Page:The Fall of the Alamo.djvu/117

 So shudder then at what I tell thee last. Thy brother James— My brother? what of him? Was captured at your sally of this morning, And well attended to, will soon recover His health, impaired by wounds he has received; Yet were thine bold resistance to endure But one more day. His Excellency has vowed, By tortures never heard of, never seen. To blind his eyes, to tear with red-hot tongs His handsome, youthful form, limb after limb, And these to hurl before the dogs and vultures. Poor brother James! Would I were in thy stead! Determine then! my time is nearly gone. When bides our Chief Commander my return, Determine what? Surrender.? Ah, thou errest; Though great the trial and grievous the temptation, I hold this fort until my latest breath. Torture my brother! youthful as he is, He will not owe his life to my disgrace!