They could not understand how a strong city, held by an army of Mexican
regulars, could have anything to fear from a few hundred Texan
horsemen, mostly hunters in buckskin.
The music began again and the officers and women went in, but presently
several older men, also in uniform, came out. Ned instantly recognized
in the first the square figure and the dark, lowering face of Cos.
"De La Garcia, Ugartchea, Veramendi," whispered the Ring Tailed Panther,
indicating the others. "Now we may hear something."
Cos stood at the edge of the piazza and his face was troubled. He held
in his hand a small cane, with which he cut angrily at the flowers. The
others regarded him uneasily, but for a while he said nothing. Ned
hardly breathed, so intense was his interest and curiosity, but when Cos
at last spoke his disappointment was great.
The General complimented Veramendi on his house and hospitality, and the
Vice-Governor thanked him in ornate sentences. Some more courtesies were
exchanged, but Cos continued to cut off the heads of the flowers with
his cane, and Ned knew now that they had come from the ballroom to talk
of more important things. Meanwhile, the music flowed on. It was the
swaying strains of the dance, and it would have been soothing to anyone,
whose mind was not forced elsewhere.
Pages:
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389