"I have a map below. Come with me, Juan, and we will invent some plan, then go on board _The Iturbide_ to interview Pedraza. I am with you in trying to prevent this sacrifice of two hundred men by landing them in the jaws of danger." They went down to the cabin, and Rafael, after hunting about for a few minutes, found a map of the southern portion of Cholacaca. He spread it out on the table, and they began to examine it at once. "Here!" said Jack, drawing his finger along the paper; "here is Janjalla, here the swamp and river, beyond is a kind of rolling prairie. If we land the troops here, we can march them parallel to the river, into the interior country." "That is so, mi amigo! But, you see, the river is ever between the troops and the city. If the enemy see our men marching on this side, they can march on the other, and so keep our men from entering the city." "Not if Pedraza signals to the forts. You forget that the rebels are only safe so long as they keep in the hollow of the beach. If they march up on the right, they expose themselves to a heavy fire. Consequently, the forts can keep them in check, and our troops, marching along on the right bank of the stream, can surely find some ford by which to cross, and then gain the inland gate of Janjalla by a detour." "Como, no!" exclaimed Rafael, in a lively tone rolling up the map. "It is not at all a bad idea. Let us board _The Iturbide_, and explain your plan to the Comandante." "Who commands the expedition?" asked Jack, as he hastily snatched up a brace of revolvers and a heavy cloak. "Don Sebastian de Ahumada. He is a great friend of mine. In fact," added Rafael, laughing, "he is a cousin of Doña Carmencita de Tajada." "My poor Rafael, your suit does not progress much in that quarter." "Not with Don José, perhaps; but I am content to wait till the war is ended, so far as my angel is concerned. She will be true to me, as I to her. By the way, mi amigo, know you that Don José is now Governor of Acauhtzin, in the absence of Don Hypolito?" "No, I did not know it. Is Don Hypolito yonder?" "Not now. He was on board _The Cortes_, and has gone back to Acauhtzin, but will doubtless come south again, to personally conduct the war." "I should like to get a shot at him," said Jack, grimly; "the brute. I shall never forgive him for his treachery. Well, who knows?-- Perhaps a recruit May chance to shoot Great General Bonaparte." "What say you?" asked Rafael, puzzled at those lines, which were recited in English. "Nothing, nothing. A something to relieve my feelings. Is that boat never going to be ready?" "It is ready now," said the young man, gaily; "in with you, mi amigo! Row to _The Iturbide_ Benito! So--give way, men!"