THE HARLEQUIN OPAL A ROMANCE BY FERGUS HUME _Author of "The Island of Fantasy," "Aladdin in London," etc._ VOLUME I Once a realm of Indian glory, Famed in Aztec song and story, Fabled by Tradition hoary As an earthly Paradise; Now a land of love romances, Serenades, bolero dances, Looks of scorn, adoring glances, Under burning tropic skies. LONDON W. H. ALLEN & CO., LIMITED 13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. 1893 WYMAN AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND REDHILL. PROEM. The stone had its birth in the nurturing earth. Its home in the heart of the main, From the coraline caves it was tossed by the waves On the breast of an aureate plain; And the spirits who dwell in the nethermost hell Stored fire in its bosom of white; The sylphs of the air made it gracious and fair With the blue of the firmament's height. The dull gnomes I ween, gave it glittering sheen. Till yellow as gold it became: The nymphs of the sea made the opal to be A beacon of emerald flame. The many tints glow, they come and they go At bidding of spirits abhorr'd, When one ray is bright, in the bosom of white, Its hue tells the fate of its lord. For yellow hints wealth, and blue meaneth health, While green forbodes passing of gloom, But beware of the red, 'tis an omen of dread, Portending disaster and doom. Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby placed in the public domain. INDEX. CHAP. PAGE I.--CHUMS 1 II.--THE DEVIL STONE 27 III.--"THE BOHEMIAN" 54 IV.--IN THE TRACK OF COLUMBUS 78 V.--DON MIGUEL IS COMMUNICATIVE 100 VI.--CHALCHUIH TLATONAC 125 VII.--DOLORES 152 VIII.--VIVA EL REPUBLICA 177 IX.--THE CALL TO ARMS 201 X.--PADRE IGNATIUS 221 XI.--THE DRAMA OF LITTLE THINGS 238 XII.--A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE 262 THE HARLEQUIN OPAL. CHAPTER I. CHUMS. Long years have passed since last we met, And left their marks of teen and fret; No longer faces plump and smooth, Proclaim the halcyon days of youth. But haggard looks and tresses white Betray the ardour of the fight; The same old friends: we meet once more-- But not the merry boys of yore.