trod upon was a mass of burning embers, and he
walked upon fire.

Red-hot irons were now brought forward, and his body seared in all
parts, his tormentors seeking out where they could give him the most
pain. At last one applied the hot iron to his eyes, and burnt them
out. Imagine my feelings at this horrid scene--imagine the knowledge
that this was to be also my fate in a short time; but, what is more
strange to tell, imagine, Madam, my companion not only deriding his
torturers, but not flinching from the torture; on the contrary,
praising God for his goodness in thus allowing him to be a martyr for
the true faith, offering his body to their inflictions, and shouting
manfully; but such was the behaviour of my insane friend, and this
behaviour appeared to give great satisfaction to the Indians.

For nearly two hours did this torture continue, his body was black
and bloody all over, and the smell of the burning flesh was horrible;
but by this time it appeared as if he was much exhausted, and, indeed,
appeared to be almost insensible to pain. He walked round the stake as
before upon the burning coals, but appeared not to know when further
torture was applied to him or not. He now sang hymns in Portuguese in
a low voice, for he was much exhausted. Soon afterwards he staggered
and fell down with his face upon the burning embers; but even the
flesh of his face grilling, as it were, appeared to have no effect
upon him. An Indian then went up to him, and with his knife cut a
circle round his head, and tore off the whole scalp, flesh and hair
together, and when he had done this the old woman whom I had saluted
with a kick before I ran the gauntlet, and who had his ears hanging on
her neck to a string, lifted up a handful of burning coals, and put
them upon his bleeding head.

This seemed to rouse him. He lifted up his head, but his features were
no longer to be distinguished, as his face was burnt to a black coal,
and he said, "Take me, ye holy saints. Angels, receive me," and, to my
great astonishment, he again rose on his legs, and tottered round and
round for a few minutes. At last he sank down, with his back against
the stake, and one of the Indians cleaved his brain with his tomahawk;
and thus ended the life and the misery of my unfortunate
companion--and it was now my turn.

"Well," thought I, "it is but two hours of suffering, and then I shall
be beyond their malice. May God have mercy upon my soul."

The same pre