Both Smith and Karnes were of the opinion
that they might find a schooner or sloop, and they resolved to try for
it.
They reached, the next day, country that had not been ravaged by the
troops of Santa Anna, and passed one or two tiny settlements, where they
told the news of Goliad. The Panther, Smith and Karnes were well known
to all the Texans, and they learned in the last of these villages that a
schooner was expected in a cove about forty miles up the coast. It would
undoubtedly put in at night, and it would certainly arrive in two or
three days. They thought it was coming from New Orleans.
The little party decided to ride for the cove, and meet the schooner if
possible. They could reach it in another day and night, and they would
await the landing.
"We've got good friends in New Orleans," said Smith, as they rode over
the prairie. "You'll remember the merchant, John Roylston. He's for us
heart and soul, an' I've no doubt that he's sendin' us help."
"All the Texans owe him a debt," said Ned, "and I owe him most of all.
His name saved my life, when I was taken at San Antonio. It had weight
with Santa Anna, and it might have had weight with him, too, at Goliad,
had he been there.
Pages:
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457