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cessation。 The Senora lay upon her bed motionless； with hands
tightly locked。 She had exhausted feeling； and was passive。
Antonia and Isabel wandered from window to window； hoping to
see some token which would indicate the course of events。
Nothing was visible but the ferocious flag flying out above
the desperate men fighting below it。 So black！ So cruel and
defiant it looked！ It seemed to darken and fill the
whole atmosphere around it。 And though the poor women
had not dared to whisper to each other what it said to them；
they knew in their own hearts that it meant； if the Americans
failed； the instant and brutal massacre of every prisoner。
The husband and father were under its inhuman shadow。 So most
probably were Darius Grant and Luis Alveda。 It was even
likely that Jack might have returned ere the fight； and was
with the besiegers。 Every time they went to the window； it
filled their hearts with horror。
In the middle of the afternoon it suddenly disappeared。
Antonia watched it breathlessly。 Several times before； it had
been dropped by some American rifle； but this time it was not
as speedily replaced。 In a few minutes she uttered a shrill
cry。 It was in a voice so strained； so piercing； so unlike
her own； that the Senora leaped from her bed。 Antonia turned
to meet her mother with white； parted lips。 She was
speechless with excess of feeling； but she pointed to the
Alamo。 The black flag was no longer there！ A white one was
flying in its place。
〃IT IS A SURRENDER！〃 gasped Antonia。 〃IT IS A SURRENDER！〃 and；
as if in response to her words； a mighty shout and a simultaneous
salute of rifles hailed the emblem of victory。
An hour afterwards a little Mexican boy came running with all
his speed。 He brought a few lines from Don Lopez。 They had
evidently been written in a great hurry； and on a piece of
paper torn from his pocket…book； but oh！ how welcome they
were。 The very lack of formality gave to them a certain hurry
of good fortune：
〃May you and yours be God's care for many years to come；
Senora！ The Mexicans have surrendered the Alamo； and asked
for quarter。 These noble…minded Americans have given it。 The
Senor Doctor will bring you good news。 I rejoice with you。
〃LOPEZ NAVARRO。〃
Death and captivity had been turned away from their home； and
the first impulse of these pious； simple…hearted women was a
prayer of thanksgiving。 Then Antonia remembered the
uncomfortable state of the household； and the probable
necessities of the men coming back from mortal strife and
the shadow of death。
She found that the news had already changed the domestic
atmosphere。 Every servant was attending to his duty。 Every
one professed a great joy in the expected arrival of the
Senor。 And what a happy impetus the hope gave to her own
hands！ How delightful it was to be once more arranging the
evening meal； and brightening the rooms with fire and light！
Soon after dark they heard the swing of the garden gate； the
tramp of rapid footsteps； and the high…pitched voices of
excited men。 The door was flung wide。 The Senora forgot that
it was cold。 She went with outstretched arms to meet her
husband。 Dare and Luis were with him。 They were black with
the smoke of battle。 Their clothing was torn and
bloodstained； the awful light of the fierce struggle was still
upon their faces。 But they walked like heroes； and the glory
of the deeds they had done crowned with its humanity； made
them appear to the women that loved them but a little lower
than the angels。
Doctor Worth held his wife close to his heart and kissed
her tears of joy away； and murmured upon her lips the
tenderest words a woman ever hearsthe words a man never
perfectly learns till he has loved his wife through a quarter
of a century of change； and sorrow； and anxiety。 And what
could Antonia give Dare but the embrace； the kiss； the sweet
whispers of love and pride； which were the spontaneous outcome
of both hearts？
There was a moment's hesitation on the part of Luis and
Isabel。 The traditions of caste and country； the social bonds
of centuries； held them。 But Isabel snapped them asunder。
She looked at Luis。 His eyes were alight with love for her；
his handsome face was transfigured with the nobility of the
emotions that possessed him。 In spite of his disordered
dress； he was incomparably handsome。 When he said； 〃Angel
mio！〃 and bent to kiss her hand； she lifted her lovely face to
his； she put her arms around his neck； she cried softly on his
breast； whispering sweet little diminutives of affection and
pride。 Such hours as followed are very rare in this life； and
they are nearly always bought with a great pricepaid for in
advance with sorrow and anxiety； or earned by such
faithful watching and patient waiting as touches the very
citadel of life。
The men were hungry； they had eaten nothing all day。 How
delicious was their meal！ How happy and merry it made the
Senora； and Antonia； and Isabel； to see them empty dish after
dish； to see their unaffected enjoyment of the warm room； and
bright fire； of their after…dinner coffee and tobacco。 There
was only one drawback to the joy of the reunionthe absence
of Jack。
〃His disappointment will be greater than ours；〃 said Jack's
father。 〃To be present at the freeing of his native city； and
to bring his first laurels to his mother； was the brightest
dream Jack had。 But Jack is a fine rider； and is not a very
fine marksman； so it was decided to send him with Houston to
the Convention。 We expected him back before the attack on the
city began。 Indeed； we were waiting for orders from the
Convention to undertake it。〃
〃Then you fought without orders； father？〃
〃Well； yes； Antoniain a way。 Delays in war are as dangerous
as in love。 We were surrounded by dragoons； who scoured the
country in every direction to prevent our foraging。 San
Antonio HAD to be taken。 Soon done was well done。 On the
third of December Colonel Milam stepped in front of the ranks；
and asked if two hundred of the men would go with him and
storm the city。 The whole eleven hundred stepped forward； and
gave him their hands and their word。 From them two hundred of
the finest marksmen were selected。〃
〃I have to say that was a great scene； mi Roberto。〃
〃The greater for its calmness； I think。 There was no
shouting； no hurrahing； no obvious enthusiasm。 It was the
simple assertion of serious men determined to carry out their
object。〃
〃And you stormed San Antonio with two hundred men； father？〃
〃But every man was a picked man。 A Mexican could not show his
head above the ramparts and live。 We had no powder and ball
to waste； and I doubt if a single ball missed its aim。〃
〃A Mexican is like a Highland Scot in one respect；〃 said
Dare；〃 he fights best with steel。 They are good cavalry
soldiers。〃
〃There are no finer cavalry in the world than the
horsemen from Santa Fe； Dare。 But with powder and ball
Mexicans trust entirely to luck； and luck is nowhere against
Kentucky sharpshooters。 Their balls very seldom reached us；
though we were close to the ramparts； and we gathere