Page:The Fall of the Alamo.djvu/91

 Place me where fiercest raves the battle's roar, But bid me not in parley to confront Those men, whose every eye-glance, every word Mean scorn and sneers cast on my loyalty.

Is that thy whole objection? Why, meseems, Thy own confession puts thee in the wrong.

No, no, Your Excellency! 't is only hard To reap contempt, where praise should be our harvest.

A wrongful charge is like an arrow's shaft That lacks the head; it cannot harm or wound. Hence, if nought else thou keepest back from me, I see no reason, why not overrule Thy weak remonstrance and insist upon What was my first and well-considered plan. Therefore list well to my instructions now. Which thou must neither change nor overstep. First thou wilt, in the name of Mexico, Demand an unconditional surrender. When that has been rejected, offer next Imprisonment until the end of war To all save the commander, William Travis, To whom as fair inducement of surrender Thou wilt hold out my fine estate, La Paz,