But these and other defects Ychoalay redeemed by shining virtues. None of us ever entertained the least doubt of his being the chief instrument of the peace established between the Abipones and all the Spaniards, and the founder and preserver of the colony of St. Jeronymo. He always religiously adhered to the friendship he had contracted with the Spaniards, and took great care to prevent any of the Abipones from violating it, often with the risk of his life. Whomsoever he understood to be guilty of a violation of the peace, against them, as against enemies, he thought it his duty to take up arms. This was an occasion of continual war with the Abipones Nakaiketergehes. Thousands of horses, which during many years he had retaken from their plunderers, he brought back to the Spanish colonies, and restored to their masters, and was displeased at being asked what compensation he required, saying, "Don't you know then that I am your friend? All I ask is not to be thought mercenary." By his zeal in preserving and recovering the property of the Spaniards, he incurred the hatred of all the savages; even his countrymen regarded him with execration as a friend of the Spaniards, and an enemy to themselves: whence his daily complaint: "My countrymen think me wicked now, because I am good; formerly they called me good, because I was wicked." Sometimes when he invited his fellow-hordesmen to join him in tilling the fields, or attacking the enemies of the town, on their delaying, or refusing to accompany him, under pretext of a want of proper horses, "Father," would he say to me, "you would have seen them follow me with the utmost alacrity, had I invited them to rob and murder the Spaniards. Not one would have remained with you in the town; not one would have made the scarcity of horses an objection."