"If it can be found. Unfortunately Cocom is the only Indian who could supply such information, and he is a prisoner to Ixtlilxochitli." "But if he knew of this cañon road, why did he not lead us by that way instead of towards the coast?" "You forget the whole country is overrun by Indians. We could not have disguised ourselves as pilgrims had we gone by the cañon road. That is evidently the secular path. The other way to the coast is sacred." "It might be done, Juanito." "Yes; but it cannot be done till Xuarez is conquered and the war is ended." "Santissima!" sighed Dolores, sadly; "and when will that be?" "Very shortly. Now we have succeeded in getting rid of the Indians, we shall be able to crush Xuarez at one blow." "When do you march south?" "To-morrow at the latest." "Will Señor Felipe be back?" "No, I am afraid not. In three days I expect the yacht will return. By that time who knows but what we may not have conquered the rebels?" Shortly afterwards this conversation came to an abrupt conclusion as Don Miguel sent a special messenger to call Jack to the Palacio Nacional. In those days Jack was a very important personage. Maraquando was so impressed by the way in which the Indians had been dealt with that he entertained a higher opinion than ever of Duval's capabilities, and frequently appealed to him for advice. Nor did this create any jealousy, for the Cholacacans were now beginning to regard Duval as one of themselves. He was going to marry the niece of their President; he was the engineer who had constructed the railway; he was deeply interested in the future of the Republic; so it was generally supposed that when the war was at an end he would be naturalized, a citizen of Cholacaca, and take up his abode there altogether. A clever, brilliant young man like Jack was a distinct acquisition to the country, and the liberal-minded Cholacacans welcomed him accordingly. From the deepest despair the city had passed into a state of great elation. With the death of Gomez, all the bad fortune of the Republic seemed to have vanished. Since Maraquando had seated himself in the Presidential chair, all had gone well, and the superstitious Tlatonacians looked upon him as a ruler likely to bring good fortune to the Republic. Nor was such a belief to be wondered at, seeing how suddenly the tide of fortune had turned within the last few days in favour of the governmental party. The Indians had departed, and thus was Don Hypolito deprived at one swoop of half his power. _The Cortes_ menaced by _The Columbus_, _The Iturbide_ and the torpederas had surrendered, and now with the transports were lying in the harbour of the capital. Xuarez, by the loss of his fleet, was cut off completely from the north, and shut up in Janjalla with but six thousand troops.