Our Catl,olic Heritage in Texas
is on this side of the Panuco." 21 Speaking of this river, Barcia says "They came to another ri ver which some call Tanipa into which the rivers Saucedo and Nasas of the Nuevo Reino de Leon flow." 22 The missionaries and their companions, who were anxious to reach their goal, began immediately to make preparations to cross this river. Having almost forgotten the Indians, they busied themselves in gathering wood to make a raft, without bothering to keep a lookout. Just as they were about to start across the river, they were greatly surprised to see a large number of canoes filled with hostile savages coming down the stream apparently in search of them. The Spaniards quickly hid them- selves in the tall rushes that grew along the bank, hoping to escape the searching eye of the Indians. Their concealment probably would have succeeded had it not been for an unforeseen circumstance. While crouching quietly in the rushes, they suddenly became aware of millions of ants that stung them with such fury, that they were unable to withstand the fire of their stings, preferring to throw themselves upon the merciless Indians, who would put an end to their misery. In the struggle that followed, practically all the men were killed and the few who succeeded in reaching the opposite bank were all wounded. Fray Juan and Fray Marcos were not spared by the barbarians. Of the two, Fray Marcos was the most seriously wounded, having been pierced by seven arrows, one of which entered the corner of his eye. At a council held by the wounded and bleeding survivors, it was decided, to go on as fast as possible, abandoning the dead and those who were unable to travel, in order to escape before the Indians landed and killed them all. Fray Marcos de Mena was among those unable to go on. His com- panions discussed the advisability of carrying him along, but it was decided that since he had only a few hours to live and was now in a faint, the best thing was to bury him in the sand to keep the wild beasts and the Indians from desecrating his body, leaving his face uncovered so that he might breathe until the Lord called him unto Himself. Having hurriedly carried out this plan, the little group moved on as fast as they could in the hope of escaping from their relentless pursuers. Fray Marcos, though in a faint, claims that he heard the decision of his companions 21 D:ivila Padilla, op. cit., 285. 21 Barcia, op. cit ., p. 30. Barcia is evidently in error in his deduction, for this river could hardly have been any other than the San Fernando which is the first river south of the Rio Grande and the only one of any size between the latter and the Panuco.
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