What had been done could be done a second time--so said Otomie in the pride of her unconquerable heart.

But alas! in fourteen years things had changed much with us.

Fourteen years ago we held sway over a great district of mountains, whose rude clans would send up their warriors in hundreds at our call.

Now these clans had broken from our yoke, which was acknowledged by the people of the City of Pines alone and those of some adjacent villages.

When the Spaniards came down on me the first time, I was able to muster an army of ten thousand soldiers to oppose them, now with much toil I could collect no more than between two and three thousand men, and of these some slipped away as the hour of danger drew nigh.
Still I must put a bold face on my necessities, and make what play I might with such forces as lay at my command, although in my heart I feared much for the issue.