earnest. The fight is at hand--they are too fine."

"Yes, but I will tell you--I can say anything to you--there is to be a
grand day for freedom; well, then, for a festa one puts on the best that
is to be got. I will even lend you my Cross of Saint James, if you wish.
A young hero should be dressed like a hero. Honor my poor clothes so far
as to wear them in the fight."

"Thank you, Lopez. I will not disgrace them"; and he bent forward and
looked into his friend's eyes. His glance prolonged his words--went
further than speech--went where speech could not reach.

"Listen to me, Luis. As a matter of precision, where now are the
Americans?"

"At the mission of Espada."

"La Espada?--the sword--the name is ominous."

"Of success, Lopez."

"Is Houston, then, with you?"

"Until a few days ago. He and General Austin have gone to San Felipe."

"For what? Is not San Antonio the most important point?"

"It was decided by the vote of the army to send them there to frame a
provisional government. There are plenty of fighters with us, but not
one statesman but Houston. And now it is necessary that we should have
legal authority to obtain loans, maintain the army in the field, and
many other such things vital to our cause. Austin is to go to the United
States. He will bring back men and money. Houston must draw up our
declaration and manifestoes; direct the civil government; forward
troops; and, in fact, set a new government in motion."

"He is the loadstone in the bosom! [2] I wonder that the Americans
permitted that he should leave them."

"He, and he only, was the man to go. Ere he left, he said some strange
words. I shall not, as a Mexican, forget them. In the midst of the men
he stood like a god, with his great stature, and his bright, strong
face. One cannot think of him as of a common mortal. Indeed, I will
confess that I could only compare him with the Efreet in the Arabian
tale, 'whose nostrils were like trumpets, his eyes like lamps, and who
had dishevelled, dust colored hair'"

"But, to proceed; what were the strange words?"

"Thus he spoke, and his voice rang out like a clarion:

"'You will fight as men fight for their homes, and their wives, and
their children, but also--remember this--the idea of Texas is in the
American heart! Two generations they have carried it there! It is your
destiny to make the idea a fact! As far back as eighteen nineteen, Adams
wanted Texas. When Adams became president, he tol