"I don"t know," replied Ned.
"I would do it in your place."
"I know it, but there is a difference between us and I am glad of that difference, egotistical as it may sound."
"There is another difference which perhaps you do not have in mind. You are a Texan, an American, and I am a Mexican. That is why I came among you and claimed to be one of you. You were fools to think that I, Francisco Urrea, could ever fight for Texas against Mexico."
"It seems that we were," said Ned.
Urrea laughed somewhat scornfully.
"There are some Mexicans born here in Texas who are so foolish," he said, "but they do not know Mexico. They do not know the greatness of our nation, or the greatness of Santa Anna. What are your paltry numbers against us? You will fail here against San Antonio, and, even if you should take the town, Santa Anna will come with a great army and destroy you. And then, remember that there is a price to be paid. Much rope will be used to good purpose in Texas."
"You have eaten our bread, you have received kindness from us, and yet you talk of executions."
"I ate your bread, because it was my business to do so. I am not ashamed of anything that I have done. I do not exaggerate, when I say that I have rendered my nation great service against the Texan rebels. It was I who brought them against you more than once."
"I should not boast of it. I should never pretend to belong to one side in war and work for another."
"Again there is a difference between us. Now, what do you purpose to do?
I am, as it were, your prisoner, and it is for you to make a beginning."
Ned was embarra.s.sed. He was young and he could not enforce all the rigors of war. He knew that if he took Urrea to the camp the man would be executed as a spy and traitor. The Mexicans had already committed many outrages, and the Texans were in no forgiving mood. Ned could not forget that this man had broken bread with his comrades and himself, and once he had liked him. Even now his manner, which contained no fear nor cringing, appealed to him.
"Go," he said at last, "I cannot take your life, nor can I carry you to those who would take it. Doubtless I am doing wrong, but I do not know what else to do."
"Do you mean that you let me go free?"
"I do. You cannot be a spy among us again, and as an open enemy you are only as one among thousands. Of course you came here to-night to spy upon us, and it was an odd chance that brought us together. Take the direction of San Antonio, but don"t look back. I warn you that I shall keep you covered with my rifle."
Urrea turned without another word and walked away. Ned watched him for a full hundred yards. He noticed that the man"s figure was as trim and erect as ever. Apparently, he was as wanting in remorse as he was in fear.
When Urrea had gone a hundred yards Ned turned and went swiftly back to the camp. He said nothing about the incident either to Obed or the Ring Tailed Panther. The next day Urrea was crowded from his mind by exciting news. A sentinel had hailed at dawn three worn and unkempt Texans who had escaped from San Antonio, where they had long been held prisoners by Cos. They brought word that the Mexican army was disheartened. The heavy reinforcements, promised by Santa Anna, had not come.
A great clamor for an immediate attack arose. The citizen army gathered in hundreds around the tent of Burleson, the leader, and demanded that they be led against San Antonio. Fannin and Milam were there, and they seconded the demands of the men. Ned stood on the outskirts of the crowd. The Ring Tailed Panther on one side of him uttering a succession of growls, but Obed on the other was silent.
"It looks like a go this time," said Ned.
"I think it is," said Obed, "and if it isn"t a go now it won"t be one at all. Waiting wears out the best of men."
The Ring Tailed Panther continued to growl.
A great shout suddenly arose. The Panther ceased to growl and his face beamed. Burleson had consented to the demand of the men. It was quickly arranged that they should attack San Antonio in the morning, and risk everything on the cast.
The short day--it was winter now--was spent in preparations. Ned and his comrades cleaned their rifles and pistols and provided themselves with double stores of ammunition. Ned did not seek to conceal from himself, nor did the men seek to hide from him the greatness and danger of their attempt.
"They outnumber us and they hold a fortified town," said Obed. "Whatever we do we three must stick together. In union there is often safety."
"We stick as long as we stand," said the Ring Tailed Panther. "If one falls the other two must go on, an", if two fall, the last must go on as long as he can."
"Agreed," said Ned and Obed.
They were ready long before night, but after dark an alarming story spread through the little army. Part of it at least proved to be true.
One of the scouts, sent out after the decision to attack had been taken, had failed to come in. It was believed that he had deserted to the Mexicans with news of the intended Texan advance. The leaders had counted upon surprise, as a necessary factor in their success, and without it they would not advance. Gloom settled over the army, but it was not a silent gloom. These men spoke their disappointment in words many and loud. Never had the Ring Tailed Panther roared longer, without taking breath.
The Texans were still talking angrily about the fires, when another shout arose. The missing scout came in and he brought with him a Mexican deserter, who confirmed all the reports about the discouragement of the garrison. Once more, the Texans crowded about Burleson"s tent, and demanded that the attack be made upon San Antonio. At last Burleson exclaimed:
"Well, if you can get volunteers to attack, go and attack!"
Milam turned, faced the crowd and raised his hand.
There was a sudden hush save for the deep breathing of many men. Then in a loud, clear voice Milam spoke only ten words. They were:
"Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?"
And a hundred voices roared a single word in reply. It was:
"I!"
"That settles it," said the Ring Tailed Panther with deep satisfaction.
"Old Satan himself couldn"t stop the attack now."
The word was given that the volunteers for the direct attack, three hundred in number, would gather at an old mill half way between the camp and the town. Thence they would march on foot for the a.s.sault. Ned and his comrades were among the first to gather at the mill and he waited as calmly as he could, while the whole force was a.s.sembled, three hundred lean, brown men, large of bone and long of limb.
No light was allowed, and the night was cold. The figures of the men looked like phantoms in the dusk. Ned stood with his friends, while Milam gave the directions. They were to be divided into two forces. One under Milam was to enter the town by the street called Acequia, and the other under Colonel Johnson was to penetrate by Soledad Street. They relied upon the neglect of the Mexicans to get so far, before the battle began. Burleson, with the remainder of his men would attack the ancient mission, then turned into a fort, called the Alamo.
"Deaf" Smith, who knew the town thoroughly, led Johnson"s column, and Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther were just behind him.
Ned was quivering in every nerve with excitement and suspense, but he let no one see it. He moved forward with steady step and he heard behind him the soft tread of the men who intended to get into San Antonio without being seen. He looked back at them. They came in the dusk like so many shadows and no one spoke. It was like a procession of ghosts, moving into a sleeping town. The chill wind cut across their faces, but no one at that moment took notice of cold.
High over Ned"s head a great star danced and twinkled, and it seemed to him that it was the Texan Star springing out.
The houses of the town rose out of the darkness. Ned saw off to right and left fresh earthworks and rifle pits, but either no men were stationed there or they slept. The figure of Smith led steadily on and behind came the long and silent file. How much farther would they go without being seen or heard? It seemed amazing to Ned that they had come so far already.
They were actually at the edge of the town. Now they were in it, going up the narrow Soledad Street between the low houses directly toward the main plaza, which was fortified by barricades and artillery. A faint glimmer of dawn was just beginning to appear in the east.
A dusky figure suddenly appeared in the street in front of them and gave a shout of alarm. "Deaf" Smith fired and the man fell. A bugle pealed from the plaza and a cannon was fired down the street, the ball whistling over the heads of the Texans. In an instant the garrison of Cos was awake, and the alarm sounded from every point of San Antonio.
Lights flashed, arms rattled and men called to one another.
"Into this house" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We cannot charge up the narrow street in face of the cannon!"
They were now within a hundred yards of the plaza, but they saw that the guide was right. They dashed into the large, solid house that he had indicated, and Ned did not notice until he was inside that it was the very house of the Vice-Governor, Veramendi, into which he had come once before. Just as the last of the Texans sprang through the doors another cannon ball whistled down the street, this time low enough. Milam"s division, meanwhile, had rushed into the house of De La Garcia, near by.
As Ned and the others sprang to cover he trampled upon the flowers in a patio, and he saw a little fountain playing. Then he knew. It was the house of Veramendi, and he thought it a singular chance that had brought him to the same place. But he had little time for reflection. The column of Texans, a hundred and fifty in number, were taking possession of every part of the building, the occupants of which had fled through the rear doors.
"To the roof!" cried "Deaf" Smith. "We can best meet the attack from there."
The doors and windows were already manned, but Smith and many of the best men rushed to the flat roof, and looked over the low stone coping.