Tlee Dominican 111/artyrs of Texas, I55J·I554
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When they arrived in the vicinity of the river, the Indians attacked them with greater fury, as if they desired to kill all of them before they crossed the stream. Fortunately, the survivors found on the river an aban- doned canoe. While some kept guard, the others rowed across until all reached the opposite bank. This maneuver required considerable time and before the last man was safely across the river, the few remaining women and children had fallen victims to the unfailing arrows of the Indians. End of Fatlzers Diego de la Cr11,z and Hernando.Mendez. Thinking that they had left the natives behind and worn out by fatigue, the wearied Spaniards relaxed their vigilance. In the meantime their tireless pursuers had crossed, and falling unawares upon the little band, killed almost fifty of them. Up to this time, the five Dominican friars had escaped serious harm. Father Fray Diego de la Cruz and Father Fray Hernando Mendez were seriously wounded, however, during this attack. Unable to continue the march and harboring the hope that by staying among the natives of this region they might convert them, the two friars took counsel and decided to search for an Indian village on the Rio de las Palmas, where they might nurse their wounds and preach the Gospel to the aborigines. Their plan was "to go to some Indian pueblo in that region, one where the natives were more civilized and where they lived in groups. Such Indians do no harm to those who harm them not, particularly when the latter come to them without arms." They had concluded correctly that the Indians, who had pursued the little band of survivors, were cruel nomads, and they felt that somewhere on "the banks of the Rio Grande there must be pueblos of settled Indians. They waited quietly among the dead for the rest of the party to move on, certain that the Indians would follow them. After their pursuers haJ passed on, they recrossed the river, determined to carry out their plan. But Fray Diego de la Cruz was too weak to proceed. On the sandy banks of the river he fell, unable to get up. "I can go no farther," said the pious son of St. Dominic, "may the Lord be with you, Fray Hernando. Com- mend my spirit to His Divine Majesty." Then the two friars, who years before had made their profession together in Mexico, embraced each other for the last time. Fray Hernando wept silently as he dug a grave for his companion and friend on the bank of the river. "Having completed his task, he took the body in his arms with much devo- tion and sorrow and laid him down in the sandy grave ... the good
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