was not slow to make the most of. Our coming into the valley
with news of the outside world that directly controverted the Priest
Captain's claim to infallibility gave a great shock to the religious
faith of the community, and so induced a willingness to listen to the
preaching of a new and purer creed. And on the part of those of the
Council who were organizing the revolution--among whom religion seemed
to be regarded less as a vital fact than as a matter of political
expediency--there was a strong disposition to encourage the spread of
doctrines which obviously, by weakening the Priest Captain's hold upon
the people, would increase their own strength. Therefore, Fray Antonio
found himself free to preach to this heathen multitude the glorious
Christian faith; and that he was granted this most rare and signal
opportunity, the like of which was not given even to the blessed Saint
Francis himself, so filled and exalted his soul with a radiantly joyful
thankfulness that he was as one transformed. And his holy enthusiasm,
that thus made every fibre of his being vibrate with a grateful
gladness, gave him also so eloquent a command of beseeching language
that it was a living wonder to perceive how his inspired words
penetrated into the minds, darkened by superstitious doctrines, of those
to whom he spoke, and so sunk into their hearts and brought the restful
happiness of the faith Christian to those who had known only the
restless terror of idolatry throughout all their lives. Like a pure
flame, the doctrine that he preached ran through that host of the
heathen, burning out from among them the impure creed whereby their
souls had been held in a most cruel and desolate bondage, and giving in
the place thereof the tender comfort of a saving Christian grace.

Yet the very fervor of Fray Antonio's preaching, and the strong hold
that the gentle doctrine which he set forth took upon the hearts of the
multitude, tended also to stir up against him a lively enmity among
those who, refusing to hearken to him, remained steadfast in the ancient
faith. Many such there were among us at that time in Huitzilan; but
because of the firm grasp that Fray Antonio had upon so many hearts, and
also because of the countenance which the Council gave him, these did
not venture to assail either him or his doctrine openly; yet, as I noted
at times the evil glances which they shot forth at him--which surely
would have killed him could he thus have been s