"What do you say?" roared Tim, plunging towards the speaker. "Cocom came to the Casa Maraquando a few minutes ago, and told me that a messenger had arrived from Chichimec. He is at the Puerta de la Culebra." "The deuce!" cried Jack, in alarm, as they hurried along towards the gate; "perhaps it's another request for relief." "If so, they will soon have it," said Tim, quickly. "Don Miguel is going to send three thousand men this day to finish off these savages." "Ah, that is something like!" said Philip, approvingly; "there will be some chance of relieving the city with that force. I am glad Don Miguel has matters now in his own hands." "So am I. He'll end the war in no time. I say, Philip, lend me the yacht." "What for? You are not going to Janjalla again?" "No! I'm going further south. That is, I'm sending Peter with despatches." "Where to?" "Truxillo! He can send off my telegrams from there. Lend me the yacht, Philip, and I'll love you for ever more." "Oh, take her, by all means; but I hope she won't be smashed up by the warships of Xuarez." "He's only got one now," replied Tim, coolly; "and she'll have her hands full looking after the torpederas." "I forgot that! It's a good idea, Tim! Get all the news together you can, and Peter shall go out with _The Bohemian_ to-night, both of them in charge of Benker." "Do you think Peter will go?" said Jack, doubtfully. "Of course he will," said Tim, promptly. "The little man's of no use here. I'll make him Queen's messenger for once in his life." "Hallo!" cried Philip, at this moment, "there's old Cocom making signs. Ola, Cocom!" The old Indian, who was hobbling on the other side of the street, came over to them with an excited look on his usually immobile face. "Carambo, Señores! the news. The terrible news!" "What is it?" cried the three Englishmen simultaneously. "Chichimec has fallen!" Jack uttered an ejaculation of rage, and darted off to the gate, followed by Tim and Philip. They found an excited throng of people talking wildly together. Don Sebastian was just under the archway, with his glasses to his eyes, looking towards the plains beyond. "Is the news true of Chichimec's fall?" asked Jack pushing his way through the crowd. Don Sebastian turned slowly with a grave bow, and handed Jack the glasses. "Quite true, Señor. See! fugitives are arriving every moment." Jack clapped the glass to his eye, and saw that the plain was sprinkled with people all making for the gate of Tlatonac. "Why don't you send out a regiment to protect them, De Ahumada?" "It is going now. Behold, Señor." About five hundred men, well mounted, came trotting down the street, and began to file through the archway out on to the plain. Jack stood on one side and watched them go by in all their martial splendour. "How did the Indians take the town, De Ahumada?"