The Texan Star | Page 5

arm in the familiar
manner that one old friend has with another and drawing him to the
window. "Is not this a prospect to enchant? Is not this a capital of
which you and I can well be proud?"
He lifted a forefinger and swept the half curve that could be seen from
the window. It was truly a panorama that would kindle the heart of the
dullest. Forty miles away the white crests of Popocatepetl and
Ixtaccihuatl still showed against the background of burning blue, like
pillars supporting the dome of heaven. Along the whole line of the half
curve were mountains in fold on fold. Below the green of the valley
showed the waters of the lake both fresh and salt gleaming with gold
where the sunlight shot down upon them. Nearer rose the spires of the
cathedral, and then the sea of tile roofs burnished by the vivid beams.
Santa Anna stood in a dramatic position, his finger still pointing. There
was scarcely a day that Ned did not feel the majesty of this valley of
Tenochtitlan, but Santa Anna deepened the spell. Could the world hold
another place its equal? Might not the Texans indeed have a glorious

future in the land of which this city was the capital? Poetry and
romance appealed powerfully to the boy's thoughtful mind, and he felt
that here in Mexico he was at their very heart. Nothing else had ever
moved him so much.
"You are pleased! It impresses you!" said Santa Anna to Austin. "I can
see it on your face. You are with us. You are one of us. Ah, my friend,
how noble it is to have a great heart."
"Do I go with your message to the Texans?" asked Austin.
"I must leave now, but I shall come again soon, and I will tell you all.
You shall carry words that will satisfy every one of them."
He threw his arms about Austin's shoulders, gave Ned a quick salute,
and then left the room, taking young de Zavala with him, Ned heard the
heavy bar fall in place on the outside of the door, and he knew that they
were shut in as tightly as ever. But Mr. Austin was in a glow.
"What a wonderful, flexible mind!" he said, more to himself than to the
boy. "I could have preferred a sort of independence for Texas, but since
we're to be ruled from the City of Mexico, Santa Anna will do the best
he can for us. As soon as he sweeps away the revolutionary troubles he
will repair all our injuries."
Ned was silent. He knew that the generous Austin was still under Santa
Anna's magnetic spell, but after his departure the whole room was
changed to the boy. He saw clearly again. There were no mists and
clouds about his mind. Moreover, the wonderful half curve before the
window was changing. Vapors were rolling up from the south and the
two great peaks faded from view. Trees and water in the valley changed
to gray. The skies which had been so bright now became somber and
menacing.
The boy felt a deep fear at his heart, but Mr. Austin seemed to be yet
under the influence of Santa Anna, and talked cheerfully of their
speedy return to Texas. Ned listened in silence and unbelief, while the
gloom outside deepened, and night presently came over Anahuac. But

he had formed his resolution. He owed much to Mr. Austin. He had
come a vast distance to be at his side, and to serve him in prison, but he
felt now that he could be of more use elsewhere. Moreover, he must
carry a message, a warning to those who needed it sorely. One of the
windows opened upon the north, and he looked intently through it
trying to pierce, with the mind's eye at least, the thousand miles that lay
between him and those whom he would reach with the word.
Mr. Austin had lighted a candle. Noticing the boy's gloomy face, he
patted him on the head with a benignant hand and said:
"Don't be down of heart, Edward, my lad. We'll soon be on our way to
Texas."
"But this is Mexico, and it is Santa Anna who holds us."
"That is true, and it is Santa Anna who is our best friend."
Ned did not dispute the sanguine saying. He saw that Mr. Austin had
his opinion, and he had his. The door was opened again in a half hour
and a soldier brought them their supper. Young de Zavala, who was
their immediate guardian, also entered and stood by while they ate.
They had never received poor food, and to-night Mexican hospitality
exerted itself--at the insistence of Santa Anna, Ned surmised. In
addition