The day before their embarkment, having called together the soldiers and
the captains, he told them that he should accompany them in spirit; and
that while they were engaging the barbarians, he would be lifting up his
hands to heaven for them: That they should fight valiantly, in hope of
glory, not vain and perishable, but solid and immortal: That, in the heat
of the combat, they should cast their eyes on their crucified Redeemer,
whose quarrel they maintained, and, beholding his wounds themselves,
should not be afraid either of wounds or death; and how happy should they
be to render their Saviour life for life.

These words inspired them with such generous and Christian thoughts,
that, with one voice, they made a vow to fight the infidels to their last
drop of blood. This solemn oath was so moving to Xavier, that it drew
tears from him: he gave them all his blessing; and, for their greater
encouragement, named them, "The Band of our Saviour's Soldiers:" in
pursuit of which, he heard every man's confession, and gave them the
communion with his own hand.

They embarked the clay following with so much cheerfulness, that it
seemed to presage a certain victory. But their joy continued but a
moment. They had scarcely weighed anchor, when the admiral split, and
immediately went to the bottom, so that they had hardly time to save the
men. The crowd of people, who were gathered together on the shore to see
them go off, beheld this dismal accident, and took it for a bad omen of
the expedition; murmuring at the same time against Father Xavier, who was
the author of it, and casting out loud cries to recal the other vessels.
The governor, who saw the people in an uproar, and apprehended the
consequences of this violent beginning, sent in haste to seek the Father.
The messenger found him at the altar, in the church of our Lady Del