irection,
and the pursuit and slaughter continued until twilight. Truly an unseen
power made all our moves for us. It was a military miracle, for our loss
was only eight killed and seventeen wounded."

"I am sorry Houston is among the wounded."

"His ankle-bone is shattered. He is suffering much. I was with him when
he left the field and I was delighted with his patience and dignity. The
men crowded around him. They seized his bridle; they clasped his hands.
'Have we done well to-day, General? Are you satisfied with us?' they
cried.

"'You have covered yourselves with glory,' he answered. 'You have
written a grand page in American history this day, boys. For it was not
for fame nor for empire you fought; but for your rights as freemen, for
your homes and your faith.'

"The next moment he fell from his horse and we laid him down at the foot
of an oak tree. He had fainted from loss of blood and the agony of his
wound, combined with the superhuman exertions and anxieties of the past
week."

"But he is better now?"

"Yes; I dressed the wound as well as my appliances permitted; but he
will not be able to use his foot for some time. No one slept that night.
Weary as the men were, their excitement and happiness were too great for
the bonds of sleep. In the morning the rich spoils of the enemy's camp
were divided among them. Houston refused any part in them. 'My share
of the honor is sufficient,' he said. Yet the spoils were very valuable
ones to men who but a few hours before had nothing but the clothing
they wore and the arms they carried. Among them were nearly one thousand
stand of English muskets, three hundred valuable mules, one hundred
fine horses, provisions, clothing, tents, and at least twelve thousand
dollars in silver."

"Were you on the field all the time, father?"

"I was near Houston from first to last. When he saw the battle was won,
he did his best to prevent needless slaughter. But men on a battle-field
like San Jacinto cannot be reasoned with; after a certain point, they
could not even be commanded. The majority had some private revenge to
satisfy after the public welfare had been served. We met one old man in
a frenzy, covered with blood from his white beard to his boots, his arms
bare to his shoulders, his knife dripping from haft to point."

"Houston looked at him, and said something about mercy and valor.
'General,' he said, 'they killed two of my boys at Goliad, and my
brother at the Alamo.