“Would you have gone back home?” demanded Ernest.
“Who? Me? I should say not! I’m here to stick till we take Bejar.”
“So am I,” asserted Jim, quietly. “I want to see this fracas through.”
Whereupon they three agreed to “stick,” together, and “see the fracas through,” for the sake of the cause and not the sake of any particular leader. Still, Ernest did not give up the hope that _he_, at least, might some day follow Sam Houston.
As he was turning in under his blanket, for sleep, he was set almost wide awake by a joyous shout from Jim, who had been “visiting.”
“Shake up your priming and stow away your corn-bread, boy,” jubilated Jim. “We bust camp to-morrow and march straight for Bejar.”
“General Austin. I got it from a man who got it from another man who got it at headquarters. The consultation at San Felipe’s going to quit until November 1, so all the delegates can join the army; Austin’s promised that if they do he’ll take Bejar in three days; and he’s sent another express to Sam Houston and the Redlanders to hurry along, _pronto_ [fast], ’cause they’ll be needed in the fight.”
Ernest awakened with the sensation that this was to be a day of action. When once the army moved forward, no one could tell what might not happen. All the men were astir early, preparing for the march: viewing their horses, freshening the priming of their guns, and putting last repairs on footgear and saddles and bridles.
But after breakfast, the first thing done was the election of field officers. This passed off without any trouble whatever. When the army was paraded, to hear the announcement that Colonel John Moore had been re-elected colonel, Edward Burleson (another sturdy fighter) lieutenant-colonel, and Alexander Somervell major, General Austin made a short speech. Sitting his horse, slim and erect in close-fitting suit of plain brown buckskin, he spoke bare-headed.
He did indeed look weak and pale, but his voice carried well, and what he said was received with cheers.
“It is the cause of the Constitution and of freedom [he declared], the cause of each man individually and of Texas collectively. Our prospects and happiness will depend in a great measure on the issue of this campaign; everyone feels its importance, and it is unnecessary to appeal to the patriotism of the army, but the commander-in-chief deems it his duty to remind each citizen-soldier that patriotism and firmness will avail but little without discipline and a strict obedience to orders. The first duty of a soldier is obedience.”