"General Santa Anna, engrossed in much more important matters, has
doubtless forgotten you," continued the Mexican, "but I will see that
you do not escape. Why he spares you I know not, but it is his wish."
He called to two soldiers, whom he detailed to follow Ned and see that
he made no attempt to escape. The boy was yet so deeply absorbed in the
Alamo that no room was left in his mind for anything else. Nor did he
care to talk further with Urrea, who he knew was not above aiming a
shaft or two at an enemy in his power. He remained in the crowd until
Santa Anna ordered that all but the troops be cleared from the Alamo.
Then, at the order of the dictator, the bodies of the Texans were taken
without. A number of them were spread upon the ground, and were covered
with a thick layer of dry wood and brush. Then more bodies of men and
heaps of dry wood were spread in alternate layers until the funeral pile
was complete.
Young Urrea set the torch, while the Mexican army and population looked
on. The dry wood flamed up rapidly and the whole was soon a pyramid of
fire and smoke. Ned was not shocked at this end, even of the bodies of
brave men. He recalled the stories of ancient heroes, the bodies of whom
had been consumed on just such pyres as this, and he was willing that
his comrades should go to join Hercules, Hector, Achilles and the rest.
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