We find him writing at San Antonio on the nineteenth of February in high spirits, although he confesses to a shortage of provisions, but hopes to satisfy his appetite with fighting if in no other way. On the twenty-third the enemy came in sight, and the little garrison resolved to defend the Alamo to the last extremity. They made a large national flag of thirteen stripes, red and white alternately on a blue ground, with a large white star in the center, and between the points the word "Texas." When the flag was raised, the bee hunter sang in his wonderfully mellow voice the following patriotic song, that roused the enthusiasm of his hearers to the highest pitch: "Up with your banner, Freedom, The champions cling to thee; They'll follow where'er you lead 'em, To death, or victory;-- Up with your banner, Freedom. Tyrants and slaves are rushing To tread thee in the dust; Their blood will soon be gushing, And stain our knives with rust;-- But not thy banner, Freedom. While stars and stripes are flying, Our blood we'll freely shed; No groan will 'scape the dying, Seeing thee o'er his head;-- Up with your banner, Freedom." For the next nine days, Crockett gives an account of their privations and sufferings, their brave and successful defense, and the marked execution they were able to make among the Mexicans who showed themselves within range. On the third of March they had given up all hopes of receiving assistance from without, and had promised to fight to the last extremity, and in dying kill as many of their foes as possible.