So on April 21 the battle of San Jacinto was fought, and the independence of Texas achieved. John was triumphant at the result of his calculations, and when the army reoccupied Harrisburg he had the pleasure of restoring to his quondam chief the entire plant of the _Weekly Telegraph_ intact. For himself he asked no reward but the consciousness of having done his duty at considerable risk to himself, and the possession of his beloved Texas, who was formally presented to him by General Houston, at the head of the army, as a slight reward for his devoted patriotism. The young republic afterward showed her gratitude in a more substantial manner by granting to John Sibley, his heirs and assigns forever, as many acres of her virgin soil as formed a magnificent ranch, where John and Texas lived to the extreme of the years allotted to man or horse, honored by all who knew them as potent factors in the cause of Texan independence. THE VOYAGE OF THE "RATTLETRAP." BY HAYDEN CARRUTH. XII. "Snoozer shall have a pancake medal." This was the first thing Ollie and I heard in the morning, and it was Jack's voice addressing the hero of the night before. We speedily rolled out, and agreed with Jack that Snoozer must be suitably rewarded. He seemed fully to understand the importance of his action in barking at the right moment, and for the first morning on the whole trip he was up and about, waving his bushy tail with great industry, and occasionally uttering a detached bark, just to remind us of how he had done it. He walked around the pony several times, and looked at her with a haughty air, as much as to say, "Where would you be now if it hadn't been for me?" "He shall have a pancake," continued Jack--"the biggest and best pancake which the skilful hand of this cook can concoct." Jack proceeded to carry out his promise, and when breakfast was ready presented a pancake, all flowing with melted butter, to the dog, which was as big as could be made in the frying-pan. "I always knew," said Jack, "that Snoozer would do something some day. He's lazy, but he's got brains. He would never bark at the moon, because he knows the moon isn't doing anything wrong, but when it comes to horse-thieves it's different." Snoozer munched his pancake, occasionally stopping to give a grand swing to his tail and let off a little yelp of pure joy. As we were getting ready for a start, and speculating on the prospect for water, a man came along, riding a mule, and we asked him about it. [Illustration: "YAH, BLENTY VATERS. DOAN NEED TO DAKE NO VATERS ALONG."] "Yah, blenty vaters," said the man. "Doan need to dake no vaters along." "Any houses on the road?" asked Jack. "Blenty houses," answered the stranger--"houses, vaters, efferydings."