Jack turned his head. _The Bohemian_ was less, much less, than a quarter of a mile away. Seeing this, the Indians, while forebearing to shoot, made redoubled efforts to catch them before the yacht came up, and thus recover the sacred gem. One boat came within two lengths, when Jack, thinking to dodge and gain time, turned his light craft off to the right. In another two minutes a ball ricochetted across the waves and smashed the foremost boat to pieces. Awestruck at this unexpected event, the others stopped paddling, and in a few minutes the canoe was safe under the bows of the yacht. Philip, Peter, and Rafael were looking over the side at the--as they thought--Indians. "Philip! Philip!" "Why! God! It's Jack!" "Dolores! Take Dolores on board first," murmured Jack; then, overcome by all he had passed through, fell back in a faint. CHAPTER X. FORTUNE TURNS HER WHEEL. Frown, Fortune, frown, For I am much cast down, And tears do melancholy make my face; In sable gown, With sad yew-wreath as crown, I rail at you, Oh, Fortune, most untrue, For that to me, you show not any grace; Oh, la! fa! la! la! My Lady Fortune, hear my sigh, Be kinder to my love and I. Smile, Fortune, smile, For I am gay awhile, And laughter lurks about these lips again; Now I beguile My days with cheerful wile, For from the throng, Of shepherds gay and strong, My love hath chosen me to be her swain; Oh, la! fa! la! la! My Lady Fortune hear my cry, How happy are my love and I. "Baron Munchausen!" said Philip, addressing Jack, with mock solemnity, "this story of thine passeth the comprehension of man. 'Tis a most rare history, and, were I the Commander of the Faithful, I would have it written in letters of gold on purple parchment." It was some hours after their rescue by Philip, and _The Bohemian_ was just entering the harbour of Tlatonac. Dolores was sound asleep in Peter's cabin; and Jack, now transformed to a civilised being, by washing and clothing, was seated in the state-room, narrating his adventures to an attentive audience of three. As for Cocom, he was squatting on the floor with a cigarette in his mouth, grunting approval of Jack's story--which he told in Spanish, for the benefit of Rafael, and modestly receiving the encomiums lavished on him by the listeners. Philip and Don Rafael frequently interrupted him with exclamations of surprise; but Peter, less skilful in understanding the Castilian tongue, had to keep his attention fixed on every word that fell from Jack's lips. Under the tutorship of Doña Serafina, the little doctor had made wonderful progress, and now understood the Spanish language fairly well. It was at the conclusion of this most extraordinary story that Philip addressed Jack as "Baron Munchausen."