"Indian or no Indian," growled Philip, clenching his fist, "if I get within striking distance of the scoundrel, I won't leave a whole bone in his body." "Nor will I," said the meek Peter, fiercely, "fancy him wanting to lay Jack out on a jasper stone like a corpse on a dissecting-table." "Be quiet, you Chamber of Horrors," said the baronet, angrily, "don't mention such a thing." "There is one great good gained out of much evil," observed Don Miguel, reflectively; "the possession of the opal strengthens us greatly against Xuarez." "How so?" asked Philip, curiously. "Because this priest, Ixtlilxochitli, will not be able to manage the Indians for him without the stone." "I am afraid, Señor, the mischief is done," said Jack, gravely, "the opal declared war, and now the Indians will join Don Hypolito." "It's a pity we can't get up a counter prophecy, and make the opal declare peace," remarked Philip, quietly; "then the Indians would take no part in the war." "I fancy that is impossible," said Miguel, shaking his head. "I would it could be so. If the Indians would only keep quiet, Xuarez would find great difficulty in accomplishing his plans. Should Janjalla fall, and Xuarez concentrate his own men and the Indians before Tlatonac, it will be hard to beat them back." "Janjalla will not fall," cried Rafael, in a fiery tone; "there are brave men defending it. They will hold out till reinforced. The regiments march southward to-morrow, the torpederas and _The Iturbide_ go the next day; and between the two we shall conquer these rebels." "We will try, at all events, my son," said Maraquando, smiling at the young man's enthusiasm; "but, meanwhile, it is best to look on both sides of the question." "With the opal stone in Tlatonac, we cannot fail," declared Jack. "You have seen it, Señor Maraquando?" "Not yet. Dolores was too agitated to show it to me." "Here is my cousin," said Rafael, rising to his feet. "She brings the opal with her." Before he finished the sentence, Dolores, now arrayed in her European dress, entered the patio, followed by Doña Serafina and Eulalia uttering cries of admiration. In her hand she carried the Harlequin Opal, which glittered faintly in the dim light. "See, uncle!" cried Dolores, placing the gem in Maraquando's hand, "I give you the luck of Tlatonac." "So this is the famous stone?" said Miguel, gazing at the wonderful play of colours, "I do not wonder it is held sacred. So beautiful a jewel I have never yet beheld." "There, Señor Maraquando, I disagree with you," observed Jack, in a nervous voice; "there is a jewel still more beautiful in my eyes--Dolores!" Don Miguel started and stared in amazement at the young couple, who were now standing hand in hand before him. He could not understand the meaning of either the attitude or speech. "My brother," whispered Serafina, seizing the situation with feminine quickness, "it is love!"