ADVENTURES OF A DEMONIO. 333 



afternoon, with a great whirlwind, dust, and noise, as 

 of a hurricane ; stones swept over the whole pueblo ; 

 and though the Indians promptly put out the fires 

 of their kitchens, it did not avail them, for from the 

 flames with which this demonio is tormented pro- 

 ceeded flashes like nightly comets or wandering 

 stars, which set fire to two or three houses at once, 

 and spread till there were not people enough to put 

 out the fire, when I, being sent for to come and 

 drive it away, conjured this demon, and, with the 

 faith and zeal that God gave me, commanded .him 

 not to enter that village ; upon which the fires and 

 the whirlwinds ceased, to the glory and honour of 

 the Divine Majesty, which gave such power to the 

 priests." Driven out here, this demonio returned to 

 infest the village of Valladolid with new burnings ; 

 but by putting crosses in all the hills this evil ceased. 



For generations this demonio has not been heard 

 of, but it is known that he can take any shape he 

 pleases ; and I fear me much that he has at last en- 

 tered the padres, and, taking advantage of that so- 

 called amiable weakness which I before hinted at 

 in confidence to the reader, is leading them along 

 seeming paths of roses, in which they do not yet 

 feel the thorns. 



I have none but kind feelings toward the padres, 

 but, either as a cause or in consequence of the as- 

 cendency of this demonio, the people of Valladolid 

 seemed the worst we had met with, being, in general, 

 lazy, gambling, and good for nothing. It is a com- 



