"I did what I could, Jack. At once I came back to Tlatonac, and implored Don Francisco to send an army to Acauhtzin to your rescue. But it was impossible--the torpederas had not arrived, and there were only some merchant-ships to take men north-ward. Defended, as Acauhtzin was, by the war-ships, such an attempt would have been foolhardy. We were forced to remain inactive at Tlatonac, not knowing if you were dead or alive." "And then the war broke out?" "As I told you; Don Hypolito, with his war-ship, is now besieging Janjalla. Tim, Garibay, General Gigedo, and half the army, are there defending it. Tim wanted to remain and search for you; but I insisted on his going, and told him I would take _The Bohemian_ up to Acauhtzin, under the Union Jack, to make inquiries." "It was lucky you did that," said Jack, with a grim smile, "or those Indians would have killed or recaptured us for sure." "We did not know it was you," interposed Peter, who had been listening,--they were conversing in English. "I saw you first, and thought it was only a canoe of Indians being chased by others. Philip thought he would help the supposed Indians, and fired those guns." "Peter nearly fainted when we saw who the Indians were," laughed Philip, slipping his arm within that of Jack's. "However, 'all's well that ends well;' and here you are, safe and sound with Dolores." "And with the opal!" "Good! I never thought you would have got that stone, Jack. Your luck holds, old fellow. The possession of the opal will give confidence to Tlatonac. Will it not, Rafael?" "What say you, Señor Felipe?" "The opal! Its possession will inspire confidence." "Of a certainty, mi amigo. Our men will fight like devils, now they know the fortune of the Chalchuih Tlatonac is on the side of the Junta. In the same way, Don Hypolito's soldiers will lose heart." "If they lose the war, that is all I care about. I would like to see that fiend of a Xuarez punished," said Jack, savagely. "By the way, Philip, I suppose you got no satisfaction at Acauhtzin this trip?" "No; the forts opened fire, and would not let me enter the harbour. Luckily, the war-ships were all south, as I knew, or we would have been smashed up." "The war-ships are bombarding Janjalla, you told me." "Yes; we hope, however, that it will hold out till the torpederas go south." "Have they arrived?" "Yonder."