So barbarous and bloodthirsty were they that, as has been said, the Spaniards dared not go out of their city unless they were well armed and went in numbers; while the friars were obliged to go, as indeed they did go, into the Indian villages unarmed and alone, except for the divine companionship. The devil, the captain of the enemy's troops, was not heedless, when he saw that war had been declared against him; and the Spanish sentinels that made their rounds about the city at night saw a mastiff of extraordinary size going round and round the church and the convent. Since there was no such mastiff in the house of any of the Spaniards, much less among the Indians, and as they saw no such animal either before or afterwards, they could not doubt who it was. It was a very particular favor of the Lord to show the devil in visible form, that the religious might strengthen their prayers and turn with greater urgency to Him who surely favored them, for they now had in view their enemy, who desired to swallow them whole. They also perceived that he was very active among his Indians; for the religious frequently heard them (sometimes by day but ordinarily by night) in the villages about the city, named Daludu and Tocolana, and in the houses in the fields in that vicinity, making a great noise with their voices and their gasas--which are their bells, though they are not formed like our bells. Father Fray Diego de Soria said to the other religious, with a tone of certainty: "Fathers, this noise that we hear is the Indians making sacrifices to the demons; for, induced by their diabolical industry, they are now offering special services to the devil, and are striving to appease him by feasts, that he may keep and preserve them in their ancient rites and customs. Pray then, reverend fathers, to the Lord for His grace, that He may expel from the land the Prince of Darkness, who holds it under his tyranny. Prepare yourselves, for we are soon to come into conflict with him. Within a few days you will be scattered among the villages of these heathen, and will be exposed to great dangers. You will find that you will have to do with him, for he it is who is the strong army guarding this his dwelling-place. Therefore he will strive to defend it, and to attack those who seek him, and who are endeavoring to drive him forth from it. But be of good courage, for we have on our side Him who conquered the devil, and who every day causes His followers to conquer him." This was not spoken to deaf persons, but to those who knew very well the truth of what was said. Though they felt confident that they would conquer with the divine aid, they made themselves ready, with prayer and fasting and suffering, for the dangers and hardships without which there is never conflict, and much less victory. While this was taking place in the city, father Fray Diego strove to have churches erected in Pata, Abulug, and Camalaniugan [54]--as was easily done, because the churches