La Relación - page 37

La Relación - page 37

it was so cold and they feared that someone might faint or die on the way, they had provided for four or five large fires to be placed at intervals, and they warmed us at each one. Once they saw that we had gained some strength and gotten warmer, they took us to the next one so rapidly that our feet scarcely touched the ground. In this way we went to their lodges and found that they had one ready for us with many fires lighted in it. Within an hour of our arrival they began to dance and have a great celebration that lasted all night. For us there was no pleasure nor celebration nor sleep because we were waiting to see when they would sacrifice us. In the morning they again gave us fish and roots and treated us so well that we were a little reassured and lost some of our fear of being sacrificed.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
How We Found Out about Other Christians

That same day I saw an Indian with a trinket which I knew was not among those we had given the Indians. Asking him where he had obtained it, I was answered by signs that other men like ourselves, who were farther back, had given it to them. Seeing this, I sent two Christians with two Indians to guide them to where those people were. Very near there they came upon them. The men were on their way to find us, since the Indians they were with had told them about us. They were Captains Andrés Dorantes and Alonso del Castillo, with all the men from their boat. When they got to us they were shocked to see the condition we were in. They were very sorry that they had nothing to give us, since they were wearing the only clothes they had. They stayed there with us and told us how, about the fifth of that month, their boat had run aground a league and a half from there and how they had escaped without losing anything. All of us

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