"
They heard the third heavy thud of a cannon, and a shell, falling in the
court outside, burst with a great crash. Ned went out and returned with
a report of no damage. Travis had continued his letter, and now he
wrote:
"These threats have no influence upon my men, but to make all fight with
desperation, and with that high-souled courage which characterizes the
patriot who is willing to die in defence of his country, liberty and his
own honor, God and Texas.
"Victory or death."
He closed the letter and addressed it. An hour later the messenger was
beyond the Mexican lines with it, but Travis sat for a long time at the
table, unmoving and silent. Perhaps he was blaming himself for not
having been more watchful, for not having discovered the advance of
Santa Anna. But he was neither a soldier nor a frontiersman, and since
the retreat into the Alamo he had done all that man could do.
He rose at last and went out. Then Crockett said to Ned, knowing that it
was now time to speak the full truth:
"He has given up all hope of help."
"So have I," said Ned.
"But we can still fight," said Crockett.
The day that followed was always like a dream to Ned, vivid in some
ways, and vague in others.
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