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acknowledged a Mexican priest to have authority； and she had
no intention of interfering between Fray Ignatius and his
lawful flock。 She was smoking her pipe by the fire when
Antonia entered the kitchen； and she neither lifted her eyes
nor spoke to her。
Against such unreasonable isolation Antonia could not help a
feeling of anger； and she heard with satisfaction the regular
crack of the rifles。 Her thought was〃They will make these
people find their tongues also； very soon。〃 She was
exceedingly anxious for information； and； as she ate her roll
and drank her coffees she was considering how they could gain
it。 For even if Fray Ignatius were able to visit them； his
report would be colored by his prejudices and his
desires； and could not be relied on。
Her heart fluttered and sank； she was hot and cold； sanguine
and fearful。 She could not endure the idea of a suspense
unrelieved by any reliable word。 For the siege might be a
long one。 San Antonio was strongly walled and defended。 The
Alamo fortress stood in its centre。 It had forty…eight
cannon； and a garrison of a thousand men。 Before it could be
reached； the city had to be taken； and the inhabitants would
in the main fight desperately for their homes。
As soon as she was alone with her mother； she pointed out
these facts to her。 〃Let me write to Lopez Navarro； mi madre。
He is a friend。〃
〃Of the Americans！ Si。〃
〃Of freedom。 He will send us word。〃
〃Are you forgetful of what is moral and respectable； Antonia？
That a young lady should write to Lopez Navarroa man that is
unmarriedis such a thing as never before happened！ He would
think the world had come to an end； or worse。〃
〃Dear mother！ In a time of trouble like this； who would
think wrong of us？ Surely you might write。〃
〃As you say； Antonia。 Tell me； then； who will take the
letter。〃
〃The peon Ortiz will take it。 This morning he brought in wood
and kindled the fire； and I saw in his face the kindness of
his heart。〃
After some further persuasion； the Senora agreed to write； and
Ortiz undertook the commission； with a nod of understanding。
Then there remained nothing to be done but to listen and to
watch。 Fortunately； however； Rachela found the centre of
interest among the servants in the kitchen； and the Senora and
her daughter could converse without espionage。
Just after sunset a letter arrived from Navarro。 Rachela
lingered in the room to learn its contents。 But the Senora；
having read them； passed the letter to Antonia and Isabel； and
Rachela saw with anger that Antonia； having carefully
considered it； threw it into the fire。 And yet the news it
brought was not unfavorable：
〃SENORA MARIA FLORES WORTH：
〃I send this on December the fifth； in the year of our
Blessed Lord and Lady 1835。 It is my honor and pleasure to
tell you that the Americans； having performed miracles of
valor； reached the Plaza this afternoon。 Here the main body
of the Mexican troops received them； and there has been severe
fighting。 At sunset； the Mexicans retreated within the Alamo。
The Texans have taken possession of the Veramendi House； and
the portion of the city surrounding it。 There has been a
great slaughter of our poor countrymen。 I charge myself
whenever I pass the Plaza； to say a paternoster for the souls
who fell there。 Senora Maria Flores Worth； I kiss your hands。
I kiss also the hands of the Senorita Antonia； and the hands
of the Senorita Isabel； and I make haste to sign myself；
〃Your servant；
〃LOPEZ NAVARRO。〃
This little confidence between mother and daughters restored
the tone of feeling between them。 They had something to talk
of； personal and exclusive。 In the fear and uncertainty； they
forgot priestly interdiction and clung to each other with that
affection which is the strength of danger and the comforter of
sorrow。
On the following day the depression deepened。 The sounds
of battle were closer at hand。 The Mexican servants had an
air of insolence and triumph。 Antonia feared for the
evening's reportif indeed Navarro should be able to send
one。 She feared more when she saw the messenger early in the
afternoon。 〃Too early is often worse than too late。〃 The
proverb shivered upon her trembling lips as she took the
letter from him。 The three women read it together； with
sinking hearts：
〃SENORA MARIA FLORES WORTH：
〃This on the sixth of December； in the year of our Blessed
Lord and Lady 1835。 The brave； the illustrious Colonel Milam
is dead。 I watched him three hours in to…day's fight。 A man
so calm was inconceivable。 He was smiling when the ball
struck himwhen he fell。 The Texans； after his loss； retired
to their quarters。 This was at the hour of eleven。 At the
hour of one； the Mexicans made another sortie from the Alamo。
The Texans rushed to meet them with an incredible vengeance。
Their leader was General Burleson。 He showed himself to
General Cos in a sheet of flame。 Such men are not to be
fought。 General Cos was compelled to retire to the Alamo。
The battle is over for to…day。 On this earth the soul has but
a mortal sword。 The water in the river is red with
blood。 The Plaza is covered with the dead and the dying。 I
have the honor to tell you that these ‘miserables' are being
attended to by the noble； the charitable Senor Doctor Worth。
As I write； he is kneeling among them。 My soul adores his
humanity。 I humbly kiss your hands； Senora； and the hands of
your exalted daughters。
〃LOPEZ NAVARRO。
Until midnight this letter furnished the anxious； loving women
with an unceasing topic of interest。 The allusion to her
husband made the Senora weep。 She retired to her oratory and
poured out her love and her fears in holy salutations； in
thanksgivings and entreaties。
The next morning there was an ominous lull in the atmosphere。
As men run backward to take a longer leap forward； so both
armies were taking breath for a fiercer struggle。 In the
Worth residencia the suspense was becoming hourly harder to
endure。 The Senora and her daughters were hardly conscious of
the home life around them。 In that wonderful folk…speech
which so often touches foundation truths； they were not all
there。 Their nobler part had projected itself beyond its
limitations。 It was really in the struggle。 It mattered
little to them now whether food was cooked or not。 They
were neither hungry nor sleepy。 Existence was prayer and
expectation。
Just before sunset Antonia saw Don Lopez coming through the
garden。 The Senora； accompanied by her daughters； went to
meet him。 His face was perplexed and troubled：
〃General Cos has been joined by Ugartechea with three hundred
men；〃 he said。 〃You will see now that the fight will be still
more determined。〃
And before daylight broke on the morning of the 5th； the
Americans attacked the Alamo。 The black flag waved above
them； the city itself had the stillness of death； but for
hours the dull roar and the clamorous tumult went on without
cessation。 The Senora lay upon her bed motionless； with hands
tightly locked。 She had exhausted feeling； and