the speakers?"

"Crockett, Hawkins, General Montgomery, Colonel Beauford, the three
brothers Cheatham, Doc. Bennet, and many others. When the woods were
illuminated at night with pine knots, you may imagine the scene and the
wild enthusiasm that followed their eloquence."

"Doc. Bennet is a good partisan, and he is enormously rich."

"And he has a personal reason for his hatred of Mexico. An insatiable
revenge possesses him. His wife and two children were barbarously
murdered by Mexicans. He appealed to those who could not go to the
fight to give money to aid it, and on the spot laid down ten thousand
dollars."

"Good!"

"Nine other men, either present or there by proxy, instantly gave a like
sum, and thirty thousand in smaller sums was added to it. Every donation
was hailed with the wildest transports, and while the woods were ringing
with electrifying shouts, Hawkins rallied three hundred men round him
and went off at a swinging galop for the Brazos."

"Oh, Jack! Jack!"

In another hour, the rest of the leaders had gathered their detachments,
and every man had turned his face to the Texan prairies. Crockett was
already far advanced on the way. Sam Houston was known to be kindling
the fire on the spot; "and I suppose you know, father," said Jack,
sinking his voice to a whisper, "that we have still more powerful
backers."

"General Gaines?"

"Well, he has a large body of United States troops at Nacogdoches. He
says they are to protect the people of Navasola from the Indians."

"But Navasola is twenty-nine miles west of Nacogdoches."

"Navasola is in Texas. Very well! If the United States feel it to be
their duty to protect the people of Navasola, it seems they already
consider Texas within their boundary."

"You think the Indians a mere pretext?"

"Of course. Crockett has with him an autograph letter from President
Jackson, introducing him as 'a God-chosen patriot.' President Jackson
already sees Texas in the Union, and Gaines understands that if the
American-Texans should be repulsed by Santa Anna, and fall back upon
him, that he may then gather them under his standard and lead them
forward to victory--and the conquest of Texas. Father, you will see the
Stars and Stripes on the palaces of Mexico."

"Do not talk too fast, Jack. And now, go lie down on my bed. In four
hours you must leave, if you want to reach Gonzales to-night!"

Then Dare was called, and the lovers knew that their hour of parting wa