"Señor, you forget the torpederas will be here soon." "That is if _The Pizarro_ will let them pass her," said Duval, meaningly. "I see she is cruising constantly up and down." "Do you think, Don Juan, she is waiting for the arrival of the torpederas?" asked the Colonel, anxiously. "I am sure of it, Colonel. Don Miguel informed me that the torpedo-boats had started from England. Xuarez, who has his spies in England, also knows this, and sent _The Pizarro_ south with a twofold object: to dictate terms to the Republic, and intercept the torpederas." "He failed in the first, however," observed Philip, hopefully. "True! but he may not fail in the second." "One moment, Señores," said the Colonel, earnestly, "_The Pizarro_ dare not stop the torpedo-boats--they could sink her in no time. She has no defence against them--no nets, for those were left at Tlatonac when the fleet went north." "All the more reason that Xuarez should capture the torpedo-boats," retorted Jack, hotly. "_The Pizarro_ will not try force, mi Colonel! No; the torpederas left England before war was proclaimed; therefore, those in charge know nothing of the disaffection of the fleet, of the rebellion of Xuarez. If they meet _The Pizarro_, they will stop when she signals; their commanders will go on board in blissful ignorance, and be either seduced to the cause of Xuarez, or retained as prisoners of war. In either case, the torpederas, taken by surprise, will be captured, and accompany _The Pizarro_ to the north." "True! What you say is true, Señor! Santissima! What ill-fortune!" "The torpederas must be warned!" exclaimed Philip, quickly. "I will speak to His Excellency, and offer the services of my yacht to the Republic. If my offer is accepted, I will get steam up on _The Bohemian_, and stand out to sea at once. Cruise up and down till I see the torpederas, and then warn them of their danger." "Yes, and be chased all the time by _The Pizarro_." "She can't catch _The Bohemian_. I'd back my boat against the combined speed of the whole rebel navy. It is the only chance of saving the torpedo-boats from the clutches of Xuarez." "What a pity my railway is not finished," said Jack, regretfully; "then we could have ran up the whole army to Acauhtzin without trouble. As it is, the only passage is by sea, and I am afraid the war-ships render that impossible." "How far have you got with the line, Jack?" "Only fifty miles. It stops in the centre of a dense forest, so it is worse than useless--to Xuarez as to ourselves." At this moment Don Rafael entered, in a state of great excitement. "Ola, Señores," he said, gaily; "I have just come from the presence of His Excellency and my father; it is the intention of the Junta to send an embassy to Acauhtzin." "To treat with Xuarez?" "Carajo! no!" retorted the young man fiercely; "to promise freedom to the rebels, if they lay down their arms and deliver up Xuarez for punishment." Colonel Garibay shook his head.