rty. They
furnished them with the provisions necessary to reach the Rio Grande.
They took charge of their sick and wounded. They set all the Mexican
prisoners at liberty--in short, so great was their generosity and
courtesy that the Mexicans were unable to comprehend their motives.

Even Lopez was troubled at it. "I assure you," he said to Dr. Worth,
"they will despise such civility; they will not believe in its
sincerity. At this very blessed hour of God, they are accusing the
Americans of being afraid to press their advantage. Simply, you will
have the fight to make over again. I say this, because I know Santa
Anna."

"Santa Anna is but a man, Lopez."

"Me perdonas! He is however a man who knows a trick more than the devil.
One must be careful of a bull in front, of a mule behind, and of a
monk and Santa Anna on all sides. At the word monk, Lopez glanced
significantly at a passing priest, and Doctor Worth saw that it was Fray
Ignatius.

"He sprinkled the Mexican troops with holy water, and blessed them as
they left the city this morning. He has the ear of General Cos. He is
not a man to offend, I assure you, Doctor."

The doctor walked thoughtfully away. San Antonio was full of his
friends, yet never had he felt himself and his family to be in so much
danger. And the words of Lopez had struck a responding chord in his
own consciousness. The careless bravery, the splendid generosity of
his countrymen was at least premature. He went through the city with
observing eyes, and saw much to trouble him.

The gates of Alamo were open. Crockett lounged upon his rifle in the
Plaza. A little crowd was around him, and the big Tennesseean hunter was
talking to them. Shouts of laughter, bravas of enthusiasm, answered the
homely wit and stirring periods that had over and over "made room for
Colonel Crockett," both in the Tennessee Legislature and the United
States Congress. His rifle seemed a part of him--a kind of third arm.
His confident manner, his manliness and bravery, turned his wit into
wisdom. The young fellows around found in him their typical leader.

The elegant James Bowie was sitting on the verandah of the Veramendi
House, calmly smoking. His fair, handsome face, clear blue eyes and
mild manners, gave no indication of the gigantic physical strength and
tremendous coolness and courage of the man who never tolerated an enemy
in his presence. Burleson and Travis were talking under the shade of a
China tree, and th