ith any one the honors that fairly
would be mine when I published to the world the result of my
investigation of this hidden community that had survived,
uncontaminated, from prehistoric times. Having this strong desire within
me, it was with great pleasure that I acceded to Fray Antonio's request
that our project of discovery should not be published abroad. His motive
for secrecy, as I presently perceived, was bred of the one single strain
of human weakness that ever I found in him. Even as I was determined
that no other archaeologist should share with me the honor of discovering
this primitive community, so was Fray Antonio determined that to him
alone should belong the glory of carrying into that region of dense
heathen darkness the radiant splendor of the Christian faith. If this
were sin on his part, it certainly was a sin that he shared with many
saints long since in Paradise. Even the blessed Saint Francis himself,
when, at the Council of Mats, he portioned out among his followers the
heathen world that they might preach everywhere Christianity, reserved
for himself Syria and Egypt; in the hope that in one or the other of
those countries he might crown his labors by suffering a glorious
martyrdom. And perhaps in this matter Fray Antonio was not unmindful of
the example set him by the great founder of the Order to which he
belonged.

But while we were thus firmly decided to keep to ourselves the honors
that so great an archaeological discovery and so great a Christian
conquest must bring to us severally, we perceived that it would not be
the part of prudence to essay our adventure without any companions at
all. Some portion of the country through which we were to pass we knew
to be frequented by very dangerous tribes of Indians, against the
assaults of which two lonely men--neither of whom had any knowledge
whatever of the art of war--could make but a poor stand. And even should
we escape the wild Indians, we knew that we might get into many evil
straits in which our lives might be ended, yet through which a larger
company might pass in safety. And for my own part, I must confess that I
had a strong desire to have with me some of my own countrymen. For the
gallantry of the Mexicans, which gallantry has been proved a thousand
times, I have the highest respect; yet is it a natural feeling among
Anglo-Saxons that when it comes to facing dangers in which death looms
largely, and especially when it comes to a few men a