TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIAS. 
241 
About this time Padre Tamaral is attacked with a danger¬ 
ous disease; and being alone with the Indians of his mission, 
he sends for a soldier from Loretto to act as guard, nurse and 
physician. This soldier, after his arrival at San Jago, be¬ 
comes convinced that danger broods among the savages. He 
communicates his thoughts to Padre Tamaral, and offers to 
carry him to La Paz. But the latter thinks his fear magni¬ 
fies the danger, and refuses to go. The soldier declares he 
will not stay there to die at the hands of bloodthirsty In¬ 
dians ; but he cannot prevail upon the Padre to accompany 
him. He leaves him, therefore, and goes directly to La Paz. 
As usual, on his arrival, he fires his musket at a certain dis¬ 
tance from the mission, to give notice of his approach. But 
no answer is made. He walks up to the house. All is silent 
and solitary as the tomb ! A rifled portmanteau, some broken 
utensils and furniture, and some drops of blood on the floor, 
tell a story which thrills the breast of the solitary man ! He 
hastens on to Dolores, a distance of sixty leagues, through a 
wilderness; a long road for a single man, when death lurks 
under every bush and tree! He arrives safely, however, and 
immediately acquaints Padre Guillen with the state of affairs 
below. The Padre immediately sends instructions to his 
brother to withdraw to Dolores. But close upon the heels 
of the previous tidings, follow letters from Padre Carranco, 
informing him of an insurrection among the Pericues, and re¬ 
questing instructions how to proceed. Orders are therefore 
dispatched for all to repair to La Paz, whither he sends a 
canoe and seventeen faithful Indians, to bring them to Dolores. 
But the letters never reach the hands for which they are 
written! At the same time Padre Carranco sends a body of 
Christian Indians to Padre Tamaral at San Josef, entreating 
that he will permit them to escort him to his mission for 
safety and counsel. The Padre replies, that no signs of 
danger have appeared in his mission; that he thinks fear 
augments small things to great; that he trusts in God, whom 
he desires to serve in life and death; and does not think his 
35 
