"
Hot anger again made Ned's heart leap. The tone of Urrea was almost
insufferable, but Major Morris, not he, was spokesman.
"I am not empowered to accept or reject anything," continued Major
Morris. "Colonel Travis is the commander of our force, but I am quite
positive in my belief that he will not surrender."
"We must carry back our answer in either the affirmative or the
negative," said Urrea.
"You can do neither," said Major Morris, "but I promise you that if the
answer is a refusal to surrender--and I know it will be such--a single
cannon shot will be fired from the wall of the church."
"Very well," said Urrea, "and since that is your arrangement I see
nothing more to be said."
"Nor do I," said Major Morris.
The Mexicans saluted in a perfunctory manner and rode toward San
Antonio. The three Texans went slowly back to the Alamo. Ned walked
behind the two men. He hoped that the confidence of Major Morris was
justified. He knew Santa Anna too well. He believed that the Texans had
more to fear from surrender than from defence.
They entered the Alamo and once more the great door was shut and barred
heavily. They climbed upon the wall, and Major Morris and Captain Martin
went toward Travis, Bowie and Crockett, who stood together waiting.
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