The Harlequin Opal: A Romance. Volume 2 of 3. Hume Fergus

has a passably good army, the friendship of the Indians, who are being urged on to war by that prophetic opal, and a capital fleet. With all these at his command, he would be a fool to yield at the mere reading of a decree. No. This war will be a long one – a difficult one – and it is doubtful if, in the end, Don Hypolito will not conquer."

      Garibay frowned, and looked sternly at the young man.

      "Are your sympathies with the Opposidores, Señor?"

      "By no means. I see in Xuarez a possible tyrant, an unscrupulous scoundrel; but I am not so blinded as to overlook his talents. Already he has scored heavily against us. The securing of the fleet, the gaining of Acauhtzin to his interest, and all without a blow. Believe me, Colonel, I speak truly when I say Xuarez is a foe to be dreaded."

      "He will not dare to defy the decree of the Republic," said the Intendante, pompously. "When I read this," added Don Alonzo, tapping his breast pocket, where lay the official paper, "he will yield."

      "Certainly!" echoed Velez, parrot-like, "he will yield. Carambo! He dare not defy Don Alonzo!"

      "Do you think Xuarez is a second Montezuma, to yield in the presence of his army, Señores," cried Rafael, vehemently. "I tell you no! Were he alone, he would resist arrest. How much more so, then, when supported by the devotion of hundreds. I am a true subject of the Republic; I hate, dread, and scorn Don Hypolito. But I do not despise him. He will be the Napoleon of Cholacaca. Let the Republic beware!"

      "Ah! bah!" said Colonel Garibay, while Don Alonzo snorted with indignation. "Xuarez may be a clever man; but he is no general. Why, he does not even make the first move!"

      "No; he bides his time. When he does move, Tlatonac will hear of it."

      "You mean, he will bombard the city?"

      "Yes, and no! I will explain. Excuse me one moment, Señores. I go for a map of the country."

      Don Rafael ran down to the cabin; and during his absence the Intendante and Captain Velez scoffed at the idea that Xuarez would be a dangerous enemy. They had a duet in a braggadocio vein.

      "He will yield, Señores, when I read this decree."

      "The troops of Tlatonac alone can crush him," added Velez, confidently.

      "We will swallow these rebels at a mouthful. I, the Intendante, say so."

      "The war will be a mere military promenade!" said his echo.

      "So said the French at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war," interjected Philip, grimly, "but they made a mistake. What is your opinion, Colonel?"

      "I agree with Don Rafael," replied Garibay, slowly "I am by no means inclined to undervalue our opponent. Xuarez is as cunning as Satan, and as ambitious. His first moves in this war have resulted to his own advantage; therefore I am not so confident of a speedy termination to this campaign as are these gentlemen. Fire-crackers, such as reading a decree will not frighten a man like Xuarez!"

      "Then you think this journey useless?" asked Jack, who was of much the same opinion himself.

      "Absolutely, Señors. I believe we are on the eve of a terrible struggle, and to whom will result the advantage I know not."

      "If all the Junta were as faint-hearted as yourself and Don Rafael, we would yield without a blow," said the Intendante, bitterly.

      "Without a blow," from Velez, in the same tone! "Carambo!"

      "You are wrong, Señor," cried the Colonel, with fiery earnestness, "I am not faint-hearted. I will fight against Xuarez to the last. But is it wise to scoff at this man as you are doing? I tell you he is a master-spirit, such as rises once in a century, and, as such, is all-powerful, even against the great power of the Republic. He is one of those men who change the destinies of nations. A Napoleon, a Garibaldi, a Washington. From my soul, Señores, I trust we shall win, and save the Republic; but it is as well to look on both sides of the question. Blind security is not wise. Por todos Santos, Señores," cried Garibay, rising to his feet in his excitement, "see how this man has already succeeded. Acauhtzin, the most important town next to the capital, is in his hands, our fleet has gone over entirely to his side; and have you forgotten the treachery of Marina and Pepe. A full plan of the fortifications of Tlatonac is before him. If he can do this much, he can do more. Till the end, I shall support the Republic, and resist a possible Dictator; but do not sneer at Xuarez! I tell you he is a great man!"

      This was an unexampled outburst for the ordinarily calm Colonel, and he sank back in his chair with a look of agitation on his usually impassive face. The Intendante and Velez were for the moment impressed; yet, soon recovering their obstinate belief in the invulnerability of the Republic, would have replied, but that at this moment Don Rafael made his appearance with a small map.

      "Your pardon, Señores, that I have been so long!" apologised Rafael, sitting down promptly, and spreading out the map on his own and Philip's knees. "Look, now, mis amigos, and I will tell you how this campaign will be conducted!"

      "How do you know, Señor? Are you in the confidence of Xuarez?"

      "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 manœuvre. 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."

      "Bueno! We will look at the matter from Don Hypolito's point of view," said Philip, quietly. "His troops are concentrated at Janjalla.