isperse."

"O stay, stay!" cried his wife, clinging to him with an air of despair,
which showed her too true forebodings of evil. "They are exasperated
against you, and may do you harm. Let Padre Diogo go; he has influence
with the people, and may persuade them to depart."

The _corregidor_ was easily persuaded to follow his wife's counsel, for
his conscience told him that the Indians had just cause to hate him.
One of the strangers suggested that efforts should instantly be made to
barricade the house, and prepare for defending it, should the Indians be
assembled with any hostile intention. The _corregidor_ was about to
give orders to that effect, when another loud unearthly shriek paralysed
the nerves of all the inmates.

"Oh, go, Senor Padre, go! save my husband and children!" cried the
terrified wife.

"Save us! save us!" cried the guests, now fully aware of the horrible
danger that threatened them.

Thus urged, Padre Diogo prepared, with many misgivings, to go forth and
appeal to the people. He looked round with a sad countenance on those
he had lately seen so full of life and gaiety.

"May Heaven and the saints protect you, my children," he said solemnly.

Then taking in his hand a crucifix which hung in a little oratory near
the hall, he opened the front door of the house and stepped out among
the crowd. He held the sacred symbol of his faith aloft in his hand.
It served as his safeguard. No one attempted to injure him; but before
he could utter a word, he was surrounded and hurried away from the
house. No one would listen to his prayers and entreaties.

"Mercy, mercy, for the unfortunates in yonder mansion!" he cried.

"Mercy, mercy, Senor Padre! did they ever show mercy to us?" exclaimed a
voice from the crowd.

He looked back; the Indians were pouring into the house. Loud agonised
shrieks of women and children reached his ears. A few shots were heard,
followed by the triumphant shouts of the Indians. Flames were seen
bursting forth from the house. They burned up bright and clear in the
night air. By their light he observed a man dragged along among a crowd
of Indians. They stopped and appeared to be busily at work. In a short
time a gibbet was erected near the burning building.

"You are required to shrive a dying man, Senor Padre," said an Indian
who approached him.

He was led towards the engine of death. There, beneath it, he found,
pale with terror, and trembling in every limb,