The Texan Star | Page 4

that
rasped the boy's nerves. "You know, Stephen Austin, that I and Mexico
have endured much from the people whom you have brought within
our borders. They shed good Mexican blood at the fort, Velasco, and
they have attacked us elsewhere. They do not pay their taxes or obey
our decrees, and when I send my officers to make them obey they take
down their long rifles."
Austin smiled again, and now the watching boy thought the smile was
not sad at all. If Santa Anna took notice he gave no sign.
"But you are reasonable," continued the Mexican, and now his manner
was winning to an extraordinary degree. "It was my predecessor, Farias,
who brought you here, but I would not see you go, because I love you
like a brother, and now I have come to you, that between us we may
calm your turbulent Texans."
"But you must bear in mind," said Austin, "that our rights have been
taken from us. All the clauses of our charter have been broken, and now
your Congress has decreed that we shall have only one soldier to every
five hundred inhabitants and that all the rest of us shall be disarmed.
How are we, in a wild country, to protect ourselves from the
Comanches, Lipans and other Indians who roam everywhere, robbing

and murdering?"
Austin's face, usually so benevolent, flushed and his eyes were very
bright. Ned looked intently at Santa Anna to see how he would take the
daring and truthful indictment. But the Mexican showed no confusion,
only astonishment. He threw up his hands in a vivid southern gesture
and looked at Austin in surprised reproof.
"My friend," he said in injured but not angry tones, "how can you ask
me such a question? Am I not here to protect the Texans? Am I not
President of Mexico? Am I not head of the Mexican army? My gallant
soldiers, my horsemen with their lances and sabers, will draw a ring
around the Texans through which no Comanche or Lipan, however
daring, will be able to break."
He spoke with such fire, such appearance of earnestness, that Ned,
despite a mind uncommonly keen and analytical in one so young, was
forced to believe for a moment. Texas, however, was far and immense,
and there were not enough soldiers in all America to put a ring around
the wild Comanches. But the impression remained longer with Austin,
who was ever hoping for the best, and ever seeing the best in others.
Ned was a silent boy who had suffered many hardships, and he had
acquired the habit of thought which in its turn brought observation and
judgment. Yet if Santa Anna was acting he was doing it with
consummate skill, and the boy who never said a word watched him all
the time.
Santa Anna began to talk now of the great future that awaited the
Texans under the banner of Mexico. He poured forth the words with so
much Latin fervor that it was almost like listening to a song. Ned felt
the influence of the musical roll coming over him again, but, with an
effort of the will that was almost physical, he shook it off.
Santa Anna painted the picture of a dream, a gorgeous dream of many
colors. Mexico was to become a mighty country and the Texans with
their cool courage and martial energy would be no mean factor in it.
Austin would be one of his lieutenants, a sharer in his greatness and

reward. His eloquence was wonderful, and Ned felt once more the
fascination of the serpent. This was a man to whom only the grand and
magnificent appealed, and already he had achieved a part of his dream.
Ned moved a little closer to the window. He wished the fresh air to
blow upon his face. He saw that Mr. Austin was fully under the spell.
Santa Anna was making the most beautiful and convincing promises.
He himself was going to Texas. He was the father of his people. He
would right every wrong. He loved the Texans, these children of the
north who had come to his country for a home. No one could ever say
that he appealed in vain to Santa Anna for protection. Texans would be
proud that they were a part of Mexico, they would be glad to belong to
a nation which already had a glorious history, and to come to a capital
which had more splendor and romance than any other in America.
Ned literally withdrew his soul within itself. He sought to shut out the
influence that was radiating from this singular and brilliant figure, but
he saw that Mr. Austin was falling more deeply under it.
"Look!" said Santa Anna, taking the man by the