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Goliad our men surrendered。 They were promised safe…conduct
out of Texas。 The massacre at Goliad was a ferocious crime。'
〃‘It was precisely the same thing as the wholesale murder of
Turkish prisoners at Jaffa by the great Napoleon。 Also I had
the positive orders of my government to slay all Americans
found with arms。'
〃‘These men had given up their arms。'
〃‘All Americansmy government said so。'
〃‘Sir！ YOU are the government of Mexico。 You obeyed your
own orders。'
〃‘You will at least allow that； in the eyes of recognized
nations； your army was but a band of desperadoes； without
government； and fighting under no flag。'
〃‘Sir； you show a convenient ignorance。 We have a government；
and as soon as we can lay down our rifles； we shall probably
be able to make a flag。 I say to you； President Santa Anna；
that the butchery at Goliad was without an excuse and without
a parallel in civilized warfare。 The men had capitulated to
General Urrea。'
〃‘Urrea had no right to receive their capitulation。' Then his
mild； handsome face became in a moment malicious and tigerish；
and he said with a cruel emphasis： ‘If I ever get Urrea into
my hands； I will execute him！ I perceive； however； that I
have never understood the American character。 For the few
thousands in the country； I thought my army an overwhelming
one。 I underestimated their ability。'
〃‘I tell you； sir； an army of millions would be too small to
enslave ten thousand free…born anglo…Americans。 Liberty is
our birthright。 We have marched four days on an ear or two of
dry corn； and then fought a battle after it'； and Houston drew
from his pocket an ear； partially consumed； which had
been his ration。 ‘We have had no tents； no music； no
uniforms； no flag； nothing to stimulate us but the
determination to submit to no wrong； and to have every one of
our rights。'
〃Then he turned to Rusk and Sherman； and called a military
counsel about the prisoner； who was placed in an adjoining
tent under a sufficient guard。 But the excitement is intense；
and the wretch is suffering； undoubtedly； all the mortal
terrors of being torn to pieces by an infuriated soldiery。
Houston will have to speak to them。 They will be influenced
by no other man。〃
The discussion upon this event lasted until midnight。 But the
ladies retired to their own tent much earlier。 They knelt
together in grateful prayer； and then kissed each other upon
their knees。 It was so sweet to lie down once more in safety；
to have the luxury of a tent； and a mattress； and pillow。
〃Blessed be the hand of God！ my children；〃 said the Senora；
〃and may the angels give us in our dreams grateful thoughts。〃
And then； in the dark； Isabel nestled her head in her sister's
breast； and whispered： 〃Forgive me for being happy；
sweet Antonia。 Indeed； when I smiled on Luis； I was often
thinking of you。 In my joy and triumph and love； I do not
forget that one great awful grave at Goliad。 But a woman must
hide so many things； do you comprehend me； Antonia？〃
〃Querdita；〃 she whispered； 〃I comprehend all。 God has done
right。 If His angel had said to me； ‘One must be taken and
the other left；' I should have prayed； ‘Spare then my little
sister all sorrow。' Good…night； my darling〃； but as their
lips met； Isabel felt upon her cheeks the bitter rain which is
the price of accepted sacrifice； the rain； which afterwards
makes the heart soft； and fresh； and responsive to all the
airs of God。
At the same moment； the white curtains of the marquee； in
which the doctor sat talking with his son and Luis and Lopez；
were opened； and the face of Ortiz showed brown and glowing
between them。
〃Senors；〃 he said； as he advanced to them； 〃I am satisfied。 I
have been appointed on the guard over Santa Anna。 He has
recognized me。 He has to obey my orders。 Will you think of
that？〃 Then taking the doctor's hand he raised it to his lips。
〃Senor； I owe this satisfaction to you。 You have made me my
triumph。 How shall I repay you？〃
〃By being merciful in the day of your power； Ortiz。〃
〃I assure you that I am not so presumptuous； Senor。 Mercy is
the right of the Divinity。 It is beyond my capacity。 Besides
which； it is not likely the Divinity will trouble himself
about Santa Anna。 I have； therefore； to obey the orders of
the great； the illustrious Houston； which are； to prevent his
escape at all risks。 May St。 James give me the opportunity；
Senors！ In this happy hour； a Dios！〃
Then Lopez bent forward； and with a smile touched the doctor's
hand。 〃Will you now remember the words I said of Houston？
Did I not tell you； that success was with him？ that on his
brow was the line of fortune？ that he was the loadstone in the
breast of freedom？
CHAPTER XVII。
HOME AGAIN。
〃Where'er we roam；
Our first； best country ever is at home。〃
〃What constitutes a state？
Men who their duties know；
But know their rights； and knowing； dare maintain。
〃And sovereign law； that states collected will
O'er thrones and globes elate；
Sits empress； crowning good； repressing ill。
〃This hand to tyrants ever sworn a foe；
For freedom only deals the deadly blow；
Then sheathes in calm repose the vengeful blade；
For gentle peace； in freedom's hallowed shade。〃
The vicinity of a great battle…field is a dreadful place after
the lapse of a day or two。 The bayou and the morass had
provided sepulture for hundreds of slain Mexicans； but
hundreds still lay upon the open prairie。 Over it； birds of
prey hung in dark clouds； heavy…winged； sad； sombre； and
silent。 Nothing disturbed them。 They took no heed
of the living。 Armed with invincible talons and beaks tipped
with iron； they carried on ceaselessly that automatic
gluttony； which made them beneficent crucibles of living fire；
for all which would otherwise have corrupted the higher life。
And yet； though innocent as the elements； they were odious in
the sight of all。
Before daylight in the morning the Senora and her daughters
were ready to begin their homeward journey。 The doctor could
not accompany them； General Houston and the wounded Americans
being dependent largely upon his care and skill。 But Luis
Alveda and Lopez Navarro received an unlimited furlough； and
about a dozen Mexican prisoners of war belonging to San
Antonio were released on Navarro's assurance； and permitted to
travel with the party as camp servants。 It was likely； also；
that they would be joined by a great many of the families who
had accompanied the great flight； for； on the preceding
evening； Houston had addressed the army； and told the
householders and farmers to go home and plant their corn。
Full of happiness； the ladies prepared for their journey。
A good army wagon； drawn by eight mules； and another wagon；
containing two tents and everything necessary for a
comfortable journey； was waiting for them。 The doctor bid
them good…by with smiles and cheerful promises。 They were
going home。 The war was over。 Independence was won。 They
had the hope of permanent peace。 The weather also was as the
weather may be among the fields of Eden。 The heavens were
cloudless； the air sweet and fresh； and the wild honeysuckles；
with their spread hands full of scent； perfumed the prairies
mile after mile。 The mules went knee…deep through warm
grasses； the grasses were like waving rainbows； with the
myriads of brightly tinted flowers。
Even Lopez was radiantly happy。 Most unusual smiles lighted
up his handsome face； and he jingled the silver ornaments on
his bridle pleasantly to his thoughts as he cantered sometimes
a little in advance of the wagon； sometimes in the rear；
occasionally by its side； then； bending forward to lift his
hat to the ladies and inquire after their comfort。
Luis kept close to Isabel； and her lovely face and merry
chatter beguiled him from all other observations。 A
little before noon they halted in a beautiful wood； a tent was
spread for the ladies； the animals were loosened from their
harness； and a luxurious meal laid upon the grass。 Then the
siesta was taken； and at three o'clock travel was resumed
until near sunset； when the camp was made for the night。 The
same order was followed every day； and the journey was in
every sense an easy and delightful one。 The rides； cheered by
pleasant companionship； were not fatiguing； the impromptu
meals were keenly relished。 And there were many sweet
opportunities for little strolls in the dim green woods； and
for delightful conversations； as they sat under the stars；
while the camp…fire blazed among the picturesque groups of
Mexicans playing monte around it。
On the third afternoon； the Senora and Isabel were taking a
siesta； but Antonia could not sleep。 After one or two efforts
she was thoroughly aroused by the sound of voices which had
been very familiar to her in the black days of the flight
those of a woman and her weary family of seven children。 She
had helped her in many ways； and she still felt an
interest in her welfare。 It appeared now to be assured。
Antonia found