It was probably two hours before daylight when he heard a sound which
was not that of the Norther, a sound which he knew instantly. It was the
dull clank of bronze against bronze. It could be made only by one cannon
striking against another. Then Santa Anna, or one of his generals,
despite the storm and the night, was advancing with his army, or a part
of it. Ned shivered, and now not from the cold.
The Texans did not understand the fiery energy of this man. They would
learn of it too late, unless he told them, and it might be too late even
then. He pressed on with as much increase of speed as the nature of the
ground would allow. In another hour the snow and hail ceased, but the
wind still blew fiercely, and it remained very cold.
The dawn began to show dimly through drifting clouds. Ned did not recall
until long afterward that it was the birthday of the great Washington.
By a singular coincidence Santa Anna appeared before Taylor with a
vastly superior force on the same birthday eleven years later.
It was a hidden sun, and the day was bleak with clouds and driving
winds. Nevertheless the snow that had fallen began to disappear. Ned and
Old Jack still made their way forward, somewhat slowly now, as they were
stiff and sore from the long night's fight with darkness and cold.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176