uantities in the
morning, but there was no word from the Mexicans concerning the promises
of good treatment and parole that had been made when they surrendered.

Ned was surprised at nothing. He knew that Santa Anna dominated all
Mexico, and he knew Santa Anna. Promises were nothing to him, if it
served him better to break them. Fannin demanded writing materials and
wrote a note to General Urrea protesting strongly against the violation
of faith. But General Urrea was gone after Ward's men, who were
surrounded in the marshes of the Guadalupe, leaving Colonel Portilla in
command. Portilla, meanwhile, was dominated by the younger Urrea, a man
of force and audacity, whom he knew to be high in the favor of Santa
Anna.

Captain Urrea did not believe in showing any kindness to the men
imprisoned in the church. They were rebels or filibusters. They had
killed many good Mexicans, and they should be made to suffer for it. No
answer was returned to Fannin's letter, and the men in the somber old
limestone building became depressed and gloomy.

Ned, who was surprised at nothing, also hoped for nothing, but he sought
to preserve his strength, believing that he would soon have full need of
it. He stretched and tensed his muscles in order to keep the stiffness
from coming into them, and he slept whenever he could.

Two or three days passed and the Mexican officer, Holzinger, came for
Fannin, who was now recovered largely from his wound. The two went away
to Copano on the coast to look for a vessel that would carry the
prisoners to New Orleans. They returned soon, and Fannin and all his men
were in high hopes.

Meanwhile a new group of prisoners were thrust into the church. They
were the survivors of Ward's men, whom General Urrea had taken in the
swamps of the Guadalupe. Then came another squad, eighty-two young
Tennesseeans, who, reaching Texas by water, had been surrounded and
captured by an overwhelming force the moment they landed. A piece of
white cloth had been tied around the arms of every one of these men to
distinguish them from the others.

But they were very cheerful over the news that Fannin had brought. There
was much bustle among the Mexicans, and it seemed to be the bustle of
preparation. The prisoners expected confidently that within another day
they would be on the march to the coast and to freedom.

There was a singular scene in the old church. A boy from Kentucky had
brought a flute with him which the Mexica