“Well, you fellows may know what we’re fighting about, but I don’t, and I don’t care,” asserted Sion. “All I know is, we enlisted to fight, and this cannon-ball business doesn’t amount to shucks. I’ll bet there are enough men right from the Colorado to drive those Mexicans out of Bejar like a flock of turkeys. They’ll shoot cannon, but they can’t stand rifles.”
Thus a spirit of great discontent was evident in the army. Reinforcements in little squads were constantly arriving, breathless and eager; but other squads were constantly leaving, in independent fashion, for the east, with the promise that they’d be back when they’d “found things all right at home and there was any real fighting.” General Austin looked more worried and feeble, as if indeed worn out. And still the Mexican military band played defiantly, and above the walls of the Alamo and of San Antonio de Bejar floated over Texas soil the green, white and red tri-color of Mexico. And in the interior of Mexico General Santa Anna, according to reports, had put down all opposition to his military government; no help could be expected from the Mexican patriots there, and he was assembling an army, not only to rescue General Cos in San Antonio, but to conquer the Texas “rebels.”
So affairs looked rather black, and Ernest, for one, did not see exactly how they were going to turn out, until, suddenly, into the camp at the old mill rode Leo Roark and others, fresh from San Felipe, and the consultation, and full of enthusiasm.
“Meeting’s adjourned. Now where’s Cos?” they shouted.
“Did you see your folks? Did you have any fun? Where’ve you been, all this time?” demanded Jim and Ernest, rushing to greet Leo.
“Yes, I saw ’em. They’re doing fine. Had some fun. Heard most of the consultation, anyhow.”
“What’d they do?” queried Jim.
“Drew up a regular declaration of rights, elected Henry Smith state governor, Austin’s going to the United States to get money, Sam Houston’s commander-in-chief to raise an army—and,” concluded Leo, “there are near two hundred United States volunteers right behind us, now, on the way to help take Bejar. We passed ’em yesterday. Wait a minute and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“I’ll get Sion,” proposed Ernest. “You know Sion Bostick?”