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Ottr C at/10/ic Heritage in Texas
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and thence down the river to Natchitoches. The corporal of the guard brought the news to the unsuspecting father a few minutes later, while he was still talking to the missionary. A squad was ordered to pursue and capture the lovers, but in vain. The soldiers hastened on the road to Natchitoches, seven leagues away, and guarded all the approaches to the French settlement. They did not know the lovers had taken the water route to prevent being captured. Next day they reported to the aggrieved father that they had waited and watched all night; that about midnight the pair and their friends had arrived in Natchitoches in a canoe; that the Jesuit Father, who was waiting for them, had married them at once. Gonzalez declared he had always suspected the Jesuit of being the cause of all the trouble of the garrison and now he was convinced he had been behind the plans for the elopement of his daughter. Father Vallejo, who had no great love for the Jesuit missionary either, condemned his action in marrying the runaway couple at midnight, disregarding all church regulations. 11 Regardless of the circumstances, the elopement of Victoria with Berban, thus happily consummated, is the first to be recorded in the history of the State. Improvement of co11ditio11s. The fall of 1736, after two years of incredible privations and suffering, found the sturdy settlement of Los Adaes facing a much brighter outlook. The corn crop looked good. It was estimated that the presidia! farm alone would harvest four hundred fanegas (eight hundred bushels) of corn. Although the post required five hundred for the year, the commander declared he could get the other one hundred fa11egas from the missions. There is an exultant note in the letter, when Gonzalez assures Sandoval that he will not have to recur to the French for aid during this winter. St. Denis, he says, had attempted, in the trying days just past, to lure the Spanish soldiers to desert. Some of the men, who had taken messages to the French post, testified that St. Denis had asked them why they endured such privations and the tyranny of their officers, when they could come to his presidio and enjoy peace and plenty. But the loyalty, endurance, and fortitude of his men, affirms Gonzalez, was admirable in the face of adversity. He says he obtained cattle from the missions and that he sold several cows with calf to the soldiers at thirty-two pesos a pair. 19 IIGonzalez to Governor Sandoval, August 29, 1736; Father Vallejo to Sandoval, August 29, 1736. A. G. M., Hi.rtoria, vol. 524, pt. 3, pp. 916-919, 686-689. l9Gonzalei to Sandoval, August 29, 1736. A. G. M., Historia, vol. 524, pt. 3, pp. 916-924.
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