The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-16
CHAPTER IL

CHAPTER H.
When Earnest and Jose reached san An
tonic after their weary Journey they were
warmly Received by Colonel Travis who
had been somewhat fearful for the safety
/ .. HIS friend Earnest had scarcely fin
lshet the recital Of MS adventures when
messenger arrived bringing papers OF
lmaoF'ance for Colonel Travis. He glanced
over them and handed them "a Earnest
hese papers mus, so 10 Gol!ad at once.
Ihey contain directions Tor our oompan-
ions there Wal you take them"
Certainly, CAME the ready answer.
very We'll. rest tonight and start in
the morning Jose wi!i accompany you. q"
Thus. after a very shart stay in san
peFilous mission. He expected TO remain
only day at Goi!ad. We shall see under
What circumstances he returned.
When Earnest had loft him, Colonel
Travis found time 10 think Of all the low
ing messSe seat 10 him by his wife. His
mind Wan4egt.i back to the time when he
had first known her as school girl. His
face soiteaea he forgot the stern reau-
ties Of war. he was 10 longer Travis. the
soldier. but Travis the man. the ardent
lover and tender husband In the mdse OF
these reflections the sound OF hurrying
footsteps broke III. stiffness and his most
iA4iiiNi o; scouts threw open the door
Colonel. D. shouted cXcitedly, the
MeNieans are upon us! They have cap
tuTe9 and shot all our scouts. alone
ESCAPED They are about three miles from
The city now"
Travis sprang to his feet. again the brave
warrior. He sent the command 10 each of
'he divisions OF the small army 10 return
al once TO the Alamo Ind made all the
necessary preparations for a battle aud II
need be, siege. His foresight pr5vcA
correct and the next day the Alamo was
surrounded by a thousand men. Rein
iorcements continually arrived, until at
last the enemy numbered four thousand.
and still! no help had been sent ~ Travis
After eight days OF anxious waiting the
strained eyes caught sight of waving rcd
flag near tho town. After Incredible exer-
lions, ehccrcd on by their frienes in the
fort. Earnest and jose. followed BY thirty
brave men. forced the lines aud entered
Tue Alamo. After three days Travis ceased
to expect more help. and knew that his
tate with that OF his men was sealed
They were doomed to die al tho hands of
their ireacherous en0my. He spoke few
stirring words to HIS men and they all
save one, resolved 20 die In defense OF their
country, ana while most intense silence
reisDtd they looked upon their last sun
set Thus they remained some minutes,
thinning q their loved ones and OF their
approaching death. Death! Terrible yet
glorious word
While these noble men held their coun-
Gil. how different vas the scene IN santa
Annas tent! He and few others were
gathered around the table. when an old
Mexican woman steIlthily entered. she
stole unperceiyed TO the side O. santa Anna
ana laid her hand upon his arm The
cowarl started pale and trembling. Upon
seeing her he savRgely demanded her OBJ
JcCt IN coming there, she was ono of the
apparently stupid women Travis had suf-
fered to remain as cooks She had wit
messed tho council just held and impaired
II almost verbatim To the general His
face grow purple with rage aud he NUT
tered between his olenched teeth; "fla,
they VIII sell Themselves dearly? They
shall hp murdered. shot like dogs and
their bodies shall be burned. Here, NO
man. take this and so" throwing her a
piece of gold. which she cutched eagerly
and departed.
He ordered the attack to begin at mid
night, ard after a Goep quiet the cannon
Murdered their volleys OF death. and the
MoNicans charged the fort, Twice they
advanced and twice the Texans hurled
item back. but at last they fell. one by
one.
Earnest was wounded. and though he
fought bravely. At last dropped in death
Ike swOon. Jose was at his side ana
seeing no other way Of help for his dear
young master, disguised himself as sol
der OF the Mexican army, and pretended
the Texans. When the bodies were
brought cut he managed to carry Earnest
down. In dread lest he should recover
while IN the sigh, Of some Of his foes he
placed him under some nthor bodies, so
that even II he did regain consciousness
he could movo neither hand nor foot. He
hastily sought out Cos but wh,~ he found
hin he found another who aroused his
fear Mag tho old Mexican flNi the fort,
was close behind him. Resolving to rish
tho possible recognition. he asked Cos for
permission 10 look over The bodies 10 see
that they were all dead II was granted,
ana he returned. secretly followed by Cos.
who was somewhat suspicious. When jose
reached the pile whore Earnest lay, he
throw him aside and covered him with
blankets and oloaks Cos saw this and
seized Joso's arm.
VIVA, are you doing? believe You
are traitor"
l, traitor? Sir, you wrong me" an.
swcred Jose, with mock pride This body
is decked with jewelry. and lest another
should sc, it, | covered 1t up while
finish my duty"
VERY Well" somewhat Modified. hut
with a sinister smile; when you get the
jewels bring them to me-"