He's been
in these parts not so long ago."
"He's in New Orleans now," said Houston. "He's the biggest trader along
the coast. Has dealings with Santa Anna himself, but he's a friend of
Texas, a powerful one. Boys, I've in my pocket now an order from him
good for a hundred thousand dollars. It's to be spent buying arms and
ammunition for us. And when the time comes there's more coming from the
same place. We've got friends, but keep this to yourselves."
He walked on and the two took a long and meditative pull at their pipes.
"I reckon Roylston may not shoot as straight as we can," said Smith,
"but mebbe at as long range as New Orleans he can do more harm to the
Mexicans than we can."
"Looks like it. I ain't much of a hand at money, but I like the looks of
that man Roylston, an' I reckon the more rifles and the more ammunition
we have the fewer Mexicans will be left."
The two scouts, having smoked as long as they wished, went to their
quarters and slept soundly through the night. But Houston and the
leading Texans with him hardly slept at all. There was but one course to
choose, and they were fully aware of its gravity, Houston perhaps more
so than the rest, as he had seen more of the world.
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