oving under my feet, and then moving no
more, I then stepped off the garment, and turning it over, I lifted it
up by the skirt, so that the dead snake rolled out of the pocket.

"I thank the God whom we all worship, and the Son of God, who died for
us all, whether Catholic or Heretic," cried I, "that I have been the
means of preserving our holy father."

I had knelt down as I thus prayed, and the superior, perceiving the
danger that he had been in, did the same, and silently returned his
thanks; at his example all the rest went down on their knees.

"Yes," said the superior; "would to God that instead of reviling each
other, all denominations of Christians would join in thus bruising the
head of the serpent which seeks our spiritual death."

He then rose and said,

"My son, I thank thee for the kind service thou hast performed."

I then explained to the superior the deadly nature of the animal, and
my fear that he would have put his handkerchief in the pocket of his
robe before I had time to prevent him, and begged him to excuse my
seeming abruptness.

"There needs no apology for saving a man's life," replied he,
smiling.--"Come, let us go forward."

I hardly need say that we were not quite so long in returning to Rio
as we were in going to the mines. We accomplished our journey, without
using extreme haste, in about half of the time. On our arrival, we
took up our quarters at a magnificent palace, which had been
appropriated to the superior during his residence at Rio, and I found
myself sumptuously lodged. For some days, during which the superior
had frequent interviews with the viceroy, I did not see him, but one
day I was summoned to his pretence.

"My son," said he, "I have lost no time in investigating your affair,
and I find that all you have said is quite correct. To the disgrace of
the government here, and the manner in which justice is administered,
it appears that this man, Olivarez, on his arrival, went to the
secretary of the judge of that court in which such offences are tried,
and stated that he had two English mutineers on board, who had
attempted to take the vessel, and wounded several of his men
dangerously; that he wished, of course, to deliver them up to justice,
but that the immediate departure of his vessel would be prevented by
so doing, as his crew would be required as evidence; that the delay
would be very disadvantageous; and he inquired whether it could not be
managed that these men