The Harlequin Opal: A Romance. Volume 2 of 3

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

CHAPTER I. AWAY TO THE NORTH

CHAPTER II. ACAUHTZIN

CHAPTER III. DON HYPOLITO XUAREZ

CHAPTER IV. RIVALS

CHAPTER V. IN SHADOWLAND

CHAPTER VI. THE SHRINE OF THE OPAL

CHAPTER VII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING

CHAPTER VIII. AN INDIAN FESTIVAL

CHAPTER IX. THE FUGITIVES

CHAPTER X. FORTUNE TURNS HER WHEEL

CHAPTER XI. AWAY TO THE FRONT

CHAPTER XII. A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT – NEW STYLE

CHAPTER XIII. WITHOUT THE WALLS

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Once more The Bohemian was breasting the warm waves of the Pacific, and seemed to rejoice in her freedom like a sentient thing, as she plunged north-ward to Acauhtzin. The smoke poured black from her wide-mouthed funnel, the blades of her propeller, lashing the waters to foam, left behind her a long trail of white, and her sharp nose dipped and fell in the salt brine with every pulsation of the pistons. Beneath the folds of the Union Jack, streaming in the wind, were gathered the Englishmen and the Cholacacans, all light-hearted and hopeful, despite the undoubted peril of their mission. It was no light task to beard Xuarez in his stronghold, to assert the authority of the Republic in the teeth of his army. The mission was a valiant one, but foolhardy, and Tim, if no one else, looked for anything but a peaceful termination to the voyage.

The distance to Acauhtzin was something over three hundred miles, and as The Bohemian was swirling along at the rate of seventeen knots an hour, it was hoped she would reach her destination in fifteen hours or thereabouts. Owing to one thing and another, the yacht had not left Tlatonac till close on four o'clock in the afternoon; so, making all allowance for possible accidents and stoppages, at the rate she was going, Philip calculated that he would fetch the northern capital about dawn. He did not wish to venture too near the port in the darkness, as the war-ships were protecting the town, and not seeing the English ensign, might open fire on his yacht, under the impression that she was an enemy. With this idea the engines were slowed down during the voyage, and The Bohemian was timed to enter the port some time before noon of the next day.

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"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."

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