Inez coquettishly tossed her beautiful head, and advancing to the fire, gaily exclaimed--"While we talked the tortillas burned. Come, eat some supper. I know they are as good as those you get at the Alamo." Manuel seated himself on a buffalo-robe, and while partaking of the evening meal, Inez chatted away on indifferent subjects, asking, during the conversation, what news had been received from the Texan army. "We got news to-day that they are marching down to Gonzales, but I am thinking they will find hot work." "How many men may we number, Manuel, and think you the chances are for us?" "By the blessed Virgin, if we were not ten to five Manuel Nevarro would not eat his tortilla in peace. The Captain says we will scatter them like pecans in a high wind." "What bone is there to fight for at Gonzales?" "Cannon, Inez, cannon. Don't you know we sent a thousand men to bring it here, and the white rascal sent five hundred to keep it there. By the Virgin, we will see who gets it!" "Holy Mother protect us! Manuel, take care of yourself, man, and rush not into danger. It will profit you little that we have many men, if some strong arm tells your length on the sward." "Never fear, Inez--never fear. We must not stop till every American turns his back on the Alamo, and his face to the East." "But you will not harm those that live here in peace with all men?" "The Padre told our General, yesterday, that we must fight till all submitted, or the last American child was driven to the far bank of the Sabine." Inez laid her hand on his arm, and looking him full in the face, asked, in a low tone--"Manuel, would you help to drive Mary from her home among us? She who nursed me in sickness, and bound the white bread to your bleeding arm, and made the tea for my dying mother, when none other came to help? Manuel! Manuel! she is alone in the world, with only her cousin. Spare Mary in her little home; she hurts none, but makes many to die in peace." Manuel's face softened somewhat, but he replied in the same determined tone--"The Padre says she is an accursed heretic, and he will not rest till she is far away. But I tell you now, Inez, she will not be harmed; for he said he would see that she was protected, and would himself take her to a place of safety. He said she had been kind to our people, and none should molest her or her cousin; but leave all to him." "If the Padre promised, he will place them in safety; he never forgets to do what he says. I am satisfied, Manuel; and for the rest of the Americans, the sooner they are driven out the better." "You say truly, Inez, the sooner the better: all, all shall go, even their Doctor, that carries himself with such a lordly air, and sits in saddle as though never man had horse before. But the moon is up; I must return, for I watch to-night, and must be back in time." He put on his hat as he spoke.