“Well, General Sam Houston, hero of San Jacinto, is good enough name for _me_,” proclaimed Sion. “And any man who wears that name can take me through the mud wherever he pleases, after this.”
Yes, in the frolicking camp among the illuminated live-oaks the men were cheering for Sam Houston as much as they were for “Texas” and “Independence.” They seemed to forget they had complained of him and nagged him and called him a coward and threatened to leave him. They remembered only that he had struck at the right moment and had led them to a glorious victory.
There was not much sleep for anybody in camp this night――and particularly for the general, who tossed on his blanket, suffering from his wounded ankle.
But Santa Anna was one of the first thoughts in the morning. To make the victory complete he must be seized, at all hazards. Squads were dispatched to search the grass and timber for him――and for General Cos, also. And even before announcing his victory to the government, the general sent out couriers to gladden the refugees with the great news.
With several men of the Captain Moseley Baker company Sion rode gaily forth on a captured Mexican horse.
“General Sam says if we find a Mexican _hombre_ on all fours in the grass, dressed worse than a private, to be sure and fetch him in,” he called, as he passed.
“That boy certainly has luck. He’s liable to capture Santa Anna all by himself,” complained Jim. He and Ernest were ordered on guard detail over prisoners, Leo having been sent to help bury the bodies on the battle-field.
The morning wore away. By noon most of the searching squads had returned. A few more prisoners were brought in, but none was General Santa Anna.
Then about three o’clock, while the camp was taking its _siesta_, and Ernest and Jim, off duty with Leo, were idly watching him plait a rope from white and black horsehair that he had collected, Leo suddenly pointed.
“There come Sion and the Baker squad. With another prisoner――isn’t it? One horse is carrying double.”
“Or else somebody’s been hurt, or lost his mount,” added Jim.
“I know Sion’s long pea-shooter, anyhow,” said Leo.
Yes, Sion it was; and Jim Sylvester and Joel Robinson, also of the Captain Baker command. Jim had a man behind his saddle. Sion was guarding on one side, and Joel at the rear on the other.