful。 She could not endure the idea of a suspense
unrelieved by any reliable word。 For the siege might be a
long one。 San Antonio was strongly walled and defended。 The
Alamo fortress stood in its centre。 It had forty…eight
cannon； and a garrison of a thousand men。 Before it could be
reached； the city had to be taken； and the inhabitants would
in the main fight desperately for their homes。
As soon as she was alone with her mother； she pointed out
these facts to her。 〃Let me write to Lopez Navarro； mi madre。
He is a friend。〃
〃Of the Americans！ Si。〃
〃Of freedom。 He will send us word。〃
〃Are you forgetful of what is moral and respectable； Antonia？
That a young lady should write to Lopez Navarroa man that is
unmarriedis such a thing as never before happened！ He would
think the world had come to an end； or worse。〃
〃Dear mother！ In a time of trouble like this； who would
think wrong of us？ Surely you might write。〃
〃As you say； Antonia。 Tell me； then； who will take the
letter。〃
〃The peon Ortiz will take it。 This morning he brought in wood
and kindled the fire； and I saw in his face the kindness of
his heart。〃
After some further persuasion； the Senora agreed to write； and
Ortiz undertook the commission； with a nod of understanding。
Then t