"I am a gentleman, no traitor!" replied Rafael, haughtily, to the insulting question of the Intendante. "I know something of Don Hypolito's plans, because he spoke of them to Don José de Tejada. Before the revolt of the fleet, I was a visitor at the house of that gentleman, and so learned much. Had Don José known that I would remain true to the Republic, he would have been more cautious. As it was, he spoke sufficiently clearly to let me understand the broad outlines of the campaign as designed by Xuarez." "Bueno!" said the Intendante, politely, "I ask your pardon, Don Rafael. And this plan." "Behold!" said Rafael, tracing with his finger the various points; "here is Acauhtzin--there Tlatonac!--and at the extreme south you see Janjalla! This last town will be attacked first." "And the reason?" "Carrai! can you not see, Señor Garibay? Between Tlatonac and Acauhtzin are nothing but mountains--no roads, no open spaces. All giant hills, terrible precipices, a few paths made by Indians, and inhospitable deserts, where the land happens to be flat for a few miles. How then can Xuarez convey his army to the capital in that direction?" "True, true! And most of his soldiers are dragoons." "Certainly, he could attack Tlatonac with Indians who are used to their rugged country; but savages, as Xuarez well knows, can do little or nothing against trained troops. In conjunction with his own army, they can do something; but, alone, they are almost useless. Bueno! You see he, will not attack from the north." "But why attack Janjalla instead of Tlatonac?" asked Tim, who was anxiously following this discussion, pencil and note-book in hand. "Look to the south," replied Don Rafael, promptly. "No mountains between Janjalla and Tlatonac--nothing but rich plains--broad spaces on which armies can manoeuvre. Now, if Xuarez conveys his troops by the war-ships south to Janjalla, he can bombard and perhaps take that city." "I, the Intendante, deny that!" "Impossible to take Janjalla," echoed Velez, nodding his head wisely. Rafael shrugged his shoulders. It was next to impossible to argue with these obstinate people who would only look at one side of the question. "We will grant that Janjalla falls into the power of Xuarez," said Garibay, impatiently; "and afterwards?" "Afterwards," resumed the young man, "Xuarez will garrison the town, and concentrate all his troops there." "Thus leaving Acauhtzin open to attack," said Jack, satirically. "By no means. The war-ships will prevent our troops getting to that town. We cannot get to it by land, and the sea will be blockaded by the rebel fleet." "Unless the torpederas----" "True! unless the torpederas arrive," replied Rafael significantly; "but it is doubtful as to whether the Junta or Xuarez will get them. However, I am only supposing all these things being in favour of the Opposidores."