"I believe it is customary in civilized warfare to spare the lives of
prisoners," he said.
"But rebels are rebels, and freebooters are freebooters," said Urrea.
It seemed to Ned that the young Mexican wanted to draw him into some
sort of controversy, and he refused to continue. He felt that there was
something sinister about Urrea, or that he represented something
sinister, and he resolved to watch rather than talk. So, gazing
straight ahead, he walked on in silence. Urrea, waiting for an answer,
and seeing that he would get none, smiled ironically, and, turning his
horse, galloped away.
The prisoners were marched through the town, and to the church. All the
old Spanish or Mexican towns of Texas contained great stone churches,
which were also fortresses, and Goliad was no exception. This was of
limestone, vaulted and somber, and it was choked to overflowing with the
prisoners, who could not get half enough air through the narrow windows.
The surgeons, for lack of bandages and medicines, could not attend the
wounded, who lay upon the floor.
Where were the fair Mexican promises, in accordance with which they had
yielded? Many of the unwounded became so weak from hunger and thirst
that they, too, were forced to lie upon the floor.
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