style="font-size:15px;"> "If I can do so. As you say," replied Xuarez, suddenly recognising that this controversy was unworthy of his rank; "we need say no more on that subject. Ha!" he added, as the officers, with a man and a woman, entered the hall, "here is Pepe! and here, Señores, is the woman he carried off."
The woman threw back her rebozo.
"Marina!" cried Jack, in despair.
"You see, Señores," said Don Hypolito, serenely, "I am not the base one you think me to be."
"I'm not so sure of that," muttered Tim, under his breath.
"But this, Señores, is outside the question. You came to me with a message from the Junta. I have answered that message. Go! Go, and carry back to Tlatonac my defiance and that of Acauhtzin. Sail away under your opal flag, caballeros, and I promise you my guns will respect your vessel. Adios. Go!"
He pointed imperiously down the hall to where the great doors stood wide open, and, headed by Don Alonzo, the deputation retired. Rafael was biting his lips with rage, and Garibay was swearing under his breath. The exit was scarcely dignified or worthy of the greatness of the Republic.
"I never felt so mean in my life," whispered Philip to Tim. "What a beast the man is!"
"And you said he was a great man!"
"So he is. But even great men are human. Xuarez is not perfect; but I believe he is honourable as regards rules of warfare. We can leave the harbour in safety."
"I doubt that, my boy," said Tim, significantly; "the man's a liar!"
"What!" said Jack, overhearing this; "do you think that Dolores – ?"
"I think that he knows where she is."
"Then I'll stay here till he gives her up."
"You'll stay here a long time, then. She is not in Acauhtzin."
"Then where is she?"
"It's more nor I know."
They were marching down the street on their way to the sea-gate, surrounded by their own soldiers and a troop of the Regimiento de Huitzilopochtli. Around this living barrier raged the populace, who had heard of the message sent by the Republic, demanding the surrender of Xuarez, and were mad with anger. To give up the idol of their hearts – the man on whom the glorious future of Acauhtzin depended! It was an insult! If they could have got at the emissaries, they would have torn them to pieces; but, fortunately, the line of soldiers prevented this. Don Alonzo was pale with terror, but Rafael and Garibay swore loudly at the rebel crowd. The three Englishmen smiled scornfully and marched serenely along, not heeding the savage howling of the mob, which recognised them as foreigners.
"Abajo los Americanos! Mueran los Yankies!"
"We would have rather a hard time out there," said Philip, as Tim, his huge frame shaking with anger, ranged alongside of him. "Keep together boys. Where's Jack?"
"Behind, with Don Rafael. Don't trouble, Philip; Jack Duval has his six-shooter on him."
"Good! I hope I am not a coward," said the baronet, serenely, as a clod of earth hit him on the shoulder; "but I will be glad when we are safe on board The Bohemian."
"So will I. This is like Donnybrook Fair. But we're nearly outside the town. Glory be to the saints!"
As they approached the gate, the fury of the mob increased, and it took all the strength of the soldiers, tramping shoulder to shoulder, to prevent them breaking through and falling on the emissaries of the Junta. At the gate, however, a soldier stumbled and fell, whereon, through the gap thus formed, a torrent of men rushed, shouting wildly. The escort fought bravely, and the rebel soldiers did their best to save the ambassadors. It would be a disgrace to Acauhtzin to let the mob have their will.
Inch by inch they fought their way down to the sea-shore, surrounded by the howling multitude. Philip knocked down a man who tried to snatch his watch-chain, and Tim, head and shoulders above the torrent of humanity, whacked every head he saw heartily with his heavy stick. "When you see a head, hit it." That was Tim's rule of warfare. He picked it up at Donnybrook Fair, and applied it practically in his present predicament.
At the water's edge they were hurried into several boats, and amid a shower of stones and mud, managed to get on board the yacht. As soon as all were on deck, Benker, without waiting for instructions, started the boat. Philip stood at the side of the ship and shook his fist at the shore.
"You scoundrels!" he raged, fiercely. "You dishonourable wretches."
"And Xuarez is a great man," scoffed Tim, wiping the blood from his face.
"Well," retorted Philip, viciously, "he's not responsible for this mob."
"When we return," swore Rafael, who stood near him, "we will level those walls with the sand."
By this time the yacht had passed out of the harbour, and was steaming between the two war-ships. Don Alonzo began to recover his courage.
"Thanks to the Holy Virgin, we are all safe, Señores," he said, in a trembling voice. "The Junta will bitterly resent this insult shown to the Intendante of Xicotencatl."
Philip looked around with an alarmed expression of countenance.
"Where's Jack?"
"Jack!" cried Tim, in a stentorian voice.
There was no answer.
"Señor Juan was with me," said Rafael, quickly, "but I lost him from my side outside the gate."
"He must be down below," said Philip, greatly disturbed, and went off to the cabin. In a few moments he reappeared.
"He is not there. My God! Can he be lost?"
The yacht was searched thoroughly, but no trace of Jack Duval could be found. Philip wanted to put back and rescue his friend, who had been evidently left ashore.
"Impossible, Señor!" cried Don Alonzo, in alarm; "it is dangerous."
"I do not care. Do you think I am going to leave my dear friend to be torn to pieces by these savages?" raged Philip, stamping his foot.
"The soldiers will protect him," said Garibay, who was terribly upset at the discovery of their loss. He was very fond of Jack.
"Did they protect us?" said Tim, who was quite beside himself with grief and rage. "Turn her head back, Philip."
Don Rafael, Tim, and the baronet were all in favour of doing this, but Don Alonzo and Garibay said it would be madness. By this time they were beyond the range of the fort guns, and in safety; but notwithstanding the remonstrances of the terrified Intendante, Philip altered the course of the boat, and started back to the harbour.
"I will save Jack, if I die for it," he said, fiercely.
Just as The Bohemian approached the warships, a puff of smoke burst from the sides of both, and two balls ricochetted across the waves.
"Not blank cartridge this time," muttered Tim, grimly, "The dirty cowards, to fire on an unarmed boat. And the forts!"
One! two! three! four! A perfect cannonade thundered from the forts, and one of the spars of the boat was carried away. The warships
