He found Portilla sitting in a patio with Colonel Garay, the younger Urrea and several other Mexican officers.

The messenger saluted, drew the letter from his pocket and presented it to Colonel Portilla.
"From the most illustrious president and commander-in-chief, General Santa Anna," he said.
Portilla broke the seal and read.

As his eyes went down the lines, a deep flush crept through the tan of his face, and the paper trembled in his hands.
"I cannot do it! I cannot do it! Read, gentlemen, read!" he cried.
Urrea took the extended letter from his hand and read it aloud.

Neither his voice nor his hand quivered as he read, and when he finished he said in a firm voice: "The orders of the president must be obeyed, and you, Colonel Portilla, must carry them out at once.

All of us know that General Santa Anna does not wish to repeat his commands, and that his wrath is terrible." "It is so! It is so!" said Portilla hopelessly, and Garay also spoke words of grief.