o to carry the Word of God to this
hidden heathen host I may be one; so that I, though all unworthy of
such honor, shall have a part in rendering to God so glorious a
service.

"The more urgently do I ask this favor because here, in this
mission of Santa Marta, it is but too clear to me that I am
laboring in a barren field. Some hundreds of the heathen I have
indeed baptized; but among all these who have professed our
Christian faith scarce a score show outward and visible signs of a
true regeneration. Many, I am sadly sure, still practise in secret
their old idolatry--and find little more than mere amusement in the
rites of our most holy Church. When they tire of this novelty,
which, in the case of folk of such light natures no doubt will be
in a little while, they will return openly to their idolatry; and
it probably may happen that they then will sacrifice me to their
heathen gods. That, in one way or another, they do intend to kill
me, and that soon, I feel quite sure. I am but twenty-three years
old, Very Reverend Father; and that is an early time in life to end
it. No doubt, also, in killing me they will use torture. And I long
fervently to live, not only for the pleasure of it, but also that I
may do good service to God, and to our Father Saint Francis, by
saving many heathen souls. Therefore I beg that when the army
marches to the reduction of this hidden city that I may be one of
our brethren who will go with it, to hold by tender preaching of
God's goodness and mercy such heathen as may remain alive after our
soldiers shall have conquered that city with the sword.

"I commend you, Very Reverend Father, to the care of Our Lord in
all things, and pray that he may guard your most illustrious and
very reverend person, and protect you in all matters of your
temporal and spiritual estate. And I am the least worthy of your
servants,

FRANCISCO de los ANGELES."

"Of a truth," said Fray Antonio, as he ceased reading, "this brother of
mine adhered closely to the truth when he subscribed himself the least
worthy of the bishop's servants. Were it not here in his own hand, I
should refuse to believe that one of our Order at that time in New Spain
had any thought of saving his own life when God's work was to be done."

For myself, I must own that my heart was deeply