Well before Diego's birth, Alejandro de la Vega, then still a military officer, has to defend a Francescan mission from about 150 rebelling Indios, and only has five soldiers, the Francescan brother (a former soldier) and a few Indios. Not only he easily wins the battle and suppresses the revoltwith superior smarts, but he does it losing only one of his Indios (a girl who was there to reload muskets).
As children, Diego and Bernardo (and Garcia) capturing a live bear to make it dance in the town square and get the local bullies to leave Garcia alone. Considering what Diego and the others had done, the bullies didn't dare tormenting Garcia anymore.
