to old Brother Madeiros, who happened to be present, and said:  “If you continue to put these false doctrines in my brother’s head I will send a couple of Indians here to take off your head.”  “Yes,” replied Madeiros, “you may cut off my head, but you cannot cut off my soul from God.”  Captain Egydio returned home breathing out plagues upon himself and his family.  He drank heavily at every grog shop on his way and scattered abroad the news about his family’s disgrace.  He was a man of a kind heart, and though he did not embrace the truths of his brother’s religion, he did show his brother great consideration and, being a political leader for that district, became his brother’s protector.

When his wrath had cooled down somewhat he began to recall many things Marciano had told him about the Bible, and as he looked upon his many expensive idols set here and there in niches about his home, he said to himself:  “Well, did Marciano say these images do nothing.  They neither draw water, cut wood nor pick coffee.  They do not teach school, they do not protect our home, for there is one covered with soot.  There is another the rats have gnawed, and recently another fell and was broken.  How powerless they are.”  Then he remembered the Bible which a believer had given him years before.  He began to examine it in a closed room.  Ag he read he prayed, “Oh, God, if this religion of Marciano be right, show it to me.”

He seemed to be making good progress.  But about this time he received word that his brother and the missionary R. E Neighbor were coming to see him.  The priest had also heard of the approaching visit and had sent a letter to Captain Egydio’s son warning him against the coming men, saying that they were emissaries of the United States and wished to lead the Almeidas astray.  The letter bearer was instructed to deliver the letter to the son and not let the father know anything about it, but he said, “I cannot do that because I must be true to my old captain,” so he gave the letter to Captain Egydio.  He wag greatly disturbed over the warnings the priest had given and tried to induce his children to give up the reading of the pamphlets and Scriptures he had given to them, which thing they refused to do.

His brother and the missionary came according to agreement and Captain Egydio, true to his word, went with them to the town of Areia to protect them while they were engaged in conducting a gospel service in the public square.  The priest of the town sent the police to prevent the Protestants from conducting the meeting.  The sergeant, who had been under Captain Egydio when he was Captain in the National Guards, was one of the detail sent to suppress the meeting.  He declared that he would stand by his old Captain, for the men knew that under the Constitution the missionary had a perfect right to hold the meeting.  The meeting was held, but under such unfavorable circumstances that the Captain stood forth and said:  “I have not declared myself a Protestant, but from this time I shall be a Protestant and propose to give my life to the spread of this faith.”