ought little good to the tribes. They fell back to their
former state of tribal raid and feud. Drought spoiled the crops; and
perhaps, after all, the consolation and the guidance of the Spanish
priests were missed. When the Utes heard that the Spanish had retreated,
these wild marauders of the northern desert fell on the pueblo towns
like wolves. There is a legend, also, that at this time there were great
earthquakes and many heavenly signs of displeasure. Curiously enough,
the same legends exist about Montreal and Quebec. Otermin hung timidly
on the frontier, crossing and recrossing the Rio Grande; but he could
make no progress in resettling the colonists.

Comes on the scene now--1692-98--Don Diego de Vargas. It isn't so much
what he did; for when you are brave enough, you don't need to do. The
doors of fate open before the golden key. He resubjugated the Southwest
for Spain; and he resubjugated it as much by force of clemency as force
of cruelty. But mark the point--it was _force that did it, not
pow-wowing and parleying and straddling cowardice with conscience_. De
Vargas could muster only 300 men at El Paso, including loyal Indians. On
August 21, 1692, he set out for the north.

It has taken many volumes to tell of the victories of Frontenac. It
would take as many again to relate the victories of De Vargas. He was
accompanied, of course, by the fearless and quenchless friars. All the
pueblos passed on the way north he found abandoned; but when he reached
Santa Fe on the 13th of September, he found it held and fortified by the
Indians. The Indians were furiously defiant; they would perish, but
surrender--never! De Vargas surrounded them and cut off the water
supply. The friars approached under flag of truce. Before night, Santa
Fe had surrendered without striking a blow. One after another, the
pueblos were visited and pacified; but it was not all easy victory. The
Indians did not relish an order a year later to give up occupation of
the Palace and retire to their own villages. In December they closed all
entrances to the Plaza and refused to surrender. De Vargas had prayers
read, raised the picture of the Virgin on the battle flag, and advanced.
Javelins, boiling water, arrows, assailed the advancing Spaniards; but
the gate of the Plaza stockade was attacked and burned. Reinforcements
came to the Indians, and both sides rested for the night. During the
night, the Indian governor hanged himself. Next morning, seventy