Part 33 (1/2)

For this extensive fortress, if such we may call it, Lieutenant Travis had less than twenty cannon, and the construction of the place was such that but few of the pieces could be placed to advantage, and even then hardly any of the soldiers knew how to do any effective firing.

Next in command to Travis was Colonel James Bowie, already mentioned in these pages, and among the best of the fighters was Davy Crockett, celebrated as a hunter and trapper, who had come down to Texas, with twelve other Tennesseans, about three weeks before the arrival of Santa Anna. Crockett carried with him his favourite rifle, ”Betsy,” and as a fighter on this memorable occasion proved a whole host in himself.

”We'll whip 'em,” said Crockett, confidently. ”They can't stand up against real Americans.”

”You're right, Davy,” answered Bowie. ”An American who isn't equal to a dozen greasers isn't fit to live.” And so the talk ran on from one to another of the garrison. Once Crockett came to Dan, and eyed him curiously.

”You're rather a young soldier boy,” he observed.

”Yes, sir, but I can shoot.”

”Can you bring down a bird on the wing?”

”Yes, he can, and he has done it lots of times,” put in Poke Stover.

”If that's so, he's all right,” said Crockett.

Santa Anna did not make an immediate attack on the Alamo, for the reason that all of his troops had not yet arrived, and because he wished to give his soldiers a little rest after the long journey northward. He ordered General Castrillon to knock down some of the old houses near the river, and construct a bridge with the timbers.

”They are going to build a bridge!” was the cry that went through the Alamo.

”A bridge? Where?” asked Crockett, and, when told, he smiled, and patted his rifle. ”Let 'em try it!”

The Mexicans did try, and soon a detachment of at least a hundred were at work. About forty of the garrison, led by Bowie and Crockett, opened fire upon the workers, and at least a dozen were killed.

”Down they go!” was the cry. ”Give 'em another round!” And again the rifles cracked at a lively rate. With thirty killed outright, and a number badly wounded, the Mexicans left the river in a great hurry, and hid in the neighbouring houses.

On February 24th, Travis sent out a strong appeal for a.s.sistance. ”I am besieged by a thousand or more of Mexicans, under Santa Anna,” he wrote. ”I have sustained a continual bombardment for twenty-four hours, and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion; otherwise the garrison is to be put to the sword if the place is taken. I have answered the summons with a cannon-shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. _I shall never surrender, or retreat!_” Could anything be more unflinchingly patriotic than that?

This appeal was followed by another, and a despatch was sent to Colonel Fannin, at Goliad, asking him to bring reinforcements without delay.

”They are drawing in closer to us,” said Poke to Dan, on the morning of the 25th, as the two mounted one of the walls for a survey of the situation. Far off, a portion of the Mexican army could be distinctly seen.

”A division of the soldiers is approaching with some cannon,” answered the youth. He was right, and presently Santa Anna attempted to plant a battery three hundred yards south of the gateway to the plaza of the mission.

”Shall we allow that?” asked the Texan commander, while the Mexican soldiers were coming up.

”No! No!” came back the cry. ”Down with the Mexicans!” And in less than five minutes the garrison was pouring through the gateway and out on the plain beyond. The sharpshooters were in front, and so deadly were their aims that the enemy was speedily forced to retreat, dragging their cannon with them.

”Hurrah! They are running!” shouted the Texans, joyfully. This second repulse made them more determined to resist than ever.

But when the following morning came, it was seen that Santa Anna had taken advantage of the darkness and planted the battery, anyway, and so well was it protected that none of the guns from the Alamo could reach it. But the sharpshooters under Crockett watched the gunners, and one Mexican was shot dead while in the very act of discharging a shot at the plaza gate.

”It looks as if we might hold this place for an indefinite period,”

said Dan, on the day following. ”That is, if we don't fall short of provisions.”

”The meat we drove in will last us for some time, lad,” answered Stover. ”And they have found a lot of grain in one of the friar's houses. But about holding the place, that's a question. We are only about a hundred and fifty strong. What if Santa Anna storms the place some night, with several thousand men? We'll all be put to the bay'net afore sunrise.”

”Do you really think he'll do such a barbarous thing, Poke?”