"Are all the columns provided?" he said to General Sesma, who stood
beside him.
"They have everything," replied Sesma, "crowbars, axes, scaling ladders.
Sir, they cannot fail!"
"No, they cannot," said Santa Anna exultantly. "These Texan rebels fight
like demons, but we have now a net through which they cannot break.
General Gaona, see that the bands are ready and direct them to play the
Deguelo when the signal for the charge is given."
Ned shivered again. The "Deguelo" meant the "cutting-of-throats," and
it, too, was to be the signal of no quarter. He remembered the red flag,
and he looked up. It hung, as ever, on the tower of the church of San
Fernando, and its scarlet folds moved slowly in the light morning
breeze. General Gaona returned.
"The bands are ready, general," he said, "and when the signal is given
they will play the air that you have chosen."
A Mexican, trumpet in hand, was standing near. Santa Anna turned and
said to him the single word:
"Blow!"
The man lifted the trumpet to his lips, and blew a long note that
swelled to its fullest pitch, then died away in a soft echo.
It was the signal. A tremendous cry burst from the vast ring of the
thousands, and it was taken up by the shrill voices of the women on the
flat roofs of the houses.
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