Frequent thunder was at length succeeded by lightning. The Tobas, ever full of threats, and unable to forget the slaughter they had undergone, aimed long that they might strike the surer blow. Intent upon destroying the colony, they associated with themselves their friends the Mocobios, together with the Oaekakalots, Lenguas, or Guaycurus. Learning from trusty messengers that six hundred savages were ready to attack us, we petitioned for supplies from the city, and they were promised, but never sent. The alarm being daily increased by the increasing evidence of the danger, many fled for fear to their well known retreats; though some returned at intervals, impelled by hunger, or desire to hear the news. I often passed many days with none but four Guarany families, whom I maintained in my own household, and some old Abiponian women, unable either to travel or bear arms. At length, when we had given up all hope of succour from the Spaniards, four soldiers crept to the colony, whose wretched appearance seemed to intimate that they had come thither to die, not to slay the enemy—they themselves declared that they had been torn from their beds, where they were lying sick, and forced upon this errand, at the command of the inexorable Master of the Watch. Lorenzo Vernal, the captain of this miserable triad, was so dreadfully afflicted with gout in his limbs, that he could hardly lift his hand to his mouth; of his companions, one had such terrible swellings in the groin that he walked with the greatest difficulty; the second was in a consumption; the third melancholy mad. Such were the guards whom the Governor sent to defend our colony against a multitude of savages!