nd maps were lost in the
rushing waters. Father Marquette's comparatively brief journal and his
map form the only original records of the expedition, and they are
preserved at St. Mary's College, Montreal. The humble priest who sought
only to carry his religion to the savages becomes the historian, while
the ambitious explorer is hardly remembered in connection with the
wonderful journey.

[139-27] Always delicate, his health was grievously broken by his severe
labors and privation, and his efforts to keep his promise to the
Illinois were attended by terrible sufferings. The winter was passed in
a bleak hut, and on his return journey he was not able to walk much of
the time.

[139-28] This river was the one on which the city of Ludington,
Michigan, is now built.

[140-29] The final resting place of the bones of Marquette is the little
village of Saint Agnace, in the mainland of the northern peninsula of
Michigan, west of Mackinac Island. A simple monument in the midst of a
little park marks his grave.

[Illustration]

THE FALL OF THE ALAMO

Texas began its struggle for independence from Mexico in September,
1835, driven to it by the fact that under the rule of the new republic
their treatment was little better than it had been while Mexico herself
was under the Spanish control. No sooner, however, had the Texans
declared their independence than General Cos led a large detachment into
the state and determined to drive out of it those Americans who had
settled there. The Mexican general met with so fierce a resistance that
he was compelled to take refuge behind the walls of the Alamo in San
Antonio de Bexar.[141-1] He had seventeen hundred men, but in spite of
this fact the two hundred and sixteen Texans under General Burlison
stormed the place, captured the Mexican general and sent him under
parole to his brother-in-law, the famous Santa Ana.[141-2]

A garrison of about a hundred and sixty men under the joint command of
Colonel Travis[142-3] and Colonel Bowie[142-4] was in the Alamo in
February of 1836. About this time there came to the Alamo David
Crockett[142-5] of Tennessee, a famous hunter, warrior and politician,
who had already represented his district in Congress, where he
distinguished himself by his rough and powerful oratory.

On the afternoon of February 22nd, a large force of Mexicans under
General Santa Ana arrived at San Antonio, and the next morning demanded
an unconditional surrender of