s; but as the years went onward and nothing
came of it, this hope had died within his heart.

"This, Very Reverend Father, is the strange story told me by this
Indian; who spoke with the urgent sincerity of one devout in the
Christian faith who knew by sensible perception that his death was
near at hand. Eagerly he begged that to these Gentiles, his
brethren by blood, might be sent in their secret fastnesses the
blessed Word whereby they would be delivered from the chains of
their idolatry into the freedom of Christian grace. And, surely,
the treasure that they ward very well may be wrested from these
heathen that it may be used in part in this land in God's service,
and that in part it may go to the just enriching of our lord the
King.

"Nor is the matter one that is difficult of accomplishment. For a
token which shall give us the right of entry into this walled city
of Culhuacan we need only the Word of God and a sufficient force of
men well armed with swords and matchlocks. Nor is it any bar to our
quest that the map showing the way thither has been lost. The
Indian told me that this way is so plainly marked that one who had
found it could not lose it again. For at spaces of not more than a
league or two apart, upon flat places of the rock convenient for
such purpose, was cut the same figure that the token of summons had
engraved upon it; and, with this, an arrow pointing towards where
the next carving would be found: and so these signs went onward,
the heathen priest had told him, even to the very entrance of the
Valley of Aztlan. And that this matter might be made sure to me, he
led me to a spot but a league to the westward of this mission of
Santa Marta and there showed me one of these signs, with the
pointing arrow carved also on the rock beside it--of all of which
the drawing here made is an indifferent good copy. And by that
guiding arrow we went onward to another like carving at a little
less than two leagues away to the northward. Therefore, Very
Reverend Father, I, of my own knowledge, am a witness to a part, at
least, of the truth of what that Indian told. And with all my heart
do I add mine own entreaty to his simple pleadings for the
salvation of the souls of his brethren; and also do I venture to
entreat that among those who g