Outside the sea-gate, Rafael headed to the left, where the torpedera _Montezuma_ was lying, and jumping off his horse, threw the reins to a peon, and called a boat. Jack followed his example, and in a few moments they were pulling for the torpedo-vessel. "Carambo mi amigo!" said Jack, breathlessly, "you ride like the devil. What is the matter now?" "His Excellency has just received news that two of the war-ships have returned to Acauhtzin." "What! Have they given up the siege?" "No. They are acting as convoy to the transports. Xuarez is sending more troops south, and, knowing that our torpederas are not ready, thinks that _The Pizarro_, single-handed, is sufficient to blockade Janjalla." "Then he has landed his other troops?" said Jack, as they sprang on board _The Montezuma_. "The ship guns have evidently silenced the forts, and permitted the rebels to get on shore." "Precisely! But what matter? Reinforcements are now on their way by land, and we, my friend, will start to-morrow by sea to smash up _The Pizarro_." "Will the torpederas be ready?" "They must be ready!" cried Rafael, stamping his foot. "We may never get such another chance. If we can only sink _The Pizarro_, it will dishearten the troops of Xuarez now besieging Janjalla, and they can be easily defeated." "If we can manage that, it will be a sad blow to Don Hypolito!" "Dios! so I should think," replied Rafael, laughing gaily. "He will come south with more troops, and find Janjalla occupied by us, and his way barred by two torpederas and _The Iturbide_. Then _The Pizarro's_ loss won't please him. Carajo! no." "Bueno! But you forget _The Pizarro_ has search-lights, torpedo-netting----" "Not the last, mi amigo!" interrupted Rafael quickly. "I told you before, the netting was left behind in Tlatonac when the war-ships left for Acauhtzin. As to the search-lights, she can keep them on _The Iturbide_ or on the other torpedera. Then, my friend, _The Montezuma_ will make things unpleasant for her." "It's a mere chance, Rafael!" "Quien sabe!" retorted the young man, shrugging his shoulders; "all warfare is mere chance. Come and look over the boat." As the fittings of the torpederas were somewhat complicated, engineers had been sent out from England in charge, and these, being paid heavily by the Junta, remained to manoeuvre the boats. Among them Jack discovered a Scotchman, from Aberdeen, with whom he struck up a friendship. This gentleman, whose clan was Mackenzie, showed them all over the boat, and spoke in terms of great affection of the Whitehead torpedoes. "Eh, mon!" he observed to Jack, as they surveyed those triumphs of modern warfare, "jouist gie her a shove, an' she'll smash the hail boatie to bits--into sma' bits." "That is if the ship you propose to smash doesn't bring her heavy guns to bear on this boat." "Hoots! hoots! mon. _The Montyzumy_ can gang her ain gait. Nineteen knots an hour! Ma certie, it wud tack a braw gun to catch the likes o' her."