Ta ra ra! Ta ra ra! The trumpets are blowing, And thrice hath their brazen notes pealed. To battle! to battle the soldiers are going, To conquer or die on the field. On, soldiers! brave soldiers, who venture your lives You fight for your country and sweethearts and wives. Ta ra ra! Ta ra ra! The drums roll like thunder, And women's tears falling like rain. For lovers! for lovers are parted asunder, Till victory crowns the campaign. On, soldiers! brave soldiers go forth to the fray, And close with the foe in their battle array. Ta ra ra! Ta ra ra! The banners are flying, And horses prance proudly along, For women! for women are bitterly crying, As passes the red-coated throng. On, soldiers! brave soldiers! soon homeward you'll ride, Encircled with bay leaves and greeted with pride. At this eventful moment of its history, Cholacaca woke from its slumber of years, as did the Sleeping Beauty from her century sleep. No more the lethargic life, the indolent enjoyments, the languorous dreamings in an enchanted city. A sharp breath of war from the north swept away the sedative atmosphere; the thunder of the cannon roused Tlatonac to unexampled excitement. Rebellion and preparation for invasion at Acauhtzin, indignation and preparation for defence, for punishment in the capital of the Republic. In these days of alarm and danger, the city resembled one vast camp, and the descendants of the Conquistadores, the posterity of the Mayas, proved themselves to be not unworthy of their glorious traditions, both Spanish and Indian. It was a turning-point in the history of the Republic. The two persons most desirous for the speedy commencement of this fratricidal war were Tim and Don Rafael: the former as he wished information for his journal, the latter because he was burning to revenge the insults and indignities to which he had been subjected by the rebels at Acauhtzin. Jack was rather dismayed at the near prospect of hostilities, fearing lest harm should result therefrom to Dolores at the hands of Don Hypolito, or those of the Forest Indians. For their part, Philip and Peter assumed a neutral position, the one from indolence, the other because he was entomologically engaged. What was the hunting of men compared with the hunting of butterflies, the capture of rebels with the capture of rare beetles? No, Peter preferred science to war.