Om· Catholic Heritage in Texas
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him, but that the old men were falling away from him and that he was afraid they would finally kill him. He established his cell in a hut outside the pueblo and there the Indians brought him mush. His end is not known, but it is presumed that he was finally killed by the wizards or sorcerers, who feared the power and influence he was gaining with their people. 80 Fray Juan de Padilla now set out across the great plains on his way to Quivira with his small group of friends and a few Indians from Cicuye who joined him. Two natives from the remote kingdom, who had guided Coronado back, went along to show him the way. After a long journey, "he reached Quivira," says Mota Padilla, "and prostrated himself at the foot of the cross, which he found in the same place where he had set it up; all around it [the plot] was clean, as he had charged them to keep it, which rejoiced him. He then began his duties as a teacher and apostle of the people. Finding them docile and well disposed, his heart burned within him and it seemed to him that the number of souls of the village was but a small offering to God. He sought to enlarge the bosom of our Holy Mother, the Church, that she might receive all those he was told could be found [Jiving] beyond. He left Quivira, attended by his small com- pany, against the will of the village Indians, who loved him as their father. At [a little] more than a day's journey, the Indians [of the country beyond] on the warpath met him, and knowing the evil intent of those savage people, he asked the Portuguese [soldier], that as he was on horseback he should flee and take under his protection the donados and the young Indian boys [in his company] who could thus run away and escape." The faithful soldier hesitated to leave the good friar, while Lucas and Sebastian, whom he had brought up, could not bear to abandon their tf!acher and protector. For a few moments they stood together as the wild horde approached amidst the maddening din of yells. Fray Juan pleaded with his friends to escape. They were young and fleet of pace. His life was nearly spent. His sacrifice would delay the pursuers and enable them to escape. "Run, my children," he entreated and urged them. Then "the blessed father, kneeling down, offered up his life, which he gladly sacrificed for the winning of souls to God, attaining the ardent longings of his soul, the joy of being killed by the arrows of those barbarous Indians, who threw him into a pit, covering Father Padilla suffers martyrdom in Texas.
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80 Castaiieda, "Narrative," in Winship, op. cit., 461 .
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