Texas, and taken up his abode in that city, seeing that it was a good chance for him to speculate off his old acquaintances, followed them on to this place, and on the route swindled all who dealt with him for chilé, tortillas, frijoles, &c. No sooner, however, did the Texians charge their guards, than he exclaimed, "This is no place for Sawney!" and, very wisely, did not wait to suit the action to the words, for his double-quick time had already preceded his prudent conclusion; and well it did, as he would have paid dearly for his peculations and insolence had he been taken.

Thus it was that the Texians gave the world another evidence of their superiority over the Mexicans, when one hundred unarmed men charged three hundred with arms, beat them, disarmed them, and then turned them loose as harmless things. [158]
 

Chapter Twelve

 
Our Men take up the March for Home. Departure from Plan of Retreat by turning into the Mountains. Unexampled Suffering. Killing their Horses for Food. Many Die, and others Surrender. Marched back to Saltillo. March to Salado. Decimation, and dying Words. Our Wounded, and those who remained with them. March from Mataguala. Arrival at Count Zivyes. Kind Treatment. Arrival at San Luis Potosi. Treatment there. Correspondence with the Governor. Notes to Captains Romano and Reyes. The Valley of San Luis, Mode of drawing Water, &c.

At 10 o'clock A.M., one hundred and ninety-three of our men took up the line of march homeward, leaving eighteen behind, including the wounded, besides three killed. At 12 o'clock at night they reached the hacienda of San Salvador, a distance of fifty-three miles; bought corn, and fed their horses: proceeded twelve miles farther on, and slept about two hours before daybreak. The remnant of the enemy's cavalry, under Colonel Barragan, which had escaped from Salado, kept in sight in the rear, but manifested no disposition to come near.

February 12th. They marched early in the morning, leaving the Saltillo road at 10 o'clock A.M., and bearing their course to the left for the Zacetecar road,1 which they struck in about ten miles; thence turning to the left for the purpose of obtaining water at a hacienda then in sight, they found the water-tank near the house, which was defended by a few regular troops, who hoisted a red flag, and [159] commenced a fire upon them at about two hundred yards distant. Captain