Ned's heart thrilled and the blood pounded in his ears. Life was
precious, doubly so, because he was so young, but he felt a strange
exaltation in the face of death, an exaltation that left no room for
fear.
The eyes of Travis glistened when he heard the reply.
"It is what I expected," he said. "I knew that every one of you was
willing to die for Texas. Now, lads, we will go back to the walls and
wait for Santa Anna."
CHAPTER XII
BEFORE THE DICTATOR
Ned's feeling of exaltation lasted. The long siege, the incessant danger
and excitement, and the wonderful way in which the little band of Texans
had kept a whole army at bay had keyed him up to a pitch in which he was
not himself, in which he was something a little more than human. Such
extraordinary moments come to few people, and his vivid, imaginative
mind was thrilled to the utmost.
He was on the early watch, and he mounted the wall of the church. The
deep silence which marked the beginning of the night still prevailed.
They had not heard any shots, and for that reason they all felt that the
messenger had got through with Travis' last letter.
It was very dark that night and Ned could not see the red flag on the
tower of the church of San Fernando.
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