t Washington.

One man who inspired courage wherever he went had come already. Sam
Houston had ridden into town, calm, confident and talking only of
victory. He was dressed with a neatness and care unusual on the border,
wearing a fine black suit, while his face was shaded by the wide brim of
a white sombrero. The famous scouts, "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes, and
young Zavala, whom Ned had known in Mexico, were there also.

Fifty-eight delegates representing Texas gathered in the largest room of
a frame building. "Deaf" Smith and Henry Karnes came in and sat with
their rifles across their knees. While some of the delegates were
talking Houston signaled to the two, and they went outside.

"What do you hear from the Alamo, Smith?" asked Houston.

"Travis has fought off all the attacks of the Mexicans," replied the
great borderer, "but when Santa Anna brings up his whole force an' makes
a resolute assault it's bound to go under. The mission is too big an'
scattered to be held by Travis an' his men against forty or fifty times
their number."

"I fear so. I fear so," said Houston sadly, "and we can't get together
enough men for its relief. All this quarreling and temporizing are our
ruin. Heavens, what a time for disagreements!"

"There couldn't be a worse time, general," said Henry Karnes. "Me an'
'Deaf' would like mighty well to march to the Alamo. A lot of our
friends are in there an' I reckon we've seen them for the last time."

The fine face of Houston grew dark with melancholy.

"Have you been anywhere near San Antonio?" he asked Smith.

"Not nearer than thirty miles," replied Smith, "but over at Goliad I saw
a force under Colonel Fannin that was gettin' ready to start to the
relief of Travis. With it were some friends of mine. There was Palmer,
him they call the Panther, the biggest and strongest man in Texas; Obed
White, a New Englander, an' a boy, Will Allen. I've knowed 'em well for
some time, and there was another that belonged to their little band. But
he's in the Alamo now, an' they was wild to rescue him."

"Do you think Fannin will get through?" asked Houston.

"I don't," replied Smith decidedly, "an' if he did it would just mean
the loss of more good men for us. What do you think about it, Hank?"

"The same that you do," replied Karnes.

Houston pondered over their words a long time. He knew that they were
thoroughly acquainted with Texas and the temper of its people, and he
relied greatly on th