Page:The Fall of the Alamo.djvu/121

 Against their cannon, mortars and cohorns Our guns, light as they are, cannot avail, Nor will our walls for any length of time Withstand their onslaught. What is thy command? Nought more we can perfect in our arrangements, And if we could, our men are too fatigued By day-alarms and nightly toil of watching. Their efforts must be spared, till comes the end! God's will be done! As eve has broken in, Relieve the guards and scouts and let the men Whom duty not withholds, convene beneath The chapel's strong and well-protected walls. A holy service, brief but soul-inspiring, Would not be out of place in our condition; So, Evans, make this wish of mine be known To Chaplain Smith: if ever by his speech He swayed his listeners' hearts to do it now. But, Crockett, thou, take my command awhile; Not having rested since the enemy came Before the fort, I feel the want of sleep. [Exeunt Crockett and Evans]

Colonel Travis alone. Sleep? Can I sleep? Oh, bitter irony! When scarce I breathe beneath the heavy burden