The Man from the Alamo Page #4

Maybe it does. On top of everything,

our Mr. Stroud's a renegade.

They're not Mexicans.

They just dress like Mexicans.

Hush, Carlos!

There's no one I'd rather see left

up there without a horse than Stroud.

But you cannot just leave him.

Please, Lieutenant!

We'll camp here till morning.

Post a five man lookout. - Lieutenant!

Can I have that? Please?

Hey, kid, where you goin'?

- I'm thirsty.

I'm going to find him. - You can't,

Carlos. You'll get lost out there.

He's like my father. I must try and

find him. - No, you'll never do it.

And even if you did, don't you see?

He's not a good man, Carlos.

He's a very good man. - But he broke

out of jail and joined the Mexicans.

I tried to tell you, Miss Beth.

They're Americans dressed as Mexicans.

That's even worse.

It's best you try and forget him.

- I'm sorry, Miss Beth.

Give me your foot.

Thank you very much, Ma'am.

I promise I'll come back.

Where's he think he's going, Ma'am?

He's going to find John Stroud.

He really believes he's out there.

That ain't no place for a kid.

We'll take care of him, Ma'am.

The kid was right, Lieutenant,

here's Stroud!

What made you think you could leave

without permission? We'll talk later.

You see, Miss Beth,

it was Seor Stroud. He needs help.

A mighty poor place for it.

Beth, get up from there.

Should I let him die here? - Save us

hangin' him. - How can you say that?

He was going to attack women

and children. What could he expect?

You have no proof of that.

- And that Mexican outfit?

I don't care. He's a human being,

and he'll be treated like one.

Somebody help me get him to the wagon.

I'll give you a hand. - So will I,

if that's okay. - You're letting them?

He was shooting at us

just a while ago. - Go ahead.

You know what? I think you've lost

your grip on this wagon train, Tom.

Yes, Beth? - You know something about

doctorin', Mr. Gage. - A little.

If you'd tell me what to do...

- Why should we do anything for him?

Because he's hurt.

Only you can help him.

He's also a renegade and a murderer.

- That's not true.

We don't need you, boy! - But...

- I said we don't need you.

You better wait outside, Carlos.

Can you do anything for him?

- Maybe I can, and maybe I can't.

I think maybe you can.

I think he means it, Mr. Gage.

Get some hot water.

Alright, get 'em up!

Let's go! Everyone up!

We're movin' out in half an hour.

Everyone up! Movin' out!

Get up, ladies!

Movin' out in half an hour.

Let's go! Everyone up!

We're movin' out in half an hour!

How are you?

Well... I don't know yet.

You weren't feeling so good

when Carlos brought you in last night.

You better take it easy.

- I gotta get up sometime.

I will get you some food.

You stay there, Seor.

Thanks. - For what?

I'd do it for anyone.

This isn't going to make you

very popular with your friends.

I don't care what they think.

- Maybe I do.

Then why don't you tell 'em the truth.

Carlos told me you left the Alamo

to take care of all those families.

Who'd believe it?

- I do.

You're no coward.

Try telling that to Lieutenant Lamar.

He tried taking my place at the Alamo.

Stroud, you'll remain in this Wagon.

You're under arrest.

Aren't you gonna say something?

Aren't you gonna defend yourself?

That was Wade's gang. - That's right.

- Why'd you join up with them?

Was a good way of getting out of town.

You had every intention of joining

the attack on this wagon train.

I did not.

- You're a poor liar. - Tom,

ask Mr. Stroud who fired the shots

that kept us out of that ambush.

Well?

- I fired the first one.

Are you trying to tell me...

- I'm telling you it's not over yet.

Wade knows you have the bank money.

And he'll get it, if you're not smart.

For the sake of these women

and children, it better be the truth.

From now on, I'm keeping

this wagon train in the open. Beth!

Finish your chow, everybody!

Let's get this wagon train rolling!

What are you going to do now?

Nothing. I'm still under arrest.

I won't be looking, if you happen

to fall out of the back of the wagon.

Thanks very much.

I'll play along the way I am.

There's not much future in it.

- Oh yes, there is. - What?

Jess Wade. - You really think he'll

attack us? - If we keep on this way.

If I was running it, I'd head south

and cross the river down there.

Why did you join him? - He's the man

that killed my wife and son.

That's why you want to stay with us?

Wade's gonna be real surprised

to see me. He thinks I'm dead.

Why didn't you tell the Lieutenant?

- He thinks I'm a very poor liar.

But you aren't lying.

- Maybe I am.

I left the Alamo. That's pretty hard

to justify, even to myself.

Your family was in danger. - So were

the families of a hundred other men.

Mine was

more important to me than theirs.

Are you condemning yourself?

- I'd condemn another doing the same.

It's done now.

Regretting it won't undo it.

That's what's bad about it.

- Other men have made mistakes.

Not like mine. - What good would it

have done if you had stayed?

What good did it do that I left?

- Oidn't help my family or anybody's.

Lieutenant Lamar would understand.

- Sure he'd understand,

but only if it happened to him.

Look, Miss Beth. You'll only

stir things up if you stick with me.

Why don't you switch to another wagon?

Why don't we go after 'em?

- In open country? Want to get shot?

I want to get my hands on that money.

They'll cross the Trinidad river

at Cutner's Point. We'll be waiting.

Sure, when the wagons are in the river

we'll pick 'em off. - Sounds easy.

I like to have things easy.

Follow 'em and keep an eye on 'em.

Any change of plan,

we'll be at Cutner's Point.

Lieutenant Lamar? Sergeant Macauley,

sir, Army of the Republic.

Orders from General Houston, sir.

What is it, Oarling? - Orders to

return to San Jacinto at once.

Everybody?

Myself and these soldiers.

What about us?

General Houston is ready for

an all-out attack against Santa Anna.

Troops can't be spared to protect

a wagon train. - Is that so?

You tell Sam Houston... - Soldiers

are there to protect their families.

As a soldier, I can't question

a command. - Sergeant,

my previous orders were to see

these wagons safely across the river.

And I'll do it.

If I could have a fresh horse, sir,

I'll start back with the men.

They're staying with me.

If you stay that's your business, sir,

but you can't tell your men to stay.

Why not? I'm in command, Sergeant.

I'm afraid that's desertion, sir.

Oesertion? - You have orders to report

to San Jacinto at once, sir.

I'll go when these wagons

are across the river.

I'll tell General Houston, sir.

If we leave now, these people will be

defenseless. With no able-bodied men,

only women, children and elders.

- How would you classify me?

As a deserter, Mr. Stroud.

Looks like there'll be a lot of us.

- These people need protection.

My family needed protection.

- They'll be murdered if we leave.

My family was murdered. - I'm trying

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