It was a party of Mexicans.  When within a few hundred yards they reined in their horses, and the leader, advancing a little, called out to them in Spanish to surrender.

“We must have a brush with those blackguards,” said the pirate.  “Let each one single out his man for the first fire.  They are greater fools than I take them for if they give us a chance for a second shot.  Colonel, just settle the business with that talking fellow with the red feather.  He’s worth any three of the party.”

“Surrender, or we fire!” shouted the fellow with the red feather.  The pirate replied, with a piratic oath, “Fire away.”

“And sure enough,” writes Crockett, “they took his advice, for the next minute we were saluted with a discharge of musketry, the report of which was so loud that we were convinced they all had fired.  Before the smoke had cleared away we had each selected our man, fired, and I never did see such a scattering among their ranks as followed.  We beheld several mustangs running wild without their riders over the prairie, and the balance of the company were already retreating at a more rapid gait than they approached.  We hastily mounted and commenced pursuit, which we kept up until we beheld the independent flag flying from the battlements of the fortress of Alamo, our place of destination.  The fugitives succeeded in evading our pursuit, and we rode up to the gates of the fortress, announced to the sentinel who we were, and the gates were thrown open; and we entered amid shouts of welcome bestowed upon us by the patriots.”

CHAPTER XIII.

Conclusion.

The Fortress of Alamo.—­Colonel Bowie.—­Bombardment of the Fort.—­Crockett’s Journal.—­Sharpshooting.—­Fight outside of the Fort.—­Death of the Bee Hunter.—­Kate of Nacogdoches.—­Assault on the Citadel.—­Crockett a Prisoner.—­His Death.

The fortress of Alamo is just outside of the town of Bexar, on the San Antonio River.  The town is about one hundred and forty miles from the coast, and contained, at that time, about twelve hundred inhabitants.  Nearly all were Mexicans, though there were a few American families.  In the year 1718, the Spanish Government had established a military outpost here; and in the year 1721, a few emigrants from Spain commenced a flourishing settlement at this spot.  Its site is beautiful, the air salubrious, the soil highly fertile, and the water of crystal purity.

The town of Bexar subsequently received the name of San Antonio.  On the tenth of December, 1835, the Texans captured the town and citadel from the Mexicans.  These Texan Rangers were rude men, who had but little regard for the refinements or humanities of civilization.  When Crockett with his companions arrived, Colonel Bowie, of Louisiana, one of the most desperate of Western adventurers, was in the fortress.  The celebrated bowie-knife was named after this man.  There was but a feeble garrison, and it was threatened with an attack by an overwhelming force of Mexicans under Santa Anna.  Colonel Travis was in command.  He was very glad to receive even so small a reinforcement.  The fame of Colonel Crockett, as one of the bravest of men, had already reached his ears.