While some of the delegates were talking Houston signaled to the two, and they went outside.
"What do you hear from the Alamo, Smith ?" asked Houston.
"Travis has fought off all the attacks of the Mexicans," replied the great borderer, "but when Santa Anna brings up his whole force an' makes a resolute assault it's bound to go under.

The mission is too big an' scattered to be held by Travis an' his men against forty or fifty times their number." "I fear so.

I fear so," said Houston sadly, "and we can't get together enough men for its relief.

All this quarreling and temporizing are our ruin.

Heavens, what a time for disagreements!" "There couldn't be a worse time, general," said Henry Karnes.