at once. He rode a strong horse, and he would
find fresh mounts on the way. He obeyed the orders of the general
literally. He soon left San Antonio far behind, and went on hour after
hour, straight toward Goliad. Now and then he felt the inside of his
tunic where the letter lay, but it was always safe. Three or four times
he met parties of Mexicans, and he replied briefly to their questions
that he rode on the business of the most illustrious president, General
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Once, on the second day, he saw two
horsemen, whom his trained eyes told him to be Texan hunters.

The messenger sheered off into a patch of timber, and waited until the
hunters passed out of sight. Had they seen him much might have changed,
a terrible story might have been different, but, at that period, the
stars in their courses were working against the Texans. Every accident,
every chance, turned to the advantage of their enemies.

The messenger emerged from the timber, and went on at the same steady
gait toward Goliad. He was riding his fourth horse now, having changed
every time he met a Mexican detachment, and the animal was fresh and
strong. The rider himself, powerful by nature and trained to a life in
the saddle, felt no weariness.

The scattered houses of Goliad came into view, by and by, and the
messenger, giving the magic name of Santa Anna, rode through the lines.
He inquired for General Urrea, the commander, but the general having
gone to Victoria he was directed to Colonel Portilla, who commanded in
his absence. He found Portilla sitting in a patio with Colonel Garay,
the younger Urrea and several other Mexican officers. The messenger
saluted, drew the letter from his pocket and presented it to Colonel
Portilla.

"From the most illustrious president and commander-in-chief, General
Santa Anna," he said.

Portilla broke the seal and read. As his eyes went down the lines, a
deep flush crept through the tan of his face, and the paper trembled in
his hands.

"I cannot do it! I cannot do it! Read, gentlemen, read!" he cried.

Urrea took the extended letter from his hand and read it aloud. Neither
his voice nor his hand quivered as he read, and when he finished he said
in a firm voice:

"The orders of the president must be obeyed, and you, Colonel Portilla,
must carry them out at once. All of us know that General Santa Anna does
not wish to repeat his commands, and that his wrath is terrible."

"It is so! It is so