n and most diligently; nor would she reveal it. This
idol had promised her, so she said, that they should never find it,
even if they should tear down and destroy the house; consequently, it
enjoined her not to fear the father who was conducting this search,
or any of his agents or helpers; for it was more powerful than any
of them. But, as God is indeed more powerful, He influenced the
faithful and zealous heart of Father Diego de Santiago--who was then
instructing that village, and made these investigations at the instance
and orders of the vicar-general and provisor of Manila--to decide
that he would not relax or give up the search for this demon until he
should find it. Being quite certain that it was in the house (although
he had already searched there for it several times), he returned for
the last time with the determination to demolish the house, and to
examine every part of it, piece by piece, to see if by chance he might
find the idol hidden in some hole. Before setting about this task,
his glance fell upon a cane prop--old, weather-beaten, and stained
by smoke--which from a joist of the house, supported the ridge-pole
of the roof: this is the mode of construction used for strengthening
the houses. I do not know what he saw in that prop, but he immediately
ordered it to be cut down and its contents to be examined. This time,
"he who was more powerful than all others" was overcome; for, being
found like all the rest, and the gold being removed for the service
of the church, this idol went, with the others, into the fire.

The demon was so insulted and hurt at this trick that, not being able
to wreak any other vengeance, he began (accompanied by many others)
the following night to torment the poor Catolona with visions and
cruel threats. Already undeceived as to the weakness of her idol, she
sought for conversion, and, hating the demon, begged for mercy. With
the help of a cross which was given her as a defense, although the
terror continued, the threats were not put in execution; and finally
the demon abandoned her as she had him. On one of the feast-days, all
their errors were publicly refuted in the church, and the priestesses
remained convinced, repentant and reconciled--by the authority of
the ordinary, as I have stated. They all betook themselves to a
place where, removed from temptations, they could not relapse into
their evil ways [_bolver al bomito_]. They were placed in charge of
devout and Christian p