suddenly alienated, and that they are preparing for flight. I advise you to write immediately to the Vice-Governor for soldiers, to conduct you safe back to the lands of the Spaniards, before the Indians, exasperated by the loss of horses they have this day suffered, have time to think of taking away your lives." We both promised to follow his advice, adding that he might feel assured the Vice-Governor would do all in his power to assist and console our Abipones. The truth of Ychoalay's representations was betrayed by the sullen and threatening eyes of the other Abipones, in which we plainly read their grief at so great a loss of horses, and their ill-will to the Spaniards. That night we wrote an account of the perilous state of our affairs to the Vice-Governor; but even Ychoalay had great difficulty in finding any one who would carry the letters, as the weather had been stormy for many days past. Indeed the journey seemed impracticable whilst all the roads were flooded with water. In the mean time it was greatly to be feared, that when intelligence was received of the Vice-Governor's determination, the Indians, enraged at an unsatisfactory reply, would turn their backs on the colony, and after murdering the Jesuits, return to their former habits of plunder. Yet when affairs seemed desperate, an unhoped-for calm succeeded to this terrible storm. Providence clearly shone forth in the unexpected events which I am going to relate. CHAPTER XIX. YCHOALAY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SPANIARDS, TAKES A COMPANY OF HOSTILE ABIPONES, AND, ON ANOTHER OCCASION, FIGHTS SUCCESSFULLY WITH OAHERKAIKIN.